At the Butterfly/Diaz residence during the late afternoon, Star had returned after her night away from home and spending a night at Mr Rick's house. When she did return home, she was greeted from ginormous hugs from her parents and even Marco's and even a tiny hug from Mariposa.
But, the heartwarming reunion took a turn when Star dropped the bombshell.
"You want to practice what?!" Moon exclaimed.
"Mom, I wish to practice karate." Star replied, sitting on her bed.
"Sweetie, are you sure you wish to?" Moon asked. "Just because you don't have your powers, doesn't mean you have to try and find new ways of combat in order to defend yourself."
"Mom, these guys aren't gonna leave me alone." Star protested. "I need to do something so I won't get hurt. So you and no one else will get hurt."
"Sweetie…."
"Mom! You can trust me." Star assured her mother. "Besides, I've got a great teacher teaching me. You do trust Marco, right?"
"More than I trusted Tom." Moon replied.
"You do realise I'm outside, right?!" Tom yelled from outside Star's bedroom.
"I was referring to a different Tom!" Moon lied. Despite Tom being a nice guy, Moon was kind of worried if he blew a fuse and accidentally burnt Star in the process. "Alright sweetie, you can do karate. I mean, it's not like you're the only butterfly who uses their fists to defend themselves."
Just then, River crashed into his daughter's bedroom, wrestling a racoon that was clawing at his face.
"Moon! The racoon has returned to finish me off!" River shouted. "Die! Die!"
Moon sighed at her husband's silly scuffle while Star was slightly amused that she had to hide her smile by covering her mouth with her hand.
The next day, Marco was narrowing his eyes at someone and looked like he was about to ask a serious question while dressed in a white buttoned shirt and a dark blue jacket over it.
"This question is of upmost importance." Marco said with a hint of intimidation. "A question that demands honesty and sincerity. A question that requires more conviction! So, I ask you….Are you two dating?"
Turns out, Marco wasn't asking Star a question, he was in fact asking Tom and Janna, who were sitting on a park bench like inches away from each other that they were sitting on the edge of the bench on their respective sides.
"Yes." Tom replied.
"No." Janna replied
"I mean no…." Tom stammered.
"No! Yes!" Janna exclaimed.
The two so-called couple fumbled their yeses and their no's that Marco was getting visibly tired of playing this game. The two were obviously dating and were doing terrible jobs at hiding it.
"Come on you two, it's obvious." Marco said with an annoyed face.
Just then, Star arrived on her bike dressed in a traditional karate outfit with a white karate belt around her waste and wearing a white bandanna with a blue flower painted on it, wrapped around her head.
"Hey Marco!" Star greeted her boyfriend. "Hey Tom, hey Janna!"
"Star, why are you dressed in my karate gear?" Marco asked.
"Why are you dressed like someone's great uncle?" Star asked her boyfriend with a confused look on her face.
"Because I was meant to be teaching karate today and someone stole my karate gear." Marco replied. "That wouldn't happen to be you, right?"
"I swear that wasn't me." Star assured her boyfriend.
"Then who did?" Marco asked.
Meanwhile, the former king River was in the garden of the Diaz residence dressed in karate gear that looked like belonged to Marco. He made a karate pose and then performed a roll and kicked the air.
"Come out you evil spawn of a demon!" River yelled.
Just then, the same racoon from last night latched itself on River's face and started to scratch him while the former king struggled.
"Ahh! You dare use your pathetic attacks on me?!" River laughed despite the racoon scratching his face. "You are dumb! It no longer hurts me!"
Back with Star and Marco, the two were walking towards the strip mall dojo that used to belong to the former Sensei Brantley, now was owned by someone else.
"I forgot to ask Marco, who's running the dojo?" Star asked.
"You remember Jeremy?" Marco asked.
"You mean the rich 8 year old boy who used to kick your butt at karate?" Star replied with a huge smile.
"Uh Huh." Marco confirmed while unlocking the door to the dojo. "He owns it."
"He owns it?!" Star reacted with surprise. "How did you end up working here? Doesn't he like, hate you?"
"Not anymore." Marco replied. "But, getting the job here did take some time."
Marco then reminisced about what he had to do in order to get the job at the dojo.
About 8 months ago, Marco was outside a ginormous mansion on a hill, cleaning a red sports car with nothing more then a dish sponge and wearing a small shirt with a picture of a rocket on it. The shirt was so tight that Marco's ab-less stomach was sticking out.
"And don't forget Marco, liquid on, liquid off!" Jeremy yelled from the garage roof, where he was laying on a deck chair while drinking soda in a glass cup.
