Welcome back to another chapter! I know I probably say this a lot, but this chapter was FUN to write. You're getting a very unique look at a very unique character in this AU. Enjoy!

It began like any other day in the illustrious halls of Echo Creek Academy. An ancient drama, played between teacher and student over the countless ages of the universe, was about to unfold. A drama Marco Jr. knew extremely well as an upperclassman. He leaned forward in his tiny deck near the front of the room, leering at his smaller classmates as they took selfies and chatted, unaware of their fate. Freshmen and sophomores—such naïve, wee babes! High school had yet to toughen their doe-eyed expressions and sharpen their rounded faces. The boys especially seemed too young to have had their balls drop yet, and their chins were still smooth, unmarred by acne and untouched by hair. None of them are men like I am, Marco Jr. smirked and set his black leather cowboy boots on Jacoby Davidson's desk in front of him, deforming the blue plastic with their weight.

Along with their immature features, none of the underclassmen were smart enough to know what he knew. Marco Jr. leaned back in his chair, causing it to whine under his bulk, and continued to watch as he always did. He seemed to be the only one who noticed the stack of papers on the corner of the teacher's desk, besides Kyle Anridge, who sat right under them. Judgement day had arrived in Ms. Skullnick's Second Period Class—a day of reckoning Marco Jr. welcomed with smug pleasure. Bring it on, Skullzy, he lifted his chin in a challenge when she looked in his direction.

I'll make you regret it, Diaz, her wort-covered scowl threatened.

The second bell rang, and Ms. Skullnick rose from her desk like a groggy bear emerging from a cave. Her heavy steps shook the room as she hoisted the papers in one of her hairy arms and started to circulate among the desks. The underclassmen finally realized what was about to happen, and the relaxed atmosphere was gone in a snap. Took you long enough, amateurs, the sole upperclassman rolled his eyes. He remembered being clueless like them once, but he was a junior now, reaching the prime of his high school years. While the seniors maintained the superiority, their stars waned while his dawned like the sun.

"Alright, class," Ms. Skullnick's raspy voice broke the silence in a menacing snarl. "I didn't expect much from you since you're my remedial class, but I still expected you to do better on this test. This is a class you need to graduate, and many of you are already drastically behind your peers, whether because you slacked off in middle school—" she glared at the younger students. "—Or because you've repeated this class multiple times—" she turned directly to Marco Jr., who shrugged nonchalantly.

"Third time's the charm, Skullzy-poo," he replied coolly. A few of the freshmen boys laughed, but the others cowered when the teacher narrowed her eyes to slits.

"I wouldn't be laughing if I were you, Diaz," she muttered scornfully as she started to pass back the tests, taking roll as she slapped the pages on each desk. "Anridge, Asner, Banner, Baskerville, Basett, Boatwright, Breckenridge, Cortez, Cree, Davidson…Diaz."

"Don't wear out my name, Skullnick," he playfully winked.

She tossed the paper in his face and continued down the line. As soon as her hulking shadow moved away, Marco Jr. flipped it over and gasped, "¡A Dios Mío! I fucking did it!"

"Language, Mr. Diaz, or you're getting a trip to the principal," Ms. Skullnick sharply rebuked him.

He didn't know if he should thank the Catholic God or the many the Mewmans worshiped for blessing him with such intelligence. Whichever deity was responsible, Marco Jr. now pledged his immortal soul in gratitude. And thank Samantha Lamb for never covering her answers! He burst to his feet and cheered loudly, not caring if the other students gawked at him. They were jealous losers because they were cursed with dullness and stupidity. Because God or the Mewman gods didn't favor their lame asses. That's why they were weak and small while he was big, strong, and impressive. That's why the ladies loved him and not the dumb virgins sulking in the corners. That's why he was the one and only Marco Ubaldo Diaz Junior—the rising sun of Echo Creek and brother to the King of Mewni. And today, he got his best grade of the entire year: a sixty-three out of one hundred. A solid D.

