The early morning sun dawned dimly onto a large stone building. Two story townhouses could be seen for miles surrounding the building along with different sized or colored buildings here and there.
Marco stood in front of a large bulletin board pieces of paper spanning across the entirety of it. Marco scratched his chin inspecting each piece of paper carefully. "There doesn't seem to be any good bounties today. Might take up a quest instead" Marco thought to himself.
The guild that Marco often frequented was an old building in a somewhat medieval-style city. Marco liked the calm, peaceful feeling that the old city gave off. After a little bit of pondering Marco decided that none of the bounties or quest were worth his time. Marco sighed knowing that he probably wouldn't be coming back for a while. Marco began walking towards the large wooden doors that made up the entrance as he listened to the loud chattering around him. No doubt most of it was about him since he had created quite a name for himself there.
"Oi did you see him? It was that mercenary that took down those demons to the south"?
"Really? I thought that was just a rumor"?
"Apparently he's from some other dimension or something".
"No wonder, I've heard he's been all over the place and that he's even a time traveler or something".
"Don't be an idiot there's no way someone can do that. That time guy would have kicked his ass. Even if we're talking about him it's impossible".
Marco could hear the other mercenaries and adventurers admiring him but paid it no mind. He kept walking until he found himself outside. Marco decided to go on a walk around the old bustling town. The sound of children giggling and playing in the street worry free brought a smile to his lips. "I guess even in the morning people are in good spirits. Ever since the century-old tyrannical monarchy was toppled not too long ago by yours truly, things have been quite livelier". Marco thought, the wind rustling the hood covering his head and face. Some people have tried to uncover Marco's face before, only to find another hood under it.
Marco continued walking down the streets he once owned. After Marco successfully lead a coup d'état against the old monarchy of this kingdom he became a temporary ruler until he found someone suitable to run the kingdom. Of course, nobody knew that this legendary mercenary had anything to do with the end of their century-long oppression but nonetheless Marco still kept watch of the city he loved so much.
Marco found himself standing on a cliff looking over the city. The expansive ocean beyond it lapping against the shore. Marco could spot merchant ships made of wood their sails cracking in the wind. Marco sat down admiring the view, his legs dangling over the edge.
"Hey Marco, I thought I would find you here"
Marco turned his head around and before he stood a beautiful young lady about the same age as him. She had long flowing blond hair and cerulean light blue eyes that could be on par to Stars. Her fair skin shined in the morning sun as she looked at Marco with a reminiscent look painted on her face. Marco got up and sighed. The young lady stood a few inches shorter than Marco which she found oddly annoying.
"What's up Alexandrine"? He replied a smile growing on his face.
She exasperated, "You don't have to be so formal Marco," She said as she gestured the guards standing behind her to go away. Marco smiled at the gesture.
"Alright, then what's up Alice? Do you need me for anything"? He asked curiously.
"Other than you not checking in on me for the last month, I'm fine," She said sarcastically.
"What's wrong then"? He chuckled.
"Nothing much I just need you to take care of something" She sighed.
"And that is..?" Marco asked gesturing for her to continue.
"Well to the south, some demons are gathering up and I believe they're planning to escape somewhere"
"Well, why can't you send some of your Knights or something" Marco replied nonchalantly.
"The thing is if I let news of this get out and those demons escape somewhere and cause havoc the blame is going to be put on me for not doing anything about those monsters from my dimension" She explained making sure the nearby Knights didn't hear about it. Marco felt a quick feeling of deja vu as he let out a short sigh that didn't go unnoticed by Alice.
"I'm sorry Alice but it's going to take me at least two days to track those things down and I don't have the time at the moment. I was just planning to head to your castle to tell you that I was going to leave for a while". Marco explained.
"Are you sure you can't spare the time to go really quickly. If I come too it would take only about a day. Besides, it would be like when we first became mercenaries and took our first bounty together, just the two of us". She said hopefully. Marco sighed as he thought about it.
"Alright but if we don't find them by the end of the day we're going home"
"Alright! Thank you so much, Marco lets head back to the castle and get ready" she said hopefully as she dragged Marco away. Marco sighed as he pulled out his scissors and cut open a portal instead.
Meanwhile On Mewni
Star woke up rubbing her eyes. She looked outside her window to see that it was about early afternoon. She yawned loudly her blond hair sticking out in odd positions. Her stomach growling loudly got her to stand up and get dressed for the day. "How did I use to get up so early for school back on earth," She thought while quietly laughing. She opened her door and began walking to the dining room. Yesterdays conversation with Marco replaying in her head. "What did Marco go through after I left? I mean sure whenever he visited we didn't really ask too much about recent events in our lives or anything important. We mostly just messed with people around the castle and pulled pranks and then he'd leave not to be seen for a couple of months. I probably should visit him for once" She thought. Star looked up to see castle staff buzzing around the castle. They all seemed to be in some sort of rush.
"Hey, Gertrude do you know what's going on"? Star asked one of the castle staff.
"Don't worry Princess Star. Queen Moon will explain everything to you soon" She said before rushing off. Star just shrugged at the response. She continued walking, listening to passing conversations.
