Forum Thread

"Day 53....Still no sign of my Monster/Mewman treaty coming to a closure anytime soon.." The sound of a quill pen lightly wafting the in air as it wrote down her every word, seemed rather loud in her now lonely feeling castle. Her name, Queen Marceline Arcane Moon Butterfly, but she liked Moon, it reminded her of her favorite time of the day, night time. Why was night her favorite time? She could be with her friends without much anyone noticing, especially her mother who had just recently been killed on the field of battle, leaving her in charge of the whole kingdom. With another heavy sigh she began speaking once more, her pale blue hair lightly clung to her face as she tried to hide her tear stained face from the rest of Mewmanity.

"I....I can't do it..I'm not ready...Glossaryck won't even teach me anything he's so distraught over my mother's death. I mean...I don't blame him but...nothing I say or do will bring her back to us. Do I hate monsters for what they've done? No..Absolutely not. Not all monsters are bad! I know they're not. Let me explain using my own friends as a personal example.

First, there's my friend Ludo Avarius, he's...hahaa...Kinda on the 'i'm better than you' slice of the pie, but seeing what he is, a Kappa, i'm not surprised, from what i've heard they're very prideful and take great care to express how much better they are at existing amongst us...common place people. Haha...He's really nice though once you get to know him. He even brings me flowers sometime when i'm unwell or just because he wants an excuse to get away from his minions because they can be very....un-managable. It's the thought that counts though..He's a very irreplaceable friend.

Next there's Kenny..or as he likes to be known as 'Buff Frog'. He's a father now! Isn't that crazy? I feel like time passed by so quickly when he got together with Matilda and had such little Tadpoles. Don't tell him but...Catrina is my favorite...Or is it spelled Katrina? I don't remember, you can't miss her though, she has the really cute gooey eyes that pretty much mind trap you to doing whatever she wants! Or..Maybe that's just me. I consider Kenny a father figure since I really didn't have a father of my own growing up, I've learned many things, like swamp life and how to survive...well..pretty much anything thanks to him. He'll visit me frequently too checking up on me and making sure i'm okay, bringing me treats like his worm cookies and various other treats he gives to his kids. Honestly, i'm half tempted to hire him as my personal chef, the chefs here just...can't think on their own to make anything..I ALWAYS have to decide...I'm tired of it.

Then finally there's...Toffee..He's my closest friend, I met him on my travels when I was about 4, running away from home temporarily to escape learning how to be a princess..I wanted to see what the outside Mewman life was like, what our subjects when through every day of their lives. It...was a little boring..Until I found myself lost in the Foreboding Woods..I felt myself being surrounded by several very tall reptilian creatures, which I later found out were called 'Septarians', all hissing at me because I guess when I got lost I wandered too close to their swamp. I apologized profusely, being the naive four year old I was, I told them I was lost and just wanted to get back home. That's...when I met Toffee, the leader of the group. He stepped out from his small hut with skulls amassed together like curtains. I was afraid, I won't lie..That my skull might end up on that curtain. When Toffee approached me, I was shaking, I looked to his shoulders, which adorned skulls from previous queens he had fought..One looked like it belonged to the former Queen Eclipsa. With a shaky voice I pleaded for my life, I remember feeling tears stream down my cheeks like waterfalls, begging this....rather handsome, albeit, terrifying monster to please let me go, I would never trespass on their property again. All he did was look down at me with a toothy grin, giving a small bow. He apparently knew who I was, but I didn't know him..None of the scrolls I had read taught me about this unkillable creatures known as Septarians. He assured me he wouldn't kill me, that I was too young for war, however we WOULD meet again, under different circumstances. I didn't know what he meant until years later when he and his army tried to invade Butterfly Castle. I defeated him...with use of Queen Eclipsa's dark magic. Well...I wouldn't say defeated..more like....He did a tactical retreat because I made him unable to regenerate a part of himself. Easy to say...We've moved on from that. Now, he's like a big brother to me. At least...for now.

With another small sigh, Moon gently closed her book, her sky blue eyes gently glancing out the window. "I just hope...one day we'll be united under the Wandering Moon. No one should feel left out." She then yawned a little and rested her chin on the edge of her desk.

"...I..should probably think about getting some sleep...But...It feels so lonely now...It's kinda overbearing.."

---

"Then, my dear, you should probably consider doing so..." a low toned voice muttered from a nearby window, a narrow snout silhouetted against the glass could be seen from within the room Moon was in. He was listening to her talk the whole time, or so it seemed, as he gently tapped on the window with the tip of his long tail. It was Toffee, dressed in his 'causal' attire, which consisted of a nice tunic top, the top couple buttons undone, and his usual black pants and dress shoes. He lightly tapped on the window again with his tail, wanting to be let into the room.

