A/N: Wish I had this for last week. But hey we're here now.
So I have decided to scrap a few plots that I wanted to do and instead condense the meat of this story down. A lot of what I had would honestly have screamed "filler". It would only serve to introduce characters and re-do old plots. So I am doing original stuff. This chapter will contain elements of certain episodes from Star Vs. But it will be its own story. HOPEFULLY…not 10,000 words.
So what plots have happened already at this point?
-Star and Marco have already met (gone over this)
-Pony Head has been met and is at St. Olga's (will be revisited later)
-Ms. Skullnick was made into a troll (as referenced last chapter)
-Marco already had the monster arm
-Star has already fallen for Oskar
-Quest Buy was already visited
-Alfonzo and Ferguson have already met Star
As I write this chapter, I have to take into account what I want to tru;y do. I have a plot…but I figure I need to introduce or reintroduce a few things…and I also don't want to rush the plot. So as I write this chapter, just know that I'm also having a plot crisis. And said crisis is coming to a head in this chapter.
But anyway, I'll talk to you all later. For now…stoWRYYY time!
I own nothing in this story. Araki's Bizarre Adventures is owned by Shonen JUMP and Nefcy vs. The Forces of Evil is owned by Disney.
After a whole month of Earth, Star felt like she could sing about her entire stay on Earth. Walking home from school, she began to recount the adventures she had already went on with Marco. They went to Quest Buy, they saw a monster fall in love with their human turned troll teacher, and of course had numerous battles with Ludo's forces. Funny enough, despite Ludo somehow becoming a Spin user in their earth battle, there wasn't much development from Ludo after that. He always tried the same thing over and over again. Monsters ambush Star and Marco, Star and Marco kick their butts, Ludo tries to use Spin at the last minute. The first couple of times were tough because Star wasn't very knowledgeable on Spin. A few cuts and a bruise for her troubles were left on her due to these mistakes. She learned a few things in her battles with Shining Diamond against Ludo, though.
1.) NEVER try to punch anything imbued with Spin that's thrown at her, even with Shining Diamond. It still hurts.
2.) It can be dodged.
3.) Judging from what Marco and her studied, Ludo was horribly underpowered and nowhere near becoming a master of Spin.
So with this knowledge, Star felt like she had gotten a lot out of her time on Earth. A little song as she neared Marco's house wouldn't hurt. Something to express her joy about planet Earth.
"I think Earth-MARCO!"
Unfortunately for her, the song is cut off by the sight of one and only Ludo and his monster army. They were fighting Marco out in the streets of Echo Streets. Normally Marco does well against these beasts. However, it seemed like this time was a little hard for him. His karate skills, despite being middle of the road and far from mastery, were still enough to fight monsters from Ludo's crew. But this time, they came in like a true fighting force. Ludo's men were like an army of well-trained soldiers. They were handling Marco better than they have before. Marco of course got some hits in. And he was able to take control here and there. Alas, this became a one-sided affair after getting rammed by Beard Deer and getting stomped on by the hooves of another monster.
"YES! YES!" Shouted their master Ludo. "Keep him on the ground! Make him BEG for mercy! DESTROY THE BOY! Or at least keep him alive so we can use him for ransom."
"YOU WON'T BE USING HIM FOR RANSOM!" Exclaimed Star as she ran into battle. "[SHINING STAR]: MEGA NARHWAL BLAST!"
With her wand held out in front of her, Star jumps and spins into the air before summoning her Stand in front of her. And with its hands cupped and held out in front of itself, Shining Star blasted a wide wave of narwhals at the monsters below. It's wide range of attack swept numerous monsters off their feet, creating a large pile of them behind Ludo. As more came to charge at Star when she landed on the ground, Star ducked them and had Shining Star go out to punch them in the face. Because all problems can be solved with a quick punch to the face.
"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!"
More and more bodies piled up behind Ludo, who was already trying to line up a shot using a prickly ball he found on the ground. Star's back was turned to Ludo, so he felt it was the perfect time to line up a shot. Marco was being helped up by Star, and Ludo had the thorny seed spinning in his hands.
"Ahahaaa! I got you NOW, Star Butterflyyy!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, launching the spinning seed at Star. Marco, after looking up after getting to his feet, was about to warn Star about what was coming for her. But Shining Star, who had appeared behind Star, saw what was coming. And Star, without so much as looking behind her, tilted her head ever so slightly to the right so the seed could whiz between her and Marco.
This action shocked Marco, his jaw agape while looking at both Star and Shining Star. And it was obvious Ludo was just as shocked, judging by the extreme look of surprise on his face. He had to close his own beak and contemplate if he even wanted to continue this assault.
"…And it was going so well, too." He grumbled while cutting open a portal with his scissors. The monsters knew the drill. Lose, march of shame, chewed out. Ludo wasn't in the mood for chewing out this time, though. Instead he just marched behind his army with as much shame on his face as theirs. Once the portal closed, Marco had to ask Star just what she did there.
"Whoa…Star…how did you know that thing was coming for you?" Marco asked, eyebrow raised while Star shrugged and looked around.
"Oh, y'know…I learned I could see through Shining Star. So if she looks behind me, I can see what she sees behind me. Like literal eyes in the back of my head. It's no big deal." Star chuckled. She thought it was a big deal and completely freaked out when she first found she could do that. But she tried to keep it cool. "…Oh Marco it's so amazing, Shining Star is SO COOL!" She couldn't keep the façade.
"Hahaha! I mean it can use your spells, punch fast and hard, see stuff you can't see…what CAN'T Shining Star do?" Marco smiled excitedly as he hopped around with Star, but his expression soon turned into a frown as he looked down while still happily holding onto Star. And once she noticed his expression drop, hers dropped as well.
"Heeey why so glum chum?" She asked, getting a sigh from Marco and a shuffling of feet.
"Well…" He shrugged and pointed at Star's wand. "You have all these cool abilities. And me? I have my karate. And it worked well for a while. But today…those monsters weren't attacking like they normally did. They would have…well…done something bad to me…real bad…if you hadn't come. Your Stand can do all this cool stuff. And here I am, just a normal guy. What if that happened again? And you weren't there? I mean, just a second later and I could have been DEAD or-"
"Marco Marco!" Star put hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eye, trying to calm him down. "This is SAFETY Marco from before we met. You're COOL and ACTIONY Marco now. You're, like, my brain. I need you. I mean, you helped me study up on Spin energy so I could find ways to beat Ludo again. You help make fighting Ludo FUN again. He was getting reeeal boring back on Mewni." Star handwaved that and then smiled at Marco. "I need you. You'll be fiiine. Ludo's monsters had one decent day. But with STARCO on their butts, they won't get a victory."
"Erm, Star, I ask that you never refer to us as 'Starco' again please." Marco deadpanned as Jacky Lynn Thomas skateboarded by them. "…But yeah. We make a great team. …But what if…I mean…being normal can only take me so far. I think I need an edge. Something to help even the battle. Just…something."
Star could sense that Marco wouldn't feel comfortable until he knew he was able to fight alongside her safely. He knew the risks, but he wanted to minimize said risks. She understood wholeheartedly. So she nods her head and grabs his arm.
"Hey, why not head inside and talk to Glossaryk? He could have something for you. Maybe a few ideas for you to try out?" Her suggestion made Marco start to smile, and his frown went away. A chuckle escaped his lips, and he smiled at his friend as she led him into the house.
"Thanks for understanding, Star. I just want to, y'know, be like you." Marco chuckled nervously. "Boy that sounded cheesy. But I mean it. I wanna be like you and kick so much monster butt without needing to worry about a thing."
That compliment made Star beam with pride, but it also made her really think for a second. "Without needing to worry". Was Shining Star really that strong? The strongest Stand after her mother? She thought about that while running to her room with Marco. How strong can Shining Star get?
-.-.-
"CURSES CURSES CURSES YOU IMBECILES, YOU…YOU…oh what's the point…?"
Ludo slumped down in his throne and jumped off the pillows that were in his seat. No matter what he tried, he couldn't even get that wand. Even when he had his monsters formally trained for one fight to isolate the red hoodie boy, he couldn't win. Because Star was always right there. All he wanted was a victory over Butterfly. ONE victory. A simple one. He didn't even know how to get it, though. Her Stand could pummel his entire army into dirt.
