Forgotten Ventures

by Ronald reagan

If you could go back two years in your life, and you could remember everything, what would you change? When Marco Diaz wakes up in his old bedroom, with memories of events that haven't come to pass, he finds out that some things should stay the same. And that some things will change on their own. Rated M for language, violent scenes, and some spicy stuff.

47. The Concert Pt 3

With a mighty crash that rattled the house to its frame, Star kicked open the door to her room and strode inside, closely followed by Marco. Her glare was as fiery as her namesake, and even though he knew it wasn't directed at him, Marco felt compelled to ask, simply, "Are you mad at me?"

Star continued her taught walk and began to rummage through her underbed and piles of collected junk without a word, leaving him to stand uneasily by the door. He hated when Star got 'quiet mad' because it usually hindered his ability to make amends with her. "Is it because I was gone? Tom says he's pretty sure it was-"

"Janna's fault, yeah. I was there. And no, I'm… not," Star answered, slowing her search to meet his eyes over her shoulder, "We could have been doing this a lot sooner, but...neither of us really wanted to. So now? I just want to get it over with and frankly, just spend one more day with you." Marco made to speak, but Star continued, declaring "WITHOUT the freaky parasite thing!"

As she turned back to her search, not waiting for a response, Marco couldn't help but find himself remembering Toriddities words of advice for dealing with, and helping Star.

'She's her own person, and you won't always be there to walk her through her feelings. You gotta let her figure things out on her own.'

"Star? Can we...talk about something?" He asked in a noticeably hesitant voice as she continued to tear apart her room, sifting through messes and mounds for her spellbook. He knew this conversation was one they badly needed, to work out exactly how they should handle themselves and each other as they drew closer to the end of school, but with such a delicate issue already plaguing them, he was walking on eggshells.

"Nope, this isn't up for debate, Marco. We're ripping this thing out like a big, evil splinter, and then we're gonna pretend it never happened, and move on with our lives." Her conviction was admirable, to say the least, but what was most prominent in her mind was what she and Tom had spoken about not more than fifteen minutes ago about how she should behave when she was dealing with something stupid.

'You need to handle yourself more, and don't rely on Marco to carry you through emotional battles like you carry him through the actual ones.'

"Jeez! GLOSSARYCK, GET OUT HERE! I NEED YOU!" Star yelled at the top of her lungs, kicking a discarded heap of dirty dresses out of the way. She desperately wanted to have some time to work out with Marco exactly what their problems and their future were doing to their relationship, but when said problems kept getting in the way, it was irritating to say the least.

"It's actually, not about Darc," Marco began, drawing closer to her with fixed resolve, "I wanted to talk about-"

"Wait, did you just name it Darc?" Star asked, whipping about to face him, her undirected aggravation on full display. "Oh no no no, when you start naming it, you start to get attached to it, Marco. You need to call and treat this thing like it is: a parasite, not a person."

Marco wanted to argue, as the creature presently inside of him felt more human than Vartek, and had, on occasion, conveyed emotions, thoughts, and memories. But before he could say a word, a small flutter of pages sounded from Star's closet, drawing their attention immediately as a quiet, dull voice sounded from inside.

"Can the two of you put a lid on your little lover's quarrel? I'm not in any kind of mood for it," Glossaryck grumbled, squeezing himself through the keyhole of the door. When he was past the threshold, however, he noticed that he wasn't the only one looking dishelved and agitated.

"Why? What's got you in such a twist?" Marco asked, crossing his arms and preparing himself for whatever lame excuse Glossaryck could muster this time. His money was on another bout of overindulgence on pudding. But Glossaryck gave no hint of taking Marcos bait, his expression as bored and noncommitted as always. "Just a little meeting with the Magical High Commission that went sour. Things are not looking good upstairs, and… I'm willing to wager that the two of you have news just as bad for me."

Star wasn't in any kind of mood to deal with Glossaryck's nonsense right now, even if his issues were them related, and with obvious reluctance, decided to tell him everything.

"Marco has a parasite that we didn't tell you about and it's gotten to the point that he might be in danger. We didn't wanna tell you about it because we thought it would go away and I wanted to avoid dealingwithitcanyouhelpus?"

Glossaryck grimaced at the description and extended a hand in bored dismissal. "Why don't you just take him to a doctor, Star. I don't do checkups anymore, and I doubt it's-"

"Vartek put the parasite in him," Star interrupted, already tired of the run-around routine, "when he...killed Marco, he took something out of him. Some...blue orb with a severing stone, and now there's this thing inside of him that takes control and makes him say crazy stuff and Marco thinks he had a wife a daughter on Mewni and..."

Glossaryck stared, appalled shock expressed on his face for the first time since Star had met him. He looked scared, she would even say. It was unnatural, alien, and as he said nothing, her words died in her throat. Thankfully, it was Marco who broke the silence, stepping forward and taking Star's hand gently. "It was my idea to hide it, I was scared I'd done something wrong and Star was only going along with it until now. Do you think...she might be able to help us?"

He was lying through his confident, miserable damn teeth, Glossaryck could tell that much, but so long as one of them was taking the blame in front of Luna he could give a demon's ass. "We'll talk more about it after," Glossaryck answered, a tight sense of urgency removing any slack in his words. He tapped the gem in the center of his head three times, drawing that same shutter-like portal to burn itself into the air before him. "Remember the rules: she's a goddess, you only have so long in there, shes gonna be mad, shes gonna blame me, I'm gonna-"

"We get it, Glossaryck. Thank you for not blowing up at us for this," Star interrupted, flashing her mentor a smile as she squeezed Marco's hand. Glossaryck loosened his iron grip on his frown, and floated backward through the portal with a knowing smirk, quickly followed by the two teens.

When Marco stepped through the threshold of the portal, however, he immediately began to feel ill, and nearly stumbled to the ground had Star not caught him in time. His skin felt hot to the touch, his head was spinning, and his ears wouldn't stop ringing. "Marco? Marco, what's wrong?" She asked, though her words were muffled, and his vision was already going blurry. "Can you move? Is it the thing?" Star hit him with a barrage of anxious questions as Glossaryck floated by, his expression turning more stricken by the moment.

"He'll be fine, Star, though you may have to help him walk. It's the magic of this place," Glossaryck began, gesturing to the intricately carved walls of the corridor they presided in. Along the thin seams of every symbol, figure, and border, Star could make out pulsing red energy that flowed forward like a heartbeat, barely bright enough to see. "It's trying to purge the corruption. Like a sickness in your body, it will try to destroy it, except the magic also recognizes that he has some of her power within you. So, he's in limbo for now.

Marco shook his head, dazed and disoriented before shakily steadying himself against Star's side. "I'm fine, it's just like a really, really bad hangover. The sooner we get it out, the sooner I'll be better." He met Stars gaze and gave her a firm nod, to which she steadied her worried grimace into one of cool resolve, pulling his arm over her shoulder to help him move forward.

"Again, she is not going to like this, at all," Glossaryck reminded them, though it seemed like it was more for his own nerves, "keeping secrets from a Goddess is a surefire way to get yourself killed."

"Gahh...don't...you guys...know...everything?" Marco struggled to mutter, giving the small blue man a wry look. Glossaryck rolled his eyes as he ushered them forward, waving his hand in dismissal. "We're not all-knowing, Marco. I can see the various paths of the future, and she can see things as they are, not every detail everywhere, but just things underneath the surface. Omniscience is something you all thought up when you got bored of your own existence."

"We can worry about who should have seen it sooner later," Star grumbled, admittedly more at Glossaryck for some reason, "let's just...take the bullet for now." In silent agreement that a reckoning was on its way, the group said nothing as they pushed through a looming set of stone doors, leading to a room that continued to take Star's breath away.

In a massive circular rotunda filled with immense rubies and sapphires floating lazily about, a red light filled the room. Like icebergs, the rocks were harmless enough to each other, only clanking against one another's edge every now and again, but what Star hadn't noticed before, was that after a collision, any loose shards were drawn back to a nearby chunk, seamlessly reconnecting with a small glimmer of light.

At the center of the room was a towering, crystalline shrine resembling the shape of the blood moon, made of mixed rubies and sapphires. And not wasting any time, Glossaryck approached first, speaking in his normal calm, collected tone. "My love, we come with a problem only you might be able to solve. I'm sorry to intrude, but...it's kind of urgent."

There was only a soft shimmer of red light this time as the central crystal formation seemed to split down the middle, giving way to a figure they could only dream about. The Goddess of the Blood Moon stepped forward, her supernova-red hair flowing around her like a scarlet wisp of smoke. Her dazzling red dress trailed behind her as she walked, and when she spoke, it was as if the world had stopped to listen.

"I'm surprised at you, Glossaryck. Urgency was never truly your strong suit. What could you-"

Marco and Star had been so captivated by the mortal appearance of a Goddess, they had nearly missed her expression shifting from collected ease to trembling disgust in a heartbeat.

"What...is that foul taste in my realm? Glossaryck, what have you brought with you? What is wrong with my children?" She asked, her body turning corporeal and flowing like smoke around Star and Marco. She eyed them like a predator weighing her kill, but there was no malice behind her gaze. She could practically smell the wrong in the air.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Marco has been corrupted by Varteks Magic," Glossaryck explained, the Blood Moon turning her gaze on him, not hiding her prominent distaste, "We thought he had temporarily forced his soul out of his body, along with your magic, to be returned when the spell was broken, but..we were wrong. It never left, it was corrupted and burned, and then it was stolen by the severing stone."

Star wanted to say something, anything to feel like she had any kind of hand in the conversation, but without prompt, the entire room began to shake, all of the sapphire turning a deep, blood-red as her very mind began to feel more compressed by the second. The Blood Moon Goddess flowed to Marco, still leaning on Star, and eyed him with dangerous intent as if she was examining every sinew in his body for error. Finally, she paced back, her hair following slowly after, and her face twisted in disgust.

"How… Dare he," she spat, her clenched fists trembling as the floating crystal matched her fury with a deep red glow, "I let him continue his miserable, worthless, insignificant life, and he repays my charity by tainting not only my champions...but MY VERY ESSENCE WITH HIS FOUL, CORRUPTED MAGIC!"

With each passing word, the room seemed to shrink as her voice grew deeper, filling everyone's minds and the daunting temple as though it belonged to something much, much bigger than the woman before them. Star had to fight the near primal urge to cower and flee, to run from the thunderous anger, but just as quickly as it had started, Glossaryck reminded her of his presence with his steady voice.

"Luna, calm down a little, hun. You're scaring them," he warned, his voice as level as always. Star would never openly admit to being scared of someone as beautiful and benevolent as the woman before her, but every fiber of her being was betrayed by that same primal, ancient fear of the unknown. Glossaryck took short notice of Star's silence, continuing to say, "This is why they were afraid to come to us for help. They don't know you like I do, so be gentle."

Luna turned her furious glare towards Star and Marco for only a split second, almost immediately smoothing over her expression to reveal only slight impatience. Flowing like water to Star, she reached out a gentle, perfect hand and brushed the heart-stamped cheek with care, giving the young princess her best smile.

Admittedly, the Goddess was young by her own deific standards and new to the whole 'be more human to get your kids to like you' thing. But that didn't stop her from at least trying.

"You've no reason to be afraid, my child," she graced, her voice as soft as velvet, "this was never your burden to bear, and it was never your fault. But...still. You should have told us sooner. We could have helped you."

