#tales of a star

[the-star-knight]

Tales Of A Star

Tales Of A Star

Summary: A retelling of the show through Star’s eyes

Star is young teenager, daughter to one of the Queen's handmaiden and the royal stable keeper, when the long lost princess has soon to be held coronation, she comes across a magical stone. Unknowingly of how this is her destiny, she soon finds out that this gem turns her world on its head, giving her a sword, armor, and a duty she must carry: protecting the Kingdom of Corona.

Chapter 12 - Beyond Corona Walls (Part 1)

Word Count: 2,291

◀ Previous Chapter || Next Chapter ▶︎

It's been almost a week since we departed from Corona. The past week has been quite exhausting, to say the least. All thanks to Rapunzel, we were sidetracked a couple of times. I couldn’t blame her for it, she was having the time of her life. I would join too if I were in the mood. For the last couple of days, I've been trying to adjust to life on the road. 

It's honestly a big shake-up from life in Corona.

“Next stop: Vardaros!” Hookfoot yelled.

“City of fun and games!” Lance also sprung up from the trapdoor on top of the roof of the caravan.

“I am so glad we brought those two along,” Cass said sarcastically. She was the driver of the caravan, sitting in the front alongside me while holding the reins.

“Ah, come on, Cass! Vardaros is an amazing city! You’re gonna have fun. Which I’m guessing is a new thing for you!” Eugene joked.

I snorted. It was kind of funny. 

“Come on Pascal! It’s our first big city outside of Corona. You heard him, Cass, this is gonna be fun!” Rapunzel beamed. “Vardaros, here we come!” 

Continue reading on AO3 or continue under the cut ⬇︎

“Not that you shouldn't trust the endorsement of three lifetime criminals, Raps, but maybe you should trust me too,” Cassandra said. “I’m just making sure we don’t lose sight of what we’re doing out here.” 

“I know. Believe me, Cass,” Rapunzel pulled out a torn piece of a scroll.  “I feel like whatever is waiting for us at the end of this road, is only part of why we’re out here.”

She rolled up the torn scroll and put it safely in her bag. 

I always wondered what the drawings on the scroll meant. There was the drawing of the sunflower that had healing powers and a drawing of the sun, but it also seemed there was something else. Perhaps we will find those missing pieces on this journey. 

I began to second-guess my choice of leaving Corona. The thought enters my head every so often. Now, I’m officially a knight of Corona. I have a duty to protect the kingdom, and what’s the first thing I do as a knight? Leave, of course. Now I realize how bad my decision looks. Maybe, I should’ve stayed in Corona…

Rapunzel sensed something wasn’t right with me.

“Are you still not gonna wear your new uniform?” Rapunzel asked abruptly, breaking my train of thought.

I shook my head, “No, I just figured I wouldn’t want to draw any attention.”

“Attention?” she blinked.

“Well, yeah, I don’t want to wear something that yells Corona.”

“Pfft! The uniform doesn’t say that!”

I pulled it out from the bag next to me. I unfolded the uniform in front of her and right smack dab in the middle of it had the Corona crest embroidered on it with silver threads on the backside. “Really?”

“Okay, okay, okay, maybe I went a little crazy with the embroidery,” Rapunzel scratched her head, “but I can fix it!”

Rapunzel got up and took the uniform into the caravan.

“That’s not the real reason why you don’t want to wear it, is it?” Cass asked.

I sighed, she was right, “Yeah…”

“Why wouldn’t you want to wear it? That was a gift from the royal family and for you being knighted. Corona hasn’t had a knight in centuries, you know?”

“And I appreciate it, I really do! It’s just that…” 

“Just what?”

I sighed, “It...it doesn’t feel right …Ever since the day I was knighted at the Star Knight, I’ve felt like I didn’t deserve it…”

“Didn’t deserve it? Ha,” Cassandra chuckled. “You defeated Varian.” 

“But, that’s the thing, I didn’t defeat Varian, Rapunzel did…” I inhaled sharply, “He was right, I’m not a hero. I couldn’t even protect myself…I let my friends get hurt because of me...all because I was too weak.”

“Hey,” Cass elbowed me gently, “If anyone deserves to be called a hero, it’s you. What you did out there was brave of you.”

“Thanks,” I said with an emptiness in my voice. As much as Cass and other people around me say it, I don’t believe it.

We eventually stopped so the horses could rest up. 

I stepped out and stretched my body. Sitting in a caravan for hours felt like an eternity. 

As I stretched my legs, I thought I heard something. I looked up and just saw Cass with Fidella the horse. Okay, maybe it was nothing, I thought to myself.

Then I heard it again. This time Cassandra heard it too. We looked at each other basically telling each other we needed to find where that noise was coming from. 

We looked around the area. Cass looked at the caravan and went to the small wooden door that led to the supply compartment. She clicked her tongue and gestured to the door. We got closer and Cass put her finger over her lips, indicating to stay silent.

With one swift movement, she yanked the door open and something fell out.

We yelled and everyone came out wondering what happened, but upon looking at what fell out the fear quickly disappeared and was replaced with a uniform feeling of irritation.

Inside the caravan compartment was Shorty. From what we managed to extract from his story, he must’ve climbed in there when no one was looking because of all the food that was stored there, which he ate all of. So we now don’t have any supplies left.

