Star and Marco vs Evil Book 2 Chapter 8: VIII, a star vs. the forces of evil fanfic

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This is a work of fiction portraying alternate universes; all similarities to beings living, dead, or undead are entirely convergent.

VIII

The time for Marco's Accolade, the celebration at which Marco's promised formal knighting ceremony would take place, had come. At the start of Meteora's War, as it was now called, Moon had asked Marco to choose the timing of the ceremony. His choice was any time after the war was over and Star had returned. That both happened simultaneously was wonderfully serendipitous.

Representatives from all the allied kingdoms and dimensions, including the Monster Kingdom, in their best dress, stood expectantly in Butterfly Castle's huge formal reception hall. All the surviving heirs apparent were in attendance, with two empty seats placed discreetly in memory of Queen Lilacia Ponyhead and Crown Prince Richard Pigeon.

StarcoFan1 stood off to the side, videoing the proceedings, wearing a specially made Starco outfit created for her by the royal tailors. Although she still preferred her "StarcoFan1" nickname, her fans on u-Tewb had given her a second, "Queen Dweeb." When the tailors heard this, they designed a Starco outfit fit for the queen of the dweebs. It included a tiara, which they deliberately made more ornate than the Butterfly crown, with Star's horns and just a touch of dweebish styling.

Three rows from the front, in the section reserved for military personnel, stood Sir Reggie, Sir Darryl and Sir Yvgeny, in their best dress uniforms. To the shock of all who knew of their combative history, not only was Dame Higgs also standing in attendance, she was wearing a feminine likeness of Marco's armor, complete with the actual gold command aiguilette braid Marco had worn. With Marco's resignation accepted, Higgs' battlefield promotion to Commander General and command of the LDG had been confirmed. Though they'd never be close friends, Higgs nonetheless credited Marco's wakeup call for changing her attitude, and having enough faith in her to place her in command of the LDG during the final battle, for allowing her to earn the promotion.

Two rows from the front, in the section reserved for close friends of the honoree, Kelly stood misty-eyed in her ceremonial armor, while Jorby, also in ceremonial armor but too big to fit into the hall, watched through a window. Janna stood beside Kelly in her regular armor, declining to contribute to the "image of the bourgeoisies" by wearing ceremonial armor, but did unbend enough to repair and clean it. Eclipsa stood, smiling broadly, wearing her finest ceremonial outfit, looking all the world like a princess of Egypt. Finally, Jackie and Chloe, in formal gowns, also made specially by the royal tailors, rounded out the friends section save for one.

Tom had the choice to stand as a friend, but had decided to stand instead with his delegation, hinting he might still be working through the emotional baggage aired in "the box."

In the first row, reserved for family, stood Angie in a formal gown, and Rafael in a formal suit of a military cut, with touches of the styles of both Earth and Mewni; the royal tailors had been quite busy. Deciding the ceremony would be too much for Mariposa to sit through without fussing, Angie had left Mariposa on Earth with neighbors.

At the front of the hall on a dais, stood Moon and River in front of three thrones. The queen, king, and crown princess, by tradition, would dress in royal or military regalia. In honor of Marco and his egalitarianism, they chose to do both and switch the traditional human gender roles, River wearing his King's royal suit, while Moon wore her armor. Scabbarded at her side was the ceremonial Butterfly family sword.

In a breach of protocol, Star refused to stand as crown princess, standing instead in the second row as Marco's friend. Like her mother, she chose to wear her armor, polished to a dazzling shine. Outside her armor she wore her locket prominently and proudly.

A portion of one of the hall's long walls, the windowless one with the paintings, busts, and other honorifics of Butterfly Kingdom and Mewmin heroes, was covered by curtains.

A trumpet flourish announced the commencement of the proceedings. "Hear ye, hear ye," cried Manfred, "kings and queens, princes and princesses, lords and ladies, honored family and friends, ye must answer this question before the candidate may enter: is Marco Diaz worthy of the honor to be conferred upon him this day?"

In truth, the opinions of any beings other than the queen and king mattered very little, but the question was a nice way to make them feel included.

While the delegations from the other kingdoms politely voiced their "yes," everybody else, including the heirs apparent, yelled their "yes." The acclamation was followed by Jackie's, Janna's, and the Johansen clan's, including Star's and River's, "whoop-whoops."

When the ruckus died down, Moon called out, "Let the hero enter the hall!"

The large, ceremonial, double doors opened, revealing Marco in his repaired, cleaned, and polished, armor. On one side was holstered the Butterfly wond and on the other was scabbarded El Choppo, no longer carried by Marco except in ceremony, favoring magic instead.

