I literally forgot to upload this lmao but also you guys can have two chapters after like 6 months
Star laid on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She thought about going back down, to try and talk things out with Marco, but the idea was immediately shot down. It hurt, knowing that Marco refused to talk to her, didn't trust in her like he always used to. Maybe she had been too harsh, but she didn't understand why Marco couldn't have just told her and then they figure it out together like they always do.
Star turned over, grabbing a pillow and pulling at it with her hands. She growled as she tugged on the edges, making sure that as much as she let her frustrations out, she didn't damage what Mrs. Diaz had given her.
"Star?" Star dropped the pillow, looking in surprise at Mr. Diaz, who was now standing at the doorway. "I heard you and Marco."
"I'm sorry." Star muttered, looking aside.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, and Star furrowed her eyebrows. Her gut instincts were telling her to say no, but the part of her that was still in turmoil over seeing a side to Marco she didn't know said otherwise.
"I don't know." Star admitted. "Maybe."
"Okay." Mr. Diaz said. "I'll be in the kitchen if you want to."
"How did you do that?" Star blurted out, sitting up in the bed. "You must know I'm not feeling well...why didn't you keep asking if something was wrong?"
Understanding dawned in Mr. Diaz's eyes, and the sight of it only served to deepen Star's confusion. "Because you didn't want me to. You can't make someone talk to you or do what you want if they don't want to."
"But if they tell you what's wrong, then you can do something for them."
"But if you push too hard they might leave." Mr. Diaz chided her, and Star's head lowered in shame. "You have to look at things from their point of view, why they maybe can't tell you at the moment. There are other ways to help someone even if you don't know why they're hurting. Hugs are one of them." With that, Mr. Diaz walked forward and tentatively wrapped his arms around Star's shoulders.
Star had become much more accustomed to touch from others who weren't Marco, slowly, living with Marco's family had almost forced her to adjust. Small touches were just a part of how Marco's parents lived together. Star was willing to accept that, as long as it wasn't too much at one time. This though...was nice. A little overwhelming, if Star was being honest, but she can see how the warmth of Mr. Diaz' arms wrapped around her frame could be comforting.
Star inched away, the warmth becoming too strong, and Mr. Diaz relinquishes his hold immediately.
"I- I think I get it." Star mumbled, swallowing.
"It's okay." Mr. Diaz reassured her. "Concern isn't a bad thing, and some people need a little pushing. Marco shouldn't have been as snappy either- I need to talk to him next actually."
Star opened her mouth to say something, but then there's a tugging in her chest, the feeling of being turned upside down as she fell but she wasn't moving at all. Magic crackles in the nearby area, sending the hair on the back of her neck standing and a growl building at the back of her throat. The smell confirmed it a moment after and then Star was racing, scrabbling to try and find Marco find him and tell him the lizard was here- the lizard was here.
Star hated the small house, despised the stairs and the turns it took to reach the doors, as she scrabbled past the kitchen.
She bursted out into the back yard, shifting the moment her feet hit the grass as a flood of lip curling scents washed over her all at once. The lizard was here- had been here.
And Marco was nowhere to be seen.
No. No, no, no, no, no. Star didn't want to believe it. She couldn't believe it. Marco couldn't have been taken. He was strong...but he wasn't as strong as the Lizard. Neither of them were when they were on their own.
Star howled, echoing her rage and grief to the sky. Part of her hoped that Marco would howl back. She waited, faintly hearing Mr. and Mrs. Diaz scramble out behind her.
"Star, Star!" Mrs. Diaz shouted, momentarily snapping Star out of her panicked reverie. "What happened?"
"He's gone." Star croons, her voice edging closer and closer to frantic as she continues. "The Lizard- it was the Lizard- he did this, he did this. He has Marco. He has Marco. I have to find him- I have to."
Star raced through the backyard, skirting around the puppies and leaping over the fence. She howled again, desperation growing as she realized she couldn't feel anything from her stone. Her paws scrape against rough ground, but she could care less. Cars honked at her, and she summoned her wings so she could take off.
Star howled, her anguish morphing into rage as it tapered off.
The Lizard took him. Her constant companion, her partner, her friend, her other half- the Lizard took him from her. Who knew what the Lizard was doing to Marco, what he would do to Marco.
Star landed on the ground, claws tearing into the dirt beneath her feet. Tears poured down her cheeks, soaking into her fur. She snarled to herself, trying to wrack her mind for what she could do to find Marco. There had to be a way, some way to get to where Marco was.
