Queen Marcia

"Star trust me you're gonna love it!" Marcia happily told her friend.

"Were not even there yet and I already do!" Star gleamed

"This exhibit is gonna be amazing. I've been waiting months for the mummy exhibit to get here!" Marcia cheered

That's right Marcia and Star were off to the Echo Creek Natural History Museum. The local museum although not the most popular place in the city, was very popular right now. The museum just recently got a new exhibit and Marcia was excited to bring her best friend with her to see the new attraction and give her a tour of the museum.

"The exhibit centers around the mummy of the King Meskhenet. They said he was a ruthless warrior King who rode into battles with his army fighting side by side to conquer his enemies," Marcia explained

"Sounds like my kind of King," Star commented

The two girls approached the museum heading over to the ticket booth.

Marcia spoke to the ticket clerk, "Two students, please."

A bored looking older teen did a slow blink letting out a heavy breath. Marcia gave him a weird look as she put down the money. The teen let out more creepy deep breaths before taking the money and slowly sliding the tickets over to Marcia.

"Uhhh….Thank you," Marcia drawled before slowly backing away. She grabbed Star's arm and dragged her friend inside, the dead-eyed ticket booth worker still staring off into space.

"Okay Star, I've got our map right here. There's a lot to see but we've got all day." Marcia announced holding up the museum's map.

"If we're gonna be here all day then we're gonna need some snacks," Star stated

"There's a food stall right over these." Marcia pointed out. "Why don't you get some snack and Ill plan our tour."

"Sounds good. Be back in a flash!" Star gave Marcia a smile before skipping off.

Marcia was looking at her map planning out her and Star's visit. As she stared at the map some dust fell on it and she brushed it away before she kept reading. More dust fell and she dismissed it whipping it away. Suddenly a large piece of popcorn fell on her map.

"What the-?"

Marcia heard loud crunching and looked up to see someone leaning over her eating while looking at the map too.

"Oh hey, Oskar." Marcia greeted

"Hey Maraca!"

"What are you doing here? Museums don't seem like your thing."

Oskar held up his popcorn. "I'm here for the awesome munchies."

Marcia let out an awkward laugh. "How very Oskar of you."

"Haha, thanks," Oskar replied before stuffing more popcorn in his mouth.

Over by the snack stand

Star smiled as she was next in line for the vendor excited to get her and Marcia's snacks so they could go and explore the museum.

"Can I get two sodas and two corn dogs? Oooo and a soft pretzel!" Star politely asked.

"Coming up." The vendor smiled rooting behind the counter preparing Star's order.

Star bounced happily on her heels her eyes wandering around the area. Her head did a double take when she saw Marcia along with Oskar.

Her smile slowly started to drop as she watched the two interact. Marcia said something causing Oskar to laugh and spit out popcorn in her face. Marcia let out a sigh but she gave a smile rolling her eyes as she said something to Oskar.

Watching the two causes a frown to form on Star's face.

"5 bucks."

"Huh?"

"Blonde girl. Your food it's gonna be 5 bucks." The vendor's voice shook Star away from Oskar and Marcia.

"Oh, uh right."

Star dug into her little purse searching for money. She pulled out her wand and several other objects including a gnome and a cupcake.

The vendor rose an eyebrow watching the magic girl pull out several items that were not money.

"Oh wait I think this is it!" Star smiled and pulled her hand out of her purse pulling out a wooden spoon. "No that's not it." She continued to dig through her purse but could not seem to locate her change pouch.

"Oh, I'll just poof it up." Star held up her wand about to summon her change pouch but she got distracted by the sound of the combined laughter of Marcia and Oskar. Star's face goes solemn and she lowers her wand slightly looking behind her at the two brunettes. Suddenly her wand flashed green and it shot out a beam of green energy right at the vendor. The man shrieked and ducked down covering his head. The beam of green energy flew off into the museum bouncing off various reflective surfaces.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Star apologized lowering her wand, "That never happens….sometimes"

"Just take your food and go, please!" The man shoved the food and drinks into Star's arms pushing her away from the food stand.

Meanwhile

The green beam of energy bounced around off a mirror, off someone's sunglasses, off a phone and into a room that had a sign that read Egyptian Room. The beam headed straight for a large ornate coffin and collided with it bathing the coffin in a green eerie light.

Back with the Teens

Star was no longer bouncy as she made her way over to Marcia and Oskar.

"Star your back. Ooo corn dog thanks." Marcia smiled taking a corndog and soda from Star.

