Marco at a Crossroads
By: DJ Rodriguez
(Author's Notes: Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay, been busy working on both my Disney/Toho specials & also on a few stories that I am helping out with other Authors. It has also been a bit hectic and stressful for me these past days, but I am slowly getting back on my feet.
Before I say or do anything else, I want to give praise and glory to the Lord. Thank you God for giving me insight, wisdom, courage, confidence, conviction and strength. It has not been easy for me for these past month or so, but you have been with me every step of the way. I will continue to look to you Jesus in all things, and I can only hope and do my best to obey and follow you as best I can. Continue to look after me, my family, my friends and those around the world that really you, please.
I continue to pray and hope for a complete and permanent end to not only this Coronavirus nonsense, but also to the New Normal and Do The Five Things/Principles rules & regulations that have come up due to this plague. I know and believe for a fact that us human beings were not meant to live to hide behind masks, to be distant from one another in any way.
I hope and pray that this virus is exterminated for good from the equation of life. I also hope and pray very much to see masks and face-shields no longer necessary, that they are thrown in the trash or burned in a fire pit. The face is a small, subtle but very significant part of a person. It completes a whole picture of someone, and I am not talking just cosmetically. On many levels and ways, a person's face shows more than just what eyes or mere actions do. Think on it good and long to see what I mean. Also, I know this for a fact- living behind a mask does more harm than good on many levels, in the short and life-run.
I hope to see people coming closer once more, two feet or less, to enjoy each other's company & also to re-open bold new & exciting possibilities/opportunities for all like before! But in a much more positive way than the fear-filled negative way that is sadly starting to grow. For social GATHERINGS to be encouraged like before, not distancing.
I hope and pray to see people no longer using online/virtual substitutions, that they go out in the real reality-world to do the things they want to do. To see plastic walls and barriers be taken down for good, for faith and trust to be put back in between others with no fear/paranoia/anxiety.
To see people make strong good connections, contacts with one another in the flesh and blood. Through touches like high-fives, hugs, hand-shaking and more! To experience once more the tried and true sensations and satisfaction through real, true contact instead of virtual ones through a screen, curbside delivery, contactless/touch-free services.
I hope and pray to see people not just coming out of their homes, but also going to different places all over! For isolation and staying at home to end, for people to re-discover the joy of seeing different people, different places, doing different things and more in the flesh and blood! Not through a screen!
I hope and pray to see the end of excessive sanitation, to both people and objects. That people use basic, good and real common sense. And also to put faith and trust in others & not be afraid or worried.
And what I hope and pray to see most of all… is to see the people conquer fear/paranoia/panic/anxiety/worry/doubt/laziness! I want to see people hoping for the best, not fearing the worst. I want to see the people want more than anything else to get BACK to the tried and true, real deal ways of living and working like before! But this time better, and I mean by this.
To never take for granted the many small, subtle but tremendously significant blessings/freedoms/gifts for granted. Think on this also very much as well. It's too numerous to say, but right now I miss everything and everyone in so many ways it's not funny. I miss seeing the various emotions on people's faces, the real and strong emotions that comes from touch and being close to others, to go somewhere with little to no restrictions… and also going out to different places with others with no fear/worry/anxiety/doubt.
Also for people to experience once more the unique and strong sensations/satisfaction/fulfillment/accomplishment/completion that comes from doing things with others in real-reality, in the flesh and blood like before. An experience that holds a substance/essence that one cannot get through a screen of any kind, and can be felt physically/spiritually/emotionally/mentally/socially/economically. Leaving one part out, however small or subtle it is, throws things out of balance in many ways.
And also to put much faith and trust in the Lord to keep themselves and others well and good. No one can truly live in complete safety; for that, they need to live in a specialized bubble of sort. And also this truth; there are MANY ways to die from something other than COVID & there are many worse things than said plague. So I hope for the people to regain their faith and trust in the Father and Son to secure their well beings.
Security is much more better than safety, as you have protection while going out of the comfort/safety zones to really enjoy life and try to reach your full potential in many ways. To live fully with no kind of restrictions like masks, distancing or any of that junk to hold you down in any way!
This is what I hope comes soon. This is what I hope and pray for every day and night, to see not just this plague end for good but also the New Normal and Do The Five Things/Principles rules & regulations junk to be dumped in the garbage for good. For people to live life with more zest and zeal for the tried and true, real deal ways like before! But this time, much better and more faith & trust in God to keep them secure and well while living fully! And I don't mean just in good health or a mere beating hear, but to live fully in many ways!
In this chapter, you will see Marco getting visits from Eclipsa, Janna and Kelly. In addition, you will see the reactions of Kelly's parents & tribe when she presents to them what she has discovered so far on her stay at Earth. And you will see more of Star's internal meetings, Queen Moon and the others reactions as well.
I will do my best to get my creative spark back up. It is difficult to do when one is surrounded by much chaos and extreme change, especially if said change is of the negative kind on many levels. I will just have to do my best and force myself to push on ahead, with guidance from the Lord of course.
I will also have help in another way. I managed to check out a plethora of Juv. Lit books on animals from my workplace, JPL Library from my college UTSA on 1604! Before things went all screwy, I managed to check out the books & managed to get a couple more when I was finally allowed back to the place. These books will be of great help to me, as they seem to have a quality/charm/strength of their own that is more useful than just merely looking up stuff on the Internet.
And on a final note, still looking for anyone that can do fan art or YouTube video reviews for my Monsters and Magic series. I am determined to advertise in any way my Disney/Toho novels and works, so any kind of help like that would be most appreciated. Also, please check out Author Drjeesh via PM. He is making the comic series for this story that you can find. Just ask him for details on it.
I state this again- I cannot please everyone, nor do I ever wish to do so. I believe in the words of my pastor Rick Godwin from Summit Christian Center at San Antonio and it is this: If you try to please everyone, you lose yourself entirely. So while others may not be pleased at this, it is what it is. My aim is not to please all, but to write a worthwhile story. No more, no less.
So again, just to be sure I am clear… trust in what I do. I may not be a total expert with the Star Vs. series, but I will do my best with what I know and pick up along the way. In addition, I have been seeing a lot of old cartoon & live-action series that I have on VHS & DVD, still working in fine condition. They consist of both Disney & non-Disney series, and thus I have enjoyed & learned much from them to put in here. So this story will also have educational purposes, similar to shows that combined education with entertainment in the 1980s and 1990s.
The action will also take place mostly on Earth, with some taking place in Mewni. The dimension where time is greatly accelerated, Hekapoo's home, will only be shown a minor number of times. After seeing the Diaz's losing their two kids once more to rapid growing up to them not being part of their lives… I will not have anything like that here. I believe that parents should see their kids grow, help them grow and become good adults in the process. So Mariposa nor Marco will return to Hekapoo's home realm.
So just to make it clear here. There will be NO kind of reference to slash or femme-slash of any kind. So while this is a Marco/Multiple Girls story, there will be NO kind of slash or femme-slash actions or references here at all. I believe that I can bring forth the true and real potential of Jackie and the other ladies here, more so than was done/shown to them in the series.
And that is my stance on this story, and all others I have made and will make in the future. Look to my bio to understand me and more on where I stand firmly. And again, this story will feature Christian elements and faith! And that I am not sorry at all for!
Also, will be giving my OC names from the website 20000-NAMES, as I have done in my previous stories. Each name is linked to a different nation, and has a different meaning. To see what they mean, go to website to look it up. If any of you wish to create your own OC's for me to use in the story, let me know & I will see what I can do.
