Unlimited Eldritch Blade Works

By: Bubbajack

Beta: IcySnowSage

Disclaimer: I don't own Star vs. Type Moon or anything else in this fic.

Ch.4: Dirge of Sakura.

Marco and Sakura once again stood outside the Emiya estate bags from the nearby grocers in hand. Marco looked to the girl standing next to him dubiously, "Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked. "I mean I'm fine either way but I don't want you having any regrets after the deed is done."

Sakura took a breath and nodded before turning and smiling at him, "I am Marco-sama. This may be petty revenge but…" Sakura shrugged a little bit, "I need this. It's…" Sakura seemed to be searching for the right word and was unable to find it.

"Cathartic?" Marco supplied after a moment.

Sakura nodded, "Yes that," She gently intertwined her hand with his before turning and smiling at him, "Ready?"

"Whenever you are," Marco agreed.

The two entered the Emiya Estate ready to tango.

Marco knew the interior and exterior of the Emiya estate like the back of his hand. He felt as if he'd grown up here practically, watching over Shirou as he grew up. The long hall led to the living room which connected to the kitchen further on were the rooms, and the backyard, ending with the shed that was Shirou's piss poor workshop.

Marco walked in without bothering to take off his shoes,"Umm, Marco-sama…" Sakura began only for him to turn back and give her a look.

"Saurka we are about to have sex on almost every surface we can think of, and your worried about shoes?"

Sakura blinked realized how silly she was being, and giggled both evilly and adorably like a child who knew she was doing something she shouldn't before she skipped across the foyer with her shoes still on behind him.

"That feel good?" Marco asked as he made his way into the living room. It was just as he remembered it. The small table in front of the tv, the swinging door separating the kitchen from the room, nothing was out of place. It wasn't even dusty which was surprising considering Shirou hadn't been here in awhile.

"Heheh, yes, actually," Sakura replied. She looked around the room herself and her face took on a look of nostalgia that was tinged with bitterness.

Marco silently let her remember and grieve for a moment, before he gave her hand a squeeze, bringing her back into the moment. "So, where do you want to start?"

Sakura seemed to give it some thought, "Before that, how long can you… go for?"

Marco didn't even blush. He did roll his eyes though, "I've got plenty of stamina don't you worry. Plus if I need to, I can Install my Class Card and get a second wind."

"So six shots instead of the usual three then?" Sakura mused as a salacious grin spread across her usually kind face. "In that case, let's start on the table."

Marco nodded. He was doing this for Sakura's state of mind, plus she needed this. Sex was nice too of course but he was more than some horndog. To him, it had to have meaning to it or it was no different than two animals rutting.

'What Sakura and I are about to do has meaning,' He thought as he reached for the hem of his hoodie. 'This so going to help her move on and let go.'

(Lemon Start)

By the time Marco had shrugged his hoodie off Sakura was already fully nude and standing shyly before him. Marco couldn't help but stare at her for a moment. Her long purple tresses trailed down her back, and stood in stark contrast to her pale skin. Sakura had one arm below her bust, propping up her simply gigantic tits and making them look even bigger to him than they already were. Her pink areola and nipples were already fully erect. Marco didn't know if it was due to being exposed to the air or, due to Sakura knowing what was to come. Her other hand was covering her sex.

"Sakura?" Marco wondered why she was suddenly being shy. This was her idea after all, "It's okay if you want to back out you know, just say the word."

Sakura just shook her head smiling at him. She then sat down on the table, "No, it's not that Marco-sama it's just… are you alright with this? I just realized that, in my haste and desire for some form of petty vengeance against Shirou and nee-san, I never really asked if you were up for participating at all, I just assumed."

Marco gave Sakura a small warm smile, "If I wasn't ok with it, I would've said something. Besides, it's not my way to leave someone in the lurch when they need help."

"Is that you talking, or EMIYA-san?" Sakura questioned, her voice almost a whisper.

Marco walked up to her slipping out of his pants. "Me, I was infuriatingly helpful even before I inherited EMIYA's Reality Marble. Just ask people at my school why I'm called the safe kid sometime," With every word Marco spoke he stepped closer and spoke in a lower tone until he was right in front of Sakura.

"What we're about to do, right now, isn't very safe," Sakura whispered breathily into his ear. "Some people might even consider it a crime."

Marco lined Sakura's jaw with kisses causing her to sigh as he used his weight to force her down on the table, "Like I said once before a long time ago, it's not criminal to be an individual."

Seeing the sizable tent Marco was making in his underwear, Sakura all but cooed, "That looks like it hurts, poor Marco-sama! Do you need some help with that?"

"Be my guest," Marco urged her on. He allowed her to sit up and then much to his surprise, Sakura pulled the waistband of his underwear down… with her teeth. She locked eyes with him, her own purple-hued orbs gleaming in mirth as she slowly peeled away the last bit of clothing he was wearing if you didn't count his socks.

'I can't believe you let this one get away Shirou,' was what ran through Marco's head as the last vestments of clothing fell to the floor.

Sakura too was speechless. For his age, Marco was… well gigantic didn't do him justice. 'Had constant use of EMIYA's magecraft had some kind of effect on his body?' Sakura thought to herself as she looked at the phallic scepter that stood at attention before her. Sakura a girl who was used to sex by necessity, found herself wondering if she could even handle the monster before her.

She smirked devilishly, 'Challenge accepted.'

"Sakura what Oooh shit!" Marco had no warning before she suddenly engulfed him in his entirety down her throat. Marco quickly dug his hands into her scalp. He didn't want to hurt her, not on purpose, but it was just an instinctive reaction. He pulled on her hair trying to get her to back off, but she just sucked harder, flexing the muscles of her throat, and sending him to a sick and twisted rapture, with her skilled tongue as it wrapped itself around his shaft over and over again, wriggling to and fro much like an eel or some other aquatic creature.

"Sakura-chan," Marco breathed out, "I'm close." Sakura grinned as much as she could with him in her mouth and doubled her ministrations, forcing Marco to dig his hands back into her scalp feeling the base of his spine tingle and his vision briefly white out as he came for the first time, his seed going directly down Sakura's throat. The nymphomaniac swallowed it greedily, working her throat muscles even after he was done ejaculating to make sure she got every drop of his sperm.

Finally Marco pulled back, breathless and asked, "What the hell brought that on?! One minute you were all demure, and the next you were attacking me like a wolf seeing a wounded deer. I'm not complaining too much but still."

Sakura hid her mouth behind her hand in embarassment and muttered out an iilelable reply.

"Come again?" Marco asked.

"I intend to, several times in fact," Sakura replied with a wicked grin before she flushed upon realizing what she just said and let out a cute 'Meep', before looking away again.

"Sakura," Marco called gently. "Sakura." Marco called again, this time turning her head so she had to look at him. "It's okay, you don't have to act all prim and proper around me. Just be… be… be Sakura."

Sakura frowned unsure, "Are you… really okay with that?"

Marco kissed her forehead, "I'd like to get to know the real Sakura, not the front you've put up to try and win over Shirou. Cause, newsflash I'm not him. You don't need to pretend with me. I need no illusion to truly appreciate and love you."

Sakura's lower lip trembled for a moment, with tears collecting in her eyes before she nodded and then all but forced her tongue down his throat as she tried to clean his tonsils. Marco gave as well as he got and once Sakura finally pulled away, gone was the demure Yamato Nadeshiko he was acquainted with, in its place was a grinning imp who was just looking to cause all sorts of mischief, yet a warmth, a kindness was also reflected therein, proving that the Yamato Nadeshiko persona wasn't a total facade.

"Grab some of the sitting pillows," She all but demanded, "We're going to need them."

Marco did as asked placing them on the table behind Sakura at the silent motion of her head before she laid back on them, grabbing her legs with her hands and holding them up. Sakura was now laying on her back with her legs and sex spread in mid-air, in what was known as the piledriver postion.

"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said you knew a lot about sex were you?"

"Less talking more fucking!" Sakura snapped before adding a "Please Marco-sama." At the end.

Knowing better than to argue with a woman when she was in the mood, Marco lined his cock up with her entrance and entered her in one smooth thrust. Sakura bore a look of utter shock on her face as she stared up at him. He proceeded to piston in and out of her using her legs as leverage, and leaving the occasional trail of kisses along her legs too, going from one foot all the way to her inner thigh and then switching to the other leg right when his lips would touch her holiest of holies.

"Stop t-teasing me you b-b-bastard!" Sakura's voice came in breathy pants his performance so far seemed satisfactory it seemed.

Marco stopped thrusting.

"W-Why'd you stop?!" Sakura cried out. "I was so close!"

Marco, all but the tip of his dick out of his foul mouthed senpai replied innocently, "You told me to stop."

"You know Root damn well what I meant! Now if you don't get back to it I'll drain every last drop out of you like a succubiIII!" Sakura squealed in pleasure as Marco started thrusting again, because she wasn't ready for it, the pleasure was even more intense than she was ready for.

Marco thrust harder and harder glaring into Sakura's eyes as he did so, "While I empathize with you to a great degree Sakura-chan, do not think for a moment that my compassion means you can so easily boss me around! There is only one woman I would even consider letting give me orders and you. Aren't. Her!" He accentuated every word with a powerful thrust of his hips. "Understand?"

His last thrust caused Sakura to clench up, and both her and Marco to find simultaneous release. The two stared into each others eyes as they climaxed, reaching a silent, unspoken understanding. Once Marco was spent he pulled out of her and Sakura let her legs fall to the floor, their combined fluids leaking out of her and onto the tabletop.

Silence reigned for a moment as both tried to catch their breath. Marco was the first to speak. He felt as if he had taken it too far just then, like he might've crossed a line and 'raped' Sakura all over again. "I-I'm sorry I shouldn't have done…" Marco stopped talking when Sakura sat up and raised a hand for silence.

"It's fine, Marco-sama, I get it. Your just a dom," Sakura smiled at him, a mixture of impishness and Yamato Nadeshiko.

'Am I?' He wondered. 'I never would've thought I'd be the dominant one in the bedroom.' He shrugged. Weirder things had happened to him than this, "Where to next?"

"Just a second, I need to mark this place," Sakura told him before squatting down on the table and spreading her labia and forcing their combined fluids out of her snatch, staining the middle of the tabletop. She smirked like a dog that had just marked its territory.

Marco shot Sakura a look, "We're gonna clean all this up before we go, right?"

Sakura just smiled devilishly and walked past him, grabbing him by the shoulder as she went. "Maybe, c'mon."

She led him into the kitchen. Countertops and appliances gleamed. Sakura walked right over to the stove and stared at it. How many meals had she either made, or assisted with in this very room? How many hints had she dropped to Shirou, hoping he'd get the hint and realize that the girl who had been coming over to his house every day for over a year, might, just might have feeling for him? "But he didn't see it," Sakura muttered to herself. "He only saw neesan, that's all anyone ever sees is her."

"Sakura," Marco called from behind her, "You need a minute?"

The purplette just shook her head, banishing the dark thoughts from her mind. She turned to Marco and smirked, "I want to do it on the stovetop."

"No," Marco said flatly. "One wrong move, that thing gets turned on while we're going at it, next thing you know, someone's ass is on fire."

Him saying ass seemed to give Sakura an idea as she locked the oven door in place and used the handle as a hand hold before turning to Marco and asking, "Have you ever tried Hotdogging before Marco-sama?"

Marco shook his head, "No, but just going by the name I can guess how it works." Inserting his dick between her asscheeks Marco proceeded to rub back and forth, all while Sakura provided dirty commentary

"Oh yes, my buns just aren't big enough to hold all that meat! Mmm, ahh yes, that feels so good keep going keep going, thrust harder, rub me more!"

Marco urged on by her breathy moans of desire, grabbed her asscheeks for leverage causing Sakura to squeal out into ecstasy as he thrust even harder.

"More! More! Harder, harder!" Sakura urged. She looked back and grinned at the look of extreme concentration on Marco's face. "Is Marco-sama trying not to cum? That's sweet, but not what Sakura wants. She wants you to mark Sakura and this oven as yours like a dog does his bitch. Make me your bitch Marco! Mark this oven as your territory! Cum, cum! Do it, now!"

With one more mighty thrust Marco did cum some of his seed landing in the small of Sakura's back while a majority of it splashed across the top and front of the oven.

"That makes three," Marco said his voice coming out in breathy huffs.

"Three more to go," Sakura replied wiping the seed off the small of her back and licking her fingers clean. "Mmm, It's almost a shame to waste this almost. I've never tasted Od this potent before."

"Install," Marco assumed his adult form and with it, came a second wind. "Where to next?"

Sakura admired his muscular if scarred visage for a moment, "I know just the place, follow me."

Sakura led him down the hall into the dojo. It was wide, spacious, and completely flat. Marco looked at her in confusion, "You want to do it here?"

"Yes sem- Shirou-san spent a lot of time here. It seems fitting that we defile it."

Marco bit back a sigh, "Ok, how?"

"I think I want to be in charge this time, lay down," Sakura demanded.

Marco did as asked but not without saying, "I would like to point out that you've been in charge the entire time we've been here."

Sakura blinked owlishly, "Your right Marco-sama is there anything in particular you would like to do or try?"

Marco shook his head. This wasn't about him. This was about Sakura. "Not particularly, no."

Sakura smiled down at him as he laid down on the floor, like a sexy goddess, "Then you don't mind if I continue to take the lead?"

"Go right ahead, I'm doing this for you after all," Marco reminded her.

Sakura did a full body blush, it had been a long time since someone had said they were doing something for her, so her whole body turned bright pink. Sakura allowed herself to fall to the floor, her hair trailing behind her as she crawled towards Marco like a hungry tigress. Soon enough she had crawled across his body, her face aligned with his, and mere millimeters away. She stroked his face gently. "I am so lucky to have you Marco-sama," She kissed him on the lips. "So lucky," She kissed him again. "Allow me to properly show my... appreciation."

She reached behind her and grabbed his turgid cock and aligned it with her own soaked and waiting pussy. He slid right in, making a gasp of pleasure shoot through the both of them, Sakura placed her hands on his chiseled pecs for balance, bracing her feet on the tatami mats of the dojo floor before she started bouncing up and down on Marco's dick in Cowgirl position.

As she bounced up and down on him Marco was all but mesmerized by her breasts. They followed the griations of her body and the former Questor couldn't help himself from reaching up and grabbing a handful of both of them. This caused Sakura to coo in delight and slam her hips down hard on his crotch, gyrating her hips on his tool as he continued to squeeze her massive mammaries.

"Oh yes," Sakura said, her tongue lolling out of her mouth, "Just like that, yes, yes, squeeze them more, use your wrists, use your fingers and twirk my nipplesss!" Sakura orgasmed when he followed her instructions in breast play, shifting the way his palms moved and it was him pinching her nipples that sent her over the edge, with Marco coming himself soon after.

Both of them were sighing, Sakura doing so did marvelous things for her bust in Marco's opinion, but soon enough, after she was sure she had wrung every bit of seed she could out of him, Sakura got up and deposited it right in the middle of the Dojo floor, again marking the place.

"Now where?"

Sakura got a steely look in her eyes. It wasn't directed at him he knew, but he also knew this next place held a lot of sour memories for her.

Sakura silently led him across Emiya's walled in backyard to a guest room. Not just any guest room. Rin's guest room. The place she stayed during the Grail War. Marco didn't even bother asking if she wanted to do it here. He knew damn well she did and he knew damn well why too. Rin and Shirou probably did it here in this bed, in this very room. Of course Sakura would want to defile that memory.

"So, how do you want to do it this time?" he asked instead.

The former Matou was silent for a moment before she said, "How about Marco-sama chooses the last two times? I still win either way, but I want you to have some fun too."

"Are you sure?" Marco asked her, "This is about you, not me getting my rocks off, which I'm doing plenty of regardless."

Sakura sat down on the edge of the bed. Practically glowing, either from all the sex or all the Od she'd absorbed from him, Marco wasn't sure. Sakura nodded, "I'm sure. What tickles your fancy Marco-sama? Sixty-nine position? A titty-fuck? Anal perhaps?"

"Not that last one, never that last one," Marco said with a visible shudder.

Sakura quirked an eyebrow, "I'm not going to judge but may I ask why?"

"Let's just say Francesca tried that once and I reacted… violently. Unconsciously mind you but still."

Sakura nodded. "Right so anal is off the board," Sakura smirked and propped her breasts up, before offering, "How about that titty-fuck?"

Marco subconsciously licked his lips, "I wouldn't say no to that."

"Fufufufu! Marco-sama is a good man, an honest man… a man of culture," Sakura joked as she got down on her knees and looked Marco in the face, and grinned up at him. "A man who prefers plot over justice as someone in my class would say."

Sakura proceeded to sandwich Marco's member between her boobs and frowned to herself. "Well, we don't have any lube, so I'll have to... improvise," Sakura said before she opened her mouth and allowed copious amounts of her own saliva to trickle down from her tongue and onto both her breasts and Marco's dick. She then started moving them up and down in and out of sequence. Sakura, the little she-devil would go fast, then sensuous and slow for a time only to speed up once again after Marco got used to her pacing. Then she took it to a new level when she popped his head into her mouth and kept going. She sucked on the head like a lollipop, looking up at him innocently like she was doing nothing wrong as she released him from her mouth with an audible 'pop' and swirled her tongue around his head as she continued to move her breasts up and down in a brisk motion.

This went on for only so long before Marco felt that tingling feeling at the base of his spine. "Sakura I'm about to…"

When she heard that Sakura leaned back as far as she could and kept fiercely rubbing him with her breasts, so that when he ejaculated it would land right on the bed sheets behind her. "Come on Marco-sama, come on! Blow that big load we both know you've been building up! Show it to me, Show Sakura a big load coming out of your big dick!"

Marco didn't know why, but dirty talk always got to him, and he soon found himself firing off another round, one which flew directly across sakura's face and landed on the bed behind her. Marco despite his prodigious stamina was starting to feel a little tired. Yet he had enough strength for one more round.

"Okay, last shot, where do you wanna do it?" Marco asked after he'd regained his wits.

"Where else but Shirou's workshop?" Sakura asked.

Thus did the two find themselves in Shirou's shed, laying down on a blanket Shirou kept around as he often fell asleep in there. Sakura looked at Marco, "So, has Marco-sama decided how he wants to do this?"

"Are you ok with missionary?" Marco asked. He wasn't feeling particularly adventurous at this point.

Sakura smiled and gave him an understanding look. "Of course.," Sakura laid down on her back and spread her legs. "Whenever your ready Marco-sama."

Marco sat on his knees and leaned forwards, placing his hands on Sakura's hips as he pulled her into him. Sakura put both her hand behind her head and turned her face to the side giving him a pin up girl image as he continued to thrust into her. Not satisfied with how this was going and knowing Sakura liked a certain kind of sex, Marco wrapped his hands arounf her waist and picked her up, setting her in his lap while thrusting up into her. Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck to keep her balance. "Not… that I'm… complaining… but why the… change… in position?" Sakura asked between thrusts.

"So I could do this," Marco picked up one of Sakura's breasts and put it in his mouth and proceeded to suck on her nipple.

"EEEEK! Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop!" Sakura cried out in sheer ecstasy. "Fuck that feels amazing, even better than I thought it would be," Sakura purred when his hand played with her other breast. "Your… a quick study… That's so good!"

Sakura's body shuddered in pleasure when he switched places and she started pounding down to meet his upward thrusts. The two were in sync, a single machine with a singular purpose of receiving and giving pleasure to one another in an endless loop. But since neither were the Third Magician, such a perpetual motion machine couldn't last forever, something had to give. Sakura gave out first the Sheer sexual bliss she was feeling caused her vaginal walls to clamp down vise-like on Marco's dick and instinctually milk him for his semen.

Marco faired little better than her after that, and let loose a final torrential flood of Od inside of Sakura in the form of his seed, painting her fleshy insides white. Once the deed was finally done, the two collapsed onto the blanket, utterly spent.

(Lemon End)

Sakura lay there content on the floor of Shirou's workshop looking and feeling sublime. "That was… Amazing Marco-sama," Sakura said in a breathy sigh.

