The scene opens with Janna playing chess against Omnitraxus Prime with a score board behind them being equal in points.

WH: How long have they been like that?

SN: For the last three weeks waiting for an update from you. It's a multi-reality seeing entity vs a 4th wall breaking one, the ultimate conflict.

WH:*Notices that chess pieces look his characters* Wait are they using my props?

SN: *nods*

WH: Well... you know what that is just fine by me... I guess. Enjoy the episode folks.

"*sigh*" Moon looked up at Star with amusement and understanding in her eyes as Star's dress was finished up. The tailor nodded at Moon and hurried out as Moon spoke to her daughter.

"I get it my dear MonStar but seriously you're exhaling enough air to fill a balloon per breath." Star looked down at her dress, a rather regal gown colored silver with green and purple sparkles, and replied.

"I get why I need to be here, but I just don't want to be here. The boys will be all over me simply so they can get a damn crown on their head and Marco will have to just stand there and watch." She looked at her mom with greyish-green eyes that gave off an uncomfortable burden. "Are you sure I HAVE to participate and there's not something that can get me out of this?" Moon chuckled and hugged Star careful not to smear both of their makeup as she answered.

"Oh dear…" Moon pulled back staring her eye to eye. "… I would have asked the same thing at your age even if it was for different reasons." They both giggled as they pulled apart and Star stepped off the fitting stool. "But you missed the last one and now being officially deemed the heir to Mewni you have to make these appearances. And besides Marco trusts you, I'm sure you two will share a chuckle at all the men scrambling and failing to win your approval." Star smiled a bit with the grey part of her eyes disappearing. "All you need to do is be polite and courteous to them like you would be to a stranger and nothing more; they wouldn't dare push too far, not with your father staring them down. So can you give me a smile?" Star giggled at that and smiled a bit at Moon as she chuckled and rubbed Star's head before helping her put it up in the heart fashion Moon had hers in currently. "That's my girl."

A large knight went flying through the air landing on a table in what appeared to be some sort of stone walled tavern head first. However despite the harsh landing the figure stood up revealing itself to be a dark skinned woman with purple hair who simply bellow a laugh and fixed the helmet on her head. As the group of knights and squires scattered around the tavern cheered the knight walked over and clapped Marco on the back hard enough to make him stumble as she spoke in a loud voice.

"Guess that fight in the woods wasn't just a fluk hoodie boy?" Marco laughed as he replied.

"I actually got lucky in the woods. When you're chased for several hours you tend to get tired no matter how strong you are." At that a humanoid brown bear with a unicorn horn on its head spoke up.

"Oh come on Marco, you threw Lady Whosits across the room hard enough to knock the wind out of her. That's no small feat." At that Sir Lavabo spoke up.

"I agree, whatever training you had before coming here it shows. Here here!" He raises a mug of some sort of beverage with everyone else in the room raising a beverage before drinking in turn.

"Here here!" Marco drank his dutifully hoping it wasn't alcoholic considering the night that was just ahead of them. As they set their drinks down a humanoid giraffe spoke up.

"So when are you coming to train as a squire for good?" Marco smiled as he replied.

"The final date is not set but I know it's going to be in early autumn, this autumn." At this Buff Frog spoke up.

"He is right on that one, gotten from the king himself." Everyone nodded with Higgs speaking up.

"If you do get the chance to pick the knight you squire for don't go for Sir Stabby as you will never become a knight under his training." At this a dark skinned knight with brownish-red colored hair, Sir Stabby, spoke up.

"You still sore about what I put you through? I only wanted you to be the best knight you could be." As Higgs went to reply Sir Lavabo spoke up.

"She appreciated her training and it was necessary I know that. But you tend to repeat the same basic lessons when other squires have already become serviceable knights within the same training time. Also you tend to be a bit…" As Sir Lavabo looked for the right word a muscular green skinned humanoid with deer antlers and a beard spoke up.

"Unnecessarily harsh." Everyone nodded at that with Sir Stabby flicking his hair a little before reluctantly in agreement as he replied.