"It's been a while, hasn't it Moon?" he gently whispered as he looked towards her from where she sat. He admitted, though only to himself, that she did look quite well as a queen, but he knew that she wasn't ready for such a position, and he felt that she knew that too. with a small 'I know what you're feeling right now' smile he waited for her to get to the window, his eyes locking with hers for a few moments as he waited patiently. "How are you holding up?"

---

"AH!?" Moon flinched a little as she heard a low voice from just outside her window, in her tired state not yet realizing it was Toffee, instinctively pulled out her wand, with quivering hands pointed it towards the window. She then squinted her eyes a little to make out the familiar silhouette. Sighing a small sigh of relief she gently chuckled quietly before putting her wand away, lightly making her way towards the window.

"Toffee..Glad you came." Moon said quietly, gently side glancing to his tail, wanting to poke it so it would stop the tapping. She knew that the guards were asleep since Toffee was able to slip by so easily, but she knew a few of her maids and butlers were still up, and any non-normal castle sound would set them off. She looked back to Toffee upon opening the window, her sky blue eyes started to well up a little as she nodded, resisting the urge to just jump on him and hug him tightly, bury her face in his chest, and just cry. Not caring if he would judge her harshly or not since she was queen now. She indeed, wasn't ready, she could already feel the pressure set in and nothing had remotely happened yet after the war. She put on a brave face before opening the window to let this Septarian inside her room.

"It....It really has...I'm...I'm really glad you're here, Toffee.." Moon's voice gently quivered as she bit her lip to hold back her tears. "I'm......" she hesitated to respond before lightly starting to change the subject. "W-Well since you're here...Would you like some tea?"

---

He watched as Moon reacted to his voice and notions, a bit amused by it all really, she must've been tired if her first reaction was to pull out her wand. He let his tail relax as she opened the window, the tapping finally stopping as he carefully stepped inside of her room, he could see that she wanted to cry, her eyes gave away everything to him, and he knew she couldn't keep up the facade forever. He gave her a small pat on her head, his scaly hand gently running through her bangs as he stepped a little closer to her. "It was no trouble Moon. I'm always glad to come see you." he gently whispered to her, knowing he shouldn't be too loud at this particular hour.

He noticed her bite her lip and raised a brow for a moment before he was about to respond, looking at her a little surprised at her sudden topic change so quick into his arrival. "hm.. Tea sounds lovely actually." he nodded, he wouldn't try to open her fresh wounds right now, he knew that she would need to talk about it soon before she explodes or something, but he wouldn't try to push her too hard about it. "Earl grey with milk if you would be so kind."

---

Moon gave a quiet sigh as she ran her fingers through her hair, her best friend was here and here she was getting on edge because of her current situation. That isn't how a queen handles things, she thought to herself before her attention went back to Toffee as he stepped inside her room, he was so elegant for a monster, to her, he definitely changed from when they first met, at least, to her anyway. He could still be the bloodthirsty killer that Mewmans made Septarians out to be, but at this moment, she didn't care; she was just happy to have familiarity in her life at this time. She flinched a little at the small pat on the head, her eyes glanced up to him again, a quivering hand gently reaching up to grab it, just to hold something close to her, but quickly retracted herself as he moved close to her. Hearing him say that made her smile, a teary smile, but a smile regardless. Such nice words he said to her, it made her a little more at ease, she knew he wouldn't betray her again..at least for a while yet.

"I'm....Thank you, Toffee...I needed to hear something like that..especially from you." She then nodded a little as he agreed to tea, with a small spin on her heel she was about to head out her door, looking back over to him from her shoulder as he said his tea order. She nodded once more before gently closing the door, careful not to make a sound. She knew she should be sleeping by now, as she was going to have a very busy day come sunrise of planning what to do about her mother's death and how to deal with the current standings of Monster and Mewman alliances. She gently pressed her back against the door, her whole body quaking from her mixed emotions. She then took in a deep shaky breath before quietly making her way towards the kitchen area to make Toffee some tea.

"...." Moon was silent, secretly hoping the sun wouldn't rise just yet. She yearned for some normality one final time before she would probably never see her friends again. The thought of that made her break down and silently cry, hiding herself away in the cupboard. That to her meant no more Ludo, no more Kenny, and especially, no more Toffee. The three friends she once held so dear to her, would probably never see her again once she fully became queen. She still had so many things she wanted to do with them, but those plans completely shattered like mirror shards on the ground. Half forgetting she was making tea, she brought her knees close to her chest, recollecting the fun memories she used to have.

