Author's Note: Hey everyone, I don't have any real announcements other than thank you. Thank you to everyone who's still reading this story and anyone who comments. I really appreciate it and I should thank all of you more often. Without further ado, here's the latest chapter. Enjoy!

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The Truth Hurts

Star didn't think her mouth could open any wider or her brows stretch any higher. We're not true Butterfly descendants! Eclipsa solemnly stirred her bowl of cereal as her companion stood, dazed from the bombshell the queen had dropped on her.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but all of it's true. I've been sneaking around the castle and found the family history book your mother has in the library. When I saw that my successor wasn't my daughter, I paid a visit to the Commission. I learned that they had traded my daughter with a lowlife peasant and gave her the throne. I was so angry, I locked them away like they did to me and my beloved. You understand, don't you?"

"This changes everything! What am I supposed to tell my mother? She'll never believe me or you." The acting queen paced back in forth, that headache of hers threatening to return any second now. "What do I tell Marco and Ponyhead?"

"I don't think you should tell them. At least, you shouldn't tell them right now. Currently, I'm on the run for attacking the Commission and your mother. I'll be found guilty of those charges for sure." The older queen stood and tugged the teens hand, pulling Star with her up the stairs and into a secret tunnel hidden behind a tapestry. "Before I forget, I am sorry for attacking your mother. Once I learned that her image of me had been tainted by the Commission's lies, I regretted it."

"Thanks? Look, I would like to know where you're taking me," Star demanded as she followed the secretive woman. Her question was answered when they emerged in her room. "What the…?"

"I know everything's changed for you, but you've done great so far for Mewni. I thinks it's best if you kept this knowledge a secret until I can prove to your mother and Mewni that I had every reason to attack the Commission. The truth would split Mewni and cause a war no one needs to fight."

"I don't know," Star said as she neared her bed then suddenly turned around. "Wait…what happened to your daughter?"

"I don't know," she responded sadly. "They wouldn't tell me where she went after they switched her. She's probably dead by now anyways." Star looked at the tired woman in pity. That poor girl!

"Fine, I'll help you. But you have to lie low while I try to straighten everything out. Somewhere out there, a crazy woman is coming after me and Marco. I don't have Glossaryck or the spell book and my mom's still recovering." Star sat on her bed and put her head in her hands.

"You know, I could be of some assistance with your training. As for Glossaryck, I have him." Star picked her head up in shock.

"What do you mean you have Glossaryck?"

"Well, who did you think helped me find the family history book? I couldn't just walk into the library and look around. He made me work out his riddle first, but then I knew exactly where it was and avoided the guards."

"So, he does that to you too? Why can't he just tell us things without it being hidden in a riddle for once?" Star rolled her eyes at the thought of the stubborn blue man. "I'm definitely not telling Marco about this meeting or about what you told me about my family. I promise, I'll help you find your daughter too."

"Thank you, Star," Eclipsa said as she embraced the teen. "You're the only sane Mewman I know other than Globgor."

"Who's Globgor?"

"My monster husband, I hope you can meet him one day," she informed with a blush, "he's such a big softie." Star nervously smiled, nodding to keep the woman happy.

"Where's he at?" She instantly regretted asking when she saw Eclipsa's face fall.

"I'm not sure. I was frozen before anyone else, and I didn't think to ask about him. He's more than capable of taking care of himself." She tucked a stray strand of hair back into her wrap before yawning. "It's late, and you need your sleep. I'll try to come when you're alone to see if you've found anything else out."

"Okay," Star said as she felt a yawn growing, "we can talk after dinner tomorrow." The dark-haired queen left soon after, and Star changed for bed. She hoped things would be better in the morning.

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Star was the first one downstairs and received a plethora of kind words for her sacrifice while saving some of the Magic High Commission. She was too tired to correct them or send them away, so she ate while her staff fawned over her like a new born baby. As one servant quickly dashed off to grab another pitcher of orange juice, her parents entered the hall.

"Good morning, Star. Did you sleep well?" When the servants heard their real employers, they vacated the room with promises to dote on their beloved princess another time.

"Yeah, Dad. What about you two, feeling better now that I'm awake?"

"Of course, sweetie! All we needed was for you to open your eyes and say you were alright," Moon said happily. "Have you seen Marco yet?"

"No, I'm sure I'll see him eventually. I need to meet with Rhombulus and Heckapoo and see what they know about Ms. Heinous." The servant refilled Star's cup and left the pitcher should she want more. "Anything else I should know before I call for them?"