"You do have a point Lavabo and Beard Deer. But in my defense this was not only my first squire but Higgs we're talking about." Beard Deer nodded and agreed.

"That's fair." As Higgs went to respond to that one Lavabo spoke up.

"He does have a point, you did tend to complain at first when I set you on routine maintenance tasks." Higgs hesitated before replying.

"I get I'm supposed to help out with everyday tasks a knight has to do as knights just have to do them… but Sir Stabby got it across poorly." Beard Deer replied to that.

"Also fair." As the knights conversed with each other Marco leaned over to Whosits and spoke to her.

"I thought Higgs squired for a Sir Slasher?" Whosits laughed at that and replied.

"You got that info from Buff Frog didn't you?" Marco hesitated before nodding. "The man is tough and skilled as well as a natural leader but he's not so good with remembering names. He still sometimes calls me Whatsit." Marco chuckled along with her at that as a pale skinned old man with greyish-green eyes who was going bald on the top with a long grey beard spoke up to them.

"Must be a big thing leavin your world behind for this?" Marco nodded as the man smiled. "Oh I do believe we have not been introduced yet, Sir Bronn or as many refer to me Sir 'Old guy'." Marco chuckled as he shook his hand. "So think ya can make it in our world without gettin fucked over ten-fold?" Marco chuckled nervously as he replied as the man intimidated him slightly despite his short stature.

"Well considering what Star has pulled me into at times I can say if I'm not ready then nothing can prepare me." Bronn gave a hearty laugh and clapped Marco on the back with the same force Whosits had before speaking.

"Now that's an appropriate response. So what's your view on her and for that matter her family?" Marco rubbed the back of his head as he haltingly replied.

"Well Star is my best friend so that goes without saying. To-The King…" The chuckles for the two knights made Marco relax a little before he continued. "Toffee is sort of like my sensei back on earth but his demeanor can be rather intimidating if he wants it to be." The duo nodded at that. "As for Moon, she's a nice person and is actually really cool although she too can be intimidating. She hunts things that could destroy an entire town single handed just to relive stress." At this Bronn spoke up again.

"Ya met the queen's cousin Helsinki?" Marco nodded breathing out some air as he answered.

"Oh yeah, she stayed at my house for two days and that was nearly enough to break the whole thing down without any explosions." The trio laughed at that as Bronn replied.

"So on Helsinki… would ya fuck er?" Marco blinked in shock not really sure if the guy was serious or not. A quick look at Whosits unperturbed face told him this was rather normal shocking him even more.

"Well… I… um… no." Bronn seemed a bit disappointed as he replied.

"Well I'd fuck er. She's one wild and crazy woman and would make many a knight remember that night." Marco stood their mortified as the duo laughed at Bronn's words with Whosits commenting.

"Although remember this hoodie boy, never take a woman or a man without their consent as it just shows your own weakness." Bronn nodded in consent.

"Indeed, no pleasure greater then taking someone who wants to be taken; save for killin someone who wants to kill you just as much." Marco had shaken off his shock at this point realizing this was just locker room talk, something groups did when they were alone and while often graphic was rather harmless. Honestly considering he was part of this showed that he was accepted into their group. Their revelry was cut short however when the door to the knight's 'lounge' was opened up with Butler and Manfred standing at the door with Manfred speaking up.

"The dance shalt commence within the hour. Ready yourselves to be the honor guard." At that Buff Frog spoke up.

"Hear that, is time to put on a show people." Marco nodded as the knights gave out a mixture of a cheer and a groan. As he went to put on the ceremonial wear provided for him however Butler pulled him aside.

"Marco, his majesty King Toffee wishes to have you stand at attention by him for the event. He has some things he wishes to explain to you about your future duties to Mewni. " Marco nodded and went to get changed now getting a feeling as to why Star's parents wanted him to attend this event in the first place.

SN: One transition later.

