I know this has been a long time coming, but I haven't forgotten about REDUX. In fact, I want to get this done soon (ish) because I have one more special project to start with this AU, which will be something I think you'll all really like. Now, onto my favorite chapter. Enjoy!
"I know they're coming," a voice growled in Eclipsa's ears, even though she sat in the Rose Garden alone.
She loved the privacy winter brought with its arrival. Butterfly royals rarely ventured outside during the cold months, preferring to remain indoors near fireplaces and goblets of warm wine. Eclipsa remembered those days well from when she was a princess. They were simple and pleasant. The peppery mulling spices stung her throat, and she loved watching the embers dance while the boring grownups discussed frivolous things she didn't care about. Mother always invited King Darcus V and his sons, Prince Dante and Prince Dagon, to discuss plans to further her endless war against the monsters. While the monarchs and their advisors salivated over bloodshed, Eclipsa led her best friend, Dante, on expeditions all around the castle. As they grew up, their adventures became more complex, both physically and emotionally until royal pressures to marry ended the innocence of their dalliance.
But without their failure, Eclipsa would have never discovered the beauty of nighttime. After the fires burnt down to coals and the royals retired to bed, she snuck out to have real, forbidden adventures. Although the pitch-black nights were long and brutal, they were full of stars more vibrant and colorful than the jewels shimmering in the queen's crown: sapphire blue, topaz yellow, and clear opal. The frost was equally dazzling, glinting in pallid fields below. How could the Mewmans dismiss an entire season just because it was dark and unproductive to farmers? There was beauty in all of creation—Globgor told her so—and she praised the long nights that bound them together.
Eclipsa nodded and answered, "I know. I told you the mountains are calling them. It's their inheritance too."
"It shouldn't. This place is for Monsters only."
"It hasn't been since the last Dance," the dark queen corrected the voice. "Have you left yet? I can't track Star and Marco since they've crossed into the Blood Moon's domain."
"Who cares…I want my revenge."
"But the Oracle gave us specific instructions," Eclipsa argued.
She remembered the day Globgor invited the old Monster woman to visit his family. It was a tradition every high priest honored. Meteora was only three days old, but the Oracle read her destiny in the stars and saw greatness. When the moon eats the sun on the shortest day, she rasped. A meteor shall streak across the sky. Your revenge on the Butterflys shall be yours but beware the Dance of the Sun and Star.
"So what?" Meteora said. "I have my business with Star and Marco."
"I don't want you to hurt them." Eclipsa's cheekmarks flashed with anger. "I let them go, and I've been monitoring things. They don't want to come back."
"Are you sure?"
"Star is like me," Eclipsa insisted. "She'd never want to be queen."
Before Meteora could argue any further, Eclipsa heard footsteps intruding in her cold sanctuary, and she ended the conversation. Who dared enter the Rose Garden tonight? Out of the shadows, Sir Andrew, the Captain of the Kingsguard, emerged and escorted a plump, old Butterfly woman. My favorite people, Eclipsa remained on guard. She'd heard about Etheria from Star's venting sessions. She knew of her cruelty.
Etheria dipped her head in greeting, "Good evening, Queen Eclipsa, I am Etheria Butterfly."
Oh I know, the dark queen tried to be polite. "Nice to meet you, Etheria. What brings you here tonight?"
"I have a proposition for you," she said. "It has become apparent that my niece, Her Majesty Queen Moon, has severely erred in her judgement and is no longer fit to rule. Mewni needs a strong queen, and things have gone from bad to worse since Star's disappearance. And Moon, corn help her, is gone. She's retreated to the Diazes' manor and refused to listen to any consul. I think it's time we start looking for a replacement."
"Do tell." Eclipsa put a hand to her mouth.
Etheria went on, "The Lucitors are in agreement with the family's position. They remember the alliance you have with King Dante. We might have to work on the Pony Heads and Johansens, but everyone else will fall in line."
"Moon won't go down easily."
"She's given up. The royals want her on trial, and I think that'll be a great place to vote on who's fit for the throne."
Eclipsa mulled over the matter for a minute. As much as she wanted to strangle the old Butterfly for her treatment of Star and Marco, the offer was too good to pass on. Eclipsa may be the Queen of Darkness, but she only wanted magic stained on her hands. "I would be honored to accept your proposition," she said.
"Good." Etheria turned to walk away. "I look forward to working with you, Your Majesty."
I think this'll work out, Eclipsa grinned darkly, twirling a pale blue string that connected from Etheria in her fingers. Revenge was best when it came easy.
Dammit! Tom grumbled as he picked himself off the hard ground. Snow dusted his red hoodie and dampened his pride. How was he supposed to be Team Starco's brash and handsome leader when a dumb rock on the mountainside defeated him? Why'd it have to be mountains? He sighed at the Blood Moon overhead, which seemed to glow bright with laughter. Why couldn't Star and Marco have run away to an enchanted beach in the tropics?
Nevertheless, the view from the peaks was unbelievable. Wilderness and forest stretched on forever in every direction, rising and falling with the steep terrain. Three weeks ago, a town emerged from the wild and welcomed Tom and his beleaguered travelers, but that seemed like lifetimes ago. Since departing the Wander Inn, they were completely alone. The roads ended, and the logging trails vanished. The forest seemed untouched by civilization, or if one did exist, it disappeared long ago—covered by gnarled tree roots and frozen soil. Or civilization never existed at all, and Tom and his friends were the first advanced beings to step foot into the hidden domain. Either way, Star and Marco must have been hellbent to get away from royal life to get lost at the ends of Mewni. If it weren't for the Blood Moon, Tom would have given up finding them weeks ago.
Sighing, he got up and shoved his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, ignoring the laughter from his fellow explorers. "You didn't see that," he huffed.
Janna rolled her eyes, "It's amazing to think such a clumsy demon prince like you could've wooed me on the dancefloor."
"Floors are flat—I don't do hilly well," he replied.
Despite being briefly annoyed, he was comforted by his friends' commitment to the quest. They each had an out at any time, but none of the girls wavered in their resolve. Not even flaky Pony Head.
"So, how much farther?" Jackie asked. "My back is seriously killing me right now."
"That's because of your heavy-ass battleaxe," Pony Head said.
Before they left the Monster town, Jackie decided to buy herself a fancy battleaxe. The double-sided blade was foxsteel—a rare metal made from foxstone ore and steel—and it sat atop a well-proportioned shaft of stained mountain oak wrapped in wolf-leather. "I gotta level the playing field somehow," Jackie said. "I don't want to be the lame human on a quest with magical creatures."
"You're not a lame human," Tom insisted. "You've done an amazing job keeping us from ripping each other throats out."
"I guess…but I still wanna test out my new weapon."