Her head shot up, eyes alighting as she recalls the pair of scissors Marco had, sitting inside their room. The scissors that thrummed of subtle magic, and had let the Queen and the other beings crawl through a tear in the sky. She could use those to find the Lizard.
Star leaped back into the air, straining her wings as much as she could. She shifted halfway into landing, her hands and feet hitting the ground before she sprinted inside. As she barged into the living room though, her feet freeze, her breath knocked out of her at the sight.
It's her. The woman. The one Star wanted to be close too. The one she had gotten injured protecting. She was here, sitting across from Mr. and Mrs. Diaz.
The woman's eyes land on Star, and a watery smile came to her face as she stood. She took a step towards Star, arms outstretched, but Star had to find Marco.
Star ducked around the woman, throwing herself up the stairs and into their room. Star growled to herself, "Where are they- they have to be here somewhere. They can't be gone-"
At last, she saw the glimmer of metal sticking out from under Marco's bed. Star latched onto it, holding up the scissors triumphantly.
"Star." Mrs. Diaz's voice made Star turn, seeing all three adults by the doorway. The walls surrounding Star seemed to shrink, and she squared her shoulders in defiance.
"I have to find Marco."
The woman's face paled, and she leaned back. However, Mr. Diaz stepped forwards, and this time it's Star who stepped back, shaking her head. "You don't get it- this is the Lizard. He'll hurt Marco- trap Marco- he already hurt-" Star had to stop, bitter tears sliding down her cheeks again. Her voice trembled. "I won't let the Lizard hurt Marco again. I promised- I have to-"
"Star." The woman- the one whose pull Star was still fighting- leans forward. "I know. Come back with me and I can help you find him."
Star narrowed her eyes, scanning the tired lines underneath the woman's eyes, the way her clothed shoulders sag and her hands shook. Star remembered how fiercely the woman had fought against the Lizard.
"...What's your name?" Star asked tentatively, wondering- hoping- she would hear the same words that Mrs. Diaz told Marco all those weeks ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Diaz moved, giving the woman room. The woman nervously wringed her hands as she speaks. "Star, you still don't recognize me, do you?"
Star slowly shook her head, admitting. "But I want to."
The woman took a deep breath, steadying her hands. "My full name is Moon Butterfly. I'm the Queen of Mewni." The woman's pause gave time for Star's eyes to blow wide, nostalgia hitting her in the gut.
"I- you- I know you- I know I know you from somewhere, sometime." Star dragged a lock of hair through her fingers, emotions threatening to overwhelm her in their cacophony.
"Star, I know this is sudden, but you need to know." The woman smiled, slow and soft and warm. "I'm your mother."
Star blinked, the words washing over her. For some reason, there was just acceptance settling comfortably. Star furrowed her brows, searching for the joy the elation, the tears. Those feelings were there, given from the way her eyes burned, but even more consuming was the need to find Marco.
Star looked up, at the expecting eyes and the awaiting arms. Star swallowed. "Help me find him. Please."
The woman- Star's mother- opened her mouth, but Mrs. Diaz puts a hand on her arm, and Star's mother stopped. Star's mother sighed, "Can you come back with me to Mewni? We can find Marco from there."
Star caught herself from nodding immediately, looking to Mr. and Mrs. Diaz. Both of which looked pained, fresh tears running down their cheeks.
"We're coming with." Mrs. Diaz announced, setting her foot down firmly. "We aren't going to sit back a second time."
"He's our son, it's our responsibility too." Mr. Diaz added.
Her mother- words that still felt foreign to her mind, fresh and new and exhilarating- responded in a clipped tone. "I'm sorry but it's clear that you two cannot come. Toffee is no human. You two aren't equipped to deal with the danger M-marco faces."
"There has to be something we can do." Mrs. Diaz insisted.
"Stay here then. If you're there you'll only be another thing for Toffee to target." Her mother bowed her head. "I'm truly sorry. I know what helplessness feels like, but you can only do what you are capable of doing, and I am sure you have helped them both to the best of your abilities."
Mr. and Mrs. Diaz look at each other, turning around to have a whispered conversation. When they turned back Mrs. Diaz was gritting her teeth.
"We know we aren't good with all the magic and the monster fighting." Mr. Diaz sniffled. "And we would probably get in the way."
