And we're back! If you're wondering about my other fic, updates are coming soon! Got some nice fluffy stuff coming, but if you know me, you know what happens afterward lol... Enjoy!
"Good morning, Marco," Star half-sang through a yawn. When she rolled away from the bright morning, she found her husband's side of the bed unoccupied. The sheets were neatly folded and tucked into the mattress, but they were still warm and smelled of him. Dutiful King Marco probably left only twenty minutes ago. How typical of him, she sighed with disappointment. Unless he rearranged his morning schedule, he never stayed in bed. And the last time that happened was five years ago when they were trying for Jupiter. Those times might return again, Star smiled wickedly. As much as she wanted to blurt out her plans over the bond, she knew it had to be discussed in person. She must bide her time.
And that time was coming soon, judging from the note on Marco's pillow. Good morning, my bright and shining Star, it read, I know you're busy being an amazing queen, but Tom and I are demonstrating fighting techniques for the squires today at two o'clock. You should come if you can. I'd love for you to be there when I kick Tom's tail ;). Anyways, have a nice day. Love, Marco.
Aren't you a bad boy, Marco? Star grinned into her pillow. Did she imagine the flirty tone in his words, or was it really there? Her mind conjured images of Marco brandishing his rapier with a crowd cheering around him. Sweat drenched his hoodie and glistened on his skin, wafting his pheromones into her nose. It called to her in an alluring song, and just thinking about it made her thighs quiver. I'm so gonna be there, she decided in an instant. What a perfect opportunity to pop the question—right after a victorious battle.
Determination surged in her blood, and Star promptly headed to the bathroom to bathe and dress. Steam enveloped her body when she reemerged, making her skinny jeans and t-shirt cling awkwardly to her small, thin frame. Despite the many royal ball gowns in her possession, she preferred to conduct her royal business in her casual clothes, unless circumstance demanded otherwise. Since there was a townhall today, the queen wanted to be approachable to her subjects. Only her crown-headband would set her apart from the average Mewman.
Where is it? Star wondered. Marco always told her to put the crown in the same place each night, but the thrill of looking for it each morning was too much to pass up. It became a great guessing game that took her all over the three stories of the bedroom tower. Would it be resting on one of the piles of clothes on the first floor or hidden in the armory on the second? She scanned the usual places but found nothing. Next, she tried under the bed. Nope. On top of the TV? Nope. Hanging on the wall, in the jacuzzi, or on the spiral staircase that led to the upper levels? Still no. Frustrated, she broadened her search to the balcony and closet. Has the crown disappeared out of the universe? She scratched her head when both places turned up empty.
A gentle whine from Sajak, her favorite laser doggie, kept her calm. Magic gave him and his pack a long life, but gray flecked his muzzle, showing his age. Yet with the passing of one generation came the rising of another. Their pups now raced around the room just as they did years ago. Marco II barked at the exotic fish swimming in the aquarium on the second floor. Barco Diaz Jr. and Mr. Butterfly played tug-of-war with the king's nunchucks on the highest floor near the Blood Moon crystal in the ceiling. Lady Heartbreaker and Skullcrusher chewed on the tapestry of the kingdom, but their father, Marco Jr., growled to make them stop. However, the youngest pup was missing.
"Sirius? Where are you?" Star called.
"Bork!" a pony-sized mound of yellow and white fur leapt from one of the upper levels. In one of Sirius's mouths dangled the red and gold crown.
"What a smart boy!" she gave him a hug and cooed. "Who's my favorite two-headed hell-corgi? You are!"
"Arr!" Sirius shook his tailless rear while his father, Sajak, looked on with pride.
