Woo boy XD Another 2k chapter and ACTUAL PLOT THIS TIME AHUHU

Well, Star's at her worse, but she's not alone. She's far from alone.

A little, LITTLE family fluff because next chapter is going to be hard. I need to chill out omg.

Enjoyy 3

He couldn't sleep that night.

He—he had always known that she was a part of his life, a part that he couldn't live without.

But being forced to breathe without her by his side is harder than he thought.

The wounds on his skin had closed themselves and healed magically, leaving nothing but faint silvery scars behind. The mark he got from her.

A painful reminder that he could've tried harder.

He could've held onto her until his body burn to ashes, could've stopped her from leaving, could've done something.

He felt disappointment and it's not for anyone else but himself.

HIs parents had rushed into the room immediately after she left, and his mom freaked out at the blood on his red hoodie. It wasn't that hard to see; the amount of damage her magic could cause is phenomenal. She could've easily let her wand loose and he was sure he wouldn't be standing here is she did.

But staying on Earth without her hurt.

And knowing that she might never return hurt even more.

Could he—could he had done something to prevent this? Did she leave because she felt uncomfortable with him and Jackie? Truth be told, that was exactly why she snapped.

But she kept repeating something about hurting him and putting him in danger…

…What is happening in her chaotic world?

She couldn't close her eyes.

It was too big and empty. She longed for the warmth of someone in her flickering sleep.

But nobody came.

She had grabbed his scissors and fled the second her cloud flew out of his sight. The Princess kicked the door to her castle open and crumbled, wailing and defeated and heartbroken. Her parents had surrounded her in hugs as soon as her foot fell on the cold floor, her father's strong arms gave her reassurance and her mother's loving kisses made her stable again. She locked eyes with the Queen and they both cried, knowing that Star had completed what she had to do.

They put her back to her room two hours later with an abundance of hot cocoa and the promise of anything she wants.

All she wanted was him.

But she bit her lip and nodded weakly.

They all said heartbreak can't kill a person, but the feeling of being ripped apart at the seams and lit on burning fire is worse than death itself.

The uncontrollable crave for his gentle touch lingered in her mind and she felt guilty, disgusted with herself because how could she do that? After hurting him, causing him physical pain and broke him mentally? What is wrong with her? She was a monster, a vile creature, a thing that does nothing more than destroying everything it had ever laid its filthy hands on.

She was nothing but a broken vessel of the girl she used to be.

Star Butterfly curled up into herself for some of that precious human warmth and for the umpteenth time that day, she wept silently for her fate.

She missed him. God, she missed him.

But she would rather suffer in this cold, desolated place than to come crawling back after him.

He cannot be hurt, ever again.

She owed him that much.

Sleeping in such a large room is unsettling.

He wasn't sure how she did it.

But lying here, staring at the soft blue silk on the top of her giant canopy bed, he felt… lonely. This place is too big to be cozy for one person, and the absence of her bubbly presence made it worse.

He had begged his parents to come here, to held on to that final trait of her in his life. The way her bed felt when he lay down was nostalgic, like any moment she would come out from behind a curtain and swoop him up into a hug, laughter and colors swirling around them. He would wrap his arms around her and—

It took more than a bit of his mentality to remind himself that she's not here.

He couldn't sleep no matter how hard he tried.

How did it come to this?

Things had been going downhill ever since she lost her spellbook. But he was there for her; he was right next to her! He hadn't gotten hurt at all since he met her! Nothing is her fault!

…Okay, he'll admit that he might've gotten some bruises and things along those lines, but it's completely normal!

…But even if he is, in fact, in danger, he would do it for her.

Better than to let her deal with everything by herself.

Couldn't stand it anymore, he got up and walked around her room, reminiscing about things that have passed. He remembered that time when he tried to cheer her up but then, being the idiot he is, blew up her aquarium instead. She had been furious and annoyed, but they just laughed about it afterward.

He missed the time he spent with her.

He wandered over to her closet and opened it out of habit. It was messy, with heaps of clothes and boots and accessories strewn everywhere. The only exception was her rack of dresses, which were kept nice and neat, clean and without a single wrinkle. He saw the blue dress she wore on Mewnipendence day, that Saint Olga's disguise (she still kept that?), her battle armor, goth clothes from that phase she had for half a day, even that horrible Ludo costume she wore on Halloween. He laughed a bit at the last one and picked up the tail nearby, putting it into place along with the skull helmet.

Then his eyes skirted on the pink ball gown and the smile on his face died.

The Blood Moon Ball…

He looked over to the sea captain portrait on the second floor before he could stop himself.

What had the old man said?

Blood Moon… tonight…

—the Moon—of lovers…

Right…

…Maybe that's why he saw the Blood Moon on his first kiss with Jackie? Was it a warning?

Because he belongs to Star?

…Whatever crazy and dangerous thing she's doing, he can't let her do it alone.

But she took his scissors. How could he possibly help her?

He looked around frantically for something that he could use to go to Mewni, or to get help for her.

His eyes fell on the curtain covered mirror and he smirked despite himself.