I do not own Star vs. the Forces of Evil, it is created by Daron Nefcy & executive producers Daron Nefcy, Dave Wasson and Jordana Arkin. Production is the Disney Television Animation, and aired on network Disney XD and Disney Channel.
I Am The Christian The Devil Warned You About is by Mario Murillo, © 1996 by said author and edited by Carol Ann Murillo. Published by the Fresh Fire Communications company in Danville, California in 1996.
Now, on with the story!)
It was 4:15 pm, an air of exhaustion and weariness filling the Throne Room. It mostly came from the Butterfly, Lucitor and Pony Head parents, while the Khans, Acacius's, Hekapoo and Queen Arms looked to the adults with mild sympathy in their eyes. For the entire group, they had known River & Moon to be good people. Not perfect mind you, but at least firm and fair to their subjects and the daughter. And while Star's hyper attitude and actions were questionable at best, the lot saw that the parents really loved her and did their best to raise her.
Sadly though, Star made some very poor choices growing up & it was all on her. She seemed to be getting better, as her parents had hoped while she had been sent to Earth to practice magic & also to learn more about the ways of the realm she would be staying in. But again, their flesh and blood descended back down… and continued to do so, under the influence of her companions Tom & Lilacia. But all the decisions were hers alone, and that made the parents look very regretful. Wondering on where truly had gone wrong with Star.
Dave and Wrathmelior were in the same boat concerning their son. They had hoped that their son was becoming a true man, raising him to become the leader that their people needed. To be a civilized demon that they would be proud of, though they were a bit skeptical when he was dating Star. When they broke up, they were sad for their boy. But when he and Star got back together as a boyfriend/girlfriend couple, they believed he was going to be back on the right track.
Turns out that he was truly a manipulative one… one that risked much in twisting a sacred legend for his own use to inflict pain upon one he once called 'best friend' while bringing down the daughter of an extremely powerful royal family. This hurt the couple very much.
King and Queen Pony Head also were feeling tired like the others. The duo had high hopes for their firstborn, hoping and doing their best to raise Lilacia and her sisters. They had tried to groom her into being the future ruler that their kingdom needed, but it seemed that Lilacia was quite adamant in being 'free'. In short, being reckless in various ways & trying to be innocent when her actions were called into question.
With all of this being revealed, the duo were very worried on where they went wrong with their daughter & hoping that it was not too late for her. But now, even that hope was starting to become flimsy at best.
Hekapoo looked to the depressed adults and said, "Hey, try and cheer up! At least you all are doing something now rather than never! I have been around various realms, and I have seen parents that don't really give a care to their children in any way. And worse, some actually would encourage them if they behaved like Tom and Lilacia did.".
King Khan added, "Lady Hekapoo has a point, your Highnesses. At least you are acting now, and that alone says enough.".
Queen Seres finished it, "Indeed. Also, this has also helped me to keep a closer eye on my Patty & to make sure she doesn't go off course. So, you have my thanks for that.". It was true for the Mewnian woman, as finding out about all of this had aided her very much concerning her own precious daughter. Now she would be able to prepare Patty to becoming both a good woman & good ruler to her people and those that were allied with the family.
King River looked to his fellow royals & friends, a weak smile on his face as he replied, "Thank you very much for the words. This… sigh… this really does bring some measure of comfort to my being.". He sat up a bit straighter, showing that their words did bring a measure of strength to his heart and mind.
Princess Penelope looked to the tired Queen Moon and inquired, "Your Highness, do you think that what Star did and said earlier… were they genuine?".
The blue-haired mature beauty sighed softly as she raised herself up from her slight slouch position on the throne, looking to the Acacius princess and answering, "I do not know. She words… all of her seemed to be true. She looked tired, exhausted like we are now. Her eyes, facial expressions, tone… I think she really was sincere.".
Queen Wrathmelior spoke up with a hard tone, "Maybe for her, but for my son to deceive me and Dave in such a manner & for so long… oooh, I will see to it that he follows in with our punishment decree & not to fall for any of his silver-tongued words!". She was also perplexed on why her offspring did not try to fight the declaration when it was made. Again, she felt that something was off and it frustrated her that she couldn't pin down exactly what it was.
Her husband King Dave sighed, knowing that their son was a master when it came to word play and such. He was gifted with a silver tongue, and more often than not, his parents would fall sway to his words easily. But now after hearing everything, and seeing the evidence as well, the Mewnian being had to be more firm and cautious around his own son to be sure that he did not get easily moved by his words.
Like his wife, he felt that something was off when Thomas did not say or speak anything to decry his punishment. But also like her, he could not properly identify what exactly was off and thus could not do much about it.
King Justus stated, "I believe that we all need to take a small rest for now, perhaps half an hour to really digest all that has occurred now, before heading back to our respective domains.".
Queen Pony Head replied, "I concur. I think all of us need to take a breather of sort before going back home. And also to come up with additions to our schedules/plans now that Thomas, Lilacia and Star no longer have royal titles. Shall we keep it a secret or should we announce it to the people?".
This made the others seriously consider the pros & cons of both choices, as this was something to not take lightly. Queen Isadora suggested, "I believe that we can discuss that issue at a later date, perhaps tomorrow or the day after. I think that all of us need some time to seriously think on that answer, but we cannot do it when we are stressed and tired.".
A round of murmurs of agreement, as well as nodding of heads, made it unanimous. King Pony Head looked to his friend River and inquired, "Is this someplace that we can relax for a bit until the time comes to take our children home?".
The patriarch of the family answered, "Oh, yes indeed. It is in the upper area of the backside of the castle. It's called the Relaxation Room, a quiet place for me and Moon to relax in. It's basically a large room filled with various kinds of pillows to lie down in.". King River and Queen Moon had constructed such a place shortly after Star was born, and it was actually one of the few things that was considered a good idea in the long run.
When their daughter started to become much more active as she grew older, they would come to the room to relax and get de-stressed. It was one of the ways that had worked for them. It was seldom at first, but the visits to the room increased with each passing year.
King Dave, Queen Wrathmelior, Queen Seres, King & Queen Pony Head opted to take the room. Moon declined and stated, "As much as I would like to unwind like that, I would like to keep an eye on the others outside. I believe that the knights are preparing themselves for what is to come tomorrow for them.".
King Khan put in, "If I may, your Highness. I wish to see what I have to work with tomorrow with Lady Hekapoo. And also to make sure that the fresh knights will also be able to take the place of the ones that will be under our tutelage.".
The mature ruler of the Butterfly's was about to reply, when something clicked in her head. She looked to the duo and requested, "Ah, I almost forgot. Can you tell those that have been knights for six months or less that they are exempt from my order? Even though they are still green, I believe it's best to still have some kind of force available to monitor the castle and nearby villages.".
Hekapoo answered, "Sure thing, your Highness. And to be honest, I think the newbie knights are better than the veteran ones. Not by much mind you, but at least they show promise than the ones we're about to train.". In her view, the rookie knights had some good potential & also that their minds/personalities had not been drained out by their older fellow knights.
Queen Moon thanked her, the duo soon leaving to both rely the message… and also to see the ones that would be under their watchful eyes as they would be trained in the martial arts. Their style was not the kind that Marco utilized, but it would be sufficient enough to show the prideful peacocks in metal armor that one does not need a weapon to fight.
But rather, to turn the whole body INTO a weapon but honed & forged with discipline, humility, self-control/restraint and focus. Khan and Hekapoo chuckled darkly, already imagining the kind of regiment that they would put the knights through.
When they left, Moon looked to the others and asked on what they were going to do. Isadora said that she and her husband would stay with her to keep her company. The adults looked to Princess Penelope, Prince Loukianos & Princess Lysimache.