The pup had unusual beginnings. A few months ago, Sajak disappeared without a trace. At first, no one worried about it—the wily leader loved to pick fights with the strays in town. But days turned into weeks, and not even Higgs's finest knights could find him. Then one night, during a fierce storm, Sajak returned with a surprise in his jaws—a newborn pup the same size as him. Cerberus, the three-headed Guardian of the Lucitor family, birthed a litter of pups with him, and poor Sirius was the runt. His oldest sister, a large three-headed shepherd named Alpha, tried to eat him, so Sajak took the pup to live in the Butterfly castle. Tom said he'd reach full size in a hundred years; however, Star knew Sirius was already almost too big for her room.
Star studied the purple jewel nestled between the red devil horns on her headband. It fit her perfectly: regal and rebellious, daredevil and queen, warrior and ruler. How will future generations see me? she watched her reflection through the stone.
Her image partially depended on her tapestry once it was finished. Every queen had one, which depicted her greatest achievement during her reign. But just one, and they didn't have any say as to which moment the magic chose. It seemed unfair—Star never realized it until now. How could she sum up her entire life in one image, especially since her most badass moments were in the past? There had to be more to do. There had to be another mountain to climb or enemy to defeat. This couldn't be the end of her story—not yet.
"I feel ya," Glossaryck appeared from the Notebook of Spells, Star's reconstruction of the destroyed Book of Spells. "Peace is overrated."
"I wouldn't go that far," she said.
"Sure, but I know you're thinking it, whether you admit it or not. Don't make that face, Star; I'm supposed to know everything because it's my job. Just like it's your job to fight. Butterfly queens are made for war."
"Made for war?" she echoed.
He eyed her, "You never questioned why you can turn into a six-armed flying freak-of-nature?"
"I thought it was for attracting mates."
"That's only one function of the Butterfly form, missy," Glossaryck corrected her through an amused chuckle. "Of course, it's the one that gets the most mileage, but really, I created it for battle."
"Mom's Mewberty books never went into that."
"Think of it this way," he continued. "The Butterfly form comes from magic, and magic can be anything. Including a weapon. I'm not saying it's supposed to be, mind you, but look at the history. The old Monster civilizations discovered magic as a way to commune with the spirits, but they learned that they could use it to defeat their enemies. Later, the Mewmans learned magic from the Monsters and bred it into their royal line. Since the Mewmans have been warring against the Monsters and other kingdoms for thousands of years, the queens picked mates to ensure their daughters would be stronger and tougher. Many generations later, you came and broke the chain. Congrats, kiddo, you did it."
Star rocked on her heels. "Is that a good thing?" She thought of Etheria's accusations that Marco would dilute the Butterfly gene pool with his human blood, but the twins showed no signs of being weak because of their father. Plus, the Mewman-Monster wars were over forever.
"Depends on who you ask," Glossaryck shrugged. "And I wouldn't get used to it. Death isn't necessarily the end of things."
"What do you mean?"
Glossaryck covered his mouth, "Oops, I've said too much. The other spirits had me swear to secrecy, and I almost blabbed. Have a nice day!" Before she could ask anything else, he vanished into the notebook.
Star instinctually checked the sky and saw nothing besides the rising sun and a few clouds. Her magic teacher's words sounded prophetic, but the Blood Moon didn't appear. In fact, she hadn't seen the mystical spirit since the war. It didn't even show up when she danced with Marco anymore. Maybe even the Blood Moon tired of peace. Weird, Star glanced at the Notebook of Spells one more time before leaving the room. If she didn't start her townhall soon, she'd be late.
On her way down the hall, she checked on the kids. They had places to be too. "C'mon, my little warriors," she knocked on each bedroom door. "It's morning."
Andromeda answered the call and emerged in her dark green skirt and thick leggings. "Reporting for duty, Your Majesty!" she saluted playfully. The chainmail she wore over her blue hoodie jingled.
"At ease, Your Highness," Star laughed gently. "All is well on the war front." Mother and daughter smiled.
"I can't wait to see Dad and Uncle Tom fight this afternoon," the princess grinned.
"Me neither," Star replied. "I'll be there."
"And then I get to show the other squires my new wand. Today's gonna be fucking fantastic!" cheered Andromeda.