"Jeremy, why have I got to wear one of your shirts while doing it?" Marco asked a little tired and annoyed. "I mean, someone might see me like this!"
"Well, you wanted the job so, this is what you're getting." Jeremy retorted. "Besides, you only have 17 sports cars left after this one."
Present
"The nights were the coldest." Marco whispered while shivering a bit.
Marco soon opened the door to the dojo and turned on the lights where he noticed a note on a pile of wood placed in-between two grey bricks.
"Didn't you say that Jeremy and other students were gonna be here." Star added.
"I did." Marco replied before noticing the note. "Hmm…I wonder if…." Marco picked up the note and started to read it. "Dear Marco, I decided to take the karate crew out to the forest to do some exercise. That, and I thought you and Star deserve some alone time together, since you two are teenagers." Marco then groaned. "What does he think we're gonna do?" Marco then turned the piece of paper to the other side and then started reading what Jeremy wrote. "So you and Star….." Marco then went completely speechless at what Jeremy had written. "Eww! This is so detailed! Ah! How does he know this stuff?! He's 10!"
"What did he write?" Star asked her boyfriend.
"You don't wanna know." Marco replied. "Let's just begin."
Later, Star was in the middle of the dojo sitting on her knees and meditating while Marco was in front of her, doing the same thing.
"That's the stuff, meditation." Marco whispered to himself. "Breathe in and then out."
Star did the what her boyfriend and took a deep breath in and then exhaled.
"Yes, well done." Marco complimented his girlfriend. "Well done."
Star took another deep breath and then exhaled out while looking visibly bored.
"Marco, we've been doing this for forty minutes." Star yawned. "When are we gonna do some fighting?"
"Star, we will learn fighting, meditation is the first important step." Marco said while still meditating. "Yes, it is boring but it becomes relaxing after a while."
"How does it?" Star asked.
"Just is." Marco replied. "It's like sleeping but without sleeping. We'll do this for 20 more minutes before moving on to basic combat training."
"Okay." Star responded very tiredly due to all the breathing in and out.
After about twenty more minutes of simple meditation, Marco and Star were seen practicing some simple combat. Star and Marco were each blocking each other's punches with Marco going carefully while Star was doing it more aggressively.
"Remember Star, do fast but in a calm motion." Marco reminded his girlfriend gently. "Like you're swimming in a swimming pool."
Just then, Star punched Marco in the face, causing him to have nosebleed. "Ow!"
"Oh my gosh!" Star exclaimed. "Marco, I am so sorry!"
"Nah Star, it's okay." Marco assured her. "Really, it's fine. Don't worry about it!"
"I am worried about it!" Star exclaimed. "Is it bad?!"
"Nah, only minor." Marco assured her. "Nothing I can't handle."
"You sure?" Star asked. "Do you wanna continue?"
"Nah, we'll save it tomorrow." Marco said.
Back at the Diaz/Butterfly residence, Star, holding a bowl of nachos was walking to Marco's bedroom in an effort to apologise to him.
"Okay Star, time to apologise to Marco." Star announced to herself. "Just a bowl of non fattening nachos and that's it."
Star was about to knock on her boyfriend's bedroom door but through the muffling coming from his room, he was obviously talking to his pet dragon-cycle, Nachos.
"I mean, it's cool having your girlfriend being your student, but Star….She's not exactly the patient type when it comes to karate." Marco said as removed the tissue piece from his nose. "I mean, I hate to say this in front of her face, but it's gonna be hard to train her like this. Maybe I'm not the right mentor for her. Maybe she needs someone better."
Star stared at the bowl of non fattening nachos and sadly placed them on the floor, feeling sad over her boyfriend's words. Star sighed and left the nachos on the floor and walked away from Marco's door.
Inside Marco's room, Marco sat on the edge of his bed while Nacho's stared at her owner in an effort to try and make him feel better by pulling some puppy eyes.
Marco stared at his pet/vehicle of choice as he stroked her. "Maybe I shouldn't give up on her. Maybe with enough training she can be a perfect karate student for me. I just hope she hasn't heard what I said. Because then, that would probably lead into a lot of unnecessary conflict."
Meanwhile, Star was sitting on a park bench in-between Jackie and Jackie's girlfriend, Chloe, drinking a smoothie with them.
"And he says I'm too aggressive to be his teacher." Star explained sadly. "I mean, who does he think he is?"
"I don't think he meant it Star." Jackie assured the former Princess. "I mean, maybe he's saying that as a 'I think she needs more practice way' instead of a 'I don't wanna train her' way."