"Still," Mrs. Diaz slid in. "We expect both of you back in 2 days tops, or else we go after him ourselves." She turned to Star, voice much gentler, "Would you mind letting us have those scissors?"
"This would generally be considered illegal." Her mother said, and Mr. and Mrs. Diaz tensed. "But just this once."
Star relaxed slightly as the tension drained from the atmosphere. Slowly, Star walked towards Mr. and Mrs. Diaz, first holding out the scissors for them to take. Then, Star gently placed a hand on both Mr. and Mrs. Diaz's arms, the first contact she initiated since coming here. "Thank you- thank you so much."
Tears slipped down Star's cheeks, as she smiled. Slowly, she let the Diaz's go, watching as her mother silently walks to the living room. Star drifted behind her, wondering how she should act. Her mother seemed angry, something that made Star want to pull back, but at the same time- now that the worry had receded slightly with the promise of help- her curiosity had returned, as well as the warm feeling in her chest that pulled her towards her mother.
Her mother pulled out a pair of scissors, far more elegant than the ones Star held, and cuts a tear through the sky. Her mother takes a step into it, looking back at Star expectantly. "We have to go through here to get to Mewni."
Star glared at the tear for a few more seconds before shifting into her beast form, scissors in her mouth. Her mother flinched, looking guarded, but when Star tilted her head in question her mother simply walked through the tear, vanishing completely.
Star turned back to the Diaz's one last time, crooning softly. "Thank you. I swear I'll bring Marco back to you."
Star then put one foot in the tear, magic flowing over her fur. Star hesitated for a moment, then she recalled Marco's face, trapped and needing help, and dove in.
When Star emerged, her hackles rose growling at the smell of magic that floated around her. This place was unfamiliar in every aspect of the word. Tapestries lined the walls, which shone and glimmered. The place looked...fancy, as Janna would have put it.
Star took a hesitant step forward, her paws smudging dirt against the ground. The ceiling was so far up, Star felt like something insignificant, tiny. She didn't like the feeling.
"Here Star, this way." Her mother waved a hand, and Star followed slowly. She found herself jumping at shadows now, hoping wherever her mother was taking her was a way to find Marco.
A human darted out from around a corner, and Star snapped, teeth flashing just in front of their face. With a screech, the human ran off, leaving Star to look after them regretfully.
"Star, you need to detransform. Go back to being mewman." Her mother ordered, and Star narrowed her eyes.
"Why?" Star asked. "And where can we find Marco?"
"I can't understand you." Her mother says back and Star slowly shifted back.
"Where can we find Marco?"
"We have to wait for the Magic High commission to return. Then we can track down Toffee." Her mother kept walking, forcing Star to keep up.
"We need to find him now." Star gritted out, fingers clenched.
"I cannot track Toffee down on my own." Her mother admits, sounding angry with herself. "I need the High Commission. And even if I was, we cannot go in there unprepared."
Her mother turned another corner, and Star had to pause in her refute, staring. Its larger than the other rooms they had passed, two thrones in the back end of it. Walking in, Star felt stifled, trapped, in a way she never had before. It was different then how the Lizard had imprisoned her. There were no bars, no tests or monsters, but it was a feeling in her chest, the suspicion that she wouldn't ever be good enough- but good enough for what?
Her mother greeted the man sitting on one of the thrones looking bored. "River- River look."
The man- one that brought a surge of joy to Star's chest- raised his eyes and gasped. Star ducked her head away from his gaze, it burned too brightly for her.
The man leapt off the throne and raced to Star, arms open. Star backed up, growling in warning as she shifted. The man paid it no mind, wrapping his arms around her neck. The touch was too much- too much and all Star could think about was the Lizard and hands touching her, hurting her. Star shook her head, throwing the man off. Once down, Star snarled at him, stone glowing.
"Stop! Stop it Star." Her mother snapped, and Star turned her bared teeth on her mother before her mind quiets. Star's lips fell, padding towards the man. "I'm sorry. Just please don't do that."
"Oh its fine dear, I just didn't realize Star had gotten so…" The man trailed off, looking at Star. "wolfish?"
"How do you know me?" Star rumbled back, although in her heart, she's praying that her mother will utter the same word Marco used to greet Mr. Diaz.
"Star, this is your father." Her mother introduces, and Star can't help but give a happy wag of her tail. Still, the thought brings her back to Marco once more, and she shifts.
