"Where's Star?" King River asked Moon. She was still staring at the window, the reversal blade on the floor. She was still shocked. Marco came to her, and asked the same questions.

"Where's Star?

"Did you see her?"

What happened?"

By this time the MHC was no longer glowing red and were back to normal. Rhobulus looked confused. "Did we just froze all that time?" "Omni what just happened?" "It appears we just froze in time. But.. how? Even I can't explain it." But one thing they all understood.

The were played by the enemy… but not just any enemy.

"Why betray us like this?" Some of the knights questioned. General Krux was one of the most honored generals in the kingdom. He fought with Queen Comet, Moon's mother, and Moon herself. He was respected for his services to the royal family and the kingdom as a whole, but why betray now? It didn't made any sense as to why, atleast to the knights and even to the Butterflies.

"General Krux… why?" "Did we do something wrong to him, moonpie?"

"No… we gave him honor, riches in recognition to his services… but I don't understand. How he has gone rogue, and my daughter is..is" Moon fell to her knees, tears forming in her eyes.

" Don't cry dear, our knights will search every inch of land to find her, that's a promise." King River then proceeded to hug her wife. He didn't want to see her wife crying, seeing her weak was the worst thing River could ask for. " What if-if Krux has her-" "That will not happen dear, I promise you that."

Everyone else was silent. The betrayal of a famous and skilled general, the embarrassing display of the commission against the twins, and most importantly the loss of the future Queen of Mewni, all these things could strike a painful blow of morale to the fellow soldiers and citizens of the kingdom. The knights who witnessed the whole battle promised sealed lips as ordered by the King. The commission still stayed silent, but Marco broke it.

"It's my fault." Everyone now looked at him, they could see the guilt in his face.

"Th-They tricked me into believing some gracious lie, not to mention I got the red blade for them. Im such a fool.."

"How." "What?"

"How did you get the blade… how did you even know them at all?" Moon demanded.

" I-They-"

"Tell me now!" Moon shouted. "Woah, calm down your highness im sure Marco would tell-"

"It's because they're not from here, but from a different time."

"What?"

" How is that possible?"

" Are you joking Marco?"

"I'm not. After the incident with the blue blade, Acronix visited me while I was in Star's bed. He said that the blades chose me for some reason, choosing to avoid the butterflies and the commission. He also told me the creation of the time blades and how Skywynne somehow hid it after all these centuries."

"I knew it was true!" Omni said.

"Did he told you about their motives? Why general Krux betrayed the kingdom?" Asked River.

"Sadly, no your highness." Marco replied.

It was followed by more silence. Eventually, the king convinced everyone to take some rest and should think of a plan tomorrow. Marco, however, couldn't.

It was all my fault. Why did I even took the bait to begin with? Agh… What is their motive? They act like they have a vendetta over the royal family.

Marco fell asleep soon after. Morning soon came. Marco greeted the royal couple, smiles on their faces. But during breakfast, like so many times, there was only silence. Manfred came up the stairs and called for the Queen.

"Your highnesses, your highnesses!" "What is it Manfred?" Moon said.

"Some monster came to the castle and brought a message for Star's friend here." Manfred then looked at Marco.

"M-Me?" The servant nodded and gave him a note.

"Marco Diaz….. I have the princess in my hands. However, you must come alone if you want to see her again. The moment I see you with someone else, I will not hesitate to leave you for dead and you will never see the princess ever again, understood? The same location where you found the blade. Tick tock kid." A symbol below the note was soon followed. A very familiar symbol. A glove with two curved blades on it's sided. The time blades.

"They have my daughter!" Moon stood up. River urged her wife to calm down, Marco still stood, still looking at the note.

"I can't just sit here while our daughter is in danger River!"

"I know sweetie, but remember what the note said, no one but Marco should come." River then looked at the boy. "We can trust you right?" However Marco didn't heard him.

"Marco, m'boy?" "Oh! Yes your highness I won't fail you both." He said with a look of determination. No one kidnaps my best friend! He thought.

"Marco, please promise me, you will bring her back." Moon said, coming to Marco, her hands on his shoulders.

"Yes Queen Moon, I will. I-I promise."

After finishing breakfast, Marco made his farewells to the King and Queen, who told him to be careful. But before he could go, he asked one question.

"Umm, Queen Moon where's the reversal blade? I know that it was the royal wand before, but since then I haven't seen it since."

"The wa- reversal blade is actually still on the floor. I tried to grab it, but it somehow resisted me, only felt pain when I get closer to it with my hand. Guess you were right with that one. Why? you wanna use it?" Marco didn't tell Star's parents what the note fully said. Bring the reversal blade if you want to see her again.

"Yes. If there is no problem but-" "You can use it Marco, the blades 'chose' you after all. Just promise me you'll return it along with Star."

"T-Thank you your highness." Marco came up the stairs and saw the blade, still lying on the floor. He wore the blade with no problem, and left the castle. Im going to find you Star, no matter what it takes.

A few hours later, at the Forest of Certain Death. 6pm

The sun is setting already? Geez, that was fast. At least im getting close Marco thought. It had been hours since he left, with no sign of Star or the creator of the note. Throughout his wanderings to the forest, time and time again he felt being watched, but that could be taken care of later, what matters first is finding Star. As he was getting close to the location of the red blade, he could still see the crates it had caused, reminding himself of how he got tricked so easily by Acronix, how he thought he could help him with his situation with the time blades.

But he was right about one thing.