"I know," Star muttered, finally working up the courage to even respond, let alone agree, "can you...fix it? Fix...him?" Luna turned her scorching, yet comforting gaze to Marco, the boys breathing becoming more ragged by the moment as she once more seemed to be looking into his very soul, analyzing every hidden detail. Star watched her, and in the same manner, looked at Marco with deep analysis. Except for her, it was like looking at a vase that was once beautiful, and it was all her fault that it now lay in pieces.

"...Lay him down, and I will see what can be done," Luna finally answered, taking a step back as her hair wisped through the air behind her. Star looked to Glossaryck, who gave her a short, reassuring nod before she gently laid Marco down on his back, his eyes lidded and his chest heaving.

Luna drifted closer to him, splaying her hands above his body with visible concentration as Star and Glossaryck watched with mixed reactions. Only one of them knew that the goddess had never tried this before on a living being, but that was something Glossaryck knew would do more harm than good, even if it would be a tad on the funny side.

From Luna's hands, thin streams of shimmering red magic trickled down towards Marco, searching for life. They reached for his chest and head, and he began to hover several inches above the ground as the stones in the room began to glow brighter, their captivating ruby-red glow increasing as Luna's magic took form around him. Star noted that as he began to hover, Marco seemed to fall asleep, his breathing becoming more rhythmic, and slow as the magic poured over him.

From his shoes to his head, split beams of blue and red magic curled around him in a double helix, giving off ripples of energy that began to course through him in gentle, steady waves. As she watched, Star only now noticed that she was having difficulty breathing against an immense, hidden pressure building throughout the room before it finally reached its peak, and things fell deceptively still.

From the central crystal, a towering root system of red magic abruptly fanned out like streaks of lightning, jumping from floating rock to floating rock. The largest of the roots of magic, however, arched out and downward like a brushstroke of red paint in the air. It curled around the floating rocks before diving straight through Marco's chest and into the rock below, burying itself into the ground. Almost immediately he began contorting and jerking in place, his face twisted in silent pain as Luna's expression remained constant.

"She's hurting him!" Star cried out, lunging for Marco. But she didn't get far, running into an invisible wall of pulsating magic. Where her hands pushed against it, more magic collected and pooled, fighting back as Marco continued to convulse. She could see magic coursing through his veins, illuminating them like a root system of fluorescent light. Glossaryck placed a sudden hand on Star's shoulder, making her flinch and whirl to face him, a desperately angry and terrified look in her eyes.

"Star! It's alright," he warned, steadily calming her, "it's like surgery, he won't remember any of this, and he's barely conscious of it now. You just have to let it run its course."

Star turned to look again as bands of powerful magic darted in and out of Marco's body, pulses of energy booming from the central root system. Glossaryck watched with her, muttering, "He was the same way with your mewberty cycle the first time around. He was so worried about you that he almost got himself killed trying to protect you for yourself. But I told him what I'm telling you now: it's ugly, and it's unpleasant, but you have to let it run its course."

Luna's expression suddenly turned frustrated, drawing their eye as Marco's face turned from deafened anguish, to palsied rage. His eyes shot open abruptly to reveal black voids, without a speck of light inside, and the magic around his body began fighting between teal, blue, and red. "What's happening to him?" Star asked, trying to get a better look. Glossaryck watched with blank intent, stroking his beard as Luna seemed to struggle to stay grounded.

"I don't know, I've never seen this before. By now, he should have stopped fighting her, and given in to her magic. Something's... Wrong."

Luna now appeared to be the one struggling for control, the winding strands of magic around Marco now turning violently, the root system glitching and cracking as his veins stood out against his skin in streaks of glowing brilliant teal. His expression somehow grew more furious, his hands splayed open with concentrated balls of teal fire. The floating crystals were almost blinding now, their color madly shifting from teal to red in time with the roots. Star was getting nervous and found herself inching back subconsciously when Glossaryck suddenly shouted: "GET DOWN!" Shoving her to the floor and summoning a solid black bubble around her, blocking all of her senses.

Without warning, Marco arched his back and opened his mouth to scream, but he still wouldn't make a sound. Instead, all other noise unexpectedly ceased for a few, crawling seconds, until everything burst. From Marco's body, a bubble of teal and red energy shot out in a growing fusillade of power. Even Luna was shaken by the shockwave, the energy throwing the floating stones about and tearing the growing root system to shreds. As the room was blasted into a tempest of flying debris and magic, however, Glossaryck only kept his eyes trained on Luna, watching as she fought through the waves to press a palm to Marco's chest. Where he hand made contact, a short burst of light in the shape of his scar shined through his clothes.

Suddenly, everything stopped in its place, even the air holding steady as though the Goddess had commanded it. Every stone and crystal in the room abruptly halted, hovering for only a moment before falling to the ground, cracking the intricate tiles and sending fragments skating across the floor. Luna staggered, struggling to keep her footing as the room boomed again and again. Until finally, everything was silent once more.

Glossaryck removed the black bubble from around Star, and she quickly shot towards Marco checking him with desperation. "What happened to him? What did you do?" She asked, turning from Marco to Glossaryck, to Luna, and back.

Luna shook off the daze she was under and flowed back into the crystal without a word. It began to shine brighter, illuminating the room again as the now grounded crystals began to hum with energy, their light slowly returning. No one said a word, though from Glossaryck's expression directed at the crystal, it was obvious Luna was still there.

"Did. It. Work." Star asked again, this time directed at no one as she cradled Marco closer. Her voice had a dangerous edge to it, regardless of the company in the room, and it was the Blood Moon Goddess who spoke first.

"No, child. It... did not," she answered, earning a scorching glare from Star. That was the last thing she wanted to hear after everything she had just witnessed, and she was about ready to scream when Luna continued. "What we thought was wrong with him was not true. It is far worse than anything we could have imagined. You are both very lucky to be alive."

"What do you mean?" Glossaryck asked, floating closer. He was already beginning to feel the encroaching sickness of remaining in a god's presence for too long, and he knew they didn't have much longer. Luna was silent for a moment as several crystals began to return to the air.

"He is incomplete."

Glossaryck looked positively mortified by that answer, but Star was far too confused to register it. "What does that even mean?" She asked as Marco slowly began to come to, his breathing hoarse and desperate for air.

"It means he only has half a soul, child," the Goddess said with clear disgust, "I cannot cleanse him of Varteks corruption, because the only remaining half of him is that corruption. It is bonded to him like a scar, and it has corrupted what he has left."

"How is that even possible? How can someone only have half a soul?" Star asked blindly, her anger only in check due to Marcos curled form finding solace in her lap. His eyes were finally open, but he dared not speak for fear of losing what little consciousness he could grasp.

"What Vartek took out of him may not have been his corrupted magic, as we thought. And when you were left to save him, I fear that you were not as successful as we had hoped."

Star looked from Marco, to the crystal figure, and back again, trying to understand what exactly she was trying to say. Vartek didn't take his magic back? "If he didn't take back his magic...what did he take?" She asked in a voice that didn't sound like her own. It sounded scared, and meek against the answer she didn't want to hear. Even as it was happening in that ruined cavern, her fears would not be silenced, and she felt that she had known deep down what they had done to her Marco.

"Well for all rights and purposes it should have been obvious," Glossaryck muttered, his expression downcast.

"What should have been obvious? Can you just tell me already so we can fix him?!" Star asked, finding more of her willpower to speak in a voice she recognized. The crystal lay silent for a moment that stretched on forever, until it answered, "He took the boy's soul."

Star slowly turned her gaze back to Marco, finding his expression just as mortified as her own. "How...how could he do that? I saw his 'soul' or whatever go back into him, I did the spell right, and Vartek left with-..." Stat stopped, her mind replaying the short time fighting in that cave.

"The severing stone, what's it used for?" she asked, still hovering closeby above Marco, like a bird keeping watch over its mate. Glossaryck raised an eyebrow to her question and chanced a short glance at Luna. It was still a touchy subject for her after one of her previous bonded pairs severed their connection to one another.

"It's an ancient, powerful artifact so sharp, it can cut through anything; even your bond, if you so desired," Glossaryck explained before using the gem on his head to display a carbon copy of it to her. Star's eyes widened at the sight of it, its jagged edges bringing back plenty of fresh memories.

"That's it, that's what they used on Marco to draw out that...stuff," she affirmed, still pawing over her memories of the battle in that lonely cave, "if Marco didn't have a soul when I gave him back his magic, then that means they cut it out with that rock, and put it in that weird crystal!"

"A soul stone is not easy to come by, even for a Queen," Glossaryck mused, floating over to Marco and examining him like a pile of spoiled meat, "And keeping a soul inside it is next to impossible if the body is still alive."

"Not if that body has been re-occupied with another," Luna corrected, "Star, when you returned Marcos magic, did you follow my instructions exactly?"

Star nodded, but it was less of an affirmation and more of an acknowledgment of the question. Glossaryck eyed her warily with a steady glare until finally, she cracked. "Okay sort of. I know I was supposed to think of the good memories, and think of 'loving him,' awful instructions, just saying, but...I was so scared of losing him, I didn't...I couldn't think of anything except keeping him alive."

"It is alright, child. You have no reason to blame yourself. Perhaps I had asked much from you at that moment. But I fear that instead of returning his magic, you gave him much more than you realize. You gave him half of your very life, to keep him with you."

Star stared at the crystal in the center of the room in a feeble attempt to wrap her head around what she was insinuating. Glossaryck thankfully noticed her struggling to grasp the concept, and floated down to sit beside Marco as the boy began to sit upright. "Honestly it would have killed both of you if you weren't bonded, but...you both are sharing your soul until Marco's is returned. And if you don't get it back in time, the corruption will spread to you, Star, and there won't be a thing we can do to save you."

Marco finally managed to speak, though his voice was still raw from his most recent life-threatening experience. "So, pretending this isn't the most horrifying thing I've ever experienced, after we find my… jeez. My soul, what then?".

Glossaryck was the first to answer, with the Blood Moon Goddess quick to follow. "You have to take it back, kid. Goodness, you two are oblivious today."

"Is this coming from an all-knowing pair of beings that didn't know two of their bonded were struggling?"

"Touché, Luna. But to answer your question, Marco, yes. You have to take it back. Touching the rock should be enough to get your soul out, but if that doesn't work, just break it. Like a really cool, lava lamp egg."

That's...unsettling," Marco muttered before quickly being dragged to his feet by Star. Their headaches were almost intolerable at this point, and as they had been warned, it was likely safe to assume they had to leave. "Thank you, Luna," Star called over her shoulder, pulling Marco along, "we'll fix this before you can say corruption! And pummel that lizard into the dirt," she finished under her breath.

"Wait, wait," Marco began, struggling to turn back around to face Glossaryck and his...girlfriend? Whatever she was. "Why would Vartek want Star's wand and my soul? He's not dumb enough to try trading them, and I feel like you two know something. You know him in the future, what does he really want?"

Glossaryck seemed to draw a breath, his eyes widening so slightly, Marco would have missed it if he hadn't already been paying close attention. But he didn't speak. Neither of them did for half a minute, until Luna broke the silence with a sharp, distasteful change in her tone. "It is impossible to say for certain. However, I would assume he's only after power. Star's wand is an unrivaled artifact of immense magical ability, and your soul contains an unparalleled amount of my magic."

"Is that why I blew up in the-" Star began, but Glossaryck cut her off, rushing them both along and towards the shutter-like portal they came from. "That's enough questions and death-defying adventures for today. Go home and terrorize a community, or whatever you two usually do, so long as it doesn't break the universe."

Before either of them could protest, ask questions, or further deteriorate their health in her presence, Luna extended a writhing wisp of magic that shoved them both out through the hallway and into the portal, closing it behind them. Now alone,

"What are we going to do with them, Glossaryck? Erasing them and considering our problems solved would be the wisest course of action," Luna offered, her voice reverberating like the shadow of an echo throughout the room.

