I bet you're all wondering why it took me so long to update. The answer to that is simple, job searching is annoying and difficult. There's your answer. As for the story, I hope to be done with it soon but tomorrow I need to work on my weekly Starco prompt meaning I need to start and finish it so please be patient with me. Now for the reviews.

Finnjr63: Hopefully all these questions, and more, will be answered soon.

Your Fellow Thespian: It gives me time to work on my stories without having to worry about continuity too much but I still can't wait, time away does make the heart grow fonder.

AccurateAviator: How many have I written? Well by now only this one and the next two but I have all of them planned out.

Your Luca: I think I know what you're trying to say and I'm not going to say if you're right or wrong but I can answer your last question, Roy never actually met The Asset as The Asset.

acosta perez jose Ramiro: Why thank you, I do my best.

H. Mae: I've actually been playing around with ideas for powers that Monster Arm could give Marco and more tentacles did come up but … it didn't seem like Marco's style of fighting would benefit that much from it, sure it would make him more powerful but he would have to change his style of fighting which would be too much of a hassle for what he would gain.

Secret Sauze: Think about it this way, this does take place after season one so what happened in the season one finale? Marco got kidnapped and Star was powerless to do anything about it. Both of them blame themselves for what happened, Star because she dragged Marco into things like this, and Marco because he was dragging Star down.

Gb: I have a reason for that but I need to wait before telling you because I haven't written it yet.

i stay 12 4evr: I wish I could do that but I have student loans.

mr. face: Well, there's K, K+, T, and M. If you enter the basic list then it should automatically filter out any M rated stories but it should be the first thing you see when you look at the details below the summery. If for some reason it doesn't filter out the M stories then you can simply change the filter yourself by clicking on the word 'Filters' and changing the rating.

Disclaimer: Star vs. the Forces of Evil characters belong to Daron Nefcy.

Stella, Marcus, Lannister, Roy, Mathew, and story belong to me

Beta read by Sabrina06


(Star's POV)

(The next day)

I was standing in the lunch line, nervous about what was to come. I wanted to make sure that Marco wouldn't end up fighting Paul again, but even if Stella did go with him, it was unlikely that Marco would just sit on the sidelines. I needed to talk to Stella and convince her to convince Marco to not help her in the fight; but that might be one of the most difficult things I've done thus far. I found her at the end of the lunch line and joined her before anyone else could cut in front of me. "Hey Stella." I greeted.

"Hey Star." She replied. "What brings you to this line for the inedible food?"

I chuckled at her joke. "Well … thing is … I need a favor."

"I know." She stated. "You need me to help Marco take out Paul, he told me this morning."

"I need another favor." I replied. "I … I need you to take out Paul … without Marco."

She did a double take. "Say what?"

"I said, I need you to take out Paul without allowing Marco to fight."

She paused for a moment. "Um … why?"

"Because it's important that Marco not be put in danger, I can't lose him."

She let out a small laugh. "Marco and I can take on Paul without any risk."

I sighed. "I know but … Marco is … there's something … and I … well … he doesn't want to believe it but he's in danger."

Stella quickly looked around to make sure that no one was listening. "Does this involve those little black lines below his eyes that he keeps covered?"

"You know about that?" I asked.

She nodded. "I've seen them in the morning, before he gets to the bathroom. What are they?"

I bit my lower lip and looked away. "I promised Marco I wouldn't tell anyone."

"Then I won't mention it. but I would like to know why I'm not letting him fight with me."

I nodded slightly. "Marco has a patron, we refer to it as Monster Arm."

Her eyes went wide for a moment. "Wait a minute, I've heard about this, you mean that tentacle that Marco used to have?"

I nodded. "It came back … or its consciousness has, and it's been giving Marco strength and special abilities that helped him take down Roy and fight Lannister."

"Didn't it try to kill him?"

"Marco claims that he has it under control, and that it can't give him any power without his permission, but … I'm worried about what he's willing to allow; in order to fight for me."

"Then why send him after Paul to begin with?"

"I didn't." I replied. "Marco wanted to help, so I sent him on a wild goose chase; Paul was searching for Marco."

"You lied to him?"

I nodded as we picked up our lunch. "I don't want him to use Monster Arm anymore, but if he continues to pick fights with people who he can't take on, then he'll have no choice."