"Language, Andie." Star folded her arms. "Remember, Jupiter can hear you."
"She isn't around, Mom. Also, I doubt she knows what fucking is."
"And do you know what it is?"
"I'm fourteen."
You're still a kid, believe it or not, Star wanted to say, but she knew Andromeda had to learn that lesson on her own. She felt the same once. If only I knew what I do now.
"And I'm almost six years old," Jupiter announced as she left her room, carrying her mother's old short sword. "I'm going to start my training soon."
"Yes, you will," Star said. "And I think I know who your mentor will be if you can keep a secret."
The young girl's eyes widened into shiny blue skies, so Star brought her close enough to whisper her knowledge. "I think it'll be Sir Katrina. Aunt Higgs and I were talking about it a few weeks ago. But don't tell anyone."
Jupiter crossed her heart solemnly, "I promise."
"Or it'll be Aunt Jackie since someone still isn't up yet!" Andromeda glared at Orion's door.
Suddenly, the prince burst into the hallway, summoned by the silent thoughts in the princess's mind. "I was getting dressed, Andie. Geez!" he slid his chainmail over his pink shirt.
"Hurry up, slowpoke," Andromeda skipped down the hall. "We've got learning to do!"
He shook his head and sighed, "I don't get her, Mom. We're not even fighting today. It's just a boring study on how to defend against magical creatures, but why should I bother? I have magic. Nothing can defeat me."
"It's important to know other ways to fight," Star said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "A lot of the techniques you're learning will make you better with the wand. I wished I paid more attention to my mother's lessons."
"I guess," he relented. "I'll try to put more effort into my training but just for you, Mom."
She gave him a hug, which drove away the pain of being without her mother. Time did not diminish how much she missed Moon. If only she was here to see her grandchildren grow up. "I better not get any more complaints from Higgs about your attendance," Star told her son when they separated.
"Ah, who cares? Aunt Higgs isn't my mentor."
"But she is your Captain."
"And I'm her future king."
"Not if you don't pass your training. Now, run along, Rye."
The prince raced after his sister, and Star escorted Jupiter to her kindergarten class downstairs. With all the kids accounted for, the queen left the castle and headed for the royal stables. The sun's warmth just touched the waking dimension, turning the sky a creamy pink. As Dartuk crept towards its conclusion, the ever-growing night tested the dominion of the day by shaving off hours of its presence—twenty at midsummer to fourteen now. And even with the sun's return, it was still cold enough for frost to dust shingles and the tops of distant hills. Star shivered in her light jacket, wishing she grabbed something heavier when the crisp wind raised goosebumps on her exposed flesh. I need to tell Manfred to start keeping the fireplaces lit all night, she made a mental note to herself. The Mewmans and Monsters readily adopted air conditioning in the summer but not central heating. Many still loved the romance of fire in stoves.
In the paddocks outside of the stable, warnicorns grazed and nibbled on their morning serving of oats poured into troughs. A particular grey head swiveled in Star's direction when she approached. "Hey, Sir Runs-A-Lot," she called. "How's my old man?"
The gelding slowly trod towards the fence line, portraying the limp that forced him out of service only a few years after the war. During a skirmish against Mewman anti-Monster separatists, Sir Runs-A-Lot stumbled into a trap and fractured his leg in several places. The injury was so severe that the stablemaster suggested putting him down, but the valiant warhorse defied the odds. Although Star never rode him again, he served as a gentle mount to the kids when they were younger, and he loved to beg for sugar cubes from passersby.
"I know, I got you some sugar," Star offered held him a treat. "Don't get too fat. I might have another child for you to teach in a few years. You better be here for that."
Sir Runs-A-Lot nickered softly.
"Good, now I'll be back later. Run free, my handsome man."
