Crescent Moons
The campsite was divided. Eclipsa, weakened from using magic, sat on one end with Star, who insisted on tending her injuries, while Moon stayed on the other. Marco looked back and forth between them and settled for staying in the center.
Star and Moon had gotten into another big argument. Moon wanted to find whatever provisions they could to escape and leave Mewni. Star refused to go anywhere without standing up to Mina, especially not before finding their family and friends. Even once Eclipsa managed to get them to stop, the two refused to speak or even look at each other, which in some ways was worse than the yelling.
The already dying fire ceased completely when it started to rain. Without hesitation, Star helped Eclipsa up and led her to their makeshift tent.
"Come on- let's get you warmed up." They disappeared momentarily, and Marco got to his feet. Star reappeared looking at him. "You coming or staying?"
Marco glanced in Moon's direction. "What about your mom?"
He flinched at Star's scowl. "I don't care what she does." She shivered. "Marco, are you coming in or not?"
With one last look at the retired queen, Marco followed Star inside. He was immediately wrapped in warmth by Star's hearth spell, and suddenly very sleepy he relaxed into it. He stared at the little red glow without seeing it as Star and Eclipsa engaged in quiet conversation.
Marco had witnessed Star fight with her mom on numerous occasions, but those had been over minor disagreements. This time, there was anger and hurt and betrayal on a level that could cause damage to more than just feelings. The hatred he saw in Star's eyes scared him- the hatred she had for her own mother.
Of course, Marco understood where Star was coming from, and he stood by her on it. To find out Moon had ordered Mina to rampage the kingdom and attack Eclipsa was as much of a shock to him as to anyone else, and he shared a portion of the betrayal Star no doubt was dealing with. But he also understood as poor as Moon's choices were, they came from a place of love. Sitting there, watching Star lay a blanket on Eclipsa's shoulders, discussing their next plan of action with that stony facial expression, Marco knew she was in no position to hear this. But maybe the dear old queen was.
Marco slipped quietly outside the tent. He pulled his hood over his head and scanned the campsite. Moon wasn't where he last saw her. Walking to that spot, he looked beyond the trees and saw something glimmer in the bushes. Bending down, he recognized one of Moon's earrings, and picking it up he pushed through the undergrowth.
The Forest of Certain Death was eerily calm. No wind stirred the tree leaves, and no creature made a sound. Even the giant fly traps remained stationary, laying their razor sharp mouths open as if they were dead. Mina's takeover wasn't affecting just the kingdom- it was affecting all of Mewni.
Thorns tugged at his pants and Marco winced. He tried moving forward, but as if denying his attempts, the briars pulled him in deeper. Struggling seemed to make it worse, and Marco started to panic.
"Star!" He cried out, the plants wrapping around his limbs and soon his mouth. Marco was nearly submerged in the bushes when someone's hand snatched his in an iron grip.
"Hold on!" Moon grunted, digging her heels in the dirt as she roughly yanked Marco free. He sat, taking a moment to catch his breath, and noticed Moon doing the same.
"What are you doing out here?" Moon said finally while getting to her feet. "It's dangerous traveling in these woods alone."
"Well, you're alone," Marco pointed out, dusting off his hoodie.
Moon narrowed her eyes but said nothing else on the subject. "You should go back, where it's safe." She turned and started to walk away, but Marco went after her.
"Where are you going?" He asked, stepping over a log.
"That's none of your concern," Moon responded curtly.
Marco ducked to avoid a low-hanging branch. "You're going to find Mina, aren't you?" He huffed as he narrowly avoided colliding with a fallen tree. Climbing over it, he gasped, "You're going to try to regain her control!"
Her tone laced with annoyance, Moon replied, "Go back to the campsite, Marco."
"Not until you give me some answers!"
Moon stopped walking and Marco did the same. Stiffly, she rounded on him, and expecting a sudden burst of anger or frustration, Marco was caught off guard to instead see Moon's eyes brimming with tears.