"You didn't call me on to fight Paul at all, did you?" She said as we approached our table. "You want me to baby sit Marco."

"Please!" I pleaded. "I've nearly lost Marco so many times already; I don't want to risk losing him for good."

She shook her head. "Fine, but if you continue to lie to Marco then you will lose him forever."

"I know." I replied as I looked down. Just then, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye, I looked up to see Mathew walking towards us. "I'll see you at the table Stella." I noted as we parted ways.

"Star!" Mathew said as he walked up to me.

"Mathew." I greeted.

"We may or may not have a problem that I most definitely do not know how to deal with."

"Easy." I said as I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go back to my table and-"

"It'll be quick, you remember how I told you about a new leader being selected?"

"Yeah but you said it wasn't likely."

"It wasn't likely until recently, a few names have been tossed around, and some have stepped up in an attempt to fill the void. There's going to be a debate later today and … everyone wants you to attend."

"I think this could wait until after our current situation is dealt with."

"That's what I thought." He replied. "But there was a report involving the planed attack on you a few days ago."

"What about it?"

"Apparently there's a claim that someone had knowledge and was going to report it; but I was too occupied to listen. There are claims about other instances, but there's nothing that actually proves prior knowledge." Mathew looked away slightly. "But there's nothing disproving it either."

"Fine." I admitted in defeat. "Just tell me when and where; I'll be there."


(Marco's POV)

(Meanwhile)

I was sitting at our lunch table with Marcus. Alfonzo and Ferguson hadn't arrived yet, but based on a stunt they pulled earlier, it was a safe bet that they had detention. "Seems lonely here with just the two of us." Marcus said as he pulled out his sandwich.

"Yeah." I said as I poked at my plate of sub edible food; I wasn't interested in conversation at the moment, I was still thinking about yesterday and my clash with Paul. I didn't want to admit it, but he was fighting like me which brought to light a whole new set of issues.

"Marco?" Marcus asked. "Are you paying attention?"

"Wha?" I said as I looked up. "Sorry. I'm just … thinking."

"Care to share?" Marcus asked as he took another bite of his sandwich.

I sighed. "It's about my fight with Paul yesterday."

"Heard about that." Mathew said between bites. "Heard that he has gotten an upgrade."

"Yeah well … I think I know who Lannister put into him."

Marcus's eyes went wide as he stopped chewing. "You've figured it out?"

"More like I've accepted it." I replied as I turned to look down. "I think he's using me on account of my fighting skills and the fact that I … that I haven't developed feelings for Star."

Marcus paused, then slowly finished chewing. "Now … if I recall … Lannister wanted to cure his insanity by using someone who feels just as strongly for Star as he does … but isn't driven insane by it."

"Maybe he changed his tactic."

"Or maybe you're still in denial." Marcus shook his head. "But that's all beside the point, if Paul does have your fighting skills, then you are at a disadvantage; seeing as he has weapons and armor."

"Stella is going to help me fight him so he's not a problem right now." I began. "The real problem is how this 'so called Lannister' managed to get his hands on my DNA." Marcus slowed down as he continued to chew his sandwich. "I mean sure, people leave skin particles around all the time; but it's highly unlikely … no it's impossible to use something like that. One would need something more, like hair, saliva, or-"

"Blood?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah." I replied. "But where on Earth could he get that? Where on Earth did he get that?"

Marcus sat there for a moment staring out into space until he replied. "I think we have a problem."

I rolled my eyes. "Lay it on me."

"You remember those needles we used to free you from the paralysis?" Marcus whispered. I looked around quickly and nodded. "I'm missing the five that we used to cure you."

The implications of this hit me like a ton of bricks. "You mean to tell me that you are missing five needles made from sterilized silver that are covered in my blood?"

"That were forged by one of Star's friends, approved by her closest friend, and used by a cult leader? Yes, I am missing five of those needles."

"Damn." I said as I ran my fingers through my hair. "How did he even know about them in the first place? Or that the blood on them is mine? I didn't tell anyone, Mathew probably wants to forget that he was ever involved; and I don't think you told anyone."

"I haven't told a soul." Marcus replied. "But who else knew that we used needles made from sterilized silver?"

I paused as I considered. "Maybe we're asking the wrong question." I began. "Why did we need to use them?"