They continued up the narrow, winding trail in single file. Tom led the way with Janna, Jackie, and Pony Head walking directly in his tracks. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kelly meander through deep snow below them, struggling over drifts. She remained the most controversial member of the team. Ever since their talk at the Wander Inn, Kelly had become more withdrawn and forlorn. She hardly spoke, and her eyes were perpetually red and puffy from anger and sadness. As much as Tom wanted to tell her to grow up and accept that Marco would never be hers, he understood the process of getting over someone. So, he left Kelly to her stubborn grief. Hopefully, by the time they reached Star and Marco, she would be ready to truly let go.
The short day cooled into night only a few hours after noon. Ooag had turned into Skweg, the first month of the cold, dark Mewnian winter, where nights were twenty hours long. At the end of the short month came Mondarn, the Darkness of Darkness. A month so unlucky that it lasted a single day. The sun would not rise at all then, and many Mewmans held superstitions about evil spirits wreaking havoc in the mortal world. While Tom did not believe the old tales, he wanted to be home by then. He had a bad feeling about something.
They continued to hike through the long twilight until even the residual light of the sun faded to black. By that point, it was time to create camp and hunker down before the cold and wild beasts got to them. The team split up to perform their regular tasks: Jackie gathered firewood and food, Tom lit the fire and set up the tent, Janna set up wards of protection around the perimeter, and Pony Head did nothing. Kelly sulked alone. When all was done, they relaxed by a warming fire and watched their pot of dehydrated camp food cook.
"Hooray, another night of beans and beef stroganoff. My favorite five-star dining food," Pony jeered at the ratting, hissing pot.
Tom's stomach groaned in agreement, but he refused to complain. Tasteless or not, the rations kept them alive, and there were no other towns nearby. But he did miss fresh meat. "I'd kill for some bacon," he said wistfully.
"Me too," Janna said and leaned against his shoulder. "Bacon is always good."
Jackie nodded in agreement.
"Ooh, I love me some boar bacon." Pony Head licked her lips. "It's not healthy for my girlish looks, but, like, who cares right now."
"Do Pony Heads eat meat?" Jackie asked. "Aren't you guys flying horses?"
"Of course, we eat meat, girl," laughed Pony Head. "We especially love horsemeat. Y'know, foal-veal is a delicacy."
Jackie's nose wrinkled in disgust, and even Janna was disturbed by the idea of Pony Head eating baby horses for breakfast. Good to know that the Pony Heads are cannibals, Tom shuddered. "Moving on," he said. "I can't wait to get home, so I can—"
Suddenly, the bushes rustled and became alive with a multitude of gleaming, red eyes. Tom reached for his rapier. "Who are you?" he challenged. "Come out so I can gut you like a pig!"
"I don't know how anything got through my protection spells," Janna summoned purple magic to her hands. "Unless…whatever's out there is a super-strong, supernatural being."
But what could live in such a barren wasteland? Tom wondered. At last, a gigantic boar emerged into the dim moonlight. It was the size of Cerberus and had six sets of red eyes dotting its long face. Its white fur blended into the snow and sparkled with hoarfrost. Tom reached for Janna's hand when the beast loomed closer, flashing six sets of red-tipped, yellowed tusks that jutted from its mouth. He couldn't decide if it was berry juice or blood.
"You have intruded in my forest," the boar's jowls wiggled as he spoke. "I am the Guardian of the Musty Mountains. These forests I have protected for a thousand generations, and I have lived for thousands more. Mortals like you are not permitted here."
Tom and the others trembled with fear, but Pony Head laughed. She hovered in the boar's face and said, "How cute, boo. But look here, Sir Bacon, my crew and I are getting up those mountains to find Earth Turd and B-Fly, so help us, corn! I haven't slept in tents, eaten gross beans, and missed getting my mane done for you tell me what to do. Am I right, guys?"
"Yeah," Tom matched her courage and nodded. "We've been called by the Blood Moon to find our friends, who are somewhere in the mountains."
"The Blood Moon?" The boar lifted his head and studied the ominous moon. "I see…" he nodded after consideration. "But one of you is coming with ill-intentions."
"What do you mean?"
"A Dance is a sacred event decided upon by the Blood Moon, Fate, and the chosen pair. Not only is it foolish to intervene with the bond, but it is also expressly forbidden."
All eyes, including the boar's, fell on Kelly, who fumed until she grew red across the cheeks. "Why is everyone trying to invalidate my feelings towards Marco!" she yelled.
"No one's trying to, Kelly," Jackie spoke. "I loved him too once, but now that I know about the Blood Moon, I've realized that it just wasn't meant to be."
"Well, I'm glad you and Tom are so willing to let a dumb prophecy dictate your love life, but I'm not. I'm not going down without a fight!"
The boar narrowed his eyes, "Then so be it. Until you repent, none of you shall enter the Cave of the Blood Moon and know its secrets."
"Just apologize and move on!" Tom growled at Kelly.
"No!" she refused.
"Geez, Kelly, it's just Marco," Janna said. "He isn't much to write home about."
Indignant, the warrior turned her blade on her teammate. "How can you say that?" she bickered. "How would you feel if you lost Tom to the Blood Moon?"
At first, Janna didn't answer, and Tom saw the hidden fear and pain in her eyes. But she replied firmly, "I might not be a love expert, but what happened to 'if you love something, you'll let it go?' If Tom was Blood Moon bonded to Star, yeah, it'd suck, but I'd live with it.'"
"You say that because you've never loved anyone!" Kelly started to tear up.
"Why do you assume that I'm not deeply in love with Tom?" Janna met her gaze. "Is it because I'm not needlessly clingy or obsessed with him?"
"Oooh," Pony Head snickered. "Salt Girl got burnt!"
Tom hardly cared about his friend's hurt feelings or the awkward tension in the air. Someone actually loved him. Janna loved him. In the moonlight, he saw another pair of demon-red eyes framed by a mess of black hair and sweeping horns. Who are you? Tom studied the mysterious stranger materializing in front of him. In the twinkling of an eye, the figure vanished, but Tom swore that he had Janna's mischievous grin.
"Hey, Hell Boy! Get your head outta the clouds—we got a situation!" Pony Head's shout caught his attention, and he turned to see Janna, Jackie, and Pony Head fighting the boar to protect Kelly.
"Alright, coming!" He twirled his rapier. There would certainly be bacon on the menu tonight, and Tom's lips tingled with the words he desperately wanted to tell Janna. I love you too.
High above Mewni, in the freezing ice and howling wind, two climbers desperately clung to the side of a frozen mountain. Star shifted the full backpack on her shoulders and tightened her grip on the ice axes she used to inch her way upwards. She knew that a single mistake would be deadly. Concealed by the whiteout conditions were steep, hundred-foot drops all around her and Marco. Usually, danger did not scare her, but she felt uneasy surrounded by the opaque curtain of ice and snow that obscured the sky, ground, and anything beyond a few inches from her face. In fact, if it were not for the tether around her waist or the Blood Moon bond, Star would not have known that Marco was nearby.
