A red hue shines around the environment of a broken world, a timeline where everything in the Demon Realm has crumbled. The realm is in complete utter chaos with no water in sight. No ground to stand on. No civilian in sight, outside two figures; 2 variants of The Collector. One being choked by the other

"What…do…you…want?..." He manages to say, confused yet terrified at how another version of themselves can overpower them.

"What universe am I in?" Asked The Collector #404 with what sounded like 2 voices layered underneath one another.

"I-I…don't…know!" Collector #518 said, leaving the other unconvinced. The Collector #404 floats higher to the sky as its chokehold on Collector #518 increases. "Ok! Ok! I'll tell you if you let go!" Collector #518 managed to say with the last remaining oxygen they had. Collector #404 quickly let's go.

"Now, tell me."

"Y-You're…- You're in…Universe #518…Variant #1000289. Happy now?" Collector #518 said, gasping for air.

"Not yet." Collector #404 uses a draining spell to drain out all of the power that #002 had. #518 screams in pain as their eyes and skin become faded before exploding into a pile of mush. #404 absorbed everything #518 had, becoming more powerful.

"Almost there."

The alarm echoes throughout the building, signaling an invasion of some sort. Everyone jumps out of the way for 2 crucial members of the faculty. They are suiting up and arming themselves to prepare for battle.

"What's the intel on this?!" One of them asked.

"Ma'am! Some powerful being is about to invade Universe #516!" One of the soldiers informed the 2 members

"It must be them." The other suggested.

"If so, we must reach #516 immediately. Open the portal now!"

They pull the switch, powering the portal which opens to their destination; the Boiling Isles. They leap into the portal, prepared to defend.

–

"Another dream…" Awoke the princess from what used to be another dimension as Mariah Carey's Fantasy plays on her radio. She got up from her bed, ignoring the television showcasing the daily news reports of deaths that have happened since the merge of both worlds, with even the news reporter being murdered live.

The music drowns out the newscast as the princess prepares her breakfast…well at least tries since she doesn't have magic anymore. After some attempts which go from making weird milky pancakes to almost burning down the castle, Star Butterfly finally makes pancakes.

After eating, Star makes her way out of the castle so she could go for a walk. While traveling, she peaks over the windows to see protestors outside the castle. They all hold banners with vulgar statements, accusing Star and her family of being psychopaths, murders, and even calling for executive action against them.

"Just another day…." Star sighs, alerting the guards that she is going outside to walk around the castle despite their warnings not to do so. She paused the music to continue listening to it on her phone.

The second she steps outside the castle, Star resumes the music as the protestors come face to face with the princess, screaming at the top of their lungs at Star as they see her earphones on her. Star tries her best to enjoy the music despite the screaming until someone throws a bucket of red paint on her dress. Star instinctively took off her earphones, ready to shout at the person before remembering what she faced. A horde of protestors yelling at her.

"Murder! Murder Murder! Murder!" The protestors chanted over and over again. All Star could do is just stand there, and accept the reality of the situation: She messed up everything.

"Burgers and authentic Mexican horchata for two." The cashier blandly stated with several burns and bite marks all over their exposed skin.

"Since when did this authentic Mexican restaurant sell burgers?" Marco asks.

"When business here died down a lot, literally." The cashier explains, pointing out the blatant now brown blood stain below Marco.

"O-Oh, thanks anyways!"

"Whatever." The service worker said, rolling their eyes

Marco makes his way to the table where he and Star are seated. All the while everyone in the outdoor restaurant stares at him. Marco successfully ignores the stares from the sea of people but soon struggles as he could hear whispers coming from those who watch him. All of which involved them questioning how Marco could even date such a person who a massive kill count to downright insulting him. He is saddened for a moment before trying his best to keep a persona of his former self as he arrives at Star.

"Hey Star! Our burgers are finally ready!" Marco placed the tray in front of Star. He tries to take a bite before seeing that Star has yet to move a muscle since their visit to the restaurant. "Star, are you okay?"

"What does it look like, Marco?" Star pointed at her outfit, still painted red from earlier.

"Oh. Why didn't you change into something else?"

"Ugh!" Star facepalms her face to the table, groaning in both pain and annoyance.

