Eternally Bound: A Mortal's Transformation into Lucifer Morningstar's Mirror Image

My day began just like any other: sitting at my desk, typing away stories where characters underwent unimaginable transformations. Little did I know just how intimately I would come to understand the concept. The room felt cold all of a sudden, a sharp contrast to the warmth of my computer screen. Chills ran down my spine as I noticed a shadow forming on my wall—a figure stepping out from its gloomy, distorted depths. My eyes widened in disbelief. There, dripping with charisma and menace, stood Lucifer Morningstar, straight out of the animated series Hazbin Hotel. "Well, well, well! Look who we have here," Lucifer drawled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "The writer who finds so much joy in transforming others. I must say, it's quite...distasteful." My heartbeat thundered in my chest. I tried to speak, but words failed me. Before I could make sense of what was happening, Lucifer grabbed my wrist, his grip unnaturally cold and firm. "Oh, don't look so surprised," he smirked. "I've decided it's time for a little exchange. You're coming with me." The room around me darkened even further until it was pitch black. When the darkness receded, I found myself standing in a lavish, otherworldly realm—Hell as depicted in Hazbin Hotel. Lucifer released my wrist but didn't step back. "Look around, dear writer. This is your new home." "N-no," I stammered, my mind reeling. "I don't belong here!" "Oh, but you do," he purred, his eyes glowing with a devilish glee. He extended his cane and tapped it lightly on my forehead. A surge of energy coursed through me, more intense than anything I had ever felt. "What...what are you doing?" I gasped as waves of magic washed over me. I could feel my body changing, my skin paling to an unnatural white, my frame growing taller and more slender. My clothes melted away into nothing, only to be replaced by a white high-collar suit, black heeled boots, black gloves, and a red undershirt with white stripes. I could feel my memories slipping away, my brain trying to hold on to every fragment of my former life. But it was no use—a flood of new memories and personality traits were rushing in like a tidal wave. My hair turned blonde and grew longer, my eyes turned yellow with red slit pupils, and an intricate hat with golden adornments rested on my head. I fought with everything I had to keep a hold of my identity. "No! This can't be happening," I shouted, but my voice was no longer my own. It was deeper, more charismatic, dripping with undeniable menace. My thoughts became increasingly jumbled and difficult to follow, giving way to a new persona that felt disturbingly natural. Lucifer watched, his expression a blend of satisfaction and something akin to amusement. "You're almost there," he said, his tone melodic and cruel. My mental battle was in vain. Slowly but surely, my memories of being a normal human—the stories I wrote, the friends I knew, my very existence—were drowned out by the new reality of being Lucifer Morningstar's identical twin brother. My mind absorbed the knowledge and whims of Lucifer, leaving no room for who I used to be. "Welcome, my dear brother," Lucifer said, a sinister grin spreading across his face as I finally succumbed to the transformation. "How delightful it is to have someone like myself to share the burdens of ruling Hell with." A strange sense of ease washed over me. My resistance ebbed away entirely as I embraced my new identity. Everything about my past life was shrouded in a fog, distant and irrelevant. I looked up at Lucifer with admiration, understanding now why he had done this. "We have a lot to accomplish, brother," I said, smiling widely to reveal my sharp teeth. "Shall we start?" Lucifer laughed, a haunting yet merry sound. "Ah, music to my ears! Let's begin. There's much to do and so very much more entertainment to be had." The two of us walked away, arm in arm, the world of Hell stretching out before us. The transformation was complete, and there was no going back. The writer who once existed was now just a faint echo, forever silenced by the overwhelming presence of Lucifer Morningstar.