These blades wield tremendous power, and he has one of the in his hands. The reversal blade, formerly the royal wand. The Queen or the MHC didn't know what to do with it. The blade kept resisting them all. And if some monsters were watching him during his wonderings in the forest, they seem to have an interest on the blade.

Marco's thoughts was on halt when he heard something. Sobbing, perhaps? Then he noticed the crying was close on the crater. He slid down on the crater. He saw a figure covered in something.

Marco cautiously came close to the figure. It was crying, but why?

Marco was now in front of the figure. It was covered in a blanket. It was still crying.

He slowly lifted a blanket and…

It was a kid, crying.

"Woah there kid, why are you crying?" Marco said as the kid noticed him. The kid was about 6 or 7 years old, almost as tall as his legs. The kid kept the blanket on his/her body, it was definitely cold. At least he had a hoodie.

"Awww, isn't it cute?" Someone said. Marco looked behind him to see a bunch of monsters with weapons. This was to be expected.

"Did you created the note?" Said Marco, pointing at a monster, a bear with a robot arm on his right.

"Yeah, what about it? Boss was busy doing something else. Don't really care about it. But enough about them. Where is the blade? Did you bring it?" Marco did, and showed it to them.

"Good. Now, give it to me. Don't even think about denying It, It would only make things worse if you know what's happening to Mewni in a few weeks."

With a sigh, Marco accepted but asked a question first.

"Alright, you got me. But answer my question first, why bring a child? Where's Star?"

His question was later replied with laughter from the bear and his companions.

"You really have no clue do you?" The bear said.

"What do you mean?" Marco looked at the child, who was now cowering behind his legs, shaking.

"Don't worry kid, I'll protect you."

"Mawco, wook out!" The kid shouted

Wait…. Marco? How did- He was too distracted at what the kid said that the bear managed to punch him. The monsters laughed afterwards, thinking they would soon get the final time blade for their bosses. Marco fell to the ground. The kid ran to his side, still shaking at the monsters.

"Get up Mawco, pwease!" Said the kid. Then he/she looked at the monsters.

"Nawwhal bwast!" The kid said as he/she raised both hands, thinking something would happen. But nothing happened, more laughing occurred, more shaking from the child and urging 'Mawco'. Marco was again shocked at what the child just said.

First Marco then Narwhal blast? It-It couldn't be! How could this happen! Marco thought.

"Enough of this child!" The bear said, as he came to her and was preparing to strike the kid down.

"NO!" Marco said, then he raised his hand where the reversal blade was and shot the bear with golden energy. Woah!

.nwod dik eht ekirts ot gniraperp saw dna reh ot emac eh sa ,dias raeb ehT "!dlihc siht fo hguonE"

.thguoht ocraM !neppah siht dluoc woH !eb t'ndluoc tI-tI ?tsalb lahwraN neht ocraM tsriF

.dias tsuj dlihc eht tahw ta dekcohs niaga saw ocraM .'ocwaM' gnigru dna dlihc eht morf gnikahs erom ,derrucco gnihgual erom ,deneppah gnihton tuB .neppah dluow gnihtemos gnikniht ,sdnah htob desiar ehs/eh sa dias dik ehT "!tsawb lahwwaN"

.sretsnom eht ta dekool ehs/eh nehT .dik eht diaS "!esaewp ,ocwaM pu teG"

.sretsnom eht ta gnikahs llits ,edis sih ot nar dik ehT .dnuorg eht ot llef ocraM .sessob rieht rof edalb emit lanif eht teg noos dluow yeht gnikniht ,sdrawretfa dehgual sretsnom ehT .mih hcnup ot deganam raeb eht taht dias dik eht tahw ta detcartsid oot saw eH -did woH ?ocraM .…tiaW

detuohs dik ehT "!

"Mawco, Wook out!" The kid shouted. He got the child's warning, as he ducked through the bear's robot fist, and knocked the bear out.

"H-How?" "Reversal blade, duh." Marco replied, then he looked at the monsters.

"Anyone else want a taste of this?" Apparently all wanted a taste, as they rushed down upon him. After an hour of fighting with weapons and karate moves, Marco finally prevailed as the monsters flee.

"This isn't the end boy! Soon a war will come!" The bear warned before running away.

Marco looked relieved while she kept cheering. After the fight, she ran to Marco.

"Mawco, Mawco, you did it! YAY!" She later pounced on one of Marco's legs.

"Hugs!" While the child was smiling to him, Marco was just staring at her, definitely at her now, wide eyed.

"Uhhh kid? Can you remove that blanket? I can let you wear my hoodie if you're cold." Marco requested.

"Okay!" She later removed the blanket, and Marco's worst nightmares has come to pass.

The child had a blond hair tied into ponytails, has the same sky blue dress somehow reduced to her size, and the little devil horn headband on her head.

"S-S-Star?! Wh-What happened to you?"

"Im cowd Mawco." Marco quickly remembered the promise he gave her and let her wore his hoodie. She giggled as she wore Marco's hoodie.

"Wook! Wook! Im you now, hehe!" Star said as he kept playing with his hoodie, but Marco was too preoccupied.

So, Star's a child now… okay… but how? Maybe the blades have something to do with this…. I can't do this! Im not gonna babysit my best friend!

Marco then noticed Star reaching her hands on something.

"Mawco! Can ya pick me! I'm tiwed." Star said as she was yawning. This was awkward in so many ways.

"O-Ok then.." "Yay!" She said as Marco picked her up, then she hugged him. Marco blushed.

Queen Moon's gonna kill me once she sees this….

Whoops, looks like Star's a child now! hehe. Hope he has fun taking care of her best friend! What would her parents do once they see their daughter? Thanks for reading :)