Mr. Candle Cares and The Strange Disappearances of Echo Creek

Marcia was whistling as she opened her locker.

"Hey, Marcia-!"

Hearing her name Marcia looked around but saw no one. She swiveled her head and looked for who could have called her but spotted no one. Thinking she just heard things she shrugged her shoulders and went back to whistling as she closed her locker.

"Marcia!" Star yelled getting the girls attention, "Are you excited?"

"Not really," Marcia said as she and Star walked down the hall, "I don't need a counselor to tell me what my career is going to be. I've got everything planned out," Marcia pulled out a folded piece of paper and started to unfold it revealing it to be much larger than it appeared to be, "You see it started when I was a kid with cooking lessons from my mom plus guitar lessons from my dad. Then it goes to high school where I perfect my skills as a chef by getting straight A's in home etc and cooking delicious meals for family and friends….." Marcia continues to talk as she drags her finger along the paper, "I'll start dating in college and meet the perfect guy and in the end, the plan finishes with me owning my own restaurant where I perform and raise two kids with a happy husband."

Marcia folds up the paper as Star tries to process all the info that Marcia told her.

"Oh so that's why you won't go out on a date with Justin," Star said

"Kind of. College boys are much more mature and I should just use my high school years to have fun and focus on my future plans," Marcia said

The two girls make their way to the counselor's office where a line of students was forming. The two girls take a seat waiting for their turn.

Oskar walked out of the office, "Mr. Candle said I'm gonna be a musician."

A student wearing a swimsuit walked up, "Sweet. I got champion swimmer. I was gonna get dressed, but now I don't need to."

"I can't wait to find out what my future holds," Star said with an excited laugh.

"Star Butterfly."

Star smiled as she bounced into the office.

Marcia looked around, "I'm pretty sure Ferguson and Alfonzo were supposed to be here."

She pulls out her cell phone and texts her two friends, hoping to get a quick response.

Meanwhile

"Star Butterfly. Please sit," Mr. Candle said with a smile.

"Okay," Star said hopping onto a rolling chair and rolling over to the desk.

"Help yourself to some candy," Mr. Candle said gesturing to a bowl that was shaped like a cat and its eyes moved back and forth.

"No. Thank. You," Star said moving her eyes with the cats, "I'm just really excited to have my fortune told. How do you do it? Read palms? Converse with the dead? Examine head lumps?" Star asked

"Nope. Just normal guidance counselor stuff. Have you given much thought to your future?" Mr. Candle asked taking out a folder.

"Totally. When I grow up, I wanna raise warnicorns," Star said making one with her wand. She sat on top of the horse as the bucked and neighed.

"Well, that seems like a fun hobby but you might not have much time for hobbies as the Queen of Mewni," Mr. Candle said

"Queen?" Star questioned her happy mood dropping.

"I may not know your fortune, but your future is set in stone," Mr. Candle said

"Stone?" Star said her tone getting more depressing.

"Cheer up Star. Or should I say, Your Majesty?" Mr. Candle said

Star with her gloomy expression leaves the office.

Marcia was still on her phone trying to reach her friends.

"Man, what is going on? I could see Alfonzo but Ferguson normally replies quickly to my text," Marcia said, "Hey Star have you-what's wrong Star?" Marcia asked looking at her friends saddened expression.

Star just walks off dragging her feet.

"Uhhhmm….Star…" Marcia said

Star just turns the corner and Marcia was about to go after her until her name was called. Marcia walked into the office taking a seat in front of Mr. Candle.

"Miss. Diaz. I've been very anxious to speak to you," Mr. Candle said

"Thanks but what did you say to Star, she looked down," Marcia said

"Don't worry about her she'll be fine. Let's talk about you and your future," Mr. Candle said

"Well, I've got mine planned out. I mean have you seen my test scores?" Marcia said

"Indeed," Mr. Candle said, "But you know a girl like you should really worry about more than test scores."

"What should I be worried about?" Marcia asked tilting her head.

"Yes, I talked to your Home Ec teacher and a girl with your skills you'd make a great mother and wife," Mr. Candle said

"Oh, that's on the plan too," Marcia said

"But I heard you don't date though," Mr. Candle said

"How did you hear-"

"You know a lot of people meet their special someone in high school. If you don't start looking now, there might not be a chance you'll find someone," Mr. Candle said

"Well I don't think-"

"Youth doesn't last forever dear, if I were you I'd start looking now don't want to end up alone now do we," Mr. Candle said

Marcia's eyes widen as the word alone echoed in Marcia's head.

Marcia sat stunned next to a just as equally stunned Star.