Marco glanced in the nearby display suits of armor and mirrors as he moved with the other knights to the main ballroom. According to Butler the event, known as the Silver Bell Ball, was not taking place here but actually at a place called the Silver Thorn Palace. 'Building up silver a bit much aren't we?' Marco thought to himself wryly as Manfred opened a portal with the knights filing through it. Marco took one last look at himself admiring how good he actually looked before moving through the portal. He was wearing a type of ceremonial chest and shoulder plate with a sky blue cape and a Japanese style helmet identical to the other knights that seemed more designed to look good then to block damages. Shaking that off preparing for the likely lesson for the night with Toffee he heard a voice call out to the group of knights as they had just emerged.

"Hail and well met warriors of Her Majesty." Marco noted some of the knights repressed groans as they turned towards who had called out to them. "Tis a pleasure to see the knights of Mewni out in arms to stand at the attention of the royal family." Marco turned to see who had called out and upon seeing the man who had called out… was not sure what to think in the slightest. While he was dressed up in what Star had explained was royal garb, specifically a blue suit with tasseled shoulders, and accompanied by a small retinue of followers and guards he seemed surprisingly normal looking. Blond hair and blue eyes on a surprisingly normal looking face that held an inviting smile with no cheek marks. 'So he's not a Butterfly family member, I know that much.' "Pardon me but I heard a rumor that the so called 'Shadow Slayer' was to be here tonight, guardian and guide of the royal princess who excelled at the trial of the squires. Is that true?" Manfred, who had accompanied the knights here, spoke up.

"Indeed he is. Marco, please step forward to address your superior." The knights and squires parted ways allowing him to step forward with Marco doing so hesitantly before bowing and speaking.

"A pleasure to meet you… uh my liege." The man, who seemed more like a teenager only a few years older than Marco, chuckled seemingly pleased at his display as he replied.

"Well it seems you have been taught proper manners already despite having come from earth." 'So he is a stereotypical noble.' Marco thought to himself in slight annoyance as he righted himself. "But taking a look at you I am still finding it a bit hard to believe that you accomplished all that everyone has claimed you have." Marco repressed an eye roll as he replied.

"If you wish for confirmation just ask my fellow knights and squires what they experienced." An untrained eye would not have caught it but Marco saw a few of the man's followers give him sharp looks like they wanted to say something sharp but thought better of it after glancing at Buff Frog. The man nodded seemingly satisfied with his answer as he replied.

"Well squires and knights never lie about their comrades, no reason for them to do so." He then seemed to remember something. "Do you mayhap know who I am; being from earth you may not be properly educated in that manner quite yet." Marco seemed to catch on that the man was giving off an air of being courteous but was being tongue in cheek about it in a condescending way. Marco hesitated for a second as he accounted for all of this with the man introducing himself. "Lord Montague Hatter of house Hatter, future Archduke of the kingdom of Mewni and fiancé to Princess Star Butterfly." Marco immediately felt as if he was slapped in the face and dunked in cold water. "She has been on earth under your care and I do thank you for taking care of her my lad." Marco was fairly certain if Montague was close enough he would have patted Marco on the head like a dog; but that thought was only in passing as Marco' s next words were entirely reactionary.

"Star never mentioned you to me before!" At this Montague's entire retinue stared him down as Montague waved Marco's words off.

"At ease men, like I said he has not been given a full education yet." The shock left Marco leaving him with an intense dislike for the future archduke that was partially based in jealousy. "Mayhap the princess was not inclined to talk about it as it has not been officially announced yet. But I see no reason to not mention it to the child she picked up on the streets." His smile did not waver in the slightest as he walked up to Marco and outright did pat him on the head with Buff Frog speaking up.

"Lord Hatter, that is a squire to the king himself not a dog for you to demean with that action." Marco was kind of indifferent to it as multiple people had been doing this with a shocking regularity but he found himself smiling as the other knights and squires agreed with Buff Frog. One of Montague's followers immediately stepped forward and spoke to the crowd.

"Watch your place guards and don't forget who the master here is." The knights grumbled to themselves at what Marco thought might have been an insult as he replied to that with a small grin.

