*Psst, sorry if I seemed mean spirited in the previous chapter. As it turned out Daron had another reason for not just getting them together. She wanted to depict people learning that they belonged with each other even when trying it with other people. Could it have been done better... obviously, but it's... less painful so to speak when you hear the reason. So what if she failed with the Love Triangle, at least she was trying... I think. Ahem, anyways back to business.*

"Alright you lot, get the drakes in here. We need to keep the portal open as little as possible to insure Heckapoo doesn't find us." Dumnorix barked out the orders to his warriors as they finished pilling up most of the equipment they had. "Baby, if you would do the honors?" He gestured to the main room with Baby nodding.

The crystal in her head glowed brightly before she zipped forward with superhuman speed enlarging the chamber. Normally they didn't go this big due to room instability with dirt collapsing rather easily, but they weren't going to be here for much longer. As Baby finished Dumnorix tried to take measure of her again and failed yet again. He shrugged that off as Baby spoke up moving to the entry way.

"Alright, let's go collect the Tremorfidian crystal and get our Froggy infiltrator." Dumnorix nodded as they walked off with the silence lasting only a few seconds before he spoke up.

"We may need to change tactics if Moon was able to find us." Baby sighed and nodded replying.

"We can't exactly change too much though and if we were to change it what would we change it into. The Changewings aren't exactly trained enough to stand guard duty yet so there's always a chance they could be spotted." Dumnorix nodded in consent to that with Baby continuing. "Although those 'ghillie' suits were a great idea, where'd you get it from?" Dumnorix chuckled as he replied.

"Ironically from Monsters as they had been hiding from us for centuries before the War of Moonlight Shadow. It is right to learn even from your enemies." Baby nodded before they moved along for a minute more. "Say, where'd you get your mark from?" Baby looked at him confused until Dumnorix pointed to his eyepatch. "Got mine from a mob of Monster/Mewman peasants while defending the remnants of house Septimus when they came to join us during the Red Winter. Kind of embarrassing to be honest." Baby shrugged as she replied.

"Marks are usually gotten through a lack of judgment or underestimating your opponent, which is where I got mine. You know of how I once served the Butterfly family and how I left?" Dumnorix nodded knowing that Baby once was an evaluator for the Butterfly heirs when it came to magical prowess. There was a rather famous story of how Baby had remained in service when Moon was crowned and didn't kick up a fuss until Moon was with child from Toffee; Dumnorix still shuddered at the thought of those two together like 'that'. Baby had proposed they abort the child as it was best for the Butterfly lineage, citing compelling evidence in Dumnorix's opinion, but the Monster whore was adamant about it. So Baby quit claiming that this was the last straw after all of what the lizard and the queen had done. "Well there is more to that story. After I left I knew I needed to get rid of the child before it corrupted the magical heritage of the Butterfly's, so I planned to assassinate her." Dumnorix's eye brow went up as he heard there had been multiple assassination attempts but didn't know about this one. "I came back to Moon after Star was born asking for forgiveness and claiming that I had misjudged the damage Star could do. She forgave me and let me back in where I waited for suspicions to die down before going for the kill. However when I entered Star's nursery the damn lizard was waiting for me and got my eye before I could react." Baby fumed for a moment before continuing. "Wounded, I tried to outmaneuver the lizard and strike at Star but he held the child close and slipped away from most of my blows and the few I did land he intercepted so he was the one hurt. After a minute or so Moon showed up demanding to know what was going on, prompting me to flee as I would have been no match for her." Baby sighed and turned to look at Dumnorix as she floated along. "I probably had the best chance out of anyone and I threw it away by underestimating Toffee and only got this as my reward." She pointed to her bad eye as Dumnorix nodded and replied.

"Well at least you tried, and that's what matters most. Closer then I have ever gotten and I have gone after her more times than I can count." They moved into one of the rooms, the one right after the entry way specifically, and they saw someone sleeping next to the entrance. "Oh for fucks sake…" Baby quickly moved up and pulled out an air horn blowing it in the man's ear making him spring up in shock. "Disturb any pleasant dreams did we?" The man shook his head as he went to reply.

"No sir no *yawn* didn't even realize I was sleeping." He shook his head again clearly having trouble waking up. "I was just waiting for one of *yawn* our guards to come in from taking a breather in the entry hallway." Baby and Dumnorix looked at each other rolling their eyes as Baby went up the hallway with her magic, only to come back two seconds later speaking up.