"When can we find Marco." Star doesn't put it as a question, standing her ground. Her mother turned, eyes narrowed and lips pursed tight.
"When the Magical High Commission returns." Moon growled back. "You are the princess of-"
Star blinked, not comprehending. "Princess?"
"Moon, darling." Her father interrupted, coming to stand beside her mother and take a hand in his. "What in Glossaryck's beard is going on?"
Her mother sighed, moving to the thrones, loosely tugging River along. "I have a lot to explain to both of you."
Star treaded behind the two, choosing to stand and pace as her mother began. As the story unfolded though, Star found herself slowing down, watching with wide eyes as pieces she never knew existed suddenly clicked into place.
Star had been a princess here, future ruler of the land. She had gotten a wand and sent to Earth, where she met Marco and the Diaz's. Apparently they had been living as friends until the Lizard kidnapped them.
Star didn't realize she was backing up until she nearly tripped down the stairs. Her parents look up, eyes glistening with unshed tears. The pieces were falling further and further into place, too fast- it's all too fast. Her head is pounding, ears ringing with static. She gritted her teeth and covered her ears. She can't shut it out though. Voices and images flashed before her eyes, swirling and twisting and melding in a way that she couldn't understand. The Diaz's had never told them this, not in full. Now that she thought about it Star realized she never asked the Diaz's where she had come from, only about the time spent on Earth.
"Star?" Her mother reached out, and Star flinched so hard she fell down the stairs. By the second time she hit the ground, fur slid against the floor and claws scrabble desperately.
This time, when Star ran, she didn't know why she was running or where to. She crashed around the corners, accidentally knocking down vases of flowers and various decorations as she does.
The hallways and ceilings seemed to close in on her as she struggled to find some exit, some escape, so that she could go back into the outside world where things were normal and her head didn't feel as if it were about to burst.
She reached out to try and find Marco, expecting the warmth of his presence to still be tangible to her stone. But as she skidded to a stop, the realization hit her tenfold.
She sat down where she stood, ignoring the panicked sounds and footsteps rushing away from there. She stared at the ground, pulling her now knees into her chest as she sobbed.
She clutched her knees tighter, feeling the fabric of the dress and trying to ground herself in that. It didn't work all that well. Her head was still spinning and honestly she wasn't sure what to think anymore. Marco was taken. Star had found her family and their shared history in full. Star was still alone though, her only comfort being the familiarity of her parent's forms and the promise that they would help her bring Marco back.
"Hello Star. It's been a while." A nasally voice peeked out from the plant beside her, revealing the little blue man that had spoken to them all that time ago.
"H-hello." Star mumbled into her knees, sniffling still even after the sobs themselves had quieted.
"Where's Marco? Enjoying some alone time I presume." The blue man talked frankly, his preciseness giving Star some semblance of order in her mind.
Star shook her head, and the blue man pauses.
"Toffee." The blue man muttered softly, taking a moment to awkwardly pat Star's head. "Are you going to get him back?"
"Of course I am." Star snarled back, narrowing her eyes. "I have to get him back."
"What are you waiting for then?" The blue man asked, you'd be better off doing something rather than crying.
"I- I can't feel him in my stone anymore and it doesn't make sense. Also apparently I have a family and I'm supposed to be a princess?" Star rushed out the words, her head getting foggy with even the mention of the events. "I just- I don't understand anything right now."
The blue man made a small clicking noise with his tongue, sounding disappointed. "She would tell you everything at once. Regardless, I never really understood why you wanted to know who you had been. What does it matter? You're a stranger in your old life, for better or for worse."
Star considered the words, speechless. Before Star could think of a response, she can hear her mother's voice calling. Star looked back up to where the blue man was floating. "What's your name?"
"Glossaryck." Glossaryck states matter of factly. "And you can trust that the High Commission will be here tomorrow to locate him."
With that, Glossaryck vanished into thin air, leaving Star alone in her huddle until her Mother caught sight of her and came sprinting.
"Star, are you alright?" Her mother asked, hands hovering just above wanting to touch but not going all the way.
Star started to nod but stopped, sighing. In a small voice she said, "I don't know. I'm happy to know everything and I'm so happy to see you and Dad it's just...a lot, and I can't stop thinking about Marco."
Her mother didn't say anything, but Star could see the way she tenses. "What is it?" Star asked, and her mother drew back.
"It's nothing for you to worry about. I can show you somewhere you can rest alone, so you don't get overwhelmed." Her mother stood turning away. Star didn't move though, preferring the way she was now.