---

Toffee gave her a small chuckle as he noticed her flinch, it was definite, she was emotionally unstable and he knew that deep down, she must be having the fight of her life. He couldn't quite put it into words, but he knew he couldn't hurt her again, not after last time. He watched her leave the room, his eyes narrowing into small slits as the door closed behind her, he knew what the sunrise brought to her, and he hated to see her so down. He hated to admit it, but the idea of Moon being sad or distressed, it angered something within him, something that would strike out at anything that would dare try to hurt her again.

Taking a small breath he took a seat in the chair she was just in, he noticed her journal open and glanced at it. Alliances and treaties, and talk of her friendship with Buff Frog, Ludo and himself. Himself... he read her section on him again, she was afraid of him all those years ago, he admitted, he didn't blame her, he did wear skulls as shoulder pads and his tent was decorated in plenty more, and not to mention she was very young, but at least he was civil enough to not hurt a child. At least, a child who wouldn't attack. He continued to read the part about their fight a while back and how he lost his finger to her dark spell. He was handsome? He held back a small chuckle, good to knew she thought him handsome all those years ago. He looked back towards his hand, the finder that was missing since that dark spell hit him never quite felt right afterwards, he wanted it back, but, tonight, tonight of all nights, he would keep his jaw shut about it.

Turning away from the journal he waited for Moon to return, it must've been several minutes now, the tea should've been ready a while ago, he knew their kettles were magical and could heat water to boiling in a matter of seconds, so the fact that it's already been close to ten or more minutes left him feeling on edge. She was never this late with tea, he shouldn't have been able to read that full journal page before her return. Steeling his breath he stood up, and quietly made his way to the kitchen, slinking past the butlers and maids that worked on cleaning the halls in the night. It didn't take him long to find the kitchen, and carefully barricaded the doors so no one could get in. "Moon..?" he gently whispered as he started to look for her. "Moon, where are you?"

---

Moon had continued to sulk inside the cabinet, a faint smile appearing on her face from time to time as she remembered the greater times she had, like when she and Toffee first met Ludo and Kenny at that one place far away, the Tavern at the edge of the world or something like that. She couldn't remember the long name, it was years ago, and her mind was on other things. But she lightly chuckled, Ludo unable to do karaoke but invited her to sing with him, Kenny asking her to be there when his tadpoles were born, and Toffee being the overprotective guy that he was. She knew she had it good and didn't want to lose everything she worked so hard to achieve, especially in this day and age where she felt it nearly impossible for Monsters and Mewmans to get along. She cherished the fact she had monster friends who would be there for her, no matter what. Her happy thoughts slowly faded away as she shook out of her blissful stupor upon hearing Toffee's whispering voice within the kitchen. This caused her to flinch rather violently, banging her head against the top of the cupboard ceiling. She winced quietly before immediately flinging the doors open, landing face first on the ground, her crown gently rolling in front of her.

She looked up and saw him as he barricaded the doors, quickly scrambling to her feet before she quietly made her way back to the tea kettle, thankful the lights were still off so she had hoped he couldn't see what a mess she was after her, what felt like hours, of crying. She gently brought the kettle boil to a close as she rested it on the side of the counter, heading towards the fridge like pantry to retrieve the milk. She quietly called out to Toffee in a shaky voice.

"S-S-Sorry Toffee...I'm....I'm coming right now..P-P-P-Please go back t-to my room..." she brought the milk over and set it next to the kettle. Taking in a small breath to regain her composure before grabbing a hold of the milk carton, her hands not wanting to move.

---

Toffee turned his head rather quickly as he heard the sound of Moon's head hitting the ceiling of the cupboard, and the following sound of her crown rolling onto the floor as she fell out of her hiding place. He squinted a little as he tried to spot her in the darkness, giving up on using normal light he closed his eyes and let his natural thermal tracking find her. It was with this natural ability he had that he noticed her face was warmer than it normally is, she must've been crying, he thought to himself. He gently opened his eyes again as he made his way towards her, sure, his thermal tracking worked wonders outside, but in this kitchen, where everything that wasn't touched all had the same heat signature, it was more of a hassle than anything. Carefully, he made his way until he was behind her, gently placing his arms against the counter in front of Moon, successfully capturing her in that spot.