"Well there is no one up there." The man shook his head replying.

"But I'm sure of it, that person bumped into me and dropped to their knees. *yawn* The four of us had just finished up and were coming back in to help transport supplies so I waited for a few minutes…" Dumnorix scoffed at him before speaking.

"Enough excuses, get moving and help out, we still have a lot of work to…" Dumnorix stopped mid-sentence as the man scratched the back of his neck with something falling out. "… hmmm…" He kneeled down and picked up the almost invisible needle that had dropped from the man's neck. "… hello, what's this?" Baby looked at it closely 'scanning it' with her gem before speaking.

"That's an urchin spine, how'd you spot it?" Dumnorix shrugged as he replied.

"One gains a knack for spotting small thi… wait a minute why would an oceanic creature's body part be this far inland…" They looked at each other a second before speaking at the same time.

"Infiltrator." Baby speed down one of the side tunnels while Dumnorix spoke to the still waking up man.

"Sound the alarm, the whole tunnel system is to be locked down NOW!"

Buff Frog and the figure, he was addressing it as 'The Fox' for now, moved silently through the tunnels surprised there weren't more people around. 'Of course they are moving so many are probably busy with other areas.' Buff Frog thought to himself as he followed the figure. The figure was a complete mystery to him at the moment as he wondered how it had even found him or this base. Judging from the clothing and the tactics he suspected it was one of the warrior druids that had been created recently called the Hassashim. 'Odd though, it does not look like any Monster type I know of.' Buff Frog's thoughts were interrupted by The Fox freezing and cocking it's head to the side as if to listen better. Buff Frog did the same thing closing his eyes to help; doing this does not give you better hearing but it does help you to focus on hearing. Soft footsteps were coming in their direction with Buff Frog opening his own eyes to notice The Fox was gone and a Ghillie suit was in place. 'Well, time to see if I can get by.' Buff Frog donned the ghillie suit to hide his appearance and slouched over to break-up his profile a little bit. As figures appeared he called out to them quietly disguising his voice as best as possible.

"Ah, there is someone else." The two figures looked at him in confusion. "I have news for Baby, the Frog seems to have 'reconsidered' being so steadfast. Where is she?" The two figures looked at each other and chuckled a little with one replying.

"So much for one of the toughest entities in Mewni. She was going for the Tremorfidian crystal and then getting to the main hall. Not much we can do to that slimeball but she will want to hear about that." Buff Frog shrugged as he moved past them.

"Eh, what are ya gonna do, he's a Monster?"

"Fair enough." The second one spoke as they moved along with The Fox dropping down from the ceiling when they were out of sight.

Buff Frog smiled at it with The Fox seeming to consider for a second before nodding to him and leading him along. They continued moving with The Fox stopping at one point to look at the floor as if looking for tracks. They finally got to a room that wasn't empty containing what appeared to be a small file cabinet and a desk with a chair. As Buff Frog blinked in confusion at this The Fox moved forward to the cabinet and opened it pulling out a few files which it promptly stuffed into its body suit, somehow, and then gestured for Buff Frog to follow it.

"Deystvitel'no, my sdelali ob"yezd dlya oformleniya dokumentov. (Really, we did a detour for paperwork)?" The Fox gestured a bit more assertively with Buff Frog rolling his eyes as he follow it out of the room… and directly in front of Baby.

They stared at each other for a second before Buff Frog tried striking at Baby with her nimbly dodging his thrust. Baby hissed in annoyance and went to fly away but The Fox threw some sort of black egg at her and struck her around the face with Baby screeching as she flew away. She got away from them but she kept on bumping into walls, floors, and ceilings trying to find her way around. Buff Frog looked at The Fox with the both of them nodding before running. With stealth no longer being an option they moved at full speed even though the dirt floor silenced them plenty.

"Gather at the entrance, with the crystal still active it is the only way out unless if they wish to tunnel! You lot, with me to secure The Frog, we can't let him escape. And everyone be on the lookout for figures disguised as us, if they are wearing a ghillie suit they either remove it or will be attacked." Everyone nodded at Dumnorix's commands as they went to spread the word. As he went to lead his contingent however Baby came in bouncing off every surface imaginable, including a random warrior The Wilhelm scream sound effect ( watch?v=xn6hhrX34Pw), before stopping in front of Dumnorix hers eyes blood shot and teary. "Baby…" She screeched at everyone who would listen.