"Come on, Star. You did what you had to stop Mina and save Mewni." Marco reassured, placing both of his hands on Star's shoulders.

"We didn't stop Mina, we just delayed the threat. Her prejudiced ideals still remain. But now everyone is focusing on my crimes; murdering every magical being and separating everyone from their friends and families. There must've been another way, right? Or at least something to redeem myself from all of this…"

"I-I…I don't know, Star. But no matter what, I'll be there for you, Star." Marco softly rubs the side of his hand against Star's cheek, lifting her bangs away to see her eyes. For a moment, Star briefly smiled however it quickly dissipated. Star pushed Marco's hand away, getting up and walking away from the table.

Marco tried to reach out to Star but let her go. He figured it was best to leave Star alone for a while. Although heartbroken to see her leave, Marco was used to it since the start of their relationship.

"Hey, Marco! No time no see!" Janna yelled, punching Marco on his shoulder after running towards him. However, Marco didn't seem to react to being hit by Janna.

"What is it now, Janna…."

"Can't we just be around a friend who's clearly in the dumps?" Tom asks, suddenly sitting next to Marco.

"Come on, guys, your bad boy attitude isn't enough to make me feel like this is just an ordinary day," Marco said, rolling his eyes. The two chuckle with one another until someone throws a cup full of horchata at Janna.

"Hey! Who's the motherfucker that threw this?!" Tom said, full of rage as he looked around to see a great number of customers just ignoring him. "I said, who's the motherfucker who threw this?!" Tom repeats himself before seeing someone laughing.

"Hey, you! Was this your doing?!" Tom grabs the person by the collar of their shirt, ready to punch him in the face before being stopped by Marco and Janna.

"Dude, stop! You're just making things worse!"

"This fucker attacked us! If this pussy as bitch didn't want to start fights they shouldn't be throwing shit!" Tom reasoned, ready to punch the person before stopping at the sight of an old friend.

"Please leave them alone."

"Jackie…" Marco said, shocked at the sight of Jackie and even Chloe being in the same place as him. "Hey-"

"I think you should leave before management comes and bans you three." Chloe blocked Marco from speaking to Jackie. Marco looked at Jackie to see if this was out of concern for them, but looking at Jackie's eyes that said 'please leave us alone,' he didn't protest. He walked back to his table and threw away the food before leaving with Janna and Tom.

"Woah, hey Marco. Aren't you hungry?" Tom shared a level of concern for Marco since he clearly felt torn apart from that exchange between him and his ex-girlfriend.

"Not anymore."

"Oh, come on, Marco, lighten up!"

"Lighten up? Lighten up?! How can I possibly lighten up when my life is falling apart?! I have no friends besides you two, and It's been months since Star and I have been able to do anything romantic. Hell, we haven't even kissed since our confession!" Marco snapped, yelling at Janna before realizing his attitude got out of control. "Sorry, I…"

"No, it's fine. I deserved it. I'm just not good at these kinds of things, you know?" Janna's mood changed, saddened at how much she's starting to come to terms with the new reality of her world.

"We're all in the same boat. All my friends didn't want to talk to me anymore after knowing that I'm still friends with Star." Tom explained, finally snapping out from his fantasy world.

"I guess this is our life now…I wish we could get a second chance." Marco kicked a pebble as they all walked away from the restaurant but what he said struck a nerve with Janna, remembering that she has info about something that could grant his wish.

"What if I say there was a way to fix everything?" Janna smirked.

"Huh?"

Star was back home again, completely alone. She wore her pajamas despite the sun still shining down on Earth. Star was switching channel after channel on her television. While looking for anything interesting to distract her actions, something from the heavens decided to form a message from her switching channels.

"Star. This. Is. All. Your. Fault. You. Cold-blood killer!"

She sighs, turning off the TV to just sit there and listen to the sound of nothingness. Surrounded by her thoughts, what she'll do to change everything, take it all back to restore what it once was. Maybe even try to take a different route to defeat Mina.

"Hey, Star!" Marco suddenly appears behind Star, causing her to jump and instinctively try to use a spell, thinking the TV remote was her wand. "Woah! Woah! Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!"

"Marco! How did you get in here without me knowing?!"

"The guards know I'm dating you, sooooo-"

"What do you want, Marco?"