"That would be Queen Moon Butterfly." Everyone looked at him with Montague stopping his patting. "Also considering she would only pick the best man for her daughter Her Majesty would likely be very vocal about your engagement to Star wouldn't she? Or are you forgetting your place and being too presumptive?" That last part was somewhat unintentional but Marco couldn't hold himself back; and the snickers from a few of the knights and squires let him know he had earned their respect, again.

"You watch your place dog! As this is…" Montague held up his hand silencing one of his retinue removing his hand as he replied.

"Indeed she is Marco, but I am not forgetting my place." The smile was still there but now the man's gaze was steely as he focused down on Marco. "The queen will choose when and where and further more to whom she will speak with this about. So don't forget your place yourself as if you do…" He leaned down so he was face to face with Marco. "… well, let's just say I eat belligerent little shits for breakfast." He turned and began walking away with Marco feeling the words leave his mouth and being unable to stop them.

"You eat shit for breakfast?"

Absolute silence pervaded the entire crowd as all eyes were locked on Marco and Montague as the two of them struggled to comprehend what Marco had just said. Montague turned ready to berate him but the look on his face made it really clear he had gotten himself into this mess and Marco had by chance actually asked a legitimate question. He glanced back at his retinue with everyone just as confused as he was. Marco didn't dare look away from Montague due to multiple reasons as he waited for his reaction. Finally Montague did answer in a meek if demure fashion.

"Umm… no. That was just an expression." He then walked away with his retinue composing himself with Higgs coming up next to Marco.

"Do you know exactly who you just sent packing?" Marco shook his head no as Higgs smiled. "One of the most powerful men in Mewni, powerful enough that even the king and queen tread lightly around him." Marco blinked in shock again still trying to fully grasp what was going on Butler came up to him.

"Sir, Master Toffee still requires your presence when you are ready." Marco nodded at that and followed Butler with the other knights and squires giving him smirks and thumbs up at how he acted. "My suggestion master Marco, tread lightly around master Montague in the future as you may not be so lucky and he may not be so forgiving next time." He then flashed Marco a large smile. "But well done; in my own opinion sometimes the lords need to be cut down to size." Marco chuckled and fell silent as he finally took in the Silver Thorn Palace.

It was a long rectangular building with silvery columns of marble rising up all along the length of the palace with ornate designs over them framing tall stained glass windows. He could tell that the first of three floors took up more than half the height of the building from the size of the windows which let a glow of light come from making it seem like the windows and columns themselves were glowing. The large entry way was made out of some sort of granite with blue flecks polished to a sheen that had Marco impressed even for an ornate place like this. And in front of the whole palace was a rotunda for carriages to cycle around dropping off guests, which is what was going on now, with a small pool in the center ringed with cattails and holding some sort of swan like creatures bearing feathers shimmering with rainbows like fish scales. Marco took this all in awe as he walked alongside Butler who spoke to him in a chiding manner with a bit of humor.

"I get it is impressive master Marco but mayhap you close that mouth before something decides to take residence in it?" Marco shut his mouth as Butler chuckled leading Marco up the red carpet covered stairs into the ballroom.

Star stared across the ballroom both nervous and yet bored at the same time as she sat down on her side of the room. The large ballroom currently had chairs set up on all four sides in distinctive groups for the event tonight: one group for the young female royalty, one for the young male royalty, one for non-participating royal families and guests from neighboring kingdoms, and one for the Butterfly family. Star had attended this event in the past but did not have good memories of it with being 'club snubbed' a good deal of the time… 'Amongst other memories' she thought to herself. And now, especially given the way many of the young male royalty were looking at her, it was likely going to be the exact opposite for the wrong reasons. Of course as she noticed some of her friends were already at her side she admitted it could have been far worse. Ponyhead and Alexis went up to sit alongside her with Ponyhead speaking up in her typical fashion.

"Hey gurl, what's up?" Star smiled as she responded.

"Well not much, nice to see you two here." Alexis replied to that.

"Well plenty is up on our end, just not much that's important. Did you hear how Tad tried getting back together with Kelly?" Star rolled her eyes but secretly relished the gossip for once to take her mind off of tonight.