**Title: The Second Morningstar** --- **Reader's POV** My room was my sanctuary, filled with everything I loved—books, posters, and memorabilia from my favorite shows, particularly "Hazbin Hotel." Most importantly, my laptop, my gateway to a universe where imagination reigned supreme. I was just finishing up a new story about Lucifer Morningstar, exploring the whimsical yet terrifying ruler's life with a touch of transformation I've recently fancied. Suddenly, the air grew unbearably warm. The edges of the screen glowed with a hellish crimson light. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. "What's going on?" I muttered, reaching out warily for the laptop. Before my hand could touch the keyboard, the screen emitted a blinding flash, and there he was—Lucifer Morningstar in the flesh—stepping out of the screen as if it were a portal. "You," he said, pointing straight at me. His eyes, like molten gold with slit red pupils, bore into mine. "You and your distasteful stories. Enough is enough." Panic surged through me. "H-How are you here? That's impossible! You're... you're not real!" Lucifer's lips curled into a grin that revealed his wickedly sharp teeth. "Reality is subjective, my dear. Now, I grow weary of ruling Hell alone. I could use some... family." Before I could respond, Lucifer reached out, and the world around me warped and twisted. I felt myself being yanked through space, tumbling into a nightmare. **Lucifer's POV** It didn't take long to transport the pesky writer into Hell, the realm I ruled with majestic chaos. I chose a secluded spot, far from the prying eyes of other demons, perfect for what I had in mind. "Welcome to Hell," I declared, my voice dripping with theatricality. "Quite literally." The mortal tried to back away, eyes wide with terror. "Why are you doing this? Let me go!" I tapped my cane on the ground, and the very air around us shimmered with dark magic. "I'm making you useful. You see, you're going to be me. Well, identical to me, my twin brother." "No! You can't do this!" the mortal screamed, but their protests were merely noise to me—a soundtrack of futile resistance. **The Transformation** I focused my power and let it flow through my hand, engulfing the mortal in a vortex of dark energy. The mortal gasped and fell to their knees as their body began to change. Skin turned ghostly white, bone structure realigning painfully. I could sense their struggle, their mortal mind trying desperately to hold onto their identity. But the transformation was inevitable. The changes were quick and relentless. Hair turned a shimmering blonde, thick black eyebrows forming above eyes that morphed into reptilian pupils ringed with gold. Their mouth filled with sharp teeth as blackened lips took shape. Clothing shredded and reformed into a perfect replica of my high-collared suit, gloves, and boots. Even the wide-brimmed top hat appeared, completing the metamorphosis. When they stood up, fully transformed, they were the spitting image of me. "What have you done to me?" they—no, 'we'—said, clutching the golden snake and apple-topped cane. "Why, you are now my twin brother. Permanently and irrevocably," I replied with a flourish. "Welcome to the family." **Changed Reader's POV** It was as if a thick fog had settled into my—his mind. Memories, thoughts, and emotions shifted, displaced by experiences of ruling Hell, uncountable eons, and the flares of charismatic wit. I felt the old reality slipping away, being consumed by Lucifer's persona. Each struggle against it weakened until there was nothing left of my former self. Now, I, Lucifer Morningstar, looked back at the impudent soul who dared to argue. Wait, who was he again? Ah, it doesn’t matter. I have too many responsibilities to indulge in such trivial matters. "Shall we, brother?" I said, motioning for us to leave. "Of course, brother," came the reply from my twin. We shared a conspiratorial grin, the first of many, as we stepped back into the ever-chaotic world of Hell. --- As I walked side by side with my twin, I relished the feeling of no longer reigning alone. Life—or rather, afterlife—had become far more entertaining. And as for the troublesome mortal? Well, they were now exactly where they belonged—in the shoes of Lucifer Morningstar.