"Alright, so let me present you with an idea; what if we get a second chance at doing something we regret without needing magic?"

"But to do anything close to what you're saying requires some form of magic, Marco."

"Yet, what modern archaeology has found doesn't need magic!" Marco cheered, leaving Star confused.

"Let me explain! So recently, Janna found that archaeologists worldwide have discovered ancient artifacts left behind by ancient citizens from Mewni. Telling a tale about a mysterious fortress housing a being who belongs to neither of our worlds. Once every blood moon, it comes to life, granting wishes to those who have the closest connection to it. However, no one has seen it since then."

"Wait, how did Janna and Tom find out about this info?" Star asked.

"Janna has her ways," Marco replies, fearful of what else Janna knows.

"Hm…how old are the artifacts?"

"Over 300 years…old.…" Marco and Star look at each other, both realizing that a certain someone might know about this. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Let's go!"

Eclipsa Butterfly. Formerly known as the Queen of Evil, she now lives on the outskirts of Los Angeles. As her husband, Globgor plays with their daughter, Eclipsa works in her small garden. Unknown to them, Star was about to make a surprise entrance.

"Um…hey, Eclipsa." Star greets her, waving at her. Eclipsa turns to see her and gasps.

"Oh, goodness, Star! It's been so long since I have seen you!" Eclipsa pushes her tools away, rushing toward Star to hug her. Globgor notices the two hugging and decides to greet the two while holding his daughter in his arms.

"Star! Meteora and I missed you!" Globgor said, hugging Star after she finished hugging Eclipsa.

"Yeah, it's been a while! I can see that you two settled down since the merge and that Meteora got bigger." Star chuckles with Eclipsa and Globgor following suit.

"So, is there a reason why you decided to come to visit me, dear?"

"Yeah, I have a question regarding your past-"

"Oh, come on, is there anything important you need to know? I thought my dumps of trauma were enough already." Eclipsa laughs at herself, returning to tend to her garden.

"Well, I wanted to see if you know about this certain old thing that you guys did back in your time involving this fortress and blood moon."

"Star, what are you talking about?" Globgor asks, concerned about how familiar it sounded.

"About a fortress that people would go and get their wish granted by this being that isn't made of magic," Star said.

Eclipsa dropped all of her tools, stopping what she was doing. Star worried that she may have touched something sensitive about her past.

"I mean, if it's a touchy topic then I think it's really best to forget what I wanted to ask-"

"What do you want with the Blood Moon Fortress?" Both Eclipsa and Globgor asked, shocked that Star even knows about it.

"I-I…Look, things haven't been great with our family. The people keep protesting outside our doorstep, vandalizing our castle and even us to a certain extent. The cops aren't taking action against the death threats I receive. And I think it's a matter of time before our world governments turn against us. What we… What I did was a mistake."

"We did what we needed to do to keep Mewni safe."

"But at the cost of murdering and separating millions of innocent people. It's time for us to stop being in denial and accept that our world is in shambles because of me. Each day, it seems like we are a step closer to pitting ourselves against each other. So please, take me to the Blood Moon Fortress before the moon turns back to normal."

Eclipsa hesitated for a bit, turning to look at Globgor and her daughter, thinking of the possible chance of never seeing both of them if she takes Star to the fortress to fulfill her wish.

"All I want is to wish myself a second chance, a chance to save Mewni truly. I'll make sure it ends with you 3 together again." Star comforted Eclipsa, holding out her pinky finger to make a promise to make sure she maintains her future. Eclipsa still hesitated before Globgor rubbed the back of her shoulder. She sighs and lifts her pinky up to Star's.

"Promise?"

"Promise"

Eclipsa cuts the leaves in her way to make their way to the Blood Moon Fortress quicker. Following her are Star, Marco, Janna, and Tom, who are on high alert for any government officials or monsters that await in the Forest of Certain Death, especially when the only source of light comes from the bright red moon and their flashlights.

"So, how do you know about the Blood Moon Fortress, Eclipsa?" Marco asked to fill in the dead air around them.

"I heard some of the local tales about the fortress long ago when I was with my husband back then. I tried my best to get my wish granted so I can forever be with Glogor, but before I could even get the chance to talk to it, the guards almost found me."

