A/N: It's taking a lot out of me to write this week for some reason. I think maybe the creativity pool is starting to dry up a bit? After this chapter I'm likely going to take a break, for like a week. On other news, I've decided that I'm only writing three more chapters including this one. You'll all just have to wait and see why. :P
Marco looked back at the absolute carnage Toffee's spell had wreaked. Mewni's finest soldiers lying in odd, contorted positions with little cries for help. Most of them were likely dead. The sight had his blood boiling with rage toward their monstrous enemy.
Star seemed to share the feeling, her look that of a battle-hungry warrior. She yelled and leapt forward with her claymore burning a brilliant red. "How dare you!"
River and Moon stood dumbfounded, too shaken by the first attack to try and stop her. Instead it was Marco charging into battle by her side.
"I have a promise to keep." He muttered as he charged forth. His gun gauntlet flared and pulsed eagerly. Four years of hard work, broken bones, and aching muscles had prepared him for this very moment.
Toffee laughed and began casting smaller spells at the charging couple. "You think you can stop me with such petty weapons?" The laughter grew to a bone chilling cackle.
"Yes, and it's gonna hurt every single punch!" Marco replied with a yell, swinging his right arm into the ground and launching himself into the air. He fell down on Toffee, left fist cocked and ready only to collide with an invisible barrier.
Toffee smirked, and Marco smirked back. An earsplitting explosion sent Toffee flying back several feet, the smirk on his face now gone. "I don't know what that was but it won't happen again." His tone grew full of malice.
Everything so far was going to the plan. Star had used the shock wave of his attack to propel herself up, just like Johan had taught her. The combo attack should end the fight before any more casualties wracked up. She came down like a blazing top of death and struck Toffee full force.
When the dust settled, Toffee stood unscathed and holding the blade of Star's claymore with a disappointed look. "Really, it was a good attempt but you'll have to do better." He sighed.
Star angrily kicked at him and he grabbed her foot. "Wrong move! Nova Blast!" She shouted, now pointing her wand at the beast with a free hand. A bright orange beam of light came out of the wand and hit Toffee in the arm, disintegrating it instantly.
Toffee let go and staggered back. He stared down at what was left of his arm and then back up at Star. "You know that's not enough to sto-" His sentence was interrupted by Marco's fist colliding with his jaw, launching him hard to the right. There was an audible snapping sound as Toffee impacted with the ground.
"You think that was enough?" Marco asked Star with exasperation. He knew this fight wasn't going to be easy, but with all of the training they'd put into combat it was slightly surprising that Toffee was taking so many hits.
"Probably not." She began walking toward where Toffee landed. "He might be out for the count, though."
That would be the best case scenario. Marco knew the only way to truly defeat Toffee was to absorb him. Fortunately for the fate of Mewni and the rest of the universe, Star seemed to be right. Marco knelt down, placed his index and middle fingers on Toffee's forehead, and began to cast Absorb All.
The monster grinned wide and spoke softly with a cough. "All according to plan." He mumbled as he Stabbed Marco in the chest again with his bare undamaged arm.
Marco coughed up blood but managed to finish the incantation. "You're coming with me to hell." He fell over and with the final bit of his strength pulled Toffee's now lifeless arm from his chest and sealing his body in a crystal structure.
Star rushed over to her fallen husband with teary eyes. "No, not again!" She shouted as she pulled him away from a crystallized Toffee. "I'm not going to lose you again, Marco!"
Marco groaned and placed his hands over the hole in his chest. "Sorry, my love. I... I don't think I'll... Be coming back this time." He looked up at her with an apologetic smile.
"No, nonononono... Marco, don't leave me!" Star pulled him closer and began sobbing violently as the light faded from his eyes. "What about us, our child?!" She cried out.
"I'm sorry, dear." Queen Moon placed a comforting hand on Star's shoulder but it was of little help. In fact it just made things worse.
Moon had to pull Star away from the fallen hero and back to King River, who was directing field medics to aid those who hadn't perished in the first attack.
Before they got too far, Marco rolled onto his side. He could feel the life returning to him but couldn't move his limbs or speak at all. There was a force welling up within him, and it was pushing him to the passenger seat. A flashback of the dreams he'd had four years ago washed over him, and the realization hit him. He was turning into a monster.
