Unexpected Teamwork

"Wha-wait, can you repeat that again?" Star's jaw was practically on the floor. Did I just hear what I think I heard? Maybe I'm dreaming or Mom's lost her marbles.

"Honestly, Star, I don't know what the big deal is. All I said was we should start allowing monsters to mix with Mewmans. It's not like I'm telling you you're getting married to some random prince," Moon calmly repeated. Star rubbed her eyes and pinched her arm.

"O…kay, I guess?"

"Star, you're the one who told me to 'get with the times'. I'm only following your advice and embracing your point of view. If it's too much for you, then we can just forget about it and move on with your training." Moon finished scribbling a few notes on a piece of parchment before returning her focus on Star.

"I mean, yeah, that's what I said. I just…never thought you'd think about it," said a dumbfounded Star. "I never imagined you…becoming friends with any monster…like, ever!"

"Star, people can change. Well, what's your answer; help the monsters or ignore them like always?"

"Mo-mom! We can't ignore them. Look at how they live, it's just sad. The only bad monsters I ever met worked for Ludo, and that was because they needed a job to survive. Buff Frog became my friend after Ludo sacked him. I think that's proof enough that we can trust them." Star sat down in front of her mother. Odd, I never brought up helping monsters, but Marco wouldn't have ratted me out. Maybe she is willing to change, which means I won't have to listen to Eclipsa! "Woohoo! Whoops, didn't realize I was cheering out loud…my bad."

"It's alright Star. Now, let's discuss how we're going to start introducing monsters into the kingdom," said the queen as she raised her cup of tea. She took a long sip and waited for her daughter to respond.

"Well, we could start with Buff Frog. He did help you with Toffee after all. We could…give him a royal…status?" Star raised her arms in question.

"That's a start. What else could we do to show the monsters we want to be their friends?" Moon smiled, enjoying the rare moments she could watch her daughter in deep thought.

"Oh, I know! Let's give them access to the corn. We could grow more to feed both monsters and Mewmans. If both sides are full of food, then they'll be happy. And…it'll show that we really want to be friends because we cherish corn so much!" Star jumped on top of her seat, slamming her hands down on Moon's desk. Moon leaned back, shocked by her daughter's intensity.

"Star, have you been thinking about this for a while?"

"Actually…yes. See, back on Earth we celebrated Mewnipendence Day, but Marco pointed out how unfair we fought. Then, I saw Buff Frog, who had just been fired by Toffee, and he looked hungry. So, I left a plate of corn on the window. Ever since, I haven't seen monsters as, well, monsters."

"Star, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because everyone on Mewni hates monsters. I was afraid you'd bring me back because I was becoming evil. Besides, you would've been really mad to find out that I was still fighting monsters on Earth."

"Star…well, I can't argue there. The important thing is that now I trust you and I'm willing to try trusting monsters. My dislike for monsters won't disappear overnight, but I will try." Moon rested her hand on top of Star's. A smile stretched across her daughter's face in response.

"Thanks, Mom, it means a lot to me." Star crawled back into her chair. "So, what's next?"

"I think we'll leave it there for now. Why don't you run along and see how Marco's doing?"

"Okay! I'll see you at lunch. Byyyeeee!" Blonde hair streamed out of the room leaving the queen to sit in silence.

"So," thought Moon aloud, "she was already thinking of ways to help monsters. That might be the only reason Eclipsa wanted her help. I guess it can't be helped. We'll have to let monsters in now to avoid a massive war with Eclipsa at the head. Still, what could be Eclipsa's ulterior motives?"

River, I'll be back. I'm going to talk to some people, watch the kids," Moon called as she dressed to sneak out. From around the corner, she heard her husband's heavy footsteps.

"But Moon, where are you going so late?"

"I'll be back, it's to see if Eclipsa is lurking around the castle. I've been having an uneasy feeling. Don't tell them anything about me leaving. I still don't want Star to find out that we know Eclipsa's plans for her," whispered Moon in River's ear.

"Understood! Be careful, Moon-pie!" River kissed his wife's small hand before leaving to watch the two teens. Moon pulled her hood up and rode off towards the cornfield. She couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.

Meanwhile, Star was in the process of ending her conversation with Eclipsa. She had relayed her day's events with her mother as well as all the planning they had talked about. Star began to ramble before realizing she had said too much.

"…and then I realized I'd never talked about monster equality with my mother, but I had with Marc-, I mean, myself. Yes, myself and no one else…at all." Star tried to hide the fact that she had revealed her secret, but the damage was done.

"What do you mean, you told Marco? No one was to know of our deal or plans because then it would have been all for naught." Eclipsa's voice was filled with anger and impatience. Star backed away from her wand, scared that the dark queen would reach out and grab her. Before the frightened princess could react, the small communication portal disappeared. Seconds later, the purple outline of a ball could be seen soaring through the air.

At first, Star thought that it was going to hit the castle, but realized its target was some ways off. She's going to destroy our corn field! Without that, we can't make a deal with the monsters! Star's heart raced as she watched the ball descend towards the domed corn field. In horror, she realized that the ball was aiming for an entirely different target: her mother.