"And you never tried again afterward?"

"I haven't since several people who discuss the tale would vanish, leaving no traces. Only to be found dead months later." Eclipsa explains as they continue their way to the deep forest. However, after some time, Tom and Janna feel a sense of hollowness underneath their shoes. They walked off from the area in fear of failing inside a hole.

"Uh, guys! The ground is hollow!" Tom yelled out, carrying Janna who had jumped into his arms. Eclipsa goes to where the two were on, knocking on the ground to confirm her suspension.

"We're here," Eclipsa states, stomping onto the ground to open a way in. As the ground starts crumbling, Eclipsa runs off quickly before she could've fallen in. After some time, the collapsing of the dirt ends, and she continues to lead the way.

"Are you sure this is safe?" Tom asked nervously as they entered the tunnel.

"As long as you don't make sudden movements in the tunnel, we should be fine." Eclipsa answers, lighting up the tunnel with her flashlight.

The group slowly and carefully makes their way to the tunnel, avoiding all sorts of roots and sharp rocks around them. Soon enough though, they arrive at the Blood Moon Fortress. A giant structure with several towers overlooking the area with old rusty canons that seem built within the fortress.

"Wow, can't believe this was hidden for this long," Marco said, in disbelief that this is now a part of Earth.

"Looks about the same as it did when I first saw it." Eclipsa was equally as awed by the structure as everyone else. She stopped looking at it when Star didn't seem to move one bit. "So, I guess this is goodbye for now."

"W-What? What do you mean?"

"Star, in that fortress, is nothing but a block of see-through metal that holds the being," Eclipsa explained to Star, with everyone looking at her, ready to say their goodbyes.

"Hey, Star. Try not to change too much, alright?" Janna softly punched Star's shoulder with both of them chuckling.

"Tom."

"Star…um. Don't get yourself killed, please." Tom rubbed the back of his head, while Star hugged him before lastly talking to Marco.

"Do what Tom said, don't get yourself killed, ok?" Marco placed his hand on Star's cheek with Star doing the same.

"I'll try my best." Star gave presumably her last kiss to Marco, for now at least. She walked backward, still looking at Marco's worrisome eyes before facing herself at the fortress. Star took one deep breath before entering the Blood Moon Fortress.

"Hello?" Star asked as soon as the doors closed, leaving her to the great dark abyss of an old 16th-century defense structure.

"Oh my! A friend! Finally, a brand new friend!" A shadow soon appears as the light from the metal shines bright.

"Why hello there, friend!" Star greets the shadow, matching their cheerful mood.

"You have no idea how much I've been dying to see someone come by and talk to me!" The shadow giggles, moving closely to Star. "May I ask for your name?!"

"My name is Star, Star Butterfly." She answers, smiling at them. "May I have your name?"

"Hmmm, Sombra!"

"Ooo, cool name!"

"So what brings you today, human?" Sombra asks.

"Oh, I'm not human. I'm Mewman."

"Right! I forgot about that! You know, since it's been about 200 years since I last spoke with someone!" Sombra laughs at themselves for their mistake.

"Can't blame you there. Everybody from your time period are all dead, and no one remembers this fortress existed until now."

"Then why are you here today, ma'am," Sombra asks, giving a bland smile at Star, who struggled to get the words out. "I sense a feeling of guilt."

"H-How did you.…" Star questioned, still not being able to speak.

"It's one of the many powers I learned to use to help the many people that came here. Sometimes they struggle to say what they're going through in life."

"Oh, well…then I guess you know why I'm sure."

"I take a guess, but truthfully I don't know the exact who, what, and how."

"I'm here because I-I…I want a second chance on a decision that I made that I thought would save millions without thinking of the consequences. As a result of making that decision, I've lost countless friends, leaving me with only Marco, Janna, and Tom. They're the only friends I have left, and we only have each other. I know they're all in pain, missing the friends they used to have but are putting on a smile to distract themselves from the reality of the world I created."

As Star recounts the events following the merger of Mewni and Earth, Sombra seemingly starts to be saddened by her story. Being unable to focus on looking at her.