"My army is filled with fools. My own skills with Spin are lacking. I can't even seem to find new shoes to replace these worn out old things." Ludo lifted his feet up from under his cloak to reveal his sandals barely hanging on by a string.
"Lord Ludo, we're trying our best…but we can't compete against that Stand of hers…" Deer Beard groaned while being tended to by Buff Frog. Said frog also spoke to his master.
"Lord Ludo, we are horribly outgunned. And your Spin hasn't…evolved…since you first discovered it." Ludo gave his top general a glare, not happy about Buff Frog pointing out his inadequacy. But the tense Buff Frog breathed a sigh of relief when Ludo turned his attention away from him. He was right. He was a bad Spin user.
"Well maybe if I had a guidebook about this, it'd be easier. I need some way to get GOOD at Spin. But how?" He asked himself, tapping his beak. "Maybe I should hold auditions for-"
SMASH!
The lord of Castle Avarius jumped into Buff Frog's arms after that booming noise from the walls. While shaking in Buff Frog's arms, Ludo looked down to find that a steel ball had crashed through a castle window. How though? Who was even nearby? Buff Frog had to carry Ludo over to the window so he could see who made this mess on his floor.
"SHOW YOURSELF, YOU VANDAL!" He screamed, shaking his fist out the window. Buff Frog raised an eyebrow at the tall lizard man in a suit, waving to the two of them while apologizing for his ball.
"I apologize! I didn't mean to do that! I was just practicing my Spin! Somehow my ball, which I threw via my mastery of The Spin, spun upward and spun through your window. I hope you forgive me for using Spin so close to your window…spinningly!"
With a quick smile, Toffee knew he had to get on Ludo's good side first. And he felt it was easy. Ludo needed a master at using the Spin to teach him. Toffee needed a way to get close to The Butterfly Family Wand. This was foolproof. All he needed was for the rumors to be true. He needed Ludo to be as naïve and needy as he was told he was.
"Ooooh…YOU are a master of Spin?" Ludo asked, eyes getting bigger while sparkling with desire.
The rumors were true.
"Pleeease pleeease! Come on in to retrieve your ball!" The castle lord motioned for a few of his men to welcome the lizard in. And after a few minutes of small talk, Ludo was very curious about this lizard named, "Toffee".
"Toffee hmmmm? Tell me, how did you get to master Spin?" Ludo asked with his hands as fists under his chin. He was lying stomach first on his pillow throne, kicking his legs into the air like a teenage girl in her bedroom. Toffee was just dreamy to him.
The Septarian shrugged off the question and chuckled. "Oh, I was naturally adept. But…I had a good teacher. A very good teacher. Knew the Spin like the back of their hand. Of course…I don't have much of a hand to know hahaha."
Toffee lifted his right hand to show his missing middle finger, which confounded Ludo and his men.
"Eugh…put that thing away." Ludo shivered and cringed at the unsightly wound. "How did you lose your finger?"
"Well…Mewmans are not creatures I ever want to fraternize with." A scowl soon grew on the once calmly smiling lizard's face. Despite trying to keep his friendly character, he couldn't help but scowl at even the mention of Mewmans. "Let's just say I have my reasons for mastering The Spin. And leave it at that."
Ludo and the others noticed Toffee's sudden shift in demeanor when talking about Mewmans. Most monsters were either indifferent or harbored a dislike for them, so this wasn't anything new. But Buff Frog was just listening to this conversation, not very fond of Toffee right off the back. Something about him seemed strange. He felt off, like he was hiding something. While Ludo was busy being a dictator (and as of now being Toffee's number one fanboy), Buff Frog was his top aide and scout. His job was to observe and pay close attention to his surroundings. And he was using his adept skill at observation to make some very educated guesses about Toffee's intentions here. Mainly, he could tell Toffee set this whole thing up.
But look at Ludo, he thought to himself. He was enamored by the smooth talking lizard. Every word he hung onto, like a bird with its feet clasped around a tree branch. What would outright telling Ludo do? He wouldn't believe him, nor would he care to try and listen. All he wanted was someone to help him advance in his Spin skill. And Ludo felt Toffee could be the one. He saw it in his eyes. He wanted Toffee to stay.
"Mr. Toffee…how would you like to work with me? In Castle Avarius? Training my men and helping me grow in my usage of Spin?"
Of course. Buff Frog just had to say something. He couldn't let Ludo allow a wolf in sheep's clothing into their band.
"Lord Ludo, I must ask you something…" He said, pulling Ludo aside to question him. The tyrant didn't like being pulled off his pillow tower, but Buff Frog needed to speak. "Lord Ludo, this is bad idea." He said in his broken Russian English. "He is not someone to trust. As your top scout, I can see he is not here for you or this cause. He wants something else out of this. I say you kick him to the curb-"
"Oh yes…kick him to the curb. Because THAT is what I want to do with the ONLY Spin master for MILES." Ludo squawked at him angrily, "Buff Frog, he may be a shady man…but he's my shady man. And he can teach me SPIN. And maybe he can whip you all into SHAPE. You need it. You all are not even CLOSE to being able to fight Star and her Stand! I need Toffee here because new blood pumping is better than the stale old blood we've been trying to pump for MONTHS now. So please Buff Frog…accept Toffee…lest we continuously lose once more and I blame you for it."
And with that, Ludo went back to Toffee so he could finalize the deal. Buff Frog was slightly disappointed, hoping that his boss would be a lot more attentive than this. But that wasn't the worst part. That goes to the smile Toffee gave Buff Frog while he was shaking hands with Ludo. A smile that was less warm and friendly and more arrogant and challenging. As if he beat Buff Frog. The scout did not like this smile…he did not like Toffee. But it seemed he would have to live with him for now.
…The only question was whether or not if one of them would still be living with the other after a while.
-.-.-
They had been looking through online accounts and such for what seemed like an hour. Star was looking at different things Marco could learn to use during their fights against monsters and other beings. While he used the computer, she was a decent helper in calling out different things. Though the frequency at which she called out things, both decent and bad choices, was quite tiring.
"Ooh what about learning how to use a sword?" Star excitedly cooed.
Marco shook his head and kept searching. "Too much."
"What about nunchuks?"
"Don't think they would work against monsters."
"You could learn this, 'Tai Kwon Do'!"
"I'm already learning Karate, why would I try to learn another martial art right now?"
"Well, all I got left is that one ad for experimentation to make you into a 'super soldier'." Star pouted with a hand on her hips. "Or let me guess…'it's too risky and could cost me my life'?"
"Erm no, it's in Argentina and could cost me all of my money." He had to click off the web browser he was using on his phone and groan. Slamming his back into Star's bed, Marco looked up at the ceiling and started contemplating his lack of luck. "I guess this is fate telling me to just try and get a black belt real quick. I'm never going to improve my skill beyond being a normal."
"Heeey you're the coolest normal I know!" Star said, lying down next to him to try and get to his level. "One of my all time idols is Mina Loveberry, a famous warrior from Mewni! She is a normal fighter whp kicks butt!"
"…Really?" Marco turned his head to Star, smiling at the prospect of a normal Mewni warrior being able to fight monsters and such.
"Yeah! …If you discount her Ripple training and years of torturous army drills that could kill the normal man." She had to quickly glance over all of that extra stuff to make her sound normal, though she was surprised to see Marco wasn't upset at her glancing over all of that. Well no, he was upset. He gave her a quick glare. But then began pondering something.
"…What's Ripple training?"
Star sat back up after Marco asked that, and then shrugged. "Eh…just some training a lot of warriors in Mewni do. Most fighters do it. It's something reeeally hard. I couldn't even do it. Maybe…I mean…I don't know if you should try it."
"Oh…okay then." And with those dreams crushed, Marco turned away from Star to ponder some more. She didn't mean to make him sadder than he already was. It bothered her seeing him so upset. But Ripple wasn't like Earth fighting. It's a completely difficult thing to master. He probably wouldn't even be capable of producing a lot of it…if any. He's an earthling. He is far from magical.
"I say let the boy try Ripple."
"Ah! Glossaryck!" Star jumped upon hearing the little blue wizard speak. He was stretching his own limbs, and had been so quiet since Star opened the book that she forgot he was there. He didn't really have much to say before. But Star mentioning Ripple to Marco made him curious.
Glossaryck's words made Marco very curious. "You think I should…try Ripple? What is Ripple?"
