Before we start, I just want to say that this chapter takes place between seasons one and two. Hope that clears things up a bit!
2 - Friendship
"Goodbye, Mom," Star said coldly, just as Marco walked into the room.
Star looked at the magic mirror hanging on her bedroom wall, where the image of her mother's face was still in the glass. Her mom seemed to be rambling on about something, but Star interrupted her.
"End call," Star said to the mirror. Her mother's face promptly disappeared, and Star drew her curtains over the mirror, covering it from sight.
"Trouble with her Royal Majesty?" Marco asked understandingly, sitting on the edge of Star's bed.
Star slumped to the ground, pulling her knees up to her chest and burying her face in her hands. "Yeah," she grumbled, voice muffled. "I just… she expects me to be this perfect princess, you know?"
"What did she say this time?"
"She wants me to go back to Mewni," Star answered.
Marco's stomach dropped. "Wh- What?"
"Yeah," Star whispered. "Permanently."
"Why?" Marco choked out. He couldn't imagine what life would be like without Star. They were practically family at this point.
"Because…" Star sighed. "She thinks that being on Earth is making me more 'rebellious.' She says that I should be acting like a princess, not like an Earth teenager, so she's taking me back."
"When?" Marco breathed so softly, Star could barely hear him.
He watched as Star's clear blue eyes filled with tears. "Tomorrow."
Star leapt up and dashed out of the bedroom. Marco heard her footsteps retreat down the steps, and he heard the front door of the house open and close.
He walked over to Star's window, to see Star racing down the street. She was probably heading over to Janna's house to say goodbye.
Marco's eyes trailed across the room to the curtains hanging on Star's wall, covering the mirror. Slowly, step by step, he walked to the mirror and threw the curtains back, exposing the reflective glass.
"Call the Queen of Mewni," Marco said to the mirror.
Nothing happened.
Oh, right, Marco remembered, mentally hitting himself. Star didn't call her mom "Queen of Mewni." She just called her "Mom."
"Call Mom," Marco corrected himself.
"Calling Mom," the mirror replied in a robotic voice.
In less than a few seconds, Moon Butterfly's face appeared in the mirror.
Marco swallowed nervously. Why had he thought this was a good idea, again?
"Marco Diaz?" the queen said, almost disbelievingly. "Star's little Earth friend? What are you doing? Why are you using Star's mirror?"
"Hello, Your Majesty," Marco said, trying to keep his voice from shaking.
The queen looked at him, completely unimpressed. "Why are you calling?" she repeated.
"I- Star told me that you were going to be taking her back to Mewni," Marco blurted. "Please… don't."
"Don't take her back home?" The queen raised an eyebrow. "Surely you're joking."
Marco shook his head.
"Marco," the queen said with a sigh, rolling her eyes. "This is a complete waste of my time. I have many other duties to be attending to-"
"Please, Your Majesty," Marco pleaded. "You can't take her back."
The queen studied him for a moment. When she didn't respond, Marco took it as a signal to keep going.
"Star loves it on Earth," he continued. "She's made friends. She goes to school. It wouldn't be the same here without her."
"Star needs to learn to be a princess," the queen countered. "A proper princess. She needs to learn how to properly control her magical powers-"
"And she is learning!" Marco insisted. "She uses her magic every day, Your Majesty. She practices with Glossaryk-" he was now referring to the tiny, magical blue figure that lived inside Star's spellbook and acted as her teacher "- and she's getting stronger, Your Majesty.
"She uses her magic more here, on Earth, than she ever would on Mewni. On Mewni, she lives in a royal castle, with lots of servants to do everything for her. But on Earth, she has no servants. She's practicing magic, doing things her own way, becoming more responsible… the people in our town love her, Queen Butterfly. Isn't that a good trait for a future queen to have, being loved by the people?
"She's selfless, Your Majesty. She helps anyone in need. Her magic is growing, and Glossaryk is here to teach her. I don't know what the people of Earth would do without her."
He locked eyes with the Queen of Mewni.
"Please, Your Majesty," he finished quietly. "Let Star stay."
The queen studied Marco.
"All right, Mr. Diaz," she said finally. "You've convinced me. Tell Star the good news."
Marco's eyes widened. "Wait… really? You're going to let her stay?"
"Yes," the queen sighed. "I suppose I will."
"Thank you!" Marco cheered. Without thinking, he reached over and pressed himself against the mirror, as if he were trying to hug the queen. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Er- okay, Marco," Star's mother answered awkwardly.
Marco peeled himself off the mirror, looking slightly embarrassed.
With that, the Queen of Mewni ended the call, her face disappearing from the mirror.
Now that the call had ended, and the mirror was just a normal mirror again, Marco saw Star's reflection standing right behind him.
He whirled around. Star was standing in the room, beaming.
"Star!" Marco exclaimed. "I- what- how long have you been standing there?"
Instead of answering, Star pulled Marco into a hug.
"Thank you, Marco," she whispered.
Marco smiled and hugged her back. "Of course, Star," he answered gently. "What else are best friends for?"