"I aim to please," Marco commented slightly breathless.

"And your not a quick shot, which is nice," Sakura commented offhandedly.

Marco just rolled his eyes, "Yeah well, I've had eight years worth of practice."

Sakura nodded slowly before asking, "Francesca-san?"

Marco nodded. "Yeah, she had needs while I was her apprentice was expected to fulfil. That was her excuse anyway," Marco smiled at her. "I think my massages just put her in the mood if I'm honest."

Sakura nodded again the afterglow-like haze of so many rounds of coitus finally wearing off. "Yeah that'd do it Marco-sama. Women like a man who's good with his hands."

Marco sent her a sly look, "Yeah I've noticed. You sure seemed to enjoy having your boobs touched, and sucked on, and…"

"Marco-sama!" Sakura complained flushing.

Marco raised his hands and smiled. "I'm not teasing, not intentionally just curious as to why you enjoy you having your breasts played with so much? I mean, I know their an erogenous zone but still."

Sakura huffed, still a bit miffed at him before becoming morose. "Well, if you must know… I think that's as close as I'll ever come to having a child. The Crest Worms have fed on my placenta for decades Marco-sama. For so long, I don't know if I could safely carry a child to term."

Marco held Saruka to him as she cried on his shoulder. He didn't care if the both of them were naked standing in a shed turned magical workshop. Right now, she needed to be held, and he would be there for her. 'Zouken, you miserable old bastard. Even when your dead and gone you still get the last laugh, don't you?'

Marco kissed her on the forehead and promised, "I'll find some way to fix this, okay?"

Sakura looked up at him with tears gleaming in her eyes, "You mean it don't you? Your not… like Shirou-san?"

Marco clenched his fists at his sides. 'Shirou, you deserve everything I do to you good and bad,' He thought before he shook his head and replied, "I do. It may take awhile. A long time even, but I'll find a way. I promise you."

Sakura looked up into his eyes, smiled and nodded before she buried her head into his chest. "Okay," She started crying and just kept repeating herself. "Okay, okay, okay."

All Marco could do was hold her till she ran out of tears to cry. Once she was done, Marco softly asked. "Are you ready to get outta here, Sakura-chan?"

Dabbing at her eyes with the back of her hand, the former Matou replied, "Yes."

After quickly cleaning the place up, taking a quick shower, and getting dressed, Marco and Sakura left the Emiya Estate, via a portal each carrying bags from the grocers.

They stepped through the portal into the living room of the Diaz Residence. Angie was sitting on the couch grading papers when they entered, absentmindedly petting a laser puppy's head. She smiled at her son and Sakura when she saw them. "Hello you two, did you get everything you needed at the store?"

"That and then some Diaz-san," Sakura replied smiling happily.

Angie smiled, "Please Sakura dear, just call me Angie."

Sakura nodded forcing herself not to bow respectfully, "Of course, Angie-san."

Marco smiled at his mother, "We're going to go put this away. Be right back mom."

"Take your time dear," Angie called.

Once the two entered the kitchen Sakura sighed, "That was intense."

"Actually, I've already talked to my parents about my love life. There okay with it," Marco replied casually as he began emptying bags. "Should we freeze some of this stuff if your not going to use it right away?" Marco asked.

"Y-Your parents k-know?" Sakura asked her face as red as a hot coal.

Marco turned to look at her, "They know I'm in an open relationship, yes. They know I'm used to regular intimacy and their okay with it, as long as everyone who doesn't want to become a parent uses protection," Marco put a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "I haven't told them anything about you Sakura, it's not my place. Besides, I figured most of this out when we were over there in Japan, I wouldn't have had time to tell them."

Sakura took several calming breaths. "Your right, your right. Sorry, sorry."

Marco waved away her apology. "Don't worry about it. Now what should we do with all of this?" the former Questor motioned to the numerous bags they had on the counter.

"Leave em to me, I'll take care of it," Hekapoo said walking into the kitchen.

Marco blinked. "Umm, H-poo, I know you need to wear a maid outfit as a part of your punishment or whatever, but you know you don't actually have to do the duties of a maid you know? I'm fine with you just being here, and hanging out."

The demigoddess just smiled at him, "While that's sweet of you to say Marco, I wouldn't feel right if I lounged around here mooched off you and your folks and did nothing. I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a sponge."

"No your more like a hammer, anvil, and a pair of tongs," Marco shot back.

Hekapoo just smirked at him and rolled her eyes, "You forgot the forge."

Marco shook his head, "No I didn't. I'm the one whose mostly like a forge between the two of us."

Hekapoo blinked at that, "Oh really?"

"Yes. But that's a story for another time, wanna help Sakura and I put all this away?"

"That's why I'm in here," Hekapoo affirmed.

Marco cracked his knuckles by interfolding his fingers. "Okay then, Sakura, what should go where?"

The former Matou magi, who had been watching the two all but flirt with each other jumped when she was addressed. "Umm the fish, calamari and other seafood should go in the fridge, miso-soup and tea should go in a cupboard, and everything else can go other places. I suppose."

"Other things?" Hekapoo said as she went through one of the bags and came out with a rather large ornate japanese style tea set. They were made of clay, painted white, coated in a clear lacquer, and covered in sakura tree designs. "Ohh, pretty."

"But fragile, be careful with them please," Sakura pleaded.

"Don't worry," Hekapoo told her. "If I break one, I can go and get another to replace it. Provided Marco let's me."

"As long as you don't leave Earth, I don't have a problem with you using your portal to get around. Just be discreet about it. We don't need the Mage's Association breathing down our necks… again."

Hekapoo shot off a salute. "You got it, master," Hekapoo purred.

"Please don't call me that," Marco pleaded.

Hekaoo shook her head. "Sorry can't do that it's apart of my contract."

Marco gave her a look. "Is it really or are you messing with me?"

"I'm messing with you, getting back at you for calling me H-poo all the time," The demi-goddess admitted.

Marco blinked he didn't expect Hekapoo to be so candid, "You can't lie due to the slave brand can you?"

Hekapoo's smile soured slightly, "It's not that I can't lie. It's just that it'll hurt like a bitch if I try lying to you directly about a question you ask. For example, a lie by omission of facts wouldn't count unless you asked me point blank for some very specific information. Does that make sense?"

Marco nodded, it did. "Yeah so you can twist facts and keep your secrets which is fine by me, but I would hope you would tell me something if you thought I should know it. This isn't an order by the way, this is just one friend talking to another."

Hekapoo held his gaze for a moment, before she gave a curt nod. "I understand Marco… and thank you for letting me have my secrets."

The fourteen going on thirty-one teen shrugged. "Everyone has them. Embarassing or sad things they just don't want to talk about. The only way I'd force you to talk about them is if any of your secrets affected one or more of us. Considering you've been on the Magic High Commision for who knows how long, I'd imagine you have more than a few," Hekapoo's flinch confirmed his guess. "But I won't press for answers now. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it and not before, agreed?"

Hekapoo let out a sigh of relief. "Yes, thank you, Marco," The demigoddess said with sincerity in her voice.

"No problem. Since your going to be here awhile Hekapoo I want you to be comfortable. That can't happen if your constantly worried I'm going to have you spill your guts," Marco told her earnestly. He clapped his hands and rubbed them together, "Now, let's get this all put away."

It took them all twenty minutes mainly because Marco had been away from home for so long, he'd forgotten where everything was supposed to go. It was a learning experience for all three of them, but they managed. Once everything was put away Marco smiled at the two. "Well it was fun ladies but I'd better go find Star, she's probably chomping at the bit wondering where I am."

"Marco!" A blonde and crimson missile collided with the man's chest in that moment. The aged warrior took a step back as he wrapped his hands around his dearest Star Butterfly who was looking up at him excitedly. "You're back!"

"I am, we just got finished putting the groceries away."

"Cool, cool," Star glanced between him and Sakura before she leaned up on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear, "You did more than just shopping huh?"

"Yeah," Marco whispered back, "Your not mad are you?"

Star leaned back and looked into Marco's eyes, "More curious as to why more than anything dear."

Marco flicked his head upwards, "Our room?"

Hearing him refer to his room as theirs caused Star's heart to flutter, "Yeah."

He looked to Sakura. "Sakura would you mind coming with me and Star for a bit? We need to explain some things to her."

Just from the way he spoke and looked at her, Sakura knew what this was about. She flushed. "O-Of course, M-Marco-sama."

Star paused before looking to Hekapoo worriedly, "Hekapoo could you come too? I have something… important I need to tell you."

Marco sent her a curious look only for Star to mouth, 'Glossaryck', causing him to nod.

Hekapoo looked between the two before speaking up, "Maid important or former member of the Magic High Commision important?"

"The latter?" Star said quietly while looking at her feet, refusing to meet Hekapoo's gaze.

The scissor-crafter turned maid sighed, "I was wondering why dad hadn't shown up to comment on my choice of outfit yet. Okay, let's get some snacks together and go chat." Seeing the looks she was getting Hekapoo shrugged, "What I don't handle heavy conversations well, don't judge me!"

"I'll set the tea on," Sakura said. Before turning to Marco, "Marco-sama, would you get the rice crackers or maybe the mochi out?"

"Mochi definitely the mochi. Marco said to himself.

The group soon found themselves in Marco's room all sitting on his bed nursing cups of tea and snacks. A fifth cup and some deserts had found their way into Angie's hands as they made their way upstairs. Marco looked to Star who looked to him before looking to Hekapoo. Sakura was keeping her eyes fixed on her cup and Hekapoo herself was enjoying the Japanese confections.

"Ok, so… who wants to go first?" Hekapoo said after a moment. "How about you and Sakura master. Since its obvious you two had sex while you were gone."

Sakura jumped almost spilling her drink. "O-Obvious?!" She squeaked.

"Gurl, you were practically glowing in the kitchen. I'm surprised Angie didn't comment on it," Star said slyly. "She probably didn't want to embarass Marco." Star flicked her cerulean blue eyes over to her Mulberry King, "Speaking of, what brought that on my little Mulberry?"

"D-Don't be mad at Marco-sama please!" Sakura begged. "It was my i-idea! I… I insisted on it." Sakura finished in a meek quiet tone.

"Mad?" Star questioned. "I'm not mad," She assured Sakura, "Just curious as to why it happened is all. I mean, from what little I know, he hardly knows you. I could understand if I was Chiyo, Oei, or Francesca, he's known all of them almost a decade. Longer than he's known me even! But you? Outta the blue like that? Color me confused."

Hekapoo grimaced but said nothing, she'd seen enough down in the pit to know what was going on.

"Sakura," Marco spoke gently after a moment, reaching over to take one of her hands. "You can tell Star. I trust her with my life and you can too."

Sakura looked over to Marco and then to the confused Star. She sighed. "Okay. It's like this Star-san, please don't interrupt because I don't know if I can start again if I'm stopped."

Star nodded sensing a heavy conversation when she heard one coming. "Go ahead."

Sakura took a breath and began. "It all started when I was six."

The horror that unfolded in Marco's room that Star heard fall from Sakura's lips as she spoke in a stoic monotone as she was violated in so many unspeakable ways over the course of a decade left her speechless. Star wanted to wretch, to scream the unfairness at the heavens, to destroy the very souls of Zouken and Shinji Matou for all time. Star was pretty sure that last one was coming from Artemis herself, but she still wholeheartedly agreed. Yet, she couldn't do any of that, for justice had already been mettied out, by Marco's hand. 'At least he made it hurt.' She thought as Marco went into detail on just how Shinji was killed.

"Couldn't have happened to a worse person." Star said upon hearing how he'd been devoured by Francesca.

"Do you need a hug?" A familiar voice asked.

The group looked around to see Orion near Sakura, his arms outstretched, and beady little eyes wet with tears.

Sakura gently set her cup on the nightstand and picked Orion up before squeezing him to her chest. "There, there," Orion cooed. "It'll be ok. Not today, or tomorrow or maybe even a year from now, but eventually, it will be okay, because you are stronger than them. You outlasted your abusers and you can move on from the pain."

"Thank you, Orion-san." Sakura said as she held him to her chest.

Marco felt a smidgen of respect blooming in his chest for the small bear. 'Maybe he's not so bad after all. But if he tries to perv on Sakura, he's dead.' Marco decided to himself.

Sakura turned him around and placed Orion on her lap before offering him some mochi to munch on. "Oh, thank you missie!" Orion chewed on his treat happily as Sakura smiled and watched.

"So that leads us to today. Even with the Crest Worms gone, Sakura's body has been conditioned to have… urges." Marco supplied.

"She's horny a lot?" Hekapoo offered while pointing at her own horns so everyone would get the joke. "Trust me, I get it."

A round of nervous laughter was shared by the group, and Sakura gave a breathy sigh. "But yes, unfortunately that is the case."

Star nodded, she understood the situation now, as sad as it was. "I get it. You have needs not knees, though you have those too, but needs."

"You've been watching Disney Channel haven't you Star?" Marco asked drolly.

"Meh, only when I'm bored which is like, half the time." Another shrug was given.

Marco just gave his head a shake. "Fine, but Hanna Montana, really?"

It's not that bad, plus I can relate to her I'm a princess-to-be remember, big burden almost as big as hiding the fact your secretly a pop-star." Star defended her choice in tv programing.

"Right, I keep forgetting." Marco constantly had to remind himself Star wasn't just a magical girl who could kick ass but a royal magical girl who could kick ass.

That offhand comment earned him a kiss on the lips. "I know, and I love that about you Marco. To you I'm not Princess Star Butterfly of Mewni, I'm just Star Butterfly, your girlfriend."

"Always. But we should address the other elephant in the room, don't you think? Marco said while glancing at Hekapoo who narrowed her eyes at him in response.

"Did you just call me fat Diaz?" The demigoddess said hotly, a plume of flame coming from her mouth as she glared at him.

"No! No," Marco replied quickly. "Addressing the elephant in the room is an Earth idiom for bringing up a subject that needs to be talked about. I'm not stupid enough to bring up a woman's weight, not that you have a problem to begin with. You look gorgeous!" Marco stammered out. Before he blushed upon realizing what he just said, "Umm, I mean to say…"

Hekpoo hushed him by putting a finger to his lips. "Your cute when your flustered you know that?" Hekapoo said winking at him before she moved her finger so she could give him a peck on the lips. When she pulled back he was red faced an crosseyed.

"So cute!" Hekapoo said pulling him into her bosom.

Both Star and Sakura giggled at Marco's reactions. He could handle sex and flirting yet when it came to getting as good as he gave, he turned into a blushing mess.

"Hekapoo! Hekapoo!" Star called. "Let him up before he suffocates in those jugs of yours."

"Jealous Butterfly?" Hekapoo asked sending her a glance. "That mine are natural and not caused by magic?"

Star snorted. "You were created by Glossaryck and are made of magic Hekapoo, it's a moot point."

The former member of the High Commision sighed pouting a little before letting her Master go. "True, so I'm guessing this is the part where you tell me you somehow lost the Book of Spells and dear old dad along with it huh?"

Star blanched. "I… was it that obvious?"

Hekapoo ticked off on her fingers. "The fact he wasn't taking pictures for blackmail, mocking me at every turn, or making huge messes for me to clean up just because he could? Yeah it's obvious he's not here, and the only reason he wouldn't be here, is if you misplaced the book. So, what happened?"

Star's lower lip trembled as tears gathered in her eyes only for Marco to lay a hand on her shoulder. "Star, I don't think Hekapoo is angry or even cares all that much." He looked to her, "Right?"

"If I was still apart of the High Commision I'd be furious I wasn't informed immediately that the book was lost," Hekapoo replied, before shrugging and smirking showing off her fangs. "But I'm not a member of the High Commision anymore. I'm just a housemaid. What goes on in the multiverse is hardly the concern of someone in such a lowly position such as I." Hekapoo finished in a melodramatic tone.

"Do you still even want to know what happened or…?" Star let the question hang.

Hekapoo leaned against the wall with her tea, "Sure why not? I might get a kick outta it."

Star gave a slight chuckle before she proceeded to tell the story of how Glossaryck had been abducted by Ludo of all people, who now had his own wand, which came from the fragment of hers, which broke when Toffee forced her to use the Whispering Spell. He, along with his new cronies consisting of an army of rats, an Eagle, and a Spider had managed to get away with the Book of Spells.

"Huh, never would've guessed your mom's old nemesis would pop back up. Then again, he is a Septarian so… meh."

"Wait, wait, wait! Mom's old enemy was Toffee?"

Hekapoo rubbed her temple and sighed. "Someone's spent too much time fighting monsters and not enough time with their tutors it seems. The whole reason your mother was called Moon the Undaunted was because she scared him off shortly after he killed her mother, your Grandmother, Comet."

Star thought back to the other day, at London. She was so angry with her mom, she'd forgotten the conversation they'd had. "Right sorry, tonight was… ya know?"

Hekapoo nodded understandingly. "I get it. I'm still miffed myself."

"That reminds me, I need to finish going over that geas contract." Marco said to himself.

"I took the liberty of placing it on your desk." Hekapoo told him. Motioning over to his desk where his computer sat.

Marco walked over to it, tracing Ruler Breaker as he went. Marco proceeded to scan the remaining contents of the contract. Stabbing here and there with the Noble Phantasm like he was using white out on a document. "Sorry ignore me carry on." He motioned for the two women to continue as he continued scowling and erasing line after line of the geas scroll.

"Right so Toffee bad, we've established that." Star carried on, "Ludo has the book. I tried rescuing him Hekpoo. I really did. But He didn't want to be saved… I think?"

"How'd you try to save him?" the creation demigoddess inquired.

"I used Eclipsa's All Seeing Eye spell."

"Oh, did I hear the name of one of my spells?" Eclipsa popped her head in, showing she was wearing a pink bathrobe and her hair covered by a bandana with equally pink and fuzzy loafers on her feet.

She smiled at everyone. Who returned the gesture.

Star nodded. "Yes Eclipsa I used your All-Seeing Eye spell to locate Glossaryck after I lost the Book of Spells, I even reached through it to try and grab him, but… he wouldn't take my hand."

Eclipsa put her hand to her mouth in surprise. "You, you put your hand through the All Seeing Eye? Star dear, that's not supposed to be possible The All Seeing Eye is like a fragile lense think of it like a bubble. If you apply too much force to it, it… pops." Eclipsa made an exploding motion with her hands, "What you did, even subconsciously was nothing short of extraordinary!"

Star flushed under the older Butterfly's praise. She was certainly not used to such treatment. Having rarely if ever received such from her own mother. "Thank you Granny 'Clipsa."

"How about we drop the Granny and keep the 'Clipsa dear?" Eclipsa giggled. "It makes me feel old."

"You are old," Hekapoo commented. "Your over three hundred, you've just spent a majority of that in suspended animation.

"And you've been around much longer than I, which makes you how old exactly?" Eclipsa asked, her tone not shifting an inch nor did her pleasant smile leave her face.

Hekapoo flushed for a moment before she gave the former Queen of Mewni a deadpan round of applause. "Well played Eclipsa, well played."

Eclipsa just giggled in response. "Thank you, and I must say, these showers are wonderful things, but I don't like the idea of standing while bathing plus nothing beats a long hot soak you know?"

"We have tubs too you know?" Marco told her, his gaze flicking up from the geas scroll to regard her for a moment.

"I noticed Marco dear, I just wanted to give the shower a shot you know? I suppose it's nice if your in a hurry and need to be somewhere though." Eclipsa conceded. "Still going over the geas scroll are we?"

"Yes, it's a bit tough since I don't understand all the legal babble." Marco replied running a hand down his face.

"Perhaps I could help dear?" Eclipsa offered kindly. "I do owe you quite a bit you know and this is really is the least I can do to pay you back."

"Please," Marco said releasing a sigh of relief.

Eclipsa strode across the room and took both the geas scroll and Rule Breaker in hand. She stared at the dagger for a moment, muttering to herself. "I owe much to this dagger, it granted me my freedom." She glanced at Marco out of the corner of her eye and smiled shooting him a playful wink. "And you too, my adorable little hero."

Marco flushed and looked away. 'Natchios is right, I blush too easily.' Marco thought to himself as he blushed all the harder when he heard Eclipsa's laughter.