"Now, Moon, you and I both know I'm not going to do that. Not right now." he gently whispered to her as he kept her stuck in that area. "I've blocked the doors so no one can get in, but now... we need to talk." he soon gave her a cold look, his eyes going to slits again before he took a slow breath, letting himself calm down first before doing anything he might regret.

"Moon, I know it's got to hurt, I heard about your mother, but that's not all that's on your mind, is it?" he gently moved himself closer, bringing her into a comforting embrace from behind as he carefully nuzzled his snout against her cheek. "Talk to me. Cry if you must, I'm here... I'm here."

---

With Moon's hands still on the Milk carton, with one final shaky breath she managed to pour the desired amount of Milk inside that Toffee liked. She had to remember, he was a very finicky kind of guy, and she liked that about him, not just any old thing would do. It had to be this certain way or at this certain place and time. He..He knew how to run a kingdom, she thought to herself as she placed the Milk back into the fridge like pantry. Maybe she should reside and let him run the castle, he's much older and knows about things like this. People would HAVE to listen to him, he knows how to tell people what to do. I mean, you kind of have to when you run your own personal army, right? She digressed with a small sigh, really wanting to consider asking him, but knew that would never be an option. She didn't want him to face the stress of being around stupid Mewmans who literally thought they weren't even allowed to use the bathroom without the queen's say-so. She found it rather annoying, and the thought made her lightly frown angrily.

She raised a small brow as she heard scurrying around, thinking perhaps Toffee was trying to find his way out of the kitchen, acting more like a primal lizard like creature and trying to scamper up walls. She shrugged gently once more before she lightly grabbed the kettle with the cup and plate. Moon flinched violently once again as she felt herself be corned by Toffee at her spot, struggling to keep the kettle and cup in her hand.

"?! T-Toffee? Wh--"She instantly paused the moment Toffee started to speak, her body quaking once more, the cup started to make a clinking noise against the plate. She quietly and slowly put the items down as so they would not shatter on the newly cleaned kitchen floor. She was curious to why he blocked the doors, didn't he want to go back to her room and not be shrouded with the darkness within the kitchen? Why did he want to talk NOW of all times. She gently started to struggle a little to try to move out of his grip before her eyes met with his. The slit eyes had returned again, that look alone is what reminded her of how scary monsters can be, and their war many years ago. She stood frozen in place, still quivering more before he eventually calmed himself, she still a little on edge, but found herself calming down eventually as well.

"We...How did you....." So many questions were running through her mind, how did Toffee find out about everything that supposedly never left the castle walls? Like her mother's death on the battlefield, as far as she was told, that was kept a temporary secret from the rest of Mewmanity. And what did he mean by all on her mind. She gave him a quizzical look, did he read her journal? If that was the case she should have slapped him right there on the spot, but she couldn't find herself to do it, thinking that would be the last thing he would remember of her. She then gasped silently from the embrace from behind, feeling his cold scaly nose pressed against her cheek made tears stream down her face even more. What a comforting feeling. She was at a loss of words. Not really wanting to talk, she just wanted to break down and cry, one last time to remind herself that she was a Mewman, and not some emotionless beast she felt she was now.

"Toffee..." She then couldn't hold it in anymore, he was so kind to her, she turned herself around to face him, grasping tightly on his shirt collar and buried her face in his chest, ashamed that his perfectly clean white tunic top was now stained a watery black color due to her crying and her mascara starting to run. She begged him to keep her close one final time.

"Toffee...I....W-Will y-y-you..." she couldn't get any words out, she could start to see the sun start to rise from the corner of her eye through the window. With that, her eyes widened a little as she buried her face in his chest more, lightly pounding on his chest, throwing a mild tantrum that she didn't want to lose him, or her friends. Her inner child was finally showing, and there was no way she could stop it this time.

---

He gave a gently sigh, he knew she would have figured out he read her journal by his words, but now was not the time to worry about such a trivial thing, right now, as far as he was concerned, was just him, her, this room and the rising sun. He could see that he scared her with his eyes for the moment, so he wanted to be careful around her, trying not to provoke any negative feelings in this sensitive time. The way she looked towards him, the black of her mascara running down her face only proved to him that she was indeed crying, and he needed to be there to comfort her.

"Listen, Moon, I'm sorry, your journal, it was open... I only saw the page you must've just written. About your mom, you taking over, remembering Ludo, Kenny and me." he gave a small pause, trying to talk quietly so that only she could hear him with the approaching sunrise. Soon the chefs would be trying to get in, he had to be careful. "I know it was wrong, I can't undo what I've done.."