Wiping the gathering snowflakes from her eyelashes, she squinted up the cliff face for a path. The cave was close—she felt the tug on her soul grow unbearably strong.
"Maybe we should turn back," Marco suggested. "The snowstorm is only getting worse."
"We're close," she said. "I can feel it. I think it's just up ahead."
She continued to guide them up the mountain to the rhythmic tap of her ice axes. The grating of steel scraping ice was the only sound Star could hear over the wind. When she sank her right ice ax into a clump of snow, it skidded, and she would have fallen if it were not for her ironclad grip on the left one. Ice and rocks tumbled down into the white nothingness below.
"Are you okay, Star?" Marco called to her once she regained her position.
"As okay as I can be on this death trap of a mountain." She tried to sound brave.
She swung her right axe a little higher and jabbed it hard into the mountain. The impact made a sickening, splintering crack, and a fissure shot up the cliffside in the blink of an eye. That can't be good, she clung to her axes as the mountain shook and groaned.
"Star, what's going on?" Marco panicked.
Through the blizzard, Star heard the rumbling, scraping sound of snow sliding off of rock. "AMBULANCE!" she screamed.
"Star, an ambulance wouldn't be up here. Unless you mean an avalanche, in which case, we're going to die."
Without answering, she yanked him along as she frantically searched for a path to safety. Marco bitterly complained about her speed and carelessness until the approaching doom grew loud enough for him to hear. "You did mean an avalanche..." he trembled upon the realization.
They came to the edge of the cliff, and Star saw the river of debris and snow. Quick, jump! A voice urged.
"What? No!" Marco heard the words echo in her mind. "We're going to die if you do!"
Trust me, daughter of the Blood Moon, the voice said again. Let the snow take you.
Star's heart pulsed in her gloved fingers, but as the snow drifted even closer, she made a choice. "I'm sorry, Marco, I love you."
She let go.
Star finally burst through the dense snowpack and gasped as her lungs rediscovered fresh oxygen. The clean air reinvigorated her body after subsisting on nothing but stale air pockets for far too long. I made it, she rolled down the icy bank and onto a cold, stony floor. Her eyes saw darkness when they first opened, and for a split second, she became afraid. Oh no, I've died again! This time for real. She should have listened to Marco about their odds of surviving an avalanche. Just as she resigned herself to another of Glossaryck's lessons over a pot of magic stew, Star's eyes adjusted, and she made out the dim shapes of rocks illuminated by the whiteness of the snow. The cave! The avalanche must have swept them inside. Praising every lucky Spirit and Fate in the universe, Star shakily climbed to her feet and cheered. "Marco! We—"
Her celebration was cut short when she found no trace of him anywhere. She couldn't hear or scent him, and even the bond, which usually carried a constant pulse between them, was eerily quiet. "Marco?" her voice echoed off the lonely stones.
She reached for the tether around her waist and found that the end of the rope had been snapped clean off. "Marco, where are you?" Her panicked calls jolted the bond, but she heard no reply.
"Marco!" Star exploded into her Butterfly form and started to frantically dig through the compacted snow blocking the entrance of the cave. She dug until her fingernails bled but found nothing. I need you! Don't leave me! Tears froze to her cheeks. How cruel could Fate be to deliver her safely to the cave but take Marco away from her! This was their journey to undertake together. What was the point of learning about the Blood Moon if her soulmate was gone?
Suddenly, her keen ears picked up a weak groan somewhere underneath her.
"Star…? Is that you?"
Moving the last of the slush away, she found Marco still clutching the rope for dear life. He was listless from hypothermia, and his trembling, blue lips struggled to form words. Star returned to her normal form and cradled his body close to hers. "I've got you, Marco Diaz." She gave his clammy forehead a kiss and carried him out of the snow.
She shed her coat and sweatpants to create a makeshift bed for Marco while she set up camp with the materials she salvaged from the snow. Wood from downed trees helped birth a roaring fire to provide much-needed warmth and light to the cave. Around it, she placed all of their damp clothes to dry and took stock of what she had recovered. They lost their tent and most of their supplies, but the wand, TV, videogame console, bag of deer jerky managed to survive. She figured there was enough to outlast the storm. We'll need to find a way out, she looked around and saw nothing beyond the chamber. They were essentially trapped for the foreseeable future, but Star decided not to worry about it. Right now, she and Marco were safe and together. That was all that mattered to her.
Once the sleeping bag was defrosted, she unfurled it, and gently tucked herself and Marco inside. His breathing stabilized, and he started to snore. Goodnight, my sweet prince, she ran her fingers through his hair and pressed close to him as relieved tiredness claimed her.
It is time.
The Blood Moon's words and the coldness of the cave woke Star a few hours later. The fire had burnt down to weak coals, and they did little to combat the harsh elements. Even with Marco practically laying on top of her in the sleeping bag, she still shivered. I wish I were back in the dream, she sighed as the last of it evaporated into the freezing air, however, part of her was glad to see it go.
The dream was really a memory from an awkward period of her life. About a month before she and Marco got together, they were invited to a Knight and Squire Retreat at a fancy ski lodge in the Jaggy Mountains. At first, Marco really didn't want to go, but she dragged him along anyways. After all, a silly adventure in the mountains with her squire seemed like the perfect way to procrastinate on princess duties. However, the retreat turned out to be anything but a casual affair. It consisted of team-building activities, lectures about the importance of bonding, and sharing a single bed in a tiny room. During the entire retreat, Star began to question her feelings for Tom. Would she trust him with her deepest secrets or her life? Was he really the person she wanted to be betrothed to and, eventually, marry?
For a while, she blamed the accommodations for her sudden doubt. She loved Tom, and Marco was just her friend. Just her squire. But then, to celebrate a successful end to the retreat, they visited a hot spring with their group on the last night. The other knights parted early to go to bed, but Star and Marco could not stop talking to each other. They stayed together way into the night—to when next season's stars started to rise above the horizon. At one point, they were practically cuddling under the glow of the heavens, drawn together by a mysterious pull. Everything just felt natural with Marco. He was her rock, her confidant, her best friend. She couldn't imagine relaxing in a hot spring with Tom under the stars, and she also didn't want to either. When she realized what was going on, she felt guilty. It shouldn't be this way. Tom was her boyfriend, and she loved him. The Blood Moon appeared behind a thin veil of clouds and rested a beam of pale light on her and Marco. She never knew if he noticed it or not.
"I did," Marco yawned and stretched in the sleeping bag. "I just ignored it because I didn't want to get my hopes up. Also, where are my clothes?"
Star giggled at the embarrassment reddening his cheeks, "I've seen your tush for the past three months, Marco. Calm down, I'll get them."
She wriggled from underneath him and fetched his clothes by the remnants of the fire. When she handed them to Marco, he got up and turned around to change. Star shook her head at his modesty. Mewmans weren't ones to care about nakedness, and she'd already seen every inch of his body since the Prince's Ball. Humans are so weird, she still did not understand them sometimes.