"Alright let's see here," The Queen of Darkness said as she peered at the contract. "Oh, no, no, this won't do! Or this, or that! What were they thinking with this one?" Eclipsa asked herself striking almost every other line with Rule Breaker, destroying them. Eclipsa worked her way through the geas scroll with mechanical efficiency, and in under ten minutes she was done. She rolled it up and handed it back to Marco. "There you are Marco dear, all the nasty surprises are taken out."

Marco graciously accepted the now dubious clause free geas scroll. "Thank you Eclipsa."

"Anytime dear, if you need my help with something do let me know, I owe you a lot." Eclipsa told him planting a kiss on his forehead before walking out of the room.

"Awe, that was sweet!" Star cooed. "'Clipsa likes you Marco!"

"As in likes me or likes me?" Marco asked. He didn't know cause he was getting mixed signals.

Star rubbed her chin with her finger and thumb as she thought. "I… dunno. I can sense the affection, but I don't know how its going."

"That's a talent of my girl." Orion piped up having finished his mochi, "She may not be a goddess of love but due to her connection to the moon she can sense passion and madness in others. You're becoming more in tune with her girlie, good job."

"Thanks Orion, thank you for not being a pervert around Sakura." Star replied.

"I have morals thank you very much!" Orion retorted sounding offended. Star made it up to him by handing him another piece of mochi.

"Let's say theoretically speaking she does like me, that doesn't bother you Star?" Marco asked.

Star shook her head. "Nope." She said popping the 'p'. "It's not like she's my mom or my actual grandmother we're like five generations removed, so it's fine. Besides Marco everything she knew and loved is kinda… gone. Her husband her daughter, all of it. So if we, you, can help her move on then I say go for it!" Star pumped her fist in exuberance.

Marco held out his hands, "Woah, woah, hold your warnicorns there Star. She could just be grateful she's not an Eclipcicle right now for all we know. Let's not hurt our legs by jumping to conclusions."

Star rolled her eyes, "That joke was criminal dear, I should lock you up for that."

"Star breaking out the whips and chains? Kinky, I didn't know you had it in you." Marco commented.

"M-M-Marco Diaz!" Star stammered out, her face flushed as red as her clothes.

Marco gave star a pointed look. "I'm even more surprised you knew what I was talking about. Is there something you want to tell me, Star?"

Star poked her index fingers together and looked away. "I might've accidentally clicked on something I shouldn't have when using your computer once. I thought the corset the woman was wearing looked cool okay! I didn't know it would lead to a… a… ah…"

"A sex site?" Sakura who was blushing behind her tea cup finished for Star, who nodded.

"Then I saw some of the weirdest stuff, girls tied up or in harnesses getting hit with whips, riding crops, and other things. They'd get oil rubbed on them and stuff and I thought to myself, I want that to happen to me."

"To be the one doing it?" Marco guessed. Considering how active and gung-ho she was he suspected Star would be a dom in bed.

Surprisingly she shook her head. "No, I wanted it done to me. The feeling of giving up control, of the burdens and worries of needing to be anything other than just… in the moment, sounds really nice."

That surprised Marco, 'She's a sub? Didn't see that coming.' He cleared his throat. "I see,"

She misinterpreted his throat clearing as something else. "Does this gross you out or something?"

Marco shook his head. "No Star. I'm just surprised you're the one who'd want it done rather than be the one doing. Your very active very take charge so I kinda assumed you'd be the same way in the bedroom."

Star let out a little laugh. "I could see how you'd think that but Marco, the bedroom is the last place I want to be in control…" Star paused as if thinking something over. "I mean maybe sometimes just to mix it up but for the most part nah." Star looked to Sakura, "What about you Sakura?"

"Hmm?" the purplette jumped upon being addressed. "Umm, well I…" Sakura looked over to Marco for help. Silently pleading with her eyes.

"Sakura likes taking control as much as she likes handing it over." Marco said with a slight smirk.

"Marco-sama!" Sakura said with a smirk.

"Ohh… by the way, how big is Marco anyway Sakura?" Star stage whispered to the other girl.

"I'm right here Star." Marco deadpanned at the question.

"Yeah but asking a guy and asking a girl are two different things. Guys tend to brag and girls well they don't or can't… at least that's what Ponyhead told me." Star commented offhandedly.

Marco grit his teeth, "I'm gonna strangle that unicorn with her own mane next time I see her."

"Marco-sama is in no way small," Sakura replied. Opening up now since sex had been the topic of conversation for awhile now. "I honestly don't think they even make condoms in his size."

Star drooled a little upon hearing that. "How… how big are we talking here?"

Sakura held her hands more than a foot apart, causing Star's eyes to glaze over with desire.

"Star!" Marco all but shouted his cheeks the same shade of red as his hoodie.

"Huh, wha?! What were we talking about?" Star asked coming out of her daze.

"How they don't make male contraceptives in Marco's size… and yeah they don't make human ones that big. You'd need one for an Orc or something," Hekapoo chimed in.

"I think it's safe to say Marco-sama's natural sword is an Odachi yes?" Seeing the other two weren't getting it she tried again, "A Greatsword is the Western term?"

A look of understanding dawned in the girls eyes and they nodded in comprehension, "Yeah, Marco is definitely not packing a dagger, that's for sure." Star complimented.

"Can we change the subject, please?" Marco asked, his face covered by his hoodie.

Star grabbed his cheek and gave it a squeeze, "You have nothing to be embarrassed about dear, if anything, we're complimenting you."

"I know it just… makes me uncomfortable." Marco admitted.

Star shrugged. "Why it's just us, and furthermore, who cares what other people think about our personal lives? If they don't like us talking about it, they can just leave. Is this another Earth thing I'm not getting?"

Much to his surprise, Sakura answered before he could. "It depends on the culture actually Star-san. In Japan, my home country, for example, Public Displays of Affection aren't exactly frowned upon, but uniformity is expected and encouraged so anything that makes people stand out is frowned upon. That, combined with the expectation to find good jobs has actually led to a severe decline in childbirths."

"Wha… You mean people in your country are… afraid of sex?" Star asked sounding astonished.

Sakura moved her hand from left to right in a 'kinda sorta' motion. "It's more complicated than that but that's part of it, yes."

"So… Marco by contrast then?" Star asked for confirmation.

"Is a perfectly normal boy who is a bit on the shy side." Sakura gave Star a grin. "I'm sure we can fix that with a bit of work."

"Oh, I like her. She reminds me of Ponyhead, just less… Ponyhead." Star replied while returning Sakura's smile with one of her own.

Marco sighed pinching the bridge of his nose, "Star please don't compare Sakura, a girl I recently made love to, to Ponyhead of all people."

"Sorry dear, I guess beastality isn't one of your kinks then?" Star joked.

"No." Marco replied flatly only for him and Star to look at each other and burst out laughing.

"God I missed this." Marco said with a sigh.

"Me too." Star admitted.

"Star, this was just yesterday for you." Marco reminded her.

The princess nodded. "Yeah, so? I got kidnapped and everything yesterday. A lot of things happened yesterday."

Fair point dear, fair point." Marco conceded. "So, what now? Like what's our next move?"

Star hummed. "Well, that's up to you isn't it?" She said at last. "What do you want to do?"

"She's right, you know?" Hekapoo told him, "The multiverse is your oyster."

Marco hand a hand through his hair, "Well I promised Natchios we'd move her treasure hoard into a bank so that's first on my agenda tomorrow."

Hekapoo ran a hand down her face, "Marco, do you have any idea how much treasure Natchios has hoarded beneath that flower field?" Seeing him shake his head, she elaborated, "Enough to fill Mewni's treasure vaults several times over. She's a Great Wyrm, meaning she's been alive, hoarding, amassing, and guarding her treasure for the better part of a millennium and a half."

"That's… I… We… we're gonna need a bigger bank, aren't we?" Marco deadpanned.

Hekapoo nodded sagely. "Much, much bigger."

Marco ran a hand down his face. "Oh boy, this is gonna take awhile, isn't it?"

"The better part of a week if we're lucky. That is taking into account me being able to clone myself,"Hekapoo replied.

Marco set a stubborn grin on his face. "Well then, we'd best get to bed early, so we can get a jump on all of this."

"Snuggle time with Marco, my favorite time of the day!" Star cheered.

"Love cuddling with you too Star… speaking of cuddling aren't you supposed to be sharing the bed with other people?" Marco reminded her.

"Well, yeah there are two sides to the bed Marco, and you have two arms to snuggle with. I'll take one, and someone else gets the other one every night." Star said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. She then looked around the room. "That reminds me, I should really finish transforming this room, I mean, the bed was a nice start but I should finish the job,"

"Marco also has two legs and a chest Star, so technically you could fit five girls in the bed at once." Hekapoo supplied.

"Good point, Hekapoo, good point, dibs on that sexy chest by the way." Star said absentmindedly as she was walking around the room, looking at everything.

"Star, what are you thinking?" Marco said hesitantly.

Star smiled at him. "Marco, do you trust me?"

Marco didn't even hesitate. "With my life."

"Room fit for a king transform!" Star called out in response, aiming her wand at the floor and letting out a blast of light.

When the wave of magic passed Marco's room had changed in its entirety. His furniture was now made out of stained cedar wood, with gold accents in the shape of butterflies. His floor was also now solid wood covered in animal furs and he had a fireplace over which El Chappo, and his scissors sat, crisscrossed over a heater shield which bore a coat of arms.

A green dragon rampant surrounded above by a semi circle of three golden butterflies on a red field written on a ribbon underneath were the words "El amor perdura eternamente."

"What does that mean, I know its Spanish but that's about it."

"Love endures eternally or forever depending on how you want to read it." Marco translated for her. "It's perfect."

Star intertwined her hand with his. "It is." She agreed. She looked to her Mulberry King. "So, to bed then?"

Marco shot Star a sideways glance, "That depends are you really gonna sleep on my chest?"

"Are you implying I'm too heavy to sleep on your chest?" Star rebutted fixing Marco with a full on glare, but he could tell she didn't mean it due to the mirth dancing in her eyes.

"Never dear," Marco replied robotically before he walked over and picked up his dimensional scissors. "I do need to do one thing before we retire for the evening though."

Marco took out a pen, and gave the geas scroll a final read through, before signing his full name at the bottom and adding a small note before opening a small portal and tossing the rolled up scroll within. "There, that's done." He turned back to Star and asking, "Now, have you decided the sleeping arrangements?"

For the first time in years, River and Moon were having a fight. In the privacy of their chambers which was heavily warded with all manner of spells to prevent scrying, eavesdropping, and magical spying of any sort, the two long wedded royals faced off. Eyeing each other up as if two combatants about to come to blows.

"I cannot believe you tried to do that Moonpie! River spoke in a calm but clearly disappointed tone. "Marco is a good lad, he's helped Star through more scrapes than I care to count."

"You've been spying on them?" Moon questioned.

River scoffed as if his wife had just stated something foolish. "Of course I have! Did you honestly expect me to just leave my little girl alone in a house with a boy and not worry myself sick? I quickly found out however that I needn't have worried at all. Marco Ubaldo Diaz is an absolute gentleman through and through. He has slowly been tempring Star's more reckless nature and been teaching her to think before she acts."

"And yet she has not only broken the wand, but also lost the Book of Spells and Glossaryck." Moon pointed out.

"The Wand was broken because Toffee of all people kidnapped Marco. Did you really expect her to let him die Moon, for our generations mistakes?" River looked up at his wife and gave her a hard look.

Moon clenched her teeth and glared down at her husband. "My mistake you mean? The fact I didn't kill Toffee when I had the chance."

River attempted to mollify his wife. "Toffee was the mistake leading all the way back to Solaria dear. The hatred and persecution of monsters runs far, far too deep in the veins of every Mewman. Ours is a culture a little too set in its ways. For good or ill."

Moon sighed and nodded. She knew her husband was right, the fact it was coming from him, a Johansen, a group of barbarian-like people who were elevated to noble status due to their accolades in Solaria's war campaign against the monsters, made it all the more poignant.

"You don't understand River, with the Wand not only on Earth, but also broken, and now the Book of Spells lost, Mewni's defenses against monster attacks are severely weakened. Should Marco open up Earth to trade, we would lose what little influence we have."

River just shook his head. His wife was looking so far ahead, she couldn't see the forest for the trees. Another Earth idiom he'd learned from Marco and they had a similar one here on Mewni. One he told his wife now. "Moonpie, your so busy fretting over what might happen well, you've mistaken corn for the stalks."

Moon put her hands on her hips. "How so?"

River sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Marco and Star clearly love each other. The boy is my successor to the throne. Had you worked with him instead of against him, our knights could reach new heights never seen before. Human science combined with Mewni magic? Why who knows what kind of marvels could be created? What new armors or weapons could've been produced? Or Cosmos forbid genuine peace could've been found with the monsters somehow."

Moon let out a little laugh, "You don't actually believe that do you River? We've been at each other's throats for… who knows how long. Since we first came to Mewni I suspect."

River shrugged. "We will likely never know now will we? You and the High Commission have all but burned that bridge. Furthermore if you thought we were going to lose support before, we definitely are now. Star the future Queen of Mewni is backing Marco's play after this stunt."

There was a sound a ripping fabric signaling a portal opening in their chambers, the two saw a piece of paper flutter to the ground moments before the portal closed. River walked over and picked it up. "Your Gaes Scroll has been signed. Marco also wrote a note at the bottom."

"What does it say?" Moon ask sounding curious and also fearful.

River scanned the contents with a keen blue eye. "He wishes to speak with me privately at 3pm tomorrow. Says it's an important Earth custom concerning Star but doesn't elaborate more than that." River's lips twitched upwards in a smile.

"What is it?" Moon asked upon seeing her husband with a ghost of a smile on his face.

"That boy," River said shaking his head, as he moved to get into bed, "Is far too formal and paranoid for his own good."

Marco found himself standing on a cold flat plain. Dead grass was all around him, the air was chilly, and a fog clung in the air. Marco looked around, he could she shapes moving through the fog. Humanoid, gangly, but their heads were far from human they possessed goatish horns, and long mouths like snouts.

The mist cleared some, and Marco saw an archaic monastery in the distance, half rubble half still intact. Strange spirals and weird symbols were carved all over the walls. Marco felt himself being drawn towards it. The moment he started moving, he drew the attention of the goat people. A mixture of a braying and an inhuman scream reached Marco's ears as they charged out of the fog in droves.

Their lower halves were covered in shaggy mud and blood stained goat fur, their feet cleft hooves, while their torsos and arms were that of men, caked in mud and blood with runes carved in their very flesh some still fresh and bleeding.

"Install, Trace on!" Marco said in sequence.

By the time the flash of light cleared the gun in his mind had already fired and he was holding Kanshou and Bakuya in either hand the white Bakuya held in a reverse grip, spinning on his heel, Marco shredded the first of the man goats like paper, twisting like a top as he carved his way through the first three or so attackers. Throwing both blades and dropping to his knees as he lost momentum, Marco traced another pair of weapons, these a pair of spears. One rose red, the other golden hued.

Leaping forward like a spring, Marco slammed both Gáe Dearg and Gáe Buidhe into the chest of the foremost goatman, rolling with the impact as ribs snapped like twigs under the impact, and Marco rolled with the blow, getting to his feet with fluidity and spears still in his hands.

The boy turned man lashed out with Gáe Buidhe the golden half spear's tip darting in and out like a hornet's stinger,slicing arms, hamstringing enemies and in some cases, literally disarming foes. Marco had gone from killing to hampering his foes for they seemed an endless swarm. Thus taking them out of the fight but leaving them alive seemed the soundest course of action at the moment.

Gáe Dearg was not idle either. While its younger brother was used for offense, it was being defensively twirled in his left hand at all times, knocking those he couldn't stab or hinder with the Golden Rose of Mortality aside. Marco was now walking backwards up the monastery steps fighting off savages as he went.

He cast both spears into the two closest attackers, then traced another pair of Kanshou and Bakuya as he fought defensively up the cracked and lopsided stairs. Black ichor, certainly not blood, slicked the stairs as the man-beasts fell one after another like a gruesome macabre red carpet to any other visitor that may be coming to this place, wherever it was.

'C'mon, c'mon.' Marco thought to himself as he was five stair steps away from the doors, which still needed to be opened. He kept scanning the misty skyline behind the goatmen as if searching for something. He heard them before he saw them, a monochromatic pair of black and white blurs carved a bloody swathe through the savages backline.

The original Kanshou and Bakuya he'd cast away earlier, had returned, with a vengeance.

Such was their rotary speed that neither flesh nor bone could hinder either one, dozens of man-beasts fell by the score as the Married Twin Swords homed in on their duplicates. Marco cast the blades in his hands away when they drew close causing both pairs to spin away in a spiraling duet of death black ichor covered both the dead grass and the monastery steps in a thin film, and Marco used the distraction his weapons had created to finally face the doors.

They were massive. Simply gargantuan made of solid stone, covered in glowing, swirling, spiraling runes, and banded iron, A small keyhole was found near the bottom.

Marco had no key, but he could fake one. Once again he traced Gae Dearg the Crimson Rose of Exorcism and he stabbed it, quite forcefully, into the keyhole. And turned.

Any and all magic ward, protecting the crumbling monastery instantly ceased to function and Marco found himself able to force the door open, which he did with all haste, shutting it rapidly behind him, dismissing Gae Dearg as he did so, praying the magical protections began to function once again.

It must've worked for the man-goats mad braying soon whittled away to nothing, and Marco took a moment to catch his breath.

Marco looked around and found himself in a chamber thick and cloying with incense. Braisers both lit up the room and cast long shadows leading all the way to a monk? No a priest. What little he could see of his body was emaciated and he wore a saffron cloth that wrapped every which way around his body. On the cloth were all manners of strange sigils much like those found on the exterior of the crumbling temple. His long spindly fingers were covered in ornate rings, three on each finger, and each covered in a different gems. The face was blocked by an ornate mask. It was made of solid gold and shaped outwardly into a whirlpool that branched out into many tentacles, which themselves branched out like a sunburst.

Even from here, Marco could feel the priests eyes on him. A sharp, malevolence that tried and failed to pierce his very being. Marco returned his hostile gaze with one of curiosity. Had he done something to offend this holy man? 'Well I did just kinda break into his house, that would annoy anyone I suppose.' Marco slowly got up and raised his hands in a show of non hostility.

"I'm not here looking for a fight." Marco said slowly as he approached the man, "I'm just looking to hide from the goat men. I don't even know where I am or how I got here."

As Marco drew closer the Priest became more and more ethereal, and something else, became more, and more solid behind him. It was a mass of tentacles roiling blobs, gnashing maws, and endless eyes. It seemed to crawl and wreath every which way, it was chaos personified. Animosity unfathomable seemed to roll off it in waves, but Marco just continued to stare at it as a name slowly slithered its way into his mind.

Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos, the Black Man, the Haunter in the Dark, The God of a Thousand Forms, The Black Pharaoh, and many many others besides. The current form he was entreating with was known as the Priest Who Could Not Be Described. 'I don't know about that,' Marco thought, 'I could describe him pretty well if asked.'

"Who… are you?" The voice of the Priest sounded like paper being crinkled. "What are you?"

Marco pointed at himself. "Me, I should be asking that of you, Crawling Chaos."

The Priest jerked back as if struck. "Wha… how? What are you? Any normal human would've lost their mind upon seeing even this facade, but you… can see beyond the curtain? How are you not a frothing gibbering wreck?"

Marco shrugged. "I duuno, I don't even know why I'm here or where here is, care to elaborate for me?"

"Usually I hate humans… I hate everything, it's all so static, so uniform, so… unchanging, so boring! Yet you… intrigue me." The Crawling Chaos admitted.

"Thanks?" Marco was unsure if catching the eye of a being whose primary epitaph was the Crawling Chaos was a good thing.

"I wonder… just how useful a human like you could be… hmm." The Priest To Horrible To Be Described thought aloud to himself, tapping one long finger against the chin of his golden mask as he pondered.

"Um, anyway, just where am I? Oh, I never introduced myself did I? I'm Marco, Marco Ublado Diaz." The warrior held his hand out for the priest to shake.