"Hey, it's the magic girl. Hi magic girl." Oskar greeted giving Star wave.

"Hehe yeah," Star had a sheepish smile. "That's me."

Normally Star would be over the moon that Oskar was just merely looking at her but she couldn't stop looking between Oskar and Marcia.

"Star, I invited Oskar to join us on our tour. Do you mind?" Marcia asked

Marcia sent a grin to her friend and Star forced a smile to her face.

"Yeah sounds great. The more the merrier." Star replied

"Great. Let's go we've only got a few hours to explore the place." Marcia walked off and Oskar followed.

Star stayed in her spot as an uncomfortable swelling in chest came.

"Oskar that's my soda!"

"Sharing is caring."

"I don't wanna share your germs!"

Another sad frown appeared on Star's face and she looked down before following the two into the first exhibit.

The day came to an end and the girls headed home. Oskar didn't stick around for the whole tour leaving for band practice, as he put it.

"Man that was fun wasn't it Star," Marcia chuckled

Star whose attitude had greatly improved nodded to Marcia. "It was fun! I especially liked the weapons throughout the ages display."

"And we got cool souvenirs too," Marcia noted. She gave a yawn stretching. "I think it's time to hit the hay."

Star yawned too. "I think your right. This princess needs her beauty sleep. Night Marcia."

"Night Star."

All was silent in the Diaz household. Everyone was sound asleep in their respective bedrooms. With the new Mewini resident in the house, it wasn't unusual for strange things to happen in the home, even while everyone was asleep but it was rather strange when the front door to the house unlocked itself and slowly started to open. A dark shadow entered the household without making any noise and quickly traveled up to the second floor.

Marcia was mumbling in her sleep as she pulled her covers up closer to her chin. Her sleep was peaceful and deep, she didn't even hear her door creak open. A dark shadowy figure loomed in the teen's doorway. A cold wind blew through the room and the door slammed shut but Marcia's bed was empty.

Star yawned as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes heading to the kitchen.

"Good Morning Star!" Rafael greeted

"Morning," Star yawned out.

Angie was at the kitchen stove cooking breakfast. "Morning Star. I made french toast."

"Ooo sounds good." Star rushed to the table plopping down in a chair as Angie set a plate in front of her.

"I wonder where Marcia is? She normally the first one up." Angie pondered looking at the empty seat at the table.

"Her alarm must have broke again. I'll go and wake her." Rafael stood up from the table and headed upstairs.

Star ate silently enjoying her french toast, while Angie continued to cook. All seems normal until a loud scream rang through the house.

Angie and Star jumped startled at the sudden outburst.

"She's gone!" Rafael cried running back into the kitchen.

"What do you mean Rafael?" Angie questioned

"Marcia! She's not in her bed!"

Everyone ran to Marcia's room and Rafael was right there was no Marcia. Her bed sheets were hanging off the bed as if she just got out of bed then vanished.

"Where could she have gone?!" Rafael was freaking out, "Our precious little angel!"

Angie confronted the crying man. "Now calm down it's not the first time Marcia's gone missing." Angie tried to reassure her husband.

This only served to make the man even more upset, "I'm a terrible father! My little girls been kidnapped twice!"

"We don't know if she was kidnapped. She might have just gone for an early morning jog." Star chimed in.

"Star's right. We don't know for sure that she was taken." Angie agreed

Star stepped more into Marcia's room and her foot slid as she stepped in something. She lifted her foot up to see a trail of sand.

"Sand?"

Star followed the trail of sand and saw that it led from Marcia's bed to her window. Star walked over to the window and looked outside. She saw patches of sand leading out the backyard and down the street.

Marcia let out a yawn as she opened her eyes.

"That was a nice dream."

Marcia's eyes opened and adjusted to the light. She went to sit up and get out of her bed but instead fell forward. She yelped as she landed face first in sand.

"Sand? Whaaaaaa-"

Marcia's eyes were wide as she took in her surroundings. She was definitely not in her room. Her current location resembled an Egyptian throne room. The throne being the thing she had fallen off of.

"Where the heck am I….and where are my jammies!"

Marcia was no longer in her pajamas but instead, she was wearing a gold bandeau with a matching sheer skirt. Around her neck was a necklace with a red gem on it. She had several gold bangles on each arm and some on her ankles.

Marcia tried to stay calm as she tried to assess her situation. That's when the doors to the room opened and Marcia turned to see who was entering.

Star followed the trail of sand hoping it would lead her to her missing friend. Angie stayed with Rafael doing her best to keep the overdramatic father from having a nervous breakdown.