The Acacius princess replied with a calm tone, "I will go back to the Castle Gardens to relax there for now. I also need to be away from Thomas and Lilacia… because I would likely do something that I may regret in the far future.". She said the last part with a tone of steel this time, indicating that she was still simmering on what had been found out from the duo.
Also, they noted that she only referenced the Lucitor son and the Pony Head heiress. Seres believed that this little tidbit showed that Penelope did not disconnect from Patty entirely, and that was something positive. To her, it showed that their friendship was intact. Strained very much yes, but at least intact.
Her parents looked proud at how their daughter was acting and sounding, all genuine and true. Justus and Isadora were confident now that her future was good… and hopefully it would be better IF she managed to capture the heart and feelings of a certain hero that she had been infatuated with for three years.
The children of King Khan & Queen Aikaterina talked softly to one another, than it was Loukianos who answered Moon, "We will also go to the Gardens with Penelope. Being one with nature outside is how we like to relax.".
Lysimache put in, "Also, we also do not wish to cause any trouble if we are anywhere near the demon prince or the other princesses.". She said the last part with a low growl, displaying for all to see that she would not hesitant to act should Tom, Lilacia or Patty say or do something foolish to trigger her.
Seeing that things were settled, King River gave his wife a strong hug and a quick but loving peck on the lips before motioning for the ones that were joining him to follow him now. The Lucitors, Seres, King & Queen Pony Head followed the short but muscular king out of the room & towards their intended destination.
Penelope gave her folks a gentle but loving hug before leaving to go towards her own destination. The Khan young ones gave their mother nods of respect, but she would not have it as she brought them in together for a hug. While Khan was more stoic like a warrior king, his wife was a bit more emotional and outgoing. She could certainly hold her own in a fight, and like Khan valued honor and respect.
But concerning her children, she always liked to show them affection like so. Wanting her kids to feel and see that she loved them very much. The anthro prince and princess had bashful smiles on, their mother grinning before telling them to catch up with Penelope, which they did.
With the children gone, and the others also not with them, the remaining royal members went to the courtyard to keep an eye on the trio that had caused much headaches & dishonor. As Moon and Aikaterina walked towards said area, the blue-haired mature beauty had her thoughts go back to Star's actions and words earlier. She thought, 'Star… is it possible that by having a breakdown… you also had a breakthrough? I hope so… and I hope it's of the positive kind that I believe you very much need now. And for the future.'.
Up in Star's room, said former princess was on her bed as she was now sleeping. Earlier, she had a small talk with Lady Whosits… with the topic being on what just happened earlier.
~Flashback~
She asked the purple-haired female knight, "Lady Whosits, tell me… what do you think about all of this?". Star was genuinely concerned about the woman's feelings on what her mother had told her & the other knights of Mewni.
Said woman sighed and answered in a low tone, "I think that your mother was right to scold us… and to show us how we really have fallen. While me, Sir Scarsguard & Sir Lavabo have treated Sir Marco just barely well… the others did not. What hurts the most is that I did not do anything to stop the hazing and teasing of the action when it was done right in front of me. And also when I too showed my… doubts on a fighting style that utilizes no weapons or brute force.".
Lady Whosits stopped for a moment, Star doing the same as she was behind her. The female knight let out a sigh once more, showing that she was still upset at herself for both not seeing & not doing much to help a fellow knight out. She continued on, "And when the Earth lad brought together a team of the most unlikely of beings that had managed to take out an army that we got bested by… it only brought more shame to us. But instead of praising him… we ridiculed him even more just to bring ourselves up.".
The female knight resumed walked towards Star's room, finishing up the current conversation topic, "And that is why I made the choice to join with my fellow knights in training. I… I need to not just reach my full potential like I said earlier but… also to redeem myself. I did not help Sir Marco at all when I should have. So… in a way, I hope that I can earn his forgiveness and respect SHOULD the time come for us to meet.".
Star was honestly surprised by the answer she was given, making her respect for the knight increase a little.
Lady Whosits turned around and looked to Star, gesturing to her to be at her side, the blonde princess going to her left side. The loyal warrior to the Butterfly family inquired, "Now that I have answered your question, please answer mine. What exactly happened in there?". Indeed, she could not for two reasons. One, she had gone with her fellow knights to the barracks to get everything prepared for what was to come tomorrow. The moment that the command for her to come to escort Star to her room came in, she rushed back to the Throne Room with such speed it was amazing.
And second, even if she did stay nearby, she could not have heard anything due to the privacy/security spells that were put up.
The former owner of the Butterfly wand took in a deep breath, gathering up her courage, soon letting out said breath to tell what occurred when she left. After hearing from the princess on her enhanced punishment, and the fact that she no longer retains the title of Princess really surprised Lady Whosits.
Said knight gazed at the blonde and said, "Wow… just… wow. Princess, I mean… Star. This sounds all… so extreme when compared to what I have chosen to endure.". In her view, it truly was a potent form of punishment to have a royal title removed & to be an assistant to Sir Buff Frog. While she did not hold any malicious kind of ill will towards the Monster, she did not fully believe that he could fulfill the role her queen gave to him.
The former princess softly replied, "Maybe… but compared to the crimes I have done to my people, to others… to a certain Earth man, it is a justifiable one.". Again, Lady Whosits was surprised at both the tone & words coming from the former royal one. She had known Star a great deal of her life, ever since she was little. To hear her say such words in a way that was sophisticated, and also the tone of defeat made her think that the one in front of her was a clone of sort.
Star saw the disbelief in the eyes of the female knight, sighing a little as she correctly assumed that her current character state was bizarre to Whosits. She decided to clear things up and establish something with her next words. The two soon arrived at her room, but she stopped in front of the door.
The daughter of River and Moon looked to her escort and stated, "Lady Whosits… I know I sound different in many ways now. But, I can assure you that this is really me. I… I just had a great breakthrough inside, while enduring a little breakdown on the outside. I am tired from all that has happened, yet… I am now really much awake in seeing what I have done & what I need to do in order to atone for my ways. Like you and the knights… I have a lot of work to do in order to earn the trust and respect of my parents. While I know I will always have their love… their respect and trust I need to earn back.".
Lady Whosits looked at the young blonde woman in front of her, again just stunned at the words she spoke, the tone she used… and the sincerity she felt from said words. A small, sad smile was on her face when she finally spoke in a comforting tone, "Well… you are right that we both have a lot of work to do. And Star… I know you will make your parents proud once more. From what I can see and hear, you are taking the first right step.".
Star offered up a watery smile, then going to hug the knight as she used to do as a child. Lady Whosits accepted and returned the hug, glad to see that the one in front of her was truly the princess… and also that she was now on the way to becoming what she needed to be. For herself, for her family & for her people.
The two stayed in the hug for a few moments, then broke as the knight opened up the door for her. Star thanked her before going inside her small abode, Lady Whosits closing the door and heading back to the barracks to prepare herself. She gave one last look at the door and said softly, "Good luck Star Butterfly. I really hope that you come out of this better than before.".
~End flashback~
After that, Star had just plopped down on her bed and looked up at the ceiling as the memories of what happened recently swirling all around her mind. And it affected her spirit, heart and soul very much. The mental fatigue caught up with her, soon causing the young woman to go to sleep. Inside her mind though, much activity was going on.
~Inside Star's consciousness~
Within the mind of the blonde former princess, everything was slowly shutting down or being put on basic standby mode of sort. The body slowed down most functions as the person went to sleep, but the mind stayed active and it is where dreams would usually come up. But right now, the dreams were being turned off at the moment by Conscience-Star and her fellow positive emotional colleagues.