The Priest chuckled as if amused. "It has been an era long since I bothered to hear the name of a mortal, much longer still since I bothered to remember it. Marco Ubaldo Diaz." The Avatar of the Crawling Chaos drew out every word as if it was sipping on a fine wine swishing it through its mouth so as to get every possible taste before swallowing. "You know that names have power, yes?"

"I've heard it said, yes," Marco nodded, "But there are names, and then their are names."

"True names, the names born of ones soul yes. I see your familiar with the concept." Naryalethotep was pleased this mortal was familiar with the concept. "Your earthly given name translates to Warlike Heart of a Conqueror. Whether or not it is anyway like the True Name of your soul however is… entirely up to debate."

"Awesome so for about the third time now, where the hell am I exactly?"

"Marco-kun is on the Plateau of Leng, located to the Far North of the Dreamlands."

Marco turned around, for it wasn't Naeylethotep who spoke but someone else, a voice very familiar.

"Chiyo, Oei, Fryte, what are you three doing here?" Marco asked.

Oie was in her fused state with her father, wearing her tentacle cocktail dress with ten or so paintbrushes being held in each of the 'sleeves' around her hands,

Chiyou too had changed her look. Gone was the cute girl, and in her place was a satyr-like woman, a pair of goat horns curving up from her head, an upside down pyramid necklace of blinking living eyeballs accentuating her bust which was completely bare to the elements, and her lower half covered in sheer black fur which ended in goat hooves. She also sported a forked tail, while her hair was a mass of writhing tentacles.

Both women looked ready to brawl and had scowls on their faces. For a moment Marco thought they were glaring at him, and he wondered what he could've done to provoke their ire. Then Marco realized their stern gazes were focused past him and on the Priest Too Horrible To Be Described.

"Well, well, my Niece and Great-Granddaughter, to what do I owe the pleasure?" The Priest said jovially but Marco could hear the undercurrent of distaste in his voice.

Chiyo stepped forwards, power wafting off her very being. To Marco's magic smelling nose, it smelt like a swamp, old, wet, and full of twisted decay, yet somehow sustaining life. His eyes told him much the same. The shape Chiyo assumed now was only a mockery of her true visage. For in truth she was a mass of ichor covered tentacles, eyes, mouths and horns all covered in a rough, barklike skin. Hence her epitaph of Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young.

Chiyo wrapped an arm protectively around Marco with Oei quickly mimicking her actions. "We have simply come to pick up someone who belongs to us." Chiyo said the last three words with heat in her tone, a frown on etched onto her usually smiling face.

Oei, 'No not Oie, Oiethulu,' Marco realized mentally kicking himself for not seeing it sooner, nodded briskly as well. "You would do well not to fiddle in things you have no business messing in Great Grandad."

Marco felt the heat of the Priests' enmity rise and focus on them like a laser pointer. "And you both would do well to remember just who it is your talking to! I am no Earth or Dreamland God you can cow into submission by simply flashing a faction of your true power! I AM the Crawling Chaos! The Black Pharaoh, The Priest Too Horrible To Be Described, He of the Bloody Tongue, and many more besides! I was old even before either of you were born," Marco could hear the sneer in the entities voice as it continued. "Black Goat with a Thousand Young and High Priest of the Great Old Ones." The hatred the Avatar of the soul of the Outer Gods was exuding diminished as it continued. "That said, you may take the boy and go, he and I have nothing further to discuss."

The Priest waved his bejeweled hand as if bidding them leave. Despite the fact Chiyo and Oeithulu had their arms wrapped around him, or perhaps because of it, he could feel them, trembling at Nyarlethotep's outburst.

'They don't want to piss him off. Their too afraid to.' Marco then realized just how much hot water he'd been in until they'd arrived. Had he misspoken or said one wrong word and made the Crawling Chaos angry, he probably wouldn't be alive right now… That if beings like Chiyo and Cthulhu were afraid, then he should by all rights be terrified, but he was more confused than anything. 'But he seems nice enough though. I mean Tom has anger issues too but he never killed anyone… can the same be said of this guy though?'

"Good day Uncle." Chiyo said with a curt nod, before she turned forcing Marco to look away from the avatar of the Crawling Chaos. As they passed her, Fryte who was doing her damndest to make herself as small and as inconspicuous as possible followed in their wake. Yet right as they reached the massive doors, Marco heard a voice in his head.

'You have caught my interest boy. I'll be keeping a very close eye or dozen on you from here on out.'

Marco glanced back briefly to see the Priest give him just the briefest of nods of acknowledgement. Once again, Marco didn't know if this was a good thing or not. He shrugged to himself. 'No point in worrying about it now, what's done is done. I suppose.'

Now outside the crumbling monastery, Marco saw the goat-men cannibalizing their dead. They stopped upon seeing them and as one, bowed in reverence towards Chiyo.

"You know these guys?" Marco whispered.

"They were… followers of mine… long ago." Chiyo admitted.

Marco hissed through his teeth. He'd inadvertently been killing his friend's followers. "I kinda had to kill them so as not to end up dinner, sorry."

Chiyo looked at him and gave a reassuring smile before waving her hand back and forth, "Oh, don't worry about it," Her purple goa-like eyes became serious as she asked, "Are you alright though Marco-kun? Uncle didn't do anything to you, did he?"

Marco shook his head. "No, not that I know of, we just chatted a bit. He seemed more astounded that I could look at him without losing my marbles than anything. He also talked about my True Name, whatever that means."

"Ignore that Marco." Oeithulu told him on his other side. "It's not something a human, magi or not should bother with."

Marco almost agreed but there was one thing he just had to know. "Just tell me this. Is it anything like genie or demon summoning in fantasy books? Where you have to know its true name in order to summon and control it?"

Oeithulu sighed. "This is not the place for such a conversation. A change of venue is in order I think but first, Chiyo if you would see fit to reprimand your subordinates?"

Chiyo's mouth formed into a firm thin line and she nodded stepped forward towards the still kneeling masses of cannibals, one hand placed on top of Marco's head. She then raised her voice and spoke. "You have displeased me!" Chiyo's usually kind voice cracked like a whip causing the man-goats to wince at her tone. "You attacked my high priest!"

The man goats started groveling, begging for her forgiveness. Only for Oeithulu to add her two cents to the mix. "Our high-priest!"

Several of the man-beasts had decided to commit suicide via slamming their heads into rocks or repatedly into their primitave, crude, weapons or simply slitting their own throats with their long jagged nails. Marco however couldn't stand the sight. Killing in self-defense was one thing, watching as people, however savage they may be, take their own lives was not something he would sit back and watch.

"ENOUGH!" His voice boomed ringing out across the cold Plateau of Leng, all the savages who hadn't already died or tried taking their own lives stopped what they were doing to look at Marco. "Your going to stop doing that right now! If you really want forgiveness then... I don't know…" Marco wracked his brain, "Do community service or something! Anything would be better than this! I mean, just because you did something bad, doesn't mean you need to kill yourselves! You can't make up for your mistakes if your dead, remember that!"

The satyr-like tribe looked to their goddess who simply nodded in response, showing that their former enemies word was indeed law. One by one, they all looked to Marco and nodded. Before they collected their dead and dragged them off into the fog, only a trail of blood letting anyone know they'd been there in the first place.

Marco let out a long sigh. "Okay, now that that's dealt with we were going to go somewhere and have a nice talk?" He turned around to see Oie giving him a strange look and even Chiyo looked impressed as she beamed at him while Fryte had her head pressed flat into the ground while bowing his direction and her voice kept repeating the same thing over and over again in his head.

"I am not worthy, I am not worthy, I am not worthy."

Marco just blinked, having no idea what brought this on. "Umm, weren't we going somewhere to talk?"

Oiethulu just rolled her eyes, shook her head, and smirked. "Don't ever change Marco." she said before she snapped her fingers, the world blurred around them, like the haze on a hot day. Colors shifted and melded together, nothing and everything felt real all at once, then it slowly began to come back into focus like a camera lense coming back into focus.

When it did Marco found himself in a library stacked high to the domed ceiling with books, Looking around Marco found himself in a room made of brick, the reddish stone standing out sharply, yet the floors were covered in ebony wood and several high fireplaces and the smell of oil lamps permeated the place. Artwork of bizarre alien like creatures all hung on the walls in gruesome and high detail. His reinforced eyes told them they were all done by Richard Upton Pickman.

Marco had never heard of the man, but he liked his style and though his papi would as well. He went over to a small square table and pulled out a chair for each lady, Fryte included before seating himself. "Okay, so we were talking about True Names for people right? Where are we by the way?"

"In the royal library of the dream kingdom of Celephaïs, whose King, Kuranes, is a man who goes by his True Name here in the Dreamlands." Oeithulu informed Marco. "His Earthly name is lost to time."

"Ok, but what is a True Name in respect to humans?" Marco asked for clarification.

Oeithulu rubbed her sable locks. "I believe the best way to describe it would be it is Humans have names they are given but their souls also have names. These names are their True Names and they hold the true power over a person."

Marco had a thought. "Are you talking about Origins?"

Oeithulu locked her eyes on Marco. "You are well informed, I see."

"You forgot, I was with Francesca for eight years. That may not be a lot of time to you, but to a human, it plenty of time to learn all kinds of things."

Oeithulu slowly nodded. "Yes, I forget you primitive primates lives are like the snuffing of a candle flame compared to us."

"Back on this True Name thing. There Origins right?" getting a nod from the possessed Oei, Marco continued. "Can you tell me mine? I've guessed at one already, but I think I have two."

Oei grimaced. "It would be best if you didn't know your Origin. Once you know them, they will steer your life and have a more direct control over it… but your going to insist aren't you?"

"Yes." Marco replied his eyes firm and resolute.

Oeithulu sighed. "Such a stubborn boy. Very well. As I'm sure you've suspected you do in fact have a dual Origin, and the first which you only kind of inherited from EMIYA-san is Sword."

Marco felt something in his chest, no, in his very soul click into place when he heard what he'd long suspected to be true. He gulped and nodded. "And the other one? I'm assuming it has to do with the reason I can look at you guys and not go nuts?"

The High Priestess of the Great Old Ones gave Marco a ghost of a smile. "You're too smart by half for you own good intrepid observer."

"I do my best." Marco replied grinning, he gave a mock bow from his seated position.

Oeithulu rolled her eyes. While Chiyo giggled and Fryte silently watched in awe how her new Master easily entreated with such powerful entities. Oei continued, "But yes your secondary Origin is in fact Daemons. It's what lets both see beyond the veil without losing your mind and what also pushes you to pursue the unknown. Or did you think it normal to constantly go on adventures throughout the Multiverse with a royal magical princess, and be attacked constantly by monsters? It also factors into your disposition to want to be seen as a 'bad boy' an outlier in human society."

Marco blinked. It took him a moment to digest all of that. "Oh… well that explains a lot then." He picked up on something the High Priestess of the Great Old Ones had said earlier. "You said I kinda sorta inherited Sword from EMIYA, what did you mean by that?"

Oei muttered something along the lines of 'hoping you wouldn't pick up on that.' Before she replied. "Your Origin is and isn't Sword it's related to and apart of it."

"Explain please."

Oeithulu huffed clearly she had hoped to keep this a secret from him. "Have you ever heard the phrase, "Zen and the sword are one?"

Click, Click, Click. Three massive clicks took place one inside his head, one in his heart as it palpated an extra time, and the last time was in his very soul.

Just like that, suddenly it all made sense. Why he had both Sword and Daemon as an Origin. They weren't his primary Origins…

They were offshoots. Diametrically similar yet opposed to one another. The purpose of Zen was to 'Perceive the truth of things'. To look past the veil of deception and see what lay underneath, that is why he could understand and empathize with even most daemons, and why he wanted to go on adventures with Star. He needed to discover, to understand to learn.

By contrast, the Sword was also apart of Zen for it was used to put down the wicked. To slay the malicious and evil. Now, what Marco considered evil and what others considered evil were two vastly different things. He slept with a maneater on the regular for the past eight years and was fine with her eating criminals. Yeah, his moral compass was a bit wonky to put it mildly.

Feeling a hand on either shoulder and someone giving him a shake, Marco felt himself jolt. He found Oeithulu and Chiyo looking at him in concern. "Sorry I was zoned out for a minute there."

"Is Marco-kun alright?" Chiyo asked, worry shining through in her unique square pink pupils.

Marco smiled at them both. "I'm fine girls really. I just needed a minute to process all that, that's all. How'd you know where to find me anyway?"

"Your nightgaunt came and got us," Oiethulu replied. Slowly fixing her gaze on the dream eater, who bowed lowly, "She did well to do so with all haste and deserves much praise."

"This one is unworthy of such praise from one as great as the High Priestess of the Great Old Ones. I am simply honored to be in the presence of the Mistress of R'lyeh and She with a Thousand Young. That is reward enough." Fryte grovelled in her seat refusing to meet Oeithulu's or Chiyo's eyes.

Marco had to remind himself and not for the first time, that Cthulhu and Shub-Niggurath were big deals. Even if they took other forms and went by other names, they were powerful, very powerful. Though Marco treated them like normal people, they were really much, much more than that. His brief introspection brought up something else he wanted to ask but he held his tongue for a moment. He wanted to see how this played out.

Chiyo reached over and patted Fryte on the head, causing the nightgaunt to visibly shiver under her touch. "There, there. No need to be so modest Fryte-chan you did good, coming to get us to rescue Marco-kun from Uncle."

'I didn't really 'need' rescuing.' Marco thought to himself. 'I was perfectly fine. We were 'just' talking.'

Oiethulu threw in her two cents and added a head pat of her own. "Chiyo is quite correct. You did well to come get us Fryte. You've done your due diligence as Marco's Familiar."

"She's not my familiar?" Marco spoke up, unsure of the answer himself. He looked to Fryte and asked. "Are you my familiar?"

"Fryte can be, if Marco wishes it. Marco did tell Fryte she would form a contract with her." The nightgaunt reminded him.

Marco rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I did say that back in Loreli's office didn't I? Ok, I'll accept you as my familiar. What, if anything, do I need to do? Like do we need to draw up a formal contract or something? Do you want weekends off, payment of some kind?"

Fryte cocked her head to the side. "What is a weekend?"

"Its the end of the week typically the work week.

"What is a week?" The Nightgaunt further inquired.

Marco sighed, "You guys don't measure the passage of time here in the Dreamlands like we do on Earth do you?"

When the gaunt bat-like demon shook her head Marco just decided to change the subject. "Is there anything you want from me out of this contract?"

"Dreams," Fryte promptly replied. "I wish to eat dreams."

Marco point at himself. "Not my dreams right?" When the nightgaunt rapidly shook her head Marco rapidly had a plan forming in his head.

Pelican Bay Supermax prison. Francesca needed to be fed, so did Fryte if he made this pact. 'Why not kill two birds with one stone and tenderize Francesca's meal with fear before serving it to her?' Marco thought to himself a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Uhoh, Marco-kun's having planning thoughts." Chiyo said aloud. "He's grinning, all evil and cute-like."

"I do have a plan, yes. Alright Fryte, I'll make a pact with you. In return for not eating the dreams of me, my, friends, or family, you can eat the dreams of whoever else you want," Marco held out a hand for Fryte to shake. "I might even have specific hunting ground for you all picked out if your interested. Agreed?"

Fryte moved a clawed appendage forward and gently grasped Marco's hand in hers, and gave it a gentle but firm shake. In just that small interaction, Marco felt the physical power locked up in Fryte's limbs. She was spinaly but wiry with muscle.

"Agreed Master. Now what is this about a hunting ground?" Fryte asked sounding eager.

"Pelican Bay Supermax Prison," Marco replied. "Dozens of murderers rapists and terrorists are holed up their just waiting to be feasted on. Eat as you will."

"Might Fryte bring her clan hunting there as well?" Fryte asked humbly.

Marco pondered a bit. He didn't need any over zealous Nightgaunt botching his plans before they could even get off the ground. "Only if they or the clan leader could swear to me they'd be kept in line. I don't need any fuckups."

The Nightgaunt bowed solemnly. "Fryte promises her clan shall behave themselves."

"Are you in any position to make such a promise?" Marco asked, sounding dubious.

The nightgaunt dipped her head and replied, "Fryte is the matron of her nighterror clan."

Nighterror is that what you call a group of Nightgaunts?" Seeing the matron nod, Marco grinned "Cool, so we have an accord, then?"

Fryte nodded. "Indeed."

Marco stood up and cracked his back good, then I just have one more question besides asking how to get out of the Dreamlands entirely."

"Yes?" Chiyo asked a knowing smile on her face.

Cracking his neck and knuckles Marco got straight to the point. "Did you mean it when you both called me your highpriest, and if so, why?"

"That's two questions rolled into one," Oeithulu pointed out, before she sighed at the sharp look Marco sent her way at her witty retort. "Fine, fine, yes we meant what we said."

"Yes." Chiyo replied.

Marco rubbed a hand messily through his hair. "Okay, I'll bite, how;d you figure I'm in any way shape or form a priest? Much less a highpriest?"

Chiyo was quick to answer. "Marco-kun likes us right?"

Marco blinked at the suddenness of the question. "I um… you and Oei are growing on me Chiyo, yes."

"And what is the highest form of devotion other then affection and love?" The alien earth mother goddess opined as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Marco needed a moment to digest this. "I… see that does make sense. I guess I owe you both one for the assist. I owe you two now Chiyo. For helping Sakura and now this."

Chiyo nodded and smiled knowingly at Marco. "I think Marco-kun knows what I want yes?"

"Sex?" Marco guessed.

Chiyo giggled but shook her head. "No silly boy. I'd like a date."

"Oh, well I can do that." Marco was surprised but pleasantly so. "Jackie and Star might call first dibs though."

"I am eons old Marco-kun," Chiyo reminded him. "A week's worth of turns or two on your space rock is nothing to me."

"Right so… what about you?" Marco asked the Cthulu possessed Oei.

"Just take Oei out on a date, that is all I wish." Oiethulu requested a blush tinging her face.

Marco cocked her head to the side. "Are you more Cthulhu or Oei right now? I know her and Hokusai can fuse into this form, but I wanna know what the difference is."

The deity shook her head, "It doesn't work like that. They are me regardless of form when they fuse they are simply drawing on more of my power than they could while separated."

"So then the person I've been talking to this whole time has really been Oei or Cthulhu?"

"Both, Neither?" The High Priestess said sounding confused herself. "Whether they are together or separate is relevant. They are me, but with the perspective of humanity. Something I lacked previously. Before you were just insects to me, beneath my notice."

"And now?" Marco asked.

"Don't die Marco Ubaldo Diaz…" Oie said after a moment of staring silently into his eyes. "Should you do so… that would displease me greatly. I would be forced to resurrect you just to show you my anger. WHA?!" The 'possessed?' girl squawked as she was drawn into a hug by Marco. She tried to resist to pull herself out of the embrace, only to settle down when Marco started to speak.

"You don't need to worry Oie. I'm not going to die anytime soon. If I did, you'd have to get in line behind Star, Hekapoo, Janna and Jackie after you revived me before you could get a crack at me."

Oie felt the warmth come from his body and heard the strong thump of his heart. 'Yes, Marco-sama is strong. He will not die easily' The Mad Painter thought to herself, flushing a bit as she felt his chest through his clothes. "You had better not, I'd be cross with you if you did."

"Understood, now how do I get outta here, or at least wake up?" Marco asked before pulling back and gently letting her go.

"You have to die." Oei's retort was blunt.

Marco blinked then remembered all the times he'd died in dreams only to wake up. "Oh, so its like that huh?"

"Afraid so Marco-kun. Would you like some assistance?" Chiyo offered kindly.

Marco saw a stained glass door leading to a balcony, and shook his head. "No, I've got a better idea thanks. See you girls in a little bit... " Marco got up and walked towards the stained glass doors which depicted vines and rose work only to stop and turn to look at Oei. "You don't have to try so hard you know? If your both Oei and Cthulhu you don't have to try so hard to be something your not when your… dressed like that. Oie, Cthulhu, whoever you are, you should just be you."