The warnicorn stiffly trotted off, and the queen continued to the stable. Inside, the grooms finished saddling her new mount, Nova. She towered over them at about seventeen hands high, standing firm on four stout, black legs. She got her hulking build from her mother, a Kingsguard mare, but her bright bay color came from her sire, Star's Windracer, Blood Moon's Fiery Light. The grooms noticed the queen's arrival and dipped their heads in greeting.
"No need for the formalities, guys," she insisted.
The older groom ducked his head in embarrassment. "I know, Star, we're still used to the old days," he said earnestly. "How does Nova look?"
"Very shiny," she said and patted the warnicorn's nose in approval. "I can't wait to take her out on the townhall."
"I'm sure the people are looking forward to it too," replied the groom. "They love having an audience with the Queen of Mewni."
"And I can't wait either," Janna led her deadhorse mare, Bloodlust, out of the shadows. The Queen of the Underworld blended in with her black shirt and torn jeans. "Since our husbands are going to beat each other up, I might as well join you."
"Awesome!" Star smiled as she mounted her horse. "Although, we both know my husband's totally gonna win."
"I don't doubt it," Janna shrugged. "Tom hasn't fought anything since the Duel."
"None of us have."
"The Separatist wars?"
"That was over in less than a month, and our side didn't suffer a loss."
Janna considered the thought for a moment. "I guess," she nodded. "So where are we riding to?"
"Just in the town around the castle—it's their turn. I hit the smaller towns last week."
"And I have a feeling you wanna be back in time to see Marco."
"That too."
"There's no shame in admitting it," Sir Kelly rode in on her jet-black warhorse, Rancor. The warrior wore her long, bushy, green hair in a ponytail. She kept giant claymore in a scabbard attached to her saddle, and the emerald embedded in the pommel blazed in the light. "I'm on escort duty today," the knight added. "I know Andromeda and Darrion can handle a few hours of self-study."
Star beamed with pride, then said, "We won't keep you too long."
"Oh, I know," the knight snickered. "You both have men to watch. I mean, I do too, but it's different."
After a laugh, the queens and their knight journeyed out of the castle grounds and into the waking town. Aside from the farmers, who were already out in the fields, the other townspeople had just finished late breakfast and now headed to work. They lined up at trolley stops, waiting for the arrival of the massive coaches pulled by lion-dragons. Star knew to start her townhall before they clogged the narrow cobblestone streets. Her appearance put smiles on the worker's often-sullen, stressed faces. Monsters and Mewmans waved to the queens as they passed, and a few stopped her to chat about their lives. One of them fainted when Janna gave them an autograph.
Of course, things didn't start out this way. When the kingdom started to rebuild after the war, the generations' deep divide between Monster and Mewmans caused tensions to flare. The Mewmans were fine riding into battle with the Monsters, but now they had to learn to live in a united world. While spearheading the rebuilding process, Star also had to suppress insurrections from Mewman supremacists who terrorized the countryside. After warring against them, she focused on community outreach to keep Mewni united. The formation of the Avarius and Musty Mountain Kingdoms gave the Monsters a real voice in the royal courts through Queen Eclipsa and King Ludo. As of five years ago, tensions had largely disappeared, and relations had improved.
"Good morning, Star Butterfly," Principal Buff Frog waved from the front steps of his school for Monsters and Mewmans.
"Morning, Buff Frog," she stopped her warnicorn. "How's school?"
"We're having a great year," he grinned. "I find that the kids have taken to this new world quicker than us grownups. We have our first cornball game against Echo Creek Elementary this Saturday. Katrina and Dmitri have been working hard to get the team ready."
"I'd love to come! You know Jupiter is a huge fan of cornball."
"Excellent. We get to practice on humans before rivalry night against Spiderbite Prep. Maybe this year we can crush them like puny, little bugs!"
"I might come too," said Janna. "I love watching kids hurt each other."
Buff Frog laughed, "Of course. Anyways, have a nice Moving Townhall, Star Butterfly. Tell the kids and Karate King, I said hello."
"Will do," she promised.