"I feel like Moon would resent me for losing her only heir, and I'd rather not deal with the boy's parents, if it's all the same with you," the little blue man answered, shooting the Goddess a coy grin. The central crystal began to emit that telltale heat of a blush as even she, a deity, became flustered with his games.

"I meant the Septarian and the Averus. Can we not just erase them now, and be done with it? I'm tired of putting my children's lives in danger, and taking their anger when I haven't been allowed to do anything!" The room was shaking under her the weight of her voice, but Glossaryck remained undeterred. She could be temperamental, like an arrogant- "I can see your thoughts, Glossy. Keep them clean."

"Sorry, Sorry, you know how my mind wanders. But to answer your question, no," he said flatly, his smile falling, "Aside from it being extremely 'against the rules', what if he has the soul stone with him, or worse, he's ingested it like a demon? It would be lost forever, like your...aherm. 'Children'."

"Do not mock me, love. I call them what they are, and they are mine. Even if they are not mine. But very well, onward, I shall wait...and wait… and wait… and-"

"You're getting better at acting like them," Glossaryck noted with a smile. As the months had gone by since she had met them, slowly she was becoming more like Star and Marco, and just as annoying when-

"Ahem."

Glossaryck shrugged, giving her his most innocent smile. Usually, it worked. "Saraswati was always the 'people person', so thank you, my love. It's nice to be...human again."

"Until you get to the bad parts, then it's alllll down the toilet, and you're stuck babysitting Princesses that want nothing more than to ignore your every word. Until they need you." He said it with a hint of aggravation, but Luna knew he was just being cynical. He was always like them, in some ways, and now with Star, his recklessness knew no bounds, and his patience was as thin as ice.

"Glossy…" Luna cooed, using that particular pet name he was determined to never acknowledge, "are we...doing the right thing? Using them to right our wrongs? ...Well, my wrongs, but...you get what I'm asking."

Glossaryck didn't answer right away, finding himself lost in thought over all that had transpired since that day in the future. How quickly things had gone so wrong, and how easily he could have stopped it, had he been more direct. "No," he answered flatly, not an ounce of his regret surfacing for her to see, "no we are not. But we chose this path. I let Nebula go too far, when I should have kept her at bay, and you lost your temper, erasing the only woman Vartek has ever loved. We made our bed, so now we have to lie in it. Even if… that means losing magic this time."

"Why would you say something like that?" Luna asked, her voice incredulous at the very idea, "we avoided it because of the consequences that are brought about when their worlds collide."

He knew she had a point, but Glossaryck was undeterred, shrugging off her response and answering simply, "I'm only saying, you know it's an option."

"Yes, a terrible one. I would go on living without you in a magicless universe. I cannot ever agree to that if it can be helped."

"In another time, Luna, you won't have a choice," he answered solemnly, "and besides, you're a Blood Moon Goddess. You can have your pick of any-" A thin tendril of magic shot out and silenced him, Luna poking her head out of the crystal for a brief moment to stick out her tongue. "I cannot agree to that either, you oaf. So accept that you are stuck with me, as I am stuck to you."

O - O - O - O - O - O - O

Both Star and Marco were lazing on the living room couch under a slew of laser puppies when Angie found them, neither of the two noticing her until she spoke. "Looks like you kids have had a rough day," she offered, taking a seat on the couch adjacent to theirs, "I know that, well a lot of what you guys get up to is a bit too crazy for me to relate with, but is there anything you want to talk about?"

The two teens both exchanged a brief look with one another, a silent agreement on their 'openness' having already been attained. Marco sat up without much difficulty and gave his mom a light nod. "Trust me, mom, I know how you feel. Sometimes, Star does things that I still can't even imagine. And we're just human, along for the ride," he cleared his throat, having rehearsed this moment in his head for the last fifteen minutes. It still wasn't easy. 'I'm dying, and so is Star, but don't worry! It's not anyone's fault, except Varteks, and mine, and Stars, and-'

"So trust me when I say that we're doing alright. We're just kind of tired, and Star has a bunch of crazy...magic stuff going on on Mewni," he finished.

Angie looked anxiously from Marco, to Star, and back before letting out a soft breath and giving them both a fond smile. She knew her son, and she knew Star better than most parents know their own daughters, so reading these two was like reading an open book. "Guys, I know you both like to handle things bigger than yourselves. Marco, your father was the same way when he was younger. Always trying to save the world for me, and I would always tackle it with him."

Marco thought she was going to go off on another one of her 'Mom's early life' tangents, and nudged Star to settle in for the long haul. Angie, being a teacher, could talk for hours if someone let her get rolling, but instead, here she simply leaned forward and rested a reassuring hand on Marco's. "The two of you aren't adults, as much as the world makes you think it. You're still kids. You should be having fun, enjoying life, and focusing on growing. Take your mind off what's eating you, and shed a little weight off your backs. Even clouds drop a little rain when things get heavy."

"Thanks, Mrs. Diaz," Star answered, though her eyes showed an alarming amount of exhaustion for such a young girl, "we'll try to keep that in mind. Sorry to make you worry, but-" she chanced a sideways glance at Marco, as Toms words echoed through her ears, "-but we can handle this. In...small doses."

"Of course you too can, you can handle anything together, just like Raphael and I," Angie mused, getting up and giving them both a reassuring hug. She stepped back and smiled at the two, as if she was admiring an honest day's work before making her way upstairs. Star looked to Marco and found him already staring, that telltale, awkward smile playing between his cheeks.

"What's got you in a good mood, mister deathbed?" Star asked with a cock of an eyebrow. It was that smirk he wore whenever he had some adorable, charming idea up his sleeve, and she didn't like it. Not when she was in a sour mood with, well, everything.

"Nothing much, maybe I just like looking at you, there a problem with that?" He asked, daring her to meet his challenge. Naturally, she took his bait. "So what if there is, Diaz? Huh? Huh? The big man got a problem with me having a problem?"

"No, but I do have a problem with us having a problem, so how about we solve it?" Star looked at him, her eyes giving away that long lost train of thought currently careening down a ravine, "Wait, solve what now?" She asked.

Marco let his expression fall into mock annoyance, giving her a short grimace before leaning closer. "Solve the problem of the blues, Star. Let's go do something, like normal people, you know? Shed the magic, the crazy future, the bad guys, the universe, let's just be a couple of kids."

Star clearly wasn't buying it, but she wasn't slamming the door in her salesman's face either, so that was at the very least, a plus. "Annnd, where exactly do you suggest we go to have 'normal people' fun?"

Marco's phone rang, cutting through the air like a band saw and starling both teens out of their skins. Where they once sat practically nose to nose, Marco rose first, fumbling for his phone as Star remained in an upside-down mess against the arm of the couch. "Hello?" He answered, keeping his voice level.

"Hey, Dude! It's Jackie! I don't have a lot of time but are you and Star sitting down?"

"Uhhh, we were?" He wanted to grumble but tried to keep face, looking to Star and putting his phone on speaker. She gave him a light smile as Jackie's voice sounded from his phone.

"Well you're gonna freak out, dude, because I just found, drumroll, please! Three tickets to the Love Sentence concert, tonight!"

The room suddenly felt ten degrees colder as both Star and Marco turned to face one another, their expressions equally astonished, yet curious. Star was rightfully too surprised to speak, the last love sentence concert still fresh on her mind, so it was up to Marco to answer to Jackie's surprising update. "Uhmmm, Jackie we're gonna have to call you baaack. Give us like...five minutes, mkay?"

"No worries, dude, I'm already getting ready, let me know if I'm taking you guys, or Tom and Toriddity, I know that guy's crazy for a high dosage of LS."

"Yup yup, we'll be right back, byyyyeeeee" Marco said with a tight-lipped smile, ultimately dropping his facade the moment his thumb hit End Call. Immediately, he turned to Star, ready to storm into a tirade of questions and theories and worries, but he found her smiling politely, her eyes careful, and wary in a way he knew too well. "Let me just say, we don't have to go, Star. We can call in sick, we can go by ourselves, we can even invite-"

"Marco. It's alright," she giggled, watching him deflate at her amusement, "Look, either way, the universe is gonna make sure we go, because it's significant right?" He nodded, settling into the couch beside her.

'She's way too happy to really be talking about going to the concert… after what happened last time there's no way she'd ever-' he began before Star continued, a confident gleam in her eye, "We can go, we can kiss, we can sing, we just have to be there. And Jackie knows you and I are together, obviously, so there's no worries! It'll be way better than last time."

Marco stared at her, his brain trying to confirm what his ears and eyes were telling him Star actually wanted to go again, and what was more, she was excited to go again. "Are you sure? You seem...eager, to say the least," he offered, still carefully weighing her words. But she nodded almost immediately, her anticipation permeating the room. "I'm just handling things better from now on. And that means less 'mopey Star' when we get to go to a Love Sentence concert, Marco!"

Marco felt that twang of agreement in the back of his head, knowing that letting her figure out her own emotions was what she needed, but he still didn't feel right about it. "Technically, we already went to it, but either way, what about inviting-"

"The fewer people I have to share you with tonight, the better. We spent a week with everyone else, sooo, let's keep tonight low key, and 'enjoy being kids'. You in?" She was practically leaning over him now, the heat from her excitement becoming dangerously contagious, and as such, Marco finally found himself nodding in assent. "If you're sure-"

"Which I aaaam!"

"And it won't be weird-"

"Not with my boyfrieeeeeend!" Marco gave her a deadpan stare, to which she returned with a bashful grin, settling back on her side of the couch. "Alright, I'm in. But I have a condition."

"Is it that you want me to tell you if I feel uncomfortable, and to let you know when I wanna leave?" Star asked, cocking a smug eyebrow his way. Oh, she was good. "Because if so, don't worry. I know you aren't the kind of person to let your poor princess suffer, so I'll tell ya if I wanna head home for some...encore action," she purred.

Marco pressed his lips together and absent-mindedly inched several inches away, nodding as he pulled his phone back out, already dialing a number. "Just...try not to get too Starcrossed in front of Jackie, I'd like to not weird out the only one of our friends that still respects us, even a little bit," he laughed.

"That ship sailed when I started bragging about our...ventures… to… well everyone really," Star mused, shooting him a Cheshire grin. Marco glared at her, drawing breath to speak when Jackie's voice rang out from his phone.

"Are you guys getting ready or what? I'm already on my way,"

"You are? How did-" Marco stammered, jumping to his feet as Star tumbled to the floor and desperately scrambled to crab walk to the stairs. "Dude, you guys were never going to say no, I know how much you two like Love Sentence. I'll be over in five, so tell Star to stop crawling up the stairs."

"I WASN'T CRAWLING THIS TIME! I WAS WALKING LIKE A NORMAL PERSON!" Star wailed over her shoulder, still fumbling up the steps. "See ya in a few, Jackie, bye!" Marco yelled, stuffing his phone back in his pocket before chasing his girlfriend to their respective rooms.

After they had both frantically zoomed between their rooms, to the bathroom, and back in seemingly random order for almost five minutes, Marco finally tied his steel toe boots under his sky blue canvas shorts. He wore a green T-shirt with a smiling rainbow on the chest, and for added effect, even wore a clowns wig he had lying around. He tied his purple fanny pack around his waist and stepped into the hall, waiting anxiously for Star to grace him with her presence.

After another minute, he was about to check his watch when she swung her door open in a rush, almost running face-first into him. The two stood there in abhorrent shock, Star rocking mix-matched boots, a pair of shorts that looked like a unicorn had puked on them, a navy blue blazer two sizes too big for her, and a pair of oven mitts. As she struggled to force down a snort at Marco's hair, he did much the same, barely hiding his laugh at her blonde afro dotted with crystal cupcake ornaments.