"Ripple isn't that complicated. Though I'm not the one to ask in-depth for it. I'm a magical being. I teach magic. Ripple isn't that magical. It barely has anything to do with magic at its core. It's a physical thing. An inner energy one can unleash through breathing and concentration. …Which is probably why Ms. Butterfly flunked her training."
Glossaryck's nonchalant putting down of Star's own shortcomings at Ripple made the princess somewhat self-conscious for a second, but she quickly got over it and turned to Marco. Despite some nervousness in what she felt could turn out bad, she wanted to be positive for Marco. "Well…if you wan to try it…I could ask my dad. He's probably the best Ripple user in aaall of Mewni."
"Wow really? I bet training under your dad must have been fun!" Marco smiled before hopping up from the bed. Star chuckled nervously, and shrugged while walking to her mirror.
"Let me just call mom, so I can-"
"CALLING TOM" the mirror proclaimed, causing Star to immediately panic and try to cancel the call.
"Nooonononononono!" She pleaded, but was too late in trying to end the call. Instead of her mother, she got a lavender skinned demon with three eyes, yellow horns, and red hair.
"Whoa…hey Star, what's up? Wanted to talk again?" Tom said. "Hey, it's been a while. Just glad you picked up and wanted to try and make up."
Star groaned, hands on her hips while rolling her eyes. "Nooo, Tom. I don't want to talk to you. Buh-bye."
"Wait what? Hold on Star!" Tom exclaimed, "I'm changed, I promise! I will do anything for you to come back! I even was able to get my own-"
"Don't care Tom. Byyye." Star deadpanned.
"DON'T END THIS CALL, STAR, OR I'LL-"
Aaand call ended.
"Whooo…was…that?" Marco asked with a raised eyebrow and a finger pointed at the screen. Star turned to face Marco and shrugged.
"Ex. Not important." She nonchalantly replied. "Call MOM."
"CALLING MOM." The mirror stated, correctly displaying the right caller ID before an image of her mother appeared onscreen.
"Oh. Hello dear, how are you?" Queen Moon asked her daughter. She was quite shocked to see Star call her.
"Hey mom! Is dad there?" She asked. "Wanted to ask him something."
"Hmmm…Riveeer! Star wants you!" Moon called, which brought forward the stout but regal King Consort of Mewni. The king looked at Star and smiled warmly at his daughter.
"Hello, dear! How are you? How is Earth?" He asked.
"Oooh it's good, dad! Fun stuff! Say…I have a friend who would love to train under you to see if he could try Ripple. Is that okay?" She asked, dragging Marco into frame.
"Um…hello sir king sir." He nervously waved, "Um…do you think I could try Ripple training? Just to see if I could do it. I hear it's hard. But I really want to try it. Just so I can say I tried another option. I need to find ways to help fight off people…and my own Karate doesn't seem to be cutting it right now."
"Huh? An…earthling…learning Ripple?" Asked Moon. "That sounds crazy. You earthlings aren't known for being very adept at mystical things."
"Well I mean…yeah…" Marco rubbed the back of his head. "But it doesn't mean I shouldn't try, right? I just want to be like, well, your daughter. Kick butt without the need to be bailed out. I had a pretty close encounter today and reeeally don't want another like it. I used to do great against this group of people. But between them getting the better of me today and a couple of more well trained folks giving me a beatdown some time ago (A/N: Referring to St. Olga's guards), I think I need some additional help. I k now Ripple seems hard. I hear it's difficult to do. But I'm willing to try it." Marco looked up at King River with fire in his eyes, his fists at his side and his expression unwavering and serious. He wanted to try it at least. And River could tell he was a very determined guy who would try his best. Marco was serious about this. And River liked that.
"Hmmm…okay then. Come to Mewni tomorrow after your school. I'll give you a crash course on Ripple." River smiles at Marco, which gives the teen a reassured feeling. He was going to be hosted by the king to train under him.
"What an honor…" He said as the royal couple ended the call. Star looked back at Marco and grinned a huge smile, shaking her hands under her chin. She was excited for Marco, if not also nervous for him. How would he take to the training? She remembered her own time training, and how hard it was for her. Marco wasn't like her though. He was a lot more…squishy.
Star poked Marco's stomach, which confused the boy greatly.
"Sorry…just seeing how squishy you are."
-.-.-
A nice Mewni afternoon near the castle was the perfect place to start their training. River Johansen was busy sitting on a rock, waiting for his daughter and her friend to appear. Once a portal opens and Star and Marco walk out, River turns to them and waves. Star, in her baby blue strapped blouse with tights and leg warmers…and Marco, clad in his Karate gi and wearing some sneakers.
"Hello hello!" Exclaimed River, who was wearing what seemed to be a fur loincloth. "Welcome to training, young Marco!"
"Woof, if this is part of the training, I think I want to quit now." Marco put a hand up to block the image of River's…loincloth clad self.
Star puts a hand up and removes it from Marco's face. "Hey if I can live with it for years, so can you." She smiled, before pushing Marco towards River. "GOOD LUCK!" She waved at her dad and Marco before conjuring up a purple cloud so she could sit on it.
River stepped into the river next to them, and motioned for Marco to do the same. "Come Marco! We have training to begin!"
Marco walked towards River, taking off his shoes in the process, and stepped into the waters near him. The king inspected Marco, trying to get a good look at him. "Hmmm…you aren't a boy with muscle, I'll say that."
"He's pretty squishy, eh dad?" Star shouted from Cloudy.
"Hey! I'm not squishy!" The teen chimed in. "I'm just not as…swollen…as you are, king. No offense."
"OHOHO no offense taken my boy!" Exclaimed the king as he patted Marco on the back a bit too hard, sending him arm first into a rock.
"OW!" Marco's arm hit the rock dead on, and it was in searing pain due to that. He felt he might have broken it. "Ow…ow…ooow…King I think you broke my arm!"
River himself looked upon this with shock, but that look quickly turned into bemusement. "Aheheheheh. Did I?"
"YEAH! YA DID!" Marco was getting frustrated with the king now, and he especially didn't like seeing Star with a smirk on her face. "Wait are you LAUGHING? My arm is broken! You can't just sit there and laugh at that!"
"Oooh…you'll see, Marco. Youuu'll see." She chuckled. "It's broken alright though."
"Oh ya think?" He gritted his teeth. "Oh man this was a bad idea. I shouldn't have come here. A pat on the back did this to me. How can I-"
"YOH!"
And with a swift motion, King River thrusted his pinky into the diaphragm of Marco and instantly shot all of the air out of his stomach. Marco fell into the shallow river, choking and breathing heavy. Star just watched all of this, knowing exactly what her father was doing. Marco tried to get up after that, and a look of anger started to appear on his face.
"HEY! I'm in PAIN here and you decide to ATTACK me? What the heck is wrong with you people? Do you-whoooa…"
Anger was soon displaced by shock and awe as Marco's arm began to shake. Sparks that looked like electricity began to cackle around his arm while it glowed a brilliant golden aura. The pain that was once in his arm soon was no more, and all that was left was a calming tingling in his arm. The bones were placed back where they should have been. It was like that one thing completely healed his arm.
"Did you…did you just heal me?" Asked Marco.
River shook head, not confirming what Marco said. "No, Marco. You healed yourself."
This confused Marco, and made Star chuckle. She knew he'd have enough energy in his body to heal his arm. That was nothing. River could see the confusion on Marco's face, and he decided to go more in-depth. So he began to towards the rock. "Marco, put your hand right here."
"What?" Marco's eyebrows raised. "Um, sir I just broke my hand, do you-"
"Marco…trust me." The king gave him a reassuring look. "I did break your arm. And that was a liiittle harsh, yes. But training to use Ripple Energy is nothing easy. Put your hand here on this rock. And I will explain exactly what I just did."
Why disobey the king, right? Marco was nervous, but he wasn't going to chicken out now. He gets on his knees and puts a hand on the rock. And now, River begins to concentrate…and breath.
"Long ago…Mewmans settled onto this fine land to claim their own territory. They drove out the monsters who terrorized them, and settled Mewni. The magic used by the ancestors of The Butterfly Family was strong. But when monsters continued to attack Mewmans, the common man needed a way to battle back. At that point in time, the monsters of Mewni had evolved with the darkness of the lands they had settled. They were creatures of darkness."
"Wait, but I've seen Ludo and his monsters go into the light all the time." Marco pointed out.