Eugene suggested he should go into town to get more supplies, but then Rapunzel wanted to volunteer too. I think something was in the air because they were bickering, I guess, about who should head into town, it seemed like they might’ve been talking about something else…

Cass eventually has enough. She put her foot down. “Guys, I can’t take it anymore! Enough! No one is going for a walk! Let’s just take the caravan to town! Together!” 

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

We weren’t too far from the city. When we got out, however, it was different from what Lance and Eugene had told us.

“Vardaros, here we co–oh uh!” Lance said excitedly until he saw the city. “Eww.”

It was comparable to a barren wasteland. The once vivid city had been reduced to only a mere shadow of what it was. Broken down buildings, hardly any people there. Heck, I think I saw a tumbleweed pass by.

“Wow, guys you were right!” Cassandra said ironically. “This is great! What do you wanna do first? Get matching face tattoos? Or see if we can get a deal on a rusty hatchet? Oh, I know! Let’s see who can catch the plague first!”

“I don’t understand. What happened?” Eugene scratched his head.

“Come on guys. Maybe it’s not exactly how you remembered it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a fun-loving city!” Rapunzel was optimistic as always. She approached a teen girl with dark braided hair. “Hello, there. We are new in town. My name’s—”

“Get lost,” she responded abrasively. 

Okay, wow, rude. 

“Maybe you should hold off on the introductions. Something tells me if word got out that actual royalty was in town we could be in trouble.” Cass warns her. 

Eugene butted in. “You know I hate saying this but she’s right. Let’s keep a lower profile, princess. We’ll get the supplies, you guys get the caravan back up to camp. The last thing you need is for someone to recognize you.”

Rapunzel looked like she wanted to argue back but didn’t. She went back to the caravan.

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

I decided to stay with the princess and Cassandra back at the campsite. I wasn’t really interested in staying back in Vardaros, from the looks of it, it didn’t have much to offer. 

Rapunzel sat at the edge of the caravan painting in her journal. Cass leaned on the caravan as she sharpened her sword with a rock that she found on the way here. I tried to make myself look busy but I just swung my legs in the air, sitting at the other edge of the caravan. 

I fibbed. I wasn’t sure what I was gonna do. I could write a letter to my family, but it’s only been a week and nothing big has happened. If the rest of the trip was going to be like this then I guess my letters wouldn’t be too fun to read about.

Reading! Of course! Ugh, how could I forget that I brought books with me on this journey—

“He asked you to marry him again, huh?” Cassandra’s voice interrupted my train of thought. 

Rapunzel, startled, closed her journal.

“Wait, what do you mean ‘marry you’ again? ” I squeaked out. “When was the first time?”

“Remember the coronation ceremony?” 

“Oh, yeah! I almost forgot! My mom told me about that.” 

Cass turns her attention back to Rapunzel and scoffs. “Come on! I know you guys well enough by now!”

“I-I guess he maybe asked me…” Rapunzel’s voice sounded unsure, which didn’t happen often. Usually, she was very sure of herself. 

“Well, what did you maybe say?”

“I didn’t say anything. And I’m not sure why,” Rapunzel sighed.

We heard someone clear their throat before cutting in saying, “Oh, I can tell you why.”

That voice didn’t sound like anyone we knew. We looked behind the caravan and a woman was leaning back against the caravan, eating an apple. She was quite tall. She had white hair. Half of her face was painted red. Her clothes were interesting…they sort of resembled the clothes of the women of Ingvarr. I wonder if she is from Ingvarr, she seems like one of the warrior ladies from Ingvarr. 

”You got bigger things lying ahead of you,” she said as she took a bite from her apple. “Greetings.”

“I’m sorry. Who are you exactly?” Rapunzel asked.

“Oh, right, sorry! Princess Rapunzel, my name is Adira.”

“And what do you want, Adira?” Cass abrasively. She became more protective of Rapunzel.

“A word with Rapunzel alone. If you don't mind.”

Adira approaches Rapunzel, however, Cass immediately stops her by putting her hand on her shoulder. “Not gonna happen.”

“Just a second, Cass,” Rapunzel says. “Let’s hear her out.”

“Okay, I gotta be honest. I know we just met but, uh, I’m not a big fan of people touching me,” Adira looked down at Cassandra’s hand on her shoulder. 

“And I’m not a fan of people who lurk in the shadows,” Cass replied.

I sensed that this was escalating too quickly.

“Okay, last chance to do this the nice way,” Adira grabs Cassandra’s arm by her wrist.

“And where’s the fun in that?” Cass smiled. 

“Cass, no! Wait.” Rapunzel yelled, trying to stop them from going further, but it was too late. Adira grabs her arm and spins Cass around and launches her several feet from her. 

“Hey, I don’t know who you are,” Rapunzel yelled. “But you do not get to do that to my best friend!” Then, she charged toward her with a pan. 

“Alright then.”

It didn't take too long for her to disable Rapunzel. She ended up wrapped up in her hair.

Then, there was me. 

I hate how I sensed it was my turn to fight. I felt my heart race at the thought of fighting Adira. She is probably triple my size. 

My necklace sensed how nervous I was and glowed. In a millisecond, I was in my full armor and sword in hand.