"The figure is a Warrior Druid here to rescue Buff Frog and steal intel! Everyone is to get to the exit now!" Everyone stared at her a second before scrambling with only several having to change orders. "Water, I need water!" A random solider offered her water which she used to clean out her eyes. "Whew, ok I can see. I'm fine I'm cool, *inhale* I'm fine." She turned to Dumnorix. "Whoever it was that came in here is an expert; we may have to collapse the exit tunnel before we're ready." Dumnorix stared at her blankly for a second before answering.

"That bad huh? Well let's get all outside forces in here with emergency recall, a little ahead of schedule but that makes no difference in the long run." The two then moved off knowing this was gonna be close if Baby was outmaneuvered by the escapees.

Avatar - The chase ( watch?v=MLDuwLELTls)

A gong sounded out that made the very earth shudder around The Fox and the Frog prompting them to increase speed. Most likely Baby had told everyone at this point and they needed to move or they would not be getting out of here. They rounded a corner into a room seeing several warriors had just finished packing up and were picking up weaponry. Using surprise as an advantage Buff Frog charged straight into the room bowling over two warriors and leaping through one of the doorways with The Fox right behind him. As warriors shouted out and went after them The Fox took the lead and took him down the left way in a fork in the tunnel. Thinking quickly Buff Frog smashed one of the pillars supporting the roof making it cave in behind them so they wouldn't be followed. Heaving a sigh of relief of not being followed they rounded another corner… filled with three times as many warriors who seemed less surprised. 'oops.'

The Fox reacted quickly pointing to one tunnel and threw some smoke bombs into the room quickly filling it up with the two leaping into it trying to reach the exit on the other side. Buff Frog twirled his weapon and struck down three opponents in as many seconds closing his eyes so the smoke didn't blind him. The Fox moved the room gracefully as if it could see through the smoke and took down warriors left and right like it was dancing. They made it to the other side and began running down the tunnel out of the smoke encountering several more warriors in their path brought in their direction by the commotion. The Fox took a running leap using buff Frog as a spring board to land on two of the warriors imbedding its trench knives into their skulls dropping them like sacks of flour. Buff Frog slid past The Fox and leapt off the wall body slammed into the remaining warriors toppling them like dominoes as he rolled over them into a kneeling position.

(restart music at 0:05)

Taking off running again it felt like the warriors were all around them as they rounded another corner into an empty room. The Fox ran for one exit with Buff Frog stopping them and throwing a clod of dirt into the tunnel tripping a wire making the exit collapse. Springing from a few boxes in the room several warriors rushed out to take them with the duo smacking down the ambush quickly. The Fox crouched to the ground before looking up and shrugging. Buff Frog growled in frustration taking the lead this time with them going down another tunnel looking for signs of an exit. As they searched another warrior stumbled across them and began shouting for reinforcements before being silenced by The Fox as it smashed her in the temple. Buff Frog continued leading not slowing down in the slightest as they came across a large room, easily ten times the size of the others or more with several drakes in it and a lot of containers with supplies in them as well as guards in it.

The drakes looked at them for a second in shock before the warriors pointed to the two shouting with the drakes starting to shoot flames at them. Dodging to the sides, and getting a little singed, Buff Frog charged forward bellowing as he leapt over a Gronkel's head, grabbed onto its tail, and swung it like a cudgel at another drake. The drakes began scrambling at each other as the majority fell into a pile due to the Gronkel being thrown at them. A Nightmare tried to snap up The Fox but it threw another black egg at the Nightmare's eyes blinding it. Screeching in pain it lite itself on fire and began rampaging around the confined room setting random equipment on fire and forcing the warriors to focusing on calming down the angry beast. The duo ran out of the ruins of what they assumed was the main room charging forward looking for any path out of this damn labyrinth.

(restart music at 0:05)

Buff Frog rounded another corner to see a room filled up with warriors who seemed to know they were coming and were prepared for them in a shield wall formation. The Fox hesitated for only a second before miming throwing something and pointing to itself and then at the crowd of warriors. Caught up in the action Buff Frog did not hesitate to pick up and throw The Fox into the group of warriors with it unleashing a barrage of smoke bombs into the center confusing the warriors. Buff Frog charged in and took a warrior by surprise with a head butt and took the man's hammer from him smashing another two in one swing. Charging into the smoke to come out the other side he surprisingly found few opponents he needed to smack down.