**Title: The Morningstar Mirror** --- ### Chapter 1: An Unwelcome Visitor It was a cold night, and the only sources of light were the flickering candles on my desk and the dim glow from the computer screen. I had just finished writing another transformation story about Lucifer Morningstar when a flicker caught my eye. I turned my head and gasped. Standing in the middle of my room was Lucifer Morningstar himself. His eyes, red slits filled with a mischievous glint, bore into mine. "Well, well," he said, his voice a mix of silk and steel, "I see you've been quite obsessed with rewriting my existence. But how would you like a taste of your own medicine?" Before I could react, Lucifer snapped his fingers, and the room spun around me. Darkness engulfed my vision. ### Chapter 2: Arrival in Hell When I awoke, I found myself in the flaming landscape of Hell, the backdrop straight out of the Hazbin Hotel series. The air was suffocating, the atmosphere heavy with despair. But the most terrifying sight was Lucifer standing over me, his eyes from behind his wide-brimmed hat gleaming with delight. "Welcome to your new home," he said with a chuckle, "or should I say, our new home?" I tried to scream, but no sound came out. Lucifer twirled his apple-topped cane and pointed it at me. "Let's get started, shall we?" ### Chapter 3: The Transformation I felt a sudden, searing pain throughout my body. I clutched my head as memories began to flood my mind—memories that weren't mine. My skin began to itch and burn as it turned pure white. My hair seemed to melt and reform into a shorter, blonde mane, and I grew thick black eyebrows and lost my human ears and nostrils. I tried to cry out, but the pain continued. My lips turned black, and my teeth sharpened into menacing points. My eyes stung as they morphed into the yellow, snake-like orbs identical to Lucifer's. My cheeks became red, and purple spread across my eyelids. "You're turning into me, dear twin," Lucifer whispered, almost reassuringly. I desperately fought against the changes, wracking my brain to hold onto who I was. But the more I struggled, the deeper Lucifer's memories embedded themselves, shoving aside my own. ### Chapter 4: Rebirth My clothing began to change next. A white high-collar suit adorned my body along with black knee-high heeled boots, gloves, a bowtie, and a red undershirt with white stripes. A wide-brimmed white top hat materialized on my head, with the familiar golden snake and red apple, a golden ring on my left pinkie, and the black cane now resting in my grip. "Almost there," Lucifer said with a triumphant smile. I felt my personality shifting, my thoughts growing more chaotic and zany. My once-calm demeanor was replaced with a love for all things entertaining and slightly mad, and an air of regality settled over my newfound menace. In one last act of defiance, I tried to recall the image of my former human self. But it was too late—those memories were gone, replaced by the life of ruling Hell, of the love for my wife Lilith, and the playfulness I shared with my daughter Charlie. "Now," Lucifer clapped his hands, "rise, my brother, and let us rule Hell together." ### Chapter 5: Embracing the Role I rose to my feet, a new being, completely identical to Lucifer Morningstar. Memories of a mortal life were gone, outshined by the grandiose and chaotic nature of being the ruler of Hell. I turned to Lucifer, my twin and guide. "What next, brother?" I asked with a sly grin, twirling my cane. Lucifer laughed, a sound filled with both joy and menace. "Now, we make Hell even more entertaining. With two of us, everything shall be twice the fun." Together, we walked side by side, ready to bring new chaos and revelry to our fiery domain. The old me was nothing more than a forgotten tale, lost in the shadows of Hell. --- ### Epilogue As we ventured forth, I couldn't help but feel a pang of something—a whisper of a past life I couldn't quite place. But that whisper was drowned in the symphony of polka music and the sheer joy of my new existence as Lucifer Morningstar's twin brother. Twin Lucifers, wreaking havoc and spreading cheer in the darkest depths of Hell. A tale only fitting for the lords of chaos themselves.

**Title: The Devil's Twin** **Part I: Prologue** As I sat at my desk, typing away another transformation story involving Lucifer Morningstar, an unease settled over me. It was almost as if I could feel eyes watching me from beyond the screen. I shook it off, thinking it was just my overactive imagination. This feeling, however, was not unfounded. **Part II: The Kidnapping** Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and a chilling, sinister laugh echoed through my room. A figure clad in white with blazing yellow eyes materialized before me. It was Lucifer Morningstar himself, stepping out of my nightmares and into my reality. "Ah, there you are," he said with a smile that revealed his sharp, menacing teeth. "I've grown tired of your stories, human. Distasteful little things, really. But... I have an idea. How about a story where you become a part of my world? Permanently?" Before I could scream or react, he snapped his fingers and everything went dark. **Part III: Arrival in Hell** When I regained consciousness, the heat and sulfurous smell indicated that I was no longer in my bedroom but somewhere far more sinister. Hell, to be exact. The fiery landscape stretched out before me, and I spotted Lucifer, lounging with a devilish grin. "Welcome to Hell, my future twin. I've decided it's high time I had a brother to share the fun with. And who better than you? After all, you know me so well from all those stories." My heart raced, and panic set in. "Please, no! I don't want this!" I cried