"I must make amends for my mistakes." Any pain and misery he saw in her was turned to a strict face of stone in the blink of an eye. "Even if that means sacrificing my own life."
It took a moment for Marco to process her words. "Mina's gonna want more than that. You saw what she did- she won't stop at Eclipsa, much less you."
"If it's all I can do to protect Star, so be it." Moon said in a murmur.
Marco's insides clawed with frustration. "But that's a suicide mission!" He ran around to block Moon's path. "You'd only be doing Mina a favor!"
She pushed past him like he wasn't there. "You're not going to stop me."
Marco went ahead of her again and held his arms out. "What about Star?" He exclaimed. "Are you really going to just abandon her like this?"
Moon was affronted. "Pardon me, young man-"
"Hey- no!" Marco shook his head in an instant. "You're not allowed to talk to me like that. Not after what you did!"
"I can talk to you however I like!" Moon declared.
Marco took in a patient breath and straightened. "You betrayed your people and your family." His voice dropped to one of disbelief. "Don't you even feel a little guilty?"
Moon's eyes darkened. "Step aside, boy."
A day ago, Marco never would have dreamed of disobeying Mewni's previous Queen Moon. Now, he furrowed his brows and rooted his shoes in the soil. "I'm not going anywhere."
Moon shot him a fierce look. "When did you start objecting to the demands of the queen?"
Marco snapped, "But you're not the queen anymore. Eclipsa is!" He took a step forward, and Moon took a step back. "None of you are royalty, not by right! Star's accepted that. River's accepted that. Why haven't you?"
Moon huffed, "I don't have time for this." She raised her fists and pointed them at Marco. He realized too late what she was doing as a blinding ray shot from Moon's hands and blasted him in a world of light. Marco tumbled across the clearing and rolled onto his side, stunned. The flapping of Moon's wings drew closer, and he listened as she charged up a second blast. Without knowing what he was doing Marco got up and threw his arms forward. His vision went white as he deflected the attack, and it ricocheted off him going right back at Moon.
The Butterfly fell backwards with a grunt. She raised her head and stared at Marco. Crescent moons glowed on his cheeks and his blank eyes were fixed coarsely ahead. As soon as they appeared their light faded away and Marco swayed on his feet, looking even more surprised than Moon.
"What- how did you- without a wand-" Moon breathed, unable to believe what she witnessed. Thereafter she shook her head. "Nevermind. I'm getting distracted from what really matters."
She went further into the woods, and Marco stumbled after. "Wait," he panted, raising an arm to stop her. "You don't have to do this-"
Another beam of light hit him, and Marco slipped out of consciousness. The next thing he knew he was facing the night sky, dazed and aching, though he couldn't have been out for long. Moon hovered above him, wings out, eyes white, and hands glowing.
"This ends today," Moon boomed in a voice that wasn't hers. "Win or lose, I will face Mina, and I won't allow myself to be hindered by a child."
She lifted her hands again, preparing another blast, but a flash of yellow light intercepted it. Star counterattacked Moon's strike with a ray of her own, and pushing all six arms out she knocked her mother back into a cluster of trees. Face twisted in fury, Star flew over the spot Moon landed in, her stance rigid.
"First you conspire with Mina, then you attack Marco!" Without waiting for a response, Star shot more beams, and Moon grunted and faltered. The ex-queen folded her wings and shrunk to the dirt, her butterfly form wearing away, and pausing her assault Star stood before her coldly.
Moon fell in a coughing fit, slowly lifting her head to gaze at her daughter. "Star, please listen to me-"
But Star silenced her with a glowing hand. "Why should I listen to you? I can't even trust you!"
"I know," weakly Moon sat up on her knees. "You have every right to be angry, to- to hate me-" she choked a little at the word but pressed on. "I've done some terrible things. I see that now. But everything I've done was to protect you."