They met a few other familiar faces along the ride. Sensei opened an Earth martial arts dojo a few months ago. The Monsters from the Monster Bash operated a clothing store. In the corner of the town square, Chloe worked in her blacksmith shop. It smelled of metal and fire and sweat—charred and pungent. Through the flying embers, Star spied the blacksmith pounding a lump of orange-hot metal into the shape of a sword. When Chloe saw her, she swiftly told Igor, one of Buff Frog's sons, to take over so she could talk.
"Good morning, Star," she greeted and wiped the sweat off her face. "I see Jackie's busy watching the squires."
"Yep," Kelly nodded. "It's her turn this time."
"Bummer, but I'll see her at the demonstration this afternoon," Chloe replied.
Sparks belched from the billowing furnace like meteors streaking across the sky. Janna gathered some of the fire into her palm. "Amazing to think this woulda hurt once," she smirked.
"Mewni has changed all of us," Chole remarked. "But all is well. I don't have much to report, Star, besides that I wish I had a dozen more kids to help run the shop."
"Is that what you're gonna talk to Jackie about?" teased Kelly.
The blacksmith playfully held a finger to her lips. "Would be nice if Darrion took interest in blacksmithing, but he's got too much Jackie in him." After a laugh, she added, "I have a great apprentice, so I can't complain."
While Star knew her friend was joking, the comment stirred the secret desires in her heart, and she began to dwell on them again. If Marco was here, she'd steal away with him to their secret place and let Janna conduct the rest of the townhall. Even with all of the changes in the Butterfly kingdom, the meadow remained a private sanctuary free from titles and responsibility. It was the place where Star and Marco could simply be together, laying in each other's arms as the moon, sun, and stars trekked across the sky.
But for now, Star needed to accept her queenly duties, so she banished the tantalizing memory of the Prince's Ball. Time and place, she exhaled to release her pent feelings. After saying goodbye to Chloe, the queen led her small party around the town, and in two hours, the townhall ended. With everything in order, they decided to celebrate another successful ride at the Cornshakes Café. The sweet dairy and corn beverages refreshed them.
"Here's to another day in paradise," Kelly held up her drink and cheered. "I should come along more often—this was fun."
"Wait until you have to ride through the Underworld in full armor," Janna quipped. "You'll be singing a different tune then."
"Don't get so haughty, Queen Ordonia-Lucitor," the knight lifted her chin. "We Kingsguard knights can handle anything—even heat."
"Bet?"
"Bet!"
They bantered back and forth, but Star stared into her half-finished drink. Eventually, Janna noticed her silence. "Are the strawberries talkin' to ya?"
"No," Star's cheeks turned pink when she realized that she had to confess what was on her mind. "It's just…Janna, do you ever think about having another kid?"
The queen considered the question while finishing her shake. "Eh," she began. "Depends on my mood. I enjoy being a mom—a lot more than I thought I would when I found out about Dante. But then I remember having to squeeze out melons for twenty hours. Then I find myself content with just having two kids."
"Ew," Kelly wrinkled her nose. "I'm so glad I never had any."
"You have no idea," Janna folded her arms. "It's worse with demon babies. Humans aren't meant to carry babies with sharp horn buds and thousands of spirits."
"Imagine having twins," Star smirked. "'Nuff said." After surviving nine months with Andromeda and Orion crammed into her body, being pregnant with Jupiter felt too easy.
"Are you thinking about another kid?" Janna finally got to the root of Star's question.
"Maybe…" her voice trailed.
Janna held up a finger, "Hold up." Closing her eyes, she chanted in a growling demon voice, and her hands glowed purple with magic. "And done," she panted when she returned to normal. "You'll thank me later."
"Okay then…" Kelly rubbed the back of her neck. "Back to the conversation, I think you should go for it, Star. The twins are older, and Jupiter is about to become a squire. And times are good on Mewni. The kingdoms are prospering and peaceful."
"I doubt Marco would say no to helping you make one," Janna added. "Honestly, I'm surprised you two don't have a thousand kids."