He gently nuzzled deeper into her cheek, now his cheek touching hers as he felt her warm tears against his cold scales. "But no matter what happens, We'll always be here for you Moon." His eyes widened a little as she suddenly turned around, feeling her grasp his shirt he knew what she wanted of him. He gently tightened his embrace around her, creating a bit of a protective bubble between them and the rest of Mewni. He let her cry, watching as the sun rose overhead, it was too late to run and hide, any minute now someone would try to enter the kitchen, someone would be wanting to wake up their Queen to find she isn't in her sleeping quarters, a search would happen, they would find him here, with her in his grasp. They would try to kill him for attempting to kidnap their queen, only to find he was still unkillable. But none of that mattered to him right now. For right now, he had Moon, she was crying, and she needed him more than she needed the entirety of Mewni right now.

"I will. I'll stay right here Moon." he gently whispered into her ear, keeping her close to him so she could hear the slow, calm beating of his heart as he gently placed her head against his chest. "It'll be okay."

---

"J-Just because a journal is open d-d-doesn't mean you should read it." She tried to gather as much of herself as she could to show...some sort of power over him, but of course, it didn't work, in her current state of mind she knew she was no match to even attempt to teach him a lesson. All the work up she did just led her to sigh quietly, trying to cover her face, breathing out with a shaky breath. She then gently mustered up enough strength in herself to calm just ever so slightly to talk to him.

"I....I understand, Toffee...C-Curious is as curious d-d-does.." She tried to fake a smile for him, not wanting her stained black face of sadness to be the last thing he sees. But it quickly faded away as she felt him nuzzle her deeper, her eyes swelling up more as more tears continued to flow, hearing him tell her that her friends would always be there for her, she couldn't hold it in much longer and buried her face once more, trying to cease her outlandish crying. She could feel his masculine arms embrace her tighter, she felt so protected in this creature's arms than any actual persons. The one thing Mewni feared most, was holding her close right now, her body pressed against his made her feel so at ease, it was a type of feeling she never really knew growing up. Protection, safety, she felt at ease, at least for now. She could feel her eyes start to droop, this monster was one of the only ones to ever make her feel at peace in her times of need. She knew she never really had many of those, but when she did, she knew her friends would be there the moment night fell, and that's why she really loved the night time. She feared now, that they had been embraced for so long,Toffee wouldn't have been able to get away, and the LAST thing she wanted, was for everyone in the castle to think things the wrong way. "Toffee.." Moon said in a hesitant and quiet voice, gently pulling away from him, "Y-Y-You...You need to g-go...L-like now...Th-There's a small escape tunnel near the oven over there..." Her tantrum had died soon enough after he whispered that to her and she could hear his heartbeat. How could something so vile be so soothing? That's what the others would think anyway, a monster with...feelings? Comfort? Sympathy? Surely it was a trick, they would have thought. But she knew better, this heartbeat was the most comforting thing in the world to her, along with Toffee's embrace, she was indeed in pure bliss. She felt herself start to cave into slumber, as the sun shone through the window, lighting up the once pure darkened kitchen, her eyes started to close, struggling to keep them open as she once more hid her face in his chest.

"I....I can't stay awake...." She felt her grasp on his collar loosen, her body slinking down towards the floor as she still struggled to keep herself awake. She was physically and emotionally drained from everything, not sure she'd be able to handle what the morning would bring to her next. She would do anything to spend one last day with her friends.

---

Toffee gave a small sigh, he knew, he didn't need her to tell him that he did something stupid, but he let her do so anyways, anything that would help her ease her troubled mind, he told himself. In the rising sunlight he saw just how much the mascara ran down her face and he gently reached into his pocket, grabbing a soft cloth that he used to gently rub her face with, trying to remove as much of the stick back makeup as he could before generally giving up. There was so much of it that she'd have to run her face in soapy water to remove it all.

He kept her close in his arms, sure, she asked him to leave, the sun was up, it was dangerous for him to stay, especially now with the castle on edge since they lost their previous queen, he knew what they'd think 'that beast is trying to kill Queen Moon!' he could imagine the townspeople shouting. But he simply didn't want to let her go, not right now. In this time, she needed something that none of them could or would ever give her, compassion, the kind of compassion that only a close friend could give. He knew he'd have to do something for her, but with time running out, he had to be quick. It wasn't until he heard her mention the escape route that he even considered leaving her side. Even then, however, the idea repulsed him, he couldn't leave her here all alone!