"Yes…but their realms are of that of darkness. They can survive the sun…but can they survive concentrated sunlight being pumped into their internal organs?" River pointed out, though Marco was very iffy on the reasoning. Still, he didn't really try to poke anymore holes in it. He was gracious enough to receive this training and didn't want to upset the King of Mewni. "My ancestors were some of the first Mewmans to develop a skill for…Ripple."
"Ripple…" Marco said to himself, "…is that what healed me? Ripple?"
River nodded. "Ripple is an energy created through the use of one's own inner life energy. Ripple energy in one's body produces a ripple effect. Watch…hooo…"
Marco watched on as River's golden aura began to radiate around him. His fists pressed together as he took a deep breath, he began to conjure his own Ripple around himself. And ripples were produced in the water, a visible sign of Ripple energy being created. "Wooow…" The human was amazed at the power he saw before himself. Magic was one thing…but seeing a normal person produce this kind of power was something else. It filled him with confidence.
"With the ability to harness our own Ripple, Mewmans were able to use it to fight off monsters even to this day!" River proclaimed, "And now I will show you the TRUE power of Ripple, Marco! Prepare yourself!"
"Wow…okay King…" He said in a mesmerized tone. …But then he realized River was aiming for his hand. "…Wait what? NO KING WAIT WAIT NOT MY HAND NOT MY HAAAND!"
"HOOOOOOOO!"
His fist DROPS towards Marco's, and he…lightly taps the hand on the rock, transmitting Ripple through the hand. Marco winced at the fist drop, but when he felt nothing attack him he had to see what happened. The energy transmitted through his hand, and then split the rock under his hand in half! Now this amazed Marco.
"WHAT!? WHAT WHAT WHAT!?" He shouted, his shock turning into a huge grin. "OOOHOHOOO MAN! I get to be able to do THAT!? REALLY!?"
River crossed his arms and looked away. "Oh…I don't know, young Marco. Can you do it? Do you think you can?"
"Ha! I KNOW I can do it, king! Oh man…this combined with my Karate? I could be UNSTOPPABLE!" Marco exclaimed. "Okay okay…what do I need to do first?"
"First things first…BREATHING." River put a finger up, which confused the boy.
"Breathing?" He asked in a bewildered tone.
Star heard that tone and chuckled, knowing exactly what he meant. "Yeaaah Marco. Breathing. Here's the part where it sorta gets boring." Her knowing tone showed just how "experienced" she was in this sort of thing. Cloudy floated next to Marco, and Star was able to talk face to face with him. "In order to use Ripple, ya gotta know how to control your Ripple. And in order to use Ripple, ya gotta learn how to breath. It's all about breathing. It's sort of-"
"Okay then." A shrug from Marco was followed up with him trying to breath in and out.
Star was confused at Marco's positive reaction to this development. "Erm…what? You're…excited by this? It's…just breathing."
"Not really excited, Star." Marco shrugged. "Just patient. Martial arts is all about patience and waiting. I do breathing exercises like these all the time. This shouldn't be a problem."
And with that, Marco begins using his own breathing techniques he learned from his dojo in Echo Creek to try and conjure his own Ripple. River and Star were shocked to see how quickly Marco adopted his breathing techniques.
…But what was more shocking for them both to see was a human like Marco producing a small bit of aura around his body. Marco never tried this before. He never even knew what Ripple was. But the second he was told this energy existed, he had to try to see if he could use it. And indeed, he was…
"…A Natural…" River said quietly. Though it was loud enough for Star to here. Her happiness for Marco was there on her face. She smiled. But on the inside, she felt…somewhat inadequate. Was she jealous? No way. She had magic. A Stand. A POWERFUL Stand. And it could only get stronger, she imagined. There was no need to be jealous.
But when she saw the beaming smile of her father watching Marco harness his own inner energy, it made her feel somewhat bad.
-.-.-
"Come now, darling…just…concentrate." River said to his daughter. Both were standing in the river, trying to practice Ripple. But the twelve year old just couldn't be bothered. She found it all boring. Her mind couldn't wrap itself around the concept of a fighting style centered around breathing. So instead, she lounged around while sending messages back and forth with Pony Head. "STAR!"
Her father's loud voice boomed enough to snap her out her distracted stupor. She looked at his face, which had a rather large frown. He was hoping, like all of their other adventuring activities, she would share this with him as well. She was bound to be princess and use magic. Maybe she could also use Ripple like Queen Solaria once did. A warrior queen like herself was similar to Star, who was also a roaming spirit who liked to fight. But maybe her mind just wasn't able to grasp Ripple.
-.-.-
Remembering that made her feel a bit upset, and Star soon backed away from the scene on her cloud. And cut open a dimensional portal back to Earth.
Marco, once he finished his breathing exercises, turned around to see Star try to leave. "Star? Where ya going?"
"Just come back when you can Marco." She said, turning to him and putting on a smile. "…I'm kind of bored. Need something to do."
And with that, she left for Earth. Marco wasn't quite sure what that was about, but River fully understood the situation.
"Of course…bored by Ripple again." He said forlornly. So maybe he didn't fully get it.
"What?" Marco turned to River curiously. "What do you mean? She was bored by Ripple?"
"I assume so." Looking down at the water, River also remembered the same memory Star thought of with the past Ripple training. "She was never interested in the mechanics. My girl and I shared everything. She got my sense of adventure, my love of battle…but she never wanted to understand Ripple. Of course I am not angry. Magic is her thing. But I guess being here stirred up old feelings of boredom. Oh well."
"Oh…um…sorry, King Butterfly?" Marco wasn't entirely sure what to say as River looked into the sky, clutching his chest while reminiscing. It was a very awkward scene, and Marco didn't want to interrupt it. After a minute, River turned to Marco and put a hand on his shoulders.
"But you see…now I have someone to carry The Johansen Family Ripple!" Exclaimed River. "And then when you and Star get married, your child can carry our techniques!"
"Well-hey, me and Star aren't getting married-I guess you're somewhat right. I can carry on your teachings. I hear you're the best Ripple user on Mewni."
"Oh? Weeell…Mina Loveberry is very good…" River chuckled humbly, "But yes, yes I am the best Ripple user on Mewni! OHOHO! There is no question! Ahaha! My skill is almost UNMATCHED by even Mina herself!"
Whether Marco wanted to believe River or not was not important now. What was important was that he could finally try and match Star in her own skill. He found something mystical he could do. And since it was practically lethal against monsters, he could fight side by side with Star against Ludo and even solo them if need be. This was the opportunity he was waiting for.
-.-.-
But it seemed this opportunity was not something Star enjoyed seeing.
Weeks passed…and the story was the same. Marco and Star would come home from school. Maybe Ludo would attack here and there, and he'd help out for a bit. But he figured Star could handle them easily. Star definitely did handle Ludo's forces with ease. But it wasn't as fun without Marco. He would go off to Mewni every afternoon to train with her dad. And she was left lounging in her room, trying to find ways to entertain herself. She didn't want to go to Mewni and watch him train. Ripple training bored her. It always did.
…Or maybe she just didn't want to watch Marco do what she couldn't do.
No. No way, jealous of Marco? How could she be? She had an amazing Stand! Amazing powers were promised to her. She was going to become one of Mewni's greatest Stand users with Shining Star. Able to harness the magic of the universe, Shining Star was a similar Stand to her mother's. She was going to be strong. No doubt about it.
But she looked at the way her father's eyes widened…his smile grew…his stature excited…she saw how happy he was when Marco was a natural with Ripple. Unlike her two years ago when she was getting Ripple lessons on her 12th birthday, Marco was able to natural conduct the energy throughout his body with ease. And now she was somewhat jealous of Marco for making her dad happier than she ever could. Or maybe she was jealous of River for stealing her best friend from her.
"Staaar…?" Glossaryck, observing Star waving her wand around hapharzdly while lying upside-down on her bed, called out.
"Whaaat?" She replied with a groan.
The magic teacher sighed and simply floated on his side. "Look, there's something bothering you and I think I need to get to the bottom of it. Because I'd rather not go into week three of this. By week one I was already tired of it. What's wrong?"
"What? I'm okay." Her bored tone said otherwise. And Glossaryck knew it.
"Star. I'm not stupid. You are normally more excited than this for magic lessons. You love learning new spells and how to use magic. You of course get easily bored…like with the Ripple training…" He said with a murmur.
"I heard that." The princess directed a glare at her teacher. "I'm not bored. I could do Ripple if I wanted to. I just don't FEEL like it." Her offended tone and stand-offish words gave Glossaryck all the info he needed.
