Wands and Wards: Chapter 2

The hustle and bustle of the city soon gave way to a less crowded place. There were fewer towers and more townhouses with sprawling lawns around here. There were also a lot less of these ‘cars’ which suited Star just fine. Their riders were some of the rudest people she’d had the pleasure of meeting. People were waving and pointing at them as they passed by. They even had magic mirrors as the people on the side of the street had rectangular mirrors in their hands.

“Mom, are you sure they don’t have magic because I’m seeing a lot of magic here. Look! They have water fountains on their lawns!” She shouted as she pointed at the water sprinkling across the lawns of some of the houses.

“Yes Star, it’s all… physical here.”  Her mother replied. Star couldn’t quite believe her with all the things she was seeing.

“It looks pretty magical to me.” She answered back.

Her mother sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose before replying “Your Uncle and cousin will be better equipped to answer your questions. Now, we’re getting close to their house, so be on your best behavior.” The warning was clear but it shot past her head as she was far too focused on trying to find her uncle’s home.

Star smooshed her face against the glass of the window and tried to look for her cousin's castle. “I don’t see any castles!” She shouted. It was just row after row of pretty yet similar houses. Sure they were colorful and well kept but they looked more like a merchant’s house than anything her other cousins had.

“Danny… always liked to live a simpler life, dear. He prefers homes like these. It honestly has its charms, really. Hey River, do you think we should get a summer home in Bet?” Her mother asked as she turned to her father. He had his contemplative look on his face as he started thinking about it.

“It would be nice dear. Bet does have its problems. Still, a house here wouldn’t be a bad idea, especially since Danny and his daughter can go there as well!” Her father replied with a nod but an interesting detail caught her ears.

“Problems?” She asked. This sounds like some fun! Solving problems was one of the duties of a Mewni Monarch after all and it wouldn’t hurt to solve some of the problems of this dimension.

“Ah yes. Nothing to worry about dear. We’ll pick you up if the local monster problem comes your way.” Her mother reassured her but it confused her all the more. A monster problem doesn’t sound so bad.

“Monsters? Really mom. I’m sure it’s nothing a little wand swinging can handle!” She replied. As if some monsters can beat her. She beat monsters for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Her mother frowned as she shook her head. “Star, we’re serious about this. Stay away from these monsters. They don’t usually attack that often so it’s safe and they attack with enough regularity that we know when the next one will come by.” Her mother warned her with a serious tone.

Star stuck out her tongue as she started thinking of how these monsters can be a problem. She gasped as she asked, “Is there a monster army here!? Just like the army you beat back when you were just my age?” She started imagining a hoard of such devious and deadly monsters running around causing trouble. Will they have a septarian general as well? She was excited to face them but at the same time, her mother’s worry was sending alarm bells ringing.

“No Star. They’re not like our version of monsters. They’re more akin to natural disasters than anything really. It’s not something you should worry about unless you plan on facing one which I will forbid you from ever doing!” Her mother replied.

Star nodded along but in truth, she was also planning on sneaking out and facing one of these monsters. It sounds like a lot of fun! Her mother however must have cast some form of mind reading spell as she frowned before saying, “I know that look you have Star. I’m warning you, do not engage these monsters. They cannot be reasoned with, they’re hard to kill, and they will harm you.”

“Fine. I promise I won't fight them.” She replied as she looked away. She wondered why her mother was such a killjoy when it comes to the things she liked. Oh it’s too dangerous and you can get hurt. She liked a little bit of danger in her life.

“Good. Oh! Here’s your uncle's house.” Her mother said as she pointed at one of the bigger houses in the neighborhood. There, standing in front of the house was a tall, lean, and bespectacled man with the exact same color as her mothers hair but he sported star shaped cheek marks. Unlike her mother however, he looked way happier. He still held that elegant cultured look with the way he held himself and how well groomed and trimmed his blue hair was yet he did not hold the severe look that her mother sported. He looked like an odd reflection of her mother. He was jovial whereas her mother was morose. He smiled when her mother frowned. He dressed with his simple slacks and buttoned shirt while her mother preferred to dress elaborately with her gowns and other outfits. It wasn’t her uncle that caught her attention however. Beside the man was a girl that really caught her eyes.

“Mom! Mom! It’s you!” Star excitedly shouted as she pointed at the bored looking girl standing beside who she assumed was her uncle. It was as if somebody took a copy of her mothers old paintings and had it come to life or like a blue haired version of herself and the resemblance was uncanny. She looked exactly like her mother right down to her cheek marks. She looked straight laced with how straight she stood; though her choice of clothing, that of a simple T-shirt and short jean shorts, contrasted with the aura she exuded. Her smart looking glasses gave her this feeling like Star could ask her anything and she could answer, just like mom! What's funny was she sported the same bored look that her mother wore. She was the spitting image of her mother and it kinda made her feel jealous but also amazed as her cousin inherited her uncle's hair color. She wanted the Mewni Blue hair!

“Wait, what do you mean me? Oh...” Her mother questioned before trailing off as she noticed her cousin’s looks. She was just as surprised as Star was, but can she blame her? She looked so much like her mom except much younger, taller, and sporting a more prominent frown.

