Chapter 6: A variety of lights.

The Butterflys were behind schedule a few hours due to the battle, so they had decided to rest at a small coastal town before they moved on to their destination. They had an entourage of Mewman diplomats who had to stay with them too. Thus they rented out a motel. Star had her own room, because each room only held one twin sized bed. Except the luxury one which her parents had gotten. Star can protect herself anyway.

She finished brushing her teeth and used magic to manifest pajamas onto herself, when she heard tapping on the window. It was Marco. She opened the window. He had new clothes, but he kept the cap.

"You know you could have just come in through the front door right?"

"Curfew starts at 12. It's already dark and there were guards on the front door so it's probably illegal to be spotted out."

"Curfew is only enforced in the big cities. Besides, It's 8."

"...Well I feel dumb." Marco pulled himself in "Can I stay here for the night?"

"Sure!" She pointed to the couch. It was next to the bed, and had space for one. "You can't really lay down though."

"That's fine." Marco crashed himself onto it, exhausted from having to rearrange everything he and Star messed up. He covered his face with his hat "Good night."

"You're not going out?"

"I spent the day rearranging boxes, then I climbed up three stories. I can barely feel my legs."

"Well going out alone is no fun!"

Marco flicked his hat up and sighed "You wanna head out?"

"I don't wanna if you don't wanna!"

"Hmm…" Marco came up with a solution "You said you're gonna go back to Mewni tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Well, when I go there to check it out, I'll stay for awhile and we can hang out. It'll make up for tonight."

"But i'm used to Mewni!"

"I'm not. You could show me some cool spots! If it is real."

"Hm… alright. I'll do it for you."

"It's a plan, then." Marco tipped his hat down and covered his face again "Goodnight." He fell asleep within seconds, upright on the couch with only his clothes as insulation.

Marco woke up to an alarm clock ringing. Star brought it. He reached for his hat still covering his eyes, but his hands met cloth. Star put a blanket on him. Feeling the cold on his neck, he shook the hat off instead of raising his hand and letting the air in. Sunlight glowed through the window blinds. They weren't very good blinds. Star was buried under her blanket.

Though barely visible due to what little light there was, Star poked her head out like a rabbit and used a pillow to muffle her ears from the alarm. The clock was paradoxically droning like a school class, yet keeping them awake.

"Turn it off." Marco loudly whispered.

Star hit the clock, which made it go silent. Marco started dozing off once again, when…

BOOM! Something exploded.

Marco was startled off the couch, while Star was knocked back by the shockwave. He looked around, looking for the explosion's source "What was that!?" He shouted while on the floor.

Star stood up and brushed herself off "That was the alarm!"

"You made an alarm clock explosive!?"

"We got up much faster than we would've if the snooze just silenced the clock didn't we?"

"...I guess." Marco got up "What time is it?"

"Let me see…" She looked at the black mark where the clock used to be "It's seven AM."

"How did you- nevermind." Marco collected himself. He was still in a bit of shock after the boom "Let's get ready."

After freshening up they went to the street. There was already a large entourage outside, more akin to a convoy. A group of guards approached them at the doorstep.

One of the more decorated guards stepped forward "Princess Star, we've got orders to assist in your security. Queen says you can get rid of any 'Hastily gathered guards.'"

"'Hastily gathered'?"

"That's what she said."

"Eh, I'll keep him around."

Even if Star wanted him around, they would still be separated. The carriage Star was going in only had room for four. The Queen, King, Star herself, and a guard that was for the entire royal family together. As Star got on the carriage, Marco gave a casual salute and looked for a way to hitch a ride along the convoy. He didn't look for long. Surrounding the royal carriage were calvarymen, and behind those was a horse drawn wooden wagon full of less important guards.

Marco walked to the entrance of one of these wagons. No one batted an eye at him, so he could stay without getting kicked off. The only problem was that there was nowhere for him to sit. He could see that there was enough space for him if everyone was nudged a bit, but he found no confidence to ask anyone to do so. He was 14, putting on a charade, and talking to one of them might have tipped them off. So he hung off the back, holding onto the railings.

The ride was smooth, even with the horses being surprisingly fast. They could keep up with the cars leading the convoy. As they travelled the coastal town's buildings were replaced with farmland. The vast ocean of wheat, waving to the wind's motion. The atmosphere was warm but the wind was cool.

It was like this for only a short while. The farms were replaced by small buildings, culminating into the town of Vannes. They stopped there for 5 minutes allowing the horses to rest. Then they set off again. Farms were seldom seen after that.

They made it the city of Rennes, then the city of Le Mans. Marco peeked at a map some of the other soldiers were looking at. It was clear, they were going to Paris. He looked forward to it for a second, then got disappointed. He was going with Star to Mewni, so he wasn't staying in Paris for long.

To cheer himself up, he whispered "Nazis probably stole all the food anyways."

Paris came into view at dusk. A few citizens watched the convoy pass. Even if Marco couldn't get out and take a tour, the buildings lining the stone streets gave Marco enough awe to be satisfied. Old skyscrapers that were more wide than they were tall, with colored exteriors and rustic character instead of typical grey concrete.