"Because you were paralyzed by magic but-"

"That's it!" I interrupted. "How do you cure a magical paralysis?"

"You mean aside from what we did?" Marcus asked. "Time or some other magic?"

"But we didn't have access to either of those so … who else knew that I was paralyzed?"

"Isn't that the same list?"

"No." I replied. "The original Lannister knew that I was paralyzed, he might have put two and two together; or sent someone to finish me off only to find nothing but those needles."

"If he wanted to finish off, why didn't he do it himself? And after he saw you, he didn't have time between being defeated and dragged off to Mewni to return or transfer the information."

"It's the only lead we've got."

"And he's completely lost his mind by now." Marcus retorted. "It's a cold trail Marco, but it pointed to the new Lannister having the needles."

"He could use that to turn the cult against Star." I noted.

"Or against you." Marcus replied. "As well as me, and Mathew, allowing him to take control of it for himself."

"We need those needles." I replied.

"As if it'll be that easy." Marcus noted as he took another bite of his sandwich. "As soon as Star finds out, she'll be furious with me."

"She's not going to find out, and Stella and I will deal with Paul soon enough."

"But Paul doesn't have the needles!" Marcus exclaimed.

"Don't worry, it'll get taken care of, but you should check the building, just in case."

"It's unlikely that anything would still be there at this point." Marcus replied as he finished his sandwich.

"It doesn't hurt to check."

Marcus sighed as he pulled out a carrot. "So any idea on how you're going to find Paul?"

"I have an idea where to check." I replied as I ate my lunch.

Marcus took a bite of his carrot and stared at me. "And what might that be?"

"She should be here any moment."

"You guys talking about little old me?" Janna said as she sat next to me.

"It's nice to see you again Janna." I said as I looked over to see her with her usual coy smile. "And here I was thinking that I would have to go looking for you."

"Why are you only nice to me when you know that I'm going to tell you what you want?" She asked as she wrapped an arm around the back of my neck.

"Maybe because it puts me in a good mood." I replied with a smile. "Is that a new perfume?"

"It's a new graveyard sent that I've come across, glad you noticed."

"And this is getting awkward." Marcus noted.

"But enough about me, you want to know about Paul, don't you?"

"That would be nice." I said as I took another bite of my lunch. "What do you have?"

Just as she was about to answer, Star approached our table and took her seat. "Don't mind me." She said as she tried to pretend not to be there.

We all stared at her until she looked up at us, creating an awkward silence, which was broken by Marcus standing up. "Well, looks like you guys need your alone time so I'll just excuse myself."


(Star's POV)

(After school)

I was standing by Marcus as he opened his locker to get his stuff, while Bagel was biting his leg, before accompanying me to the meeting today. "I mean can you believe that he would actually get together with her?" I asked. "Marco doesn't even like Janna all that much, not at all really, why would they start dating?"

"Well seeing as I already said I don't know like five times, surely I must know the sixth time you ask." Marcus retorted.

"She's so … shady and always playing some form of angle, like a shady business man who wants to sell you a used grobhopper."

"I have no idea what that is." Marcus said as he opened his locker; only to look down at something that fell.

"And he's going to the dance with her? It's only been a few weeks since Jackie broke his heart, he's clearly rebounding if anything."

"Yeah, yeah." Marcus said, dismissively.

I rolled my eyes and turned to Marcus. "Are you even listening to me?!" I hissed.

"No." Marcus said as he shook his head. "Look Star, I … something important just came up and … I can't go with you today." He picked Bagel up and handed him to me. "Can you keep an eye on him for the next few hours?"

I rubbed my forehead, then took Bagel from Marcus. "Fine, fine just … I don't know, just go."

Marcus gathered his stuff and then rushed off, like he was late for a meeting with the queen or something. I paid it no mind and just left to meet Mathew. When I got to his locker I found a bunch of my followers standing around asking him questions. "Guys?" I asked, causing everyone to stop, look at me, and then part; allowing me to get to Mathew. "Something wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing's wrong, Star." He said as he finished packing up. "Let's get going."

I followed him, along with a number of my followers, as we made our way to a classroom. "Why was everyone crowding you earlier?" I asked as everyone began sitting in a circle.

"They don't know what's going to happen. Some think that the new leader might be a problem, like Roy or my brother, and some think that I might be replaced … others hope that I'm going to be replaced."