“Hm, that’s strange. Never seen that before,” she said in response to my transformation, which is pretty nonchalant compared to the other reactions in my experience. 

I gripped the sword’s end, er…whatever it is called, tighter. I got into a stance (not even sure if it is correct).  There, I realized that the last time I transformed into my armor was back in, well, Old Corona. 

“Oh, please, I’m not going to fight a child,” Adira said.

“What! I’m not a child!” I protested. “I’m going to be sixteen!” I gripped my sword with both hands and pointed toward her.

“She can’t even hold a sword properly!” Adira criticized my swordsmanship. 

I lunged and, of course, she dodged it.

All three of us were trying to get a hit off her but no one was even close to even scratching her. Three people!

“You guys aren’t even trying,” Adira said. Rapunzel threw her pan at Adira but she caught it in mid-air. “Oh, wait, you are,” she said unamusingly. 

“That’s it!”  Cassandra jumps up and slashes toward Adira, but, what seemed on instinct, she turns, avoiding her sword. Her hands clasped behind her back. With her leg and her hands still clasped, she managed to knock Cassandra’s sword from her hands and knock Cass off her feet. 

She smiled at her and gave Cass her hand. 

“Enough!” Rapunzel wraps her hair around Adira’s hand.

“Yeah, see. I thought we covered this.” Adira grabs her sword from her back.  “I don’t like being touched!”

She lashed down her sword at Rapunzel’s hair, but it only tugged from the force. The hair was uncut. 

“It didn’t cut?” Adira was shocked. 

“It didn’t break?” Rapunzel was equally surprised at Adira’s sword. “It must be made of—”

 “Princess! Cass!” We heard a panicked voice from a distance. 

It was Hookfoot, coming out of breath. 

“Are you ok?” Rapunzel asked. 

“I see you have your hands full.” Adira let go of her hair. “I’ll seek you later.” With that, she left. 

Rapunzel turns her attention back to Hookfoot.  

“I fought as hard as I could and barely got out alive,” he said out of breath. 

“Wait, wait, fight? Fought who?” Rapunzel began to worry. “Where’s Eugene?”

“I’m so sorry…they took him.”

[reactorshaft]

just… Goro Miyazaki starting his animation career with having a son kill his father, the king of a kingdom where magic is disappearing, and run away and Hayao (possibly ending) his career with a young boy refusing to take on his family’s powerful legacy over a magical world, knowing the world would die without him in favor of not abandoning his family and choosing to live contentedly in the mundane world…

[gffa]

TALES OF THE EMPIRE | May 4th, 2024

"Just be glad you're not a Jedi anymore."

#OH NO OUR GIRL IS GOING THROUGH IT

[detailedart]

Details: Portrait of Urania, 19th century, British School.

[petaltexturedskies]

C.S. Lewis, from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”

[nimata-beroya]

Note: Since my old masterlist is getting notes again (and I'm hosting @tbb-appreciation-week this year), I thought it's a good time to release a new version with a lot more resources. If any of you know another site or thing that it's missing from the list, let me know and I'll include it!! [Altho, I'm getting this close 🤏 to the hyperlinks limit on this thing 😆]

Note 2: To avoid tagging the 3 people from whom I got multiple resources repeatedly, I've placed 1-3 asterisks between square brackets after the links, depending on the OP. I give the respective credit to them in a legend at the end of the post.

PLACES / TIME

Interactive Galaxy Map by Henry Bernberg

Map of the Galaxy

List of planets and moons [Wikipedia /needs expanding]

Planet Name Generator 1 [SciFi Ideas]

Planetary System Generator [Donjon]

Tatooine Location References [*]

Various locations Cross-Sections (Jedi Temple, Palp's office, Tipoca City & more) [**]

Republic - Separatist - Hutt space during the Clone Wars

Hyperspace Travel Times (to calculate how much time would take to go from point A to point B within the GFFA)

Standard Calendar and Holidays [including month names!]

Galactic Standard Calendar [wookiepedia // including week day names]

Date converter according to SWTOR [Google sheet]

Dated Star Wars Chronological Order (Movies + live-action shows + animation)

TCW Chronological Timeline by @mauvrix

Estimated date for: shared by @spectres-fulcrum

Partisans' attack on Onderon

Siege of Lasan

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

General

Star Wars Name Generator 1 [Donjon]

Star Wars OC flow chart by @thefoodwiththedood

Star Wars Name Generator 2 [FantasyNames]

Star Wars Name Generator 3 [FantasyNames]

MetaHuman [Unreal Engine]

The character creator

Droid Name Generator

Star Wars Randomizer by @aureutr

Character Picrew [Twi-leks, Zabraks, Torgutas and Nautolans] @/megaramikaeli

Jedi

Taking a Closer Look at the Jedi Order in Star Wars Canon [Meta/Reference Guide] [**]

Jedi Order Structure Flowchart by @rileys-nest

Mandalorians

Mandalorian Armor design by MandoCreator

Keepers of the Way (Mandalorian Lore) [*]

Clones

Complete List Of Named Clone Troopers shared by @propheticfire (Organized by Unit)

Clone Creator [MandoCreator]

Clone Picrew

Star Wars Character Templates by SmacksArt [the ULTIMATE battery of template for any human/humanoid original character in any era. From troopers to droids, from Jedi to Sith, from KOTOR to the sequel Trilogy. 100% RECOMMENDED]

Basic Guide to Clone Trooper Armour by @odekiisu

GAR structure summary by @intermundia

The Clone Wars Republic Military Hierarchy Flowcharts [***]

Clone Trooper Lore [*] [Ranks, Culture, Training, Organization, etc.]