"I'm still a man of dignity," he replied. "Anyways, you heard the Blood Moon. It's time."
"Time to do what?" she said. "This cave's a dead end."
"Are you sure? What about that tunnel over there?" Marco pointed.
"Marco, there's no—oh." Star followed his gaze to a small entrance at the back of the chamber. She could have sworn on her life that it wasn't there a few hours ago. "I stand corrected then. Let's go."
She grabbed her wand and a flashlight for Marco, and they descended into the hidden depths of the cave. It was exciting to resume the quest again but dread quickly deflated Star's soul. Once they discovered the Blood Moon's secret, they would have to decide whether or not they return to Mewni. Star knew Marco's choice, and she hated the idea of going home. Why couldn't they hand Meteora over to Eclipsa and then run away again? There was still a whole universe to explore and weird people to meet. Why did Fate have to be such a cruel mistress?
The tunnel swelled into another chamber that had many more passageways splitting off into numerous directions from it. Using the wand for light, Star peered down one of them and found another chamber with even more paths, and so forth. The cave was a lot more expansive than she originally thought. Or it's trying to test us, she thought back to the Forest Guardian.
Meanwhile, Marco grew disheartened. "It's going to take us years to explore each tunnel, and we don't have enough provisions to do so." He said, "What if we get lost? No one is going to know we're down here!"
As he paced around in despair, an odd calm settled on Star as she felt the energy building in certain directions and waning in others. It's the same pull we've been feeling all along, Star discerned. They weren't lost at all—only those called by the Blood Moon could find the way.
"Marco, shh!" She closed her eyes and listened to the magic's suggestion. Two simple words formed in her mind, and she held up her wand as she uttered them: String Theory.
When she opened her eyes, a single string radiated from both of them and stretched down the tunnel to their left. Star reached out and let a section coil around her fingers. Intense energy quickened within the string, and she knew it was her love for Marco realized in a tangible form: strong, passionate, and warmer than a pleasant, midsummer's day in their meadow. But she also felt its fury and its raw protectiveness that would move entire universes to get to him. It burned hotter than the sun and sought to melt her flesh. It craved him more than air—more than life itself. Even their soul bond wasn't enough to satisfy her desire to be close to him.
Marco let the string rest in his hands, and it activated his cheekmarks. "It tickles," he giggled. "And…it feels like you. I never thought the red string of Fate was a real thing."
"We Mewmans have stories about strings of Fate, but I never thought they were real either," she said.
"Stories? I'd love to hear them."
"We've got time for a few," Star said and led Marco down the correct series of tunnels, using the string as their guide.
Mewmans adopted many of the religious practices of the Monsters when they came to Mewni, and the Butterflys built temples to their main deities: the Sun, Moon, stars, and Magic itself. Other entities—called Spirits by both Mewmans and Monsters—were added to their pantheon as the settlers encountered creatures that were too big and powerful to understand. Of all of them, Fate was the most elusive. She took no bodily form and spent her existence in a magical void where she wove the destinies of all things into her ever-growing web. Mortals and immortals alike were beholden to her, except the Sun and Moon, who created the universe. They whispered in Fate's ears as she created a tapestry of existence that could not be altered or changed.
"So do you think the Blood Moon has something to do with Fate?" Marco asked towards the end.
Star shrugged, "I dunno. Mewmans never worshiped the Blood Moon as closely as the other Spirits."
Finally, they squeezed through one last passage and entered a magnificent chamber in the heart of the mountain. Despite being deep underground, light flooded the cave, illuminating towering walls covered with intricate carvings and writings in languages Star had never seen before. On the floor, pictures of the sun, moon, stars, and planets swirled around a red crescent moon in the middle.
"This isn't a cave," Marco looked around and marveled. "This is a temple."
"And it's not just any temple either," Star breathed. "This one was made by magic—by the Spirits themselves."
Not even the most devout worshiper could create such a perfect sanctuary in the middle of a barren wilderness. Star turned to one of the walls and saw a mural depicting her theory. It showed the Blood Moon and the Sun carving the cave with help from a tribe of Monsters, who lived in the Musty Mountains long before the Mewmans arrived. The rest of their history was portrayed in images around the main mural. The Monsters possessed magic and grew corn in the alpine meadows, allowing them to flourish and trade with other kingdoms. But they were most proud of their adoration of the Blood Moon, which they carved on each wall and above the seven small tunnels on the far side of the chamber.
"I wish we could read this," Marco sighed at a section. "Who knows what amazing secrets are here."
"Yeah," Star lamented. "It's a real shame that there isn't a translation spell. I wish I could just wave the wand around and say, 'Easy-Peasy Translation Equation' or something."
At her command, the wand glowed with blue light and projected a perfect translation in English right above the original text. "I gotta start saying random stuff more often," Star grinned at her luck.
Marco smiled and summarized the paragraph to her, "Every 667 years, the Blood Moon chooses two souls to bind under its ruby light for all of eternity with magic stronger than any other force in the universe. This cycle is called a 'Dance' and they usher in events that shape Mewni's future. Not even Fate herself can intervene against the chosen pair. Oh, and also, some of the cycles are a little longer than 667 years because the Blood Moon will only accept two souls that are in perfect agreement and will skip Blood Moon Balls if it is not the case."
"Wait, you're saying our souls wanted to be bound together?"
"It's deeper than that…" he skimmed the next section and turned to her. "Remember how you said that you made the choice to fall in love with me a million times before? Well, we did. In every timeline imaginable, we chose each other over all others. In a way, the pair binds themselves. The Blood Moon just approves the decision and gives them magic."
"Aww, we're like the ultimate soulmates," she gushed.
Marco kissed her cheek. "This is incredible…but I guess I always kinda knew it. Star, what I feel for you—have always felt for you—is something deeper than love. Deeper than any force in the universe: time, Fate, even death. Ugh, this probably sounds so corny."
She giggled, "Oh, it's like a whole field of corny, Marco, but it's sweet. I feel the same way. No matter how hard I tried to deny my feelings, I knew we were meant to be."
Now, she understood why the Blood Moon appeared when she dated Tom. It wasn't forcing her to choose Marco, but it was a reminder of a commitment they made a million times to each other across the universe. No matter what, they belonged together, forever.
The Seventh Dance is ready, the Blood Moon called to them both, and the red string coiled in front of a line of smaller tunnels. Above each of them was a plaque with a crescent moon and two smaller symbols: moons, suns, planets, stars, or a combination of two of them. "I guess these are shrines to the Dances," Marco said. "Hey Star, can you have the wand translate this?"
She highlighted the text under the third plaque, and Marco read it aloud. "This is the Third Dance or the Dance of the Planets," he said. "Apparently, the Blood Moon couple failed to bring peace between two rival Monster kingdoms, and they perished."