"Moon, I.." his sentence was cut short as he felt her grasp loosen. He gave a small startled gasp before he carefully held her closer, making sure she wouldn't fall to the floor. "I'll get you back to your room..." he ended up quietly whispering as he disregarded the escape route. He had no idea where that path would lead him, but he knew a great way to get to her room from outside. Keeping her exhausted body close to his, he carefully unlocked the kitchen window, and, using his strong arm and claws, he scaled the building, careful to hide in the vines that were creeping up the castle walls as he did so.

It took several minutes, but he managed to get back to her room, thankful that she forgot to close the window after he got in initially, he was able to get her inside and gently laid her into her bed. He looked at the clock, he had three minutes to make himself scarce, he closed his eyes, that would be plenty of time, he told himself. He looked back towards Moon, she looked so small in that bed on her own. What he wouldn't give to stay by her side, keep her in his arms, whisper sweet nothings to her to help her sleep, but he knew he couldn't. Biting his tongue he gently ran his hand through her bangs again. "I'm sorry Moon. Today will be tough, but I'll return tonight. We wont let you be alone. That's a promise."

With a quiet sigh, he risked a small notion of affection, a gentle kiss on her forehead, before he quietly turned around, and slipped out of the window before anyone even knew he was there.

---

Moon tried to cease her crying, she could feel the mascara start to overtake her face, feeling Toffee's cloth try to wipe away some of the access mascara was rather nice to her, another feeling of affection. This caused her to well up again, after this she figured she would have no more tears left to cry with how much she had been in this one day. She lost her only family, she was going to rule when she clearly wasn't ready, and the worst of it was her never being able to be with her friends again.

"Toffee...You HAVE to leave..Please..I don't want them....to hurt you." she tried to hold back onto him as he held her close to get back to her room. She didn't want to be there right now, but she knew she had to be. She was fighting really hard to stay awake to see him, the vines lightly brushing against her face as she used her hands to cover it upon the minutes of them arriving to her bedroom.

She felt the plush of her bed, never had it seemed so cold to her, this bed was one of the most comforting beds in all of Mewni, but to her right now it felt like a bed of spikes. What she wouldn't give to sleep in either a small hut in the swamp or a dirty mattress at Kenny's. Even the stone slab at Ludo's would have been more comfy for her. She digressed as she felt his fingers run through her bangs, gently reaching a quivering hand to hold it close to her.She believed him when he told her that he'd be back, Septarians never went back on their word, even if they had to fight to get where they were going. Her eyes widened a little as she felt the small kiss on her forehead, causing her to turn red slightly before quickly sitting up on the bed, a small dizziness overcame her before she reached out the window.

"Toffee! W-Wait! Please! I....I wanted to give you....something." she panted heavily as she held her head, the sun's rays were not what she needed right now, but she needed him to stay just a moment longer.

---

Toffee listened to the broken words coming from Moon's tired mouth, he hated to see her like this, he really did. But he knew that no guard could ever actually hurt him, they could cut him, sever his limbs, torture him even, but they could never hurt him, and he knew that she knew that as well, but her exhaustion must've clouded her mind. He gave a small sigh, he honestly didn't want to leave, but as he was about to vanish from the window he heard her voice again. The sun was bright as it rose, and he knew it couldn't be good for her eyes to be looking towards the sunrise like that, but he gave a small sigh again as he carefully turned back, letting himself through the window towards her again.

"Moon... what is it my dear..?" he gently grabbed her hand as he sat beside her, a concerned look on his face as he looked towards her. He kept his voice as a whisper, gently leaning closer to her so she wouldn't have to speak up, just in case the castle staff tried to listen to anything. "What is you you have for me..?"

---

Moon still sitting up in the bed, continued to shield her eyes from the upcoming sunrise, it was beautiful, but to someone who's literally been crying all night and hadn't slept, it was like a massive fireball that flashed to her. She winced gently before she managed to look back to Toffee, who, much to her gratitude, had heard her plea to come back to her. She gave a faint smile before she was about to reach over into her bed side table drawer, flinching just ever so slightly as he grabbed her hand. Her eyes focused down on their hands a little before she faintly blushed, grabbing his hand back weakly.

"I...I wanted to.." She gently leaned forward and nuzzled him slightly, using him as a type of leaning object so she wouldn't collapse after she managed to pull out a small vial from her drawer. Inside was Toffee's finger she had kept all those years ago. Why did she keep it? She couldn't remember, probably in a secret hope that she would see him again, in either good or not so good circumstances. She had held onto it long enough and with a quivering hand, placed in onto Toffee's lap.

"Th-This belongs to you....." She gave him another weak smile before her attention went towards the door, she could hear approaching footsteps. She gasped quietly before she then used the rest of her strength to shove Toffee under her bed. "Stay u-under there for a minute." She quietly exclaimed as the knocking on the door drowned out whatever words she was saying to outside ears.