"Could I really end up all alone," Marcia said

"Apparently, the only thing in my future is being queen," Star said

"All of my life plans ruined," Marcia said with a sad tone.

Marcia lets out a groan before flopping onto the ground. Faced down on the ground Marcia hands Star her cellphone, "Here. When Ferguson or Alfonzo text back let them know I'm busy wallowing."

"Do you wanna go home?" Star asked

"No I'm...just gonna lie here and sulk," Marcia said

Star gave Marcia a pat on the back before walking away. As she turned a corner she saw Justin walking into Mr. Candle's office. Not even a second later there was a scream. Star runs over to the office and kicks the door.

"Miss Butterfly something wrong?" Mr. Candle asked with his usual smile.

Star looked around to just see Mr. Candle sitting at his desk, but no Justin.

"What happened to Justin?" Star asked

"Hmmmm…." Mr. Candle said looking at a piece of paper, "I don't believe I've seen the young man yet."

"But I just saw him come in here and then I heard his screams of terror," Star said

"You must have been mistaken," Mr. Candle started to push Star out the room, "Now run along your Majesty," Mr. Candle gave one last pushing Star out the officer before closing the door.

Star was confused as she looked at the door, but then she registered what Mr. Candle called her again. A frown appears on her face as she walks away.

Star made her way home sulking the whole way. She was now on her bed reading a book that talked about being a Queen.

"Oh. These women look so miserable," Star said flipping through the pages. She lets out a heavy sigh before going over to her magic mirror.

"Calling Mom."

Queen Butterfly appeared on the mirror being pampered and fixed up by several people, "What did you do?"

"What...nothing! Yet. I'd like to ask you something. Are you happy?" Star asked

"Happy? What difference does that make?" Queen Butterfly questioned

"I mean, I don't know. Do you have any warnicorns?" Star asked

"Goffrey, do I have any warnicorns?" Queen Butterfly asked a servant.

"You have 19, Your Majesty," Goffrey said

"Oh. Apparently, I have 19," Queen Butterfly said

"Oh, sweet," Star said

"But when you are queen, you don't have time for warnicorns," Queen Butterfly said

"Oh," Star said

"Everything I'm saying is in your guide book. Incidentally, you may want to review the chapter on hair care," Queen Butterfly said

Star looked down at her hair sadly.

"If you're going to be queen, you have to look the part. Don't worry so much about happiness. It makes you look pale. Love you. Bye," Queen Butterfly said before the mirror cut off.

Star stares at the Queen guide book her mother provided her.

"Hmm," Star said glaring at the picture of a stuffy looking Queen.

She smiles as she gets out a hair trimmer and turns it on.

In a matter of minutes, Star had transformed her whole look. She shaved one side of her head and dyed the rest purple. Her heart cheek marks were now skulls and she was decked out in a punk outfit.

She opened the Mewni Guidebook to Being a Queen and read through it. Once she found a certain passage she started laughing darkly.

"If I cut off a mermaid's tail, I can never be queen," Star said with a dark look. She looked over at a large tank where a mermaid was sitting on a rock listening to music with some headphones.

"I am so sorry Tiffany," Star said putting a hand on the tank.

She walked over to her closet pulling out a large battle ax and a sharpener.

"Space Unicorns~"

Star looked up from sharpening the ax when she heard Marcia's phone go off. She picked up the phone seeing that the caller ID said, Ferguson.

"Hello-?"

"HELP! SAVE US!"

"Ferguson?!" Star said

"Give me that!"

Star stared at the phone as the line went dead.

"Tom…?" Star said confused.

A portal opened up in the underworld and Star stepped out.

"Tom!" Star yelled

Tom walked out of a door, "Whoa...nice look there."

"Tom! Where's Ferguson?!" Star yelled

"Who?" Tom said

"Ferguson! This tall, loves food, had a face on his stomach," Star said

"Nope never seen the guy," Tom said

"Help!"

"What was that?!" Star said looking behind Tom.

"Nothing," Tom said quickly.

"It sounded like it came from that door," Star said pointing at the door Tom had walked out of.

"No, it didn't!" Tom said blocking the door, "There's nothing in there!"

Star turned away, "Well then I guess….Narwhal Blast!"

Tom ducked down as Star blasted the door open and ran in.

"Ferguson I'm here to save-uhhhh….." Star said looking around.

Ferguson, Alfonzo, and Justin were all in the room. Each boy strapped to some kind of torture device.

"Oh, thank goodness it's Star!" Alfonzo said hanging upside down.

"Star Butterfly rules!" Justin said in a cage.