Star groaned ferociously. "Again with the whole 'protecting' thing! Mom, I've grown up. I don't need you to try to keep me safe! I can take care of myself, make my own decisions, and live my own life!"
"Yes, dear," despite herself, Moon chuckled a small laugh. "That's why I have to go."
Something in Star's face changed. "What?"
Moon bent her head down and said nothing. Star lowered her guard and went to the ground, transforming back to her Mewman form. A short distance away Marco managed to sit up, putting a hand on his head and watching anxiously.
Moon coughed some more, but then she smiled sorrowfully. "You're all grown up," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "You would have made an excellent queen. A much better one than I."
Star didn't reply, and Moon went on. "I'm sorry, Star. I'm sorry for the secrets, for conspiring behind your back, for not telling you everything and for not treating you like the strong, young woman you've become." A single tear rolled down her cheek. "All your life, I've dedicated myself to keeping you safe. Now I understand that I'm only getting in the way of what you want to live for." Cautiously Moon got to her feet, and Star tensed. Looking at her daughter face to face, Moon smiled. "I love you, Star. And that's why I have to leave."
Star didn't move, her expression revealing nothing. Moon reached an arm out, thought better of it, and drew away. She closed her eyes and took a long breath. "I wish you happiness, my Shining Star."
Moon turned her back and walked away. For the first few moments, Star remained where she was. Then she set her jaw.
"No."
Taken aback, Moon whirled around. Star stomped towards her, a fire in her eyes. "No! You don't wish me happiness!"
Stricken in shock, Moon spoke pleadingly. "Star, I only want what's best for you-"
"No, you don't!" Star's voice broke and she threw herself at her mother, arms wrapping around her waist tightly. "If you did, you wouldn't leave me!"
Moon froze. Star breathed fitfully against her chest, and gradually, carefully, Moon returned the embrace. Sniffing, Moon kissed her daughter's head and brought her nearer.
Star was the first one to pull away. "Mom." Steady and calm, she held Moon's shoulders at arm's length. "I'm really glad you want to give me space. But that doesn't mean I want you gone forever." She paused and took a breath. "If we're going to face Mina, we have to do it together."
Moon gave a tiny nod. "You're right." She ran an arm across her face. "If only I was as wise as you at your age."
Solemnly Star stepped away. "But it's going to take a while for me to regain your trust."
Moon swallowed hard. "I understand."
She stayed sitting on the ground, and Star looked around the clearing. "Marco!" She ran to him and skidded on her knees, checking over him worriedly.
Carefully Marco sat up. "Hey, Star," he wheezed, and Star scowled.
"Don't you 'hey Star' me." She forced his arms forward and looked them up and down. "Are you okay? What were you thinking, going after my mom alone like that?"
Marco grimaced as she touched his head. "I'm fine," he insisted upon her uneasy look. "I was just worried that you guys would be fighting forever, and… as much as Moon deserves it, I knew that you wouldn't want her to go." He glanced at his shoes. "It'd make you miserable."
Star shrugged. "'Miserable' might be a strong word, but… yeah." She smiled shyly. "Thanks, Marco."
He smiled back, and Star yanked him in a hug. Marco relaxed at her touch and held her close.
"I'm glad you guys made up." He mumbled into her hair.
Star shut her eyes and nestled under Marco's chin. "Me too."
The night passed by as they embraced, and soon Star shifted so she could look at Marco. "Nice cheek marks, by the way."
"Wha-?" Marco touched his face, and Star giggled.
"Little crescent moons. So cute."
A/N: Random plot bunny that doesn't necessarily fit with the plotline, but I like the idea of Marco confronting Moon over her actions. To clarify I don't think Marco is magical, but since he's used the royal wand once I figured why not have a bit of its effects still?
And if anyone is wondering why Moon attacked Marco, she wasn't intending on actually hurting him. She did it because she felt he was hindering her from protecting Star, who I believe she would do anything for, even if it meant using magic against friends and family.
Couldn't resist putting in a little Starco at the end. Let me know what you think!