"Marco dear are you sure you're okay with this?" Eclipsa asked for the third time as she pointed her umbrella filled with magic at her youngest knight as he held a shield.
"Positive, as a knight it's my duty to help. Besides, I've taken on Star's unicorn stampede with just my hands. Helping you with some old spells should be simple enough."
"Alright but let no one say I didn't give you the option to say no."
It had been a spur of the moment thing for Eclipsa. She'd wanted to practice some magic as after seeing both Star and Moon use magic without a wand realized it would probably be a good idea start honing her skills again.
Such a kind boy, best start with something simple.
The tip of her umbrella glowed purple as she spoke the words. "Shadow undertow."
Seconds later a purple wave covered the area under him before he sank waist deep into the floor. After a minute of using his shield to dig himself out he got up. "Okay not as dark as I thought."
"Oh I'm just warming up. Up up down down now your world is upside down." She happily sang while swishing her umbrella.
Marco barely had time to act before he was pulled up by an invisible force and rapidly spun around before leaving him upside down and near sick.
"Okay… stomach tapping out."
"Come now Marco these were just my whimsical spells. I haven't gotten to the combat ones yet." As she raised her umbrella again the door swung up and a slightly annoyed Tom walked in with Meteora gripping his horns while an amused Star followed.
"Hey Eclipsa, I know you said not to come in, but your baby is trying to use my horns as a pacifier and I'd rather not risk losing one in a magical mishap."
They stopped however when Eclipsa's eyes began to glow bright purple and she began to chant.
Marco seeing this tried to move but being stuck upside down could only wiggle.
"Uhhhh little help you guys?"
In a flash Tom gave Meteora to Star before blasting off aiming for Marco hoping to tackle him out of the way.
He'd just reached Marco when he heard the last of Eclipsa's words.
"-feminine surprise" Tom took the blast full on but successfully managed to get Marco out of the way before crashing into a pile of magical smoke and flames.
Everyone rushed over hoping that the worst hadn't happened.
Marco was the first out of the cloud coughing before rapidly patting himself and checking for any changes. After finding only a slightly torn hoodie he relaxed. Star once seeing he was unharmed turned to Eclipsa.
"Eclipsa!"
The dark queen simply shrugged. "What it was just my gender swap spell. I simply wanted to see a true princess Marco."
Hearing this the two teens relaxed until they heard Tom coughing and groaning. Or to be more precise how it was coming out higher and decidedly more feminine. With a good wave Tom lurched out holding his head.
"Why does everything feel off?" he stopped when he saw how everyone was looking at him.
"What's going on?" That's when he noticed the change in his voice and how his clothes felt loose. Immediately he grabbed Marco's shield and looked at his reflection. Truthfully, it wasn't as bad as he thought. His face was nearly the same just a little bit more angular. His reddish pink hair now extended to his shoulders but other than that he was still the same.
"Please tell me I hit my head and I'm just hallucinating that I'm a girl."
Marco came up putting his hand on his now female friend's shoulder. "Hey don't worry Tom I'm sure it's just a simple matter of recasting the spell and you'll be back to normal. Right Eclipsa?" but instead of getting the reassuring answer she and Marco were looking for she bit her lip and looked away.
"About that Marco… you see this particular spell of mine could possibly not work on Tom again."
Hearing this Tom ignited scorching the ground and forcing Marco told hold her back. "What!?"
"Sorry to say Tom but magic and demons don't usually mix well. What with the multiple souls and general instability and all. Usually when I cast this spell it wears off in few hours. Originally I used this on certain noblemen who needed to learn a women's perspective in our society."
Tom looked down at her now pointed black nails and asked. "So, I'm stuck like this?"
Eclipsa thought for a moment. "Can't say for certain. I'm more familiar with monsters then demons. Back in my day the only time demons were on Mewni were to cause havoc and raise the dead."
Before Tom could blow her top Marco had an idea. "Wait, what about your grandpa? Isn't he pretty knowledge in demons and rituals?"
Tom hearing this quickly hugged Marco. "That's right! Great idea Marco."
As she hugged him Tom felt something inside her ignite. This wasn't her usual anger or demonic rage. No this was something different. Something that made her not want to let go of Marco.
Why can't I let go? No, why should I let go? He's my friend my… best friend… my… mine!
Before she could stop it her tail had sprouted and began happily swish back and forth. Star and Eclipsa stared at the usually fiery demon happily hugging Marco and both let out an adorable aww.
"uhhh Tom?"
Hearing Star's voice managed to snap her out of whatever got into her and she jumped back looking embarrassed.
"What just happened?"
"You kind of latched onto Marco."
"Ohh… well that's just embarrassing. How about we just agree that it was the magic talking and head to the underworld already." The three teens nodded as Marco pulled out his scissors and cut a portal to the underworld. Once they were gone Eclipsa scooped up Meteora and laughed.
"I'm sure they'll have an amusing story to tell when they get back."
Meanwhile as the portal closed and the gang walked up the flaming steps to Tom's house Tom was finding it extremely hard to look away from Marco.
Why is this happening!? I've been around him dozens of times and only seen him as a friend, or brother at the most. Now when I see him in his stupid red hoodie… no, his awesome hoodie dyed an awesome blood red that no doubt has his smell soaked into every fiber. Woah! Back up Tom the fuck did that thought come from? But as they got closer and she saw how Star and Marco were walking a bit to closely she let out a low predatory growl before quickly grabbing his arm and moving him away from Star and to the door.