The Japanese woman just looked at him in a state of shock for a moment before her face became impassive. "I'll take your words under advisement high priest. Now, off you go. And do watch that first step, it's a doozy."

Marco laughed, and as he turned around he called out, "I'll bet."

He opened the stained glass door and found himself on red stone balcony the air was cool and crisp. Sitting in a wooden chair enjoying a gem encrusted goblet of wine was an old man in resplendent purple and gold robes. He had a closely shaved beard, on a firm jaw, his eyes gleamed like sapphires and his heavy set brow held a circlet that held a single diamond His hair was dark brown and pulled back and tied in a loose ponytail.

"Have you finished your meeting with the Great Old Ones therein young man?" the older gentleman asked.

"I how did you?" Marco stammered.

"I was enjoying a book in my personal library when I suddenly found myself on my balcony, wine glass in hand. Few and far between are the things that could do that to a dream king in his own domain."

"Dream King... " Marco's eyes widened, "So your Kuranes then?"

Indeed a pleasure to make your acquaintance, young man." The man offered Marco a hand which he shook.

"Pleasure is all mine your highness."

The man scoffed. "I am no king boy. Not in life anyway. I died a hobo and bum who missed his home of cornwall back in england so I recreated it here, in the Dreamlands," The Dream King swept his arms wide spilling a bit of his wine in the process. "This is what Celephaïs really is. An idealistic recreation of a memory."

Marco looked out at the verdant rolling hills, the sea spray on the coast to his far left and he had only one thing to say. "It's beautiful. Even if it's just an idealistic recreation of a memory. I think it's a beautiful thing sir. After all, isn't that why people take photographs? So they can capture moments in time, and remember moments fondly long after they've ended."

The self derisive monarch blinked at Marco owlishly for a moment before he smiled slightly. "That they do young man that they do. Might I enquire as if you are from the current year and if so what year it is?"

"I am and it's 2014."

The man jumped as if he'd just received a minor electrical shock, spilling more wine in the process. "The millenium has turned? I can only imagine what marvels humans have come up with in the time I've been dead."

"Umm when did you die exactly?" Marco felt awkward asking that.

"December late of 1922 from pneumonia on the streets of Massachutes," The man replied easily enough.

Marco did some simple subtraction in his head. "Yeah a lot has happened in the last ninety-two years. We have all kinds of things now."

The king leaned forward eagerly, "Like what?"

"Well we have…" Marco needed to think of how to describe a television or a plane, or the fact that humanity has landed on the moon. "We have a lot of things now I don't even know how to begin to explain," Marco searched for a way to explain well, just about everything that happened in the last century. Then he realized, 'I'm in the Dreamlands, I can just.'

With that thought in mind Marco envisioned in his mind's eye a laptop and he held his hand out to allow it to manifest in his hands. Kuranes marveled at the thin square piece of red metal leaning back when Marco pulled the top half up revealing a blank black canvas, the bottom half of which was covered in keyboard keys like that of a typewriter.

'But where does the paper go?' Kuranes thought to himself.

"This," Marco said brining the King's attention back to him, "Is called a computer. It can get you all kinds of information and other things. I'm going to show you how to use it."

"Com-pu-ter," Kuranes echoed sounding the forign word out, Before his heart nearly stopped when the young man hit a button on the upper right hand side of the bottom part of his contraption causing what he thought was black canvas to spring to life. Now aglow with worlds and color. "What on earth is this?!" The older man's face was alight with joy, like that of a young child on Christmas morning eager to see what Saint Nicholas had left him under the tree.

"Welcome to the twenty-first century Kuranos. Now, let me show you the ropes, and the wonders of the internet."

"Internet?"

Marco smiled patiently he might be here awhile. "We'll start off with the basics. Then I'll come back tomorrow night and show you some more. I really just came out here to jump off your balcony."

"Ah, your trying to leave the Dreamlands are you, perfectly understandable… but before you go?" The King said in an eager yet hopeless tone of a child who couldn't figure out how to get his new toy to work.

"Let's get you setup first."

It took Marco and hour. Setting up a password for the computer, showing Kuranos how to use the integrated mouse, how to use the internet, the sheer vastness of information available to the dream king with just a few button presses astonished him.

"So if I wanted to learn how to make black pudding?"

Marco pointed to the search bar at the top of the screen. "Just type in black pudding recipe in the search bar I'm sure something will pop up. You might have to try several before you find one you like though."

Fascinating, and all humans have access to free information these days? Just like," The man snapped his fingers. "That?"

"Pretty much, we've all kind of taken it for granted if I'm being honest penmanship is a thing of the past, as is writing letters, or even going out and actually shopping for goods. Why leave home when you can shop online and have it delivered right to your house?"

"That is both amazing and slightly discouraging," The king mused to himself.

Marco laughed awkwardly as he placed one foot on the balconly's ledge. "Yeah I know right? Anyway Kuranos, I'll see you tomorrow night. Maybe since I'm showing you the future, you can do the opposite and show me what it was like in the old pre-internet days."

"Sounds like a delightful trade off. See you tomorrow night Marco."

"Bye," Marco replied before he casually stepped off the balcony and to his dream-death.

The King paid it no mind, he was busy looking through this new wonder machine of his. "Oh, it has solitaire. But how does it work without the cards? They just show up on the screen and I click them? How delightful!"

Marco's eyes snapped open, and he felt a weight on his chest. Looking up, he found Star resting on his chest, with Hekapoo on his left side, and Sakura on his right. He also had pressure on hls legs mean he knew where Oei and Chiyo were at. Marco's gaze flicked back to Star. As usual his Crimson Queen was sawing logs in her sleep. It was amazing anyone was still asleep considering she was as loud as a logging camp. Yet at the same time, he found her snoring endearing, attractive even. She had a bit of drool coming down her lip and onto his chest,and her arms were wrapped around him as tightly as they could go.

Marco gently ran a hand through her flaxen locks. She may not want to be a queen, she may dread the responsibility, but in a way she already was a queen. Queen of his heart. "Forever and always," Marco muttered to himself.

Marco didn't know if it was the act of him absentmindedly running his hand through her hair, or his whispered proclamation of love, but either way, Star's eyes slowly fluttered open. Cerulean blue met chocolate brown. He smiled, she smiled back. Their lips met in a goodmorning kiss. When they broke apart, Star said softly, "Good morning my Mulberry King, did you sleep well?'

"With you on top of me my Crimson Queen and the others next to me, how could I not?" Marco replied with a smirk.

Star buried her head in the crook of his neck, "This just feels right doesn't it?"

"It does," Marco agreed, "Unfortunately I'm going to have to ruin this perfect moment."

The Mewman Princess pulled her head back and looked at him, "Why?"

"I have to go to the bathroom." Marco admitted.

Star flushed a little upon hearing that, "Ah, and if you move everyone is going to wake up."

Marco nodded. "Most likely yes, and no offence but I know you girls are going to take forever in the bathroom."

That earned him a light slap on the cheek from the princess, "Stop it," she said, rolling her eyes.

Marco gave a slight shrug so as not to wake Sakura or Hekapoo. "What I'm just stating a fact. Us guys can throw on a shirt, pants, socks, and shoes and be ready to go. Women need to do extra primping before they head out. Not that I don't appreciate the results of course. Marco added when he saw Star's eyes cloud over in anger opening her mouth to a biting and loud retort. "You always look stunning, no matter what."

Star's rebuke died in her throat as she grumbled, "Nice save Diaz."

Marco kissed her on the lips just to make sure there were no hard feelings, "Thank you dear, but seriously I need to go which means everyone needs to get up."

"Alright, alright. Gimme just a sec here," With a wave of her hand, Star materialized the Wand in a burst of prana, but it wasn't the Wand Marco knew. It's star wasn't cracked down the middle. No, instead, the faceplate was full, gone was the crown on top, it now had two small horns much like Stars favorite headband, a small heart was located under the head of the Wand. The wings of the Wand were no longer bird wings but white butterfly wings stained blue in the center. The shaft of the Wand was covered in a spiraling cross of light green and dark blue cloth and the end was circled in a gold band, and the wands charger was now a sharp piece of crystal at the end of the wand.

"So you did get a second Heroic Spirit in the Class Card. You got… yourself," It was a statement and not a question

"Ehehehe. Can we talk about this after breakfast?" Star requested.

Marco nodded, "Yeah but we will be talking about this dear. Knowledge is power, especially foreknowledge."

Star looked away blushing. "Of course… Is now a bad time to mention you taking charge like that gets me all hot and bothered?"

Marco sighed were it any other time and Star any other girl, he might take her up on that insinuated offer. "Star, need I remind you I've gotta piss?"

"Right, sorry, sorry," Star transformed her Wand into a megaphone and started barking out orders. "Alright everybody up!"

Everyone jolted awake, be they under covers or not.

Hekapoo was covering her ears by the time Star was done. "What's with the army wake up butterfly?"

"Marco's gotta go, and we all said we'd get up early to help star moving Natchios' hoard anyway so might as well get going now." Star said into the megaphone.

Marco put a hand on the shifted wand and forced it down saying gently, "Star, you don't need to use the megaphone anymore. You really didn't need to use one in the first place."

"Oh, sorry everyone, but seriously, get off Marco he's gotta go."

"Where, where does he need to go in such a hurry, this early in the morning? Hekapoo groused grumpily. Clearly she wasn't a morning person.

Marco was quick to retort as dryly as he could.,"The bathroom."

The demi-goddess' face flushed. "Ooh!"

Chiyo poked her head out from under the sheets, "I was wondering why Marco-kun's little friend wasn't so little this morning."

"It's called morning wood!" Marco defended as he flushed. "Now would everyone please get off me so I can take care of it, please?"

The girls acquitanced to his request, all of them getting up and off of the poor hero so he could finally do his morning ablutions. Once Marco all but ran out of the room Star turned to the others. "So now what?"

"You and I should get ready and then if Angie and Rafael-san haven't already done so, we can make breakfast for everyone." Sakura said, a smile on her face.

"Count me in on that." Hekapoo commented. "As a maid its kinda part of my job too… isn't it?"

Sakura tapped her chin, "It can be? There are several types of maids and they do everything from helping in the kitchen to waiting on the lady of the house, keeping the house clean, to looking after the children and fetching things like cosmetics and medical supplies."

Hekapoo slipped out from under the sheets revealing she was wearing a black lacy bra and panties. She snapped her fingers, and in a flash of flame she was in her maid attire, her hair done up for the day, and she quickly created a trio of clones. The Prime Hekapoo pointed at each copy in turn and gave out orders, "You start cleaning this place, I want it spotless. You, once Angie comes downstairs for breakfast just do whatever she tells you, and you, keep an eye on Natchios once she's up."

The three clones saluted and went off to do their assigned tasks. The original Hekapoo turned back to Sakura. "Okay, let's get cooking! I'll freely admit I've been around a long time but I don't need to eat so I never bothered to learn how to cook. This'll be a new experience for me. I'll be deferring to you."

Sakura beamed it seems like the skills Shirou taught her in both housework and most importantly, the kitchen would be coming in handy. 'I guess I do owe Shirou-san thanks for something after all,' She thought before she said, "I'll teach you and Star-san everything I can."

Star pumped her fist, "Yes! Cooking is so much fun! I hope we get to learn how to make brownies soon!" Star singsonged.

"Let's start with breakfast, okay Star-chan?" Sakura tried to calm down her over eager student.

Star simmered down a little and nodded. "Right, right, breakfast. First meal of the day, it's super important."

"C'mon princess let's go see if we even need to do anything in the kitchen or if Angie and Rafael have beat us to the punch before you go getting all excited." Hekapoo said making her way to the door.

"Be right with you," Star called, before she turned her Wand on herself and said "Freshen Up, Clothes Beam!"

The blue beam hit Star full in the face, and a cloud of shower steam erupted from the impact when it cleared, Star was wearing her usual green dress striped purple and pink socks and horned boots. Her golden hair was brushed, her teeth shining, and her cerulean blue eyes were bright. She turned to the others, "Does anyone else want a speedy way to get ready?"

Sakura raised her hand, "Provided you know what your doing, I won't mind if you do that."

"No problem I've got this," Star assured her mentor in the kitchen. "Freshen Up, Clothes Beam!"

Sakura closed her eyes as the beam struck her but felt no pain only refreshed as if she'd just stepped out of a shower. She looked down and found herself wearing her pink cardigan, white shirt underneath and cream colored blouse, and pink flats. It felt like her clothes, and she felt refreshed, "Nicely done Star-chan, thank you."

"No probs sempai. That is the right word right?" Star asked for clarification.

Sakura beamed at being called the very thing she had once referred to another as for so long. "Yes kohai, now let's go downstairs and see about breakfast."

Oei and Chiyo had also slipped out of bed and into some clothes. Chiyo a simple summer dress and Oie into her usual kimono. Oei yawned and said, "Put the kettle on if it isn't already please."

"On it," Star said racing downstairs happy to get today started. 'It feels like the start of a brand new adventure, no, a new chapter in my life. And I'm writing it with Marco by my side,' Star thought to herself, sliding down the bannister and zipping into the kitchen.

Star was giddy to see Angie and Rafael hadn't gotten up and made breakfast yet. Hekapoo, the real one or so she assumed was rummaging through the fridge. She held up a carton of something and asked no one in particular, "What's horchata?"

"A mexican drink consisting of milk mixed with rice water, and cinnamon," Star answered for her. "Marco turned me onto it. Good stuff."

Hekapoo twisted the cap off and gave the drink a sniff before she shrugged before she tried to put the carton to her lips and take a sip only for Star to take it away from her. "Don't drink out of the carton! That's so gross! Get a glass or something, second cupboard on your right. Besides, this is Marco's favorite drink or it was before he disappeared for fifteen years, he'd throw a fit if he came down and saw you drinking out of the carton."

"Your gonna hold that over my head aren't you princess?" Hekapoo asked with a sigh as she reached into the cupboard above her head for a glass.

"Yes," Star said hotly from right behind her. The demi goddess could feel Star's hot breath on the back of her neck as she continued to speak. "Marco may be willing to forgive and forget all the shit he had to go through in your dimension all because you didn't tell him jack shit. I am not nearly as kind or forgiving about all of this as he is though. So like I told you the other day, I want you to know exactly who is planning your comeuppance Hekapoo. And it's me."

Hekapoo turned around glass in hand to see the Mewnian Princess in her personal space, staring down at her with rage in her eyes, "Didn't think you were the type to hold a grudge princess."

"When it comes to Marco, you'll find there is little I won't do to see him kept safe from more bullshit. I mean have you not seen his right arm? It's a cursed decaying mess."

Hekapoo looked away guiltily. That wasn't her fault specifically. Star's anger could be laid at the feet of Romulus and his brother Cert. Those two demented evil baby god things were the source of a lot of trouble in her proving ground. The memory of Romulus even implying harm to Marco still prickled and irked her. 'I should do something about them, but what?' Hekapoo sighed, 'Can't do much on Earth as a housemaid.' she concluded before she focused her attention on Star once more. "You have every right to be angry with me, I'm angry with me, but for now, could you fill this glass please?"

Star glared at the former MHC member even as she poured her a drink. "I'll play nice for Marco's sake H-poo, but remember, I'm watching you. You put even one toe out of line and I'll make sure that slave brand goes off."

The scissor-crafter nodded, she'd lived long enough to know when someone was making an empty threat and when they weren't. Star Butterfly was not making an empty threat right now. "Got it," While she thought. 'Underestimated indeed. She's as ruthless as her mom!'

Star gave a curt nod, "Good. How's the horchata?"

Hekapoo took a tentative sip of the drink and her amber eye lit up. "Mmm, this is good! A tad dry but that can be blamed on the cinnamon."

Star relaxed glad Hekapoo got her message. She could be a lot more vicious if she wanted to. The only reason she was letting her be a maid here and sleep in the same bed as her Mulberry after the stunt she pulled was because she knew. Star knew that Hekapoo had a lot of good in her, probably the most out of anyone in the MHC, enough to sacrifice herself for the good of the multiverse. That's why she wasn't being as harsh or as cruel as she damn well could be or by rights should be. While Star intended to avoid that future at all costs and felt some sympathy for the Hekapoo that died to destroy the Magic. This Hekapoo wasn't that Hekapoo. Her Hekapoo deserved punishment and, knowing Marco cared about her too much to do it himself, it fell to Star to do so if it came down to it.

"Um, is everything ok? You two aren't fighting are you?" Sakura asked having just come into the kitchen. Star and Hekapoo turned to look at their teacher in the culinary arts she was staring at them and frowning a bit. "The kitchen is no place for anger, especially when one is prone to using sharp objects often… that could lead to… bad ends."

Sakura's serious demeanor in the kitchen was freaking them both out a little bit. Star piped up, "We weren't fighting, I was just… reminding Hekapoo that she's here on punishment that's all."

Sakura's frown disappeared and she smiled. "Oh good! If that's all then let's get to work I think I'd like to try something from America so if you could hand me that cookbook over there on the counter, we'll see about making a big breakfast for everyone."

Sakura flipped through the cookbook and quickly settled on making a Spanish Omelette. "Star-chan if you would dice some potatoes and onions, while I show Hekapoo-chan how to whisk some eggs please?"

Star saluted, "On it, with or without magic by the way?"

"Without would be best remember what happened last time you tried to cook with magic? You brought the toaster to life and it started making plans for world domination," Sakura reminded her prime protege.

"Yeah, but only for like, a minute and I totally fixed it," Seeing the mild glare Sakura was giving her, Star backed off. "Fine, but I still want to try inventing a spell that makes breakfast and other things."

"Do it later, not now," Sakura gently reprimanded. "Right now people are hungry and want to eat so let's just do things the old fashioned way ok?"

"Right, so knife, potatoes, and onions," Star quickly had the three items mentioned in her hands and placed the vegetables on the counter and gave them an evil grin. One reason she enjoyed cooking was because she got to chop stuff up! "Prepare to die my inanimate enemies!"

"Cutting board," Sakura reminded the eager princess without looking away from her task, which was heating up a pan of vegetable oil on the stove at the moment.

"D'oh, right. Cutting board," Star put the thin scratched piece of plastic underneath the vegetables then hacked away at them. Cutting both into neat circles then stacking them on top of each other and slicing again the opposite way. "Everything is chopped up, now what?"

Sakura smiled at a job well done. "Now I need you to put them in the pan and let them cook for a bit while I show Hekapoo-chan how to whisk some eggs. Hand me the carton would you?" She asked the new live-in maid.

Hekapoo did so and Sakura demonstrated by cracking an egg's shell gently on the side of a large plastic glass before pulling it open. "See, simple right? We just need to get the eggs in here then put the lid on and give it a good shake."

Hekapoo nodded. "Seems easy enough." She picked up an egg and gave it a tap. It broke in her hands. "Shit."

"A little bit less force. Try again." Sakura urged.

Hekapoo tried again, and again, and figured out the right amount of force to use by her fourth egg. "Okay, got it. Having enhanced strength can be a bit of a bother sometimes."

"Good job now keep cracking eggs I'm going to check on everything else." Sakura looked over at Star who was closely monitoring the cooking vegetables. "Nice job Star looks like you've got everything handled over here."

"Thanks I don't want a repeat of the first time I tried making Marco breakfast." Star said watching the pan suspiciously, like it might jump up and attack her at any moment.

Sakura patted her reassuringly on the shoulder. "The grease fire wasn't your fault. I should've been watching you closer too. Plus you fixed everything very quickly. Now, how about I take over here while you make toast and start tea and coffee for everyone?"

"Can do!" Star shot the pan one last suspicious glance before she grabbed the kettle off the stove. She filled it with water then was about to set it back on the stove to boil before she asked, "What kind of tea are we brewing American or yours?"

"I… think American Green Tea would go well with today's dish. If I were cooking Japanese cuisine I'd say get the tea I bought with Marco-sama yesterday but…"

"That wasn't the only thing you were doing yesterday." Star singsonged, making Sakura flush that had nothing to do with the heat coming from the pan.

Sakura glanced her pupils way, "No, it wasn't. "Jealous?"

