So here we go! The next arc is coming and...you might notice some tension within the team once Star & Marco explained things. I hope you guys are enjoying this story and I will be making more frequent updates going forward.

I just want to highlight two new stories that popped up recently. The first is 'Crystal Star' by Parasterwhich blends Steven Universe & Star Vs the Forces of Evil in a 'What If' Star was sent to live with the Crystal Gems rather than the Diaz's. Only one chapter is live but I liked what I read so far.

The last highlight is 'Star's Interdimesional Guide' by SwizzlyBubbles which is a series of funny chapters that focus on the antics of our mess up twins. I laughed hard while reading two released chapters, so if you want something light hearted, give it a read :).


(Marco POV)

Walking down the stairs and seeing my friend's joyful faces was nice. We were going on our adventure still, trying to find Ludo's family and learn were Toffee is located…. But when you just saw the lizard, had what I felt was a heart-to-heart with a great foe and realizing there is more to everything than it seems; your mind feeling confused is understandable. This also makes me fearful of my future with Star.

Leaning on the counter and sitting next to her, I feel my body tense up, tightly holding the handle of my coffee mug. John and Steven was nice enough to cook for us this morning, giving me a warm smile. But they tell I have a lot on my mind. John puts his green arm on my shoulder and gives me a worried expression. "Something is very wrong…you seem confused man."

I just laugh at this comment, earning a frown from Star and Glossaryck. "You have no idea buddy." I turn toward the rest of my friends, giving me an focused expression. "Okay everyone…um, something really messed up happened last night to me and Star."

"Crap." Tom sighs. "Well I knew the honey moon wouldn't last forever…" Star gives Tom a glare that shuts him up on the spot. He backs off slightly, earning a chuckle from Janna. She just leans back in her chair and folds her arms. Tom regains his composure and looks worried. "What is going on?"

"Toffee showed up again and…we learned a lot about him." Star says bluntly, making the entire room become silent. Thankfully it's just me and my friends here, otherwise the town would be in panic I think. Star turns to me and holds on to my arm tightly. "You…you want to explain things?"

"Sure Estrella." I kiss her cheek and look focused at my friends. I need to be a leader and be confident…not only for my own personal sake. But for everyone. "Toffee has a dark history. He was Moon Butterfly and River Johnson's best friend. His friendship with Moon…" Come on Daiz! Speak up! "…Heavily mirrored my bond with Star. They were very close and they loved one another. However, Moon's mother pushed them apart and after learning his race was discovered, war broke out. The second Monster Massacre…"

John flinches and gives a harden look, trying not to imagine that horrid event. Steven is just rubbing his back, trying to calm him down. He turns to me with a worried gaze. "What does this mean Marco?"

"It means, lover boy is going to hurt Starship." Tom gets up and his flames become burning hot. Oh boy, should have saw this coming. "Stay away from her Marco Diaz."

I push Star away and my body feels warm. Shockingly, my Crystal Shield and Dagger-Sword appear in my hands, as if I summoned them. Pointing the blade at my friend, it becomes enriched in bright blue flames. "We really don't have to do this Tom. You know I would never hurt Star."

"Funny, I think Toffee would say something like that to Moon and look what happened." Tom lunges at me and just as I was ready to strike, I feel a cold sensation overcome me. My body is frozen in place, but Tom is frozen as well. Jackie gives Tom a very angry look, while Star looks at me with disappointment. So this is what Tom felt like at the Blood Moon Ball…

"Boys, calm down now." Jackie hissed, with her voice cold and violent. "Marco may have issues sometimes, but he would never hurt his friends. So Tom Lucitor, do not harm my close friend. Understood?" I spot Tom's eye twitch slightly. Jackie turns to me and gives me an annoyed expression. "And I know you Marco. You would never do anything to harm us. But can we trust you?"