"If I had my magic it would've have been easy!" Star complained loudly. "But I can't because I destroyed it and there are people after me for that very reason!"
"Maybe karate isn't your thing." Chloe theorised. "Maybe you should try Kung-fu. I'm very proficient at it, maybe I should teach you some."
"Nah, Marco says Kung-Fu's the poor man's martial arts."
Star describing Marco's opinion on Kung-fu made Chloe freeze like she was insulted. She then clenched her fists with an aggressive look on her face. "Si je vois Marco le meilleur sois préparé."
"Chloé, pas parce que c'est mon ex petit ami, mais ne commence pas une guerre sur des formes de combat." Jackie requested to her girlfriend.
"I have no idea what you two are saying, but how will this help me with my predicament?" Star asked the girls.
"Maybe you don't need Marco." Suggested an annoying little voice.
Star turned around and noticed Marco's arch nemesis, Jeremy Birnbaum stepping out of the shadows with a bar of chocolate sticking from his mouth.
"Hi Star." Jeremy greeted Star while chewing on his chocolate. "Long time no see."
"Oh hey Jeremy." Star analysed Jeremy who appeared to have gotten taller by three inches since last time. "You've grown."
"Mmm Hmm, and you're in danger." Jeremy remarked. "From these masked equalists and not them two."
"Marco's told me about you Jeremy." Jackie commented. "Whatever you're planning to do, don't!"
"Relax Jack." Jeremy assured her. "Nothing bad will happen to her."
"What are you offering Jeremy?" Star asked Jeremy.
"A better way of teaching karate." Jeremy replied. "Something that will make it quicker."
"If I have to do your chores in a tube top, you can count away your blessings young man!" Star exclaimed.
"Nah, don't worry, I'm not kind of kid." Jeremy assured her while pulling an evil smile.
"What am I to do?" Star asked.
"That's where the surprise comes in." Jeremy replied. "So question Star: Do you wanna continue doing karate with some boring safety kid? Or do you wish to go the easy way?"
"Or maybe you could try Kung-Fu." Chloe suggested.
"Sorry, what's your name?" Jeremy asked.
"Chloe."
"Chloe, nobody cares about Kung-Fu!" Jeremy exclaimed.
Chloe clenched her fists in anger and gritted her teeth at the crazy 10 year old. "D'accord, Marco est en sécurité! Mais Jeremy est de la viande morte!"
"Je vais permettre celui-ci." Jackie said.
Star pondered to herself about the options should she take. Should she take the easy route and learn karate with Jeremy? Or should she go back to training with Marco? Or should she try Kung-Fu?
Star then sighed as she made her decision. "Jeremy, I choose the decision I think is best for me. And I know what it is. So sorry Marco."
Later on the same night, Star arrived to the outside of a forest dressed in her karate gear where Jeremy was waiting for her with a mischievous smile on his little stupid face.
"You made it." Jeremy said.
"I had to." Star said with a hint of reluctance in her voice.
"A bit of backstory…" Jeremy sat on his little bike. "…When I was 7 years old, I watched The Karate Geek for the first time and it was inspiring. And I wanted my Mom and Dad to sign me up for karate classes, but they said I was too young and I couldn't do it. But then, my crazy grandpa Albert said he'd teach me. He could've gone the Sensei Brantley route and make me do his chores, but he decided to send me to this exact forest to survive. I wondered many things: What did karate have to do with survival? Why aren't my parents looking for me? But once I got out, I got into a fight with my grandfather and I won. He was so proud of me, even though I did break his back and died a few hours after and with me becoming the youngest person to be convicted of manslaughter, I was great at karate. And you could be to, if you go into this forest and survive for a while."
"How long is a while?" Star asked.
"You'll know." Jeremy replied.
Star stared at the forest, unsure if she was actually willing to enter such a dark and cold place. But Star eventually sighed and walked into the forest while Jeremy pulled his signature mischievous grin.
Once Star entered the forest, she was now on her own. But Star knew that she couldn't turn back due to this being the only way she might have to learn karate from somebody.
"Okay Star, just you in the forest." Star said to herself. "Have to learn karate somehow." Star then continued walking through the forest where she noticed some dark clouds looming over her, indicating it was gonna be raining soon.
"And just when I thought being alone in a forest was bad enough." Star said to herself. "Hold on a sec, what am I supposed to eat in this forest? And how long am I supposed to be here?"
Star continued to wander through the forest, still somewhat confused as to what to do in this jungle. The former Princess then pulled out a photo from her pocket. A familiar photo of her and Marco having their famous beach day. She smiled and put it back in her pocket, feeling somewhat motivated.