"We haven't seen them since that vile woman went on the run," River said haughtily. He crossed his arms and sniffed in annoyance.

"Which 'vile woman' would that be?" Star asked, clearly not in the mood to deal with riddles or the pronoun game.

"Ms. Heinous, Star. They seemed to panic when Mina told them that Ms. Heinous had been sucking the souls out of young princesses. Then Heckapoo asked if she had gone to the Monster Temple, which Mina said yes but didn't find 'it', whatever 'it' is."

"And you didn't ask for a full update?" Star facepalmed and let out an angry sigh. Why didn't they ask follow-up questions?

"Star, I was more concerned about your health than some Monster Temple!" Moon huffed angrily at her stubborn daughter. "I can't exactly do anything about her or the Commission in my state."

"But you still could have asked for more details. You're the Queen of Mewni, not some bystander."

"Star, that's no way to talk to your mother!" River was appalled by Star's sudden change in behavior. "She stayed by your side from the second you collapsed until you finally woke up. Apologize at once." Star growled in frustration and jumped up from her seat.

"I am not apologizing for anything. You might have just put us in more danger by passing on the chance to find out more from them before they left. I'm meeting with them alone." The rebellious teen brushed her dress clean of crumbs and walked passed her parents. "I'm not going to sit by and let people get hurt because of mine and Marco's mistakes." Without another word, she walked out of the dining hall to summon Heckapoo and Rhombulus.

"I think she's let the power get to her head," River said as he turned back to his wife.

"No, I think it's more than that. I think…I think she still feels guilty about Eclipsa attacking me and now she doesn't want history to repeat itself." Moon stared at her plate of food. "She's maturing, but I'm worried how this is really affecting her. We've fought before, but never like this."

"I'm sure that this is all too much to wake up to. She wasn't on Mewni for a year, and now that she's back and suddenly she has to rule like she's been doing it her whole life. She just needs to readapt and then she'll be back to her old self."

"I don't know, River. She rushes into things headfirst and I worry. I can't argue that I probably should have asked for more details, but I didn't know if she'd wake up again." Moon dejectedly ate her breakfast, River doing the same. The door opened quickly, and for a second, the couple thought Star had returned to apologize.

"Hey, Queen Moon, you're out of the infirmary," Marco said as he walked over to his seat. "What's wrong, the two of you look miserable?"

"Star's awake," Moon said wretchedly.

"That's a good thing, isn't it?" Marco looked confused. The two of them had been worrying that she would never wake up again. Now, she's awake and the two were acting like she had died or something. "Is she alright?"

"Star's upset because we spent more time fretting over her than running the kingdom. She found out about Ms. Heinous and was upset that we didn't collect details on her movements and actions," informed the distraught king. "She yelled at us and stormed out before you showed up."

"That doesn't sound like Star. She's always wanted the two of you to dote on her and now she doesn't. Do you want me to talk to her?"

"No, thank you, Marco. She'll cool down and come to us eventually. It's just a lot to deal with when you've been sleeping peacefully for four days," River told the young boy. Moon pushed her plate away, no longer hungry after she replayed Star's outburst for a third time.

"If you'll excuse me, I'm going to my study to think," Moon said as she stood to leave. "I've lost my appetite and I just want some time to myself." The worn queen slowly walked out with her head down. River frowned deeply and turned back to Marco.

"Star really laid into her mother. I'm worried about both of them. Moon seems tired more and more each day and Star's throwing all caution to the wind while she's filling in for her mother." River sighed as he slouched in his chair. He felt like his family was falling apart and there wasn't much he could do to stop it.

"That bad?" The king nodded. "When Star was on Earth, she hated the idea of becoming queen someday. She didn't want to become some emotionless monarch with a bland lifestyle. I think she still feels that way, but she's changed since Toffee's attack. She's dedicated herself to becoming a better princess and person, so this is probably her way of trying to show the two of you that she did listen to all your advice. She's probably worried about your safety and how she needs to handle this. I mean, she asked for details!"

"I think you've got a point Marco. She's thinking this through for once, which is something she hasn't really done before. I'll be sure to repeat this to Moon, she'll be happy to hear your analysis of things." River perked up and quickly finished his breakfast. "We're lucky to have you here," he declared with a smile.

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Author's Note: Sorry for the awkward cut off, but I didn't want it to get too long. Like I previously stated in the last chapter, I'm trying to move towards Eclipsa being a 'good' person but it's going to take some time. Thanks for reading!