"What are you wearing?" They both began in unison, the abating shock now giving way to eager excitement, "You look ridiculous and I love it, and the hair, oh my god!" For a moment, the two stood still, giving each other goofy grins before Star prompted Marco to talk first.

"I uhhh, didn't know you had the same idea," Marco offered, rubbing the back of his neck and adjusting his orange tiger print tie. Star gave him a thrilled smile, practically bouncing in place as she giggled back, "great minds think alike, when they're having fun, Diaaaaz!"

She surprised him by leaping forward, her step awkward in her mismatched boots, and squeezing him in a hug tighter than a vice. As he struggled to breathe, Star whispered over his shoulder, "Last time was a total nightmare, for both of us I think. Sooo, I wanted to at least enjoy some nonsense if we're going down with the ship."

"You make a pretty good argument," he croaked, easing himself into a more comfortable, hug-compatible position, "but I just wanted to make sure you don't think Jackie has any reason to… ya know. At least not when I'm dressed like this."

"I dunno, Marco, you do look pretty cute," she mused, drawing back to eye his attire with more detail, "but really, you don't have to bend over backward just to make sure I'm alright, I can handle anything the night throws my way!"

Marco pressed his forehead to hers, her warmth hitting him in waves as he smiled. "Something something, 'rebel princess, she's the best?"

"And a ball of lighting in a hot pink dress, Marco. Don't you ever forget it," she giggled, finding the thought of even Ruberiot less than intrusive in their moment. She loved how much he adored her, even when he could be, well, Marco at times. She was always happy when he was there, and every minute they spent together, he spent reminding her why.

Marco made to comment on how adorable her 'fro' looked in the particular light of the hallway, the gemstone cupcakes throwing dazzling colors around like an ironic disco ball, but the chimes of the house's doorbell alerted them that it was time to get moving. He took only one step toward the stairs before Star grabbed his arm, pulling him back into a kiss, cupping his jaw with her red over mitt as he leaned in to meet her. He was intoxicating, even dressed up like a suitcase threw upon him, and she enjoyed every second of her alone time with her walking department store mannequin. When they finally separated, she gave him a smug grin and waved her wand in the air above their heads, prompting a cloud of glittering purple dust to *poof* into the air between them.

When it cleared, Marco saw that both of their shirts had been replaced with one that brought back a great many memories. They were white, with Star's, Marco's, and Jackies faces on them, Star between the two, and kissing Marco on both.

The real Marco cocked an eyebrow at her, daring her to explain, but she merely responded with a sly wink, offering "I live for the simple things," before turning in her boots and skilling towards the stairs. 'Even though I might be dying,' he thought, following her, 'She still makes every day the next best day of my life.'

After Star and Marco greeted Jackie at the door, Jackie admirably keeping face in light of their attire, the trio began their march onward towards the concert venue, finding little reason to waste time when their destination was halfway across town. Jackie had asked if there was any possibility of Marco portaling them there, but regretfully, he still didn't know where his scissors were, despite having a pretty good idea.

"But why would she go through all of that trouble, just to mess with you guys?" Jackie asked as they walked through the surrounding neighborhood, Marco barely suppressing a snort as Star gave Jackie a deadpan look. "Have you met Janna? Honestly, this is pretty tame by her standards," she answered.

Marco shook his head, happy to openly gripe about Janna at the worst of times. "She's still not answering her phone, and Tom and Toriddity kind of peaced out after we got back. So for now, we're grounded to walkin'."

"And what was that about?" Star asked absently, shooting Marco a nonplussed frown, "He opened a portal and suddenly she was all goo-goo eyes for him? Like, what's the big deal? You open like twenty on a slow day, it's not special."

"Well I mean, it is to her, don't you think? It's not like she can portal on her own," he answered with a shrug. He didn't want to get into the specifics of someone else's business, but thankfully, Jackie came to his rescue. "And you guys never found out what the portal led to? That's so weird…"

"Marco thinks it was like, his house or something, with a wife and daughter just hanging out waiting for him," Star laughed, though it wasn't at his expense. It was just genuinely funny to think of Marco leading a second life on Mewni in his imagination. "But I told him he's nuts, and that the only house he needs to looks for is-"

"Is my house, Marco, and more specifically, my bedroom," Marco answered, shaking his head. His voice dripped with mockery but he knew she had a point. It was crazy to think he lived somewhere out there, with a family, in a kingdom he called his home. Jackie felt the tension rising between them, even through the humor they used to disguise it and slowed her walk a bit, eying them with more scrutiny.

"You guys have probably heard this like, a million times but, are you holding up alright? Ever since the sleepover, when you told us about all of this, it kinda feels like things keep getting worse for you." With surprising ease, and honest in her words, Star answered first, her expression shedding the tension it wore seconds ago. "They really have. It's amazing we're still alive," she said with a shrug, ignoring Jackie's alarmed look, "but come on, it's Marco and I. We're toughing it out, and dishing jt back twice as hard. So long as we have a few quiet moments every now and again, I'm not worried."

"She's right, though those moments aren't too quiet, thanks to her," Marco added, "Things are gonna get worse before they get better, we know that pretty well if you get my meaning, but we made it through last time. At least this time, we can do it together." He shared a knowing, confident look with Star, somewhat subverted by his outfit and hair, but she returned with a smile all her own.

Jackie pursed her lips, nodding at what she could only assume was future talk for 'eh, bad stuff happens and we live through it, no prob.' As the trio turned to walk beside the Echo Creek waterway, she stuffed her hands in the pockets of her jeans and nodded. "I'm glad the two of you can handle the pressure. Buut, maybe save the bedroom eyes for after the concert? I'm not trying to find someone to pair the third wheel, you know?"

"Sorry, sorry," Star giggled, throwing an oven mitted hand over Jackie's shoulder and pulling her into a sideways hug, "we'll find you a guy sooner than you think, Jackeh, not to worry. Mama Star has a knack for these things!"

"Or, ya know, maybe a girl," Marco coughed under his breath, going unheard by the two giggling girls. He remembered seeing that scene at Brittas when they were in Omnis dimension, wherein Jackie was spending time with a wonderful young woman from France. It was heartwarming to see and he was thrilled, to say the least, that Jackie would find someone perfect for her eventually. But he had to keep his trap shut, for now anyway.

"Soo, am I allowed to ask whats supposed to happen, in the near future?" Jackie prompted, tossing Marco a slight grin.

"Uhmm, well, nothing good, if I'm being honest. Between song day, a big fight, some magic issues, even the concert tonight doesn't go-" Marco was quickly cut off by Stars frantic shushing, but it was already too late for damage control. Jackie's face shifted to one of immediate pondering, her walk slowing down as she adjusted the straps of her backpack.

"Wait wait, you guys went to the concert last time? Did you already have tickets?" She asked, "Man, I should have asked first, we could have brought more people." Marco and Star traded looks before turning back to Jackie, the two of them dismissing that possibility as if it were insane.

"No nonono," Star began, desperate to keep things under control, "we just...heard about it, annnd, someone...Marco help me out here." She shot him a pleading look that quickly shifted to one of betrayal as he met her with a lopsided shrug.

"We totally went last time. It was pretty bad, for both of us, and kinda good too," he answered, feigning ignorance at Stars glare, "We were gonna just sit it out, buuut, the universe had other plans, I guess."

Jackie did a double-take at the idea of the cosmos aligning itself with her finding free concert tickets. "Can...Can it keep planning stuff like this? Thats kind of awesome." Star rolled her eyes, huffing out an exasperated breath. "Yeah, you say that until it glitches and everything goes back to the original. I'd be happier if we could go back to just enjoying a do-over. The last concert was awful, and…" her eye twitched so subtly, Marco barely noticed it at all. "And I'd prefer we didn't have to repeat what happen last time."

"What happen last time?" Asked Jackie, her interest now piqued. Star shrugged it off with ease, but Marco offered some insight into his own experiences. "I dunno what happened, on a metaphysical scale," he murmured, "but everything that could have gone wrong...went wrong. Bad clothes, bailed on a skateboard, almost killed a bunch of ducks, it-"

"Wait wait wait, you guys rode skateboards last time?" Jackie asked, stopping abruptly alongside the city waterway, "Like these?" She pulled off her backpack and opened it, revealing two matching love sentence skateboards, their wheels flawless in the afternoon sun. She looked up at Marco and Star, expecting fanfare and revels, but instead of excitement, their expressions were simply shadowed, and dark.

"Have you had those this whole time?" Marco muttered, eyeing her with intensity.

"We've been walking for like...ten minutes, and you had those?" Star asked incredulously. Jackie could do little more than squeak as the two charged closer, eying the boards and gawking at the Love Sentance brand adorning it as if they were seeing them for the first time. Shoving each other for a chance to see them, however, Star was first to notice the quantity over the quality, looking at Jackie somewhat skeptically.

"Only two? Not that I'm being ungrateful, Jackie, but there are three of us," Star whispered as if in secret. Jackie blushed, pulling the boards from the backpack and setting them down reverently. "Yeah, the merch stand only had two of them, so I figured, since I ride all the time, you two could give it a go?"

Marco nodded, standing up straight and dusting off his clean hands. "Thanks, but I'll walk," he offered, his mind already made up from the moment he saw them. No ducks would take a dive on his watch, not today. "You two go nuts, I can jog and try to keep up."

Star stopped herself from grabbing one of the boards, noticing his sudden distance along with his covertly shifty demeanor. "I have another idea, Sir clown-hair," she grinned at him, the cupcakes in her hair dazzling against the afternoon sun.

3

"STAAAARRRR!" Marco shouted as the trio zoomed through the empty Echo Creek waterway, their boards shooting past bridges and slopes without care. "This is not 'taking it easy' at all! You said we'd take turns!" Star inclined her head back at him as their shared longboard whizzed by some long waterlogged shrubs, their extended branches scraping their legs.

"Never said we'd be taking it easy, boo! That was your idea!" She yelled over the boards rumbling, Jackie trailing easily just behind them, "and yeah, taking turns with you on the back!" Their longboard wobbled threateningly as Jackie eased closer alongside them, but Marco, trained to keep his balance in a fight, found the principal close enough for use here.

Jackie stifled a laugh and jerked her chin toward them, a wide, amused grin plastered on her face. "Star looks more scared than you do, Marco! I wouldn't worry too much!"

"I do not!" Star retorted as the trio rounded a sharp bend in the waterway, "Marco's holding on so tight I can hardly feel my legs!"

Subconsciously, Marco ripped his hands from Star's waist, only to find himself out of balance with nothing to hold on to. He teetered, dangerously close to falling before Jackie gently pushed him closer to Star, flashing him a wink as she did. "Don't fall, Marco, you wouldn't want to ruin that sporty outfit before the show!"

She skated faster past them, flashing Star a burning smile that made Marco's blood run cold. 'No, please god no...not a-'

"A RACE?!" Star yelled, already leaning forward to gain more speed, "You are so on right now!" Marco struggled to keep his balance as Star pumped her foot against the concrete whizzing by. They were no longer falling behind, but they weren't gaining either, something Star quickly took notice of as they rounded another bend. "MORE SPEED MARCO! PUMP THOSE LITTLE LEGS!" she yelled above the wind as Jackie, in the distance, fought to keep her composure as Star's words rang out.