"Nope." Star retorted popping the p as she often did. "Just know that if you hurt him in any way, they'll never find your body."

"I would never, but could also say the same of you. Hurt him, and I'll kill you culinary pupil or not."

The two girls looked at each other for a moment, each silently testing the resolve of the other. After a moment they nodded at each other liking what they saw in the other's eyes, and got back to work.

Sakura took the whisked eggs from Hekapoo strained the cooked potatoes and onions added them to the eggs then poured the mixture into the still hot pan. While letting it cook she read the next bit of instructions. "Let's see here, it says to turn it, once the eggs are cooked on one side, a plate should be placed over the mixture so the pan can be inverted." Sakura read aloud.

"Why don't you just use a flipper thing?" Star asked, Searching through the drawer for one before coming back out triumphantly holding a spatula. "Marco uses them all the time when making pancakes."

"I do what now?" Marco agreed making his way into the kitchen lured by the smell

Showing him the spatula Star said, "Use this flippy thing to flip things in pans, like pancakes."

Marco glanced at the recipe. "Spanish omelette huh? Yeah don't bother with that plate nonsense," Marco took the spatula from Star in one hand and the handle of the pan in the other. "Watch, this is how I do it."

Marco poked around the edges of the omelette then got the spatula in position before he flipped both the pan and the implement at the same time causing the food to do a one-eighty spin before landing on its opposite side. "There you go." Marco heard a trio of clapping behind him and he found Sakura, Star, and Hekapoo applauding him. Marco rubbed his head, "Seriously girls I didn't do anything special, you don't need to clap."

"Marco that was pretty cool. It's like you've done that a hundred times or something." Star pointed out. "You made it look so easy too."

Sakura remembered something Marco said the other day. "Marco-san said he likes to cook right? Have you been doing it long? Before the time dilation I mean?"

Marco nodded, "I've always liked helping my mom and dad in the kitchen. We kinda bonded over doing stuff in here cooking meals together when mom got home from work, during the holidays we'd always make cookies and stuff so yeah I guess you could say I like to cook and bake."

'His reasons are the exact opposite of Shirou-san's. Shirou cooked because his father couldn't. Marco cooks because it's something he can do with his family.' Sakura thought to herself. She was the only one who could see the similarities and stark contrasts between the two men, for she had known one for the better part of a decade, and was only just now getting to know the other. It was funny how alike and different the two were.

"I may not know much about cooking, but seeing food do a controlled flip is pretty cool." Hekapoo commented.

Marco just gave a polite little smile. "Thanks H-poo."

"Must you call me that, master?" she sighed.

"Do you have to call me master?" Marco retorted.

"I'm contractually obligated to, yes. We've been over this," Hekapoo reminded him.

Marco gave a faux-sigh. "Then I'm just going to have to call you H-poo. It only seems fair don't you think?"

"No, not really," Hekapoo huffed as she crossed her arms and looked away, a slight haze on her cheeks.

Star for her part was impressed. 'Maybe I won't need to be as hard on Hekapoo as I thought. Marco seems to be getting back at her in his own way,' she mused proudly of her Mulberry King for standing up for himself.

"H-poo, would you please go set the table for Thirteen?" Marco requested.

The maid saluted. "On it master," Hekapoo all but purred. She gave as good as she got it seems.

"Eleven, there's only nine people living here right now. Your parents, you, me, Francesa, Sakura, Oei, Natchios, and Hekapoo," Star pointed out.

"Your forgetting Orion and Hokusai-san. They make eleven and I sent Jackie and Janna a text, they'll be coming over for breakfast. Making thirteen."

Star thought it over then shook her head, "Wow, thirteen people all living in one house. Doesn't seem big enough."

"It's not," Marco pointed out, "You keep on poofing up rooms and its eleven people not thirteen, not that Hokusai and Orion take up much in the way of space."

Star agreed with him. "True, true. I wonder if Angie and Rafael would be against me just transforming the house into a mansion? Nothing too fancy, just something big enough to accommodate everyone without putting more holes in the roof."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," The words of encouragement came from Rafael who had just walked into the kitchen, followed by his wife.

Star blinked, genuinely surprised they were all for it. "Your… really okay with this?"

"Yes Estrella dear," Angie told her surrogate daughter in all but blood. "We think having a bigger house, one without holes in the roof sounds like a lovely idea. Marco can show you pictures so you can have some ideas of what to do, but I'd recommend a Victorian mansion they often had turrets on them and that way you could keep your room the way it is, for the most part."

"Sounds cool," Star looked over to her boyfriend. "Marco?"

"We'll do it after breakfast," He promised her, "No need to let food go cold just so you can remodel the house."

"Fair point," Star conceded. "When are Jackie and Janna supposed to get here?"

A sudden knocking came at the front door, "Right about now." Marco replied with a grin on his face as he went to answer it, receiving a playful swat on his behind by Star for his snarkiness.

Marco opened the door and almost attacked Janna on sight. She looked like a zombie. Pale, with dark circles under her eyes and swaying on her feet. The only thing keeping her upright seemed to be Jackie's firm grip on her shoulder.

Marco quickly took Janna by the hand and led her inside. Her hands felt cold and clammy. Marco led her to the couch and sat her down, "Janna, you look like death warmed over, what happened?"

"I might'a used too much prana creatin' familiars las' night," Janna slurred out.

Marco ran a hand down his face. "Damn it Janna. Okay, lay down on the couch, I'll get you fixed up really quick."

The punk goth laid her head down on a pillow, one leg on the couch the other hanging off the side listlessly.

Marco just looked at her, put his hands on his hips and shook his head like a disappointed parent. "I thought you being the one into weird stuff, you'd be the most careful of the two of us."

"Ah shaddup," Janna said to him dismissing him with a wave of her hand. "I knew wut I waz doin', ah think?"

Marco just smiled. "Sure you did sweetie, now you just rest right there really quick while I get what I need to fix you up okay?"

"Mkay," Janna said listlessly.

Marco trudged up the stairs and to his and Star's shared room he went to the closet. Looped over the hanger rod was a bunch of interconnected leather satchels they were faded brown covered in dust, nicks and scratches. These were where he kept his offerings back when he was an Avalon Mage. Marco unhooked it from the metal rod and swung it around his waist, clicking it into place. A familiar weight settled onto his hips. Marco took a breath, 'I had hoped never to have to wear this thing again,' His left arm gripped his right when it pulsed in pain. "But for the sake of friends and family I'll take up my spells again."

Marco made his way back downstairs happy to see Janna was right where he'd left her, still kicking her lone boot on the floor. Bounding down the last three steps he faced Janna again while reaching into one of his pouches. "Okay, Janna ready to get all fixed up?"

"M'okay. M'fine," Janna slurred.

Marco just smiled at her as he took out the broken fragment of a mask. "Yeah, of course you are."

The former Questor drew energy from the mask fragment, and used it to cast a mass spell of healing. Soon the entire room was awash with curative energies and everyone felt as if they'd just drank a cup of coffee. They felt awake, alive, and more active than they had just seconds prior.

Marco was focused on Janna though. She looked less peaky than before. Her eyes were back in focus. She was now trying to sit up on the couch and holding her head like she was dizzy. "Easy now, easy," Marco told her gently, "You need to let the magic do its work."

"M-Marco?" Janna questioned upon meeting his eyes. "How the heck did I get here?"

Jackie piped in then, "I walked you over from your place you were all kinds of loopy."

"Seriously?" Janna echoed. "How bad off was I?"

"A gibbering mess we barely made it here," Jackie replied as she watched Marco go behind the couch and start massaging Janna's shoulders. "What are you doing Marco?"

"I don't know where he learned how to do this, but I hope he doesn't stop anytime soon," Janna replied tilting her head back on the couch so she could smile up into Marco's face.

"I'm helping the healing process along by giving Janna a massage. Usually I use these in combat so you don't even notice they make you tense up, but right now, that's the last thing Janna needs. She needs to relax," Marco proceeded to rub the muscles of her neck until the turned to putty then he focused on her temples.

"You are very good at this," Janna complimented in a near trance-like state.

"Thanks if you could lie down on your stomach so I could get the rest of you that would be great." Marco spoke in a professional manner.

Janna leared up at him. "If you wanted to touch my ass Marco, all you had to do was ask you know? No need for an overly elaborate excuse."

Marco just rolled his eyes, "Just lay down Janna, I'd like to eat breakfast while it's still hot, but I can't in good conscience do that without knowing your ok."

"Yes hubby," Janna joked. Causing her masure to flush.

"H-h-Hubby? Isn't it a little too soon to be using pet names like that?" Marco stuttered out as Janna laid on her stomach, her head hanging off the couch.

"If you think I'm letting a guy who knows how to both cook and give full body massages get away, your nuts. As far as I'm concerned you just unofficially tied the knot, you just haven't put a ring on it yet."

All the girls shared in a collective laugh, though Marco noted Jackie's was a little awkward. 'Gonna have to talk to her about that, and Star about her foreknowledge, then there's that meeting with River. Man my day's already full and I haven't even had breakfast yet,' Marco mused to himself absentmindedly as his hands mechanically worked their way down Janna's back.

When he stopped at the base of her spine Janna looked back at him and urged him on with a grin. "Well, go on, you know you wanna."

"I suppose that's your way of giving me permission to massage your buttocks I assume?"

"If you don't continue pretty quick we're gonna see if I really can curse you or not," Janna half-seriously threatened shooting her boyfriend she was still giddy internally of course over the fact that Marco was that to her.

"Fine, fine." Marco continued where he'd left off reprimanding his patient as he did so. "I thought you would've had more common sense than this Janna. I mean really, what did you need so many familiars for anyway?"

"Security system," Janna replied shortly, her tone fiercely protective. "I'm not gonna let those Mages Association guys get the drop on us again. I won't let them just gore me in the side, forcing me to stay behind while my friends get taken or go off on a rescue mission. Next time, we'll be ready."

"Janna," Marco stopped his work on her right calf, his tone gentle and feather soft. "That was in no way your fault."

The occultist huffed. "Wasn't it? I'm the weird expert, but when it came right down to it and something really weird I couldn't do shit!"

"What could you have done?" Star questioned a fearful warble in her tone. "All I did, all I remember was answering the door and then bam I'm coming to standing in a stone filled hallway being told to hang a right and look for my mother. That's literally all I remember. No names, no faces, nothing."

Marco looked to his Crimson Queen in worry, "Star?"

"I… I want to say I'm fine Marco but honestly? I'm still a bit shook up by all this," Star admitted her strong front slipping down revealing the worried girl beneath. "I can handle monsters and magic from Ludo, I'm used to fighting monsters! Its been a hobby for years! But all I did was answer the front door when someone knocked! How could I have seen that coming when Earth isn't supposed to have magic?"

"You weren't that's what they were counting on. Sometimes the most dangerous monster Star, is the one your don't see coming, and you don't see them coming, because they look like everybody else," Marco gently told her. It was part of the reason Marco kept such a close eye on her. To Star, terms like 'Stranger Danger' didn't exist. She couldn't even tell Brittney hated her guts! So he dreaded to think what would happen if the Mewman Princess was led into an alleyway with the promise of puppies or something. Only now, she seemed to come to the realization the hard way. That not all humans on Earth are kind, and some? Some might even wish her ill for simply being who, and what she was.

Marco finished Janna's massage before going over and embracing Star. She liked her hugs and right now she needed one. Marco wrapped his arms around her and she buried her head under his chin. Her horns poked him in the jaw, but he paid them no mind. Stars peace of mind was more important than his minor discomfort at the moment.

"Thank you," She whispered from her sanctuary in his arms.

"Anytime… are you going to be ok?" Marco asked, a little worried Star wasn't acting like her usual boisterous self. There should have been at least three explosions before breakfast. The fact there were none concerned him greatly. To him, it was a sure sign Star's kidnapping had affected her more than she let on.

"I'll be fine, I just need some time to screw my head on straight? Is that the right expression?" Star asked tilting her head up to look Marco in the face and seeing the red marks her hair band had left on his jaw. "You know," She told him, "If they were hurting you, you could've just taken them off?" Star demonstrated by taking the headband off and cuddling into his embrace again. "They aren't attached like Tom's you know?"

"I know, but they aren't that painful," Marco assured her, "I can handle this, its nothing."

Star stepped out of her personal castle that was Marco's arms. "Not the point, the point is if something is bothering you, you need to tell me I won't know if you don't Marco. I can do a lot of things with my magic, but I can't read minds… I think?"

"Goes double for you Star," Marco swept his gaze across the room and everyone in it, which now included Francesca and Natchios. " if your not alright or uncomfortable with something, come tell me. I can do a lot of magic but mindreading still eludes me, unfortunately."

A round of laughter was had by all and once it died down, Marco said, "Now, I do believe breakfast is just about ready?"

Sakura nodded. "Yes Marco-sama."

"Good let's eat and then get to work, we've got a dragon hoard to move people!" Marco had become all business rather quickly.

The maid of the house spoke up reminding her Master, "It's going to take a week, even with my clones, remember?"

"Do your clones need to eat and sleep?" Marco had always wondered about this, but now he was asking for a specific reason.

"Yeah," Hekapoo replied, "They do any and everything I can do. Why?"

As Marco moved in the kitchen he caught Jackie's eye where she mouthed to him 'talk after breakfast?' Marco nodded and carried on, "We can have some work a day shift and others a night shift. Three eight hour shifts each. If we do that, with us pitching in when we can, we could have the hoard cleared out much faster than you think."

Hekapoo thought it over, "Yeah okay you've got a point, but if we move the hoard from the garden, where will we store it?"

"We've got options," Marco replied, pulling out all the girls chairs for them so they could sit down before he seated himself. Star on his right, Jackie on his left with him at the head of the table, Francesca on the right with Natchios, Chiyo and Oei sitting across from each other, Hokusai and Orion took opposing seats, Janna was sitting next to Hokusai talking about art and tentacles of all things, while Angie and Sakura took up the last seats at either end of the table, with Rafael taking up the chair at the opposite end.

Sitting in the middle of the table as a centerpiece was a giant omelette. Arrayed around it was typical side dishes of sausage, bacon, and likely due to Sakura's influence, white rice. "What do we have here ladies?"

"A Spanish omelette. As you already know Marco-sama," Sakura commented."You all but took over in the kitchen," Sakura sniffed sounding haughty.

Marco smiled. "Looks lovely, and I did one flip, one. Anyway let's eat!"

Everyone passed the food around and small talk was made. Marco looked over to Francesca. "I noticed you were the only one who was absent from my bed last night. I'm pretty sure we could've fit you in… somewhere." Marco joked.

"Francesca slept with Natchios last night," The Eldritch Witch replied promptly and a little too quickly for her usual self. "The bed was more roomy and just as warm. Mar-kun is going to have his hands full, it seems. Fufufu!"

'Of course she's enjoying my predicament.' The boy turned man thought to himself before turning to his psuedo-daughter and asking, "Did you enjoy cuddling with mommy last night Natchios?"

The green dragon grinned widely despite the fact her mouth was stuffed with food. "Mmhm! EI Wa Geet!"

"Don't speak with your mouth full dear its uncouth," Francesca gently reprimanded while wiping her face a little. It seems manners was something she did not learn in her long stay in Hekapoo's universe.

Natchios closed her mouth nodded, then swallowed. "Yes Mommy," She was focused on Marco so she didn't see the minor twitch that term of endearment invoked but Marco did.

'Give her time to adjust,' Marco told himself as Natchios addressed him.

"Are we gonna move my hoard into one of those banks today daddy?" The girl asked, all but bouncing in her seat from eagerness.

Marco reached over and rubbed her head. "We sure are sweetheart, but unfortunately I won't be there for all of it."

"Aww, why not?!" Natchios huffed displeased by this news while everyone else looked at him perplexed.

"Yeah Marco, what's up I kinda thought this was the only thing on the agenda for awhile?" Star questioned.

Marco was unused to Star deferring to him on things. She was usually the one dragging him off on an adventure to some dimension he'd never been to before, getting them in danger, then getting them out of it. It just went to show that her capture had made her more cautious and wary of unexpected events. 'Having foreknowledge could also have something to do with it too. She might be afraid I'm about to go off script and accidently trigger an event without telling her.'

"Marco?" Star asked jarring him from his thoughts.

The boy in question gave his head a shake like a wet dog before he replied. "Oh, I just need to set up some things to keep Natchios' treasure secured. That's all Star." He didn't think now would be the best time to tell her he was going to have a talk with her dad.

"Oh, alright, can I come with? I've never been in an Earth Bank before," Star sounded giddy at the thought.

Marco need a convincing lie and he needed one quick. "It's a pretty boring place Star, all you do is stand in line waiting to get to a counter so someone can help you."

"But I Marco, love lines!" Star reminded him. "The anticipation of learning what's at the end is the best part!"

Marco nodded. "I know you do Star but this is something I gotta do by myself. Besides, your magic could be used to move the treasure faster, couldn't it?"

"I... suppose you have a point," Star conceded, before she narrowed her blue eyes at him. "What are you up to?"

"Up to, me, nothing. Why would you think I'm up to anything"

"Your going to a place with long lines something I love, and then say I can't come with you because reasons. It's almost like you don't want me to come with you. Meaning your up to something!" Star overly dramatically accused, while pointing a finger at him, almost poking him in the eye due to her proximity.

In his time away, Marco had forgotten. Star was naive. She was not dumb she defied that sterotype. Maybe not academically, but in other ways.

"Might as well tell her what she wants to know man, she already caught you," Janna pointed out.

"Yeah, yeah," Marco conceded he'd need to try a lot harder if he wanted to pull one over on Star Butterfly. 'Underestimated indeed.' he thought to himself.

"Marco?" Star asked sounding confused and slightly hurt. He couldn't really blame her. He'd never lied to her before. He'd always been up front with her. Yet now was not a good time to start after everything she'd been through recently.

Marco locked eyes with Star, "I was going to go talk to your dad later today."

Star's face immediately formed a half-scowl most likely because meeting with her Papa meant there was a high likelihood of him bumping into her mother. Star's voice had a slight edge to it when she asked, "Why?"

"A very important Earth custom I feel the need to uphold," Marco said solemnly. Earning looks of pride from his parents.

The bluster flew out of Star's sails when she heard that. If she had one weakness it was Earth's culture. "Oh, is it like, super important? Do you have to do this?'

Marco gave a swift and sure nod, his chocolate brown eyes firm and resolute. "Yeah I do. I wouldn't be able to call myself a man if I didn't."

Star blinked. She'd never seen or heard Marco so serious about something before. 'This must be something big then.' She decided. "Okay but I'm coming…" She was cut off by Angie who gently said.

"Estrella dear, you can't be there for this. It's something Marco has to do on his own."

Star grit her teeth in frustration. Marco getting hurt, or thrown in the dungeon and tortured, or even killed flashed through her mind's eye. Each scene was worse than the last. "I can't come with you?" She asked Marco with desperation in her tone.

Marco smiled and gently shook his head, "No, sorry but this is something a guy does on his own."

Star sighed in annoyance a thunderstorm of emotions taking place in her eyes, until finally she raised a single finger and held it very close to Marco's face. "One hour," She told him, "One! Then I'm coming to get you no matter what, understand?"

Marco nodded. "Yes Star. Sorry for lying. I just didn't want to worry you. You've been through enough recently."

Star nodded and tore into her food like a ravenous beast. Every now and then her eyes would fick back up and lock with Marco's. Finally she asked, "When do you meet?"

"11am. I hope River was smart enough to leave his schedule open for me," The teenage warrior hoped aloud.

Star snorted. "Papa rarely involves himself in politics unless it involves manpower, conflict, or battle strategies. He's a Johansen. The battleground is their second home. My… Mother handles the day to day running of the kingdom," Star said mother with so much vitriol in her tone, it was amazing the table hadn't caught fire especially since Star knew the lengths her mother was willing to go.

Marco reached across the table and took her hand comfortingly. "I'll be careful."

"You damn well better be," Star told him, totally serious. "I don't want to lose the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Man you two are so sweet, I think I'm getting cavities just watching," Janna commented, destroying the moment with a few well placed words.

"I know right? Like who even needs dessert when you can just watch these two be all lovey dovey for each other?" Hekapoo chimed in.