Clones and Kamino [*]

The Bad Batch Characters Concept Art shared by @shadowthestoryteller

MISCELLANEOUS

Star Wars Character Age Comparison Chart by @the-yearning-astronaut

Tusken Raiders lore by @snarwor

Materials (fabrics, leathers, silks, plastics, construction, metal composites, etc.)

Materials in Star Wars by marvel_dc_heart_throbs

Star Wars Fashion [*]

Leisure, Art, Musical Instruments, Ethnography [*]

Political and Criminal Organizations in the GFFA [**]

Financial reference about credits by @thecoffeelorian

List of TCW Opening Quotes

Transcripts of all the TCW episodes shared by @book-of-baba-fett

Star Wars Crawl Creator [not exactly writing-related, but just for fun]

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

Canon Medical Lore [*]

Real World reference for Field organizational structure for corpsman (medics) [*]

Kaliida Shoals Medical Center (Republic Haven-class medical station) shared by @clonewarsarchives

GAR Battalion Aid Station [*]

GAR Clone Medic Q/A [*]

More combat medicine, shipboard medicine, veteran issues, and military culture [*]

SHIPS AND VEHICLES

Ship Generator 3D

Ship Name Generator

All Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE) shared by @stairset

Republic Vessels Reference [*]

Low Altitude Assault Transport/Infantry (LAAT/i) [*]

List of GAR Flagships in the Clone Wars by @meandmyechoes

Layout of the Havoc Marauder

Dimensions of various ships from the Clone Wars [**]

FOOD AND DRINKS

Star Wars Menu Generator

In-Universe Alcoholic beverages

Canon Cocktails (recipes) [*]

Another In-Universe Drinks list shared by @systemic-dreams

Teas in Star Wars by marvel_dc_heart_throbs

Foodstuff [*]

Canon Star Wars Holiday Recipes [*]

Trask Chowder Recipe (from The Mandalorian) [*]

LANGUAGES; PHRASES AND SLANG; VOCABULARY

Languages of the Galaxy [*]

Script of different languages in the GFFA by @lucif-hare-blog

In-Universe phrases and slang [Google sheet]

List of phrases and slang [wookiepedia]

List of equivalents to real-world objects [wookiepidia]

Talk Like a Clone Trooper shared by @archeo-starwars

Aurebesh Translator [Aurebesh.org]

Learning Aurebesh Tools [Aurebesh.org] Reading - Writing.

Mando'a Database [Mando.org]

Mando'a Transcripticon [MandoCreator] (Create your own text in the Mando'a script.)

@project-shereshoy (Blog that collects and posts sources for Mando'a from all over the internet.)

Mando’a Categorized Spreadsheet

Learning Mando'a Tools [MandoCreator] Reading - Writing.

Setting Thesaurus Entry: Spaceport [Writers helping writers]

Fan-created Conlangs

@dai-bendu-conlang (Jedi Culture Explored) (This blog is the home of the Dai Bendu Conlang, invented by the Archive of Our Own Users aroacejoot, @ghostwriterofthemachine, and loosingletters for the Jedi Order in Star Wars.)

Lasana Lexicon by Anath_Tsurugi (fandom lexicon of the Lasat Language)

HELPFUL BLOGS & SITES

The amazing @fox-trot, who not only makes astonishing art and write an amazing fic, she also responds to medical questions and gives all kinds of references for writing medic characters. Check her #medicposting tag and you'll find tons of information. Also check #star wars reference and her art tag while you're at it.

@writebetterstarwars, which seems to be inactive, but there are a bunch of references there.

@howtofightwrite The place to find out how to write a good fight scene.

@scriptmedic no longer active, but it has a great deal of useful information.

@scripttorture for your whump needs. Major trigger warning for all its content.

@sw-anthrobiology A blog dedicated to collecting headcanons about the biology and cultures of Star Wars species.

@archeo-starwars In-universe sources on culture and history.

@clonewarsarchives Resources & Concept Art Blog for The Clone Wars animated series.

Wookiepedia If you don't find something in here, it's probably because it doesn't exist, neither as a canon nor legends reference.

Star Wars Databank: The official Star Wars website's reference guide. All canon.

WRITING IN GENERAL (For those who don't want to die like Stormtroopers)

SlickWrite: Completely free; online. Checks grammar, punctuation, flow, and writing style according to different settings (including fiction writing).

ProWritingAid: [RECOMMENDED] One of the most thorough online proofreader I've ever used. Although when using a free account gives extremely thorough feedback, with +20 different in-depth reports, for only the first 500 words. However, you can earn a premium account license (for a year or for life) if you get 10 or 20 new users signing up for free; (if you wouldn't mind doing so using the link above and help me earn mine, please). The settings allow you to check your writing according to your needs, from general to formal to creative. It has a bonus that you can check depending on the genre you're writing. For example, in creative, you can choose romance or sci-fiction (there are 14 sub-genre in total). And just like google docs, you can share a document, and people can view, comment or edit it too.