Not bothering to think about it he rejoined The Fox as they charged up ran up the tunnel looking for any sign of an exit. At that point they say another warriors running up the tunnel away from them and Buff Frog got an idea. The Fox went to chase him but Buff Frog stopped The Fox from doing so and said 'follow' as he began following the man. He had a feeling everyone was trying to gather at the exit to stop them; all they needed to do was follow him and he would give them the way out. They moved through the tunnels with the warrior they were following growing panicked and tried to knock out one of the pillars collapsing a section of the tunnel. Buff Frog and The Fox slid under the collapsing debris and emerged with Buff Frog nearly getting his lower half buried under. Passing through a room with two warriors in it The Fox didn't even look as it threw some sort of thin sticks at them striking them in the necks.

(Restart music at 0:05)

As Buff Frog was beginning to worry that he might lose the warrior they finally emerged in a room with not only warriors but Baby and Dumnorix in it was well. The fox immediately pointed to one of the tunnels making Buff Frog think 'Finally, the exit!' Dumnorix immediately charged them with Buff Frog leaping in head first to engage the warrior. The two engaged in type of boxing match of all things with them seemingly being equally matched. Buff Frog, despite his size, was nimble enough to avoid many of Dumnorix's hits and those that did hit were not solid blows; at least compared to what they could have been. Dumnorix on the other hand simply tanked Buff Frog's hits not showing a sign of weakening. The Fox took on the other warriors as Kitty rang a gong letting everyone in the base know exactly where the infiltrators were.

Kitty then went to try and collapse the tunnel but The Fox threw another egg getting Kitty in the eye again making her turn on The Fox in anger. Kitty tried striking The Fox but due to her now blinded state she kept on missing and hitting her own comrades instead. Of course The Fox seemed to be able to judge Kitty's attacks and dodge them as if it knew exactly when and where Kitty would strike. As they sparred Dumnorix caught a glance at the fight and, while the lighting made it hard to read faces in the action, Buff Frog could swear he saw recognition in his expression as he watched The Fox fight Kitty. Of course he didn't waste any time thinking on it as he tossed some dirt into Dumnorix's one good eye with him muttering.

"Oh come on, everyone keeps on doing that!" Buff Frog then landed a hit on the groin and solar plexus dropping Dumnorix and turned to help out The Fox

The Fox didn't need help however as it had redirected Kitty into a wall and motioned up the tunnel. They went for it but were stopped by a line of warriors in the exit just as more began piling into the room from the other hallways readying their weapons. Surrounded, exhausted, and outnumbered Buff Frog decided to take a gamble and whispered to The Fox.

"Voz'mi menya v zalozhniki. (Take me as a hostage)" The fox nodded and without hesitation grabbed onto Buff Frog pointing the trench knives at his throat.

(end music)

Absolute silence pervaded the room as everyone tried to figure out what they were supposed to do now. Looking at Baby and Dumnorix, who were both washing out their eyes in the respite, they just held their positions. Taking advantage of this The Fox directed Buff Frog, who had put on a scared expression, to move towards the exit with the warriors there just letting them through with one of them calling out.

"What do we do? Commanders what do we do?" Baby and Dumnorix looked up seeing the two backing up through the tunnel slowly with Baby calling out.

"Kill them, they're better dead then free!" Buff Frog reacted quickly and used the hammer he hadn't dropped to smash one of the pillars holding up the exit's ceiling.

He then charged up the tunnel with the Fox tossing more smoke bombs behind them to confuse the warriors right behind them. Buff Frog continued to smash pillars as he ran making sure even Baby could not catch them as they ran. Of course this caused a chain reaction as more and more of the tunnel collapsed behind them forcing them to run full speed just to keep ahead. As they approached the exit Buff Frog noticed a boulder looming up like the end of the world in front of them nervously noting they were trapped. The Fox however pulled out some sort of cloak clasp and waved it making the rock suddenly levitate allowing them to sild out just as the tunnel fully collapsed behind them.

They both paused catching their breaths and letting their adrenaline drop in the cool night air. As they finally composed themselves a screech from a gryphon got their attention with one swooping in carrying the bodies of a few Forest Barbarians in its talons. Buff Frog chuckled at this as The Fox went up to the now landed Gryphon scratching it behind its left ear speaking up.