"Y-Yes? Come in." She leaned back on the back of her bed as one of the butlers approached her asking what type of breakfast she wanted, but not before making a comment about her red swollen eyes and blackened face due to the mascara. She made up a lie saying that she had a really sad dream about her mother's passing, to which the butler agreed and hugged her, saying that he knew she would be a good queen, just like her one day.

Upon the butler leaving she could feel her body start to give way, but knew she had to hold out for the next twelve hours because of her training. She grabbed a hold of the bedpost, forgetting Toffee was under her bed. In her state she seemed to forget a lot of things.

"What I wouldn't give for some Worm Cookies by now....And a drink." she mumbled angrily to herself as she slipped out of bed, literally landing face first on the floor. Within the first few seconds of silence she growled faintly before throwing another little mini tantrum.

---

Toffee looked down towards Moon's seemingly frail body as she used him as a leaning device of sorts, he could see she was barely able to do anything, let alone reach for whatever it was she was wanting to give to him. He tilted his head a little as he saw her grab the small vial, his eyes widening as he saw his severed finger within its glass confines. He gently grabbed the vial and popped off the cork, letting his hand refuse with his finger as he looked back towards Moon. "Moon, you--"

He was cut off as she shoved him under her bed, the sounds of footsteps from the butler becoming apparent to him and he stayed quiet, the empty vial rolling ever so slightly away from him. Watching the vial roll he quietly cursed to himself before he managed to grab it before the butler had a chance to notice.

Listening intently to the small conversation directly above him, he tried to hide a small growl, how dare that butler try to touch Moon, let alone comfort her. He didn't know what she was really going through. He didn't know the torment and despair she was feeling, the kind of feelings that she only showed to those who she really trusted. He would deal with that butler later. For now, however, he turned his attention back towards Moon as he saw her fall face first from the corner of his eye. He wanted to just pull her close, remind her that he's still there for her and that everything will be alright. He did make a note about the cookies to himself, he would go to see Kenny as soon as he left, but first, he wanted to give her one more small affection before it was too late.

"Moon..?" he whispered quietly as he carefully maneuvered himself so he could face her from under the bed. He gently reached out towards her, his freshly repaired hand giving him some renewed confidence that he would do anything to make her smile again.

---

After she had finished throwing her mini tantrum she gave a defeated sigh, knowing that she wouldn't actually be able to escape the fate that Mewmanity had placed upon her. She was officially Queen Moon now, and wouldn't have much time for anything else, or any other title. She placed both hands by her shoulders and started to try to get up, her quaking body giving out half way up. She growled lowly again to herself before she blinked twice and looked over her shoulder to see Toffee, well, his eyes mostly. It was a little creepy, but she smiled lightly regardless knowing that he wouldn't hurt her. "Y-Yeah?" She said rather hoarsely, looking towards his newly reformed hand, that definitely suited him better than just having the constant 'I love you' hand gesture looking hand all the time.

"What is it...?" She gently turned herself around as best she could, barely reaching enough to grab his index finger, holding on as tightly as she could. "I'm...surprised you're still here now...the butler is gone and..I.....I.." she bit her lip once more, not wanting to say she would have to take over her queenly duties, so no more free time to hang out with her friends anymore. The thought once again made her tear up, but her eyes widened, she literally cried out all her tears. She gently scooted herself under the bed and nuzzled up to Toffee, trying to keep her head away from his chest as to not dirty it even more.

"I'm.....I'm scared, Toffee...What if I'm not going to be a good queen....What if I can't live up to Mewni's expectations...My Monster/Mewman treaty will never be taken seriously at this rate....I just want to..." she cut her self short as she heard the knock on her door again, the butler let himself in, but raised a brow as he saw Moon lightly poke her head out from the bed, asking what she was doing.

She replied that she had dropped her quill under the bed and she was just getting it, thanking him for the breakfast. "I'll...I'll finish quickly and then get to my studies..." she forced herself to say, seeing the approving smile upon the butler's face as he left. She then lightly ducked her head back under the bed, burying her face in his chest, not even caring anymore.

"I can't do it, Toffee....I can't...I just want to run away to the Tavern at the end of the Multiverse...Somewhere where....I'm not queen..."

---

Toffee watched as she threw her mini tantrum, he knew she rarely ever got this way, and secretly, he was glad that he was one of the only ones who ever got to see such a childish side of her. He gently nodded towards her as she grabbed his finger, glad that some contact could seem to get through to her. he gave her a soft smile, a warm smile in that he understood in just how much weight she had to carry was.