"What is going on here!" Star yelled

"Nothing Star!" Tom said rushing into the room.

"This weirdo kidnapped us!" Ferguson said strapped to a spinning wheel.

"And tortured us. Such horrible torture!" Alfonzo cried

"Oh it wasn't that bad you babies," Tom said

"Tom, what is going on?" Star asked in a stern tone.

"Uh….well you know some guy time?" Tom said

Star gave Tom a look and crossed her arms not believing him.

"Not buying it huh?" Tom said

"Nope," Star said

She walked over to Ferguson and asked him what happened.

"I was just trying to say hi to Marcia when-!"

Ferguson was stopped when Tom spun the wheel Ferguson was on.

"Tom!" Star yelled

"What?" Tom said

"I'm taking my friends home!" Star said

She uses her wand to blast all the boys free and makes a portal. The boys all rush through giving Star their thanks.

"Now, tell me why did you kidnap my friends. Is this some weird get back together scheme?" Star asked waving her arms around.

"Look Star this isn't about you okay," Tom said

"Then what is it!" Star said

Tom doesn't answer and looks away from Star.

"What is it, Tom. Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!" Star yelled

"It about Marcia!" Tom yelled

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?" Star said stunned

"I have a crush on…..Marcia okay," Tom said

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!"

Tom puts his hand over Star's mouth stopping her.

"Look that Guidance counselor at your school is a fake. I've been using him to spy on Marcia. I heard she's not really into dating so I tried to get Mr. Smiles to open her up to the idea of it. But then he told me about how those guys were so close to Marcia and well, you can figure out the rest," Tom said

Star removed Tom's hand from her mouth then punched him in the shoulder.

"Ow!" Tom said rubbing his shoulder.

"Ya know that counselor told me I was only good for being Queen, really messed with my mind," Star said

"Sorry, he's not really good at being a counselor," Tom said

"You know Marcia hates you right," Star said

"Yeah I know," Tom said

"Also kidnapping guys who are close to Marcia isn't gonna get her to like you," Star said

"The plan had flaws okay!" Tom said

"Also there's like a lot more boys you'd have to kidnap," Star said

"What?" Tom said

"Oh yeah, there's the karate kid Jeremy. The fake foreign exchange Gustav. The mailman. The guy at the store-"

Star continued to list off more guys as Tom got angrier.

"I get it! Marcia's attracts a lot of attention!" Tom said

"Ya know Mr. Candle didn't just mess with my mind," Star said

"Ughhh…." Marcia was sulking in bed the covers pulled over her.

A litter of laser puppies played on the edge of hr bed.

A portal opens up in Marcia's room.

"Marcia," Star said

"*SIGH* Star I really don't wanna-whoa!" Marcia said pulling her covers down and seeing Star. She then looked over to see who was with her, "Demon!" Marcia yelled jumping out of bed and getting into a karate position.

"It's okay Marcia," Star said putting a hand on her shoulder.

"What is he doing here. Last time I saw him he tried to turn me into BBQ. I hate him," Marcia said

"Tom has something to tell you. Isn't that right Tom," Star said

Tom looks away from Marcia but then is elbowed by Star.

"Look. The counselor Mr. Candle was a fake," Tom said

"A fake?" Marcia said

"Yeah, he was hired by me to-!"

"What!" Marcia yelled grabbing Tom by the front of his shirt and shaking the demon, "That counselor really messed with my mind he made me think I was gonna grow old and alone and you sent him!"

"Yeah," Tom said

"Why!" Marcia yelled shaking him some more.

"Well it-"

"It was because of me!" Star said

"Huh?" Tom and Marcia said

"He used Mr. Candle to try and get back together with me. But then he realized what he was doing was wrong and came to apologize," Star said

"Right what she said," Tom said

Marcia dropped Tom, "Oh well. Thanks for apologizing, but I still hate you."

"Noted," Tom said

He stood up dusting off his pants before summoning a demon carriage, "Guess I better go then." He then whispers to Star, "Thanks for not telling her about the whole crush, spying, and kidnapping thing."

Tom got in the carriage and it descended back into the underworld leaving Star and Marcia.

"Sooo are you gonna tell me why you're dressed like that?" Marcia asked

"I was freaking out about being Queen," Star said sadly.

"You don't have to worry so much Star. Yeah you're gonna be Queen but that doesn't sound like a bad thing because you're gonna run Mewni your way, no matter how destructive," Marcia said

"That's true," Star said with a smile.

Star makes a warnicorn and it proceeds to tear apart Marcia's room.

"Yes very destructive," Marcia said

END