"Later?"
"Star, you cannot be seen. If word gets out that the princess has returned and-" Her mother cut herself off, turning away. "Just come with me please."
"...Fine." Star pushed herself to her feet, shifting. She was more secure in this form, more grounded. She heard her mother sigh but ignored it. They passed a few more people on their way to wherever they were going, and halfway there her father joined them.
"Uh, how's it going darlings?" He flickered his gaze between the two, unsure.
"Fine. I'm showing Star to her old rooms." Her mother answered in place of her, and Star grumbled her discontentment with being spoken over. They couldn't understand her though and Star wasn't going to shift anytime soon.
They finally reached an elegant set of doors, and Star tilted her head as her mother opened them. "This is your room. Please don't leave it while you look like that."
Star lashed her tail, and somehow it's her father who understood her message. "Star, it's only for your own good. If anyone saw a monster running around the castle they would panic. And we don't really know how to explain this to anyone."
Star growled back, claws digging as far into the floor as they could. She wasn't going to be trapped again.
"Star, if you cause too much of an uproar the High Commission and I will never be able to help you find Marco." Her mother said, and Star blinked, hurt spreading in her chest. Her mother was using Marco as leverage, nothing more than a bargaining chip. The fact stung at Star, giving her eyes a glower and her lips an upturned tilt. She remembered her comment to Marco, months ago, about how she knew families that weren't nice, and started to wonder if she was talking about her own.
"Please. Star." Her mother gestures to the room. "I want to find him as much as you do. We can only do that if you stay in here for tonight and tomorrow, just until the High Commission shows up."
"Fine. I'll go in for now. But I'm leaving the room as soon as I want to." Star lashed her tail, huffing. She supposed her parents thought she was outright agreeing, but she didn't have the patience to truly argue this, so let them believe what they will.
Star marched inside the room, looking around. The doors shut behind her, and she turned to see that neither of her parents had stayed with her. The stinging in her chest grew stronger, edging dangerously close to distrust. Star wished the Diaz's were here, or Jackie or Janna, someone who would truly listen to her instead of simply trying to hide her and keep her out of the way.
They wouldn't have used Marco's safety as a bargaining tool.
Star looked out the wide windows lining the far wall, observing the tiny houses below and the even smaller people walking between them. She stared for a bit, her mind racing before turning to pace. She paid no mind to the furniture surrounding her, focused instead on the debate that had sprung up in her mind once more.
Should she try to find Marco on her own? She needed to find him soon, before the Lizard did anything permanent. But her mother had a point about having backup. It would be nice to not be alone when facing the Lizard. The High Commission was going to be here tomorrow. That should be enough time for Star to come up with a plan to get Marco on her own.
It was settled then. Star would give the High Commission until the end of tomorrow to come, and then she would go on her own.
A part of her scolded her; how could she just leave her parents so soon? But Star wouldn't be able to sleep easy until she knew Marco was safe, parents or not. Besides, she would come back to them.
Star concentrated, her pacing picking up speed. Now she just had to think of a plan.
Marco blinked into consciousness, his head foggy. He tried to rise, but he stumbled on his way up, slamming his head into a metal wall.
"Welcome back Marco. Really, it's been too long." That cold voice pierced Marco's ears, and he moved to snarl. However bile flooded the back of his throat, and he choked up a pile of the green liquid. Another pile came up, and then a third. By the time it's done Marco was heaving for air, paws dragging against the ground.
"You should be done coughing up that stuff soon. Although it is an interesting side effect." The Lizard was talking, but Marco couldn't quite see or smell where the Lizard was. He took a step forward, only to then register the weight hanging around his neck.
Marco glared at the silver collar, trying to summon his stone to break it. However, his head was still foggy and no matter how hard he closed his eyes and concentrated, he couldn't push through it to reach his magic.
"I wouldn't try. You won't be conscious until I need you to be." The Lizard chuckles. "And, of course, when you'll listen."
Marco found the strength to snarl, "I'll never listen to you."
"Snarl all you want. You can't fight nature." The Lizard's footsteps resounded, echoing off the walls.
Marco slowly laid back down, feebly scratching at the collar to try and get it off. Soon though, the fog in his head was stronger than ever, and he found himself drifting back into sleep.
In his dreams, he was drowning once more, sinking further and further into the blackened depths, with no chance of swimming back out.