Addressing Marco, Manfred stated loudly, for everyone in the hall to hear, "All here being in agreement, enter and approach the Queen, General Marco Diaz of Earth, son of Angelica Diaz, son of Rafael Diaz, and brother of Mariposa Diaz, of Earth."

Showing no outward signs of the nervousness within, Marco walked on a royal-purple carpet toward Moon and River at a measured pace, maintaining a stiff, military, bearing. As he passed, the attendees to either side of the carpet bowed. Against tradition, at Marco's insistence, none of the military guests, friends, nor family, bowed as he passed on his way to the front. Star, respecting Marco's wishes, instead, with the echo of zidanium on zidanium, pounded her heart with her fist twice, then pointed at him.

Reaching the dais, Marco stopped, then bowed low to Moon. When he straightened, with the sound of steel scraping on zidanium, Moon drew the family sword.

"Kneel," Moon commanded. Marco kneeled, bowing his head. Raising the sword point up in front of her, as if to strike down the supplicant should he fail to please her, she administered the oath.

"Do you, General Marco Diaz, solemnly swear to faithfully execute the mission of a Knight of the Butterfly Kingdom, and will, to the best of your ability, preserve, protect and defend the beings and laws of the Butterfly Kingdom and Mewni?"

"I do." Because Marco's head was bowed, he failed to see the corners of Moon's mouth twitch. Moon placed the tip of the sword on the floor of the dais, resting one hand atop the other on the pommel.

"Further, do you, Marco Diaz, promise to go clubbing with Star Butterfly even when you're too tired, to share your late-night nachos, to stay by her side in times of peace or danger as her most trusted confidant and advisor, and most importantly, to be her very best friend, so long as you both shall live?"

Marco, shocked and honored by the breach of protocol Moon just committed on his and Star's behalf, stuttered, "I ... I ... I do!"

Again raising the sword, Moon began lightly touching the tip to Marco's shoulders as she pronounced, "I dub thee Dame Marco Turdina, Revolutionary." Star's loud "yes!" echoed through the hall. "I dub thee Sir Marco Diaz, General and Protector of Mewni." The audience began to clap, stopping when Moon unexpectedly continued, proclaiming, "I dub thee Lord Marco Diaz, Duke of The Groundlands, Duke of Echo Creek, and Prince of the Realm."

There was a slight pause as the guests recovered from the surprise ennoblement, then clapping by most in the audience, some to be polite but heartfelt by the majority. Cheers erupted from the rest, accentuated by a loud "squeeeee" from Star. Moon and River had successfully kept secret their intent to elevate Marco into the royal court.

"Arise, General Lord Marco Diaz of Earth and Mewni."

As Marco rose, two royal dressers walked up behind Moon and River, placing around each of them a sash. The sash was white, bearing first the Butterfly crest, a new crest created for the House of Diaz, the flag of the United States, the Grand Seal of the City of Echo Creek and the Sigil of the Groundlands, displayed in tandem as a single emblem, and the Mewmin flag for Earth.

Marco turned to face the audience, the signal for other royal dressers to place sashes on Marco, Angie, and Rafael. In addition, signet rings for the House of Diaz were placed on their fingers, the ring confusingly placed on Marco's ungauntleted left hand. Marco fought hard to maintain control, while the usually strong Angie could not maintain complete composure, the love and respect being demonstrated for her son causing a few tears to well from her eyes. In usual fashion, Rafael didn't even attempt to fight it, bawling his eyes out.

After the dressers bowed deep to Marco's parents, the one attending Marco took a knee in front of him, to his continuing confusion. The two dressers attending his parents stepped into the second row, to attend to a shocked Star. One dresser placed a sash over Star's shoulder, while the other knelt, took Star's right hand, removed her gauntlet, then placed a friendship ring, especially designed for her by Star's parents, Jackie, and the head royal tailor, on her right middle finger. It was designed like a class ring from Earth, taking its design cue from Star's beloved locket. The top stone had been created with magic, the body of the faceted stone blue, with a red butterfly on the surface and projecting into the body of the stone, like a hologram. The Butterfly crest was on one side of the gold ring, with the Diaz crest on the other. Above the Butterfly crest were small red stones cut in the shape of crescent moons, and above the Diaz crest were two pink stones cut in the shape of hearts; the stones on the opposite crest of the Magic-Pips owners to highlight their partnership. Simultaneously, a matching ring was placed on Marco's right middle finger. The ferocity of Marco's battle to maintain his composure was matched only by Star's.