"Okay Star, listen up because I know you feel a certain way about your dad and Marco training. But look: YOU…just aren't compatible with Ripple. Marco is. Your dad is. Your mother isn't." He said to her. "I know you're upset that Marco and your dad are spending more time together, but that doesn't mean they care about you any less."
Star was silent for a second, contemplating what Glossaryck said. A sigh was followed by Star turning over onto her stomach and looking at her teacher. "…Glossaryck…I guess…I feel left out. Maybe jealous. Marco was praising me about being cool and magical. But magic doesn't require any crazy skill. Just yell out a spell and make something. Bam. Ripple involves discipline and all that breathing. And I think I upset my dad when I showed him I couldn't even do it. And now Marco…he does it…and they're all buddy buddy now."
"And you think your dad is ashamed or doesn't want anything to do with you?" Asked Glossaryck. Star shrugged and looked down, not wanting to give an actual confirmation. "…Star, let me be the first to say…magic…is not just saying a spell and waving a wand like the humans want you to believe."
"But it seems like it. Just some magic and bam…a Stand." Star sighed. "Nothing my dad would be proud of."
"Yes, but your father would be proud that you were able to use become so adept at your own magic and your Stand in such a short amount of time." Glossaryck said, "You're as much a natural at using magic as your mom and queens before her. You couldn't even summon it at first. And now you're busy using 360 Vision and spells almost with ease. Star…you aren't good for Ripple. Marco is, though. Magic and Ripple…they couldn't be more opposite."
Star kept her attention on Glossaryck as he explained more about the energies. "Ripple is coordinated…rigid…it has a set of rules that must be followed so that it can be used. It needs concentration. It's an inner energy one must try to pull out through concentrated means. You…are not the most patient. You're a fireball of energy. You wouldn't even stay still for a breathing exercise."
"Because it was sooo boring! Why do you need to BREATHE to use it?" Asked Star, "Breathing is natural. It should come natural."
"Because it's a life energy." Glossaryck said. "Marco was perfect for Ripple. He's attentive. He's careful. He's good at being patient. He knows a bit of martial arts. He can concentrate better than you. He is the best fit for Ripple. Why do you think I mentioned it?"
"Gee…thanks Glossaryck. That makes me feel so much better. Great to know that I can't be attentive and patient." Star rolled her eyes, though Glossaryck pouted at her attitude.
"I didn't mean it like that and you know it." He said, "He is a perfect fit for Ripple. But you're a perfect fit for magic in ways he isn't. You are in tune with your emotions. You're spirited. Magic needs emotion to work. And Ripple needs concentration to work. You aren't adept at Ripple because it isn't who you are. Magic is who you are. One is an inner energy (Ripple). One is an outer energy (Magic). They all require one-hundred percent dedication. Plus, they (and Spin) are able to produce Stands so they give you the same thing too. Either way…don't get caught up in trying to be like Queen Solaria. She was a mnster destroying nutcase. She absolutely wanted Ripple. Though her Ripple energy amount wasn't that high. Very average. A tad below, really. But she could channel that energy through her blade and go to town. You aren't as fight crazy as her though. So don't worry about it. Relax. You need to be relaxed to use your magic. And I'm sure your father is proud of you. And Marco will be done with full time training before you know it."
Glossaryck's words were very much taken to heart by Star. She was great at magic. No need to try and change that. Ripple isn't something she needed to learn. So with that, she decides to get up and walk towards the book. "Thank Glossaryck. That was actually helpful. I'll just get back to studying now. …Saaay can we go over this chapter? It's never been opeeened." She said, pointing to a locked chapter with a pink star as its cover. The blue magic man just said, "Uuuuuuh…" aloud while trying to find a good answer. But he was interrupted by rocks being thrown at the window. Now somewhat upset by this development, Star had to get up and investigate whatever it was throwing rocks at her window. "Eh?" She walks over to the window and looks out to see Ludo and his army, ready to fight Star in their regularly scheduled showdown. She wasn't upset anymore, so this seemed like a perfect time to blow off any steam she had left.
"Hey Glossayck, gotta go fight some monsters. Be back in like…five minutes." She chuckled before jumping out the window. She spins, with Shining star catching her on her way down before it stands behind her. Star puts her arms over her head and poses with her back arched, looking over at the monsters as her fabulousness goes up ten-fold. "Ludo…monsters…I guess you want to start our old song and dance?"
Ludo looks at his army, and then looks at Star. "Yeees, princess. Let's start our battles. Tell me Star…have you ever heard of…The Golden Rectangle?"
This made Star move out of her pose and stare at Ludo quizzically. Steel balls in hand, Ludo began spinning the objects…and grinned evilly.
-.-.-
After a long day of Ripple training, Marco and River needed a break. Though Marco had one more test. After putting his hand on a branch, causing it to bloom flowers from it, Marco over at a tree with a squirrel hanging from it. River nodded to Marco, who turned to the tree and sighed. With a breath of air coursing through his lungs, Marco harnessed the power of The Ripple. His legs cackled with electricity, and then it was just his right leg as he swung it towards the squirrel.
CRACK
Marco's kick sent Ripple through the squirrel and out the other end to the tree. And with that, the trunk snapped in half and the tree tumbled over. Marco was able to save the squirrel from being rushed by the tree, and then he placed onto another tree. Though that was the squirrel's home, and it had its Pink Dark Boy manga collection in that tree. So it bit Marco on the hand and scurried away.
"Ow!" Marco hissed while rubbing his hand. Though with some concentration, he was able to heal his woun via Ripple and concentration. "Wow…this is just amazing. Sensei River, I have to thank you once again. I never in a million years thought I could do this! This is just amazing!" He exclaimed. "This is great because I can use this to enhance my Karate! And I can still train with my Karate! A win win!"
"Ohoho it is not an issue, Marco!" River exclaimed. "Maybe one day you'll become a master like me. And then you can summon your own Stand!"
"Whoawhoawhoa wait…YOU have a Stand?" Asked Marco. "No way! I thought only magic people had those? Like Star and her mom?"
"Marco, anyone can use a Stand…Magic, Ripple, even Spin…they all can produce Stands with enough work. Heck, some people are just BORN with the ability to conjure a Stand. But I can promise you that my hard work with Ripple training has allowed me to summon my own Stand! [MOUNTAIN MAN]!"
River channeled Ripple energy into his hands, the sparking "sunlight" energy producing a giant Warhammer in the hands of River! "Meet my Stand…Mountain Man!"
"Huh…" Marco was impressed, but slightly confused. "Erm…that it? I mean…it's…just a hammer…"
Looking at Mountain Man, River inspected it when Marco called it "just a hammer". "Well yes, it's no Stand like my wife's or my daughter's. Ripple users who gain Stands via just their Ripple gain Stands that are able to channel their Ripple. My Stand can channel Ripple as well as split anything into fractions."
"…Fractions? Like…your hammer can cut things in two?" Marco asked.
"No no…more like…it can split things in half, and reduce its power by splitting it amongst the two halves. And I can continue on with the splitting to make fourths and sixths and eighths and so on…it's a hammer that…I guess acts as a sword." River laid the hammer down bell first on the ground. "It's no magic conduit. But it's mine. And I trained hard to get this."
"Wow…that's cool." Marco was wowed by this, and he wondered if he would ever get something like this. He really had to work hard now.
"River! Marco! You're needed! It's an emergency!"
The voice of the queen echoed from the castle to their training grounds, and the king and Marco turned to face the castle.
"Marco, let's go. Shall I carry you?" River asked as he couched. Marco just sidestepped him and put two hands up.
"No no…I'm good…I have legs and my pride. I would like to use both, thank you." Marco said as he made his way back to the castle. River followed suit, and the two soon found Queen Moon standing in front of the magic mirror with Glossaryck on the other end. "What's up Glossaryck?" Marco asked.
The wizard looked out the window nervously as magic blasts and steel balls flew about, and then he looked back at the group. "Star needs some help." He said calmly, though this made Marco and her parents anything but calm. Marco looks at River, and concern washing over both of their faces the most.
-.-.-
This was not the way these fights were supposed to go. She used to just wipe the floor with them. They were an unorganized fighting force. And Ludo's Spin was predictable and uncreative.
But not this time. This time, they were machines.