"I am not pushing us any faster!" he returned, tightening his grip on Star, "If we fall, even now, we're gonna get hurt! Can't you just use magic?" Star tossed him a bored look, even the wind seemingly dying down just to silently ask him 'really?'. He returned to her a glare, and leaned back. "Fine! Just...don't make this weird, but... it's gonna be a bit weird."

Star made to ask what he was talking about when he pushed his chest against her back, bracing himself against her as he splayed his hands behind him on either side. Star immediately recognized what he was thinking, and leaned back to support him just as torrents of blue fire erupted from his palms, scorching the concrete behind them and rocketing them forward with a loud *BOOM* that echoed down the waterway.

Jackie had just enough time after looking back to see the two of them shoot by in a gust of hot wind, Marco blasting sporadic shockwaves of fire to maintain their speed. " That is SO CHEATING!" Jackie yelled above the noise, pumping faster in a vain attempt to keep up.

Marco had to smile, the rushing wind, the unfathomable speed producing waves of stress on their board, the scenic under view of the waterway shooting past him. Star steered right, riding the angled walls as they went around a sharp bend, and called out "Faster! We can reach the end before she even sees it!"

He knew he should have played it safe, but that rush of adrenaline mixed with the blinding speed they were currently riding at kept his fears at bay. Wordlessly he blasted several more torrents of flames behind him as they went even faster, their wheels leaving burned imprints on the concrete. Star was laughing hysterically, clearly enjoying herself as Marco could only smile in wonder.

This must have been what Jackie felt all the time, that rush, and that high of pushing the limits, he understood why she was such an adrenaline junkie. That cool wind pricking his face, the occasional spray of water as Star dipped close to the river, he felt free, like nothing could hold him down. None of the fears of the future, none of the incidents before the concert, it was incredible.

'You will never be free, so long as we are slaves to her will,' a quiet, but clear voice said, coming from seemingly every direction.

Marco started, throwing his head around to see who had spoken, and in a flash, the delicate balance of their board had been disrupted. The wheels teetered toward the water's edge and in a spray of white, both teens were submerged, tumbling as the smell and taste of wrack filled their mouths and noses.

Jackie rode as fast as she could, rounding the edge of the waterway just in time to see Marco jolt in place before, 'did he just throw them into the water?' she thought. It looked as though he turned and pulled them in, a heavy splash sending a tower of white into the air. Resigning to ask what happened when she got there, Jackie wasted no time resuming her rapid approach towards the crash site.

Her board autonomously skirted around the serpentine scorch marks and wheel scuffs trailing towards her fallen comrades, and as she moved, she pressed her lips together in surprise, the heat still hanging in the still afternoon air. It smelled like burned plastic and steam, but the closer she got to Star and Marco, the more the smell increased.

"What happened to you guys? Marco, did you hit a bug or something?" She asked, skidding her board to a stop. Marco shook the water from his hair and sat up from the still steaming water, now a mixture of soot and algae pooling around him. "I...I don't know, I thought I heard someone, like, right behind me. Like I said it, it was that close."

"Next time, just bail into the water, would ya?" Star grumbled, wringing out her now ruined afro before realizing how futile the effort was, and simply poofing both her and Marcos's hair back to normal. "Maybe it was the wind."

Marco frowned, unwilling to accept such an easy explanation. "It wasn't the wind. Someone definitely said something. But sure, next time I'll bite the bullet," he offered, standing up and taking off his extra shirt, wringing it out into the river. The sleeves were scorched near the shoulders, and it was scuffed from the fall, so he ultimately deemed it a loss and simply tossed it back into the river.

"Dude, littering," Jackie huffed, grabbing the Jacket before it could float away, "either way, that was some sweet skating right there, I definitely have dibs on the next ride."

"He's all yours," Star chuckled, standing from the water and moving to dry land, not caring about the subtle implications of her resignation. Marco looked back at the distinct trail left by their board, and shook his head, following Star out of the water.

Their shoes squelched against the concrete as the trio began walking, eager to catch their breath, and it was Jackie who pointed out, "I'm gonna put my money on 'that happened last time?'" Marco nodded, but he was still somewhat pleased he had avoided a trip to the urgent care this time.

"Kind of the same, but I didn't have Star to steer me into the water last time, so I got hurt, hated everything, found some ducks, they hated me, and then we-" Star cut him off with a short cough, a lacquered smile plastered on her face.

"And then we went to the concert and I had to leave because I was feeling. Sick," she said pointedly, thus ending that discussion. After a few more minutes of walking, the group still sour from the mood-killing crash, Marco stopped, both Jackie and Star bumping into him.

"Oh my gosh!" Jackie shouted, pushing past Marco to approach the small family of ducks being led towards the water. There were six ducklings following a mallard, and as Jackie proceeded to gush over each and every one of them, Star turned to Marco, giving him a shrug.

It wasn't impossible to see the same ducks, as they were likely unaffected by any changes enacted in Echo Creek since Marco's return, but it was still... confusing. Where had the mother come from? What was she doing last time? And why was Jackie so fascinated by them?

These questions rolled around in both Star and Marco's heads as they approached the small family. Star knelt beside Jackie and pulled out her wand, giving her a knowing grin. "Feastful Corn storm," she whispered, her wand flashing yellow as a small plate of corn poofed into existence.

The ducks all flocked(haha) to it, eating their fill, Star thoroughly enjoying herself, as Jackie turned to Marco, surprised to see him keeping his distance. "What's up, Marco? You think they still don't like you?"

He frowned, eying the ducks with mock hurt as he squelched a few steps closer. "Best not to take a chance. Star looks like she's having fun, and I'd hate to ruin it for her."

"Aww c'mon, Marco, even if they don't like you, you should still try," Jackie offered, getting behind him to gently push him closer to the paddling, whispering to him, "you don't have to break yourself to protect her good time, you know."

He knew she had a point, their very recent bail having made that very clear with the ever-present advice from Toriddity, but if these really were the same ducks, it was obvious what would happen. "I think I'll let Star have some more fun with them, I'm pretty good back here." It was a lousy, last-ditch effort to find an excuse to cop out, but Star was quick to dissuade his worries with a quick shake of her head.

"Hurry up and get over here before all the corn is gone, Marco," she whispered, grabbing his hand and jerking him down to her level. The ducks scattered a bit at the sudden arrival, but were surprisingly quick to return to the food, and a few even found the courage to explore some of the large visitors. "See?" Star nudged his shoulder, "no harm, no fowl(hahaha). I think you were just having a bad day last time."

Marco wasn't entirely sure why some ducks opinions of him mattered so much, or why he felt that they had such an impact on him last time, but in the end, it didn't matter. Star was happy, the ducks were happy, Jackie was happy, and he was happy.

"Okay, now that Marco's overcome his irrational fear of ducks," Jackie began, not bothering to hide her pleased grin.

"I'm not afraid of them, they just...didn't like me last time. And it stunk," he answered over his shoulder, standing up. Satisfied, the ducks had cleaned the plate of all signs of corn and pleasantly continued their trek to the river as Star poofed the plate out of existence. "We should get going, or we might be late. And I know what that does to you," Star giggled, handing Jackie a ruined board before the trio began walking, "you should have seen him before my eighteenth birthday. He insisted we get a bunch of other mercenaries together to party in a tavern, and then he rented it for three days before, just so he could decorate it the first day."

"I like to be ready, what if someone trashed it the day before?" Marco asked, earning a derisive snort from Star, "I'd have no time to get it cleaned! It was a special day!"

Jackie burst into a fit of laughter, prompting Marco to blush. He didn't know what was so funny about it, being prepared was one of the few things he was genuinely good at, and there was nothing wrong with it. He made to further argue that point when he felt something hot and wet trickling down his cheek.

"Marco, I'm soryyy, I didn't mean to make you upset, I was just joking, babe," Star cooed, pulling close and kissing his nose, but he backed away from her, touching his cheek with careful regard as his fingers glistened with fresh tears. "I...you didn't," he mumbled, meeting her gaze, "I know you were messing with me, but...why am I crying?"

Star made to suggest it had something to do with the weather, or maybe he was just sick, when Jackie nudged Star and handed her a rag from her backpack. "You um...you're crying too, Star."

Star paused, carefully wiping her eyes and finding a fresh stream of tears falling continuously down her heart-stamped cheeks. "What's going on?" Jackie asked, as though this were a regular occurrence she had been missing, but Star and Marco only traded an uneasy glance. They were still crying when a sudden, substantial feeling of mourning and emptiness washed over them.

Star steadied herself against Marco, her tears matched by his in their sudden magnitude. "What the heck is going on?" She muttered.

O - O - O - O - O - O - O

Glossaryck floated lazily closer to the central crystal formation in the Blood Moon Temple, his face just as bored and disconnected from the issues around him as it always was. "You know it's the easiest way to get things back on track, Luna. With Vartek meddling in the intended stream of events, theres no telling what might happen."

"I hear your words, Glossaryck," Luna answered, not bothering to don her physical form for such a ridiculous conversation, "But given the foolishness that lies just beyond them, I am choosing to ignore them."

Letting out an annoyed sigh, Glossaryck slumped back, rubbing his face. 'Shes so much like Star. And I hate it,' he thought to himself before shaking off the temporary resignation. "With what we saw, inside of Marco; Luna we don't have a choice. We had hoped we wouldn't have to talk about this outcome until later, but guess what?"

The rock glowed a deeper red as it waited for the obvious answer, silently dormant as Glossaryck floated closer. "It's later, Luna. He's done enough damage already. Even with my vision clouded, I can still see that this is the best chance we have of making things right."

"Making things right?!" Luna shouted, her physical form poking just halfway out of her massive crystal, "That is what we have our children for, Glossaryck. They will make things right, killing yourself will not!"

"Luna!" The small, and yet very powerful blue man shouted back, "They are not our children! And I'm not gonna just sit here, and let them pay for our mistake. Vartek is out there and even you can feel how far his corruption is reaching! We do nothing and he'll destroy them without so much as a second thought. My last vision, I saw his flame, his magic reaching to all corners of the universe in some attempt to bring her back. If he does, in his current state, she'll destroy everything."

"You don't know that, and if things go too far, I will step in again and-"

"And kill a mortal? Last time you got lucky with a warning. You try to erase them again you might not get to keep your status." Glossaryck glared at her, or the half of her that was visible and waited for her answer. Unfortunately, she had one of her own ready.

"I would rather go back to being a mortal than lose you for good," she spat, stepping fully out of her crystal and approaching him. Her hair trailed behind, but now it was lethargic and moved only where she did. "If it comes to losing you, or my title, I would not hesitate to throw it away. And if he...if he cannot be stopped, I will do what must be done."

Glossaryck floated to just in front of her face and gently placed his hand against her much larger cheek. She gave him a sincere, heartfelt smile, and shrunk to his size, holding his shoulders and waiting for his answer. Unfortunately, it was Glossaryck.

"I love you too much to let you do that to yourself," he answered calmly, drifting back just out of her reach, "We're out of time, and I need to protect Star first before I protect myself. But don't worry, I promise I'll see you again." Luna made to argue, but Glossaryck produced a small cup of pudding and licked only a dollop off the top before letting out a satisfied *Mmmmm*.

"Wait, we can at least figure out a better plan, or we can find-"

"Sorry, too late, already ate the pudding, and I'm selfish. I get the glory for saving the day," the wonderful little blue man chuckled as a portal of radiant purple, blue, yellow and orange swirled open behind him. Luna's eyes went wide and she shot forward, her arms outstretched to grab him, but he was already floating away, just out of her reach.