A bell rang, drawing attention to the curtains standing before the heroes' wall. They opened, revealing a fresco of Marco and representations of elements of his heroics and life, on both Mewni and Earth. The artist had included adventures with Star in the exceptionally large painting, knowing how important they were to Marco and Mewni. As Moon announced the name of the work of art, "Sir Marco, Hero," the artist clapped mightily, a tear of happiness dribbling down their cheek.

At this point, both Marco and Star lost their remaining control, tears rolling down their cheeks, the hall echoing with Star's "Waaa-aa-a!"

Marco turned to face the audience, calmed his body, straightened his back and stood tall, then drew the Butterfly wond. He transformed it into a sword of magic, then saluted the crowd with it, raising the pommel to his chest, blade vertical, then swept the point down to his right. The salute signaled the end of the formal ceremony.

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After an hour of congratulations, rubbing shoulders, and congeniality, the gathering broke up. While most left for home, friends, family, and special invitees, changed into party clothes as the castle staff quickly cleared the hall and set out party food and decorations.

Janna and Jackie had been put in charge of the music and decorations, in consultation with Star, resulting in a strange mix of teen and macabre music and decorations. A small orchestra and a Love Sentence cover band played for the party, although Jackie made certain the songs Just Friends and Too Little, Too Late were not on the band's playlist, making a very real threat of bodily harm to Janna if she told the band to play them anyway.

A portion of the room was set aside as a dance floor, the teens jamming and swirling to the music, like partiers at the Bounce Lounge. When traditional dance music, and even slow rock ballads, were played, even the parents took the floor to slow dance.

At everyone's insistence, the first dance of the night had been a formal ballroom style dance showcasing Star's and Marco's dancing skills. With only a little prodding necessary, the two walked to the middle of the floor, where each took a hand, while Star placed her other on Marco's shoulder and he placed his other on Star's waist. As the music started, they began to move to the music, staring lovingly into each other's eyes. The music showcased several styles, and the teen lovebird-icorns changed their dancing to suit them. They danced slowly, twirled, dipped, danced individually around each other to a salsa beat, briefly danced a suggestive tango interlude prompting a loud "be getting a room" from Rafael, to everyone's amusement, and, when the music didn't suggest a specific type of dancing, improvised. It was a showcase of partnership, each anticipating the other's moves, sometimes with Marco leading, sometimes with Star leading.

Finally, the music picked up, Star and Marco increasing the speed and athleticism of their dance moves to match. Pink, magical, butterflies began to circle the pair, soon joined by red butterflies. As they twirled and swayed, beams of magic, each a different color of the rainbow, would randomly shoot out, ending in an explosion of sparks like fireworks. When the music ended, Marco dipped Star almost to the floor, where they breathed hard and laughed joyfully.

As Marco slowly pulled Star up, the crowd began to chant, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" with Marco's parents competing with Janna and Jackie to be the loudest. Even River joined in, earning him a smack to the back of the head from his wife; Moon then clapped in time with the chant. River having been silenced, Eclipsa took up the chant on his behalf. The crowd cheered as the two shared a long, though relatively chaste, kiss.

When the pair was finished, all the couples took the floor for the following rock ballad.

When the pair-dancing was done for the moment, Star and Marco joined Janna, Jackie, and Chloe, to socialize for a bit. There was no tension between Star and Jackie; even if Jackie hadn't moved on, she wasn't about to detract from Marco's night by her behavior. A few minutes later, Kelly joined them, gushing over Star's and Marco's friendship rings and effusive in her congratulations for Marco. When Kelly began talking about a cooking contest she had entered, Janna, Jackie and Chloe left them to their conversation and crossed the room to corner Moon, who had been doing some surreptitious politicking with Buff Frog.

"Say, Moon," Janna began, "we're curious ... why Prince of the Realm and not the Butterfly Kingdom?"

"Well," Moon answered, "there's no real protocol for this. Marco, and you three, are aliens ..."

"True, but we're not illegal aliens," Janna interrupted, "at least not here." Jackie gave Janna a smack to the back of the head to Moon's approval, who knew more about Earth, and Echo Creek in particular, than she let on.

"... so I had to improvise a bit. I originally intended to make him a Butterfly Prince, but then I realized what it would look like having a Prince and Princess of the Butterfly Kingdom," a corner of Moon's mouth twitched, "cavorting in naked congress, as you humans put it."

"That's not quite how we'd put it," Janna said, "but we get the gist. We know a couple of kids that are originally from southeast Ohio."

"Ah," Moon said, amusement in her tone. "Anyway, there's no individual kingdom of Mewni, it's more a group of allied kingdoms, similar to your empires on earth with a primary kingdom and multiple vassal states. Marco being Prince of Mewni is therefore a sort of legal fiction, but given Marco's popularity and standing with the other kingdoms, especially the Monster Kingdom, we thought it might give them some pride of ownership, so to speak. And yes, before you ask, it was politics mixed with praise. I'm a queen and Marco is now a duke and a prince; everything we do is at least partly political."