"Okay, first off, I should try and find some food." Star announced to herself. "But what should I eat?" A bird landed on a nest resting on a branch and Star stared at the bird looking like she wants to eat it. "Hmm, I won't be eating you. You're too, feathery." Star then noticed some red berries on a branch. "Oh my gosh! Booberries! My favourite kind of berries."
The bird gave Star a questionable tweet as Star stared at the berries with excitement.
"Booberries are amazing!" Star exclaimed. "They're usually rare but their taste is so heartbreakingly good! Or, maybe it's the Murberry. A rare berry that can cause you to hallucinate." Star stared at the red berry with suspicion before grabbing it, sniffing it and analysing it more. "Hmm, well I do need my energy, so….." Star then put the berry in her mouth and started to chew it and then, Star swallowed. "Hmm….." Star stood still as she analysed the taste of the berry and waited for the hallucinations to kick in. "….Guess they weren't the murberries. Oh well, time to continue my journey."
Star continued walking until she suddenly started sliding down a hill. She screamed as she slid her body down a muddy slope and hitting branches, rocks, birds, rock birds, rock birds on branches, until she finally made it to the bottom where she crashed her head into a rock.
But somehow, Star didn't get knocked out, she was still awake as she rubbed her head. "Ow! That hurt. Honestly, that rock should have knocked me out."
Just then, a random coconut that was hanging from a branch fell, but it somehow missed Star and landed on a random centipede.
"Good thing that didn't hit me." Star said. "I should continue to keep-" Just then, Star hit her head on a branch as she tried to sit up and then landed the back of her head on the rock, causing her to finally be knocked out.
The next day, Marco was on his bed staring at the box shaped present Star had given him for their anniversary. He hadn't opened it due to the night of their anniversary being the same night the mysterious Heckaron showed up.
"Hmm, I should open it?" Marco asked his pet Dragon-Cycle.
Nachos just made a purring sound that sounded like a no.
Marco sighed. "I guess I should wait until she and I are in the same room. She did go out of her way to make sure I did get this. Oh wait, Star!"
Marco, realising he needed to teach Star karate, opened his door and accidentally stepped into something cheesy and crunchy.
The karate teen looked to the floor and noticed the bowl of nachos Star had left on the floor last night. This made Marco realise that Star was about come into his room with a bowl of nachos. Why did she leave nachos in front of his room? Is this a joke? Or could it mean something else?
It didn't take long for Marco to put the pieces of the puzzle together as he realised that Star might've heard what he said.
"Oh no, Star." Marco ran to his girlfriend's room and saw that she wasn't there. "Oh, Star."
Downstairs, Rafael was sitting on the floor watching his daughter play with her toys and trying to encourage her to walk.
"Come on little Mariposa." Rafael said in an effort to encourage his daughter. "Come on. Come on. Come on my little Mariposa."
"Rafael, help me and Moon make breakfast." Angie requested from the kitchen.
"Not until Mariposa takes her first step." Rafael replied.
"Raf, River went through the same thing when Star was born." Moon said. "Please don't be like him."
"But Moon…." Rafael groaned.
"Now!" Moon and Angie demanded in unison.
Rafael sighed and stood up and started to make his way to the kitchen, while Mariposa continued to play with her toys.
Marco then ran downstairs and jumped over his sister and near the kitchen, with worry on his face. "Hey, do either of you know where Star went?" Marco asked.
"She's not upstairs?" Angie asked.
"No, she's not." Marco replied. "Did she tell you where she was going?"
"No." Rafael replied.
"Oh no, this is bad." Marco said.
"Where is Star?" Moon asked with worry. "Have the equalists got her?! Oh no, this is bad!"
"Well, I hope she hasn't." Marco said. "Look, she might've overheard something bad I said about her being my student and I'm scared she might've gotten the wrong idea."
"Oh, can we just not have shenanigans created from misunderstanding?" Rafael groaned.
Moon stared at the boy with worry and fear, since she doesn't know what could've happened to her daughter.
"Don't worry Mrs Butterfly, this is my fault, I'll look for her." Marco assured Star's mother.
"Not on your own." Moon retorted while jumping over the kitchen side.
"Not without breakfast?" Angie asked.
"Yeah!" Marco exclaimed before he and Moon ran to the door.
"I once had to skip breakfast to look for my husband." Moon commented.
Marco opened the door and to his surprise, Jackie and her girlfriend, Chloe were standing on the front door with Jackie looking like she was ready to knock.
"Jackie?" Marco reacted in surprise.
"Oh hey Marco, hey Mrs Butterfly." Jackie greeted.