"Glossaryck wait! We can find another way! Don't leave me alone to-"

"I love you. To the Moon and back," Glossaryck whispered, disappearing into the portal a split second before Luna reached him. It snapped shut like elastic, and she crashed into the stone wall just behind it, her size returning to normal as she let herself fall to the ground. Hot, wet tears seeped from behind closed, pained eyes, and Luna let out a deafening scream of agony that filled the halls of her now empty chamber, each and every sapphire and ruby splintering into millions of tiny shards. She could already tell.

O - O - O - O - O - O - O

Into a dark, lifeless abyss of silence, the light of a lone portal cut through the inky black, letting Glossaryck pass through before snapping shut. The air was still, and despite his intended destination, the Keeper of the Book was put off by the lingering feeling of being watched.

"No time like the now," Glossaryck grumbled, floating forward through the dark, his single gem illuminating only the empty air before him. Whether it was days, seconds, or a few minutes, time would never tell. For those in the real world, his vision would be instant, and as far as he was concerned, how long it took now was of little consequence for a one-way trip.

"I can see you," Glossaryck announced to no one, the endless space empty save for his single beacon of red light, "You don't have to be afraid of me."

Silence befell the void, with not even wind to remind him that he was even conscious. But as quiet as it was, a small teal flame burst into existence a mere ten feet from where he stopped. "I am not the one who should be afraid, old man."

"Now that's just rude, Vartek. Do you treat everyone that way? Because that's a good way to not make any friends, I can promise you that." The small teal flame lay dormant for several moments before blooming like a flower around the body of a young man bearing striking resemblance to Marco. Save for his black, pin-pricked eyes.

"I am not Vartek, and I do not seek to mindlessly destroy as he does," Darc answered, folding his arms. His voice was deep, and far too big for the boy it was coming from, but Glossarcyk knew well enough to not trust his eyes to tell him what he was seeing. "You may not be Vartek, but you are his memories, his actions, his failures, and his awful manners."

"Your wit will earn you nothing but time, and even that will run short before I take what is mine." Darc approached Glossaryck, his steps burning a path of teal fire as he drew closer. "You were there, with her, weren't you?"

Glossaryck pretended to think about that as Darc stopped several feet away. "You're going to have to be more specific on that. I know a lot of 'hers'." Breaking his long-standing blank expression, Darc frowned, glaring at the old, immortal man. "With Nebula. And the moon," he growled, the flames at his heels and to his back flaring at his words, "You stood by and watched while Nebula slew my people, and you did not stop her from taking Merina from me! You were there, and you did NOTHING!"

Columns of teal fire erupted around Darc at his words, and the once black void lit up so bright, it was almost blinding. Glossaryck, however, was completely unphased by the display and simply gave the entity before him a shrug. "That does ring a bell, I am very well known for doing nothing. Though I'm not the one who did those things, and you're probably well aware of the stubbornness both those women possess. They can be very strong-willed, you know."

Darc narrowed his pinprick eyes, his fists clenching so tight, audible cracks sounded against the still of the void. His flames died down only slightly as he began stepping backward, speaking in a grave, dry voice. "Not taking action against an evil you could stop is the same as helping them. You're no more innocent than they are; an accomplice to their crimes. And you will be among the first to pay."

"And what are you doing about it? Burrowing into a borrowed body and taking control when you feel like it?" Glossaryck asked, cocking an eyebrow in bores dissent, "seems pretty evil to me."

"I cannot control when I take the reigns, and I cannot control what or where I am. But I can control what happens to the boy, and when Vartek will be stopped. But before any of that," Darc muttered, eying the old man, "you will pay for your abstinence with an aide to my cause."

"Blah blah blah, it's always 'you must atone' with you people, and 'you're going to pay', can we skip to the real cheese of this little talk already? Hmm?" Glossaryck asked in an overly exasperated tone. Darc grinned, a sinister look of amusement against the ever-reliable humor of the Keeper of the Book.

"What do you mean 'you people?" He asked with a slight chuckle, spreading his arms wide. The flames behind him grew in size and density with each passing second as Glossaryck wagged a finger at the mass of corrupted memories. "No, no no, I'm not going down that rabbit hole with you right now, you know what I meant. ...are you ready?" He asked, losing his collected demeanor and donner a far more solemn look.

Darc dropped his for-show smile, splaying his hands as an intricate root system of teal magic arced out behind him, nearly identical to Lunas. Save for the broken fractures cracking up the center root-like white-hot veins. "Yes, I am. You'll do nicely as practice, though my real target will be far more...volatile. Goodnight, Glossaryck. I'll see you soon." Glossaryck nodded shortly before the central root arced forward and down, enveloping him entirely. In a flash, the small blue man was gone, and the stemming branches of magic pulsed with energy as Dark flexed his fingers.

He drew in the sporadic extensions of his magic like lightning in reverse, and when it was all collected, he merely sat down to collect his flames and his thoughts. He was far too early. But at least now, things were finally in motion.

O - O - O - O - O - O - O

"Come onnnn you guys! Hurry up already!" Star shouted, pulling Marco through the turnstile of the concert venue. It seemed like just about everyone in Echo creek was showing up to watch Love Sentence play, and despite having pre-selected seats, she was needless to say, eager to take another stab at the evening. The random bout of sadness from earlier was a bad start, as was the crash, but both had passed just as quickly as a sneeze. Now, it was time to have some fun.

"Where do we sit?" Asked Jackie, pushing through the turnstile herself and following the other two further into the amphitheater. Marco looked around at the already stunning attendance, the prison-themed decor of the stage, and at the long lines already forming around the bathrooms. Star grabbed his and Jackie's hands, pulling them towards a row of seats just off the middle right, halfway up the stands. "I'm pretty sure we sit wherever we want here. I don't remember seeing seat numbers on the tickets," she offered.

Marco let himself be pulled along, and had to push down the uncomfortable similarity this moment bore to last time. Star pulling him and Jackie, the exact same seats, and of course his own unease; it made for a grim few seconds. But when Star looked back at him, a hearty, eager gleam in her eye directed wholly at him, for him? Those worries melted away altogether, and her hand felt just a bit warmer as the trio made it to their seats.

When everyone was properly seated, Star silently insisting on Marco getting the middle seat, and still holding his hand, Jackie leaned forward, eying the stage as she asked, "So, level with me here, dude: is this concert actually gonna be good? I've heard that when they try to do smaller venues like this, their show gets really downsized."

Marco and Star traded a knowing glance, and the two decided it best to continue to refrain from telling about last times...inconveniences. Marco gave her a short shrug, his eyes forcefully glued to the stage in mock interest. "They actually pull out all the stops here. It's kind of amazing actually," he offered, pointing to the center of the brick prison wall on stage, "the theme is prison break, and ho hoho man, they deliver. Right Star?"

The blonde was caught off guard by the question, only answering, "Sweat goes everywhere!" before inhaling sharply, finding her composure after an uneasy silence. "Sorry, just...don't get too close to the stage. They sweat a lot."

Jackie stared at her for a few seconds, her expression blank as Marco began racking his brain for some sort of cover. 'What the heck, girl!? Keep your cool, keep your cool, she doesn't know how weird this is, so pretend it's not!' Star smiled, waiting for a response. Ultimately, Jackie let out a grin of her own and even laughed at the suggestion.

"Oh man, Star, did you try to get on stage last time?" She asked, gauging the correctness of her guess. Star's eyes rapidly darted to Marco as she pressed her lips together. She was blushing, hard, but nonetheless waved a careless hand through the air as if it would waft away the idea. "Nononono! I was just checking them out up close! You know, to see them sing better?"

Marco palmed his face with a sigh as Jackie's smile went crooked. "You...can see music better, by getting...closer to it?" She asked deliberately, an air of amusement still in her voice. Star stammered for a response when Marco grabbed her hand. "She's just our weird alien princess sometimes, always got some cool superpower up her sleeve!"

Jackie's smile now dropped from her cheeks as she parted her lips to ask why they were acting so weird. 'Do I have something on my face?' She wanted to ask, but before she could, the lights in the amphitheater dimmed, shrouding the audience, and the trio in darkness. From the stage, four purple searchlights switched on, combing the walls and stage as an amplified voice rang out, "Ladies and Gentlemennn! Are you ready...to break out!" The crowd erupted into a full-on roar of approval, with Jackie, Marco, and Star being among the loudest. Red lights blared over the prison wall, sirens wailing over the noise as posted guards stood to watch.

The lights swept back over the crowd to illuminate a menagerie of patrons and fans, from all walks of life before darting back towards the stage, landing squarely at the center of the wall just as it exploded into thousands of styrofoam fragments. The crowd absolutely lost their minds at the display, the very namesake for the 'Breakout Tour'.

From the spreading rubble and dazzling lights illuminating the prison front, five individuals dressed in orange jumpsuits, ragged from their 'time on the block', stepped forward. Justin Towers, leader of the band swept a hand back through his parted red hair before clipping his headset over his left ear, grinning seductively at the crowd. "Hellooooo, Echo Creek!" He shouted, slinging his prop sledgehammer over his shoulder.

Star and Marco shrieked to themselves in breathless excitement as Jackie, far more collected, hooted and hollered at a more respectable volume, each of them thrilled with the presentation before them. "Ladies and Gents, presenting to you, Live! From the Echo creek Penitentiary, we're shaking things up a bit tonight, and starting with a local favorite that we hope everyone can enjoy! Awesome Feeling!"

One of the members was given a redlined electric guitar, and without prompt began picking a lively and energetic tune to the beat playing over the speakers. Marco stared as the band began moving into place to play his favorite song, and at that moment he was sure his heart was about ready to stop.

"Awesome feeling,

Nothing's gonna take us down.

At first, I turned my head, but then,

You really turned my day around!"

Star immediately grabbed Marco hand and yanked him out of his seat, the two mocking their old pose and singing dangerously close to one another while Jackie joined in from her side of the bench. It was Marco's favorite song, Star's third favorite, and Jackie's second favorite, but each of them committed to singing louder and better than anyone else around them, and they intended to be known as the biggest fans.

"Awesome feeling!

We're burning bullies and looking fine!

We'll do whatever 'cause it's fun

With you, I think I'd never lose my

Awesome feeling!

We started out as friend-nemies,

but then you opened up to me

and found that we have chemistry!"

As the song continued into a climactic show of lights and pyrotechnics, the band members all mimicking choreographed dance moves and belting out their chords, the crowd was a mob of screaming joy and collected fury. Marco was smiling ear to ear as the guitar wailed out his memorized notes, and even Jackie was air-playing them right along with Jax, the guitarist. He looked to his left and found Star already staring, still singing the words that didn't come yet, as most of the crowd was as well.

He smiled at her, ready to give her the kiss that would renew her memory of this evening forever as not the might she had to give him away, but the night she had him all to her heart. But just as he was about to lean in, she took a step back frowning as she rummaged around in her purse for her compact. When she pulled it out, it was buzzing and blinking like an activated bomb. She opened it and grimaced before hitting the answer key, pressing her hand to the receiver as she leaned closer to him. "It's my mom, and she's using the Danger Number, so I gotta take this!"

Marco forced up a wider smile and nodded, letting her go as she darted down the steps. It sounded like she was taking the music with her as he watched her disappear into the crowd below. Jackie nudged his side, coaxing him to get back to the music and enjoy his favorite song, but for whatever reason, his head wasn't in it. It wasn't that he missed her already, but watching her leave while he stood idly by with Jackie bore far too similar a resemblance to last time. It made his heart ache just thinking about it, and as his favorite song faded out, he barely noticed it.

"Marcooo, you are so adorable, you know that?" Jackie asked, poking his ribs, "she'll be right back, I promise I don't bite, dude." A string of fireworks lit up the sky in hopes to hype up the crowd, and from the noise, it was working.