The teens nodded; Janna mostly understood, while Jackie and Chloe, due to their shared interest in history, fully understood. They took their leave, Jackie soon giving Janna another smack to the back of the head. "Dude, what the heck was that about southeast Ohio? Rude! Especially since that's where Angie is originally from."

"What?" Janna replied, surprise in her voice. "Don't you remember when those kids' grandfather said to us 'I'd like to introduce you to my wife and daughter,' and he was standing next to only one woman?"

"You're making that up, and you need to stop. You're a really bad influence on Moon and Eclipsa." Jackie gestured toward Eclipsa, who was dancing wildly, a drink in each hand.

"Balderdash." Jackie raised her eyebrows at Janna using such a word. "I've helped Moon loosen up and everybody, including her, is happier for it. And Eclipsa? Well ... she was already a bad girl, I've just helped her refine it."

Shaking her head, Jackie offered her arm to Chloe and the two walked away, while Janna turned the other way to find Tom.

As the night progressed, River enjoyed himself so much he talked Moon into letting her hair down, both figuratively and literally, and joining him in showing off their less traditional dance moves. They danced like the disco dancers of a bygone era on Earth, Moon even showing some of the bumping, grinding and seductive moves she learned in her pole dancing class. Not to be outdone, Angie and Rafael showcased their hip hop dancing skills, including some athletic breaking, which very nearly ended in some actual breaking, the pair forgetting they were not as young as they used to be. Eclipsa contributed to the adult mayhem by playing guitar with the band, adding her own style of metal to their songs in the most musically inappropriate way possible.

Star and Marco were both embarrassed by, and proud of, their parents and Eclipsa.

Star threw herself into the partying with gusto. She even engaged in some childish pranks, such as pantsing Tom, and talked smack about others' dancing. She let it all hang out in her individual dancing; twirling, gyrating, and gesticulating to the music like in her Bounce Lounge days.

As the evening progressed, Star's dancing and behavior became progressively wilder, as if she was losing control of herself in the moment. The dance floor emptied of all but Star, as narwhals, cupcakes, honeybees, and other magical constructs began to fly, knocking over tables, chairs, beings, and decorations. To everybody's regret, the layout of fine cheeses chosen especially for the occasion by Brie Parmesan, the Royal Muenster Expert, was knocked to the floor and ruined. Finally, Marco's fresco took a direct hit from a Glitter Whale Battering Ram, completely obliterating the painting in a cloud of plaster dust and whale blubber.

Realizing all dancing, music and conversation had stopped, Star looked around, discovering everybody was staring at her. Slowly, it dawned on her that she was the source of the destruction she was seeing. As she turned, she saw the remnants of the fresco.

"Oh, Marco, I am so ..."

Star was interrupted by a scream of rage from the artist. "My work! My beautiful, beautiful, work!" Tears began to fall. Momentarily forgetting Star was Crown Princess, they yelled, "I can't believe you destroyed it, you horrible, horrible, girl."

Star sucked in a breath. "I'm sorry, it was an accident."

"Milady, when Queen Skywynne destroyed Dimension 811 that was an accident. You are a catastrophe!" The artist turned on their heels, storming out of the room.

"Fine," Star yelled after them, "nobody liked your stinky wall garbage anyway." Looking around, Star said, angrily, "What are you all looking at?"

"Star," Moon began, "that was very childish of you. All of this ... whatever ... is unbecoming a princess, especially now that you're grown up."

"Am I?" Star screamed. Lowering the volume, she said, "When did I grow up? I was a monster when I was supposed to be growing up. I deserve to be childish all I want. Right, Marco?"

Marco was caught off-guard. "Uhhhhh..." he began.

Star's control shattered, magic crackling about her as she descended into rage. "I didn't grow up, I spent almost two years ... no, almost fifteen years ... alone, no guidance, no growth experiences, no growing up. How the hell could you possibly know what that's like, Mister Lord General Diaz Marco of Earthni?"

Marco's temper flared at suddenly, and undeservedly, becoming the target of Star's wrath, but he just as quickly swallowed his anger. His only response was to brush his hand over his abdomen.

Star cocked her head, her brows scrunched in both anger and confusion. As she realized what he meant, her face fell. She began trembling, then shaking, then crying. In almost a whisper, she choked out, "Oh Pegasus feathers; I'm such a bad person."