LanguageTool: [RECOMMENDED] Another excellent proofreader. It also has a word limit in free accounts, but if you use the add-on for Google Docs, it counts each page as a new document, so hitting the word limit is nearly impossible. It helps you to rewrite a sentence (3 a day), even if it doesn't raise any flags; it's very useful for when your sentence is grammatically correct, but it doesn't feel quite right.

Grammarly, Hemingway Editor: No so great, but they do the basic job.

Legend

[*] Shared by @fox-trot [**] Shared by @gffa [***] Shared by @cacodaemonia.

[the-zenith-calls]

pov thrawn is your commanding officer but you have an astigmatism

[julia-jck]

The Star Sanses running away from The Bad Sanses. Or.... are supposed to, but I never drew the bad sanses.

This were just supposed to be a quick sketch for a "comic" idea I had, but I loved the sketch so much I had to draw this part seriously.

Also, semi redesigns. Not much have changed and Dream's redesign isn't finished.

[elivanto]

Why do you seek Imperial favour? Thrawn in Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024)

[animatedjen]

Tales of the Empire: The Battle of Dathomir

[galaxygolfergirl]

Is this a meme

[the-star-knight]

Tales Of A Star

Tales Of A Star

Summary: A retelling of the show through Star’s eyes

Star is young teenager, daughter to one of the Queen's handmaiden and the royal stable keeper, when the long lost princess has soon to be held coronation, she comes across a magical stone. Unknowingly of how this is her destiny, she soon finds out that this gem turns her world on its head, giving her a sword, armor, and a duty she must carry: protecting the Kingdom of Corona.

Chapter 10 - Secret of the Sundrop (Part 2)

Word Count: 3,659

Author’s Note: My favorite thing I've ever written to date. This is a long time coming but hopefully this gives you an insight of who Star is and why she is the way she is now. This is one the most pivotal points in her life.

◀ Previous Chapter || Next Chapter ▶︎

As I try to wrap my mind around the fact that Varian kidnapped the queen and my mother, I managed to hear the king say how determined he is to find Varian in Old Corona from the buzzing in my head. Rapunzel explained to him that it wasn't going to work; wanting to launch a full-scale attack without the full force of the guard isn't a good idea. Varian would want that, he would expect that.

“We attack old Corona within the hour,” the king ordered.

Back home, I was greeted with my sisters being seated in front of my dad. They looked like they were in the middle of having a talk. 

“Hi Dad,” I said weakly as I entered. 

He had his arms crossed as he looked in my direction. My sisters’ heads turn in my direction. 

“Dad…something bad happened…” I began as I gestured to him to sit down.

His face quickly turned worried when I said that. “ ¿Qué pasó, mija?"

“It has to do with mom. She…she…” I felt a lump in my throat that prevented me from talking. “...he took her.” I finally blurted out.

Continue reading on AO3 or continue under the cut ⬇︎

His face made my heart shatter into a million pieces. 

“What?” I heard a tiny voice from one of my sisters say. My sisters had a face of disbelief and confusion. 

“Dad?” Maribel said.

Dad just looked down to the floor. He didn’t say anything. His knee jiggled anxiously and his hands were clasped tightly. 

“The king said that they will launch a full-scale attack in Old Corona, but the guard is severely lacking. A lot of the guards got hurt during the attack, as you may have heard…”

“Yeah, it was impossible not to hear. Varian’s voice is kind of annoying,” Maribel said.

“Dad…I know what I’m asking you is going to be a lot…” that was to put it frankly, “but I know I can help. I-I just need you to trust me.”

After a couple of seconds, he finally looked up at me. His eyes shone brightly. He was on the brink of crying. I’ve never seen him like this. He bit his lip and sighed. He got up and went to the coat rack where his apron was hanging. He reached into the front pocket and grabbed the necklace. He looked at it before handing it to me.

“Promete una cosa,” he said. “Try your best to not let her or you get hurt.”

I nodded, I grabbed the necklace and hugged him tightly. 

“I’ll stay here with your sisters,” he said.

“ Adios, papa,” I said before heading out the door. 

When I reached the castle, there was a massive crowd gathered in the throne room. People were unsettled with what’s been going on. Panicking.

The king managed to settle them and give an inspiring speech. Rapunzel saw me in the crowd and waved at me to come to her. 

“How are you holding up?” I asked her. 

“I was going to ask you the same thing,” the princess said. 

“I told my dad. It wasn’t easy telling him.”

“Come on, we’re going to the war room and talk about how we’re gonna get them back.” 

Rapunzel led me to the war room. There was, of course, the King, the guards, Eugene, Cass, and the Coronan citizens packed in the room. In the center of the room was a model of the kingdom. The princess discussed her plan to let Varian think he has the upper hand while they snuck in using the underground tunnels. 

“...I am going to rescue the queen,” Rapunzel said at the end of her discussion. 

“Weare going to rescue the queen,” the king corrected her.

“Um, Princess, if I may?” I began. “I want to join you. My mother has been taken as well and I think I can use this.” I put on my necklace and whispered the incantation. 

I felt slowly lifted off the ground and felt that wisp of magic around me. I was wearing my armor. 

I looked up at everyone’s reaction in the room. I heard a couple of gasps and shocked faces, with the king being one of them, Rapunzel smiled at me with pride. 

