Chapter Text
Moe always knew her daughter was special. Though no one knew how special she was until her fourteenth birthday.
“Where’s the girl?” Moe’s mother asked that special day. Moe had just woken up. How on Mewni was she supposed to know where her daughter was?
“I assumed she was sleeping. Is she not in her bed?” The elderly woman shook her head. Moe sighed. “I’m sure she just went on a walk, mother. It’s the girl’s birthday. Let her do what she wants.”
“You’re too soft on her. That girl is going to be town leader one day. She needs to act like it.”
“She’s fourteen, mother. Let her enjoy her last years of childhood.” Moe’s mother grumbled as Moe got ready for the day.
Moe was the town’s current leader, as was her mother before her. As much as she loved her mom, she knew the old woman could be overbearing. She suspected she was the reason Moe’s father left though it was possible her mother killed him. Her father was a notorious drunk and womanizer. No one would be shocked either way.
Moe definitely knew Vesper had no love for her grandmother. Her daughter went out of her way to stay out of their hut as much as possible if her grandmother was home. And Vesper’s grandmother was almost always home.
Moe’s first stop was the town’s bakery. “Charlie!” she called. Charlie looked up at the shout, a smile on his face when he noticed who called. “Miss. Moe, G’morning. How you doing today?”
“I’m doing well, thank you. And yourself? Business doing alright?”
“Oh well enough. It helps I’m the only baker here.” The two shared a small laugh at that. “So what you need? The usual?”
“Not today. I need something special. It’s Vesper’s birthday.”
“Oh shoot, is it really? Well, I’ll have to wish her well when I see her. How old is she again? Twenty? Thirty?”
“You know how old she is, you tease. You’ve lived here longer than I’ve been alive.”
“Aw, you know I’m just messing, Moe. Now what’d you have in mind?” Moe put in an order for a vanilla cake covered in red frosted butterflies.
“Will it be ready by this evening?”
“I’ll make sure of it.” Moe and Charlie said their goodbyes as the leader went about her duties. Speaking with business owners, greeting neighbors, assisting with any problems that arose. Her weekly stop to the flower shop and cemetery was next.
Moe knew the rows by heart, heading to the one in the very back. A simple grave sat there, adorned with last week’s dead flowers. On it read: “Roger Haggerdy, Captain of the Guard, Beloved Father and Husband.”
“Hello, dear. How have you been? The dirt treating well,” she spoke as she changed the flowers. “Mine? Oh, you know me. Always busy, busy, busy. I sometimes wonder how I have the time to rest.” Moe took the dead flowers and threw them over the cemetery’s fence. “Today’s Vesper’s birthday. Can you believe she’s already fourteen? You’d be so proud of her. I know I am.”
Moe rested her forehead on top of her husband’s grave. “I miss you, love. Days like this make me wish you we’re still here.” She sighed. “Well,” she stands, wiping the dirt from her dress, “I’d better get going. Like I said, very busy.” Moe kisses her palm and rests it back on the grave. “I love you, darling. I’ll see you next week, ok?” And with that, the leader went about her business.
“Miss. Moe!”
The Mewoman turned towards the call. “Ellie? Is everything alright?”
Her fellow villager ran up to her leader in a huff. “It’s-Vesper. No-one’s-seen-her. My-son-just,” Ellie took in a gulp of air. “Told me he saw her heading into the forest.”
Moe’s heart stopped. No. Not again. Moe took off towards the woods, calling out to the guards to follow. Please. Please, let her be ok. Please don’t take her away from me too.
The search for the missing girl was thankfully short lived as Moe literally ran into her daughter. “Vesper!” She pulled the girl into a tight hug. “Oh, my sweet girl, where have you been?! Do have any idea how dangerous…” Moe trailed off.
Vesper had changed. On her cheeks, were a pair of red butterflies. In her hands, a wand with a small crystal butterfly on the end. Sitting on her shoulder, sat a little blue man.
“Uh, I can explain?”