"How cheery," Star muttered.
"Yeah…hey, let's try the one before us," Marco tried to remain upbeat. "The Dance of the Stars or the Sixth Dance." The plaque above the door had a moon and two stars with an unusual symbol underneath them—an X. Crossed stars were usually considered a good omen in Mewman astrology.
"Hey, this is in ancient Mewnian," Star smiled. "I can read this. Two Mewmans—a princess and a peasant—cemented their bond under the Blood Moon's light, even though their union was doomed by the crossing of stars. Fated to remain cleaved by circumstance, the universe itself intervened and gathered them into the stars. Hey, isn't this the—"
"Story of the Two Lovers?" Marco finished her sentence. "They were a Blood Moon pair?"
"I know, right? I had no idea the story was real."
Star and Marco turned to the seventh tunnel and watched the string disappear into the darkness. "Guess it's our turn." She took his hand. "We'll see what the Blood Moon has in store for us."
This was the culmination of all the weird dreams and cryptic whispers from the mystical entity since the Blood Moon Ball. Star had no idea what lay inside the shrine, but no matter what it may be—fame or misfortune—she could face it as long as Marco remained by her side.
"I love you too." Marco squeezed her hand. "Always."
Together, they entered the sanctuary of the Seventh Dance and found a completely empty room. The walls were smooth and blank, touched only by a single shaft of supernatural moonlight. Weird, Star scowled, but she felt the pull of the Blood Moon guide her and Marco to the center. As soon as the light touched them, the waltz started to play.
"I guess it wants us to dance," Star said. It seemed fitting since the Blood Moon Ball and the dance in the Underworld temple brought them together.
Marco bowed on one knee and extended his hand to her, "Star Butterfly, may I have this dance?"
"Of course, my prince." She took his hand, and they settled into a familiar dance.
Joy seized them as they twirled and glided across the dancefloor. Star gazed dreamily into her prince's eyes, and she blushed when he dipped her low. His hand dropped on her waist, and Marco pulled her in close. "Careful there, Wild Man," she winked at him.
"Ready for a little razzle-dazzle?" Marco gave her a twirl.
"You know it," she said and dipped down.
Their cheekmarks glowed and cast dazzling light on the floor. At last, the moonlight turned red, and the music grew louder as magic filled the room. Star and Marco's dance became a grand display of their love, full of passion and joy and playfulness. The room started to change too. A moon, sun, and star etched themselves into the floor with red magic, and the writing covered the walls.
In a flash, the room had completely disappeared, and Star found herself looking over Mewni from a balcony of the castle. She was several years older, but she still felt the same adventurous urge to ride down the streets of Mewni on a wild unicorn. So I guess being a princess won't change me too much, she smiled.
She hardly believed her eyes when she saw Mewni lay below her. It was clean and sleek with modern buildings, wide streets, and cars traveling beside carriages. But what really put a smile on her face was seeing how her kingdom prospered with Monsters, Mewmans, and humans living in harmony. They shopped together, shared meals, and even had families with one another. I can't believe it, Star gasped. Was she actually going to end the Mewman-Monster conflict as queen?
"I think so," Marco laid a hand on hers. He had matured into a handsome, young man—her king—with scruffy peach-fuzz on his chin. "This future is so much better than the one I saw in the Underworld."
They wrapped their arms around each other and watched the sun sink lower into the indigo sky, calling both Mewman and Earth constellations out of hiding. It's not setting, Star blinked in realization. It's rising! A bright, blue star appeared, and it danced with the sun as it climbed into the sky. The Dance of the Sun and Star. As they continued their dance, Star noticed a shining pair of stars basking in the afterglow, rising above the horizon too…
The vision ended, leaving Star and Marco panting heavily as they recovered from both the dance and the prophecy given to them. "That was amazing!" Marco grabbed her shoulders. "I can't believe that just happened!"
"I know…," Star grinned. "We're gonna be amazing rulers."
"Look!"
The back wall contained the image of the two of them from the vision, down to the details of the stars in the sky. This was real. Their destiny wasn't to run away from Mewni but to rule it together. The royals may try to thwart their plans, but they weren't going to win. All of Star and Marco's other deeds were written on the walls, but they decided not to read them. It was better to live in surprise. Plus, she didn't need the cave to tell her that she was going to be an awesome queen.
"I know," Marco kissed her. "I look forward to being your king one day."
"Aren't you two forgetting something?" A sinister, icy snarl caught the teens off-guard. In the corner of the room, two clovers glowed in the shadows, and Meteora stepped into the moonlight, followed by her accomplices, Gemini and Rasticore. The Septarian's chainsaw thrummed over his leader's cackle, and Star and Marco dropped into their fighting stances.
"What are you doing here?" Star's wand flashed with magic. "Only the Seventh Dance is allowed in here."
"I'm more than welcomed in the place my father's people built long ago," Meteora said with an evil grin. "My father was of a priestly line that spans deep into the womb of time. In fact, he was there during the Sixth Dance. This cave is a part of my birthright, as is the throne of Mewni."
Star and Marco exchanged a nervous glance as Meteora went on, "I am the daughter of a Butterfly queen, and an oracle told my mother that I was destined to bring a new age. An age of Monsters."
"And may I add that you'll be an amazing Monster queen," Gemini nodded.
Meteora's eyes narrowed at him, and she spoke again, "However, the oracle did not foresee the Dance of the Sun and Star. The Blood Moon's plans are for himself alone. I'm surprised he picked you two—teens from different worlds. A Mewman princess and a human boy. Monster Love incarnate, sanctioned by the universe itself, while my family was ripped apart…No matter, I'm not letting Princess Marco thwart my plans again."
"Actually, it's Prince Marco Diaz-Butterfly now, thank you very much," Marco spoke up. "And I don't care who you are—Star and I aren't afraid of you!"
As much as Star wanted to taunt Meteora too, she remained silent. In her mind's eye, she saw a moon being devoured by shadows. An eclipse. An evil omen in Mewman astrology. Something horrible was about to happen.
"Prepare to die!" Meteora's laugh morphed into a sick, gurgling sound as her body contorted and spasmed.
Purple-striped fur sprouted on her arms, and her ears became pointed like those of a goblin. Out of her back ripped a pair of brown moth wings with black tufts like lynx ears on the tops and bottoms. Before their very eyes, Star and Marco saw the birth of an unholy creature, born of magic and rage. A Butterfly and a Monster. With a muffled snap of her fingers, Meteora commanded Gemini to retrieve a heavy, square boombox from the corner. He fumbled a cassette tape in the slot, and metal music thrashed against the rock with booming drums, clashing cymbals, and overdriven, grunting guitars. Pleased, Meteora bobbed her head as if overtaken by dark ecstasy.
"There's nothing like s little music to get you in the mood for such a glorious occasion," she said after a deep inhale. "Get ready to meet your doom, Star Butterfly!"