“I…uh…” the king, for the first time for me, was at a loss for words. He collected himself and said, “Yes, of course.” 

Rapunzel then explains her plan to use Shorty as a distraction while the three of us sneak into his lab. 

As we prepared for the attack, I was pensive about seeing Varian again. This is the first time I'm going to face him…well,  face-to-face, since the storm. From what I could see, he isn’t the person I thought Varian was. That enthusiastic nerd has turned someone real cold…

Eugene must’ve noticed something was wrong because he asked, “Hey, you okay?”

I sighed, “I don’t know…” 

I didn’t face Eugene. “I-I just don’t know what’s going to happen when I do see him. I mean last time we saw he-he…well, you know, you saw it. He’s just changed a lot. A part of me still wants to believe he is still in there somewhere. He can’t be all gone, right?” 

“Wow, gee, I really don’t know what to say,” Eugene scratched his head. “I want to believe the good in people too, but we all have our limits.”

“Yeah, kidnapping the queen and my mother definitely crossed a line,” I remarked. “But thanks for trying.”

“Hey, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here,” Eugene comforted me, and with that, he got up and continued to prepare for the attack. 

  In Her De Sonne’s tunnels, Rapunzel stopped us underneath an exit point.

“Varian’s lab should be right above us,” Rapunzel pointed.

The princess and the king climbed up the ladder to the top.

I hesitated.

I felt my heart pound a million times per hour. My gut turned into a knot and my hands were beginning to shake. 

Oh no, not now I thought to myself. However, with a flash of light, I was in my armor. The necklace must’ve sensed how uneased I was and summoned the armor all by itself. I better get better control of it. 

I, hesitantly, climbed up the ladder. When I reached the top, I stopped. 

I heard scuffling. 

I slowly opened the lid cover and peaked into the lab. 

The princess and the king were stuck in pink goop and Varian approached them.

“Welcome back, Rapunzel,” I heard him say. I could only see his backside. 

I need to take action now! I slowly lifted the cover and got behind Varian as quietly as possible. 

“Hold it right there!” I stood behind him with my sword drawn at him.

He turned around and gave me an uneasy smile. His hands were up. “I was beginning to wonder if you weren’t gonna come.”

“Guess I couldn’t miss out,” I responded.

He put his hands down slowly. 

“I said to hold it or…or—!” Wow, I really didn’t have a plan for this. 

“Or what? You’re too nice,” he shoved my sword's point to the side, “You’re just like Rapunzel. You have all this power, and for what? You don’t even have the guts to use it! What. A. Waste.”

Those words stung. I tried to brush it off, telling myself that he didn't really mean that, but I knew. I knew he meant it.

"Please," I said softly. "I don't want to fight my friend. Not you…please."

I dropped my sword to the ground and backed away from him. I can’t just hurt him. I can’t. It doesn’t feel right… 

Varian looked down. He sighed and said, “That’s unfortunate for you.” 

He pulled out a ball and slammed it to the ground. Pink gas emerged from the ball. The gas became thicker and thicker and it became harder to see. 

Out of the gas, I saw a ball coming straight toward me. It hit my arm and the goop came out. I tried to budge my hand, but my arm was stuck to the wall. Another ball came out of the gas and hit my other arm. I tried to pull away from the goop, but my arm wouldn’t budge. I was stuck.

The pink fog slowly faded.

Great, we are all stuck now.

“Oh, Star, tsk, tsk,” he clicked his tongue. “I’m disappointed in you. I thought you put up a bigger fight. I expected nothing and yet I’m disappointed.”

I didn’t look at him. 

“I-I tried,” I said softly, still refusing to look him in the eye. 

“Hm?” I heard him say,

“I-I tried to help you…” a little stronger, but my voice was raspy. 

“Well, you didn’t try hard enough.” 

Varian locked up Pascal in a small bird cage. 

“Varian, I demand you to release us and tell me where the queen is.” the King said.

“Your Majesty, I know it’s hard for you, but for the first time in your life…you are in no position to demand anything. But in the spirit of compromise, how ‘bout I meet you halfway!” 

Varian walked to a corner of the lab where curtains hung. He unveiled a curtain to show the queen and my mother.

“Mom!” Rapunzel and I yelled.

“I’m okay, Rapunzel!” the queen said. “And your mother is fine, Star.” My mom held the queen close. Both were chained to their ankles. 

“Let her go, Varian! Please!” Rapunzel pleaded. 

“First, you’re gonna do something for me,” Varian said.

“What do you want?” the king demanded to know.

“Oh, so now you care about what I want,” Varian laughed. “All I had to do was threaten the things you love the most.”

“What are you gonna do, Varian?” King Frederic yelled. 

“Yeah, I’ll—I’ll spare you the details about the Sundrop and darkness, blah, blah, blah, and get to the good stuff.”

He pulled off the cover of a machine. It was a massive drill. 

“Unbreakable,” Varian tapped the black rocks.

“Unbreakable,” Varian held Rapunzel’s hair. “To put it plainly, with assistance from my drill, Rapunzel’s hair should be able to shatter the amber, and free my father.”

“What do you mean by ‘should’?” the king asked.