'If only you know how terrible of a friend I was to her on this exact night,' he thought, letting the start of 'Too Little Too Late' roar against his eardrums. He gave her a chipper look, hoping to dissuade her worries, but as he did, she clasped his hand and pulled him into a hug, patting his back. "I know you guys went through something last time, but I'm glad you guys came with me again. You two are like, the coolest people I know, and that's coming from me, Diaz."

"Really? Even with all of the crazy, world-ending nonsense and the bummer-bus that is Star and I?" He had to ask, but Jackie remained unphased, stepping back and giving him a shrug. "I won't say I'm crazy about worrying that you two might not come back from a dimension hop one day, but yeah. Really."

"Oh, girl

You know I'd never mean to hurt ya

When you're sad

You know I'd never desert ya

Ooh-ooooh

You were my angel

My beautiful dove"

"Thanks, Jackie. For inviting us, and being an awesome friend. Like always," Marco grinned, the crowd around them growing quiet as the song continued to play. She was half focused on him, and something around him, and when he looked, he noticed that many of the couples in their area were kissing. Hence the growing silence. His cheeks burned redder, but Jackie only snorted and shook her head at the patrons around them.

"Don't worry about them, dude… Or me. I don't mind being the third wheel as much as I figured I would." Marco made to joke about her finding a cute girl she liked, maybe a french one, despite the ramifications it would bring, but her eyes caught his in a way they'd never done before.

Where they had always been a mint green, delightfully close to the sea, now they were a radiant sapphire, framed by curly locks of forest green hair. "When did you change your hair?" Marco asked, his chest feeling warm, similar to drinking a 'Star' amount of corn whiskey. He was getting lightheaded, and a pressure was building in the back of his skull, but the gentle sway of the music mixed with the warmth in his body seemed to lull him into calm.

"I uh, I didn't? Jackie asked, cocking an eyebrow at him as she grinned, "Someone's a little loopy, why don't you sit down, Var?"

Marco's blood ran cold as the woman before him smiled lovingly, the freckles above her cheeks moving as her eyes became lidded. "W-what?" He asked, but she didn't seem to hear him. She just moved closer, looking at him carefully. "I said, you look tired, dear. Perhaps you should rest for a moment, Var. You must have run yourself ragged trying to get to me."

Marco blinked hard, fighting to keep the warmth in his chest from rising, but he felt drunk. The pressure in his head made him dizzy, like at any moment, something in him would pop, but whatever barrier was there was keeping him in control. For now. "Jackie, I think… I think…," he couldn't think, surely he was lying to himself. Merina would help him. She would fix him up like always. She was here now, and everything would be better. Everything would be alright.

"Come here, my handsome warrior. You've done so much for me already, you deserve to rest. They couldn't keep us apart forever, could they?" Merina asked, beckoning Marco closer. The music was now a hollow thrum in the distance, and the crowd was little more than a rocky outcropping. A sluggish, dazed turn to the left revealed butterfly castle in the distance, it's lighting all dark.

'Shes right. The battle's over now…" Marco thought, turning back to her. He was so tired the feel of it all almost crushing him. There was only one thing on his mind as he gazed into her deep blue eyes still sparkling from the lights on stage, …'I should rest...Merina will make everything better.' He took an uneasy step closer to her, and the pressure felt like a pot boiling over. The heat traveled from his head all the way through his body, and his vision was blurred. "You're really back…," he breathed, his words hollow and ragged. Marco felt an unbearable longing overtake him in his last moment of consciousness; so much pain being washed away by the woman before him. He could feel his own hot tears trickling past his cheeks as he took another step closer.

"I've missed you...more than life itself," Darc whispered, loud enough over the wind for her to hear, "I died, the day she took you from me. And I haven't been whole since, but you're really back...we can be a family again, Merina…"

"I know, my love. Let's go home...shall we? Silva's been alone without her father long enough, hasn't she?"

That did it for him, the pressure in his head waning almost entirely and giving way to that drunken warmth that threatened to swallow him whole. But Marco fought to stay awake, to stop himself from getting any closer to her. "I...I can't- I can't do that- you not real," he struggled, his words coming out strangled as he grit his teeth. His body felt like it was weighed down, demanding he give in and sleep, to let it do what it wanted.

"Please, Var. Come home with me. You've done so much, you deserve to rest," Merina pleaded, though she didn't step closer. She fizzled a bit above her chest, and Marco could just barely make out Jackie's concerned expression as he fought to stay awake. To keep himself in control.

"You- Are not… REAL… You're not- Her."

"Marco? Are you feeling alright? You don't look good, dude," Jackie's voice sounded, phasing in between her own and the other woman's. But just as he was struggling to answer, a burning sensation like white-hot steel singed the center of his chest.

"STOP. FIGHTING. ME! I WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN! YOU CAN'T KEEP HER FROM ME!" Darc's voice boomed through his thoughts, and Marco's vision went black.

3

As Star stepped down towards the stage, her phone vibrating to a silent version of Boop, one of her favorite songs, she growled to herself at the thought of having to leave them alone, again. When she was just beyond the bathroom...containers, she answered her phone to an equally patient caller. "What?" She grumbled.

"Star whatever mood you're in, drop it now," Moon began, her voice tight and urgent, "I have no time for an argument right now."

"Why? What's going on back home?" Star asked, deciding it best to give a little. The sooner she was done with this, the sooner she could get back to Marco. But the moment she asked, she mentally cursed herself for opening that can of worms.

"What a wonderful time for you to take an interest, Star. I just left a meeting with the magical high commission. Do you know what they found?" Moon asked, using her 'I know what you did' voice. She used it a lot. Star managed to grumble above the noise, "what did they find out? That magic is breaking and they're too dumb to fix it?"

She immediately felt bad, as last time Lekmet was killed in the fight against Toffee. But in all honesty, he was the only one of them that actually made any sense, despite not speaking english. "No, they found out where Vartek is hiding," Moon answered. Star felt a chill run down her spine as the band finished Awesome Feeling, the crowd hungry for more.

"Mom, whatever you do, DO NOT go-"

"On the contrary, dear. We're not making a move... yet, but I want you to come home to Mewni as soon as possible. Tonight if you can." Moon's tone gave away no sign of humor, and not a hint of play. She was deadly serious, and when Star answered, so was she.

"No."

"No? Star do you not fully grasp what is happening around you? Magic has been corrupted nearly to its breaking point, monsters are going missing to form what I can only assume is an army, the magical high commission wants to use you and Marco as bait, and…. nevermind that. I cannot deal with so many hindrances, and worry about you being on Earth." Moon paused for a moment, letting her worry die down as she caught her breath. "This isn't up for debate, Star. You're coming home, and that's final."

Star glared at the space in front of her, choking down a strangled growl before forcing herself to bear some semblance of composure. When she was sure she could at least talk without screaming, she replied, "I'm not coming home yet, Mom. My wand is still working pretty fine, and I'd like to see the Commission try to take us. I know you're worried and angry, and you just wanna keep me safe, but… I can do this on my own. You have to trust me when I say that it's not time yet."

"When is the time, Star?" Moon demanded, her frustration becoming more and more evident with each passing word, "You refuse to tell me what happens with Toffee, you refuse to tell me about Vartek, and now you refuse to abide by my very simple request that you come home?"

"Yes."

Silence. A minute rolled by as the band continued to play their music, the beat thrumming like a heartbeat through the ground. Star bit her lip as she felt a wave of regret and defiance pour through her. Finally, Moon let out a resigned sigh. "May I ask, why you don't want to come home, where it's safe?"

Now it was Star's turn to let out one of Moon's characteristic sighs. "Things are going to get a lot worse, thanks for reminding me. But when it all goes bad, then you can come get me. For now, I'm better off here, okay?"

"No, Star! None of this is okay, don't you understand?" Moon countered, her voice donning a higher level of agitation than even Star was used to, "You are my daughter, and I only want what is best for you, Star. And right now, that means having you by our side when things get...unpleasant. I understand that you think you know what's the best course of action, but staying on Earth isn't it."

"Ugghh! You're not even trying to see things from my point of view, Mom!" Star yelled into her phone. Tired was the word she would use to describe her view of this conversation, and her frustration with Moon wasn't helping. "Then help me see it from your point of view, Star! That's all I've been asking of you! Tell me why you can't leave, or what I should be doing!"

"Why can't you just trust me?! That I can't tell you for a good reason?!"

"Because this isn't just satiating my own curiosity in some self-indulgent quest to know the future! People are in danger, Star, and you're one of them, so I believe I deserve to know why you think coming home in the middle of a crisis against a man intent on ending your life is a bad idea!"

"Because it's not just me, Mom!" Star screamed against Moon's rambling. To argue the point further would only make things worse, but ever since her test with Baby, this had been a subject of interest between the two. "He wants Marco too, and if I tell you more than I should, then you might do things in a way we don't survive after like last time!"

As patrons walked by doing their best to pretend they weren't listening, Star inhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose just like her mother. "I died...last time, Mom. And I was lucky to come back. So I need you to understand that we can't change things too much, or we might not get so lucky."

Moon was quiet for a long time, but Star knew that was an inevitability, hearing truth bombs like that. She probably said enough to ruin the entire timeline, maybe break the universe, but if it got her point across then she was fine with every repercussion that came her way. "You...You died?" Was all Moon could ask.

"Yeah… I died, but only for a little bit! It was-," she had to stop herself, catching her words in her throat. "Look. Mom, you like making deals with diplomats and junk like that, right?"

Another pause. Moon wasn't thrilled about the jab, but she had to concede that it was part of her job description. Continuing, Star went on. "I can't come home yet, but...if I tell you a little bit, can you please trust me?"

"That's all I have been asking for, Sweetheart," Moon answered, her voice shedding the tension of the past few minutes.

"Okay. Right now, if Marco and I change things too much, the universe glitches out and gets all buggy until we do it right, repeating itself over and over for as long as it takes. So, that's why I can't come home." Her voice was tight, but the relief of talking to Moon about this was too bittersweet to not find some enjoyment. "When the time comes, and you'll know when, come get me. Until then, make sure the kingdom has stocks of supplies ready, and prepare for an invasion. I can't say when or how or where...but, you're going to have to trust dad to keep an eye on things."

Star could almost hear Moon's mind formulating plans, piecing together a picture from the warning, and deciding on a different temporary ruler all at once. But finally, Moon sighed in assent, answering, "Okay. I'll prepare the city, and I'll speak to your father about contingencies. Are you absolutely sure you can't come home?"

She thought about that for a moment. The changes and ramifications of simply hiding at home would be devastating, but that tug in her heart of a young girl desperate to feel safe and secure was too real. "I'll be safer here. After all, I've got Marco to keep an eye on, so I can't just ditch him, you know?"

"Well I would have just as soon assumed you'd bring him with you, but...I suppose I'll honor the terms of our agreement. Thank you for the warning, and don't forget how much I love you, Sweetheart."

I love you too, Mom," Star answered, smiling to herself, "I always will. Thanks for understanding." She and her mother weren't on the best of terms the last time things went south, but this time would be different. If this was the last time she ever got to talk to Moon, Star was happy to know they left on a good note.

"Of course, Star. Please be careful, and call me if you need anything at all. I'm always here for you."

"I will, Mom. Bye."

Putting her phone away, Star managed a half-hearted smile, leaning against one of the many concrete pillars holding up the amphitheater. It felt liberating to finally tell her mom even a fraction of what was to come, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was, in some way, betraying Marco by spilling the beans.