"Are we really that affectionate?" Star tilted her head.
Kelly and Janna exchanged a glance and nodded.
I thought we were being sneaky, Star cleared her throat. "Anyways," she changed the subject. "Do you guys ever miss the old days?"
"Like during the war and whatnot?" Kelly thought about it, then said. "I don't miss the destruction, but it would be nice to have something dangerous to do. I love mentoring my squires—don't get me wrong—but I'm a knight. I want someone to battle."
Janna shrugged, "I kinda see why no one likes 'happily ever after' endings."
"Yeah," Star sighed. "I'm happy where we are, but we can't peak yet. I feel so young and old at the same time."
"You can always ask Higgs about any outstanding quests," Kelly suggested. "I know it must be boring doing nothing but townhalls all the time."
"That's an idea."
As the hour hand drifted towards two o'clock, Star gathered the trash to take to the dumpster. A good queen set a good example in all things. On the way there, a Monster stopped her. "Queen Star," she waved her down. "Oh, it is good to see you!"
I've never seen you before, Star studied the newcomer's feathery face. She knew everyone in her town. Maybe the Monster recently moved from elsewhere or didn't actually live in the Butterfly kingdom. Many Monsters commuted to the here to work then returned to the Monster kingdoms or the Southern Wilds each night.
"What can I do for you?" Star remained polite, casting her suspicions aside.
The Monster leaned in close and spoke in a whisper so low, Star almost missed it, "Have you been to the Borderlands lately?"
"No, I haven't." No one, not even the adventurous Queen of Mewni, ever visited the shadowy land between the southernmost edge of Mewni and the entrance to the Underworld. It was an inhospitable place of unstable, burning ground and eerie, glowing vents.
"Something weird has been going on," the Monster said harshly. "The land burns."
"What do you mean?" Of course; it's always on fire, Star bit her tongue to silence the potential retort.
Suddenly, the Monster's eyes started to glow, and she spoke in a voice that sounded like many blending together, "Beware the Blackest Cloud, O child of the Blood Moon."
"How'd you know about that?" Star half asked and half demanded. Only her closest friends knew about her connection to the mystical moon. Instead of receiving an answer, the Monster vanished into thin air, making her wonder if the encounter happened at all. Perhaps, she ordered the Strawberry Goblin Dog shake on accident.
"Star! Get your head out of the sand, we gotta go!" Janna shouted.
"Coming!" the queen returned to her party, but the weird feeling stubbornly clung to her.
"Yo, Star. Anyone home?"
Huh? Star was startled by Janna waving a hand in front of her face, and the fog in her brain dissipated. Beware the Blackest Cloud, O child of the Blood Moon, the voice ominously reverberated in her mind, refusing to disappear. She checked the sky above the knight's arena one more time but didn't see the Blood Moon. Maybe her head was messing with her. What else is there for me to do? Star wondered. All of her enemies were defeated: Toffee, Globgor, and Mina were dead, Eclipsa was good now, and Meteora had no memories of her past life.
"Star?"
"Sorry, Janna," the queen shook her head vigorously. "I think I'm kinda tired from the townhall."
"You better get untired," Janna said. "The husbands are about to fight soon."
"Oh really?" she raised an eyebrow.
Below them, in the center of the arena, Higgs kicked up dust with her square boots as she paced around. "Attention, squires!" The Captain's voice sliced through the air like a whip and silenced the chattering teens sitting on the front row. Andromeda ribbed Orion, who was joking around with Darrion and Dante. When that failed to work, a glare from Sir Jackie ended the conversation quickly.
"This week, we've been drilling on defense against magical beings," the Captain went on. "And now that we know the theory, it's time to see it in practice."
From different sides of the small arena, two warriors emerged, clad in shining armor. Their swords glinted like bared fangs, ready to shed blood even though neither would seriously hurt the other. Not this time. Tom and Marco had faced each other many times before, and even though they seemed serious about the task at hand, Star saw the playfulness in their eyes. Here we go, she excitedly bounced in her seat. The confidence radiating from her king captivated her, and she nearly melted when he flashed her a grin. "This is for you," he boldly proclaimed.