He was still hanging off the back, but his grip was loose as he learned how to hang on the wagon with the least force possible throughout the trip. He kept his mouth shut the entire day so as to not draw attention.

The streets when they entered Paris proper had people out and about, but the deeper inner city was quiet. Not one person outside.

It was less action, which was good. Watching shells explode on the magical barrier of the battleship, although he was far away, was enough to shake him up. Those shells were meant for him. He just knew it.

Sure, he was posing as a soldier with the danger of being discovered, but it was much better than bombs going off-

BOOM!

The loud, startling sound, with the shockwave, knocked Marco off the wagon and onto his back. Through blurred vision he saw almost everyone in the wagon fall victim to machine gun fire coming from either side of the street. Those who survived bailed out the left and right. His ears ringing, he clawed his way underneath the wagon.

If Marco hadn't been knocked off the wagon, he would've been right in the machineguns' path. It seems that in each alleyway there was a mounted gun. There was gunfire coming from every window. This is where every civilian was, hiding for an ambush.

A Mewman soldier, clad in armor, fell just outside the wagon. They clutched their bloodstained chestplate, then looked at Marco.

"Kid!" Their speech was wet. Like they had phlegm in their throat. "Nobody's guarding the Royal family!" A line of blood formed from his mouth. That was what blocked his throat. "Get them out of here!"

"Wha- I don't-" Marco was overwhelmed. He just wanted to stay under the wagon and be safe. "I don't want to!"

"You're afraid, is that it?" The soldier coughed out.

"Yes…"

"I'm afraid, too." He said "I, commander James, could have just retreated to some dark corner and avoided…" He looked at his hands, stained with their own blood "...this fate. Yet I charged anyway." Marco looked on with terror. He could see the soldier's life slowly drain from his body. He'd seen dead people before, this was the first time he had seen someone die.

"That was probably a bad example." The soldier laughed a sort of half hearted laugh. "Uhm… I assume you have empathy?"

"I… I do." Marco resolved that he should give this soldier, James, some concrete reassuring answers before he passed.

"Imagine what the Queen is going through. Alone, abandoned by her most loyal guards, and knowing that whatever happened to her was gonna happen to her family."

"Family…" Sure, it would be a tragedy if they died, but Marco didn't know enough about the Queen or King of Mewni personally to charge through gunfire for them.

But Star.

Star was his only companion in his quest to correct time, and Marco was her only source of reprieve in a dull trip. In short, they'd grown to be very attached friends. Even if it was for a few days.

Still, it wasn't much use if he charged out and immediately got shot.

"Kid." James' voice was now raspy and quiet. "You're out here on a battlefield, but you've never seen someone die before your own eyes. You're out here for something else than the standard fame or glory."

"Huh?"

"You're in complete terror watching me bleed out. Look, point is, you're not a soldier. Not an experienced one anyway. Not even used to blood. But you got this far, into the royal family's guard. Takes bravery. So harness that and do what everyone else can't."

"I…" Marco looked at him "Surely someone else can do it!?"

No answer.

"...Oh." Marco looked outside. German reinforcements had come to their aid and made a safe zone, but the royal carriage was well beyond that perimeter. He took one last look at James, then crawled outside.

He wasn't immediately shot, so he was safe. The reinforcements took care of the sides. It was only the street that held resistance. But the street was where the carriage was.

He looked behind him. Half because he wanted to get an idea of his surroundings, half because he wanted to run away. That was when he saw them. The Mewmans who hadn't died had retreated to the back. It seemed James was the only one who ever put up a fight. They were letting the Germans do the work.

I would've done the same. He thought. But the more he thought of it, the more he felt… Disappointed? Disgusted? He didn't know what he was feeling, but he knew what he had to do to make that feeling go away.

He stepped up onto the wagon, the same wagon he crawled out of. It acted as a stage.

"Soldiers! Knights! Mewmans!" He shouted.

Mostly everyone turned to him, their full attention on him. Even the gunfire seemed to shush. "What!?" someone from the crowd shouted.

"..." Marco wasn't the best at public speaking. He didn't think he'd get this far. "Uh… you got the royal family right?"

"Someone did! I think…"

"Did… Did any of you actually fight at all?" Marco asked.

A whispered frenzy went over the crowd

"I thought the Germans were there by now..."

"Yeah, A few of us did try and save them…"

"We're definitely not cowards, we just strategically withdrew…"

"Mewmans!" Marco silenced them "Only ONE of you was brave enough to go forth and try to save the royal family!" He pointed to James, who was below him "James charged, believing he would be accompanied by his comrades in arms. But he was left alone!" He talked from his heart, saying whatever came to mind "Imagine being left alone while on this grand mission! A mission so much greater than one soldier! The mission of a lifetime! The mission to save the world!"

"The world?"

"I mean the royal family!" Marco said "But it might as well be the world!" Marco went to the front of the wagon and pointed to the carriage "In that carriage lies the Queen, the King, and the Heir. Have you no pride for your leadership? Have you no loyalty for your leadership?"