The sand led Star into the city. She didn't even notice where she was going as she kept her eyes on the trailing sand. With Star's head down and focused she ran smack dab into the back of someone.

"Sorry!" Star apologized

She looked up to see she had ran into a large group of people blocking the sidewalks and street.

"Hey what's going on here?" Star questioned

She jumped up and down trying to see over the crowd. "Come on I've got a friend who could possibly be in danger from a monster made of sand."

Star waved her wand summoning Cloudy. She hopped on her fluffy friend and he floated her up so she could see over the crowd.

Once Star saw what everyone was gaping at her jaw dropped too.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Marcia started screaming and had been screaming for a good while due to the person who had entered the room.

"Are you done?"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-One moment. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Marcia ran out of breath and her screaming faded off.

"Okay now I'm done."

"Excellent."

Marcia's screams were prompted due to the fact that the person who had entered the room was dead, to be more accurate it was a mummy, wearing a gold mask with matching robes and carrying a staff. Now the mummy isn't what made Marcia scream, it's when she told him to remove his costume, believing he was just some weirdo dressed up. He promptly removed the bandages from his face revealing the decaying flesh beneath, not expecting the mummy to be a real mummy Marcia responded in the only logical way a girl her age would. She screamed….a lot.

The mummy started rewrapping himself up. "Now that you are done it is time to prepare for the ceremony my Queen."

"Wait whats going on?! How are you a real mummy?! What ceremony!? And did you say, Queen!?" Marcia kept firing off questions absolutely baffled by what was happening.

Last thing she remembered was going to bed then the next thing she knows she's in a weird room that looked like it had a 500 years throwback, she had a new wardrobe, and now there was a real mummy before her calling her Queen.

The mummy, who was now back in his bandages and gold mask, knelt before Marcia bowing his head. "Yes, my Queen. I Sabni have awoken."

Now Marcia was even more confused. "But Why!?"

Sabni stood head held high. "Come my Queen and I shall show you!" With a flourish of his robes, the man turned heading to the door.

Marcia apprehensively followed, maybe if she followed him she could find a way out. The whole time though one thought ran through Marcia's head.

"I really hope Star didn't do this."

"I really hope I didn't do this."

Star sat on Cloudy gawking at the site before her. More spectators had gathered around to ogle at the spectacle. A news van pulled up and the crew jumped out.

"How's my hair? Is my tie straight?"

"Get the mic!"

The news crew quickly set up as the Anchor took his place. He held his microphone tightly in his hand as the camera pointed towards him.

"Hello, this is your local reporter Marshall Vice. I am in the center of the city where something incredible has happened to the Echo Creek Museum."

The camera panned upwards so everything could be seen.

The Echo Creek Museum was no longer the Echo Creek Museum in its place a large Egyptian Temple.

"As you can see the building has undergone a transformation replicating the architecture of Ancient Egypt. At the entrance, there appears to be mummified guards who are preventing anyone from entering the building. Just yesterday the Echo Creek Museum had opened their new exhibit featuring the tomb of Meskhenet. Is this transformation an elaborate publicity stunt pulled by the workers of the museum? If so it surely is working. This is Marshall Vice, and we will keep you updated as the story further develops."

Marcia walked around the halls of the temple discovering that she was actually in the Echo Creek Museum but it seemed like everything had been redecorated to have an Egyptian theme.

"Queen Marcia, I see you are pleased with the change of decor," Sabni said

"Uh….yeah." Marcia murmured

"I have laid in wait for hundreds of years for this day to come," Sabni proclaimed

"How exactly are you know...alive?" Marcia asked

"A gift from the gods! A powerful force has awoken me from my slumber in my sarcophagus. Giving me enough strength to restore this temple to its grand glory and retrieve you." Sabni revealed

"And why did you retrieve me?" Marcia asked

"For the summoning ceremony," Sabni answered

"Summoning….ceremony?" Marcia was puzzled

"Several objects must be collected to revive the ancient warrior Meskhenet," Sabni affirmed

"Meskhenet? He was a warrior? Wasnt he a King?" Marcia speculated

"No my young Queen. Meskhenet was a fierce man who was cursed by the gods turning him into a fearsome beast that could conquer any foe." Sabni clarified

"And you want to bring him back?" Marcia stressed out.

"Yes, how else will I be able to conquer this world," Sabni admitted

"What!" Marcia froze. Now she really needed to find a way to escape, this guy was nuts.