"Bonjour." Chloe greeted the two.
"Girls, this is a bad time, Star is missing." Moon informed them.
"Star's missing?" Jackie groaned. "I knew something bad was gonna happen when she started trusting Jeremy."
"What?!" Marco exclaimed.
"No!" Moon exclaimed. "Wait, who's Jeremy?"
"Et un idiot qui a pris le nom de Kung-Fu en vain."
"Wait, why would Star team up with Jeremy?" Marco asked. "She knows he's no good and…." It was at that moment Marco came to a realisation and facepalmed his head. "Of course! Uh…..You're an idiot Marco Diaz. Do you know where she is?"
"I don't know." Jackie replied. "But Jeremy does."
"Well, let's find him!" Moon exclaimed. "I don't have time for this! Those equalists could be after her!"
"And let me interrogate Jeremy." Chloe requested while cracking her knuckles.
Meanwhile, Star had just woken up feeling dizzy and confused. She then realised, she was inside a cave with water dripping down her face. The former Princess felt like she had been knocked out for a week or two and like she had a terrible migraine.
She looked to her right and noticed an old Japanese looking man with a white goatee and a dark purple robe stirring a spoon in a giant cauldron.
Star didn't know who he was or what he was doing, but she knew it would be very rude to not acknowledge him "Hello." Star said.
The man turned his head and smiled at Star and said, "Ah, you're awake."
"Where am I?" Star asked.
"You have never seen a cave before?" The man asked.
"I have." Star replied. "But am I still in the forest?"
"Ay." The man replied as he stirred the liquid in the cauldron. He then put a cloth in it and approached Star.
"What is it?" Star asked.
"The hot leaves of a Dollon Tree." The man replied. "It will deal with that horrible migraine." The man placed it on Star's head and sat down on the ground in a meditating stance.
"Uh, thanks." Star said. "But I have to survive the forest so I can learn karate."
"Why?" The man asked.
"Because I had to."
"Is it because your teacher was making karate boring?"
"No, it's because he thinks I'm too…." Star sighed in sadness. "…Impatient."
"That you are." The man replied very coldly.
"Hey!" Star exclaimed, feeling insulted.
"Hey, I saw you gain your wand and you just wanted to fight monsters." The man retorted.
"I don't know who you are…."
"Inai."
"Inai! I was young and reckless, but I've matured over time!" Star exclaimed.
"Disregarding the genocide?" Inai queried.
Star glared at the man and replied, "Okay, you have a point."
"And I assume you chose the wrong karate teacher?" Inai queried.
"I think so." Star replied. "I'm starting to doubt karate is about survival."
"Karate isn't about survival, karate is about defence." Inai explained. "Which, in a way is kind of survival."
"What do you know about karate?" Star asked. "You seem to be nothing more then a hermit who made a good living about living in the forest."
"Yes, I am a hermit, but more importantly…." The old man looked around his cave like he was looking for something important. He stood up and walked out of his cave and returned 12 seconds later with a plank of wood on his head and two huge blocks under his arms. He placed the bricks on the floor and used his hands to place the plank of wood in-between the bricks and made a loud 'Hiya!' And used his hands to chop it in two, an act that surprised the former Princess of Mewni.
"….I know karate."
Star stared at him in amazement while the hermit just smiled and removed the flannel from her head. "Now, this Jeremy expects you to be here, right?"
"Yeah." Star replied.
"Well, he's gonna be in for a surprise when you get out." Inai said. "Because, I intend to teach you some karate."
Star stared at the old hermit and smiled at him, but she then thought back to Marco and wondered how sad he'd be if she found a new master.
"Oh don't worry Star, I'm sure he'll understand." Inai assured her.
"But he seemed so excited to do it." Star pointed out.
"Star, you need to learn karate, right?" The hermit queried. "So I suggest we get started before things get worse."
"Alright, I'll try." Star replied after some hesitation.
"Great." Inai replied. "But first, I must finish this roast duck."
The man then started punching the roast duck instead of eating it, something that kind of amused Star.
Later, Star was balancing on her leg on a long skinny log while the teacher was poking her with a stick.
"Our first task is balance and patience. When it comes to karate, it is always about balance and patience. So do not hit the stick until on command."
Inai continued to poke at Star with the thin stick, which was causing her nose some irritation and she scratched it.
"No!" The man demanded. "Don't scratch!"
"Sorry, it's irritating." Star apologised.
"Don't scratch it." Inai demanded. "Let the stick tickle your nose."
"Why should I?" Star asked. "It's irritating!"
"Don't hit it until my command." The man requested.