…Trust? They are starting to not trust me?! I feel anger cover come me and the ice incasing me brakes apart. My teeth grit hard and everyone looks at me with fear. "I would never harm my friends. Just because I have sympathy for monsters does not make me evil. Do I make myself clear Jackie Lyn Thomas?" She gives me a cold expression before unfreezing Tom. He shakes slightly but resumes his harden gaze at me. "Tom, you know me. If you wanted to kill me, you had many chances for the past year."

"…I know Marco." He sat down next to Jackie, with both giving me bitter looks. Great, now I know I lost two friends. I feel tempted to outright walk out of the room, but Star's warm hand grabbing me tight; telling me to stay put. Janna looks at me with honest concern and stands up. She slams the table, making everyone silent.

"Look. We are all friends here, right? Good. So shut up and listen to the one guy that has experience with a lot of stuff. Unless we all forgot, Marco spent sixteen years fighting in some hellish location. He went with Princess Coko Pants over there across tons of dimensions and he even survived your jealously toward him, oh friendly prince of the underworld." Janna's look was playful but I could tell she was quite mad. Tom rubbed his arms and looked away from her, liked a kicked puppy.

"…I wasn't jealous…" Star and Janna only laughed, earning a look of contempt from Tom. He looked at me and gave a somber smile. I could tell he was conflicted, regarding working with me at this point. I decide to stand up and walk to my demon friend. Holding out my hand, I give a somber frown. Tom looks at my hand and just sighs. "I better not regret this Marco."

"You won't." We shake hands and sit next to Star again. "So Toffee isn't completely evil…but rather, he has a clear mission and is trying to accomplish it through violent means. I don't like this, at all to be honest. So, we are still going after him and he will still be our foe. However, once we find him, we use this." I take out the cube Andy gave me a while back. "This will disable whatever magic he has access too, which will make capturing him easier. But we will not kill him." Everyone just nods in response.


"Okay…good. I need some air, so…give me space please." I stand up and feel rage within my body. My friends don't trust me anymore and I feel like I will lose Star. Just fucking lovely. I stomp my way out of the tavern and slamming the front door shut. I walk toward the stables to get some fresh air but soon spot Nacho's sleeping contently. My dragon cycle…how much we've been through together.'

"Hello girl." I rub her head and gently hearing her purr. Sitting down next to her, I feel the warmth coming from her scaly body. "Your daddy is facing a lot of stress right now, but I promise to never hurt you. Okay girl?" I hug my trust pet, making her coo. I hear footsteps behind me. Turning around, I spot a little girl and her mother. "Hello ma'am and little one. Are you two okay?"

"I never personally thanked you for saving me." The mother says kindly, with her soft smile warming my heart. The little girl jumped into my arms, giving me a crushing hug. "I know you will be leaving soon, so we just wanted to thank you." She turns toward her daughter, giving a toothy smile.

"Prince I have a present for you." She passes me a small star charm. It is hand-made, with a stripped pattern decorated over it. "Whenever I feel scared or lonely, I wish upon this to feel better. I wished for heroes to save my mommy and it came true!"

Holding the charm tightly, I feel tears come down my face. "T-Thank you little one." I hold out my arms, letting the little sweetie hug me again. Holding the child tight, I feel a new resolve for fighting. If I don't have the complete trust of my close friends? I know I can help others like this little girl…like I did during my sixteen year adventure. I will always have Star. Nothing will take her away from me. The little girl lets go and notices something on my face. "You are sad Mr.?"

"What?" I wipe my face. "No, just happy is all." I pat the girl's soft brown hair. "You stay out of trouble." She darts to her mother, who gives me a worried expression.

"You are so young, yet you are doing so much." The mother says with sadness. "I'm well aware Mewni isn't your native home, yet you are here defending it. Be careful young one." She bows and picks up her child, walking off. I lay down next to nachos and let myself relax under the warm light of the sun. Putting the star charm on my hoodie, I feel some form of joy wash over me.


(Star POV)

I'm really angry right now, as my 'friends' yelled and almost harmed my Marco. "What is wrong with you all?" I hissed. Looking at the door, I am thinking of Marco running away with Nachos, never coming back. "He came to Mewni on his own, with monsters to help protect this land. And you are accusing him of trying to kill me?" I feel rage coming out of my hands. "He is my best friend and has only helped me."