"Apparently... came back"
"Kingdoms... Coming"
"Too... many"
"Don't care if they're just Squires, give 'em a sword and equipment and send 'em with the other Knights"
"Kingdoms... Mobilizing"
"Not... enough"
"Call... Mercenaries"
"Oh thou who giveth us corn"
Star continued walking not understanding what everybody was going on about. She finally reached the dining room to see that her mom had been waiting for her.
"Hey, mom! What's everyone going on about"? Star asked Queen Moon.
"Oh Star darling, sit and eat quickly I have something important to discuss with you," Moon said hurriedly. Star nodded and wolfed down her food wanting to listen to what her mother had to say.
Star finished and wiped her chin and stared at Moon intently.
"So what's going on mom," Star asked impatiently.
"Well, one of the Knights that we sent into the Forest of Certain Death a couple of months ago finally returned," Moon said before getting cut off by Star.
"Really"! Star yelled excitedly.
Moon sighed before continuing, "He came back covered in fatal wounds. He said that he found where Eclipsa was hiding and he managed to find out what she has been doing. He said that the other Knights that had been sent were dead and lying around the entrance of camp with a large building in the center. He said that the camp was about the size of a small kingdom filled with soldiers that were a mix of Mewmans and Monsters. He was immediately caught and taken to Eclipsa where he was tortured and locked up. Not too long ago Eclipsa released him with a message" Moon explained.
"And what did she say," Star said suddenly feeling very worried.
"All she said was that she was coming" Moon replied a sudden chill filling the room.
"Did the Knight see how many soldiers there were"? Star asked.
"That's the thing, he said that there were about 200,000," Moon said dauntingly.
Star turned pale as she suddenly felt her legs jiggle and stomach feel hot.
"I contacted the other Kingdoms and they agreed to help us. Together with what we can muster we have about 70,000 Knights including Squires. Within the week we should receive reinforcements from the Kingdoms veteran Knights and the Knights that aren't currently in this dimension. We just need to hold the line for now" Moon quickly explained.
Star realized something before concentrating and focusing her inner magic into her hands. "I summon the all-seeing eye, To tear a hole into the sky, Reveal to me that which is hidden, unveil to me what is forbidden". An eye appeared in the air and opened up to show a large camp where hundreds of thousands of troops were gathered.
"That's weird usually Eclipsa's magic would have blocked this" Star said aloud. Moon looked aghast at her daughter for knowing such a dark spell. She would have chastised her on the spot if things weren't so serious.
Star looked around in awe before spotting Eclipsa down below. She was looking right at her. Star gasped before shutting off the spell.
Star couldn't get paler as she thought of someone.
"I'll be right back mom I have to do something," Star said quickly before running towards her room.
"Alright, I'm going to get river and ready the Knights to head into the forest.
Star arrived at her room and knocked down her door. She ran to her phone and dialed Marco's number.
"I'm sure Marco might know what we can do. Besides I at least have to tell him what going on this time" Star thought as her phone continued ringing. Her call eventually went to voicemail. She kept dialing it to no avail. She cursed as she threw her phone on her bed. Little did she know that Marco never carried his phone on the job.
"Is this what I get for never calling him" She sighed before going and meeting up with her mother outside the gates of the kingdom. Congregated outside the Kingdom were thousands of Knights and Squires ready for battle with more on the way. Looking at them made Star calm down a little. The Knights came from all over the kingdom wearing their respectable coat of arms. The other Kingdoms mostly agreed to help them out of sheer fear of Eclipsa. Queen Moon flew above the haphazardly built army ready to speak.
"As most of you already know we are about to head into the Forest of Certain Death. If you don't stick together with the rest of your divisions you could be lead astray as this forest literally tries to kill you. Now, as long as you pay attention to your surroundings you should be fine. We will be going against a force of about 200,000 enemies but don't let that intimidate you as the majority of you have years of training and experience. As long as you can hold out until the rest of our forces arrive you should be fine" Moon explained.
"Wha...wha... WHAT DO YOU MEAN 200,000"
"WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE"
"FUCK THIS WE'RE LEAVING"
The veteran Knights drew their swords, "LEAVING IS A CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, WE WILL EXECUTE ANY TRAITORS ON THE SPOT".
Outrage and disbelief spread across the masses of troops. Moon blew magic into the air catching everyone's attention and silencing them.
"Anyone who leaves as of this moment will be pardoned" Moon yelled out.
Everyone stopped in confusion staring in disbelief at what moon said.
"Anyone who surrenders to their fear of death is unfit to battle. Those who have experienced that fear are free to leave. Furthermore, those of you who want your parents, siblings, and loved ones to experience that fear themselves may also leave"! Moon yelled out.
"Not... not mom"
"My little sister is all I have..."
"Not them..."
"I can't let that happen..."
"GIVE YOUR BEATING HEARTS FOR MEWMANITY" Moon yelled out.
Each soldier got back into formation ready to protect their loved ones.
The rest of the Knights arrived and Moon signaled everyone to head into the forest.
They marched up to the "small kingdom" ready to wreak havoc.