Star looked back to give one final goodbye and was pleasantly surprised to see Marco standing back up. "Marco!" She started to run toward him but stopped when she noticed something off. His eyes were black and glazed over, and his arms were turning purple. "Marco?"
He hissed and lunged at her, flinging his arms wildly in a fury of blows. Moon was caught in the attack and rendered unconscious. A cackle escaped Marco's lips followed by a slightly taunting voice. "Just you and me, princess. You can treat the symptoms but never cure the virus."
Meanwhile, Marco was fighting inside his own mind to regain control of his body. It was proving difficult as more and more of Toffee's memories flowed through, distracting him. Images of the fight at the monster temple hit, and he got an idea. If Toffee had absorbed the High Council then maybe he could release them. He had to try, at least.
Back on the outside world, the battle between monster Marco and Star was raging, a flurry of attacks and spells from both sides were unleashed. The battleground became scorched and deformed as their battle raged.
"Give Marco back!" Star wailed as she swung her claymore in a frantic attempt to block the relentless slew of tentacle attacks.
"And give up my control? Fade to the shadows?" The monster replied with malice.
"Just give him back!" She struck back, sinking her blade deep into one of the tentacles.
Monster Marco coiled back and began nursing its wound. "Why? I finally have this body for my own. I can devour all of the bowels I want!"
Back inside Marco's mind, he was busy freeing the Magic High Council. That should be enough to stop his monster self before his nightmares came true. The last thing he wanted is to lose his wife and unborn child, after all. With a little more digging through memories, he'd found that Toffee used an incomplete absorption and it was undoable. With the last of his fighting will, he released them all.
Star lunged at monster Marco, aiming for its arms. At the very least she might be able to incapacitate him long enough to try and reverse the transformation. Her attack was unsuccessful, the undamaged tentacle knocked her down as soon as she was in range.
"It's hopeless, he's dead!" He growled. "Just give up and I'll devour you too." With the wound on its tentacle now healed, it began its relentless barrage of punches again.
Star stood and began casting a hoard of spells to counter the attack, screaming with the might of an angered warnicorn. "Give him back!"
"I told you, he's dead!" Monster Marco shouted back. Its tentacles were defecting most of the spells but some managed to get through with little effect. It finally lashed out with its left tentacle, grabbing Star by the throat and dragging her closer. "Enough of this. I grow tired of your petty spells."
"Marco, please..." She struggled for breath. The tentacle tightened and her expression changed to a grimace. "Please stop thi-" Her words were cut off by the pressure on her neck.
Marco could only watch on in horror as his body strangled the life from his beloved. Why the hell was this happening? What did he do to deserve having to watch his wife die in front of him? The light faded from her eyes and the tentacle tossed her lifeless body to the ground.
Monster Marco turned and began walking away from the scene but was stopped by a weak Narwhal Blast to the back. It turned back to see Star slowly standing back up, coughing and gasping.
"That wasn't enough to kill me, you monster." Star had stood up full now, and began chanting something inaudibly. Her wand started glowing a brilliant red, then a beam fired out and struck monster Marco in the chest.
It wailed and shrunk back, its arms turned back to normal human looking arms. "Wha- What have you done?!"
"I cast a spell to seal you away forever, and to turn Marco back." Star dropped her wand and collapsed with exhaustion.
"No!, it wasn't supposed to be like this!" Its voice grew more faint. Finally the horrible shrieking stopped and Marco's body fell back onto the battle scarred terrain.
Hours passed. Star, Marco, and everyone injured on the battlefield had been moved into the castle infirmary for recovery. Marco was still unconscious after several hours of care. Star and Moon had woken and were able to move around. After series of checks, it was determined that Blaze was okay and Star's pregnancy was proceeding normally.
"Thank god. I was really worried..." Star sighed and sat down next to Marco's bed. "I just hope Marco wakes up soon."
Moon stood by and tried to offer consolation. "I'm sure he will, Star. These things take time, after all most of his energy was probably spent trying to fight the transformation."
"I guess." Star slumped down and started to doze off. "I'll just stay here until he wakes up."
"Okay, I'll have the nurses bring you a blanket." Moon spoke softly. "Make sure you get plenty of rest, too."
"I will, thank you." Star mumbled before falling asleep completely.
A/N: Shorter chapter, this time(actually shorter). A whole lot of stuff happened and my brain is totally fried. Need a break for for the sake of recouping on the creativity juice and for my own health. See you again in two weeks. Sorry for the hiatus.