out. **Part IV: The Transformation Begins** Lucifer disregarded my pleas and, with a snap of his fingers, began the transformation. It started with a tingling sensation in my skin, which soon turned into a painful burning. I watched in horror as my hands, once human, became covered in pure white skin. "No... no... this can't be happening!" I screamed, feeling my facial features contort and reshape. My hair bleached to blonde, thick black eyebrows formed, my lips darkened to an inky black, and my mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth. My height shifted to match Lucifer's, slightly shorter yet still imposing. My clothes began to change too, transforming into a white high-collar suit, black knee-high heeled boots, black gloves, a black bowtie, a red undershirt with white stripes, and a wide-brimmed white top hat adorned with a golden snake and red apple over crown-like spikes. I even found myself holding an apple-topped black cane. "Stop this! I don't want this! I'm not you!" I desperately clawed at my face, trying to stop the inevitable. **Part V: Mind Alteration** The worst part came next. Memories, old and comforting, were ripped away and replaced by the alien and disturbing. Instead of remembering my childhood, my family, and friends, I now had memories of ruling Hell, my wife Lilith, and my daughter Charlie. I fought as hard as I could to retain my identity, but the onslaught was relentless. I was becoming Lucifer Morningstar, through and through. A voice echoed in my mind. "Relax, dear human. The more you resist, the painful it becomes. Embrace the change." "No, I am... I am..." My words faltered and died as the last vestiges of my humanity were obliterated. **Part VI: Rebirth** When the transformation finally ceased, I stood tall, my posture regal and confident. My mind was now a mirror of Lucifer's: zany, self-indulgent, yet cunning and menacing. I turned to Lucifer, my twin brother, and smiled cheerfully with my sharp teeth flashing. "Ah, dear brother, this is wonderful! Two Lucifers are definitely better than one!" I said with a gleeful laugh, sounding disturbingly natural. Lucifer wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Precisely, my dear twin. Much more fun to share the rule... and the entertainments. Welcome to forever, brother." Together, we strolled through the infernal landscape, each step echoing our sinister laughter, now twin brothers, identical in every way. As we delved into the labyrinthine machinations of Hell's rule, my previous life was forgotten entirely, replaced by the eternal identity of Lucifer Morningstar. **Epilogue** Lilith and Charlie initially reacted with surprise but soon adapted to the duplicate presence. And Hell, well, Hell became a bit more... entertaining with two Morningstars to oversee its fiery domains. From that day forward, the once-human mortal was no more, having become permanently and irreversibly intertwined with the lore of Hell as the identical twin brother of Lucifer Morningstar.

--- It was an ordinary evening. I was at my desk, tapping away at the keyboard, trying to squeeze out another fanfiction about the fascinating yet frightful being known as Lucifer Morningstar from *Hazbin Hotel*. My imagination soared as I recounted tales of him turning into other forms, other identities. What I didn't realize was that the subject of my literary imagination had grown weary of my stories. "Another tale of transformation?" he mused from within his infernal realm. The King of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar, arched a thick black eyebrow at the latest story some mortal human had written about him. He sighed dramatically, his sharp teeth forming into an annoyed yet playful grin. “I think it’s about time we mixed things up a bit.” With a snap of his black-gloved fingers, Lucifer’s mind pierced the veil between worlds. I didn’t notice the sudden chill that enveloped the room, nor the eerie shadows dancing against the walls. Not until it was too late. The monitor flickered. My story faded away from the screen and was replaced with a golden snake and a red apple; Lucifer’s emblem. My heart skipped a beat and a pit formed in my stomach. Before I could react, the serpent on the screen seemed to spring to life. The last thing I saw was the apple glowing with a sinister light before everything went black. When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a bleak, fiery landscape. Hell. The air was thick with sulfur, and the distant screams and laughter of demons echoed across the wasteland. Fear gripped me as I saw him—Lucifer Morningstar, standing majestically with that signature, unnerving smile. “You know,” he began jovially, twirling his apple-topped cane, “I’ve had quite enough of your little stories. It’s about time you experience a real transformation.” Fear turned to terror as I realized I had no control over my body. Lucifer pointed his cane at me, its glowing tip aimed perfectly at my chest. “Don’t struggle too much. Just enjoy the ride,” he quipped with a wink. A surge of energy hit me and my body began to change. My skin turned pure white, my hair grew blonde and wild, and my vision swam as my eyes turned serpentine yellow with red slit pupils. I fought against the changes, trying to cling onto myself, but my mind was assaulted with foreign memories—Lucifer’s memories. ~~~ *Inside my thoughts* ~~~ “No! This isn’t happening!” I screamed internally, but the flood of personality shifts was relentless. My mortal concerns and memories were replaced with a mental library of Lucifer’s desires, whims, powers, and twisted charm. Each laugh, each pun, every memory of ruling Hell became ingrained in my psyche, pushing away who I used to be. ~~~ *In the