Said group were gathered together to discuss on what was to be done from here on in.
Humility-Star started off, "We have much to do from now until next year. And even now, I can see that it will be an uphill struggle.".
Self-Control & Discipline-Star spoke as one, "Yes, it will be a difficult year to undo the damage that Star has done while she was under the influence of the destructive emotions. But we are confident that she will rise up, better than before.".
Gentleness-Star put in, "While I know it is necessary for Star to learn how to defend herself, she must also see that unnecessary and wasted violence is not the answer to all solutions.". While she personified gentleness, this particular emotion knew quite well that self-defense was a must. But was adamant that unnecessary and wasted violence was not the way to being a good leader/princess/person.
Patience-Star added in, "Indeed. Also that in all of this, we must be patient with others as we start our training and road to redemption. We will have to be as patient just like our parents, friends and people have been with us…". This particular emotion had seen how Star had tried the patience of many people, both in Mewni and on Earth. So she must become strong when the time came for others, be it Monster or Mewnian, to test her own patience in various matters.
Goodness-Star said her piece, "Yes. And also to show to the citizens that Star will put her citizens' needs before her own. And from I saw in our first lessons… we need to seriously overhaul much of almost everything.". While the emotions were sealed inside the room they were in for so many years, it did not mean they were completely cut off. They continued to see what Star did, plus access to her memories but that was about it.
Peace-Star finished it up by saying, "The road to peace, for body, mind, soul and spirit will be a long & very difficult one. For both Star and for everyone. But… it is a path and journey worth taking.".
Conscience-Star nodded and concluded the meeting, "Than for now, we start to make our plans. So while Star is resting, we make our own designs for her so that she can start to become the woman she needs to be. For herself, her family and for the people. Also, we need to set up some… safeguards just in case the worst happens.".
All looked to the door that had once been their prison, now the room having the occupants of Pride-Star and the other negative emotions that had influenced their vessel for the past. The group had managed to secure the others in tight ropes and put them in the room, locking it tight.
The leader clapped her hands together and declared, "Okay girls, let's get to work! The sooner, the better.". All of the various good parts of Star nodded, getting up and going to various places all over the control room.
Conscience-Star looked at the view that showed her the now demolished parts of Star's mind. The places that represented what she felt and what she believed in were gone, they had started crumbling when Star & her companions were caught in their so-called adventure with the Minotaur clan. And since then, the places were falling apart. It escalated when Penelope's family arrived…
And all came tumbling down just recently, after her mother and the others exposed everything to Star and her… friends.
The essential part of the Butterfly young woman softly spoke, "We must work quickly and effectively to repair everything. And also to have some safeguards in play. I have a suspicion that Thomas kept that ring intact for a reason other than sentimental value. Star… hopefully things will be better for you in the future. Though it's going to take much time and effort, with a dash of luck on the side."
~Back to the real world~
So while Star slept, her positive emotions were busy hard at work inside her mindscape to prepare her for what was to come.
~On Earth~
It was now 6:00 p.m., and everyone was back at the Diaz household. After riding around the Rissing estate for some time, Jackie and Janna thanked Nachos for the ride that she had taken them on. The living dragon-motorcycle hybrid was glad to cut loose for friends of her master. The girls promised they would come back tomorrow with more steaks, making the beast growl in happiness. Jackie and Janna gave one more rub to the head of Nachos before heading back to Jackie's car… but Miss Ordonia took one last look around the hacienda before going back into the vehicle. She still felt that somehow… she was connected to the place. It niggled in the back of her mind, and in her heart, but she could not pinpoint on what it was exactly.
She could only hope that she would discover it soon, because she felt that it was very important.
Higgs and Mariposa were in the living room watching an episode of the cartoon series Darkwing Duck on DVD. Angie was in the kitchen preparing dinner for everyone, Rafael in his room watching a Western movie called Tombstone that featured stars Kurt Russell & Val Kilmer. Eclipsa and Hekapoo were outside, relaxing on the patio while listening to some music on a CD player stereo system that Mr. Diaz hooked up some years ago that still functioned well.
What the duo was hearing was some songs that featured a potent guitar player that went by the name of Carlos Santana.
Jackie and Janna were in Marco's room, reading some books they brought from their own homes. The duo felt more comfortable in the young Diaz room, as it still had his essence… a kind of substance to it that made them feel better in many ways.
Angie, Mariposa and Higgs had recently come back from an outing to Echo Creek Park. The little lady was quite adamant to going to the local park nearby to play on the playground and with her friends, so Angie and Higgs took her there around 4:30 p.m. to have some fun.
The park was filled with people; couples together with one another, young and prime-age adults in the basketball courts playing their games & finally parents on park benches watching their little ones playing on the various shaped playground equipment.
Angie and Higgs made themselves comfortable, though the ginger-haired beauty got some looks of admiration from some of the males around the place. While she did appreciate some of the looks given to her, the young woman only wanted one man looking at her in such a way.
The knight of Mewni was also impressed to see such an establishment, as such a place did not exist in her home realm. The park was clean and well-maintained, plus with a gate that signified the park's boundaries & kept unwanted ones out.
Mrs. Diaz had told Higgs that she was always slightly nervous about coming to the park, explaining her reason as she told her on what occurred when Marco and Janna were five years old. And since then, she always been more alert when coming to the park with her son when he was little. And it rose back up again when Mariposa had wanted to go there.
The warrioress from another dimension promised Angie that she would keep an eye out for trouble, not just for Mariposa but for the other little ones as well.
So for the next hour, Higgs had come like a sentry. While she did keep an eye on Marco's little sister, even going to her when called by the little sweetheart to play with her & her friends, she did not waiver in her promise. She did see a couple of young men that were dressed like hoodlums, most likely trying to be intimidating and improving their 'tough guy' images.
However, one glare from Higgs and a slight shaking of her head was enough to deter the fools from trying anything near the establishment. While the hoodlums looked tough, Higgs had the aura and special substance/essence that told others that she was no one to take lightly at all.
So Mariposa and her other friends were able to play freely with Higgs being the security they needed. When it was time to go back home at around 5:30, the little ones thanked Higgs for being their playmate. Mariposa also said that she was the best playmate ever, which made the usually tough girl blush slightly from receiving such praise.
Mrs. Diaz also thanked her for the help, as she was able to relax while watching her precious treasure play with peace of mind. The young lady accepted the gratitude well, just glad to be of service to the people Marco cared for very much.
They seemed to have perfect timing, as Jackie and Janna arrived at the exact same time they did. The duo had been in their own home after coming back from the Rissing area, so now they wanted to relax in the Diaz household. Mariposa had rushed over to them, hugging Janna first than Jackie. The two women smiled at the affectionate little princess, bending down to return the hugs in full.
Now everyone was relaxing in their own way, waiting for dinner and also just enjoying the peace.
A dimensional tear opened up near the doorway entrance/exit, the people in the living looking up it and who was coming through. Higgs pulled Mariposa closer to her, the knight's taught muscles showing in a subtle but unmistakable way that she was ready for anything if the one coming from the portal was a foe. Fortunately, coming through the tear was Kelly. This made the mother and female knight all relax, though Mariposa wiggled a little out of Higg's grip. She slid down the sofa and rushed towards the Amazonian, who grinned and bent down to greet her.
Mariposa shouted, "Kelly!". She than squealed in delight as she was scooped up in a hug and spun around once by the green-haired beauty who giggled as well from the action. The others smiled at seeing the sight, Higgs rising up from the sofa as well to greet her friend/rival.