'So much for keeping the future a secret,' she mumbled. But in any event, she could still imagine that this was what Marco felt any time he got to prepare for something. She felt ready, and excited, but scared at the same time. That false sense of confidence was something dangerous in the wrong situation, so shrugging off the future, for now, Star turned to head back to her seat.

But as she stepped through the concrete doorway towards the stands, her field of vision shifted sideways, buzzing from side to side as her balance was broken. The music sounded like a bass-boosted arc of static electricity buzzing madly for a split second in tandem with her vision before it skipped back a second, repeating the process all over again. Colors went negative in pixelated squares dancing across any surface, and once again her vision buzzed horizontally.

"It's...glitching?" Star asked no one, as no one was functioning enough to answer except herself. She didn't waste any time weighing the possibility and took off in a sprint up the sloped entrance. Passing through the archway beneath the stands, she saw that things were far worse inside the amphitheater. Bits and pieces of the stage were beginning to come undone, as well as a sizable portion of the wall, floating in the air before glitching in negatives and resetting.

Star looked up towards her seat and found the sight even more frightening. The closer she looked, the more distorted and fractured reality seemed to get, until it too would snap back to normal before breaking again. And at the center, she could see Jackie. She looked concerned, which was an understatement, but more worried for Marco than herself. And as Star drew closer, her mixed boots keeping her from flying up the steps, the gravity of the situation finally hit.

Marco was broken. Really, really broken. A spiderweb of cracks like shattered porcelain wrapped around his left arm, and drew up his neck to surround his left eye, which was inky black around a pinprick of lime green light. His teeth were grit in half pain, half anger, split right down the middle in a furious growl of focus and rage. His left hand was outstretched toward Jackie like he was reaching for his first drink of water after a lifetime in the desert. His right hand, however, was gripping his left wrist, keeping it at bay in a struggle to hold himself back.

By now, Star had put together what was going on, but it still seemed unbelievable. Ducking under a violently glitchy piece of concrete and rebar, she slipped around the pixelating, buzzing crowd and stopped right in front of Marco. "Marquess!" She yelled in both an order and a request.

"It won't work! I tried that already!" Marco shouted back, the effort of speaking taking away a dangerous amount of focus from his free hand. His piercing black eye narrowed at Star. "Stay out of this, Star! I'm going to have MY MERINA back, one WAy oR Another!"

Star frowned, hard, and moved closer, holding the sides of Marco's face as she once again yelled "Marquess!" to him. But again the effort yielded no positive results. Marco lurched backward, then forward as his cracked hand desperately tried to grasp at anything it could. "Let me go! SHE NEEDS ME!"

Star felt a chill run up her spine when Marco wholly spoke in Varteks voice, but she kept her composure and pressed her hand against his chest, willing a moment of clarity amidst the storm. She closed her eyes and, like before, tried to imagine the beautiful moments she shared with Marco: the warm thoughts of their dance date, the many nights on Vintal, capping the hill of flags, partying with their best friends at a sleepover, the list went on.

Her mind flooded with thoughts and feelings from the heart that all revolved around the boy before her, and just like in the cave, she could feel the cold energy in his chest giving, if only slightly. But it was enough. Marco took a sharp, heavy breath as if he'd been running for hours, sweat already beginning to pour down his brow. "Star! I can't keep him back anymore... I could see what he was seeing, like I was drugged, he thinks Jackie's Merina!"

The cold pressure in his chest got rapidly hot, but Star kept it at bay as she gestured to the space around her. "And how does that explain you breaking the universe, Marco? What happened?"

"I don't know, I was watching the show, people started kissing, and then Jackie started looking like-"

"Merina, I got that part, but why isn't he going back down? Why is he even here? Didn't the Blood Moon at least kinda fix you?" Star asked as Marco strained against himself. She could feel how hard he was fighting, both physically and mentally. He was going to break, one way or the other, so without waiting for a response, Star closed her eyes, dipping down deep into the untapped, untainted reserves of magic that flowed just beneath her reality.

Her cheek marks glowed a brilliant, solid white as the band's music reverberated the same seven notes. Marco chanced an uneasy look down at where her hands were resting, and he could feel Darc's panic deep in his mind. 'Don't take her away, don't make me leave her,' the thoughts slipped into his head. But he had no time to answer them when Star punched him hard in the chest, knocking every bit of wind out of him, and blurring his vision even more than the glitches. He began to crumble, but Star held firm, keeping an open palm against his chest.

"Marco? You feeling better, babe?" She asked after a short moment of dry heaving, and glaring. Marco spit up what might have been blood, and shook his head. "Now I feel beat to shit, and sad… but yeah, I don't feel him anymore. What was that?"

Star straightened her gaze and let out a heavy breath, the effort every bit as taxing for her as it was for him. "I dipped down, and I punched him in the face to get him to back off," she replied, somewhat too proud of herself, but Marco would never point that out. She was probably being serious.

"Thank you, Star. I don't know how you learned to do... that, but I'm glad you came back when you did. I was about to-"

"Kiss Jackie. Yeah, I need you to do that."

The amphitheater buzzed in glitched assent as Marco stared at her for a moment, gauging both her sanity and his own before wheezing, "Why would- you want me-...no."

"Marco, it's not like we have a choice. All of this?" She gestured to the cracking and fractured stands all facing a glitching and fragmented stage. "Is because we're not doing things-"

"I'm not kissing Jackie, Star. I already made that mistake once, there has to be another way," he said with absolute finality. But Star had a great deal of finality of her own. She stepped closer to him and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him down to her level and planting a gentle, yet loving kiss against his lips. Marco slid closer, meaning to deepen their connection before she stepped back, donning an out of place smile amidst the chaos around them.

"Its okay, Marco," she said, her voice soothing against the noise of the glitching amphitheater, "I'm fine with it. You don't need to carry me through the battles all the time, and you don't need to break yourself to protect my feelings. I love you, and I trust in your love for me. Plus, this is kind of our only option, sooo."

A large crack snaked its way through the center of the stands and down to the stage, but Marco couldn't have cared less. All he could see was Star, and all he could hear was her voice, like a whisper of warmth on a cold night. "It doesn't have to be our only option. I could kiss you until the universe breaks, and die doing what I love," he asserted, holding her soft hands in his.

Star gave him a bashful smile and shook her head, a light chuckle sneaking past her lips. "You are such a dork sometimes, Marco. That's adorable, but I'd prefer to be alive after the show ends, so we can have the afterparty if you get my meaning."

Marco's cheeks lit up scarlet, and any remnant of that pressure in his chest was gone. Like just having Star close by was comforting enough to ease him back into peace. "I try. But… are you sure? I wanted tonight to be about-"

"Marco, the universe is kind of breaking because you don't want to kiss someone else over me," Star offered, inclining her head toward Jackie, "that's about as romantic as we're gonna get for now. So, the sooner you get it over with, the sooner you can make it right."

"Would it be kinda wrong to kiss her? She's not gonna be happy." They both turned to look at Jackie, her face momentarily shifting towards deeper concern before glitching back to normal. Rinse, repeat. Star huffed, rolling her eyes at the idea before narrowing her eyes at Marco. "She can die with us if you'd prefer to guard your chastity so closely, Diaz. I'm gonna let go, so I need you to do it, alright?"

Marco's eyes darted nervously to his chest, and he knew what she meant. She would let Darc back in, and he would be back in the fight for control. 'But if I can give him a little, it might be enough to push him back,' he thought. Looked back up to Star, he nodded in assent before she lifted her palm from his chest.

Immediately the cold pressure built, and his vision, already skewed by the glitching, began to haze. He could feel Darc's desperation and desire, but he steeled his nerves, clenching his fists to keep in control.

Star watched as Marco's eyes flooded to inky black, two pinpricks of green light sending up wisps of teal magic, but he didn't have any cracks. That was a plus. He looked like he was struggling, but after a moment, Marco let a controlled breath hiss through his teeth. "I've got him. Sorry...for doing this, I-" he began, speaking in Darc's unsettling voice, but Star pointed to Jackie. "Just hurry up, I know you don't want to. I love you, Marco."

Marco's eyes darted to Star, a thin trail of green shadowing his pupil's movements, but nonetheless, he took a step closer to Jackie, and gave her a rapid peck on the lips. Nothing happened.

He turned to Star, his vision still shifting, and made to speak when everything around him began moving in buzzing reverse, debris and people drifting back to their places. He took a step back from Jackie and moved toward Star. Taking her hands in his, he pulled her closer than space would allow and locked his lips with her in a deep, passionate kiss. Star had watched his pupils return to normal, but in his mind, Darc offered little to improve the moment.

"That wasn't fair."

"Shut it. You're lucky you even got that," Marco muttered before Star hungrily pulled him back for more, digging her nails through his hair. He felt Darc fade back into the recesses of his mind, and without warning, the music returned in a loud crescendo to a roaring crowd. Star wasn't done, not by a long shot, but when Jackie politely asked, "what the hell just happened?" she had to stop. For now.

"I… uhm. I had to...kiss you," Marco stammered uneasily, his eyes shifting between her and his girlfriend. Though it was Jackie who looked more taken back by the admission. Before any more uncomfortable questions could be asked, Star thankfully saved the day, throwing an arm over Jackie's shoulder. "You and him were dating and kissing last time, and I guess the parasite came out too. We were kiiiiinda stuck in a time loop until we repeated that kiss, if that makes sense."

Despite her blunt and paraphrased explanation, Jackie returned with a slow nod, her eyes giving away a large amount of appraisal. "I...guess? Are we safe now? Or do we have to ki-"

"No! No no, we're probably fine," Marco quickly added, stopping himself from blushing, though Star wasn't so lucky, her sudden glare burning a hole into the side of Jackie's face. "I think the universe is happy with...what we did. I'd really prefer it if we just-"

"AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, A LOCAL FAVORITE FOR ALL YOU SINGLE FRIENDS OUT THERE: JUST FRIENDS!" Justin yelled from the stage, which showed no evident signs it was falling apart a mere minute ago. As the synthetic beat began to drum against the concrete stands around them, Star and Marco looked at each other for a fraction of a second before each donned a wide, hysterical grin.

"Ooooooo"

"HOOOOOoooooo"

"HoooooAAAAAAAoooooohhhh"

"HOOOOOoooooo"

"Oooooooo"

"It was no secret: the way that we feel.

A love that's so pure, and a love that's so real!"

Star and Marco sang along note for note, their worries melting away, and even the uncomfortable confrontations of the last few minutes couldn't hold a candle to the moment they were sharing now.

"You showed me your world, it felt like a sign!

But you acted too slow, and you ran out of tiiiiiIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiimmmmmeee!

And now we'll be: juuuust friiiieeeends

We will be: juuuuust friiiieeeeends

And now we'll be! Juuuust friiiieeeeends"

Marco wrapped his arms around her, both still singing along to the song they had both secretly grown to hate since their last venture. But now it wasn't a reminder of the bad times. It was them, carving out a new moment to remember together and mapping out a brighter future than what they should come to expect. "If we can make even tonight a good night, imagine what we can do tomorrow," Marco whispered to her. Star could only blush, eying him with want and passion before pulling him into a fierce kiss, not caring for a moment that Jackie was there watching. Not that she ever did.

"I didn't mean to hurt you- you didn't have a clue

So you went out and got busy, and found somebody new, neeeew, neeeeeeeew!

And now we'll be: Just friiiiieeeends!

Oh, we will be: Just friiiiiiieeeends!

And now we'll be: just friiiiiieeeeeends!

Be just friiiieeeends

And now we'll be…"

"More than friends."

To be continued in: Rock of Ages

As Star and Marco deal with an annoying minstrel before song day, Vartek makes the final move on his plan.