A commotion outside the cavern caught Meteora's attention, and her cat-slit pupils focused on the hallway. Out of the darkness, emerged a band of familiar faces, and joy replaced the fear in Star and Marco's hearts. It was Tom and their friends, ready to fight Meteora and her minions!
"Starship! Marco! You're okay!" Tom cried with joy and brought them in for a crushing, warm hug.
"I've missed you too, Tom," Star smiled into his chest. For the first time ever, she really meant it too.
The second he let go, Jackie, Janna, and Pony Head crowded around her and spoke excitedly. Kelly hung back and stared longingly at Marco, who averted his gaze. Normally, Star would have intervened, but she decided to deal with her romantic rival later.
"Oh, B-Fly," Pony Head bawled loudly. "Oh girl, I thought like I'd never see you and Turd ever again. Y'all had me worried sick and stuff."
"Honestly, I expected that Marco would've got you knocked up by now," Janna laughed. When he made a face at her, she shrugged, "Don't pretend you're innocent, Diaz."
Jackie shook her head at the remark. "Anyways," she said. "I'm glad you and Marco are okay, Star. We've missed ya at home."
"Yeah, the kingdom is like falling apart and whatnot," Pony Head said matter-of-factly.
"It is?" Star turned to Tom and watched him sigh.
That didn't make any sense. Eclipsa promised to tell Moon about the quest, and in turn, her mother would ensure that everything would be in order during their absence. Why would Eclipsa fail her part of the bargain? What if this is a setup? Star returned her gaze to Meteora and began to feel dread creep along her spine. It seemed pretty convenient that the Monster and her followers knew to find her and Marco faraway in the Musty Mountains…
"We'll worry about that later." Marco shared the same suspicions. "Right now, let's finish the mission."
Meteora watched the group and grinned evilly, "How adorable—a class reunion! I just love those."
"Yo, is that ugly hag over there, like, Ms. Heinous?" Pony Head gasped. "Man, oh man, did she let herself go."
"That's not my name!" Meteora snarled. "I am Meteora Butterfly, the daughter of Queen Eclipsa and Globgor, the last High Priest of the Blood Moon! And I did not let myself go—this is my true form."
"Globgor?" Star and Marco shot each other a glance, remembering the gibberish Glossaryck had been saying since his resurrection months ago. Was he secretly warning them about something?
Pony Head snorted, "While I'm totally glad that you solved your identity crisis, you're still hideous."
"You insufferable brat! I'll make you pay! I'll make you all pay! Rasticore, bring me the horn of that Pony Head!" Meteora dispatched the Septarian with a dramatic point of her finger. His chainsaw yowled like a feral cat.
"I guess it's time for the Blood Moon Brawl!" Marco quipped.
"Yep," Star nodded firmly.
Any fear within her was chased away by wanton bloodlust at the promise of a thrilling fight. She maintained a serious grudge against Meteora ever since she brainwashed Pony Head at her horrible academy, and it deepened from then to the Monster-Mewman Peace Party she ruined about six months ago. According to an old Johansen proverb, the best fights were the personal ones, and Star reveled in her hatred for her old foe. Eclipsa wanted her daughter back, but it didn't mean that Star had to deliver Meteora in one piece!
With a single blast, she melted Rasticore's chainsaw into a puddle of plastic and metal sludge, which burned his green toes. "Damn, B-Fly! That's hot!" Pony Head cheered.
"Oh yeah? Watch this!" Star tossed Marco the wand, feeling brazen enough to try her hand at wandless magic.
"Star, are you sure about this?" Marco worried.
"I'm always sure!" She pressed her hands together and created a giant ball of purple energy, and she hurled it at Rasticore and Gemini, scattering them like bowling pins. Power pulsed in her hands, producing a warrior's high from adrenaline. "Come guys! We can take them." She beckoned her friends to follow.
Jackie and Pony Head pursued Gemini while Tom, Kelly, Janna, and Marco fought Rasticore. That left Star with Meteora. Princess against princess. She donned her Butterfly form and launched herself at Meteora with all six hands aimed at her throat. They collided in mid-air, wrestling, kicking, and tumbling above the skirmish.
"Rainbow Fist Punch!" Star sent Meteora plummeting to the ground with a decisive strike. When the Monster tried to get up, she unleashed a stronger version of her Narwhal Blast to further the previous attack's damage. "Let me see what you've got, Meteora!" She hovered closer. "I didn't come here to fight a punching bag!"
"Star, look out!"
At Marco's call, she turned to see Rasticore barreling towards her with a poisoned dagger in his right hand. Smirking, Star lifted a hand and cast a powerful, red spell that consumed his body and peeled off his flesh. The bloody remains of the Septarian weakly slumped over. I had no idea I could do that! She marveled at the red magic coated her hands. Its fiery strength far exceeded anything a Butterfly could naturally do, and she sensed that its source came from the Blood Moon itself.
Now to use this on Meteora! Star faced her enemy for a final charge. The chamber stretched into a whirl of color as she swooped in to end the battle, and she tasted victory—sweet and fulfilling—on her tongue. But she suddenly felt a stinging pain slice through her skin. Blood and golden magic oozed from deep gashes, and the world turned black. The last thing she heard before crashing into the ground was Marco screaming her name…
In an instant, the tide of war shifted to Meteora's cruel favor, and Marco was powerless to stop it. He stared in horror as Star writhed on the ground in pain, struggling in vain against a dark spell that consumed her body in a purple aura. Black strings embedded into her arms and legs, spreading jagged lines down her limbs. The magical stain pooled in her fingers and eyes, causing them to glow with a sickly light. Hissing wildly, Star desperately tried to scrub the effect off of her, and her skin bled.
"Star, calm down!" Marco couldn't bear to watch her harm herself, but the bond yielded no response. Crinkling static warped their connection, and he only heard the occasional scream of pain and anguish. "Star?" he tried to reach her again but doing so hurt his head.
Meteora snapped her fingers, and Star instantly sprang to attention as if cued. "Good girl," the Monster ran her fingers through her beautiful, blonde hair. "Now, get me the wand," she ordered.
"What…about the boy?" Star spoke in a hushed, brittle voice.
It lacked the cheerfulness that made Marco's heart sing and dance when she talked to him or skip a beat when she called him to bed. This isn't her, he recoiled in fear. He had no idea what happened, but that voice did not come from Star—he was sure of it.
Meteora shrugged, "I don't care what happens to him."
"Star…don't listen to her," he begged. "I—"
A blast sent him skidding into the far wall and rubbed the skin off his hands and ankles. Pain stung his body every time he moved, and Marco bit back tears while struggling to stand. Once on his feet, he faced an unexpected enemy. Star had her wand trained on him, and a sadistic smile spread across her face. "Star, it's me, Marco," he pleaded to her. "I'm your boyfriend and your prince. We're gonna do a bunch of amazing things together one day."
She stared blankly at him in response.