"You're not going to be replaced." I replied. "And seriously, who do you think could actually lead my followers while I'm not around? Sure, there are a number who I could mention who would be a good candidate, but I can't think of anyone who could overtake you."

"Thank you Star." He replied. "But we will see." He stepped forward and took a deep breath. "All right everyone, let's get this started."


(No one's POV)

(A short while later)

Marcus was on his way to an abandoned factory clutching the letter that had fallen out of his locker; it had instructed him to go to this location, alone, or else a friend of his would be sleeping with the fishes and if that wasn't incentive enough then his past would be all over the school newspaper as well. Although Marcus didn't know which friend this person was talking about, he couldn't knowingly let someone get hurt and he also wanted to know exactly what this guy knew about his past. He opened the main door only to be confronted by a mirror maze of all things. "Well you don't see this every day." He said as he walked inside. Just as he took a step in, the door slammed behind him, locking him in.

"Well well well, I'm glad you could make it Marcus." A mysterious voice greeted.

"Who are you?" Marcus shouted as he looked around. He couldn't see over the maze because it possessed a roof but when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye, it didn't appear to be human.

"Well I'm just a friend is all. I had a lovely chat with Star the other day until she blasted my accomplice for no good reason, what so ever."

Marcus continued into the maze as he realized who this guy was. "You're one of the hybrids, aren't you?"

"Very clever." The hybrid replied as Marcus spotted something else that didn't appear to be human.

"What do you want with me? What do you know about me? And what else is in here with us?"

"Oh, isn't it obvious?" The hybrid replied. "You're a nuisance Marcus, just like Stella and my captive; you don't fit into my master's plan in any way. You are all variables that must be taken care of."

"I'll show you who's the variable in this situation." Marcus whispered. "Okay, that's one of my questions, now what do you know about me and how?"

"What do I know?" The hybrid asked. "Why my friend, I know so much, but how do I know it? It wasn't that hard actually, all I had to do was a little digging, everyone at that place remembers the pyromaniac."

"SHUT UP!" Marcus retorted.

"So then you don't want to know what else is in here?" The hybrid asked.

Marcus paused, for a moment, before looking around and spotting what appeared to be a large blue hyena staring directly at him. Marcus's heart began to race as his hands began to tremble; he took a few steps back then began running as fast as he could only to run into a glass wall. He turned around to look, but the hyena was gone. "What's going on here?" Marcus demanded.

"Lannister lent me some of his remaining pets, oh, and don't let them smell your fear, they love the taste it gives your flesh."

Marcus began slowly walking backwards until he bumped into another wall. He turned slightly to the right and found himself staring at one of the hyenas that began growling. He began to hyperventilate as he slowly reached into his hoodie, before turning to run. As he rounded a corner he found himself cut off by the creature. Marcus pulled out a roman candle and lit it just in time to be tackled to the ground. The hyena growled at him as he grabbed for his candle just barely managing to reach it and point it at the creature in time for it to go off; knocking the creature off guard and sending it reeling. Marcus dropped the candle and ran hard, just barely losing the hyena. "Damn it, damn it!" Marcus shouted as he ran. As he ventured deeper into the maze, he encountered another beast that was only a few steps away from him.

"Don't be afraid." The hybrid stated as Marcus saw the tall blond boy's reflection pass by a mirror. "It will be quick; you won't feel a thing."

The creature charged Marcus, who was paralyzed with fear, only to crash into a mirror placed on the other side of a glass wall. Marcus regained his senses and began moving, trying to find a way out of this death trap. "It's no use." The hybrid said as his reflection appeared on a few other mirrors. "Even if you do escape, you're forgetting about my hostage."

"And who might that be?" Marcus asked as he tried to locate the hybrid.

The hybrid laughed as he continued to walk around, appearing to be everywhere. "I told you already, three of you were not invited to this party. Stella, who is going to be taken care of soon, you, who is being taken care of now, and Jackie, who will be taken care of shortly."

"Jackie?" Marcus asked as he continued onward. "What on Earth does she have-" Marcus was cut short by the sight of another hyena in one of the mirrors. Not wanting to be taken off guard again, he pulled out a display tube and readied his lighter.

"How does it feel to know that you will finally get to pay for all that you've done?"