"Let me guess, they got back together with Tad having 'improved' upon himself just enough for Kelly to accept him?" Ponyhead shook her head as she replied.

"No, after a single test date Kelly said it was well and truly over." Star blinked in shock at this bit of information. "Although Tad has since refused to move out of her hair with Kelly refusing to force him to move." Alexis added onto this.

"This is either the end of them for good or the turnaround point for Tad, don't know which yet." As Star nodded to that another voice called out to Star.

"Hey Star, long time no see." Star turned around smiling to see another friend of hers sitting close by. She appeared a year or two older then Star with soft green eyes, black hair, a somewhat tan complexion, and wearing a white and black dress decorated with spider webs, both artificial and real.

"Hey Penelope, sorry for the long absence but I was on earth." Penelope Spiderbite nodded and shrugged as Star noticed something. "Wait, where's your spiderbite?" Alexis and Ponyhead giggled as Penelope blushed and scratched right above her right eye before responding.

"I got it fixed… by this really cute guy. His name is Darren… Darren Aloe." Penelope then caught the eye of someone on the other side of the room and waved shyly. Star looked over to see a green humanoid slime wearing a rather spiffy black suit, looking like it had been treated to withstand slime and other liquids, and a purple beanie hat was waving in reply to her. Star smiled as spoke up at this.

"Nice, how'd you two meet?" Ponyhead butted in on this in her typical fashion.

"At the Bounce Lounge of course. She thought he was hitting on her but he just wanted to clear up her spider bite. After that the two hit it off and boom, home run on the first date." Star blinked in shock at that and looked at Penelope who nodded meekly blushing a bit more profusely. "I'm a bit surprised your parents were ok with it honestly. No offense B-fly and A-gurl but lots of people are still against *ahem* mixed couples." Alexis and Star nodded in acknowledgement to this with Alexis speaking up.

"I think it's because he's technically royalty to the second most powerful Monster clan. Right?" Penelope actually shook her head before replying.

"No it's actually because he helped clear up all of our spider bites, even if they were in some unpleasant places." The quartet shuddered slightly. "To blatantly change the subject, is the shadow slayer really going to be here tonight?" Star blinked in confusion as Ponyhead responded.

"Shadow sla- oh you mean earth turd." Star blinked in confusion as she responded.

"Wait, that's what Marco is called here?" Penelope blinked before responding.

"Well not earth tur-"

"No no no, Shadow Slayer?" Penelope nodded a bit confused.

"Well yeah, he did defeat two rouge shadows along-side the Shadow knights of Queen Moon to rescue you from the traitorous Mavis. It's actually become quite a popular story after your mom announced he would be made a squire." Star blinked and nodded remembering when that did actually happen with them.

"Yes Princess, is it true that he is coming?" Star felt a twin tinge of fear and annoyance roll up her spine as she recognized the voice. She turned to look at a girl about her age with calf length blond hair done up in the heart shaped manner over pale skin and brilliant sapphire eyes and wearing a silver and white dress. For some reason the girl now elicited a strange feeling of Déjà vu in Star that irked her as she responded in a polite tone.

"Yes he is Sophia." Sophia smiled and curtseyed to Star as she replied.

"It will be a pleasure to meet him I have no doubt. And I must congratulate you on your engagement to Montague Hatter, not many better men out there." This revelation struck Star by the wayside as she blinked in shock with Ponyhead speaking up annoyed.

"Gurl you got hitched to the Hatter boy? What happened to ear-" Alexis shoved a cupcake into Ponyhead's mouth, 'Where did Alexis get a cupcake?' Star thought to herself, as she responded to Sophia as best she could.

"I… have no idea what you are talking about?" The girls listening in on their conversation giggled at this with Sophia smiling even more as she responded.

"Well ever since your relationship with Prince Lucitor went south, curses onto that ruffian's name, other boys have been eager for your hand in marriage." The girls listening in on them giggled again making Star grit her teeth. "And after you got your family's wand and was sent to earth Archduke Hatter has worked with your parents to arrange a proper marriage. Supposedly it's to be formally announced tonight." Star felt herself in free fall at hearing this.