"The final thing needed for the ceremony was the blood of the Ancient Ones. The Ancient Ones were powerful beings who had the blood of the gods running through their veins." Sabni explained

"Like demigods," Marcia pronounced

"Any Ancient Ones was deemed royalty. Their bloodline slowly dwindled down and only a handful of their descendants can activate the power within their blood. That is why you are here Queen Marcia. Your blood is the last item needed for the ceremony." Sabni explained

"Did you just say my blood?!" Marcia blurted

"But of course. In order for the summoning to work the blood of an Ancient Ones needs to be offered to the gods." Sabni stated as if with was common knowledge.

"I-I think you've got the wrong gal buddy. I'm not related to any Ancient Ones." Marcia stuttered

"But of course you are. That necklace you wear proves it." Sabni assured her.

"This necklace?" Marcia questioned holding the gem up around her neck up.

"That is a powerful artifact that can detect the power of the Ancient Ones. When I used it the object brought me right to you." Sabni affirmed

"Uh….." Marcia was speechless now.

"You will make an excellent sacrifice. They say beautiful maidens provide the most power." Sabni stated

"Did you say sacrifice!?"

Marcia didn't stick around, she bolted running away. She didn't get very far as she was grabbed by two mummies.

"Now Queen Marcia. No need to fear. You shall fulfill a great destiny. Now let us prepare for the ceremony." Sabni mused

Marcia gulped as she was dragged out the room.

"I'm coming Marcia."

Star had snuck her way into the museum temple, sneaking around looking for her friend. She observed several mummies lined up marching into a room. The door closed behind the last mummy and Star crept up to it. She put her ear against the door and her eyes widened when she heard the distinctive outcry of Marcia.

"Marcia!"

Star kicked the door open. She and everyone in the room froze. Marcia was on a large table in the center of the room being tied up and gagged by mummies. Next to the table was a large sarcophagus with hieroglyphics painted around it.

"Uh…...what is going on here?"

"Get her!"

Now both girls were tied up. Star was leaned up against a wall her wand discarded on a table.

"Let the ritual begin!" Sabni threw his hands up and fire exploded from torches.

Marcia and Star screamed from under their gag as they fought against their restraints. Star managed to roll onto her stomach and started to inchworm her way over to her wand.

Loud chanting began and Sabni approached Marcia. He waved his staff high in the air. "Great gods I bring you Queen Marcia, a descendant, and keeper of the Ancient One's bloodline. I offer her to you to bring back the warrior Meskhenet and bestow his godly power so that the great empire may rise again!"

Marcia screamed even harder as Sabni lifted up her tied hands forcing one of her palms open. He took out a dagger and cut her palm drawing blood. He collected some of the blood in a bowl then dripped it over the hieroglyphics drawn around Meskhenet's sarcophagus. The markings glowed a golden color that filled the room.

"It has begun!"

"This is Marshall Vice! As you can see a large red swirling vortex has appeared over the temple! Folks this is an incredible site to see! The Museum is really putting on a show!"

"Rise Meskhenet! Rise!"

Sabni and the other mummies chanted. The large vortex that was above the temple could be seen through the skylight.

Star did her best to ignore everything around her solely focused on getting her wand back. She made it over to the table and started to bump her body into it to knock it over.

"Rise Meskhenet! Rise! Rise!"

A beam of light shoot of the vortex and through the skylight shattering it. The light hit the sarcophagus sending a powerful blast into it. The force knocked everyone back and lucky for Star, knocked her wand onto the floor next to her. She turned around scooting backwards to grab it.

As the beam of light died down the sarcophagus sat smoke hissing of it. A loud knocking was heard as the sarcophagus lid started to slowly move.

"The ceremony is complete. Meskhenet rises once more!" Sabni declared

Marcia's eyes widened as she saw the lid slide off and fall to the floor with a heavy bang. A large clawed hand grasped the edge and a hulking figure slowly pulled itself out. The creature known as Meskhenet was huge his large form standing over 7 feet tall. Its arms were long causing its knuckles to drag across the ground. It had the head of a Jackal but the eyes were nothing but empty black sockets. It had a long alligator's tail that swung back and forth menacingly. It had bulky muscles that looked like it could snap bones like toothpicks.

"Oh, great Meskhenet! We rejoice your revival!" Sabni bowed along with the mummies. He gestured behind him towards the still struggling Marcia. "I bring you a sacrifice to restore your godly powers. The radiant maiden Queen Marcia, an heir of the Ancient Ones."