They found a way to combat her Stand, knowing that it attacks anything that goes near her automatically. For once, they go two on on against her. With Star's attention on the two in front of her though, she just barely misses being grabbed by one behind her. And then finally two others grab her and hold on tight to Star.
"AH!" She squirmed, trying to break free of Emmitt's grip, which gets Beard Deer and Three Eyed Potato Baby free reign to go to town on Star with multiple punches to the face and body. It turns into a downright mugging, until she shouts out another spell. "RAINBOW BLAST!" With a cup of its hands, Shining Star fires a sweeping Rainbow Blast that sends every monster around Star away. Rainbows and bunnies abound, they send monsters packing. And this gives Star the reprieve she was hoping for. However, it seems like she wouldn't get much. Man Arm grabs Star by the arm, but gets punched away by Shining Star. "ORA!" She hops in the air, using the power from Shining Star to get some height. This was supposed to get her away from the monsters, but instead she has to look up and have Shining Star punch Boo Fly away. But this doesn't help her keep an eye on Buff Frog having hopped into the air and grabbing her by her ankles.
"GOOD JOB, BUFF FROG!" Ludo shouts in his shrill voice while spinning a steel ball in his hand. He observes The Diaz Household, and begins to think…think on what Toffee told him…
-.-.-
"There is beauty all over, even in dirty territory such as this."
The lizard man walks around, observing Ludo's…revealing…tapestries. He winces at this sight, though Ludo doesn't much mind his distaste for what he considers "art". "…Ludo, I want you to observe this tapestry. As hard as you can."
"Oh I can!" Exclaimed Ludo, now overlooking every…nook and cranny…on his tapestry…
Toffee truly looked sickened by this sight, with his face scrunching up while he shudders. But he presses on with the training. "Ludo, observe the sight before you and imagine that tapestry as a rectangle…that turns into two squares…that splits into more rectangles and more squares. I assume you have heard of The Golden Rectangle. It is a very important concept to Spin."
Breaking him out of his trance, that question was giving Ludo quite the fit. "Erm…I…hmmm…well of course! As a man and student of Spin, I know ALL of its concepts!"
Toffee looked unconvinced. "…But let me guess…" He said with a raised eyebrow and a slight sarcastic tone that Ludo couldn't pick up, "…you would like a refresher?"
"Oh yes please?" The bird asked with his hands clasped together.
This is going to be a tough session, Toffee thought to himself.
-.-.-
"…Rectangle…rectangle…" Toffee thought to himself as he observed The Diaz House. His mind began to section the house off into squares and rectangles. He tried to find the perfect one, all the while Star was squirming while trying to get free of Buff Frog. Several monsters put their hands on her mouth so she couldn't call out a spell, and Ludo all the while just continues trying to find the perfection. "Come on, you did this in class. Oh dear test anxiety is real. Let's see, no a spiral isn't good there. How about…"
"BOSS! SHE'S BREAKING FREEEEEE!" Shouted the two headed giraffe monster as Star was beginning to get a mouth free.
"Almost! In a minute! I'm trying to observe this house!" He shouted in response.
Unfortunately for Ludo, Star was shouting in response too once her got was able to get free.
"SHINING STAR: TIARA TORNADO!"
Appearing once more, Shining Star began spinning around to blast the monsters away with a pink aura shooting out sharp tiaras in all directions. All of the monsters holding her were on the ground after that…
"I GOT IT!"
…but what Star was none the wiser to Ludo finding The Golden Rectangle and finally firing his rotating steel ball through the air. Though Shining Star appeared, it was closing in on her fast!
"Huh?" With 360 Vision, Star managed to turn around just in time to avoid the chest strike. But she was less fortunate with her right leg, which took the brunt of the damage as the ball IMPACTED with it!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Blood shot out like massive spurts in all directions (in classic JoJo fashion) as her leg was contorted and twisted around in an unnatural position! It snapped, leaving Star with a broken leg hanging from her waist. This was something unreal to her, like a fantasy or a nightmare she never believed could happen. Ludo got a good shot in for once, and this was truly the first time she had ever been in this much lasting pain in a fight. Marco being right about the monsters finally getting their act together, Ludo being this strong, his army being this cunning…none of that was on her mind right now. It was too focused on the unbearable pain she had in her leg that made her unable to stand and defend herself; though the fact that it was Ludo who caused said pain was not lost on Star.
"I did it…I did it…I TRULY DID IT!" Exclaimed Ludo. "I GOT A HIT ON STAR BUTTERFLY! WE FINALLY DEFEATED HER!"
"No…you didn't, Ludo…I can still-*Cue differently colored close up splitscreen with Star's widened eyes*-GAAAH!" Star goes back down after trying to stand on her broken leg, clutching it while laying on her side. Her wand dropped from her hand, which was the perfect time for Ludo to waltz over and take it.
"Star Butterfly…it seems your arrogance in taking my army less than seriously has gained you your first true loss. I can't say it isn't well deserved." Ludo said as the color scheme went crazy. Ludo looked blue while Star's blonde hair suddenly turned bright green. "The Butterfly Wand is mine…and it is time I took this before that little chop kick boy of yours comes in to try and…oh pshhh…what can HE DO against me? Ahaha!"
"A lot more now…"
Ludo's body stiffens, and his army's eyes widen as they look behind Ludo. Their lord turns himself around…
…and his eyes widen at the sight of not only Marco…
…but King River, loincloth and fur boot clad, standing there with a sickened glare.
"…Using Spin on my own daughter…I never thought she'd have to feel the pain her mother felt decades ago." He said, looking at his own hands as they spark with Ripple energy. "…Ludo…my daughter is strong. She can defend herself like any Mewman warrior. No matter if she's magic or Ripple…I am proud of her for her determination and bravery to head into any battle. But as of this moment, it is time I shed my kingly persona to defend my daughter this once. Marco shall eradicate your army. But it will be I who finishes your existence."
Star, despite the pain she was in, did feel a bit of comfort hearing her father say she was proud of her no matter what. Glossaryck made her feel better, but it was nice to have true confirmation from her dad. "Aw…thanks dad…"
Marco then looked over at Star and smirked, "Star…I think we deserve a little evening movie time after this. But I need to show these freaks what happens when you mess with Team Starco."
"…Wow…you know…that does sound weird…" Star said while scratching her head. "I dunno if we should keep that name."
With a sign and an eye roll, Marco just disregards Star's words. He agreed too, but it isn't the time for this conversation.
But Ludo was not to be forgotten. "You all want to fight me? …Bring it, KING! I'M READY FOR YA!" And with that, Ludo manages to use a car behind River as a reference for The Golden Rectangle. And with a swift throw, he sends a spiraling steel ball towards River.
"Marco! To Star!" River shouted before he called out his Stand.
"[MOUNTAIN MAN]!"
Busting out his Warhammer Stand, River supercharges it with Ripple and collides his Ripple Stand against Ludo's quickly rotating steel ball. River had the power activated, splitting the ball into two balls with the impact. Spin and Ripple collided, two age old energies duking it out. Though it seemed River was getting the short end of the stick here as the ball was bearing down on his Stand.
Meanwhile, Marco ran towards the monsters and stopped when a large wall of them surrounded Star. Buff Frog smirked at Marco, "What can you do to us…you remember last time, skinny man?"
That beatdown did scar Marco a bit, and it made him paranoid. "Yeah…I do. And it's burned into my head. I got paranoid because of you guys." Marco tightened his white headband and his gi's waistband and took a stance. "…It made me want to improve myself. So I kinda wanna thank you guys for kicking my butt. Because if it wasn't for that…I wouldn't be able to do this…"
He breathes in and out carefully, gathering his energy around his body. The sight of Ripple emanating from his person gives the monsters frightened chills going up their spines (and Boo Fly's exoskeleton).
"W-What? YOU KNOW RIPPLE TOO!? YOU ARE BUT SKINNY WEAK EARTHLING!" Buff Frog exclaimed while backing up with the other monsters, all of them deathly afraid of Ripple.
And Marco just smirks. "Stinks to have pre-conceived notions of people, eh?"
"CRESCENT MOON OVERDRIIIVE!"
Sending the bulk of his Ripple to his right leg, Marco leapt forward and delivered an arcing Roundhouse Kick to the monster contingency. It connects with the unnamed goat monster while the other monsters back away, hitting him square in the face. The Ripple from Marco's kick transfers itself inside the goat monster, burning him alive from the inside.
"BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" It calls out as it begins eroding from the inside out, incinerated by the burning light of Ripple. The goat monster burns alive, and its ashes fall to the ground.
Dead.
And this was something that did not truly sit right with Marco, who was quite disturbed at how truly potent Ripple was. River told him that Spin was the dark and deadly power and Ripple was the power of light. But after seeing this sight, Marco wasn't too sure on that. But he couldn't focus on that, he had to help Star.
"Marco…that was…amazing…" Star was shocked at how well he mastered Ripple, her eyes sparkling with delight at seeing that monster burn alive. Excitement didn't seem to be shared between the two, though. Marco felt awful about that.
"Star…I killed a guy…" He said, looking at the ashes. "I mean he could have had a family or something. I don't know. Maybe he-"
"Hey, Marco…don't worry…" Said Star as he put a hand on his mouth. "…They're monsters. They work for Ludo's army. They're evil. Don't stress yourself out. Look at you…you're like a Mewman Warrior now. I think it's kinda cool. And sometimes, ya gotta…take someone out. Especially if they're harming people you care about."
"Yeah…I guess you're right." Marco said with a weak chuckle. He still didn't get Mewni Culture and attitudes. But he was hoping this was the right choice. He had to. It was all he could do. The two friends share a smile, but Star's goes away as soon as the pain in her leg flares back up. She winces a bit, moving her other leg while whining a tad. "Oh hey…" Marco looks down, "…what did they do?"
"Ludo finally got a Spin attack on me and…I think my leg is broken." She said, rubbing her leg in pain.
"Hmph, the old rat finally did something. Well let me take a look at it." Marco channeled Ripple into his hands, and then "shocks" it into Star's leg. It was a low amount of Ripple, and it was burning her on the inside. "Star I'm gonna need you to breath for me, okay? Concentrated breathing…I know it seem boring, but I need a bit of commitment from you so this can work, okay? Otherwise…I'm sorta just melting your insides."
Sar nodded, doing whatever Marco needed to help fix her. So she begins breathing in…and breathing out. Slowly. Surely. Carefully. Other adverbs.
She kept a slow and steady pace, remembering what her dad taught her. And it caused her bones to begin tightening as Ripple was fully transferred from Marco to her leg. "Ah!" she yelped when her bones began resetting themselves into place. Her broken leg was fixing itself, but Marco warned her.
"Keep breathing Star. It's almost done!" Star keeps her breathing intact upon Marco's words, letting the healing process take place. Once it was finished, the Ripple glow wore off. And Star was able to leap to her feet and hug Marco.
"Whoa! Hey…not the in front of the monsters…" Marco said with a chuckle, pointing to the frightened monsters behind Star.
The princess lets go, and twirls her wand around. "I see somebody wanted to learn healing techniques. Of course. Safety kiiid." She teased Marco with a poke to his chin.
Marci batted Star's hand away and crossed his arms. "Hey. I like to know I can heal somebody. Besides…it was mostly effective because of your own Ripple that you never use. My Ripple combined with yours to help heal you as quick as I did." He said with squinted eyes. "You have a good amount in you. I'm surprised you really don't wanna use it."
"Eh…I pondered it…and well…you fit Ripple perfectly." Star smiled, "I'm spirited and outward like Magic and you're concentrated and inward like Ripple. I think we're two sides of the same coin. And said coin needs to send another message to those monsters." Star turned around and got into a battle stance.
"[SHINING STAR]!"
Her knight armored Stand floated above her, and Marco's hands were alit with Ripple. He felt bad for that goat monster, but he knew he couldn't let these monsters stay standing. They needed to retreat. So he lowered his Ripple output so that it wouldn't be lethal to the monsters.
Meanwhile, Ludo was watching River get pushed back by the steel balls he was throwing. The king's Mountain Man could hold two balls…but Ludo threw another…and another…and those two balls turned into four when River activated his Stand's ability. And then another made eight balls…and another made ten. Ten steel balls, despite their halved power, still was too much for River. He couldn't hit them away. They were spinning away at his Stand.
"Aaaaah!" The king shouted before gritting his teeth. Ludo had the upper hand now, and it was the top monster vs. the top Mewman male…with a monster finally coming out on top.
"OOOH YES! It is time! TIME FOR MONSTERS TO RULE THIS WORLD! MY SPIN…DEFEATS YOUR RIPPLE!" Exclaimed Ludo. "YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME, KING RIVER! FOR THIS IS LUDO'S WORLD! AND LUDO'S WORLD NEVER STOPS SPINNING…"
"GRRRR…that may be true for your own world, Ludo …" River gritted his teeth, "But as for these STEEL BALLS…THEY'LL STOP SPINNING…Marco…allow me to show you…how metal CONDUCTS RIPPLE!"
"What?" Ludo stepped back while Marco, handling Giant Chicken with a chop to the neck, turns to River.
"Whoooa really?" He exclaimed.
"SPIN REFLECT OVERDRIIIVE!"
The steel balls, once spinning, now began to slow down as River's Ripple began to override Ludo's Spin. The spin of the balls stopped, and the steel balls were now shaking with glowing golden energy. "WHAT!?" Ludo shouted as he began to run backwards. River launches all ten Ripple steel balls at Ludo, and the monster is able to avoid one and then two of them. Three, four, and five are hopped over as they come in one row. He manages to duck six, sidestep seven, and curve around eight. He runs behind a tree to miss nine. But ten hits the tree trunk Ludo was hiding behind and transmits its Ripple through the tree and over to Ludo. The burning pain of Ripple causes Ludo to hop into the air screaming, "AAAH!", while trying to scrape his butt on the ground.
"MINIONS! ATTACK THE KING!" He exclaimed, but turning around revealed the minions falling to the ground thanks to Shining Star punching out each of them one by one.
"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!"
Seeing this sight and feeling very frightened now, Ludo yanked his scissors out from under his cloak and cut open a portal back to his castle. And Star offers to oblige Ludo in his escape plan by rearing back her fist…as Shining Star appears and delivers…
"MEGA NARWHAL BLAST!"
…with a cupped hand blast that sends the monster pile flying into Ludo as they get sent back to the castle in one more display of power!
And with that, the monsters were driven back to the dark side of Mewni. Marco let his aura die down, and Shining Star faded back into the wand. The duo run towards River, who was panting on the ground after Mountain Man faded away.
"Dad? Are you okay?" Star asked as she helped Marco assist her dad in getting up. River held himself up after they helped up, and he dusted off his shoulders.
"Oh…nothing. Just haven't had to use that much Ripple in years. I guess I'm out of shape…maybe…Mina is the best Ripple user on Mewni right now…" He said with a weak chuckle.
But Star hugged her dad, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Eh…maybe, dad." She bluntly stated. "But you're the best Ripple user to ever live in my book. She just usurped your title these days."
"Heh…I…guess that is grounds for a thank you." Said the king as he hugged Star back.
After letting go of her dad, Star looked over to the two guys. "Sooo…back to Mewni for more training? I'll see you later, Marco."
Marco turns to River, who then waves that all off, "Marco…training? My boy I've taught you everything I know! Ripple isn't too hard to understand. A teacher can give you the basics. But it is such a versatile energy. Your Ripple is high, there is no doubt. You have the basics down pact. Any advance teachings…you need to find for yourself."
"Eh? Not sure I follow, King Butterfly. I mean…I don't know anything about the basics." The teen replied with an unsure look and a worried tone. "I need you for that."
"Marco…advanced Ripple training is literally how you make it. How you use Ripple may not be how I use Ripple. It most certainly will not, I know that much. Ripple is an energy that depends on the user and how they want to use it. I channel it via my own body and my Warhammer Stand. You combine it with your 'Karate'." He said that last term with air quotes, not fully getting what Karate was. "Ripple is powerful, but that depends on how you want to go about it. Pick you own path. And I'll be here to help you along the way."
A hand is placed on Marco's shoulder, and the boy looks at the king with surprise. But that's followed by a smile. "I'll make you proud, King Butterfly-sensei." He bowed before the king, giving his master all the respect he earned.
"Ohoho please…call me River if you like. I think we're cordial enough, my boy!" He exclaimed, patting Marco on the back with a heart laugh. Though this pat was pretty strong, and sent Marco to the ground…with a "crack".
"My arm!" He exclaimed in pain. Star and River looked at one another, and then down at Marco…not really sure what to make of this now.