present* ~~~ My height extended, making me tower over the flaming ground albeit still shorter than Charlie and Lilith. My clothes morphed into a white high-collared suit with black knee-high heeled boots and matching accessories. The final touch was the wide-brimmed white top hat that crowned my head. I felt a pang of sorrow for a second. Memories of family, friends, my life as a writer—they were there, and then they were gone. Lucifer walked over, placing a firm yet oddly comforting hand on my shoulder. “Now, brother,” he said, flashing a smile identical to mine. “Welcome to your new life. Together, we shall rule Hell and amuse ourselves in ways no mortal could even imagine.” I opened my mouth, the sharp teeth now fitting my persona perfectly. The words that came out were no longer mine. “Indeed, dear Lucifer.” I smirked, feeling the surge of twinship and malevolence meld into my core. “Let the games begin.” In my heart, or whatever demonic semblance of it remained, the final vestiges of my humanity flickered out. I was no longer the writer bound by earthly limitations. I was Lucifer's twin—a being of sinister charm, zany antics, and unparalleled power. The reader I once was had been permanently, irreversibly transformed into another Lucifer Morningstar. Endless possibilities stretched before us. We were two halves of a diabolical whole, destined to rule Hell with pride, passion, and a flair for the dramatic. And so, two Lucifers stood side by side, both monarchs of their fiery domain, ready to plunge the depths of Hell into an era of renewed chaos and unabashed revelry.

**The Forbidden Metamorphosis** It was a morning like any other. I sipped my coffee, absorbed in writing yet another transformation story involving beloved characters from my favorite animated series, Hazbin Hotel. Little did I know, this would be the last such story I ever wrote. The world around me began to twirl and twist. The fabric of reality turned inside out, and in a heartbeat, my mundane room disintegrated, replaced by the foreboding, sinister atmosphere of Hell—the vivid setting of Hazbin Hotel. “Welcome to my domain, dear reader,” a voice echoed, dripping with an eerie glee that commanded both awe and anxiety. I turned and found myself face to face with none other than the Prince of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar himself. His identical twin yellow eyes, slit pupils glinting with mischief, bore into mine. “What...what's happening?” I stammered, my voice trembling. Lucifer's lips curled into a devilish grin, sharp teeth gleaming. “You like transformation stories so much, I thought I’d treat you to one of my own. Besides, ruling Hell alone can get quite tedious.” Before I could respond, a surge of supernatural energy flared up around me. The sensation was overwhelming—imagine being submerged in both boiling water and arctic ice simultaneously. Pain gave way to a chilling numbness. I felt my human form dissolving, reshaping as though I were melted clay, molded by an unseen hand. My skin turned alabaster white, each pore vanishing until it was unnaturally smooth. I felt my hair lengthen and lighten, transforming into the same radiant blonde as Lucifer's. My eyebrows thickened and blackened starkly against my new complexion. A fierce ache gnawed at my jaw—teeth sharpening into the same menacing rows of fangs that Lucifer possessed. My limbs elongated, and dizzying vertigo struck as I grew taller, repositioning my perspective higher off the ground. In a blink, I found myself clad in Lucifer’s immaculate attire. The white high-collar suit fastened itself around me, the red undershirt with white stripes materializing underneath. The black gloves encased my hands, the heeled boots lifted my stance, and the wide-brimmed top hat crowned my new head. My fingers adorned with a golden ring and a matching cane appearing in my grip. My mirror reflection—a perfect clone of Lucifer Morningstar—sent a shiver down my spine. I clutched my head in a futile attempt to retain my memories, my identity. “No...this isn't me. This can’t be happening!” I screamed internally, fighting off the intrusion. But it was inescapable. Lucifer's memories—his vast centuries of existence, his esoteric knowledge, his regal demeanor—poured into my mind. Each laugh, each plot, each jest that amused him became my own. I grappled with these foreign thoughts, but it was akin to holding back a flood with my bare hands. Lucifer watched, amusement twinkling in his serpentine eyes. “You see, dear brother, resisting is pointless. Embrace who you are now—me.” His tone carried an undeniable command, a final verdict sealed by the universe's own decree. “No! I’m...I’m—” My protestation fragmented, unraveling into incoherence. My former life, my human thoughts, drifted away like forgotten echoes. I felt a distinct shift from turmoil to tranquility, realizing the battle was over, and I had lost. But had I? A serene smile crossed my dark lips, and with it, my memories as a mortal, the narratives I concocted—the essence of who I was—vanished completely. “Brother,” Lucifer's voice snapped me back to the present, “Welcome to your new eternity. Let’s not waste any more time—Hell isn't going to rule itself.” There was a familiarity now in our connection, an unspoken bond between twins that stretched beyond intellect. I laughed, a sound that was now light-hearted yet ominous. “Indeed, brother. We have a realm to dominate and much pleasure to indulge in.” The weight of responsibility felt strangely exhilarating combined with a newfound lightheartedness. Together, Lucifer and I stepped forward, our matching figures a testimony to Hell’s supreme authority and the darkly beautiful chaos we would continue to orchestrate.