She didn't get a wink of sleep last night. Star felt dead on the inside, but she was not going to appear tired.

Not today.

The Magic High Commission (it so is a war council now) was called upon again in the throne room, and the Princess was included this time. When the servant knocked on her door, she had sprung out, ready to end this once and for all.

For Marco.

The sooner she ends this, the better it is. Her wand would stop acting up, and she would be able to go back to his side.

Even if it's just to watch him be happy with someone else he loves.

She's content with that.

"Star, my dear," her mother called her over and she sat on the seat next to Lekmet, the demon goat guy who got encased in Rhombulus's crystal months ago. He baa'ed at her and she smiled awkwardly, unsure of what to say.

"He said hi," Rhombulus translated and she waved back. Everyone's attention was on her and it was suffocating. The Queen cleared her throat and Star shot her a grateful look.

"We are not to be distracted, Rhombulus. You all know that this is Star Butterfly, my only daughter and the Princess of Mewni. Star, this is Rhombulus, Chancellor Lekmet, Omnitraxus Prime and Hekapoo. We are the Magic High Commision." she waited two seconds for everything to sink in, "Okay, introduction is done. Now, we move on to more pressing matters."

"River, dear, would you give Star a summary of what we have been discussing?" she looked at her husband expectantly and to his credit, he seemed very serious about this.

"Of course, my love. You see, Star, we have been investigating this fritz for weeks now—"

"Only Rhombulus calls it a fritz, dear," the Queen glared at said Time-Out Guy in disapproval, "We call it a leak, honey. Something has been draining the power of magic from the universe. And we had pinpointed a location."

"So…" Star said hesitantly, "Are we going to…"

"ATTACK! WE'RE GOING TO ATTACK!" Rhombulus flipped the table in his enthusiasm, spilling corn and drinks everywhere. Moon glowered at him and he flinched, cowered in his seat.

"Alright, to the time-out corner," Hekapoo muttered in her usual not impressed tone, and the poor guy looked at Star for help.

"So, where's that location, Mom?" she quickly changed the subject and he winked at her. Or blinked. It's hard to tell since he only has one eye.

"It's that old monster temple at the end of the Forest of Certain Death," she told her daughter, and there was this glint of excitement in the girl's eyes that made the Queen let out the faintest smile, "We suspect Ludo is there with Glossaryck. But we are not sure about Toffee."

"Then let's go, no?" Star said excitedly but her father stopped her.

"Pumpkin, this place is ancient and dangerous," he insisted, "I—I don't exactly agree with your mother about letting you go there…"

"River!" Moon snapped, "We've talked about this. She's fifteen years old. You know her training on Earth is to be completed when she is seventeen, don't you?" he nodded ferociously at his wife's icy stare, "Then it'll be her coronation and she will be Queen. A little hardship is good for her."

S—Seventeen?

"You—You are right, my dear. Of course. But still—"

"No buts, River," she sighed, "We can't fail this, and we'll need her help. She has the wand."

"Which is unstable!" her husband argued, "It is not safe for her to go with us, Moon! Who knows what the wand could do to her? We have never seen anything like this before and I do not agree—"

"Dad," To his surprise, she cut him off, "I can do this," she faked a smile so huge it made her face hurt, "It'll—It'll be just like fighting monsters. I can even do it without my wand, you know,"

"Pumpkin, I'm not questioning your abilities," he said soothingly, "We all know you can do it. It's just—a father's instinct. I feel like you're going to be in danger if you come with us—" The silent pleading look in his daughter's eyes melt his heart and he sighed in defeat, "Well, if you insist. Besides, any monster who wants you have to step over my dead body!"

A roar of approval rolled across the room and the three of them startled, suddenly remembering that they have an audience. Lekmet was wiping his teary eyes, and Hekapoo had this proud smile on her face.

Star would get along with them just fine.

The meeting ended half an hour later and they decided they will attack at dawn. Her parents sent the Princess back to her room with tender kisses on the forehead and goodnight wishes. Her mother bent down to hug her and told her to get a good rest; it's a big day tomorrow.

The door closed behind her and her façade crumbled.

The smile on her face slipped away as soon as her eye contact with the people she loves disappeared.

The glint in her eyes burned off as soon as her back hit the large wooden door, leaving nothing but hollow feelings inside her heart.

But her soul burned with determination. Tomorrow is a real battle, the start of a war. She needed to be emotionally stable enough to fight, and she was not going to lose.

She can't put him in any more danger.

So she picked up his pair of scissors - the only thing about him she had managed to snatch from her madness other than broken memories and a sense of déjà vu every time someone chose a pink dress as her formal attire for the day - and brought it close to her in the vain hope of having his warmth around her shivering body.

To her credit, she did not cry herself to sleep that night.

that was sweet and not short at all lolol

I'm trying to work out the next chapter but I don't think I can finish it before Monday lmaoo. I'll try; it's my challenge for myself, but I still have homework ugh.

Well, next one would probably be the last, unless I decide to do an epilogue or something XD