“Hah! She looks exactly like you when you were young, Moon!” Her father laughed out as their carriage crawled to a stop in front of the house.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Star burst out of the coach with the force of a thousand warnicorns and bounded for her cousin. She grabbed on to her and pressed her face close against her. “Oh my god! You look exactly like mom when she was young! You even have her eyes! Are we twins separated from birth?!” She screamed out in excitement as her cousin gave her a mystified and bewildered look.

“Personal space! Do you not know what it is?” Her cousin growled angrily as she squealed out in happiness. Her cousin might just be the most perfect cousin there ever was. She even feels strong and could definitely wrestle Warnicorns with her as her cousin was almost able to pry her off.

“You should totally become one of my ladies in waiting!” She offered to her cousin. Star had yet to have any lady in waiting as her friends were the same rank as she was and most of the other girls in the castle were boring but her cousin?! Oh her cousin would fit in perfectly.

Before her cousin could accept, She was unfortunately pulled off by her uncle. ”Well, you’re certainly a feisty one. Kinda reminds me of myself when I was young. So, this here’s your kid, Moon?” He asked her mother as he gently set her down without scolding her that much. She was starting to like him more already.

“Yes.” Her mother replied with a flat look in her face as she reached out for her collar to drag her away from her cousin. The confused glare that she was giving Star was definitely a good sign in the princess’s eyes. That only meant she was already halfway befriended.

“You sure we didn’t swap kids? You and Annette did give birth in the same hospital.” Her uncle said in a joking manner while he sported a melancholic smile.

“I definitely remembered Star coming out of me.” Her mom answered with a soft smile as she gave her a pat on the head.

She and her cousin blanched at what her mother just said. “Mom! Too many details!” She cried out. That was something she wanted to not think too much about.

“TMI!” Her cousin shouted. She did not know what that meant but it definitely echoed her sentiments. Her uncle and father could only chuckle at her and her cousins' shared pain.

“I think she’s going to love it here.” Her uncle claimed and to that she nodded eagerly. “Anyways, Taylor, why don’t you and your cousin go out to the boardwalk and look around. You had been complaining about your running shoes being worn out.” He then said as he reached out for his pockets before her mother stopped him much to his confusion.

Her father then snapped his fingers and their butler came running to them with a box in hand. “There’s no need for that, let us handle this. Manfred, please give them the card.” Her mother then said and her family's manservant walked up to her and her cousin before opening the box in his hands. There atop a purple cushion was a rectangular card with the word Coutt’s in cursive emblazoned upon its shiny surface.

“Moon, there’s no need-” Her uncle tried to reason before her mom replied.

“Come on Danny, let me threaten you for once. Remember all the times you covered for me at quest buy?” Her mother then said. Star blinked as she stared at her mother. She was normally so straight laced that seeing her smile for once was quite surprising.

Her uncle took in a breath before holding his hands in surrender. “Ok, ok, just this once but next time you come by, I’ll be the one treating you.” He replied.

“You can try.” Her mother replied before the two laughed out loud. “Oh before I forget, I brought with us some of your favorite vintage.”

“Now that’s just cheating, Moon.” Her uncle replied. Star took a quick glance at her cousin who was sporting an equally perplexed look.

“Star, Taylor, best for you two to eat lunch…” Her uncle trailed off before glancing to the racks of wine being carted to the house. “And dinner as well. Me, Moon, and Rivers have some catching up to do.” he added.

“Taylor, you hold that card. It’s the first time Star visited this dimension. I hope she won’t give you too much trouble.” Her mother replied as Star shrugged. She brought herself some pocket money so worse comes to worst, she could buy herself something. “Also, you have my express permission to take Star’s Wand if she misbehaves.” her mother added, making Star cry out in outrage.

“Mom!” She protested. She couldn’t believe how her own mother wouldn’t trust her with the royal magic wand.

“The burning rainbows.” Her mother then said, making her cringe back. Laughing, she nodded along as that arrangement sounded better than having her mother take back the wand from her temporarily. Oh yes this was hers but her mother had yet to step down or be made to step down the throne.

“Aye aye… your majesty?” Taylor replied unsure about the request.

“Now now sweetie, you can call me Auntie Moon or Moon. We’re family after all.” Her mother replied while Star pouted and crossed her arm. This was so unfair.

“You sure Taylor can handle it? I mean, she has her bouts of magical flare up but it is the wand.” Her uncle brought up her concern.

“Well, if she’s like anything like me then she can handle it.” Her mother replied.

“If you say so. You two can get the bikes in the shed. You know how to use the repair spell right, Star?” Her uncle then gestured towards the back of the house.

“Uhuh.” She replied glumly. She was still a bit peeved about what her mom said.

“Just use it when the chains break. My bike hasn’t been used in a while.” He replied as he scratched the back of his head.

“Ok off you two go and Star, please don’t cause too much trouble.” Her mother then said. That was one way to dampen Star's mood. With that, her parents and uncle went inside the house to continue their chat leaving the two of them.

“I take it that you got grounded.” Taylor asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Almost got sent to St. Olga’s.” She admitted.

“Oof. Harsh. Well, just follow my lead and you’ll be fine. It’s Brockton Bay after all, the safest city in America.” She replied as she waved for Star to follow. Maybe she was letting her mothers words color her view of Taylor. She sounded cool enough. Hopefully, a trip out to this Boardwalk would cheer her up.