'Mom and Dad did… wait no they wouldn't do that. Dad likes Marco and Mom not only likes Marco but hates the idea of an arranged marriage even when it's needed. Besides which, that would make the invitation for Marco a bit strange.'

"… So you will have to attend this one Star." Star nodded grumbling a little as Moon and Toffee called Star who had Marco with her as Toffee explained the situation. "Oh and Marco will be attending as well as one of the royal guard." Star and Marco looked at Toffee in shock and went to answer but were cut off. "I know that seems strange but I believe it is time to properly introduce Marco into our world." Star rolled her eyes as she replied.

"As if hunting him like a wild animal wasn't enough." Toffee averted his gaze as if saying 'My aren't the walls vertical today' as Marco spoke up.

"He was just inducting me like he would any other squire Star, it wasn't personal. If it was I would be dead right now." Moon chuckled before speaking up.

"Trust me dear this is important and necessary. Nothing is going to happen tonight… right?" Moon glanced at Toffee who looked at Star as he responded.

"I don't plan on anything and will try to prevent anything from happening. You have my word as your father and as a king." Star huffed satisfied as he continued. "Butler will collect you in order to prepare for the evening so be ready by…"

"I do believe you are mistaken." Everyone looked at Star in confusion as she calmly smiled at Sophia. "My parents would let me know if this was the case and they have not. Perhaps you heard that he is one of the candidates for my hand." Star shuddered saying that like her love was a trophy to be hunted but her disarming smile pushed Sophia off balance with her struggling to respond. Ironically she was saved by Ponyhead who spoke up having eaten through her cupcake.

"Hey there's earth turd now." Everyone turned to look at Marco as he was being led by Butler into the room separately of the other knights and guards. Star took in the sight of Marco liking how well he pulled of the Royal guard show uniform. Of course that thought was immediately soured by the compliments the other girls began giving him.

"Oh he's more handsome then I thought he would be."

"It's like he was born to wear that uniform."

"He has a mole, and it's cute."

"He… seems kind of familiar to me for some reason."

Star noticed that last one had some Princess Turdina merchandise on her and repressed a chuckle at that one. Of course she also had to repress the urge to run over to Marco and hold onto him like a Koala especially when Sophia spoke up with 'interest' in her voice.

"He does seem rather impressive in that outfit. Mayhap you should introduce us to each other." Star tried to suppress the deathly glare she directed at Sophie but was unable to when Sophia glanced in her direction. After a moment of confusion Sophia giggled with her hand over her mouth. "Oh getting protective are we?" Star didn't hold back as she let the words come from her mouth.

"Of course, he's my bestie right next to Ponyhead and Alexis. So excuse me for being a might bit protective given your history, Ms. Rose of the Garden sisters." At this Ponyhead, Alexis, and Penelope 'ooohhh'd' while the other girls immediately ignored them as Sophia's smile left her face responding in a cool manner.

"After all these years you still hold that over me. *tsk* And here I have grown up yet you haven't. Hopefully Montague can help you out with that." As she walked away Star unclenched her jaw and let out a held breath as Penelope spoke to her.

"Are you really still holding that over her?" Star nodded as Alexis chimed in.

"Why wouldn't she. Despite claims to the contrary Sophia's character hasn't changed in the slightest." A bell rang out with everyone going to their seats if they weren't there already with Marco taking his place next to the King's left hand. Star could tell they were talking about something and could only wonder what her dad was trying to teach Marco here of all places.

WH: Time once again for...

Audience: Guest Reviews!

The Book of Eli: Indeed, but not in the way you might imagine.

Sugar: And that was just ONE pf the assassination attempts Star doesn't know about. Thank you and you will find out who 'The Fox' is eventually... if I can write faster. *visible frustration*

Unnamed 1: Indeed it is crossover gold; just the way I like it to glitter.

The Opininator: Nice ideas, but my story is a bit too different to really incorporate those ideas too much.

Unnamed 2: I sort of answered your question in this chapter but yeah, Star was not too happy with that.