Hey everyone. Sorry for the ridiculously long wait. Now this chapter hasn't been beta read, so I'm gonna need you guys to provide some criticism. Let me know where you think the chapter needs work, and if the chapter needs redone. I am also thinking about writing a story based around the backstory I am establishing for Tom, who btdubs, is my favorite character. let me know if you want to see that in the future.
Anyway, enjoy the new chapter. (We all know its about damn time.) ;)
"My Queen, I'm sorry. There's nothing we can do." The doctor apologized before swiftly exiting the infirmary. Tom and Star were sitting on one of the beds waiting for a summons from Moon and River.
Star turned to Tom tears brimming her eyes.. "Tom I... I'm sorry, I tri-"
"Star, stop. It's okay." Tom took a shaky breath. "I have someone looking into it, okay. Right now I'm more worried about what will happen when we see your parents."
"Oh, I'm sure it'll... be fine." Star said, unconvinced. "They'll understand."
Tom burst out laughing, eventually falling off the bed. After pulling himself up he looked at Star's scandalized look, laughter still threatening to break the severity in his voice. "Really? They'll understand that their daughter secretly dated the ruler of the one dimension hated by all others, or that after Toffee's return you started having secret rendezvous with me to discuss plans? You think you'll still be able to convince them to trust me? Let alone the citizens of Mewnie." Tom shook his head. "I'll be lucky to get out of here without a rope around my neck."
"Then why did you come?"
"First, you didn't exactly give me a choice. Second, well, despite everything going against you, I plan on backing you up. Besides, you think you can convince them and I trust you."
"Aww, that's sweet."
At that moment a page appeared. "Um... Your Highness, the King and Queen will see you now."
Star nodded. "Okay, tell them I'm on my way." With a dutiful bow the page was off. Star turned to Tom. "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
Star nodded. "Good." Then stopping at her door turned and said grimly, "Just so you know, we don't use the gallows."
Tom raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you use?"
Her expression darkened and she replied simply. "There are a lot of things I plan on changing when I'm queen." After a few moments passed she sighed. "Oubliettes are terrible things. To be left to rot and be forgotten, to live alone in the dark to either starve or smash your own brains out so you can end the soul crushing isolation." Star shuddered. "It's a fate worse than death." She cast a sideways glance at her friend. "Knowing this risk, will you still follow me?"
Tom gave a devilish grin and an exaggerated bow. "To Hell and back, Queen Star."
Despite everything, Star chuckled. Then giving her own equally exaggerated bow, said, "Very well. Shall we go then?"
"We shall."
"LET ME OUT OF HERE YOU BASTARD!" Marco screamed at the trapdoor leading to his prison. Enchanted shackles weighed heavy on his arms. "TOFFEE!" He punched the wall, howling his frustration. Taking a breath, he tried to calm down. "Easy, Diaz. You won't get anywhere freaking out like this."
"It'd be easier if I knew where he took them." Marco sat down, trying to figure out a strategy. He sat there for hours, not realizing he fell asleep until the nightmares hit.
'A fight. A final blow. A victor. Jackie, a few years older, lying in a pool of her own blood. Marco standing over her, hand slick with the blood of his victim. A sadistic grin on his face, a face so full of hate he cannot recognize it. WrongMarco speaks, "You thought you could get rid of me? I will take her from you. I'll take all of them from you.
'Marco looks down to see the mangled bodies of his loved ones reaching out to him, grabbing him and dragging him down. "WHY MARCO?! WHY?!"
Marco awoke screaming, his face slick with sweat, his clothes drenched. His chest heaved as he struggled to control his breathing. "What. The hell. Was that" He sat there, trying to go over the nightmare's events. What disturbed him most about it was he knew that voice.
He didn't get a chance to think about it as the trap door opened and Toffee flew down. "Hello Marco. How are you enjoying your accommodations?"
"Heh, room service needs work. So does management."
