Author's Note: I am so sorry this was posted a bit later than usual. I forgot what today was and remembered, like, an hour ago. Hope you enjoy!

GEGEG

Interesting…

Star slid across the floor, hitting a wall with a loud thud, dust filling the air around her. Eclipsa turned to face their attacker, gasping as, she too, was thrown back. Star jumped up, wand at the ready, and brightened the room to see who was pushing her and Eclipsa around.

"Show yourself, you…meanie," Star yelled as the figure began to appear. "Wait…Mina Loveberry!?" Next to her, Eclipsa stood up, dusting off her pink robe with an annoyed expression.

"Mud Sister, what're you doing with the Queen of Darkness," Mina asked, puzzled by the pair. She stepped forward, only stopping when she saw that Star wasn't lowering her wand.

"Uh…I can totally explain why I'm with Eclipsa," the teen looked over her shoulder for help from the older woman. Eclipsa shrugged, a look of doubt on her face. "We're uh, um, looking for the Commission! Yeah, we need to talk to them about…uh, Ms. Heinous," Star lied. Mina squinted at the two, not buying it.

"Star caught me. I have information on the headmistress' whereabouts," the former queen added. She pretended to be captured by the teen and kneeled before Star. Mina continued to look unconvinced, arms now folded across her chest.

"Well, yeah! You're her mother, after all. I'd be surprised if you didn't have information on Meteora," Mina stated bluntly. The two royals gasped in unison. Eclipsa frowned deeply at the bombshell, eyes looking off into the distance. Star was stunned into silence, but quickly recovered. The teen lowered her wand, cautiously placing it back in it's respective pocket and grabbed the dimensional scissors.

"That's why we need to see the Commission. But first," Star said as she pulled the shocked mother up with her free hand, "I have to hand her off to my parents, so we'll just…" Star quickly pulled out the scissors and pushed Eclipsa through the portal before Mina could react. Star hastily slid through the swirling vortex, closing it behind her as Mina charged at them.

"Where…are we," Eclipsa asked. She looked around before realizing they were in a completely different dimension.

"We're on Earth. It was the only place I could think of going without accidentally appearing in front of someone. Morning was approaching, which meant Marco could've been in my room, or my parents," Star said, clearly panicking. She waved the sharp tool around, causing Eclipsa to move away from her.

"But Star, these scissors belong in Butterfly Castle. Someone's going to see that they're missing," Eclipsa reminded, distraught as well. She was not ready to learn that the person everyone was looking for more than her was her very own daughter. The same child Eclipsa had almost been certain was dead.

"Don't you understand? Mina will tell everyone that me and you were together. My parents, the Commission, everyone will be looking for us. We're on the lam!" Star tugged at the sides of her hair, reminding Eclipsa of a young Moon.

"We need to find Ms. Heinous and confirm what we heard," the dark-haired woman said, pacing before the frightened teen. "But most importantly, I think we should return the scissors and get you in bed. If you're asleep, they won't believe that woman."

"I don't know if this'll work. I mean, yeah, Mina's crazy, but Rhombulus said that's why she was there. She was looking to see if you would show up to find your family." Star sighed. "No matter what we do, we're both wanted. If they find me, they'll lock me up or freeze me in a crystal." A thought crossed the teen's already crowded mind. "Great, who's gonna run the kingdom?!"

"Well, I think your mother's healed enough to run the kingdom again. We'll just have to find proof that something far more dubious is at play." Star nodded, a sad look in her eyes.

"Guess I couldn't handle the throne for that long, huh," Star said dejectedly.

"We'll have to worry about that later. Isn't your friend from Earth?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, it would make sense for him to look for us here," Eclipsa reasoned.

"Oh, you're right! Star facepalmed, groaning at her own stupidity. "We need to find a place to go without being caught."

"I mean, I managed to live inside the castle without anyone noticing. If we stay in the tunnels, we'll stay close to all information sources and be on familiar territory. Plus, I need to change," Eclipsa suggested, looking down at her dirty robe and slippers.

"Alright, I'll let you work the scissors then." Star handed the woman the pair of scissors. Eclipsa took her time as she tore a hole in the fabric of space. She slowly stuck her head out, looking both ways before entering where ever the portal led. She waved for Star to follow. Once the portal had closed, the two royals could hear guards running up and down corridors. Obviously, word had spread that Star Butterfly was with the evil queen, Eclipsa.

"Come on," the fugitive whispered to the blonde teen. Star followed her to a poorly maintenance room filled with horrifying winged rat creatures. Eclipsa removed a corner of a torn mattress to reveal a small stash of clothes and snookers. "Hungry?"

"A little, yeah. Have you been living in this dump?" Star grimaced as she took in the room's decrepit state. She watched as the former queen moved about the room with a sense of familiarity.

"Well, this used to be my room…back then. When I first moved in, I noticed that no one came to this part of the castle, so I made use of it once more." The dark-haired queen passed a candy bar to the teen. Star turned away to give the woman some privacy as she changed back into her dress.

GEGEG

Ever since Star had stormed out of the dining hall, Moon couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. She wanted to support her daughter, she just didn't know how. She tossed and turned for hours, an uneasy feeling keeping her from sleep. Just as she was finally drifting off to sleep, Marco slammed the door open. Moon sat up while River rolled off the bed in a flurry of tangled limbs and sheets.

"What? What is it, what's the matter," Moon asked, the uneasy feeling intensifying. Marco took a few deep breaths as he reached their bed, a look of fear and alarm gracing his face.

"Mina saw Star with Eclipsa," the boy breathed out. Moon and River gasped at the news. Moon slid out of bed, nearing Marco, hoping for a sign that it was some cruel prank.

"Wha-, Eclipsa?" River finally untangled himself and stood up to shake the teen. "Where are they?"

"We don't know, but they were at that one monster temple when Mina found them. Star said that she had captured Eclipsa, but then ran off with her after Mina said something. Heckapoo won't say what it was, but her and Rhombulus are freaking out!"

"Why would she be with Eclipsa," Moon questioned. She limped over to her window to look out at the rising sun. "It doesn't make any sense. After everything that's happened, why partner with her," the queen spat out. She didn't forgive the former queen for her injuries or for kidnapping Star.

"I'm not sure, but Star doesn't have my scissors so…," Marco thought aloud. Moon turned quickly, hurting her ribs in the process.

"River, the royal scissors!" River nodded, rushing out to see if they had been taken. "Marco, do you have any idea where she might have gone?" He shook his head.

"No. I checked her room, but it's empty. She wasn't in the Tapestry Room or the Dining Hall either. Mina's waiting in the Throne Room if you want to speak to her," Marco informed. Moon wrung her hands, worried about her daughter's latest decisions.

"I want to speak with the Commission, as well as Mina. I need answers."

GEGEG

Author's Note: Again, sorry this was later than usual. It feels like we might be nearing the end of this story, so buckle in kiddos!