"I think it's sweet," Chiyo commented. "The fact the can ignore a table full of onlookers and have a moment like that shows how much they love each other."

"Daddy's gonna make me a big sister pretty soon if this keeps up," Natchios commented smirking deviously showing she did take after Francesca too.

"I couldn't agree more dear. I had hoped I would bear the first child but with chemistry like that in play," Francesca smirked while placing a hand on her forehead in exasperation, "What chance do I really have?"

Oei and Hokusai were of course, capturing the moment for posurity and adding to the Justice vs. the Forces of Evil collection.

"Done!" Oei said as she finished her latest work before showing it off. It was a tasteful painting of Star and Marco holding hands across the table yet the scene was framed in a heart, letting the mood be known to all.

"Awesome as always Oei," Marco praised shaking his head in wonder.

Star pointed at the newly finishing work, declaring, "That is so hanging in our room."

Oei snapped her fingers causing the canvas to disappear. "Sorry Star-san, but To-to and I have special plans for Justice vs. The Forces of Evil."

"Indeed, indeed," Hokusai said sounding unusually serious.

"What kind of plans?" Marco asked.

Hokusai cut his daughter off as she opened her mouth to speak, "You'll see all in due time Marco-sama, all in due time."

Marco knew better than to force an issue with Hokusai when he was serious like this only a handful of things turned him so. The mention of his first wife, bringing up Cthulhu but that more pissed him off than made him serious, and telling the man to cook his own damn dinner. Considering he was an octopus that was hardly fair but even when he wasn't, he was a lazy painter in life. So he'd be screwed either way.

"Thanks for the food missies," Orion complimented while patting his stomach. Even though he only looked like a plushie, as he proved the other day, he could eat food and enjoyed doing so.

Marco stood from the table, "Right everyone full?"

"Yeah!" Everyone said.

Marco carried on, "Ready to act like pirates and move some treasure?!"

"YEAH!" They all echoed louder getting drawn into the hype even Francesca was playing along.

Marco materialized his Dimensional Scissors out of thin air, and cut a portal to Hekapoo's dimension. "Then let's move some dosh people!"

Everyone stood up and started marching into the portal. Marco hung back at bit waiting for everyone to pass through. Much to his pleasant surprise, Hekapoo made a clone which automatically started clearing plates from the table.

"Don't worry Marco I'm just here to clean up the dishes. I'll 'snuff' once I'm done," the clone informed him.

"I do trust you H-poo," Marco answered her honestly clone or not.

The clone flushed, "There you go again acting all unintentionally sauve. It's why the original fell for you in the first place. That and your just too damn stubborn by half."

Marco smiled at her, "I'm sorry?"

The clone rolled its eyes. "Don't apologize. Just… just be careful while in Mewni Marco the Original might not've said anything, but she's worried too, that Moon might try something."

"I'll be careful," Marco promised before he turned to the only other person besides himself who hadn't gone through the portal. "You wanted to talk, Jackie?"

The blonde skater nodded hesitantly, "Yeah can we… go up to your room for a bit?"

Marco agreed. "Sure, follow me."

When Jackie walked into Marco's room, she took a look around at all the new furnishings and said, "I see Star did some redecorating."

"Yeah, she did," Marco motioned to the bed. "Do you wanna sit down?"

Jackie sat on the edge of the bed and played nervously with the hem of her shirt. Marco took a moment to read her body language.

'She's closed off, refusing to meet my eyes and fiddling with her shirt to keep her hands busy. Jackie's anxious about this talk.' He noted. He decided it was best to brooch the subject himself since it didn't look like she was going to anytime soon. "You know you can tell me anything right? I said that downstairs for a reason."

Jackie started when he spoke but nodded,"Yeah I know." Jackie took a breath and finally met his eyes, "Marco I like you I do, but after having a night to think about it, this whole harem thing is weirding me out a little bit."

'So that's it.' Marco thought to himself. He took a seat on the bed next to her and put an arm around her. "Ah… I understand. I didn't expect Star to spring it on me either. If you wanna take a step back and take some time to think about this I completely understand. If we end up just being friends at the end of the day… well that's certainly better than just nodding at each other in passing like we did for God knows how long."

Jackie looked at him, blinked for a moment and then smiled looking impressed, "That's very… mature of you Marco."

"I'm technically thirty remember?" He reminded her, "With age comes maturity and wisdom."

"Right, with the cool kung-fu master mustache," Jackie recalled though having only seen it once, it was hard to forget Marco having the form of a chiseled greek statue complete with facial hair. "So your really okay with me taking a step back to assess things?"

Marco looked her in the eye and stated bluntly, "Jackie, you're your own person. If you need some time to yourself to get your head on straight then take all the time you need. I'm still adjusting after being away for fifteen years, "He admitted. "I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and this is all going to be a dream. It wouldn't be the first time..." Marco trailed off as he gained a thousand yard stare, his gaze fixed on the wall.

"Oh Marco," Jackie hugged him to her. "Your home, you really are. You're safe."

The boy warrior snapped out of his daze and nodded, "Yeah, yeah your right of course."

To Jackie's ears it sounded like Marco was trying to reassure himself more than her. "Have you told anyone about this? Your parents? Star? Anyone?"

Marco shook his head, "No, just you."

Jackie was honored, flattered even that he trusted her with this, "Why me?

"You trusted me with your discomfort, I felt I could do the same with you," Marco replied with a shrug his gaze still fixed on the wall.

Jackie felt touched he trusted her enough to open up to her. "Thank you Marco, for telling me this. Have you thought about… talking to a professional?"

"A shrink you mean? Yes I've considered it but who would believe me? That I went through a portal for eight minutes, aged sixteen years, and went through all manner of adventures with nothing to show for it."

"You have the Dimensional Scissors. You can show them proof if they need it," Jackie pointed out.

Marco nodded. "True, but proving that string theory exists might cause an existential crisis in pretty much… anyone?"

"True," Jackie conceded. "Your in a tough… spot."

The way she said that told Marco she had just thought of something, "What is it?"

"Have you thought about talking to Mr. Candle?"

Marco blinked and scowled, "Tom's lacky who pretended to act like the school guidance counselor?"

Jackie nodded. "Yeah he knows about the Multiverse and can help you out? You got a problem with him or something?"

"He told me I was destined to be a janitor."

Jackie quirked her eyebrow, in confusion, "So?"

"That was kinda… racist. Like all Mexicans are supposed to be janitors or fruit pickers or something. It rubbed me the wrong way," Marco admitted, his voice grating and full of anger.

Jackie covered her mouth at her unintentional faux-pas. "Oh I'm sorry Marco I didn't realize."

He waved away her apology. "Don't worry about it," He sighed, "You're not wrong though, he probably is my best bet. Tom might not be willing to loan him out to me though. He really wants to get back together with Star. He won't be happy when he finds out we're together."

Jackie crossed her arms and scowled. "Well he'll just have to get over it. Star's with you now and she's happy. If he really cared about her, he'd be happy for her even if he wasn't with her. If he can't do that, then he's not a good person."

Marco nodded agreeing with her assessment. "Yeah, and Jackie just so you know if things don't work out, and you end up not being ok with this harem thing. I just want you to know that we will always be friends."

"Thanks Marco," Jackie pulled him in for a hug and then punched him on the arm. "But no matter what your stuck with me. We fought off Rats of Unusual Size together, your stuck with me now."

Marco laughed. "Fine by me. Ready to go help the others?"

"Let's roll," Jackie said with a smirk.

When Jackie and Marco stepped through the portal they found the others already hard at work moving the hoard around. Giant sentinels of plant matter stood at the edges of a great pit, several meters deep that was chock full of gold, all manner of precious gems, and had several magical items and even enchanted blades mixed into the mess.

"Bout time you two showed up," Janna said looking about eighteen now with longer hair and a fuller figure. "What kept you? Decided to take a couple of minutes to make out or something?"

Marco just shook his head, "No Janna. We were having a serious talk. If you would explain the operation please?" Marco motioned to the lines of Hekapoo clones pushing wheelbarrows of treasure.

"The Hekapoos haul the treasure up from the pit, Star and I sort it based on what it is, magical trinkets, weapons, gems, or gold, then it gets put into one of the piles over there," Janna jabbed her thumb towards one of the piles in the distance.

He noticed the weapon pile wasn't a plie but laid out in long rows five across and ten deep. Seeing his look Janna replied, "Yeah Natchios insisted we arrange the weapon pile like that specifically so you could 'add to your armory' as she put it. What does that even mean?" Janna questioned.

"I'll tell you some other time. You, Star and my parents need to leave. You could age to death in this place if you stay too long," Marco warned her.

Janna just shook her head. "Don't worry. Star figured something out, speaking of," Janna sent out a shrill whistle and hollered. "Hey Star! Lover Boy finally showed up!"

"Marco?!" An excited shout that could only belong to Star came from across the excavation site and moments later Marco was hit by a by a golden missile, that nearly knocked him off his feat. "Marco Diaz, what took you so long?!"

Marco looked down to see Star, she was in her mewberty form but this one had resplendent golden wings and her hair was done up in two twintails with her hair somehow defying gravity. She was wearing a sunflower yellow dress that had extra sleeves to accommodate her two extra pairs of arms, and white high heel boots that completed her outfit.

"Jackie and I were talking. I see you've got a handle on your Mewberty form Star."

"Yeah it wasn't that hard, I just had to dip down then pull up if that makes any sense?" Star said.

Marco shrugged he was happy to see Star back to her normal chipper self. "Sorta? My magic works differently to your so… meh?"

"Fair enough, fair enough," Star nodded absently "As you can see, we've been at this for awhile now."

"Yeah four years is a awhile. I'd say your only about…" Marco traced the entirety of the pit he got a lot of info from it but he ignored most of it looking for a vital piece of information. Once he found it, he said, "About a tenth of the way done."

Star's eyes widened in shock, "A-A tenth?! We've been here four years with Hekapoo's clones working nonstop and we've only gone through a tenth of it?!" Star pulled at her gravity defying hair. "We're never going to get this done!"

Marco put a hand on her shoulder, "Relax Star, I've got a plan."

The princess heaved a sigh of relief. "You do oh thank goodness! What is it? And what time is it? I don't want you to miss your appointment with Papa."

Marco checked his watch, "It's 9:15am I've got time."

"Oh good," Star was glad to hear that. "What's the plan?"

"Me and Natchios need to take a little trip," Marco replied before he cupped his hands over his mouth and called his daughter's name.

The girl was by his side in an instant, "Daddy! Your here!"

"I am dear, now you and I got to go to that bank I mentioned but its in another dimension. You ready to go?"

Natchios nodded, smiling exuberantly, "I'm ready to go on an adventure with Daddy!"

"Natchios dear," Francesca called out to her rushing up to her. "You listen to your father while your with him understand? If he says to stick close to him you do so, if he says run, run. If he says fly away, fly away, am I clear?" Francesca showing a new face of compassion that in all honesty is making Marco fall deeper in love with her. She pointed a finger at her daughter making sure she got the point across.

Natchios nodded, "Yes Mommy."

Francesca patted Natchios on the head showing how comfortable she has become to Natchios. "Good girl. I don't mean to be harsh, I just worry."

Natchios nodded, "I know Mommy, but I'll be fine I've got daddy with me, and together, there's nothing we can't do!" The dragonette said confidently.

Francesca giggled. "I'm sure your right dear, now you'd best be going," Francesca turned and placed a chaste kiss on Marco's lips. "Do take care of our daughter dear."

"Okay helicopter mom," Marco joked as he turned away earning himself a slap upside the head for his remark.

"I just worry about her is all!" The Eldritch Witch groused. "Mostly her robbing people blind and burning down small villages."

"Well I'll make sure she doesn't do that while she's with me," Marco turned to his pseudo-daughter. "Ready to go?"

Natchios was practically bouncing on her feet, "Yep!"

Marco materialized his Class Card and installed it before he cut open a portal and motioned Natchios through, but not before saying, "Stick close."

"Yes Daddy," She said before walking through the portal.

Marco and Natchios walked through the portal and found themselves in the middle of a bank, just like Marco had hoped. He looked around just to make sure he was in the right place. People were gawking at him, but he paid them no mind. He was studying the people. 'Folks in fancy robes, Goblins manning the counter looking pissed and wanting to be anywhere else? Yep, this looks like Gringotts alright.' Just to be sure Marco walked up to the counter to a teller and asked, "Excuse me sir, is this Gringotts London Branch?"

The Goblin started upon being addressed and harrumphed. "Yes, it is, and who might you be to come in here so brazenly wizard?"

Marco pointed to himself and laughed. "Wizard? Me? Nono, I'm just someone looking to make a very big deposit. Well, my daughter is actually."

The goblin looked down his long crooked snout at Natchios and she looked up at him, glaring at him. The goblin peered over his glasses at her, took them off polished them then put them back on before addressing her. "Dragon," He said with a curt nod of his head.

"Goblin," Natchios replied with something akin to venom in her tone before she turned to her father and pouted. "Daddy, I don't want to leave my hoard with them. Goblins are sneaky con artists and thieves who will just steal it all when I'm not looking!"

"Natchios, that's rude," Marco reprimanded.

Yet the goblin just laughed, a cruel sound like a whip cracking or a tree branch suddenly snapping. "She's smart your daughter did you say? Curious. Very curious," The creature suddenly noticed the Scissors Marco was holding in his hand, not bothering to dismiss them yet. "By Maglubiyet! You are a Questor!?"

This overly loud proclamation caused the other Goblins to begin muttering to themselves.

Marco showed the Goblin his Scissors which glowed showing his name. "Yeah, I guess you know of us then?"

In response, the sound of a button being hit under the Goblin's desk was heard and moment's later an announcement rang out. "Gringotts is closing early today, for emergency reasons! That means get the hell out!"

The wizards grumbled and some demanded they be seen to before they left. In response, Goblins wielding silver spears of goblin make came from the shadows and poked and prodded at the wizards until they were all outside the doors, which promptly slammed shut in their faces, and locked behind them.

"Umm… are we in trouble?" Marco asked getting ready to defend himself and his daughter.

The teller they'd been speaking to spoke up again. "Whenever a Questor shows up in Gringotts we have him meet with the Goblin Nations King as soon as possible. Your kind have always been… profitable for us," The teller hopped down from his station and disappeared for a moment before he came around the counter revealing he was only two feet tall. "Please follow me. This one's name is Cutthroat."

"Marco Ubaldo Diaz, my daughter Natchios."

Cutthroat grunted noncommittally before he led the two down steep twisting passageways deep into the heart of the earth. Their way was lit by glowing crystal geodes that were set into the walls. Cutthroat stopped in front of a waterfall. "Your dragon will pass through first."

"Her name is Natchios, Cutthroat. If you don't want to end up like your name, you'll start addressing her as such," Marco said with a bit of heat in his tone.

The Goblin turned to him and looked up into Marco's eyes for a moment before he gave a curt nod. "Very well, Natchios will go first. You will follow."

"Daddy?" Natchios questioned unsure.

Marco structurally analyzed the water. 'It's enchanted to dispel magic. So they wanna know just what their dealing with do they? Alright then, let's give em a show.' Marco decided before he motioned his daughter forwards. "Go on Natchios, it's not going to hurt you."

Natchios nodded. "Yes Daddy," Needing no further prompting, the girl stepped through the waterfall into the room beyond. Marco quickly followed suit.

The change was instantaneous. Natchios' flesh expanded, shifted, and roiled. Tanned skin was covered by verdant green scales of many hues, fingers became razor sharp claws, her neck and face elongated becoming snoutlike and a pair of huge batlike wings burst from her back and a serpentine tail bloomed from her behind.

When the transformation was finished, a gigantic green dragon with sandy scales on its belly and tan membranes forming its wings was taking up a majority of the chamber. She was just as big as Hekapoo said she would be. She was eighty-five feet long from snout to tail, stood twenty feet tall, was ten foot around, had a wingspan of sixty feet in length, and weighed more than a hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Marco's structural analysis told him all of this. He gently walked forwards and placed a hand on hand on her foreleg that was as thick as a redwood tree trunk.

"Natchios," Marco said in an awed voice. "You're incredible." Marco said honestly.

"I… thank you Daddy. Do you really like me like this?" Natchios asked shyly.

Marco smiled, "You look amazing dear."

Her head snaked down and she met his eyes, golden, serpentine, and as big as a bronze spartan shield. "Really?"

Marco scratched her under her chin causing her to rumble out a purr. "Really really," Marco looked back to Cutthroat who looked to be in a state of shock. "If your done with your mind games we'd like to get this meeting with your Goblin King over with."

"Yeah," Natchios all but growled out, "We're busy people."

"Yes, yes, right this way." Cutthroat said, making his way over to a seemingly blank stone wall and running a clawed hand down it. Nothing happened for a moment then a clicking happened seemingly from behind a solid stone wall. Seconds later, the stone wall swung inward showing it wasn't a wall, but two massive doors made of stone with no seam between the doors and no noticeable hinges either.

Light streamed from the entryway and the sound of hundreds if not thousands of hammers slamming against anvils and hot steel were heard. The sound was music to Marco's ears and he walked forward Natchios a step behind him in her true form. Beyond the confines of the door were dozens of hundreds of smithies. Some were hammering away on anvils others were pouring gold into smelters, likely to be minted into coins, and a minecart even past by carry uncut sapphires. Smoke and sparks filled the air and so did magic. Marco couldn't help but smile giddily this was like a giant playground to him and EMIYA. Marco had taken up an interest in smithy work due to him.

But this by far and large went beyond the pale goblins were running to and fro, carrying supplies to older goblins who were barking out orders to the younger. Marco noticed out of the corner of his eye a group of younger Goblins trying to haul up a pot of what looked to be boiling gold as others scurried about oblivious to the danger below. He watched as one of the bindings holding the bubbling cauldron came loose spilling the contents in a shimmering waterfall on the unsuspecting victims down below. Marco didn't think He didn't have the time, he just threw out his hand and said, "Rho Aias!"

The ethereal ajax flower took shape right above an unassuming Goblin wearing a cloak covering him in a dome and protecting him as the liquid metal splattered harmlessly against the manifested bounded field. The Goblin encased in the dome looked up, noticed his predicament, then smiled showing rows of sharp, shark-like teeth before he lowered his hood, revealing his brow to be adorned with a silver metal circlet inset with many precious gems.

"K-King Gobbledygook!" Cutthroat gasped.

Marco blinked before moving forward and letting down the bounded field. The King was quickly surrounded by beefy well armed and armored guard who seemed to pop out of every crack and crevice armor gleaming weapons shining like the full moon. Each speartip or sword was pointed Marco's way until the King waved them off.

"Enough, enough of that, I've seen all I need to see," The king said as he stepped forward in front of his retinue, his cloak no longer concealing his form marco could see he wore fine silver metal mail, enchanted rings on each finger, and a torc on his neck. He grinned at Marco as he appraised him. "You are someone worth doing business with it seems. Well met, I am King Gobbledygook XXV, It is nice to make your acquaintances Questor, Great Emerald Wyrm "

It took Marco a minute to put the pieces together. "That pot didn't fall on accident. You were testing me. To see if I'd help or not. You wanted to test my character," Marco applauded, "Well done you tricky bastard."

The King nodded. "You can tell a lot about a person from how he acts in the heat of the moment. Some stand by and do nothing, others react, but some act. You acted on my behalf with nothing to gain. As such I ask of you, how may the Goblin Nation be of assistance to you O' Champion Questor?"

Marco thumbed behind him, "Natchios here, wishes to relocate her hoard someplace more secure. I can't think of any place more secure in the entire Multiverse than Gringotts."

The King nodded deeply, acknowledging the compliment. "Thank you, come let us discuss this transaction in a more private setting," He spoke to Natchios directly, "If you would take a smaller more unassuming shape and follow us."

The dragon acquiesced, form shifting down to her humanoid and much prefered shape, covered in her white sundress.