As the door opened Tom's father was the first to greet him. "Hey kids what brings you heerrrrree?" he stopped seeing his son was not only a girl but how two of her eyes were looking at him while her third was focused on the young human boy.
"Uh Tom what's going on?"
"Eclipsa accidently changed me into a girl. We're hoping grandpa has a way I can change back."
Before they could call out to her grandpa her gigantic mother entered the room with an exited stomp. One look at her son turned daughter and she scooped all three up before speaking in quick and excited growls. Tom did his best to answer her rapid questions while Marco and Star waited."
"Mom- no I'm not wearing – no like I just said it was a spell that- no I can't just change back that's why-"
Lost in the amazement her powers ran wild and a deadly storm quickly formed outside slamming the door shut as she set them down before running off coming back seconds later with her father and a camera which she proceeded to take dozens of pictures with as a multitude of magma tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Sorry if my mom is a bit excited. Always said she wanted a boy and a girl."
"IT's fine, my parents do the same thing."
Once she was immersed in the various pictures her grandfather hovered around Tom examining her hair and horns as well as placing a flaming hand over her head before flying over to Star sniffing and cocking his head before latching on to Marco and crawling all over screeching as he worked.
"Tom please explain!" Marco screamed desperately trying to pry the screeching old demon from his leg.
"Well grandpa said something about Mewman magic and muttering curses. Not sure if he means magic curses or swearing." He jumped off Marco and onto Tom's back before pointing to Marco and emitting a noise that was a mix of a screech and a chuckle. Tom's face reddened as she thanked the lords of the underworld that Marco and Star couldn't understand what he said.
However, her mother hearing this clapped her hands over her mouth as her tears ran down.
Star seeing this asked the obvious question. "So, what's he say?" The old demon chuckled again before jumping onto his bookcase and pulling a book causing the bookcase to swing into his study.
"He says there might be a way to turn me back but for this to work Marco will have to stay here for the next few days." She didn't know why but just by repeating this she got excited.
"Really? Sure there's not some ancient scroll or enchanted treasure that can turn you back?"
A very loud screech came seconds later and before Tom could translate Star stopped him. "I'll take that as a firm no. Well don't worry I'll stick around until your back to the old tome we all know and love." And that was her intent until her phone rang and her father popped up screaming about a sighting of her mother followed by a cry for battle. Star looked from her father to her two friends.
"Star you go ahead. Tom and I can rock this quest tag team style right Tom?" he asked raising for a fist bump which was quickly returned.
"Alright but keep me informed." Marco cut her a portal home before turning to Tom.
"So how do you want to pass the time? Helping your grandpa with his work? Or maybe keep your manly spirit alive by marathon of action movies?"
Tom thought for a moment.
Grandpa probably doesn't need our help. If we go down there he'll just latch onto Marco and screech. No! I'm the only demon that gets to hold onto him!
She shook her head trying to discourage those thoughts. Her mother seeing how her new daughter was acting tapped her husband and letting out a low growl.
"Alright honey I got it. Marco mind if I speak with you Mewman to human?"
He said leading Marco to his man cave leaving Tom alone with his mother who once alone asked the obvious question. Tomes face went a dark red when asked point blank if she had feelings for Marco.
"What!? No! he's just my best friend. Besides I might look like a girl, but I am a guy. I dated Star for a time remember?"
In response she crossed her arms and huffed nearly knocking Tom over with her powerful breath.
"What? Oh fine, maybe this magic is messing with me alright. So, I keep thinking about him, and his looks, his jokes, how he has the cute little mole on his cheek. But that doesn't mean anything…right?" she asked worrying more and more.
She scooped Tom up and smiled before pointing to her body and creating two small fires in the shape of a male and female demon. "Mom please tell me you're not about to give me the talk again. I already know about the skull birds and inferno bees." Her mother shook her head before the two demons changed into Marco and a now female Tom. After a moment the Tom demon's fire grew unstable before latching on to Marco. After a moment the Marco fire hugged the Tom demon and helped her up before two small blue hearts formed inside them. As the fire died down her mother smiled happily.
"Wait, you're saying that because he was so important to me as a friend and because as demon royalty I'm more susceptible to my demon instincts I've started seeing him a mate?"
She nodded before setting her down and clapping her hands shaking the room in her excitement. She gave her a reminder of the house rules before winking and happily skipping around the house hanging her new pictures. Tom looked in the direction her dad had taken Marco and his lingering scent in the air before running to her room. Once inside she threw off her clothes jumped into her lava pit hoping that bath in molten fire would clear her mind.
I just like him as a friend and nothing more. Just a friend. Just my friend. Just my best friend. Someone I can hang out with that gets me. So what if your new body is sending you crazy signals. Doesn't' mean he feels the same.
Slowly crawling to the edge and letting out a breath of fire she had a strange but exciting thought.
But what if he did? What if he just needed a bit of a push? I mean he's currently not seeing anyone. And he did say that he and Star are in a bit of a friendzone limbo.
She drummed her fingers on the edge before shooting up.
"No, not going to entertain those thoughts. This is just temporary anyway. Grandpa will fix me and then we'll go back to just being best friends." But as she looked at her now body in the mirror her mind fantasied about kissing Marco and she prayed her grandpa would find the cure soon before she did something she hopefully would regret.