"Really? I'm sorry to hear that." Toffee glanced at the chains. He grinned. "I must say I'm surprised you haven't tried attacking me. What's the matter? Performance issues?"
"Cut the crap Toffee. Are they alive?"
Toffee grinned. "Who knows? Even if I answered you wouldn't believe me."
A thought occurred to Marco, and dread flooded him. "Why the sudden visit?", he asked cautiously. "I've been here a few days and haven't had any visitors. Not even a ration delivery."
"Well Marco, I recently had myself a... vacation, in the Lucitor's dimension. My army nearly won. That is until..."
A sly grin spread on Marco's face. "Until Star showed up, right? Let me guess, she beat back your army in a big battle and saved Tom's kingdom. Right?"
"More like in mere moments. With a single spell." Toffee sighed, "I am feeling rather annoyed and need to blow off some steam." Toffee slammed his fist into Marco's face, splitting his cheek. As Toffee wound up for another blow he noticed something alarming. "Didn't I already split that cheek?" Upon closer inspection Toffee found no cut with only a couple drops of blood indicating there had been any injury whatsoever. "Interesting. Let's see how far this rabbit hole goes."
"Star, how could you?" Moon shifted her gaze from her daughter to Tom. "Do you have any idea what that monster has done?"
Tom flinched, looking deeply wounded by this reaction. Star suddenly felt a strong need to defend him. "Monster? Mom, he's been keeping Toffee's army at bay to buy us time. His kingdom was attacked for it."
"AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER KINGDOMS WERE ATTACKED BY HIM!" Moon paused for a second, trying to compose herself. "Star, how many kingdoms currently exist in this particular dimension?"
The randomness of the question caught Star off guard. "Counting Rich Pigeon's? About fifteen. Why?"
"There were over two hundred kingdoms. In all the multiple dimensions, excluding earth, there are maybe four hundred kingdoms, where there were hundreds of thousands. Tell me Star-" Moon glanced at Tom. "Better yet, demon, why don't you tell her what happened to those kingdoms, and the trillions of innocent lives they contained."
Star turned towards Tom, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else, even six feet under, than be here now. "Tom, w-what is she talking about?"
Tom gave a long, weary sigh that sounded more like a half sob. "You know how I said my dimension was the most hated of them all? It's for good reason, and it's a long story. To try and make it short, My dad led a war against the other gods, he attempted to wipe out all of their creations, and I was his right hand. I... I committed unspeakable atrocities in my fathers name. I slaughtered men, women, and... children. Countless numbers of children. It wasn't until, certain events happened, that I became disgusted by my father's actions and my own. I turned against my father and after the war, the remaining gods sealed almost all of my power and I was was tasked with keeping father sealed."
For a moment Star looked horrified by what she heard, but she turned to Tom with what she hoped was an encouraging look. "But you did the right thing in the end. You're trying to make up for it, you're dying because of it."
For a moment, the look on Tom's face spoke of an unwavering gratitude, before returning to the remorseful look of regret. "Star, that... that doesn't change what I've done. I am responsible for so much sufferi-"
Star slapped Tom across the face. "Stop the pity party."
Tom held his hand to his cheek. "Ow, Star, what the hell?"
"You want to blame yourself? Fine. Then do something to make it right." Star gave him a hug, ignoring her parents protests. "You're already on the right track."
"Star." Was all Tom could say before giving in to the hug.
Turning toward her parents, Star made a decision. "You made me Queen. I will be officially announcing our alliance with the Lucitor kingdom within the next couple hours. I trust Tom with my life, I'd trust him with Marco's life, and I'd trust him with your lives. If my word is not good enough for the two of you, then tough. After the announcement, Tom and I are heading out to find Marco."
Moon's eye's narrowed. "We can't stop you anymore, but I strongly advise against this alliance. Now why do you plan on Finding Marco? Where is he?"
"Currently being held prisoner by Toffee."