"Well looks like you thought of everything my foxy comrade… wait…" Buff Frog looked over the Gryphon a second before realizing he knew this creature. "… Buck Beak!" The Gryphon looked at Buff Frog before squawking.

"*Well you did recognize me old friend, nice to see you again. Say how is Star doing?*" Buff Frog responded quickly.

"Oh she is doing good comrade… wait a minute what are you doing out here? And who is that?" He pointed to The Fox. Before Buck Beak could respond The Fox pulled out a blow dart gun and shot Buff Frog in the neck. "What is this, who are… you…" Buff Frog immediately felt dizzy and swayed a little as the Fox made the shushing motion with a finger just as Buff Frog fell unconscious.

The warriors filed out of the base dragging the last of the equipment behind them as Baby ranted to Dumnorix.

"We lost important documents as well as an information source, what is wrong with us? We had them trapped like fish in a barrel and… and… uragggh!" She shot some magic from the crystal in her head shattering one of the barrels a warrior was carrying spilling some sort of goo all over her. Dumnorix responded to Baby as the warrior walked through the portal her shoulders slumped as she scraped off goo.

"This is not the time for frustration, it leads to sloppiness. We need to remain cold as ice and report this to Mavis. Remember, the big raid is upcoming so we can't afford to lose focus." Baby nodded and calmed down.

"You're right. I failed this time but I will not fail there." Dumnorix smiled as he led Baby through the portal.

"That's the spirit.

Buff Frog woke up with what felt like a severe hangover as he tried to get his bearings finding himself in the castle gardens in the early morning, right next to the ruined tower in said gardens. As he tried to get up he felt something fall off of his chest and hit the ground prompting him to look and see some sort of waxed paper folder. He picked it up with the words 'Classified Information for The Queen' written on it. As he was about to open it he heard some people come his way with Eclipsa's voice ringing out.

"I just found him lying on the ground out here and I didn't want to touch him so I came for you… oh he's awake. Buff Frog dear are you alright?" He looked up to see Eclipsa had Moon and Toffee in tow with several guards behind them as he tried to respond.

"Scouting mission… was a success… I think. I have a lot to tell you." He held up the folder. "And you have a lot to read your majesty's." Moon and Toffee looked at each other in concern as Buff Frog stood up.

Buck Beak landed at the mouth of a cave with The Fox getting off of Buck Beak and bowing into the cave much like a Buddhist monk would. As it righted itself a voice rang out from the cave.

"Did you deliver what was needed and helped who needed helping?" The fox nodded as Oogway stepped out of the cave and continued speaking. "Very well my child, but your task has only just begun. They will make their next major move soon so you must be ready." Oogway looked out over the forest the cave was right next too. "Watch over our people's hope and insure that she does not come to harm." Buck Beak spoke up at this.

"*Why don't we just tell Queen Moon that Star is in danger.*" Oogway nodded understanding his sentiments.

"Because we do not know when they will strike or where. And we can't risk alerting whatever is controlling Mavis that we stand against it; secrecy is our greatest strength for now. Rest for now my children for the way is growing ever more perilous by the day."

OP: You do realize you resolved the 'comedic' plot at the start of the chapter right.

WH: Yeah but never mind that, we got more important things to do... Janna what are you doing?

Janna: *sets up a chess board with Star vs characters on it* Oh just setting up a game. Oh and that. *She pointed to a house made out of cards*

WH: Well... hmmm. *looks closely* No you can do this, kind of what I'm doign now. Star and MArco are about to be thrust into a perilous 'Game' of sorts where the prize is the Throne.

Janna: seriously you're copying from that show?

WH: First off the show was a failure given it's ending, I prefer the books, Second the basic idea of it is GOOD. Based off of 'The war of the Roses' in English history it actually tells a realistic, if exaggerated, story of political jockeying; something that Star will have to experience as she grows older. Regardless, with that coming up it's time once again for...

Audience: Guest Reviews.

Shiranai Atsune: This story is diverging from Seasons three and four, you'll find out how later.

Unamed: Well... maybe not that far just yet; I mean they are only 14/15 man.

Sugar: Thank you, and I needed to diverge from it the same way the show diverges from them at points.

The Book of Eli: I actually debate whether Baby should be included or not, I did it in the end though. As for the Barbarians, that's going to take some time.