"Well, of course I am Moon. It's a little too 'dangerous' for me to leave at this particular moment. I'd be seen." he gave a small chuckle before he felt Moon nuzzle up to him. She must've been distraught, he never thought she would ever run out of tears in the duration of a night, but, he felt like he could understand, she went through the lowest pits of the underworld in the most intense roller coaster ride of her life and it all came to a sudden stop, undoubtedly sending her flying forward to a part of the track she wasn't prepared to face yet.

"Moon, you'll be a great one, don't worry about what they say, your rule is law now." he started as he gently brushed her hair with his free fingers. "They just have to--" he cut himself short as he heard the butler come back inside, quietly cursing to himself. When he saw her return to under the bed with him he held her close, letting her bury her face into his chest as he gently stroked her hair again.

He listened to her plea, a small smile creeping across his face as an idea struck him. Sure, he would be hated if they found out it was him, but if it meant that Moon would be able to smile again, he didn't care. "The Tavern?" he whispered before holding her a little tighter, a small sinister chuckle escaping his jaw. "Well then, why don't I... do something drastic then?" he looked down to Moon, his eyes slits again to show he was deadly serious about what he was going to do.

Without another moment wasted he used one of his powerful arms to hoist themselves from under the bed and made it to the window with her in tow. "Hold on tight Moon." He didn't wait for her to respond before he leapt from the windowsill, running across the rooftops before he made it to the furthest castle walls, his movements effortless as he kept her close in his arms. "You'd best sleep for now... and when you wake, well.." he gave another small chuckle. "You'll see."

---

Every time she threw her tantrum it just made her more flustered, especially since now that she had been awake for so long, and with minimum shocks to her system, she felt herself reach a small second wind of sorts, at least now being able to comprehend everything that's going on. She looked back up to Toffee, rubbing her eyes to rid the excess amounts of water that resided in them, seeing that wonderful toothy smile of his, she found herself smiling to him.

"You could escape if you really wanted," Moon began as she lightly used her fist to knock on the floor under her bed, a hollow sound of a trap door gently echoed underneath them, "This was the door I used to escape those years ago when I didn't want my princess training..I had dug it out myself when I was 'sleeping'." she gave a low tired chuckle before listening to him, lightly shaking her head.

"I really don't think i'll be great....Mediocre at best...maybe." She gave another sigh before gently reaching up to grab his hand after the butler had left and her face was buried. She swore up and down his shirt was going to have her face imprinted on it with how often she buried her face in it. Looking back to Toffee and seeing that sinister smile caused her to raise a small brow, lightly flinching a little as his eyes turned into the slits. She frowned a little and bopped him on the head.

"Stop with the eyes, Toffee!" she demanded silently, as to not attract unwanted attention, but frowned a little before she then shook her head. "Nonononono Toffee wait--I can't just--AH!" She gasped lightly as she felt herself be swooped out from under the bed, growling faintly at him before she embraced him tightly holding on for dear life. "W-Where are we going?! Where are you taking me?! TOFFEE!" she then paused a little and looked back up to him as he chuckled, hesitantly nodding as she started to drift off into sleep. His embrace and the gentle warm wind eventually lulled her to sleep.

---

Toffee listened as she mentioned a trap door under her bed but gently shook his head. "No thanks Moon, that'd be too easy for me." he gave her another smirk before he felt her boop his nose. If there was anything he didn't care for was being booped on the nose, but he gave her a small smile as he let his eyes return to normal, watching her drift to sleep as he ran over the rooftops of the town, soon diving down towards the back roads where no one could easily see them.

"Oh, my dear Moon, you will be a great queen. But for now, my sleeping angel, you wont be doing anything royal until you've rested, both physically and mentally, so you can be more prepared." he looked ahead, he was heading right towards the swamp where Buff Frog resided, a small sigh of relief escaped him as he kept moving forward. He told himself that he could teach her everything she would need to know about ruling, but that would be for later. With her asleep in his arms, he knew what he should do. The kingdom didn't know of her kidnapping yet, and she had time now to be herself again. He approached a single hut, with his arms full he used his tail to knock on the door.

"Buff Frog? My apologies for such an early calling good friend, we need your assistance." He gently called, trying to not be too loud as he didn't want to wake up Moon yet, hoping that the busy father was awake. He could go in and out of Castle Butterfly at will with his secret passages, but with Buff Frog, he felt that intruding unannounced would lead to a bit of a scuff that neither of them would care to do. "It's for Moon..."

---