As you sat comfortably on your couch holding the newest comic adaptation of your favorite animated series, Hazbin Hotel, your fingers traced the edges of Lucifer Morningstar's form depicted on the front cover. His regal portrayal fascinated you, his strange charisma made him a character like none other. Your fascination, however, soon would take a weird spin. As your eyes swept across the caricature of Lucifer, a chill coursed down your spine. With a brief burst of light, the comic vanished from your hands, and standing before you was Lucifer Morningstar, in all his white-skinned, sharp-toothed glory. "Evening, darlin'," he said, his deep voice echoing around the room, "An apology for the sudden visit, but I have urgent matters requiring immediate attention." Bewilderment morphed your features as you watched Lucifer pace around, looking almost as if he were assessing you. A quizzical look directed his way bought forth a small chuckle from Lucifer. "Ever had the desire to be somebody more, I don't know, interesting?" he asked, the smile on his face hinted at an underlay of mischief and, much ominously, permanence. Before you could respond, Lucifer snapped his fingers, and suddenly you were not in your living room anymore. Instead, you found yourself standing on the crimson shorelines of Hell. The transformation began as a tingling sensation, creeping from your toes upward. You looked down and gasped as your skin became paper-white. The restrictive sensation in your skull told you that your hair was now blonde, neatly styled to mirror Lucifer's own. You felt your eyebrows thicken and darken with intensity, making your features more imposing. The disappearance of your ears and nostrils made you feel odd - too non-human, a sensation that grew stronger when sharp teeth overtook your mouth, clicking together when you closed your lips, now black as night. A mirror appeared suddenly in your hand, reflecting back a pair of eyes that were your own, but now bore the slitted pupils of a snake and hues of yellow and red. A gloved hand reached out to grasp at the collar of a white suit that you didn't remember putting on. The zany personality of Lucifer grinned back from your reflection in the mirror, and at that moment, you knew something wasn't right. Despite apprehensions, your body moved on its own accord, pulling on knee-high heeled boots, matching your suit and gloves. An intense pull hinted that you were actually shrinking in height, aligning with Lucifer Morningstar's stature. Then the memories hit. Your past life, ever so vivid just minutes ago, seemed like echoes fading into the void. Trivial information about Lucifer flooded your mind, submerging your precious memories. Your side of the story, your voice, drowned into the charismatic persona of Lucifer. You wanted to resist this battle of minds, but even your reflection in the mirror assured you that you were losing. Your body took the final steps to complete the transformation - the addition of the white top hat, a black cane topped with an apple, a golden ring on your left pinkie. Complete, your transformation was permanent, irreversible, a clone of Lucifer, set in the depth of Hell itself. Amidst the mix of new and old memories clashing and merging together, one idea came forward, clearer than anything - Lucifer Morningstar, the man you've become, loved his wife, Lilith Morningstar deeply. "You see, darlin', Hell is too big of a place for me to manage alone," Lucifer's voice echoed all around you, "And I figured, who better than a twin brother to help lighten the load?" Looking at the reflection again, you blinked, and the former you were gone. You were Lucifer Morningstar. You always have been. As your darkened lips curved upwards into a grin, your new life in Hell was just beginning, with regality and silliness in equal measures.