Star closed her eyes and continued to balance while Inai continued to poke Star with the stick. "Don't itch your nose. Don't itch your nose." Star said to herself.
But the teacher tickled Star's nose so bad that it caused her to itch and fall off.
"Next trial!"
Later, Star is holding two buckets with 69 rocks in them and she was doing it while walking up a hill.
"Your next trial is walking up a hill while carrying two buckets each with 69 stones, 138 if you do the math, while trying to avoid tomatoes being thrown at you."
Star, feeling quite sweaty continued to carry the buckets despite the fact the stones were heavier then a ginormous table. Then Inai threw some tomatoes at her, causing her karate outfit to get stained.
"Don't stop, keep going!" Inai yelled. "Keep going!"
"Stop throwing tomatoes!" Star demanded.
"Throw more than one tomatoes?!" The teacher queried. "Alright!" The man threw more tomatoes at Star, causing her to tumble backwards and on her back and the stones to come out of the bucket.
"Next trial!"
Later, Star was standing in front of a fence holding a can of paint and a paintbrush.
"Next trial, paint this fence in an up and down motion."
"What does painting have to do with karate?!" Star asked. "Do you just want me to do your chores?"
"Paint!" The teacher demanded.
Star started painting the fence in an up and down motion something she was heavily annoyed by. But after 3 hours of doing the fence, she groaned and threw the paintbrush to the ground.
"Next trial!"
For the next 5 hours, Star trained in very unconventional ways and kept failing each time. She had to balance on a chair while eating a tub of noodles with a chopstick, but she chocked on the noodles; she then had to try and catch a fly in a chopstick but, she accidentally caught a fairy instead; Star then had to juggle some balls while riding unicycle, but she accidentally dropped the balls and fell off the vehicle anyway.
And even after Star kept failing those trials, Inai still gave her more and each one getting crazier then the last one that it will take all day to list them all.
Later, Star, now covered in ash was walking back to the cave with Inai in tow as they decided it would be best to pack it up for the night.
"Did you learn anything new?" Inai asked Star.
"Did I?!" Star reacted while twitching her eyebrow. "I….I….I….I didn't learn anything new! Why would I?! I failed everyone! I don't know whose worse, me for failing at every lesson. Or you for being the worst teacher of all time! I mean, do you even know karate?! What do chores have to do with karate? What does climbing up a hill while carrying tons of buckets have to do with this?! Granted: I get patience has to do with karate, but what about the rest?!"
Inai, instead of being angry at Star for criticising his teachings, just smiled, something that annoyed Star.
"Why are you smiling?!" Star exclaimed. "Why are you smiling?! I am not praising you! I am criticising you! Do you hear the difference?!"
"I do." Inai replied. "You're being naive about it."
"How?"
"Just watch." Inai replied before extending his fists as fast as a grappling hook and Star managed to stop it, an act that surprised Star.
Inai smiled while Star pulled a very doubtful face. "Just instincts."
Then Inai used his other fist, which Star blocked with her hand. But then, Inai started doing it faster causing Star to parry a lot of his attacks. Then, Inai tried to kick Star, but she used her leg to block it. And a few more minutes of punches and kicks being blocked, made Star realise she somehow got better at karate.
"Whaaaaaaaaaattttttt?" Star reacted in confusion.
"Yes." Inai replied. "You've become a karate Star."
"But how?" Star asked. "That doesn't sense. You paint a fence you become a master at karate?"
"Mmm hmm." Inai confirmed.
"You take a coat on and off and put it on a coat hanger you become good at karate?"
"Mmm hmm."
Star froze trying to find a logical explanation but she then said, "That doesn't make sense."
"Look, you're in a world where a lizard wore a suit and tie, so don't question its logic." Inai said before knocking Star to the ground, an act that Star didn't anticipate. "Hmm, but there's still lots about karate you haven't learnt yet."
Over the so-called next few days, Star had gotten better at the stuff she did. She managed to carry the buckets up the hill, she managed to ignore the irritating itch on her nose, she painted the fence and she even succeeded at juggling while riding a unicycle, an act not even a modern day circus clown could succeed at.
And what of Marco, Moon, Jackie and Chloe? Well, they arrived at the mansion door belonging to Jeremy where they were greeted by the butler, who looked like he was done with his life.
"Yes?" The butler queried.
"Hi, we're here to see Jeremy." Marco informed the butler.
The butler sighed. "Master Jeremy, Star's boyfriend is here!"
Jeremy arrived as quick as he could while smiling like he had anticipated Marco's arrival. "Ah Marco, I see you've arrived."