Higgs asked, "Good to see you back here, Disney Princess! How was your time at the zoo?". She grinned at the little teasing remark, which made Kelly frown a little which made the knight chuckle. It seemed that Kelly was not amused by the title now given to her, which made for a little ammunition for Higgs to use.
She thought, 'Now if I only knew exactly what a Disney Princess does…'.
Kelly shook her head as she put Mariposa down, though the little one still clung to her legs. She answered, "Very funny, Higgs. Very funny. Just wait until I find something from these Disney Princesses so I can use against you. And the zoo was very fantastic & educational!".
The trio made their way to the living room, Angie turning around from her work to see the young fighter. She smiled and asked, "Hello Kelly! Dinner will be ready soon. So tell me, how was the trip?".
The Amazonian grinned and replied with an excited tone, "It was amazing Mrs. Diaz! I learned so much about many of the animals there, and the plants too! I took a lot of pictures, drawings and notes… even met some of the animals up close too!". Higgs and Angie were both surprised and pleased to hear the excitement coming from her, though Mariposa kept the grin on her face the more she heard.
She tugged down at Kelly's shirt to get her attention, which she did and asked, "Did you pet the bunnies? And the one with long nose and neck too?! Did you?! Did you?!".
The green-haired woman smiled and answered, "Sure did! And I think you mean the elephant and giraffes, right?". Seeing her nod, Kelly replied that she did see them & also fed the majestic creatures as well. Angie explained that Mariposa loved any opportunity to pet and feed the animals at the zoo, and that the elephants and giraffes were among her favorite.
Kelly put in, "I don't blame her for liking them. They are incredible!". The lovely fighter had seen and encountered many kinds of bizarre & dangerous creatures in her life, yet the ones in the zoo had a certain charm to them. A quality that made them different from the other kinds of beasts she had seen in both her home realm & in various other realms.
While they held no kind of magic or way-out quality, the animals in the zoo had a special charm and feel that made her more endearing to them. It was something she couldn't quite put her finger on, but it was there all the same.
In Kelly's arms were two large bags. They were white that had the Echo Creek Zoo insignia on it. On her left arm was one that held her notebooks and cameras, on the right arm was one that held souvenirs that she managed to get while at the establishment. She reached down into the one on her right arm, bringing forth a blue plastic mold Asian elephant toy.
Mariposa's eyes shined as she saw the object, a brilliant smile on her face that lit up the room more. Kelly grinned as she handed the toy to her, the little Diaz girl giggling in sheer delight as she grabbed and cuddled the object close to her being affectionately. The Amazonian said, "There you go kiddo! Glad you like it!".
Marco's little sister quickly hugged the legs of the green-haired woman and spoke excitedly, "Oh, thank you! Thank you! I love it!". She then released her hold on Kelly and went back to the living room, climbing back on the sofa to play with her new toy.
Higgs asked, "Say, what was that you gave her?". She was curious to what she gave to Mariposa, as she had never seen an animal nor seen a toy like so.
Kelly looked back at her and answered, "Oh, that was an Asian elephant toy. It was made by a machine at the zoo that turned plastic mold into that shape right before your very eyes. It was cool to see something like that! It let you choose between a blue Asian elephant, a golden giraffe and a red Bengal tiger.". Seeing her puzzled expression, the Amazonian beauty said that she would explain the types of animals later.
She turned to Angie, reaching into the bag on her left arm to bring forth one of the cameras that she bought at the zoo. Kelly showed it to Angie and asked, "Before I left, one of the employees told me to take the camera to a store to get it developed. I have this and one more in my bag. Do you know a place where I can get it developed?".
The curvy mature beauty smiled and answered, "Of course! There is a store nearby called Parent 12-D Photo Shop. It's a small but well-maintained family-run store that does all kinds of photography in various ways. It's run by the Parent family… strange last name, I know. But they can develop the photos for you in any way you wish at some good reasonable prices. Some are a little pricey, but even I see that its money well spent.".".
Kelly grinned and said, "Now that sounds cool! Mind if you go and get the cameras developed now?". Angie replied that it would not be a good time since dinner was almost ready, and also that the store would close at 6:30 p.m. She did say that she would take her to said store with her tomorrow with Mariposa in tow. Angie put in that after dinner, she would sent out a notification to her students at the Echo Creek Community College that the class would be cancelled. No doubt it would make the students pleased to have a period off.
The Amazonian appreciated the offer, taking it and hoping that the pictures she took would be good to show to her family in her home realm. She then asked, "Mrs. Diaz, I'm going to see my folks and show them what I have seen so far. So I might miss dinner, so do you think you can save me some when I get back?".
Angie answered, "Of course! Tell your parents I say hi!". Kelly smiled and said that she would, taking out her dimensional tool and cutting a hole in space that would take her back to her home realm. She said goodbye to the girls before leaping into the portal, which closed up quickly behind her.
The matriarch of the Diaz family checked the clock and saw that it was now 6:10 p.m. Angie slid the patio door open, hearing the song Smooth that featured Rob Thomas. She saw Eclipsa and Hekapoo swaying in their seats to the beat of the music. The older woman could not blame them, as the song and music had a kind of charm & quality that was rare to find now. She remembered the times that Rafael played the song for her when they were dating, and also on the times they were alone when their children were out of the house.
In her view, timeless things never died.
Eclipsa looked up to her as she sensed her presence, the mature Gothic beauty inquiring, "Oh, hello Angie. What brings you out here?". Hekapoo opened her eyes and looked to the wife of Marco as well, giving her attention while also moving still to the beat of the song.
Angie replied, "It's almost 6:30. Do you want to freshen up a little before you and Janna go see Marco?". Remembering that they did promise the lad to come visit him tonight at 6:30 p.m., Eclipsa rose up from her seat and thanked Angie for reminding her before going inside and to the bathroom to freshen up a little.
Hekapoo was about to say something when a dimensional tear opened up, and coming through it was her magical construct clone. She rose up from her seat, looking to Angie and requesting, "Angie, do you mind if I have some privacy? It seems I need to have a little talk with myself.". And judging on how serious the clone's face was, it was big news.
The mature beauty nodded her head, going to the stereo and pressing the Pause button so that the music/song would be frozen for the time being.
The moment she left, the clone created a dome of magic that was soundproof. It was also very transparent, nothing flashy and such to concern any neighbors or noisy pass-byers. The two started to converse, with Hekapoo's face showing multiple looks on faces that ranged from shock, surprise, anger and more.
~At the hospital~
Marco Diaz was just finishing up the first secret of The Twelve, closing the book but remembering on where he stopped off. He sighed and said softly to himself, "Wow… that is seriously one powerful chapter there. And it holds a lot of truth in it too.".
Earlier, the lad had gotten through half of the chapter when Dr. Sky Exten and Nurse Delma came into the room to check up on him, as well as do some more tests to see his progress. As expected, he was recovering slightly better than normal thanks to his newfound ki power that was still working on the body. The doctor and nurse wrote down the changes, thanking Marco for the cooperation before leaving to check on their other patients.
The Diaz man did not mind the mild physical tests that he showed them, like lifting his arms and moving his legs around. Plus hearing that he was indeed improving was always good news for him.
Once they were gone, he resumed reading the chapter that contained Secret #1 which was this- The Why: The One Who Knows What Will Always Be the Servant of the One Who Knows Why. Marco was fascinated as he started to read the chapter; on how the Enemy down below would continue to make key mistakes in all he did, and the Christian warrior with the why would not only spot the errors, but also literally shaping them into a divine counterattack that would send the fool recoiling.