Meskhenet turned its large from towards Marcia, who could feel a shiver run down her spine. Meskhenet stalked towards Marcia, its large feet thundering with each step. Meskhenet loomed over Marcia, it's lifeless dark orbs staring intently at her. She shivered as Meskhenet sniffed her.

"Feast upon the power of the Ancient One's blood and restore yourself so that we may conquer land once again!" Sabni proclaimed

Meskhenet didn't have to be told twice his large jackal jaws snapped open giving Marcia a full display of his teeth. She closed her eyes tightly and screamed as he dove down at her.

"Hey!"

Meskhenet stopped looking up only to be met with a rainbow blast to the face knocking it back a few feet.

"No one eats my bestie!" Star yelled

Marcia let out a sigh of relief her body going limp on the table.

"Destroy the interloper!" Sabni commanded

Meskhenet let out a deafening roar then lunged at Star. The magical princess ran and dodged, being chased around by the large war creature.

She kept blasting it with magical beams but that didn't seem to stop it.

"What is this guy made of!" Star yelled

"Star needs help." Marcia thought

She pulled and pulled more on her restraints but the ropes wouldn't budge. She lifted her head up searching or anything that could help. That's when she spotted the ceremonial dagger on the ground. If she could get to that then she could cut herself free. She rolled off the table landing on the ground, which might she add hurt, and rolled toward the knife. She put her wrist over the knife rubbing them back and forth until she cut through the ropes. Once her hands were free she was able to untie her legs and remove her gag.

"Meskhenet! You are a mighty warrior! How have you not destroyed one little girl!" Sabni yelled watching Star dodge Meskhenet.

"Hey, Sabni!"

Sabni turned around and Marcia whacked him over the head with his own staff. Marcia had a satisfied smirk as the mummy crumpled to the floor.

"Ahhhh!"

Marcia looked up and gasped as she saw Star trapped in a corner with Meskhenet looming over her.

Star closed her eyes holding her wand up to defend herself.

"Star!" Marcia yelled

There was a flash of red light and a mighty roar filled the room. Marcia was amazed to see a large holographic red lion appear before Star defending her. Star looked amazed and confused as she stared at her wand then back at the large lion. The lion lunged at Meskhenet knocking it back. Meskhenet tried to push back but the lion was stronger. The lion forced Meskhenet back fighting the ancient warrior.

Marcia ran over to Star helping her up. "Star! That Sabni guy said this all started when his body was hit with some powerful force."

Star thought back to yesterday when she accidentally almost blasted that vendor in the face. "Oooooh. I did cause this my bad."

"Well fix it!"

"Right! Uh….how do I do that?" Star asked

"I don't know." Marcia looked around spotting Sabni's coffin. "M-Maybe if you blast Sabni coffin things will go back to normal. Waking him up is what started this thing."

"Gotcha!" Star held up her wand aiming it at Sabni's sarcophagus. "Luscious healing reversal blast!"

A blast of pink shot out of her wand hitting Sabni's sarcophagus bathing it in a sparkling light. The light died down but nothing happened.

"Guess that didn't work," Marcia stated

The two girls heard a roar and looked to see Meskhenet screaming. The lion let out a roar before vanishing. The room started to shake greatly as if an earthquake hit. The girls held onto each other steading themselves.

"Nooooo! What have you done!" Sabni yelled sitting up. He pointed a hand at the girls but they gasped seeing it turning to sand.

"Noooooooo!"

The room seemed like it was melting the whole thing turning into sand. Meskhenet screamed along with the mummies as they all turned to sand.

"You've ruined everything!" Was Sabni's last words as he turned to sand too. Marcia and Star screamed and covered themselves as everything turned to sand and they were buried.

"Star! Are you okay?" Marcia asked popping her head out sand.

Star's head popped out of the sand too, "Yeah, I'm fine."

Marcia and Star dug themselves out of the sand wiping themselves off.

"Ughhh. I've got sand in too many places. Thanks for coming to my rescue Star." Marcia said

Star smiled. "As I said no one eats my Bestie."

"That was so cool how you summoned that giant red holographic lion thing and drove Meskhenet back," Marcia said

"Marcia, I didn't do that," Star said

"Wait what?" Marcia said, "If you didn't do it…..who did?"

Marcia sighed getting ready for bed. She was glad the whole crazy day was over and she could this mess behind her. She looked down at the necklace she was wearing grasping the gem. It seemed like such a waste to throw the thing out, and it was her favorite color.

Marcia got into bed turning off her lights. As she snuggled under her covers and closed her eyes the gem around her neck faintly glowed.