"Shut up." Marcus said as he continued to watch his sides while turning corners in the maze.

"I've heard about what you've done, how careless you can be, how many of your friends have your scared with fire? Did you say all of them?"

"I didn't say anything!" Marcus said, revealing his location to the hyena that began searching him out. It charged him; but he was able to light his display tube just in time to nail it with three balls of fire.

"Something you're good at?" The hybrid asked. "Creating fires that harm those you care about."

"No one asked you!" Marcus shouted as he pulled out another roman candle.

"But I wanted to know and I know so much." The hybrid brushed past a few more mirrors before appearing opposite a glass wall. "And I've learned that you've always been quite the little firestarter Marcus, even since you were young. But you were around seven or eight when you found out how much you loved fireworks."

"I don't need to hear this story again." Marcus retorted.

"But I want to tell it." The hybrid said before walking to the right and disappearing. "How old were you when you made your first one? Nine? No … ten? And who did you show it to but none other than one of the few people who cared about you."

"Stop talking!" Marcus shouted again as he tried to navigate the maze.

"I heard that she was such a caring person, such a big heart for someone so frail."

Marcus began running around desperately searching for the hybrid, or a safe place to hide.

"She showed you such compassion and I haven't the slightest idea why."

Marcus began to break down as he slowly dropped to the floor. "She liked my fires." He replied as his voice began to shake.

"Is that why you wanted to show her your first roman candle? I see, you were going through 'that' phase of your childhood; you were in love with her."

"Why are you bringing this up?" Marcus asked as tears began to flow from his eyes.

The Hybrid ignored his question and continued with the story. "Oh, how sweet it must have been, inviting her to a private show behind the orphanage, so fairy tale like." The hybrid stopped talking until he appeared behind the glass wall in front of where Marcus was curled up on the ground. "But what happened then? What happened during your very first show? Why is that the one thing that people just ... won't ... talk about?"

Marcus shut his eyes tight as the hybrid loomed over him. "It was just one firework, a simple roman candle … I lit it … but it didn't go off."

"And what happened then?"

Marcus shook his head. "She looked closer to check on it … I just followed feeling bad … until the pressure finally forced it to go off."

"So then everything went as planed?" He asked sarcastically.

Marcus shook his head. "The side opened before the top did … and she just so happened to be standing right where it was giving way."

"Ohhhhhh, what happened then?"

Marcus paused, then looked up at the hybrid with an icy stare. "I don't think I want to tell you anymore." He said with confidence in his voice as he stood up.

The hybrid looked at him, awestruck, and took a small step back before frowning. "Well it doesn't matter; all you do is set fires that harm those close to you."

"Okay then, so now it's my turn to ask some questions." Marcus began. "For starters, where is Jackie?"

The hybrid leered at Marcus, then sighed. "In the center of the maze there's a tank filled with water that's ten feet deep. She is currently hanging just above it with some rather heavy leg accessories and a rope that is getting thinner by the second, quite an ironic end for a mermaid."

"Mermaid?" Marcus asked. "Actually, no, my second question is actually, what do you personally have to gain from being Lanniser's stooge?"

"Why normalcy of course." The hybrid answered. "It's only a matter of time until the madness comes knocking, I get rid of two of the nuisances and Lannister will allow me a taste of his perfected formula. Seeing as you are the weaker of the two, there wasn't really much of a choice."

Marcus looked down before a smile crept its way across his face. "I'm weaker than Stella?"

"Yes you are." The hybrid replied. "I saw your fight with her, you would have lost, were it not for that puppy; who is not here right now."

Marcus stood for a moment, before slamming his palm on the glass. "Let me tell you a little something about that fight. Stella is a friend of mine so I held back, you are not." He said as he pulled a black cylinder out of his hoodie.

"Oh please." The hybrid began. "Even if you were holding back, there's nothing in your arsenal that can break through this glass."

"Perhaps." Marcus began. "But I just so happen to have a few sticks of trinitrotoluene, so I'll try my luck." Marcus lit the cylinder and dropped it. "You might want to shield your eyes." He said before running away.

The hybrid looked at the stick for a moment. "Tri … nitro … toluene?" He asked. His eyes went wide as he realized exactly what he was looking at. "Oh F-"


I have resisted the urge to make a corny joke because I have things to do and places to be so I will see you all later.

R&R