That worked them up. First they went into the same frenzied whisper as before, but then that whisper turned into normal speaking. And that speaking turned into yelling and shouting. They picked up their weapons with new resolve, determination on their faces. Someone tossed Marco a metal club. He caught it.

"Those who choose to stay back, know you leave your country to fall!" Marco put one foot on the front railing of the wagon, ready to jump forwards "Charge!"

And charge they did. With Marco waving everyone forward, the professional force of soldiers seemed more like a mob. Marco stepped down in the middle of the crowd, club in hand.

Pure adrenaline pumping through his veins, any preconceived notions of safety purged from his mind, he ran forwards as well. The soldiers passed the perimeter set up by the reinforcements, and straight into enemy gunfire. Whatever the armor was made out of was strong, since bullets bounced off it.

Marco was in the middle, so he was safe with his lack of armor. Soldiers around him broke off the crowd and charged the buildings, clearing them out. Some charged the mounted guns. Marco had his sights set on the carriage.

He reached it, crashing into it because he never slowed down. A few guards had accompanied him as well. Dazed, he leaned on the carriage as he found the door. But it was then when he noticed bullet holes lining the wall.

He hesitated. His hand on the handle, he felt fear for the first time since charging. And he was frozen. What if he opened the door and he found bodies?

On Marco's other hand was the club. He tightened his grip and, fighting through the fear, he struck the handle with the mace. Busting the lock, Marco threw the door open.

A fireball flew out at him, but he dodged it. The King, Queen, and Star were alive.

All at once, they exclaimed:

"A guard!"

"A soldier!"

"Marco! Sorry about shooting that at you!"

The guard that was with them took all the bullets so that none harmed the family.

"There are more of us. We're gonna get you all out of here!" Marco helped Queen Moon and the King outside, where they were surrounded by soldiers.

"Alright Star, grab my arm."

"You really came out for us!"

"I couldn't abandon you." Marco pulled her out, but when they got on the ground Star leaned on him.

"My leg hurts."

Marco looked down and, sure enough, her legs were stained red. The guard couldn't catch them all.

"Can you walk?"

"Definitely!" Star let go of him and took one step, only to stumble and lean on Marco even harder than before. "Um… can I lean on you?"

"Looks like you don't need permission, but sure." Marco put his arm around her and started to move. "Alright! We've got the family. Let's get em to safety!"

The armored soldiers formed a protective circle around them, and they inched toward the safety perimeter.

"We're going too slow!" One of the soldiers said.

"Princess Star's been shot in the leg, this is the fastest we can go!"

"Magic on our armor can't stand much more bullets! We're gonna start dropping soon!"

Marco couldn't think of any way to speed Star up on the spot, then Star grabbed his shoulder.

"Carry me!" She shouted.

Marco nodded, then swept Star's legs. She hung her hands around his neck.

"I got her, lets go!"

They picked up the pace immediately. As he carried Marco got a closer look at Star's wound. It was on her lower leg, and no blood was coming out the back. The bullet was still in her.

Star's hands felt cold on his skin, and her breaths were short "I feel woozy."

"Stay awake, we're almost there!" Marco recognized her getting the symptoms of blood loss. He knew from researching on his own time, just to be safe.

They passed the firing line, into safety. Soldiers gathered as Marco dropped Star onto the wagon. It acted like a table, raising Star up enough so that someone could start patching her up.

"Do we have a medic!?" Marco shouted.

"They're all still out there fighting!" The soldiers had gathered around Marco, with the Queen and King at the forefront.

"Dang it… Do we have a first aid kit?"

"Yes!" A soldier came forward and gave Marco one.

"Alright…" Marco opened the box "Unofficial first aid training don't fail me now!" The box was filled with things Marco didn't recognize, probably because better equipment was invented since the 40s. But enough of it was recognizable that Marco could get to work. He wiped the blood around the wound off. That was when he saw a metal glint coming from inside the wound.

He had planned to only clean the wound and cover it with a bandage. But with the bullet so near the surface, he could use some tweezers and take it out.

No, it'll be safer for a professional to do it. He thought. But then he thought It would be better to take it out right now to prevent infection. With this conflict, he looked around. Soldiers gathered around him in anxious silence, he led them into battle. If that risk saved Star from dying in the carriage, another risk would save her from infection. It might not have been the most logical reason but in that hectic moment that was what broke his inaction.

Marco took a pair of tweezers, soaked it in alcohol, and hovered it over the wound.

"Star, you said you were woozy?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, look on the bright side! This'll wake you up!" He plunged the tweezers into the wound. Rather than grabbing the edge of the wagon or closing her hands in a fist, Star held Marco's arm. "Sorry!"

Even the slightest move made Star's grip tighter. He quickly found the bullet and pulled it out. It resembled a crumpled ball of paper more than a bullet.

"Yes!" Marco was surprised by how fast he pulled it out, but he still had work to do. All around him, the crowd had a reserved anticipation. He tossed the tweezers back in the box. Star's grip was starting to loosen, when it immediately tightened back up as Marco dumped the entire alcohol bottle on the wound. He put gauze on it then held it there using a bandage.

"She's good!"

The crowd around him cheered, weapons raised high and smiles which lit up the dark night sky.