"Don't look happy to see us you little frog, what did you do to Star?!" Chloe angrily asked.
"Chloe, don't start an incident." Jackie requested.
Chloe narrowed her eyes at the little rich boy while cracking her knuckles at him.
"Alright Jeremy, where is she?" Marco asked. "Is she in here?"
"Well…If you want to talk to her, you'll have to talk to her injured body." Jeremy replied.
"What?!" Marco exclaimed angrily before picking him up and shoving him against the wall. "Where is she?!"
"Tell us or face my wrath!" Moon demanded. "I may not have magic, but any lies out of you and you will be in for something worse!"
"Tell us or your face will have to say hello to my skateboard!" Jackie demanded.
"Dis le mot et j'irai à l'extrême."
"No Chloe." Jackie responded.
"Marco, you should've chosen your words more carefully." Jeremy said very mockingly. "Cause if you didn't, then she wouldn't have come to me so I could teach her a better way of karate. And unfortunately, it was the same forest I went into where I learnt karate and judging by her chances, she ain't gonna make it. But on the off chance she did, I hired a man for the job."
"Who?! And which forest?!" Marco asked, getting angrier the more Jeremy pulled his mocking smile.
"Regarding the question about the forest: It's the May Forest behind the palace that belonged to you." Jeremy replied. "And the man I hired…Well, he's someone who really likes to get payed."
"The May Forest." Moon sighed in worry. "The problem with that forest is, it is home to the Murberry."
"Are they poisonous?" Jackie queried.
"No, they're really hallucinogenic." Moon replied.
Jeremy managed to free his hand from Marco's grip and pulled his phone out which showed a video of a rough looking man in a black trench coat, black pants, fancy looking brown shoes, a red shirt, a black beard and light black hair. He cracked his knuckles just as four men in karate suits approached him.
They all attacked at once but the man managed to punch them in the face at once. He grabbed one of the martial artists and smashed his head onto the chest of the other martial artist, causing them to be knocked out.
And finally, he used his two fists to repeatedly punch the other martial artists in the face until they were knocked out cold. He cracked his neck and approached a can of soda which he downed in one gulp and crushed it with his bare hand.
"One of the best martial artists in Australia." Jeremy said. "Shame about two things. One: He wasted all that talent to be a tough as nails bounty hunter. And two: Well, with Star's lack of karate training, I'd say he wins."
Marco gritted his teeth in anger and threw Jeremy to the floor, but his butler caught him before he could crash on the shiny surface.
Marco, Moon, Jackie and Chloe soon ran out of the house to try and get to the forest before anything horrible could happen to Star.
"You owe me 500 dollars if Star is beaten!" Jeremy shouted.
"And you owe me 5000 dollars if Star's alive!" Moon yelled back.
"Moon!"
"Sorry Marco, but stuff like that is fun sometimes." Moon retorted.
Meanwhile in the forest, Inai and Star were practicing their martial arts combat skills by parrying each other's punches. Inai smiled, feeling quite impressed with his student.
"I am most impressed at how your training has im-" Just then, Star performed a 360 crescent kick, causing the master to be knocked to the ground.
Star smirked with confidence and said, "Don't be so talkative or that'll cause you to lose."
Inai smiled and pulled himself up. "Star, you have made me a very happy teacher. I hope you'll use your karate for good because, you are done with your training."
"I am?" Star queried.
"Yes." Inai confirmed. "But before you go, I want to say, did you get what my name meant?"
"I don't know what that's implying, but I hope it's cool." Star said before hugging her teacher goodbye, which he accepted. "Goodbye Inai."
"Safe journeys Star." Inai responded.
Star smiled at her teacher for one last time and started to make her way out of the forest.
She finally knows something. Star Butterfly, former Princess of Mewni finally knows how to perform karate. But her brief celebratory walk was interrupted when somebody wearing lots of black with a red shirt.
"Well, well, well, if it ain't the genocidal maniac." The man greeted Star while showing his teeth, some of them had very obvious fillings due to all the fights he's possibly been in.
"Uh…..Hi." Star said. "Are you looking to guilt trip me?"
"If your definition of guilt trip is punching you in the face, then ya." The man replied.
"Why?" Star asked.
"Does it matter?" The man asked before trying to punch Star, but she parried the punch.
"Oh, not a talker." Star commented.
"I'm a punch first, talk later man." The man commented before trying to punch Star in the face again, but she parried the punch once again and the two martial artists started their martial arts fight.
The two each parried their punches with the man backing up a bit and performing a kicking motion which Star avoided by bending backwards. She shot back up and punched the man in the face.