"And you want a second chance to change a decision to better your future…" Sombra seems to continue Star's tale, confusing her a bit. Star looks at Sombra, seeing that they wiped a tear out but changes their mood after noticing that Star was looking at them.

"Well, it sounds like what you're wishing for requires a simple time travel spell."

"Is that possible, though? Without the use of magic?"

"Please, I don't need your world's magic when I have my own!" Sombra quickly used an illusion spell to change the interior of the fortress back into its original form 400 years ago. "See? Like all the tales of me say: I'm not from any worlds you people know."

"W-Wow." Star gasps in awe, looking at the fortress's beautiful historical interior before asking the big important question. "Does this mean that you'll help?"

"Hmmmmm…depends," Sombra asks.

"Depends on what?"

"Am I really that forgotten from your world?"

"Yeah, for the most part, and we planned to hide this place since we didn't get permission from the government to search for the fortress," Star answers, letting Sombra think of something they have planned to do for a while.

"I have a proposition; I'll send you back to your desired time if you do one thing for me."

"What do I have to do?"

"Free me," Sombra said, smiling at Star. Before Star could even ask how she could free Sombra, they gave Star back her magic. "There, you now have your magic back! Now, if you do, please free me! I'm tired of being lonely in this cold, forsaken, forgotten fortress! I gotta see the world that I've been missing for the past thousand years!"

Star took a moment to see the hearts return to her cheeks, seeing that her old wand returned suddenly in her hands. She admired it for a moment, in disbelief that this was even happening. However, she brought her focus back to Sombra, imprisoned in the see-through metal. Star took a deep breath, pointing her wand at them, and finally used the spell after months of missing magic.

"Supersonic Leech Bomb!" Star shouted, running around the metal as the leeches surrounded it. Once the countdown reaches 0, it explodes in a massive glazing green explosion, causing Star to duck to cover and scare the 4 of her friends who are still waiting for Star.

Star peaks over the rock she took cover in to see the metal explode to nothingness. Sombra's hand reaches from the sight of the explosion, trying to pick themselves up. The second Star saw Somra's true form, and her jaw dropped.

"Judging by your look, it seems like you noticed something familiar about me." They smirked

"It wasn't a dream…."

"Correct, it was a vision from the future!" Said the one, the only; The Collector #404.

"N-No…no! No! No! No!" Star tried to reason that this wasn't real. That this was some sort of nightmare, but the second The Collector starts up a fire spell, she knew this was all real. Star quickly fired back with a Rainbow Blast, alerting her friends and rushing to her aid.

"Star, what happened?!" Marco yelled out as he and the others ran inside the fortress. Once they met face to face with The Collector #404, they froze in fear. What they saw was a horrific demon with complete yellow eyes that glowed, sharp nails from her blue and yellow hands, a shadowy mist that followed them wherever they went, and their body always twisting and turning in ways no human can bend as they moved.

"Why hello there possible victims of my torture!" The Collector says, summoning a large lance made out of the bones buried within the fortress and throwing it at the group. Everyone moved out of the way except for Janna. She was impaled directly into the heart, torn away from her chest.

The heart still beats for a moment before stopping, realizing that the veins have been severed from Janna's body. In her last moments of living without a heart, Janna looked at Tom with fearful eyes, scared of what awaited her after death. Tom screamed out Janna's name as she fell to her knees, dying as her brain processed the fact that her heart is now gone.

"You…you fucking bastard!" Star used another Rainbow Blast to attack The Collector, with them reflecting it to her, having her be launched across the wall as the result of the impact.

"Oh, that's rich coming from the fool that set me free!" The Collector #404 laughs manically the way a typical 90s villain would laugh. Soon though, the laughter stops as they fall to the floor. Their head twitches before doing a 360 spin, seemingly causing them to switch personalities from a craze psychotic slasher from the 80s to that of an emotionless husk of a person.

"We don't have time for this." The Collector #404 said with its new persona. Ignoring the possible victims of their massacre to focus on forming a portal to another universe. "You have served your purpose, Star Butterfly. You are no longer needed, unfortunately."

As The Collector #404 begins to step into the new portal that they formed, Star soon runs after them with Marco and Tom not too far behind. Eclipsa tries to stop them to no avail. They disappear to another universe in a split second alongside the portal.

"No, no, no! What have I done?…"