Tom gets up, giving me a worried look. "But you heard the story from Toffee. If he mirrors the monster so much, don't you think history will repeat itself?"

"Funny hearing you say that." I hissed. I don't want to use this information…as it isn't right. But I need to keep Tom from hurting Marco again. "Don't you forget you are a monster too?"

"Shut up." Tom says quietly, trying to hide his face. I keep my glare though, uncaring of Jackie's seething look.

"No, I won't shut up." I feel my fists clenching tightly. "Don't you remember? When we first dated how the royals treated you? I hated it. They teased you, looked down on you and pushed you to blow up for the very first time!?"

Tom gets up and his eyes are bright red. "AND WHAT? THEY PUSHED ME TO STAY AWAY FROM YOU AND I DID! YOU NEVER LOVED ME YOU HARRLET!"

"That is a lie." I say sternly, causing him to calm down. He takes a deep breath to relax. I turn to Jackie, who is giving me a look of contempt. "And why are you angry?"

"Why am I angry?" Jackie laughs before folding her arms. "You are going to break his heart like your mother did to Toffee." She thinks I would hurt Marco? I feel dark magic swell up inside me but Janna once again is the voice of reason.

"Look guys, this information about Toffee and Moon clearly has some similarities to our friends. So what?" She stands up, laughing bitterly. "Fate sucks and we all know that. But they aren't fated to fight, they are fated to be together. You know this demon boy; remember the blood moon?"

"Yes…" Tom folds his arms and grunts loudly. John and Steven's eyes grow wide though, as if they heard something shocking.

"Wait…" John asks calmly. "Princess…you are bound to Marco from that Moon?" I just nod in response, making him grow a smile. "Then why are we fighting? Blood Lovers would not kill one another."

"John's right." Steven says in agreement. "I remember reading up on various rituals when my parents were…" He shakes his head, as if blocking a painful memory. "Point being, the moon binds souls together and makes their bond stronger. I wouldn't worry about them harming one another. And considering Toffee is being friendly to Star and Marco, we don't have to worry about the lizard taking advantage of their bond."

"See?" Janna says casually. "Nothing to worry about guys, right?" Jackie and Tom don't seem convinced, making her sigh. "Whatever. You two sour pusses can leave."

"What?" I ask in shock, mirroring Tom and Jackie.

"You heard me." Janna says in response. "Star and Marco are the leaders of our team. If you two don't respect them, buzz off."

"Janna. They are our friends and if it wasn't for Tom, none of you guys would be here right now." Tom only nods in response and stands up.

"Look…I'm sorry, okay?" He has a sad expression in his three eyes; I hate it when he looks that sad. "I will respect Starship and Marco's choices. Just…got worried is all."

Jackie only looks at me with anger before calming down. "Sorry Star. You hurt Marco emotionally before and I don't want that happening again. So…yeah."

"Um…sorry for leaving like that guys." We all dart our attention to Marco's voice, as he walks back inside. He sits next to me and gives a smile to the group. "I don't care if you guys don't trust me. I'm here for Star and to help the people. Friends or not, we are a team." I feel the confidence in his voice, making me smile.

Tom and Jackie look at Marco, but he just shoots them an angry glare, as if they broke something inside him. The two just look at one another before eating some food, with the rest of our group resuming their meal too. I just watch Marco, feeling his warm emotions coming out of his hand. I also notice a star charm pinned to his hoodie, as if he got that while he was out.

"Marco?" I ask, trying to see if he's okay. Marco just turns to me, giving his trademark goofy smile. "Good, you are okay." We give each other a friendship hug but it felt different. This time, it felt like he was putting all his emotions behind it.

I…will…never…lose…you…

My body freezes hearing this…he is communicating through our Blood Moon Bond? We haven't used that in months! I smirk, closing my eyes.

You…won't….soul…mate…


Ah, the group feels slightly divided. I will dive into this more next chapter so stay tuned :).