“Oh, I suppose it’s just as likely the amber shatters Rapunzel, I mean the properties—”

“Absolutely not,” the king drew his sword 

“It’s not your choice, dad,” Rapunzel said as she held her hair.

“She’s right, dad.” Varian mimicked her. Oh, he is definitely becoming unbearable to listen to. “Oh, I almost forgot. We’re. uh, kinda on a time crunch here, so, I’m gonna speed things along.”

I watched as Varian pulled out a flask and spilled liquid on the black rocks. It created the same amber crystals as Quirin is trapped in. I watched in horror as it crawled closer and closer to the corner where my mom and the queen were.

“Varian, stop!” Rapunzel yelled.

“Well,” Varian releases her from the goop, “shall we get started?” 

I felt so useless. Varian was right. I had all this power and for what? I’m stuck, unable to help anyone. I could have stopped Varian…

Rapunzel undid her hair. At her hair’s full length, Varian took the end of her hair and wrapped it around the end of the drill. He set up the machine. 

“Varian, if this doesn’t work and something happens to me, please, please, let my mother go," Rapunzel pleaded. 

“I can’t make any promises, Princess," Varian said as he started to drill. 

He put his goggles over his eyes and pressed against the amber. Sparks flying everywhere, Rapunzel's hair began to glow, but nothing seemed to change. 

“What? Why?" Varian blinked and once again started drilling into the amber. 

Rapunzel began to feel weak and began to fall to her knees.

“Stop it! She can take it anymore!” King Frederic yelled.

“I just…I don’t understand! Why won’t it…her hair! It-it should have cut through it! Why didn’t it work!” Varian sputtered desperately as he observed the amber. 

I heard scuffling from the other end of the lab. Ruddiger climbed up the table and pushed the bird cage Pascal was in over. The cage fell open and Pascal ran out of the cage. Ruddiger dropped an alchemy ball and Pascal grabbed the ball and gave it to the king. Without sparing a second, the king threw the ball on his feet, releasing himself and he threw his sword over to the queen. With it, she frees herself and my mom from their chains.

The queen ran up to her daughter and her husband. 

My mom grabbed one of the alchemy balls and threw it at my arms. The pink quickly dissolved and I was free.

“ ¿Estrella, estás bien? ” my mom asked as she gave me a tight hug.

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine…” I looked over at Varian. He was on his knees and clawing at the amber. I felt so heartbroken to witness that. “But he isn’t…”

“No! No!” Varian yelled. “I wasn’t wrong! It wasn’t my fault! None of it is! It���s her fault!” Varian locked his gaze on Rapunzel.

“ Mamá, we should probably go,” I said.

She nodded and we began to make our way outside til we felt a large rumbling from the ground.

From the ground arose an automation. Just like the ones that attacked us earlier, but the difference was Varian was inside controlling it. I could see him through the red window. 

“Sorry, Rapunzel, we were in this together. But if I can't have a happy ending then neither can you!” Varian lunged the automaton at us. 

We ran out of the house. Varian busted through the front entrance of the house with his automaton. 

"Mom, run! GO!" I begged. 

Mom wanted to say something but she saw the desperation in my eyes and understood. She simply nodded and began to run.

“Hey, Varian!” I yelled at him.

He turned the automaton around and faced me.

I held out my hand as a small white glow came from my hand. From that glow, I drew out my sword and raised it.

I knew what I needed to do. I need to let go. I took a deep breath.

“So,” Varian smiled wickedly, “you were just holding back?”

“Yes, I was…and now we are NOT friends anymore. You’ve made that abundantly clear. You are now my enemy.`` I pointed my sword at him. I looked for a way to hurt him the same way he’s been doing to me. I opened my mouth and said, “You know, maybe if you listened to your dad, none of this would have happened! All of this is your fault!” 

Varian’s automaton ran forward. I charged at him. I slid under it and hit my sword against one of its legs. I got behind him and attacked the robot from behind. I slashed its back with my sword but it only left scratches and dents on the metal.

The automaton turned around and flung its metal arm towards me. I was able to avoid it.

I could hear Varian chuckling in the automaton, "I have something special that I cooked up for you."

Suddenly, the tune changed from the surrounding automatons. It became more rapid.

The automatons paused. Everyone stopped fighting. The automatons turned around and began coming towards me.

"Varian, what is this?" I began to panic. My heart was pounding rapidly. 

"Oh you'll see," I saw him smiling through the red window. 

I turned around and began to slash at the automaton behind me. I slashed and slashed at it until I was able to get off the cover lid and exposed the components inside. I jammed my sword in the gears. The automaton stopped moving.

Another one charged toward me. I pulled my sword and swung at it. 

The automaton began to play the tune again and got up. Before I could swing at my new opponent, the automaton grabbed me by my arm. It lifted me from the ground. I was dangling from the ground. 

The other automaton grabbed my other arm. I dropped my sword. Both my arms were in the grip of Varian’s automatons.  I was trapped. I wriggled and kicked my legs in the air, hoping it would do something.

Two more automatons came in and grabbed my legs. 

"Varian!" I yelled. "Let me go!"

Varian didn't say anything. He just watched as he had the slightest hint of a smile on his face. His eyes stared down at me. So full of anger. So full of hatred.

His automaton charged at me and stopped until he was face to face with him.