Marco read that Lucifer had access to Old Testament prophecies, eavesdropped on Jesus and His disciples and much more information. Yet he acted on his destructive impulses, thus leading to making crucial blunders. And he had kept doing that throughout all creation.
The chapter made specific references from the Bible, passages and Scriptures that in turn made sense to both the secret & also to the Diaz lad. He read that the why actually held a great deal amount of power into a syllable, that knowing and acknowledging the very word would give one ownership over the essence, the meaning, the purpose, the intention & also be able to judge what one observes against the why.
The martial artist also saw the definitions of what and why; what being 'that which, a thing, an event, circumstance of situation', while the why was 'the intention, meaning, essence, purpose, reason and design'. He read on how it affected various heroines and heroes in the Bible; Esther realizing why her physical beauty & being raised by her adoptive father Mordecai allowed her to become queen so she could save her people, why Daniel was able to interpret the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar, why Saul was changed into Paul and so much more.
Marco also saw that the secret involved war, both physical and spiritual. The secret showed that the Fallen Angel had bewitched many others, including Christians themselves into accepting subtle lies that had huge consequences. And also the secret referenced the great Chinese general known as Sun Tzu, and that the works of the timeless military ruler would be seen many times in all of the secrets in the book.
The Diaz lad was just stunned on what he read, seeing that there had to be careful planning & utilizing of the Four Elements that must be presented before an army goes to war. The author had utilized the words and connections of Sun Tzu with the Scriptures that it really blew Marco's mind. He thought, 'Whoa… I… I never even thought this was possible. It's incredible and yet… it all makes sense there!'.
It would appear that Marco had a breakthrough, which would come into play much later on in the future.
Once he closed the book, he let his mind absorb all that he read & made a real mental note to write down notes in the future when he was good enough to write well. He looked at the clock, seeing that it was now 6:30 p.m… and he felt something appearing in the empty bed cot that was next to him that was separated by the curtain. The light was off on that particular side, covering that area in darkness.
Emerging from the side was Eclipsa and Janna, both smiling at him which he returned the gesture. The resident of Echo Creek asked, "Hey Marco! What's up? Feeling better?".
The martial artist chuckled softly and replied, "Hey Janna, Eclipsa. I'm doing a bit better, and very glad to see you two.".
Eclipsa went over to Marco on his left side, pulling up a chair and sitting down next to him. She took his hand in her own, making the young man blush slightly and marveling how soft and smooth said hand was. She said, "Glad to see that you are doing well, young man.". Eclipsa also gave his hand a gentle squeeze, the mature woman wanting to show that she really cared for him.
Janna saw the subtle but significant move, deciding that perhaps a conversation opener was needed. And also to get Marco's attention from Eclipsa to her. She asked, "Hey Marco, since you have been cooped in her all day, want to know how our day went?". Seeing his eyes go to her instead of on Eclipsa, and nodding his head, the Ordonia woman started to tell her tale on what happened when she and Jackie went to go feed Nachos.
During her tale, Marco was glad to hear that his faithful living motorcycle was doing well & had been in good hands with his female friends. He made a mental note to have all of his family members get to know his dragon-cycle, as it could be useful in the future for Nachos to get to know his folks, his sister and the others.
At hearing the part where Janna stating that she felt strange at being at the Rissing Hacienda, and also hearing the explanation on why Janna had never been able to go there until now, this caused Eclipsa's mind to whirl a little. When her tale was done, Marco put in, "Now that is amazing! I was hoping that Nachos would bond with you and Jackie, but this exceeds my expectations! You two earned enough of her trust to let you two ride her, and that says something right there! I knew I could put my faith and trust in you two to look after her.".
Janna was glad that her tale got him in good spirits, and also with some bonus points with her crush. Marco really trusted Nachos, bonding with his hybrid vehicle that was special and sacred, at least in his view. And now to hear that her and Jackie bonded with said living bike beast, it also earned her some points with him.
Eclipsa had a serious look on her face as she was thinking, looking to Miss Ordonia and asking, "Janna dear, let me see if I got this right. In your tale, you said that you wanted to go to the estate… but something always seemed to get your attention away from it until now, correct?".
Janna had a perplexed look on her face, one that Marco found a little cute to see. She answered in a positive, than Eclipsa inquired, "And when you first saw the estate, you felt… sad and guilty? And also that you felt familiar to you, even though it was the first time you been there in the flesh?".
The young woman answered, "Yeah, I did feel all of that. Why…? Wait! You dealt with this kind of thing, haven't you?".
The former ruler of the Butterfly House many centuries ago nodded and answered, "I have dabbled and seen many strange things during my life, young lady. Among them, I have others experience what you did. They were rare and far in-between, I admit this. But… these kinds of people were ones that were linked to the place, or in some cases person, they were feeling on a spiritual level.".
Her words puzzled Janna, but Marco was quick on it. The three years listening to the various problems of others, especially ones that Star had him force to listen to during their diplomatic missions, taught him to be swift in finding specific meanings in sentences and declarations. He looked to Eclipsa and asked, "You mean that Janna is somehow connected to the Rissing Hacienda estate because of something from the past?".
The relation to Star and Moon nodded, internally smiling at the accurate conclusion that Marco made out. It showed that he did have a keen mind, and she admired someone who was potent in that area. She then looked to Janna and stated, "I believe that a higher power is at work, keeping you away from the estate through various things until it felt the time was right for you to go there. And also in what you felt when you first saw it, leads me to believe that it's connected to your past. Most likely what one of your ancestors did in the past."
This caused the young woman to be stunned by the news. She thought, 'Whoa! It does make sense, in a bizarre kind of way. So… if I'm connected to the place because of one of my ancestors, than who? And on which side?'. She knew that her ethnicity was Filipino-American, so most likely it was someone in her mother Tala's side. She told herself that it was time to do some research later on, maybe to unravel the mystery and get some answers.
Marco looked to Eclipsa and asked, "Eclipsa, do you think you can go with Janna back to the estate one of these days and try to officially confirm this?".
The curvy beauty answered, "I can try. I may not have much magic within me, but I believe what I have & also what I know can help here.". While Eclipsa still had her natural magic, such as shifting and traveling through darkness to arrive at a destination, she also had another magical talent which was detecting the supernatural. While it was a subtle art to be sure, it came in handy for her in the past. And her vast knowledge on dealing with the supernatural, or at least evading them until she got to a safe distance from said event, would be of use to her and Janna should they both go to the hacienda.
Janna looked to the former Mewni queen and said, "Thanks for the offer Eclipsa. If I really am connected to estate, I would like to know why. I'll do some research on my own with my family history first, to see if any of my relations from the past are somehow linked to it.". The duo saw the wisdom in that, to acquire physical evidence first before going into the spiritual.".
Marco than asked, "Oh, I forgot to ask. How is everyone else doing?". Janna answered that everyone was doing well, that Higgs had been hanging around Mariposa for some time and taking her to the park with Angie & Hekapoo helping Mr. Diaz with the travel locations. Eclipsa put in that she had been listening to some of the music CD's within the home, and also learning about some of the artists' life like Selena. This mildly surprised Marco, since he knew that Eclipsa liked music and was now wondering which types she would like should she sample all of the various genres of it.
The lovely Gothic lady finished up, "And finally Kelly finished her time at the zoo, and is now home with her family to report in on what she saw there. Angie is making dinner, should almost be finish with it as we speak, and Hekapoo was conversing with her magical construct clone outside. Before I left, it seemed that she looked very much surprised.".