"I can't wait," she smiled.
"I think we all know His Royal Majesty King Marco Diaz-Butterfly," Higgs continued. "And same goes with His Royal Majesty King Thomas Lucitor. They are going to put our lesson into practice."
"Ooh," the squires marveled at the kings.
Marco unsheathed his black rapier, pointing the tip at his sparring partner. Tom responded in kind but lit his weapon on fire.
"Want some popcorn?" Janna summoned bowl of the salty snack.
"Nah," Star declined.
"Oh right, you're thirsty, not hungry," she snickered.
Got me there, Star folded her arms and remained quiet.
With a mighty clash, the kings met in battle, their weapons grating in a wicked hiss. Marco roughly shoved the demon backward and drew him offside so he could attack his flank. Tom gritted his teeth but recovered and lunged. Their quick exchanges were hard to follow, and sparks rained to the ground, solidifying into glass shards. Janna whistled Marco landed a blow to her husband's head.
"This is entertaining," she commented through a mouth of popcorn. "I hope Higgs doesn't expect the squires to fight like this tomorrow morning."
"She will," Kelly said curtly. "Higgs expects perfection outta us. The sooner the kids learn her expectations, the better they'll be."
Tom shook his head, dribbling droplets of blood onto his armor, then headbutted Marco. Suddenly, the demon king started to chant a long spell and blue-hot fire formed in his hands. He unleashed a blast that enveloped Marco's body before he could dodge. The squires and knights were shocked to silence. "Damn…" Kelly breathed and shot a nervous glance to Star. "Aren't you concerned?"
"Nah," Star waved it off. "It takes a lot more than that to kill Marco."
When the flames subsided, the king emerged in the golden sunlight with sweat glistening down his bare abs. The inferno melted away his chainmail and burnt his shirt, exposing his rippling muscles. Andromeda and Orion averted their gazes, but the other knights and squires simply stared in disbelief. Star fought the urge to pounce on him, gripping her seat so tightly that it deformed the plastic. She needed him to father another child—this wasn't a mere want anymore. Luckily, Marco had his end of the bond closed, or else the secret would have been revealed. And that smell…she sighed as she tasted him in the air—sweet and rank from adrenaline.
"Geez, Nerd, this is a demonstration—not a peep show!" Higgs struggled to hide her red cheeks.
Marco rolled his eyes and refocused on his task, but Tom turned to Janna and winked.
"Wait…did you arrange this?" Star turned to her.
She smirked, "Told ya you'd thank me later."
"How?"
"With our fake bond. It takes effort, but it's usable."
The battle resumed and being shirtless seemed to embolden Marco for his moves became flashier and more daring. Like a matador in a bullfight, he baited Tom to attack him but sidestepped out of the way at the last second. Everyone hung on the edge of their seat, and they sent embarrassed glances at the queen when they watched too intently. Of course, Star didn't care. He was all hers, and no one would ever sever their bond.
For a final move, Marco aimed his sword for Tom's throat, touching the tip where the demon's jugular would be. After a tense moment, the kings broke apart and shook hands.
Higgs cleared her throat loudly and peeled her eyes away, "So that concludes today's lesson."
Applause filled the arena, and afterwards, the audience descended to greet Tom and Marco. Star hung back and let the twins congratulated their father first. "That was crazy, Dad!" Andromeda squealed in delight.
He sheathed his sword and threw his arms around his children. "That was nothing. You should've seen me and Uncle Tom when we were younger."
When the attention died down, Star finally made her move. Marco welcomed her into his arms and gave her a kiss. "Did my performance please you, Your Majesty?" he winked.
"Why yes," she replied in a mock-formal tone. "In fact, I would love a word with you."