The man placed a hand on his lip to see if it was cut or anything, but fortunately for him, it wasn't.
"Oh, you've somehow gotten good." The man said while grinning.
"I learnt from the best." Star retorted while continuing her fistfight with the mysterious tough man.
The man then grabbed Star by the arm, in an attempt to break it, but Star managed to free herself from his grasp and karate chopped his nose, causing him to get a minor nosebleed.
He narrowed his eyes at Star before trying to punch her again, but this time, Star grabbed him by his arm and threw him over her shoulder from behind.
He was about to get up, but he realised that his hand was on some wet mud. He groaned in embarrassment and sighed, "This is my favourite coat."
"Yeah, sorry." Star apologised while doing a karate pose.
The man stood up and wiped a bit of mud from his black coat and tried to punch Star, but she grabbed the man's fist and punched him in the face, causing him to tumble down the hill and hitting his rock.
"Uh….." The man groaned. "….I'm…..Done." The man then went unconscious while Star cracked her knuckles and smiling.
"New karate user: 1. Martial arts tough guy: 0." Star said.
The former Princess was very impressed with her karate skill that she had failed to notice the four people who had witnessed the fight in awe inspired shock. Marco, Moon, Jackie and Chloe were behind a bush looking surprised by Star's fighting skills.
"Oh mon." Chloe said.
"Star!" Marco yelled as he jumped out from a bush with Moon following.
"Dear!" Moon yelled.
Star turned and saw her mother and boyfriend running up to her and pulling her into a hug which the former Princess returned.
"Star, are you okay?" Moon asked her daughter. "Did you eat? You're filthy. And who was that guy?"
"Mom, did you see me take out that man?" Star laughed. "I took him out. And of course I ate."
"You didn't happen to eat any of the Murberries, did you?" Moon queried.
"I hope not." Star replied.
Marco soon unraveled himself from the hug and looked at his girlfriend with amazement. She was probably as good at karate as him! "But….But…..But….But, how did you learn karate?"
"I learnt it from my master, Inai." Star replied.
"Oh well…..At least it wasn't Jeremy." Marco commented before Jackie approached him and nudged his shoulder.
"Huh? Oh, right…." Marco sighed. "Star, I'm sorry for what I was saying to Nachos."
"Marco, it's okay." Star assured him. "I get why you might've not wanted to train me."
"I was questioning, but I didn't want to give up." Marco informed her. "But it appears you didn't need me. And I'm proud that you've done all that by yourself."
"Aww Marco." Star wrapped her arms around Marco and gave him a kiss that he returned.
"Nice going Star."
Star stopped kissing her boyfriend and saw Inai standing by a tree, looking very proud of himself.
"Thanks Inai." Star said.
"Uh…..Star." Said a confused Marco.
"Oh Marco, this is Inai." Star informed the four. "He was the one who taught me karate."
But it wasn't just Marco who was confused, Jackie, Chloe and Moon were awfully confused and staring at Star like she was crazy.
"Elle a perdu ses billes." Chloe commented.
"Je suis d'accord." Jackie remarked.
"Uh Star, there's no one there." Moon said.
Star looked around and saw that Inai was still there, but her closest friends, boyfriend and Mom were confused. It didn't take long for Star to piece together the puzzle.
"Oh no, I must've eaten one of the Murberries." Star said.
"Come Star…." Moon requested as she took her shoulder. "…Best way to cure this awful hallucinogenic is plenty of days rest. How many did you eat?"
"One." Star replied.
"Oh that's good enough." Moon sighed with relief as she started to lead her daughter out of the forest. "Cause when I first had them I had a ton and let me tell you how intense my illusions were."
Some hours later, the rough Australian martial arts master woke up feeling like he had awoken from a terrible coma.
"Ow! My head!" The man said before laughing. "Beaten by a newcomer." He laughed once again and ate a nut from his coat pocket. "Runt."
"Well, hello there Utcher."
The woman who wore her dark purple armour who we know as Viper Rattler was perched on a tree branch and smiling underneath her helmet. "Beaten by a teenage girl. Look how far you've fallen."
"She ain't called the Underestimated for nothing." Utcher retorted.
Viper jumped off the branch and offered Utcher a hand. "Speaking of Underestimated, we have a task to rescue our good friend from their prison."
"A prison break?" Utcher queried. "Do I look like a demolition's expert?"
Viper laughed. "My dear Utcher, did you forget my venom doesn't just blind my opponents, but can melt through certain things."
"So, who are we rescuing?" Utcher asked.
"The second best hunter in the multiverse." Viper replied. "And then, we need to get someone out of retirement."