The Diaz lad was a bit curious on what Hekapoo had learned from her copy, but for now put it to the side since he assumed it was linked to job as part of the Magic High Council, and thus not of his business.
Eclipsa was about to say something else, when she felt some arise within her. She blushed slightly as she rose up from her seat and stated, "Excuse me for a moment, please.". She then went to the nearby bathroom, turning on the light inside and closing/locking the door. It seemed that nature was calling her.
Seeing that she was alone now with Marco, Janna decided to use the same method that Jackie used earlier. She took the seat that Eclipsa left, taking her crush's hand in her own. She felt the rough, calloused hands that he acquired due to his three-year stay in Mewni. The black-haired beauty looked into the eyes of Marco, the martial artist mildly surprised but in a good way to see such tenderness coming from her.
Usually, he would see eyes that would sparkle with mirth and mischief that would usually get him pranked or in trouble. Now as he took a good look at her, this was something new but in a more positive way that he really liked seeing.
Janna spoke softly, "Thanks for hearing on how our day went, and also saying how you put your faith & trust in me and Jackie concerning Nachos.".
The young lad answered, "No problem, and I really just had a feeling that entrusting Nachos in you and Jackie's care was a good call. Granted, there was the possibility that she would have either ran you two over if she didn't like you, but I bet on the best case scenario.".
The young woman giggled, then decided to use something from the past to try and cement more of herself to Marco. She asked, "Say Marco… do you remember one of the movies we used to see as kids? Do you remember An American Tail?".
Marco nodded his head, showing that he remembered the movie very well. Janna did as well, especially one song that she believed made her and Marco like Fievel & Tiger, before Jackie came into the picture. She continued on, "Remember the song We're A Duo? We used to sing and move to the music together when that part came on.".
The young Diaz man chuckled with a smile on his face and replied, "Yeah, I remember when we used to do that. I would be Tiger and you would be Fievel. Good times back then.".
Janna also shared the laugh as memories came back, than she decided to play the bold card. She looked to him and whispered, "Maybe one day we can sing the song again… and it'll be for real this time.". Before he could ask on what she meant by that… Marco received a kiss on the cheek! It was slightly longer than one would expect, Janna keeping the smooch on for a few moments before letting go.
This caused Marco to look at her in surprise, making the native to Echo Creek giggle at the stunned plus blushed look on his face. And it seemed that she timed it right just as the bathroom door opened and coming forth was Eclipsa. She stated, "Well, it seems we need to get going. Angie most likely has dinner ready, and I do not like to miss out on her cooking since it is quite good.".
Marco and Janna looked to see that it was 6:50 p.m. now, time having gone by quick during their talk. Janna rose up from her seat, looking to Marco and saying that she would see him later. Eclipsa's eyebrows rose when she saw the Earth girl rise up from the seat that was using earlier, and seeing the stunned & blushing face of Marco made her rightly assume that Janna had made a bold move on him.
She thought, 'Well, two can play that game my dear.'.
The Queen of Darkness gestured for Janna to follow her, the young woman doing so as the duo waved goodbye to Marco. They went behind the curtain, Marco soon sensing that they had left to go back home…
However, he soon saw Eclipsa emerging from the curtain once more! He asked, "Oh, Eclipsa. Did you forget something?".
The mature beauty replied with a coy smile on, "Yes, I did forget something young man. I forgot to give you something special.". She had teleported Janna and herself back to the Diaz household, but when the Earth girl walked away to go downstairs to the dining room, Eclipsa had turned around to go back to Marco in the hospital.
Eclipsa walked back towards Marco's side, seeing the faint pink lipstick kiss mark that Janna left behind on his left cheek. She went to his right side, bending down and giving the lucky lad a good view of her cleavage that led to the valley of her full breasts! He went completely red at seeing such a lovely sight, trying to look away as to be a gentleman. But it was difficult to do as his hormones was going off strong at seeing such a wonderful view.
The green-haired Mewnian hybrid giggled at the look on his face, and also secretly enjoyed showing him a preview of herself in a way that was meant only for his eyes only. She whispered, "I wanted to give you this. To show how much I appreciate what you have done for me in Mewni for the past three years there, and also the wonderful things your family has shown me.".
She then gave a good kiss on his right cheek, a lingering smooch that made his body stiffen, his face red and his hormones once again going wild at receiving such a treat!
Eclipsa then slowly released herself from the kiss, seeing the black-purple lipstick kiss mark on his cheek. She giggled at seeing Marco's reaction, which was adorable and cute. She whispered to him, "Marco Diaz, get well soon and I will be ready when the trip around the world starts. Until then, take care.". She then turned and walked away, showing a sway in her hips that got his view good until she turned and went behind the curtain to get back to the household.
The young lad let out a sigh, sinking more into his bed as his face was still red… and also the images of Janna's face and Eclipsa's smoky stare as she left plus her swinging hips now burned into his memory. Needless to say, Marco was going to have some interesting dreams come the night.
~In Amazonia~
While all of this was going on, Kelly was back in her home and showing her folks the pictures she had drawn & also the information she had written down concerning some of the animals and the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Her father Mahuizoh looked to the drawings and said, "Hmmm… you have some talent here with drawing the Earth animals, my dear daughter.". Indeed, the chieftain of the tribe was surprised and amazed at the talent Kelly possessed. He already knew that she was a talented warrior, but now showcasing a skill that did not involve hunting or fighting really made him proud. He believed that having another set of skills that was outside the usual tribe's specialties was crucial, to both the individual and as a tribe.
Her mother Xipil out forth, "I am amazed too Kelly. And the information you wrote down on the animals and where they live on that planet is also very good.". Kelly was beaming with a good kind of pride, in her skills as a drawer and taking down information.
The beautiful matriarch of the family frowned lightly and stated, "Although… I am a bit displeased on how some of these magnificent looking animals are threatened by human actions and such.". The warrior queen may have hunted dangerous beasts and such in her homeland, and also in other realms if called for, but even she had a limit on what to hunt & also how much to gather. She knew that animals played a role in nature, and thus trained other warriors & hunters to never kill more than what was needed. And also to leave certain ones who were low in population alone.
Kelly shared a similar frown on her mother's face and remarked, "Yeah, I know what you mean. But at least there are some laws in place there, and some are making a comeback thanks to humans who care about them enough to get involved.".
Mahuizoh looked to his wife and put in, "Maybe we can use some of the information here to come up with something that can be put into practice. Not just with our tribe, but with the many others scattered abroad. It would be interesting to bring up at the next tribal council meeting next week.". Xipil thought on it, then saw that her husband's words had merit. They would have to go over the information though, using on what Kelly had given them.
Said beauty stated, "Also, will come back with some pictures I took of the Earth animals. Oh, I think you will like them! They may not be as bizarre or strange like you would see here, but… they have a quality, a charm that is all their own. It makes them more interesting, at least to me, than any other species I have seen here or at Mewni.".
Xipil replied, "I believe you are right and… wow! The ones you wrote on plants here is quite interesting as well! I wonder if some of the information here is also the same for the plants and trees in our own realm.".
Her husband put in, "Who knows? I don't think we have a true expert or specialist in our tribe. I think it would do well to have one though.". While the Amazonians were close to nature and such, they truly never took the time or effort to dig more into the natural sciences concerning trees. Perhaps it was time for them to expand into other areas.
Mahuizoh looked to Kelly and asked, "By the way daughter, how comes in your quest in claiming Sir Marco's heart?".
The strong warrioress blushed a little and replied, "It is slow, but I believe that things will pick up once he is out of the healing place he is in. And also, this information I got… it's just from one place. So imagine more I bring in once we get started in going all over the planet Earth.".