He raised an eyebrow, trying to read her mind, "Oh?"
"Alone," she added.
"Then lead the way," he nodded.
They retired to a secluded walkway between the arena and the barracks, which passed through a small grove of flowering trees. Marco pressed closer to Star when the breeze rustled the bare branches above them. "I wish Tom didn't burn my clothes," he laughed softly.
"We won't be here long," said Star. "Just have something to ask you."
"Everything okay?" He stopped and held her. "You don't usually hide things from me."
Star originally hoped to make the moment more romantic, but instead, the words tumbled out of her mouth without hesitation. "I want another baby." Ugh, why can't I learn to be subtle? She bit her lip after the fact.
Marco's eyes widened, and the bond went wild for a moment until rational thought returned. He tilted her chin, so their eyes would meet. "I've been thinking the same thing lately," his voice trembled slightly. "And yeah, we talked about four, and I'd love to make another baby with you. I mean, if you want to…Ugh, that sounded kinda weird and—"
She silenced him with a kiss. "I'm your wife, Marco. It's not weird that you want to be with me."
"I know, but I wanted something more romantic," he sighed.
She laughed both out loud and through the bond, "Marco, we're just ourselves. Over-the-top romance has never been our thing."
"True," he admitted. "Uh, when do you wanna start?"
"Not this month. We missed the deadline."
His eyes grew wide, "You mean you can tell?"
"Can't all women…?"
"No! Humans can't," Marco sputtered. "Also, if you could tell when you're fertile the entire time, then how did we accidentally conceive the twins?"
"I was drunk and eighteen," she said frankly. "I can ignore my body."
"Oh. I'm not complaining."
"I know."
"You know, we get to practice while we wait…" Marco flashed her a crooked smile and kissed her neck.
Her hearts glowed red, matching his handsome cheekmarks. "We totally can, but you know it's rude to seduce a queen without taking her on a date first."
"Of course. Where are my manners?" Marco knelt in the middle of the path and kissed her hand. "Will you go out with me?"
"I'd be delighted," she giggled. Together, they headed back to the castle to get ready for a fantastic date night. While they schemed about their plans, the Blood Moon appeared briefly from the rolling clouds, uttering a faint promise in silence.
Review Roundup
Bedrock Armor- It's teased at the end of Dance. I'm normally not a huge time skip fan, but it's fun exploring the new world with our older heroes.
Xzbro- Hm... we'll have to see.
RJWritingInk- I've always thought of this AU as a trilogy of sorts but each leg can stand on its own. This, of course, will end on a higher note.
coloneloflynn- Thanks! This will be a wild one.
Aldal- The twins have a sorta Dipper/Mabel relationship, but let's see how the story changes it. For them, this story is more of a coming-of-age narrative. Andromeda has big footsteps to fill, but yes, things are easier for her now (or so they appear). As for Andromeda and Dante...keep reading. There will be a lot of parallels between them and their parents but in unexpected ways. Also...maybe we'll see Orion meeting girls? As for Marco Jr., I decided since this is a complete departure from canon to keep him a male. It honestly doesn't matter either way, but I wanted to play the "what if" card here. As for Meteora...I have plans for her.
Lshdd- I am the fanfic version of a crazy old cat lady. That being said Starco vs. and Dawn will have slightly more focus. Royal Secrets is on hiatus until Starco vs. is done for my own sanity. Also, the twins will go through a lot. As for Marco Jr., yes only because this is a complete AU, and I think it would be cool exploring that.
Knighthunter911700- Thanks!
Guest- Thanks! Etheria has some major plot significance later on.
Alfonso Sparda- Thanks! This is going to be a rather unique story because there are two plotlines (one with the kids and the other with the adults) that'll blend in interesting ways. Keep an eye on Etheria.
Luci96- Thanks! Their story, and the adults' too, will be something.
Guest (saturn)- Thanks! I wouldn't say I'm the only competent writer lol, but I do look forward to sharing this epic story with all of you.