"Come on, Star," he reached out a hand. "I know you're in there."
"Marco, look out!" Tom pushed him out of the way just before another blast of magic shot from Star's wand and cracked the surrounding stone with intense heat. The princes recoiled in horror.
She prepared to strike again until her dark eyes caught movement in the shadows. Janna rushed forward and pelted her with blasts of purple magic, giving Tom and Marco enough time to retreat to the group. They were not in a battle for both Star and their lives. Meanwhile, Meteora laughed at their fear and beckoned Star with one of her crooked fingers. "Good girl," she patted her on the head. "I finally have the rebel failure under my control."
"What do you mean under your control?" Marco challenged. "What did you do to my Star?"
Meteora flexed her fingers, causing Star to jerk her head on command. "You could say that I'm the master of puppets now with this old Dark Magic Spell," she said. "Witchers specialize in manipulation magic, and I know my way around the strings of Fate. In case you don't know, Princess Marco, the strings of Fate connect every being across space and time to each other, and they contain destinies woven by the goddess of Fate herself. Only she can create or sever them, but with a little know-how, anyone can learn to possess them."
"Star's not yours!" Marco spat, feeling his blood boil in rage. How dare this prep school teaching reject take his princess away from him!
"Well, she isn't yours either. Star, attack!" Meteora pointed her finger and dispatched the princess to her friends.
Color exploded in the darkness, and the cave shook violently as Star unleashed her wrath. Marco and his friends were just able to escape the Seventh shrine, and they hid in the hall of the Fifth Dance to catch their breaths and plan an attack. But even then, Marco was doubtful. He'd seen the extent of Star's magic a thousand times. She was the strongest Butterfly princess since Queen Eclipsa, and she killed Toffee, the scourge of the Butterflys, with one cruel, calculating blow. And that was months ago. He could only imagine how much stronger she was with his magic and the Blood Moon's.
"B-Fly is mad scary right now," Pony Head shivered as she spoke.
"Yeah," Jackie added. "For once, I don't know if we can Team Starco our way out of this."
"Starco?" Marco echoed and shot a glance at Tom. "Since when did you know about Starco?"
The demon prince said nothing.
"Anyways," Marco continued. "We need to think of something, or else Star will annihilate us. She's stronger than all of us combined."
"I agree," said Tom. "I remember our breakup and…that was rough. The main issue is that Meteora is controlling the equivalent of an atomic bomb—no offense, Marco."
"None taken, but I have an idea," he said. "There's no way the bond between her and Meteora is too strong. If we can divert Meteora's attention and tire out Star…maybe, we can separate them."
Team Starco nodded in agreement, though Marco knew how much could still go wrong. While he remained optimistic, they were about to fight two Butterfly princesses with only a fraction of their might.
Jackie rested a hand on his shoulder. "I know you're stressing out about everything," she said softly. "But don't worry. You and Tom will handle Star, while the girls and I take on Meteora."
"Are you sure?"
"We've learned a lot in the wilderness," Jackie smirked and brandished a shining battleaxe. "Alright, ladies," she turned to her troops. "The plan is simple—knock the crud out of Meteora for messing with our friends. Salt Girl and I will lead the charge, but Party Princess and Witch Queen, we'll need cover of the magical kind. I wanna see fireworks in there."
"Are those codenames?" Marco was confused.
"Get with the Team Starco spirit, Prince Dorko," Janna said.
A loud boom rattled the cave, and Marco saw Star barreling towards their impromptu hiding place. "It's go-time, guys," Kelly drew her sword. "C'mon!"
Janna and Pony Head used their ranged attacks to push Star back and allow Jackie and Kelly to slip through to Meteora. Once everyone was in position, they distracted the Monster and separated her from her puppet, putting a strain on the bond. Even surrounded by four determined warriors, Meteora refused to give up, and she fought hard to maintain control over the battle and Star. But the plan was working. Marco felt the static ease through the Blood Moon bond. But we still have more to go, he gripped the pommel of his rapier. "Are you ready, Tom?" he asked his partner.
"We don't have much of a choice," the other prince said gruffly. "I think we both know how to make her tired."
"I hope so. I know she can take a lot."
"I bet you do…"
Marco made a face. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh nothing," Tom muttered.
They rushed toward Star and used their best offensive spells to create an opening. Tom's endless bombardment set the cave afire, and it became as bright as noon. Not a shadow remained in sight. Although the attacks were impressive, Marco knew that explosive spells would not win the battle. Spell Casters had only one true weakness: close-range, defensive magic. If they could breach Star's guard and move quickly, then they could bring her down.
The plan, however, was not without risk, and Marco found out the hard way when Star caught him with her six hands and flung him into a wall. Immediately, she followed through with a fiery blast that burned off his hoodie and part of his shirt underneath. Damn, you're strong, Marco grunted and put out the remaining embers with his hand. Caught off-guard, he had no time to brace for her charge. At first, Marco thought he would die, but Star pinned him to the ground and stared deeply into his eyes. For a split second, Marco could not tell if she wanted to kill him or do something else to him. The wild look in her eyes was one he knew very well.
"Get off my friend!" Tom shot fire into her face, and she retreated with a hiss. "Are you okay, Marco?" he turned to his friend.
"I'm fine," Marco muttered. "Honestly, she seemed like herself for a moment."
"Really? That's—"
A bolt of lightning nailed Tom's chest, and he collapsed in front of Marco's feet. Quickly, he pulled the demon close to him and cast a shield as Star threw every spell imaginable at them. Narwhals, warnicorns, butterflies, and energy bounced off the protective spell, shielding the princes from the worst of the assault, but Marco knew he couldn't hold her back forever. Cracks began to form in the shield. It finally gave way when a Rainbow Fist Punch shattered the magic, and the world went dark. The impact would have killed a normal human, but, even momentarily unconscious, Marco sensed that the magic in his blood saved his life. He also knew she was nearby and ready to attack.
"Star..." he reached into the bond out of desperation. "Snap out of this before something really bad happens!"
When his vision returned, Marco saw nothing but light flooding the cave. All six of Star's hands glowed with the same spell she used to kill Toffee. Terrified, he reached out to her again. "Don't do this," he begged. "I know you can fight Meteora's magic. We all love you, Star. I love you."
Her eyes flickered from purple to blue. "Marco, help me!" she screamed through the bond just as the Dark Magic took control of her mind again. In an instant, her killer instincts returned, and Star lifted her hands to unleash chaos at Marco. Right before death came to him, a flying rapier stabbed her palm, and she howled in pain. As she faltered, Tom got up and wiped the blood from his mouth.
"I don't want to do this, Starship, but I will put you down!" he snarled in his demon voice.
"Wait, I have an idea." Marco blocked his friend. "You're gonna have to trust me here. Pin her with demon magic and let me handle the rest."
Tom eyed him warily. "You are absolutely insane! There's a chance she can break through my curse and kill you."