The two adults were glad, and also a bit envious that her daughter was expanding her horizons exponentially in such a way. They themselves did not know that the area they lived in was small compared to the entire planet that they & the other residents of Mewni lived on, the planet Mewmon. There was a lot for them to learn, and hopefully something would arrive that would allow them to truly explore outside their boundaries in many ways.
Her mother spoke, "Just be patient and keep at it, my dear. I believe that Sir Marco the Mighty is one worth waiting for and pursing, so keep at it. And also… thank you for telling us everything regarding him.".
Kelly's father added in a serious tone, "Indeed. From what you have told us, Sir Marco has endured many trials physically/emotionally/mentally/spiritually that would break even the most hardened of Amazonian men down fast. In fact, perhaps me and your mother should visit Butterfly Castle to learn more about this.". The respect they had for Marco went up considerably when Kelly informed them on what occurred that day, the parents believing more and more that Marco was indeed a very rare person & prize.
If Kelly did not already have a claim or stake on the Diaz lad, many women in the Amazonian tribe they were in would be stampeding to try and put a kind of mark on him already.
The young woman spoke, "If you and Mom do decide to go to Butterfly Castle, just remember to be respectful to them. Queen Moon still has Marco's trust, so don't go exploding on her.". The parents nodded, already a given that they would not anger the potent warrior-magic user.
Kelly checked the clock and saw that it was already 7:15 p.m. She said, "Whoops! It's already been some time talking to you guys! I gotta go back to Earth! You two take care! Also… glad you liked the gifts I got for you from the zoo! They look good on you. Hehehehe…".
Mahuizoh was wearing a hat on his head that was blue that had the words etched in white ECHO CREEK ZOO with the stitching of a lion on it. Xipil had an exact same hat on, but was white with blue etchings of the zoo's name with a dolphin shown next to it. Kelly's mother giggled softly and said, "Yes, these things, you call them souvenirs, fit well on us. Thank you very much.".
Her husband grinned and said, "Not only stylish, but also it'll protect my head from both annoying insects and the sun. So thank you Kelly!". The two rose up from their seats and gave their daughter a family hug, one that she accepted and returned very much. The trio stayed that way for a few moments before the parents released their child.
Kelly took out her dimensional tool once again, slicing open a tear and waving goodbye to her folks before going in. The tear sealed up, leaving Mahuizoh and Xipil alone.
The chieftain of the tribe asked, "So dear, what do you think our next move should be now?".
She replied, "First, we look over more of pictures and information to see if we can come up with something that we can present the other tribe council members to. And also in two days… we go and speak to Queen Moon.".
Things were now getting more interesting and involved in the Amazonian realm!
(Author's Notes: And… cut! That is it for this chapter! I hope you all enjoyed this one, because I sure did in writing it!
Before I say or do anything else, I want to give praise and glory to God! Thank you Lord for helping me in getting my creative spark back. It has not been easy, for me and the many others during this time of crisis and foolishness. But thank you Jesus for not only looking after me, my family and my friends… but also giving me the courage and strength to resist and not be absorbed into this New Normal or Do The Five Thing rules and regulations. Thank you for giving me strength, courage, conviction, hope, faith, mercy and grace! And extending your blessings to my family, my friends, to all around the world… and also to the wonderful readers who take the time to look at my various works!
I will continue to pray and hope that the people all over the planet have not forgotten the tried and true ways of living, working, socializing and more. I do not believe in the CDC, the WHO or anyone else that continues to promote fear, dread, anxiety, doubt, hesitation and worry that is linked to this plague called Coronavirus.
I will continue to pray and hope not just for the end of this viral plague nightmare, but also for this New Normal nightmare to end as well.
I hope and pray to see people more than willing to rip off any masks and face-shields off of their beings, to show to all their complete faces & being able to freely breathe as well. I hope to see the various masks getting burned or thrown in the trash for good.
I hope and pray to see social distancing end for good, and for people to gather once again close as before. Two feet or less, with no signs of fear/anxiety/worry/hesitation/doubt anywhere! I hope to see people making true and real connections and contact with one another in the flesh and blood, NOT through a window screen.
I hope and pray to see people emerging hard and fast from their homes, to no longer be isolated in any way! And also for the people to no longer be so obsessed with cleanliness, either on their being or on stuff. For good, common and real sense when it comes to being clean come back in. Not this obsession stuff.
I hope and pray to see plastic walls and barriers come down, for employees to once again trust patrons and each other without having to hide behind plastic or Plexiglas walls or masks.
I hope and pray to see people getting back to real-reality, to do things with others in the flesh and blood again. To work like before, interact with others like before instead of relying on virtual/online substitutions on just about everything now.
Most of all… I hope and pray that the people conquer their fear/anxiety/paranoia/doubt/hesitation! That no one, myself included, never take for granted the many small, subtle but tremendously significant blessings/freedoms/gifts put in us by God Himself.
Also for people to experience once more the unique and strong sensations/satisfaction/fulfillment/accomplishment/completion that comes from doing things with others in real-reality, in the flesh and blood like before. An experience that holds a substance/essence that one cannot get through a screen of any kind, and can be felt physically/spiritually/emotionally/mentally/socially/economically. Leaving one part out, however small or subtle it is, throws things out of balance in many ways.
I hope you all enjoyed this, including Author Parent12D in how I included him or her in the story like so with the photo business.
In the next chapter, you shall see exclusively the villains/villainesses and what they are doing now. And also a special surprise for Lilacia's sisters, and finally what Thomas will do that will once again turn the tide in this already swirling maelstrom that has engulfed the Butterfly family and their allies! And on a minor note, Queen Moon does go back to the Diaz household later on to both relax & watch the finale of the classic TMNT movie series which is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III!
Also, I hope that others here check out my Disney/Toho works & specials, plus my Danny Phantom specials as well. Also, I HIGHLY recommend finding, buying and reading the book I Am The Christian The Devil Warned You About is by Mario Murillo. The first secret has much more within it, but I want for those who are interested in it to find it and read it for yourselves. It VERY powerful and potent stuff, trust me on that.
Now for the questions! Ahem…
What words would you say to Queen Moon and King River concerning the conclusion of the meeting? And which group would you like to go with if you had the choice; with King River to the Relaxation Room, Hekapoo and King Khan to the barracks to discuss the new regiment that the knights would be put in, or with Queen Moon and Queen Aikaterina to look after the Patty, Thomas and Lilacia in the courtyard?
If you were inside Star's mind with the other positive emotions/aspects, how would you rebuild the places in Star's mindscape? And what kind of back-up plans/safeguards would you help them to install in Star's mind & soul?
If you were with Higgs and Angie in the park, what kind of game would you like to play with Hekapoo and her small playmates? And also, if you were with Higgs in seeing the hoodlums that were near said area?
What kind of dinner would you like to help Angie make for everyone? And what kind of pictures, out of the fifty-four pictures Kelly took, should she get?
What did you think of Eclipsa's theory of Janna being connected to the Rissing Hacienda estate through something her ancestors did in the past? And what do you think of Janna and Eclipsa's interactions with Marco?
And finally this… What do you think will happen when Kelly's parents make the trip to Butterfly Castle? And what do would suggest to them regarding all of the information Kelly gave them regarding the animals, plants and more from the zoo to bring up in the next tribal council meeting?
And here is an optional Bonus Question: If, and I do mean if, the various ladies in both Amazonia and in the various parts of Mewni all heard of Marco's tragic tale that led him to leave Mewni, what do you think the reactions would be?
R&R, no flames, enjoy and leave LONG reviews!)