The tune changed again and Varian turned to my mother.

"No ," I whispered. I have to protect her. I have to protect my mom.

"Leave my mom alone! Please! Leave her alone!" I wailed.

As the automatons got closer to her, I could only think of protecting my mom. Protect her. I need to protect her. Protect. Protect. Protect

I closed my eyes and I tried to find everything in me. Every bit of strength in me. For what? I don't even know. I begged and prayed for something to happen. To help protect my mother.

I yelled and I heard a loud crash.

I opened my eyes and saw a large force field made of light and it glowed brightly in front of my mother. The automaton pounded desperately trying to break it, but it would budge. My mom quickly got up and ran away.

“Ha!” I put on a weak smile. It worked! Whatever I did worked!

My happiness was short-lived, however. 

Varian turned his attention to me. He lifted the automaton's arm closer to my chest.

Then, all at once, it hit me.

"No! Please!" I screamed when I realized what he was doing. I struggled to get out of the grip of the automatons. "No! No! No! No! NO!"

He ignored my pleas and continued to reach for my gem. He tugged and tugged and with one swift movement he yanked out my gem from my ches t.

I shrieked. 

A shock of unimaginable pain went through my body. Sparks flew from my chest. My armor was gone. 

Everything seemed out of focus. A loud ringing was in my ears. I could feel myself dangling off the automaton's grip like a ragdoll. 

I was dropped to the ground. I could only catch glimpses of what was going on next. 

Between the ringings, I could hear a muffled voice.

“You call yourself a protector? A knight? Pfft! You can’t even protect yourself! You’re a pathetic excuse of a hero!” Varian scoffed.

My vision began to fade. Everything turned black. I heard more ringing in my ears. I tried to get up, but every muscle in my body ached. My body failed me and I collapsed to the ground again. Then just darkness…

“Star!” A voice echoed.

My eyelids were heavy. My vision was still blurry. 

I squinted. I saw Rapunzel. Then, a flash of light nearly blinded me.

Her hair was glowing, the rocks were glowing as well. Her hands gripped the rocks. More rocks sprouted from the ground, they looked like they were dancing. Was she controlling the rocks?

I began to black out again.

I regained my consciousness again, I opened my eyes. I was in the arms of my mom.

“ Estrella! How are you feeling?”

I slowly got up,” I’m fine, mom! Ow!” I felt a sharp pain in my hip when I moved.

“Star, take it easy…”

“I'm fine, mom…”

I looked around, the battle was over. Black rocks sprouted everywhere, however, some of those rocks looked like they were flattened into the path. I realized that all the rocks were pointing towards the dawn. The rocks must’ve destroyed the Corona wall. We were able to see the sunrise.

“Where is he?” I demanded to know.

“The guards took him, >pero— ” my mom said before I spotted the prison carriage they were going to put him in and ran to it.

The Corona guards cuffed him but before they could put him in the caravan I tackled him. 

“You!” I said with rage. I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. “Why would you do this? I trusted you!”

He didn’t say anything. He simply gave me a look that was hard to discern what he was thinking. He narrowed his eyes then I saw the slightest hint of a smile creeping up. He enjoyed seeing me angry at him and seeing the pain he caused me.

That was it. I absolutely loathe and despise him. I lifted my fist.

“Go ahead!” Varian yelled. “Do it! Punch me! It won’t change anything I said! Deep down, you know it’s true!”

Oh, this little brat. I detest him. I clenched my fist tighter and swung my arm, but I was stopped. I looked over at my hand and it was Rapunzel’s golden hair. More hair wrapped around my waist and she pulled away from Varian.

“It’s okay, Star,” Rapunzel said softly. “It’s over…”

She hugged me. I was still angry.  I wanted to spit on his face. I wanted to hurt him. I sucked the air through my teeth. I let out a sigh. My eyes began to fill with tears.

I hugged her back and I cried in her arms.

Varian lost, but he got what he wanted...he broke me…

My mom came up and I hugged her, She held me tightly. She rubbed my back and said, “ Shh, mi estrella, todo está bien. Estamos bien. ” 

I never thought I would feel pain like this.

“Mom, c-can we go home? I don’t want to stay here a second longer than I have to.” 

My mom nodded and we headed back home. On the way home I noticed the lanterns were floating in the sky. I smiled, a sense of familiarity helped me relax. But just a little. 

[highgroundanimations]

Thank you The Bad Batch & everyone involved for this wild & amazing journey full of joy, tears, awe, new friendships & beautiful artistry! You'll forever be an inspiration. 🫡 🖤❤️🖤

[gffa]

TALES OF THE EMPIRE | May 4th, 2024

"It is time you meet your new master."

#OUR FAVORITE TRASH COMPACTOR MAN IS BACK AGAIN!!!! #HE IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST TO THE INQUISITORIUS #I AM SO READY FOR ANAKIN TO BE THE WORST ALL OVER AGAIN #HE'S GONNA LOP OFF ARMS AND GOUGE OUT EYES #AND IF ANYONE COMPLAINS #HE'S JUST LIKE 'SOUNDS LIKE A SKILL ISSUE. GET GOOD OR DIE' #HE'S AWFUL AND I LOVE HIM

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celestial scenery

[mother-of-lothcats]

angry women are taking over star wars 2024 and i am here for it