"But crazy works with Star," Marco replied.
"Alright," he reluctantly sighed. "But if she does anything, I will intervene."
Tom summoned a legion of bony hands out of the ground, and they grabbed hold of her limbs and wings. Star twisted and strained against the curse—almost breaking through with her brute strength. "I—I can't hold her much longer!" Tom groaned.
"I gotcha, boo." Janna stepped beside him and commanded demon chains to wrap around Star's torso to pull her downward. Once the princess was subdued, Janna turned to Marco. "Whatever you gotta do, do it now!"
Offering a swift prayer to the Blood Moon, Marco carefully went over to his struggling girlfriend and cupped her cheek tenderly. "I love you, Star," he murmured. "I don't know if this is going to work, but—" He pressed his lips into hers.
The battle stopped, and Marco was aware of everyone watching him make out with Star in her Butterfly form. They'll get over it, he shrugged and continued. With a snap, she broke her arms free and held him tightly, running her fingers through his hair and across his chest. "Keep it PG," Marco reminded Star when the bond opened. The last thing his friends needed to see was his inner Wild Man instincts. He pulled away for air and found that Star had returned to normal. The taint of Dark Magic had completely gone, and the damage to the cave was repaired. The Blood Moon even healed Team Starco's wounds too.
"Marco..." Star's mind purred. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but I like it."
"It's just the Power of Love," he kissed her cheek.
Meteora shrieked in panic, "No! Stupid red string of Fate! You ruined my plans!" She grabbed Gemini to escape, but Kelly pulled a lasso out of her hair and caught them.
"Looks like your puppet show is over, Meteora," she gloated. "Alright, Janna, let's pack this one up."
Janna created a coffin with her magic and trapped the Monster and her minion inside. "There," she gave it a kick. "All wrapped up and ready for the trip home. By the way, Marco, I never knew you were into girls with six hands. No wonder Jackie never had a chance."
"Oh, Tom, how did you guys find us?" Marco asked to change the subject.
"Honestly, the Blood Moon led us here," he replied. "I can't explain it, but we kept having weird dreams about the mountains and the cave. And when we got here, the Blood Moon showed us this floating red string which we followed here."
"Actually, Kelly can't see the Blood Moon," Janna added, dryly. "She's a nonbeliever."
The warrior puffed out her cheeks in anger, "How am I supposed to believe something I can't see!"
"Because we all can," Janna said. "And you remember what The Hunter said about the Blood Moon—stop living in denial."
"You guys met The Hunter?" Star's eyes sparkled with wonder.
"Yep, he's a cool dude," said Janna. "Oh, and the Wander Inn crowd says 'hi.'"
"We have a lot of catching up to do, but right now, I'm beat," Tom yawned. "We have plenty of time to talk. Let's head back to camp."
He opened a portal to an alpine meadow far below the Blood Moon cave and the perpetual blizzard that shrouded it from view. Night lay thickly over Mewni, peppering the open sky with uncountable, glittering stars. This was the first time in days since Marco had been outside of the cave, and the amount of space around him felt weird after being underground. Everything seemed too far apart from each other. Tom lit a quick fire to warm the campsite and melt the thick snowpack in front of two tents. "We set one up for you and Starship before heading up the mountain," he said.
"Wait, you all share a tent?" Marco stared at his friend.
"Don't make it weird." Tom glared. "See ya in the morning."
He disappeared into the tent with Janna, Jackie, and Pony Head close behind him. Kelly sat alone by the fire near the coffin. Her eyes glistened with longing, but Marco averted his gaze. Tomorrow, we'll sort everything out, he felt a storm building on the horizon. Star watched Kelly for a moment, then turned to Marco. "Ready for bed?" she asked.
"You know I am," he yawned. "It's been a long few days."
"I don't mean that kind of bed, Wild Man." The bond rippled with warmth and energy, making Marco gulp loudly. It took a lot to tire out a Butterfly princess, and he sensed that the battle was not enough. "You walked into this one, Marco," she stalked towards him. "You should know not to tease me like that."
"Neither should you. I saw how you looked at me."
"There's a reason the Mewnian word for sex and battle are the same."
"Oh? Show me…"
"Can you two make bedroom eyes somewhere else?" Kelly cleared her throat loudly.
Star glared at her and tugged Marco into the tent behind her. His true test of strength and endurance was about to begin.
Before Tom settled in for the night, he had to take a leak. It was a normal thing for him to do since he didn't want to venture outside later at night when the temperature plunged below zero or the wolves howled in the distance. Plus, he hated disturbing Janna and leaving her warm, cuddly side. But once Tom stepped outside and walked off a little way for privacy, he soon regretted not waiting until morning. At first, he thought the soft moans and grunts came from a grizzly bear lumbering through the snow, but then he remembered that bears hibernated in the winter. Either way, it was probably an animal or something. They always prowled at night. Or it's Janna playing a trick on me, he considered.
Alas, it was neither. Tom returned to camp and stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a loud outburst coming from the second tent. "Mmm…Marco! Keep going—ah!"
Oh...oh no! Tom shuddered. Not tonight. Not when he needed sleep!
The other girls peeked their heads out of the tent and blushed. "Oh dear," Jackie placed a hand over her mouth and gasped. "Sounds like Marco knows what he's doing."
"I'm surprised since Turd is so lame," Pony snickered.
"M-maybe they're just playing videogames," Kelly suggested.
"Girl, get real—do you hear any music playing in there? No!" Pony Head snorted. "Nah, it's just Marco getting' his freak on with Star."
Suddenly, a high-pitched moan escaped from the tent, and Tom realized it came from Marco. "Oh, Star…" he whined. "Star…I love you soo much."
Janna burst out laughing, "This is great blackmail material right here. Where's my phone?"
"Let's…let's just leave them be and go to bed." Tom hurried past Star and Marco's tent. I'll never be able to un-hear this, he wished he could cut off his ears. Not even his own tent blocked out their screams of ecstasy followed by a heavy silence.
The rest of his roommates returned when the act ended, and Tom heard Janna and Jackie giggling. "I can't believe this happened," said Jackie. "I never knew Marco had such a bad side. We only ever kissed."
"I know," replied Janna. "It makes me curious about what my prince is capable of."
"Goodnight, Janna!" Tom drew the covers over his reddened ears and ignored the raunchy thoughts her words summoned. At least, Star and Marco were done, and they could all get some much-needed sleep to start the journey home.
But later that night, he heard Star moan again.
Author's Note
Again, sorry it took so long to finish this one. I know a few of you have been asking when it'll update (that and Royal Secrets), but I hesitate to tell exactly when because writing takes a long time, and I'm usually super busy IRL. It's a delicate balance between wanting to finish because I don't want to lose you guys and work and school. That being said, I intend on finishing all my stories no matter what, and I'm going to try and be more timely about it. FYI, Royal Secrets should be out sometime this week.