Seeing the change complete the king led the way through twisting back alleys that slowly lead uphill past the smoke and leaving the sound of hammer blows behind. When they next came out onto the thoroughfare, Marco found himself in front of a palace made of iron silver. 'No not silver Goblin steel.' Marco told himself. It's spires stretched far up into the distance of the massive cavern he and Natchios found themselves in, and the gate was seemingly forged of solid stone. But Marco was willing to bet his six-hundred-fifty bucks a month that it opened somehow. 'I bet Rulebreaker could get me in,' Marco thought to himself.

The King walked up to the doors and ran a finger down a seemingly random portion of blank wall much like Cutthroat did before him, and sure enough a portion of the wall swung out, revealing the castle in all of its glory. Strange mushrooms in all manners of colors lined the entryway to the castle proper, and lampposts were topped ever ten feet with luminous crystal.

Pig looking things were walking around eating the occasional mushroom. A quick glance at one told him it was a creature called a nug. Marco paid them no mind seeing as they were non hostile and continued up the path leading to the castle proper. Guards saluted as the king came close and pulled the doors open, glaring at Marco and Natchios as the passed.

The group walked down the marble interior halls that were inlaid with golden murals of the various goblin rebellions that had happened over the centuries, until finally they arrived at the throne room.

It was a long hall held up by enormous pillars of stone bigger around than Natchios. Each one was carved in the likeness of a past King. At the far end of the hall sat a throne carved from Goblin Steel, inset with peerless gemstones. Standing vigil behind the throne flanked by two braisers was a statue of Maglubiyet, the Goblin God and High Chieftain of Goblinkind stood, his fists raised above his head, and reared back as if prepared to smash the throne and its occupant.

Gobbledygook strode all the way to the throne and sat down upon it facing Marco and Natchios who stood a respectful five feet away. "Now, we may talk business. You wish for us to protect Natchios' hoard yes?"

Marco nodded. "Correct, and am I correct in assuming that the only reason you're being so accommodating is because you'd like my help securing items and other things you can't get in your dimension?"

The king grinned flashing his teeth dangerously. "Yes that is correct. What is that idiom you humans are fond of using? You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours?"

The questor hummed and nodded. 'Well I did promise Moon I'd turn Earth into a multiversal trading hub. Why not start here?' Marco thought to himself. "I have a preposition for you."

"Oh, I like that look in your eye it's positively malicious. Do go on," Gobbledygook urged.

Marco made his sales pitch. "Well I don't know how up to date you are on muggle technology but have you guys ever thought of selling some of your stuff on the internet?"

"We are well acquainted with the internet and its many, many functions yes," Gobbledygook commented. "The Stockmarket is so easy to manipulate to one's benefit. But I digress do go on."

"Well, what if I helped you guys branch out into a whole new market? That is to say, a whole new reality full of profits?"

The Goblin King grinned like a wolf. "Let me see if I understand you, you would allow us to sell our goods in your dimension in return for allowing Natchios to keep her hoard here?"

"Well, I might charge a slight tax on goods coming or going through any portal seeing as I'd be taking a huge risk leaving one open, but yeah pretty much."

"A ferry toll yes, yes perfectly agreeable, and you'd want a percentage of any goods sold in your territory too no doubt."

"Only if its not asking too much?" Marco questioned.

"Your new to the Art, aren't you?" Gobbledygook said in an almost pitying way.

"Of magic? No I'm an old hand," Marco affirmed

The Goblin King shook his head. "No, not of magic, of bargaining, of dealing, negotiating, and swindling with words spoken and written. Why a Goblin babe could take advantage of you. Your too kind by half," Marco felt his ears burn by the rebuke but he knew the King was trying to be helpful in his own way. It would be in his best interest to have a partner who knew when he was being swindled.

"Sorry, and your right, I'm a novice at this," Marco admitted. "But I need to get better. There's someone I have to prove something to."

The king rubbed his chin. "Vengeance? I figured. If there are two things Goblins understand it is deals and vengeance. Sometimes the two go hand in hand. Sometimes not. But yours is a feeling all Goblins know well. Now, what are your terms?"

Marco made a mental list in his head. "I would like Natchios' hoard to be kept here fee free, at high interest. That's for your safety primarily as if she even thinks someone is stealing her hoard, both she and I will come here and kill the lot of you. In return for this, I'll allow you to sell your products on the internet in my dimension, with a five percent fee coming from either end of the portal and a further ten percent coming at the end of any sale."

The King of Goblins nodded. "Agreeable. You realize that we need to move Natchios' hoard here, and such transportation comes at a fee."

Then Natchios spoke up, "I would be willing to give you some of my shed scales. They make good armor yes?"

The Gobbledygook's eyes gleamed. "Yes, yes indeed they do. We would be willing to move it for the price of say… a hundred scales?"

"Done," Natchios agreed. "I've got lots more where that came from and will sell you the rest for gold. I've also got lots of magical trinkets which I might be willing to part with if the price is right."

Marco was looking between his daughter and the Goblin King, "How the hell are you so good at negotiating like this when I suck at it?"

Natchios just giggled. "That's because Daddy, you negotiate best when you have something precious on the line. For me, it is my hoard. For you, it's people. I can always get more treasure but you could never replace mama Francesca or Auntie Star."

Marco rubbed his daughter's head, "When did you get so smart?"

"I've always been smart silly Daddy."

Marco turned to Gobbledygook, "I think this is one arena I must bow out gracefully from for now. I just hope you have enough wits to deal with a dragon."

The king snorted. "Not even close. I was better off dealing with you by far. Now I know I'm not going to come out ahead," Gobbledygook looked up at the statue poised to crush him. "Maglubiyet, have mercy on me, Oh Highest of High Chieftains."

Marco glanced at his watch. It was now 10:45am. "Oh shit, I'm going to be late if I don't leave now!"

"For your meeting with Great Uncle River?" Natchios questioned.

Marco nodded before making a portal. "Yeah, I made a portal back to Hekapoo's dimension. Once your done here head on through. I trust you to both handle yourself and be on your best behavior understand?"

"Yes daddy I promise not to eat the Goblin King while your gone," Natchios swore, while simultaneously causing King Gobbledygook to blanch. "He'd probably give me an upset stomach anyway."

"Good girl, stay safe alright? I'll see you later," Marco said before opening another portal and jumping through it.

Natchios waved until her father disappeared once she was sure he was gone, she turned back to the Goblin King and stated bluntly "Listen up, because this is how this is going to work. You are going to protect my hoard with your miserable little lives. I will allow you to sell any trinkets I don't want, provided I get their worth back in gold. You are not going to fail in your task to protect my hoard because if you do I, Natchios the Green Fog of Death who gave the Death Plaines their names and terrorized the region for over a millenia, will descend upon your people and melt your all into so much sludge. Am. I. Understood?"

"Yes," The Goblin King said with a curt nod.

"Good. Also, everything my Daddy said about portal traffic and sales? Double it."

King Gobbledygook sighed, "Your twisting my arm here."

"No, I'm not," Natchios smiled at him angelically. "I could if you like though I wonder how much I can bend it till it breaks?"

"Fine, fine, I accept your terms you greedy serpent. You'll get what you want for yourself and your father but in return I expect certain goods that cannot be obtained in this universe from him and by extension, you."

Natchios nodded, "You'll have all you desire and more King Gobbledygook. As long as you keep your end of the bargain."

"I'll have the contract drawn up and brought to you in a couple of days." The King grumbled.

Natchios nodded. "That's fine, we have a professional who'll look it over before we sign it, you understand."

"Of course," Gobbledygook nodded. "I'll have an expert team out to move your hoard as soon as we receive payment. May your gold always flow and your coffers fill endlessly."

Natchios smirked at the clear dismissal. She nodded slightly. "To you as well. You'll soon see Gobbledygook that this arrangement shall benefit the both of us. You are the first partners in Daddy's plan of making his Earth a great new place where goods from all over the multiverse flow like wine. You'll be happy to be on the ground floor of this, you'll see. Have a pleasant rest of your day."

With that, Natchios stepped through the portal, leaving the Goblin King alone with his thoughts. 'In the short term the Goblin People have gotten the short end of the stick.' He glanced up at the statue. The fact it hadn't come to life and crushed him where he sat meant Maglubiyet wasn't displeased by the deal he made with the dragon girl. 'The long term must be profitable indeed if Maglubiyet is allowing me to keep my life,' The king smirked, giddy at the thought of future profits.

Marco leaped through the portal and took off at a sprint through the streets of Mewni, winging his way towards the castle. He jumped over mud puddles winded his way through wagon rut covered paths occasional squeezing his way in-between a couple of stone and thatch covered houses when he found the way blocked by traffic or once by a random pig-goat herd. He finally made his way to the gates of the castle only for the guards to lower their pikes as he approached.

"Halt! State your business," One was a big dopey looking man said, while the person next to him was an old guy sporting a mustache that was even longer than his, and he looked quite old and frail.

"Marco Ublado Diaz here for an eleven 'o' clock appointment with King River," Marco replied easily.

The older and shorter of the two narrowed his eyes at him suspiciously. "Marco Ublado Diaz eh? Ain't you the guy who's supposed to be lookin' after the princess?"

"I heard they was courtin'," The taller of the two said.

Marco tapped his foot impatiently. "Fellas if I don't get through soon, I'm gonna be late and that'll make me look bad. You don't want to make me look bad in front of the King, do you?"

"Naw, nah, we don't but how do we know ya are you say ya are?" The old guy questioned. "If we just let anyone in without any form of identification, we wouldn't be doin' are job now would we?"

"True," Marco dug out his Questbuy wallet and presented him his student ID card. "Here, will this do?"

The two peered at it. "You look uh… older than the kid in this picture mister," The tall dopey one pointed out.

Marco nodded. "Yeah," He presented the two with his Dimensional Scissors which also bore his name, "You can blame that on these."

The two's eyes widened in shock before they suddenly snapped to attention. "Forgive us sir, we didn't know you was an accomplished Questor!" The Old Guy mumbled out.

"Yeah, our bad," the mannish baby spoke up.

"Don't worry about it guys your just doing your job and a fine one at that," Marco complimented. "So I can head on in then?"

"Yessir, head right on into the throneroom sir."

"Thanks, by the way, what are your names?" Marco asked.

The two looked at each other fearfully, "Whydaya wanna know sir?" The Old Guy asked.

Marco shrugged. "So I know who to tell River is doing a good job guarding the place."

The dopey looking one spoke up first. "I'm Trip, Trip Dolton."

"Geezer, Geezer Kane."

"Marco Diaz, well nice meeting you two. Keep up the good work," He said patting each man on the shoulder as he walked past.

"He was nice Geez."

The old man nodded. "Yeah Dolt, he was."

'Made it with a minute to spare,' Marco thought happily to himself as he walked into the throneroom proper. He walked behind the columns and waved towards River catching his eye.

The King stood from his chair and addressed the court. "If you'll all excuse me, a matter requires my personal attention," River made his way out of the throne room motioning for Marco to follow once his wife was distracted upholding court on her own.

It was easy for the boy to slip away and fall into step beside the diminutive king. "River."

Marco greeted kindly.

"Marco, my boy how are you doing?" River greeted.

"Can't complain," Marco replied making smalltalk with the King who led him into a simple sitting room consisting of a couple of chairs, a table in the middle of them on which a tea tray sat.

"Have you ever had Honeydew boba tea?" Seeing Marco shake his head, the King offered, "Would you like to try it?"

"Why not?" Marco replied, with a slight smile.

River poured them both a cup before taking a seat. Before Marco could say anything River spoke. "Before we get to the reason your here Marco, I'd like to apologize on my wife's behalf. She shouldn't have tried to trick you or Hekapoo like that. You've done nothing but right by our daughter, helped her get her head on straight. Instead of repaying you with the respect and kindness you deserve, Moon let her paranoia run away with her common sense and did something stupid. I am very sorry."

"River… don't worry about it. I won't lie, I'm still upset with Moon. I will be until she comes to her senses and apologizes and don't even get me started on how Star feels about all this, that a different monster altogether. But my problem is with Moon, not you. Me and you, we're fine," Marco assured the king.

River released a sigh of relief. "Good, good, that makes me feel much better. For a minute there, I was afraid you thought Moon-pie spoke for the both of us."

Marco shook his head and tried the tea. It tasted like honey dew mixed with muss mellon. 'Good stuff,' Marco thought, before speaking again, "No we're fine River, besides I know you well enough by now to know if you've got a problem with me, you'll confront me personally and head on, not try and stab me in the back and trick me with wordplay. That's not your way. Warriors attack from the front."

"You can thank my Johansen upbringing for that. My family was always rather… blunt and straightforward," River commented offhandedly. "We were never ones for words when we could be solving problems with actions and our fists, or whatever we happen to have on hand at the moment."

The two men shared a laugh at that and then a subtle tension entered the room. Marco knew what it was. The King was waiting for him to state the reason why he asked for this meeting, though Marco suspected he already knew. Marco however was trying his damndest to well up the courage. 'Be blunt, warriors attack from the front.' he thought. "River?"

"Yes Marco?" the King questioned.

"I came here today to formally ask you for your permission to date your daughter," Marco asked looking the man in the eyes.

River nodded, "I suspected as much," The King sipped his tea and said. "Your a good man Marco, not boy," He stressed, "Man. You don't survive Hekapoo's trial and get to be thought of as anything less than that as far as I'm concerned. You come here, after that, after all but becoming Star's moral compass for so many months then asking to court her? Something Tom didn't even do by the way, had to find out from Poneyhead's stupid blog… Anyway, how can I say anything other than yes?"

Marco was surprised. "Your really okay with it?"

River smiled. "Marco, you may not've realized it, but I've kept a very close watch on you and Star. No offense, but my only daughter living in the same house as a teenage boy her own age? You can imagine my concern I'm sure."

Marco nodded, he wasn't even mad at the man for spying. If Star was his daughter he'd have done the exact same thing in his place. Probably worse.

"Yet you never tried anything. You took your job as he guide and protector quite seriously, and acted like a perfect gentleman at all times. I wasn't watching the night of the Blood Moon Ball, but Eddie was watching that night, and he told me you went after her out of concern."

"Yes sir, considering what she'd mentioned about Tom previously how he had anger issues and they'd broken up, I thought it would be best if I shadow her, just in case. I didn't think leaving her alone with someone known to have a hair trigger temper and the ability to manipulate fire was a good idea."

"Too right you were," River agreed. "Do you know why they broke up in the first place?" When Marco shook his head, the King elaborated. "Tom would get angry over the littlest things. Small things at first but then, he got very possessive of Star. It got to the point he was texting her at all hours of the day, and if some random person even looked at her wrong well… an open casket funeral couldn't be held for them."

"Was he that bad?" Marco questioned. Tom seemed like an alright guy.

River sighed. "Tom is a demon Marco. Demons are defined, and driven, by the sin the represent. For Tom, it is Envy that drives him. He wanted Star to himself and only himself. Anyone who tried to take what he saw as his, he started to grow jealous of what attention they took from Star and well…"

"He burnt them to a crisp?" Marco finished for River.

"He burnt them to a crisp," River echoed solemnly, head bowed in respect for the fallen for a moment before he raised it and smiled. "Which is why I'm so thankful she's with you now. Instead of trying to control her, you help her realize he faults and change them. You are making her a better person where Tom was turning her into a shell of one."

"Is Tom half or full demon?" Marco asked.

River was thrown by the question, but answered it anyway. "His father Dave is human so half. why do you ask?"

"If he's only half demon then is he fully ruled by his demonic heritage? Doesn't he, as a human, have the right to choose to be an envious prick or not? Can't he, if he tries hard enough, become a better person?"

River scratched his bald head, "A very philosophical question there. I'm sure Glossaryck would love to debate it with you, but I'm not one to ask. I'm just a concerned father whose glad his daughter has found someone better to be with..." River paused as if he wanted to ask something but stopped.

"River? Is there something you wanted to ask me?" Marco questioned.

"Yes, you haven't actually slept with my daughter have you?" River bluntly questioned, staring Marco down hard.

"We've slept together in the same bed, but not in the manner your insinuating," Marco told the man, meeting his flintly gaze.

"So then you haven't? River trailed off.

"Star is still a virgin as far as I know. She spent four years in Hekapoo's dimension though and if there's one thing I know about Hekapoo's dimension, it's that what happens in Hekapoo's dimension stays in Hekapoo's dimension."

"Were you there with her the whole time?" River questioned.

Marco shook his head, "No, I wasn't there at all. We're exhuming and relocating my dragon's treasure hoard right now but it's… taking awhile. So I called in some professionals to expedite the process."

"Oh I see. Thank you for taking the time to come see me then, you must be swamped at the moment," River assumed.

"This, to me, is more important than moving treasure. I wouldn't feel right taking Star out on a date or anything like that, if I didn't have your permission first River," Marco said honestly.

"You have it Marco," River said again, "If at all possible I would like to open the floor up to Mewni-Earth trade negotiations while I have you here."

"Uuh, Star says Moon usually handles that while you hand wars and stuff?" Marco said tactfully.

River snorted. "This may come as a shock Marco, but I'm not an idiot when it comes to politics. I don't like doing it for hours on end listening to countless problems, but when it comes to helping someone I know and trust and who I know is good for Mewni, then yes. I know what I'm doing."

"Okay, fair enough. What does Mewni have to trade, besides corn that is?"

The King listed off, "We've got gold, jewels, lumber, stone, weapons, armor, and of course, corn based products. Though we've been having a bit of a shortage lately."

Marco nodded. "Okay River, this is what I'm going to do. I'll bring you all kinds of corn and other food based products from Earth. In return you pay me in lumber, stone, and gold that I can sell back home agreed?"

River nodded, "Sounds simple enough. How much do you want?"

Depends on how much food I manage to get my hands on but let's just say a hundred pounds of stone, fifty pounds of lumber, and ten pounds of gold and jewels for every… five-hundred pounds of food I bring in, be they physical or fluid ounces?"

River thought it over for a moment. 'He must really love my daughter to let us get off so easily. I know damn well he could ask for more,' The King nodded. "Agreed, I'll have a contract drawn up for you to sign and no, there won't be any funny business in this one."

Marco smiled. 'Natchios was right, when the lives of people I care about are on the line, I 'am' good at this.' Marco thought. He told Mewni's king, "I know River, I trust you."

"Thank you Marco, I'm glad to hear it."

It was a start a small start, but Marco had begun putting Earth on the Multiverse's map. 'One small step for Marco, one giant leap for mankind,' The warrior thought to himself, feeling satisfied with a job well done. He stood up ready to take his leave. "Before I go River, do you think I can get a small box of this tea to take back to Star? I think she'd enjoy a taste of home."

"Can do," River said with a knowing wink. He reached down and picked up a bell, next to his chair and gave it a ring.

A manservant in a pink and white outfit came in ruffle on his neck and yellow feather in his oversized poofy pink hat. "Yes, sire?"

"Manfred, go get a fresh box of the Honeydew boba tea for my guest to take home would you?" River requested.

"Of course sire, right away," Manfred left without another word.

Like the calm before the storm everything was going perfectly for Marco. For the moment, but the storm was coming it was already brewing in Tokyo, Japan for something strange, Edlritch and unknowable to the ken of normal humans had begun to sing its twisted song in the home of one Funimori Sakasai. Who after a tragic car accident took the lives of his parents, had irreparably warped his worldview after having an experimental operation done on his brain to save his life.

The Wizard Marshall knew he had to call in the boy for this lest this world be damned to an alien existence. 'I just hope he's ready.' Zelretch thought to himself.

For the Song of Saya, must be stopped. Lest it birth untold horrors.

Word Count: 34,000 Number of Pages: 77 Date Completed: 12/24/2019

AN: Hello one and all and welcome to Chapter 4 of Unlimited Eldritch Blade Works. This is a bit of an early Christmas present from Snowy and myself to all of our readers out there. We do hope you enjoy it while you celebrate the holidays with your families. Now, I'm gonna hand the mic over to Snowy! Take it away buddy!

Hey guys I'm tired as fuck thanks to working on this so I cant help but laugh ps we are updating an old story guess what it will be? I love all of you all.

I'm 90% certain they'll never guess Snowy. Anyway, till next time everyone. This has been an IcySnowSage and Bubbajack Production. Till next time, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good night!