Star ran to Marco, throwing her arms around him in a bear hug. Muffled by pressing her face into his shoulder, Star said, "Of course you know." As Star sobbed pitiably, the pair sank to the floor. Marco held Star, gently stroking her hair, and rocking her back and forth.

Janna wordlessly signaled the remaining guests, pointing to the door. Before each friend left, they each gave both Star and Marco squeezes on their shoulders. River kissed Star's cheek and ruffled Marco's hair. Moon, Eclipsa and Angie all gave both teens a kiss on the forehead. Rafael gathered them both into his arms, giving them a reassuring embrace; Janna did the same.

Following Rafael out, River asked, "So, Diazes, care to join me and Moonpie in a foursome?"

Throughout the night, screams and wailing echoed through the halls of Butterfly Castle, a fierce and adventuresome girl giving voice to her pain.

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Marco slowly became aware of bright, pink-tinged, golden light. Opening his eyes, he blinked several times as they adjusted, then rubbed the sleep out of them. He was in Star's room, lying in a recliner, covered by a thin blanket, as the morning sun streamed in through the window.

In the wee hours of the morning, having thoroughly exhausted herself, Star fell asleep in Marco's arms. Quietly and carefully, he had carried Star to her room, placing her in bed. After kissing her gently on the forehead, Marco took the chair from Star's desk, moving it beside her bed, as he had done many nights before as her squire, and more recently, her boyfriend, to watch over her and to chase away her nightmares. He could have retired to his own bed, but decided this night he needed to be closer, but without debasing the honor she didn't give a fig about. The last thing he remembered was turning out the light.

Marco figured that sometime later Moon, or possibly Janna, transformed the chair into a comfy recliner and laid the blanket on him. As the memory of the previous night began to find its way through his waking fuzziness, Marco realized there was no snoring coming from the bed. He turned his head, coming face to face with a smiling Star, her face no more than an inch or two from his.

"Yow!" Marco yelled, almost jumping out of his skin. Sheepishly, he said, "Sorry."

"No, I'm sorry," Star said, "but I just had to watch you."

Star's voice was barely a whisper, raspy and raw; it sounded painful. Concerned, Marco asked, "Are you okay?"

Marco couldn't believe Star's smile actually got wider. Quietly, she responded, "Except for a massive sore throat, I'm better than I've been in a very, very, long time. I guess I really needed to let all that out." Although she still smiled, it diminished in intensity. "I'm sorry I ruined your Accolade, and your fresco, and ..."

"Star," Marco interrupted, "it's great to be honored in those ways, but I care about you more. If your meltdown at my Accolade helped you, that's actually the best honor I could have received."

Star rolled onto her back, a tear streaking down her cheek at Marco's forgiveness. "I'm also sorry for continuing to need reminders that we really do make a pair. It's not just because our strengths and weaknesses mesh so well, it's because we have so many shared, or at least similar, experiences. We each truly do know what the other is going through."

"So, you've worked it all out?"

For the first time that morning, Star frowned. "Have you? Don't answer, I know you haven't, and neither have I."

Marco sighed. "Yeah. I really do know about not feeling your age. I was thirty years old in Hekapoo's Dimension, but when I saw you again, I gushed about how I'd ridden in a hot air balloon, and jet-skied off a waterfall ... kid stuff. Then when I got back and was a kid again, I couldn't remember my laptop password because, for me, it'd been sixteen years since I'd last used it. To say I felt confused would be putting it mildly."

Marco sighed again. "So many things happened there I want to forget. But, I really should have talked to you about them, I think, even before your own adventure there. You would have understood, and, regardless of everything else going on, you were still my bestie."

"We'll get through this," Star said softly, "and we'll get through this because we'll face it together."

As Star rolled onto her side, facing Marco, they joined hands. Marco said, "Well, I suppose this is as good a time as any to tell you a practice was recommended to me that has counselors with experience in PTSD. Several of them are even ex-military. It's up the road from Camp Parks and other military bases in Dublin, California, outside Oakland. It's about five hours from Echo Creek, but we can portal directly there. I haven't requested an appointment because I wanted to check with you first. Are you still okay with it?"

"Yeah," Star replied, "totally, totally, totally okay. Certainly better than the catapult."

Marco chuckled. "Maybe..."

A/N: "Hello? Yes ... I'd like to order your extra-large industrial trowel, please. I have a giant-sized barrel of Starco I need to lay on really, really, thick."

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NightAroma: ... does Omnitraxus know about Bob?

Omnitraxus has no idea about Bob due to his obsession with his Fabergé Egg collection. Just kidding. He's a crackhead ... just look at it. Just kidding, again. What the MHC members know and how they fit into Bob's little immorality play will be revealed in due course, in this universe or an alternate one.

As always, stay amazing!