-.-.-
"My first hit…and I went toe to toe with King River Butterfly…the strongest Ripple user on Mewni…and I nearly held him off! THIS SHOWS SO MUCH PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE!"
Despite another loss, Ludo was actually quite happy about this battle. Because it showed him that their group had potential. They could finally defeat Star and her family and take her wand if they kept the training up.
"And we all have Toffee to thanks for this development!" Ludo shouted, pointing out Toffee amongst the monsters in the group. The army cheered for the lizard, who had a drink in his left hand. He seemed oh too humble to take the glory for this. But he would take it if they were going to be giving it to him.
"Hahaha…please, please…I don't mean to brag…but you all are truly promising." He said. "Ludo, your Spin was weak against River's mastery of Ripple. But that was because you're still beginning. Spin is naturally stronger and deadlier than Ripple. And one day, you'll rip through that Stand and rip through his own old bones. I predict it. And as for you all…I know you lost someone today." He looked over at the memorial for the goat monster, along with the jar containing his ashes and parts. "…It seems they taught one of Star's friends Ripple. And he's good at it. Really good. But this is not the time to mourn…but the time to fight harder. There is reason to be afraid of Ripple, I get it. But bravery is had when we confront our fears and fight against them no matter what. And there are ways to counteract Ripple. It can channel through almost anything…but there are ways we can counteract Ripple. We can have our victory and that wand soon. We just need to keep training. Fight hard! FOR GOAT!"
The monsters, Ludo included, shout, "FOR GOAT! FOR GOAT! DOWN WITH THE BUTTERFLY FAMILY! UP WITH MONSTERS!"
And that chant continues on with Toffee in the middle, having successfully infiltrated the Ludo army. He got in, and he had his quick access to the wand. All he had to do was play the games he needed to play.
Though one person watching from afar snuck back around the corner and exited the castle (as a guitar could be heard playing).
Despite everything he did for Ludo, he just couldn't do what he said and learn to accept Toffee. He was too shady. He came out of nowhere. Yes, he trained them to get them their first near defeat of Star. But he couldn't see him truly working with them He had a motive. There was an agenda for Toffee, and it involved Ludo's army. He didn't know what it was, but he didn't want to be unprepared.
After he exited the castle, BF walked to a nearby river outside the castle. It was murky. It was swampy. It felt like home for him. And it was the perfect place to begin his own training. He picks up a rock and stares into it, knowing that from here on out…he had to fight a new kind of tyranny on his own. He would have no help on this matter. It was him against the world. He had to find a way to self-preserve. So while he was with Ludo's army, he would secretly train with the hopes of one day driving off Toffee.
He picks up an old monster scroll he found in Ludo's study (a room he almost never uses unless it was to get books for him to stand and sit on) and begins reading its contents.
"Lord Ludo…you know not what you've done…if I must battle this evil before it begins…so be it…"
And with that he begins concentrating on the rock. He was following all the rules he needed to follow. He needed to concentrate on the energies within…
…so said the scroll he was reading. "How To Channel The Spin For Beginners".
*Cue Roundabout*
⇐==TO BE CONTINUED===
-.-.-
[STAND NAME]: Mountain Man
[STAND USER]: King River Butterfly-Johansen
Power: C
Speed: D
Range: E
Durability: B
Precision: C
Development: E
Abilities: It is a Warhammer. Being adept at Hamon like many in The Johansen Family, River developed a Stand. But it is on the weaker end of Stands, simply being a weapon to wield. Yet it matches his barbarian spirit. He can also channel his Hamon through it; and it can fraction anything that it hits, halving or quartering its power/size/speed/etc.
A/N: WHOO! Another chapter. Wanted one last week. But eh. Got this one up.
Hoping sooo bad that there are no awful spelling mistakes here. If there are...I am so sorry. I'll try to fix them as soon as I can.
WELP. This one was longer than the last. I'm gonna make a short chapter one day. One day soon.
This episode was definitely more about the lore and explaining how Ripple worked. I almost was going to use the English dub explanation (Hamon is the energy within with which to harness Ripple Energy), but went against it. But it's implied in here.
Also, Solaria is the only queen to master her own Ripple and Magic. Add that to BBA Lore!
I wish I could do a BBA Roundabout outro with the Star Vs. characters posing. But I think I'd get reported or something if I put song lyrics. Oh well. Anyone that's want to do it in the reviews is more than happy to. It'll be the official BBA outro for this part haha
Onto reviews!
Fall2Glory: Well this chapter hints at some stuff. But the biggest reason he can see Stands while other humans can't is simply to do with the fact that he's been pumped with magic numerous times by Star. Especially with the Monster Arm stuff. Magic, Ripple, and Spin are three energies in this universe that can grant a Stand. Which is why it was hinted that Star's wand sort of also works as a Stand Arrow in this world. But I would be giving away too much. Just know that Marco, after being shot with foreign magic by Star (the rain cloud spell), now has the special eyes needed to be able to see Stands.
Cross177: And we got it right here. XD He got Ripple/Hamon. And it fits him pretty well. He just wanted something to defend himself. Spin I felt was too destructive for him, if that makes sense. Though I did go back and forth on it. But I stuck to Ripple, since it could be used in conjunction with his own Karate. As for crossing over with JoJo's world…pay close attention to this chapter. There is an easter egg (that may be more than just that) I am sure you all noticed. XD
As for a Marco Stand…I dunno. I always pondered what he would get. It's gotta be something weird and goofy that turns out being useful. Like being able to turn to string or using sound effects to fight. Something that fits Marco and could conduct Ripple. Any ideas? I'd love anything you guys can bounce off of me.
And Miss Heinous has a Stand that…is similar to HEAVEN'S DOWAAAUGH. The effect can be similar. The function is very much different haha.
Reven228: Yeah Pony Had was…and is at times…a very hard to bear character. She's such a jerk to Marco that it makes it hard to like her. But it also says something about Marco that he is willing to still hang around her and try to be her friend for Star's sake. I mean he even made a friend(enemy) with Tom of all people. Marco's the real MVP of the show. He takes a lot of crap and has to deal with it in a normal human way. PH, I hope, wasn't as unbearable here. But I also hope to do her well and keep faithful to the show while adding my own spin.
And that image of FV going through different dimensions like Star Vs. or others thanks to Johnny makes me laugh XD In this chapter, Toffee kept silent on how he learned it. But I will share this one fact: Monsters did not make Spin. They learned that from somebody. Who? Eh. Have to see. Speculate away!
OMAC001: Thanks for the names man! Honestly, I already have a name for a potential Marco Stand. Fits him to a T. But I am so glad you love it!
RandomNumbers523156: I dunno if I understand my own reference. Help a brother out? XD
I believe JJBA said they came from a meteor that crashed to earth and somebody fashioned arrows out of said meteor. But thank you so much! I have been trying to make sure the story is good with combining BOTH elements of both shows. Magic, Ripple, Spin, and the Stands as well. JJBA Parts 1-2. JJBA Parts 3-6, JJBA Parts 7-8, and SVTFOE are all essentially like four different shows with different bits of lore. Hamon, Stands, Spin, and Magic dominate those four individual parts. And I wanted to try and find a way to combine it all to make one universe. Glad to know I'm doing it all right.
As for Stand Arrows, Star's wand is essentially a Stand Arrow for this universe. It can grant a Stand…if the person survives the magic being pumped into them.
And yeah. All the crazy will appear later. For now…world building. Episode 5…still plotting that out. But I can guarantee that by Episode 7, we'll be well on our way to developing the story's full main arc.
Anyways…SIX REVIEWS. Wow guys that's a record. Thanks sooo much! And fifteen favorites? Once again, thank you! You make this story go on! You give me continued inspiration and your love of the story just makes me want to give you more than I possibly can. Sorry for no update last week. Will try to give you one next week at least!
So glad you all are enjoying the lore and trying to guess what will happen. I never had people so into my non-wrestling stories before. It makes me excited.
Okay let me stop gushing. I'm sounding stupid now and just padding out my A/N. Sorry. Just excited haha.
Anyway…Episode 4 is in the bag! Episode 5…still thinking it out. But I think I can finally introduce everyone's favorite little devil fully. He was going to appear as a main antagonist here. Buuut…the Ripple plot and Toffee plots were already taking up the show. Didn't want to overload anything.
Anyway, thanks guys for reading! Hope to get more feedback from you all!
Thanks for Reading!