All around him, the other students shamefully hid the red F's emblazoned on their papers. They all doubted him. They all said he'd fail just like them. Ha! He climbed on his deck, balancing bravely as it wobbled, and held up his paper for all to see. "Eat this, undies!" He jeered. "Marco Jr.'s not getting kicked off the team this year!"

"Sit down!" Ms. Skullnick yelled. "Act up in class again, and I'll give Coach Carlson a thousand reasons to bench you."

"I'm sitting down, sheesh!" Marco Jr. grumbled and returned to his seat.

After sending him another glare, Ms. Skullnick handed back the last test and went to the board to begin today's lesson. A few of the students obediently took out their notebooks, but the rest either turned to their phones or cracked jokes in the back. Marco Jr. fidgeted in his seat. Someone had to praise him. Someone had to tell him how much of an awesome stud-muffin he was at math. And that someone was going to be Regina Fairchild, his neighbor to the left. The sophomore was always fun to talk to, especially since she had big tits. They were super noticeable and jiggled in their too-small bra when she laughed. Too bad she didn't date athletes anymore; Regina and her tits used to be the life of the party.

"Psst, Reggie," Marco Jr. leaned towards her, sliding his paper just in case she didn't see it a few minutes ago. "Did you see my grade?"

She let out an exasperated sigh, "I did, MJ, what about it?"

He giggled, "It's pretty good, huh? Everything's coming up, Diaz lately."

"So what? You got a D like the rest of us. Even I got one."

"But you didn't get this D," he gestured to his crotch and laughed.

Regina made a face.

"I'm not offering this time," he said quickly, realizing the joke fell flat. "You know me, I gotta clean up for my woman. Man, she's gonna flip when I show her this test. Maybe she'll see me as her type—as some smart shit who's headed to college."

Not only was he going to make her proud, but his family too. Mom and Dad wouldn't have to worry about him anymore or go to pointless parent-teacher conferences to discuss his grades, and Marco, his namesake, would be thrilled. He'd tell Star, his nephew and nieces, and all of Mewni. He imagined their eyes sparkling in awe at his ability.

"You think a fucking D is gonna jet-set you to getting your ex back and get you into college?" Regina choked back a laugh, and Marco Jr.'s shoulders began to sag at her scorn. "You're delusional, MJ. You're still in a junior in a freshman math class—D or no D."

"I hope you're paying attention, Ms. Fairchild and Mr. Diaz," Ms. Skullnick stopped teaching and snapped at them.

Marco Jr. pulled out his textbook and opened it to a random page, pretending to read. It was enough to make Ms. Skullnick return to her lesson on polynomials—whatever those were. With the teacher off his ass, Marco Jr. glanced at Regina but let the conversation die. She didn't mean what she said. The girl had a stick up her ass because Jared, her new boyfriend, was too dumb to please her properly.

I know I'm getting my life in order, Marco Jr. told himself. I'm a winner just like my big brother and parents. To soothe any lingering doubts, he ran his fingers through his bushy, red hair, carefully teasing the tangled ends to unleash the curls. He spent most of class preening, using his phone screen as a mirror. He must look good by the time the bell rung again. There was a girl in need of his services. And I'm going to sweep her off her feet and into my arms, he schemed. No girl could resist El Toro Rojo, fierce linebacker and math genius!

Class droned on to the monotonous tone of Ms. Skullnick's voice until the dismissal bell brought its swift relief. The students were on their feet in a heartbeat, but none one left the class faster than Marco Jr., man on a mission. He had seven minutes to flaunt his stuff in front of his girl before she went to next class. Luckily, it was one they had together, and their lockers were nearby. He hurried through the cafeteria, past the arts' wing, and across the courtyard. He even passed the girls' locker room without threatening to peek inside. I'm done with that, he clutched his backpack strap to steady himself.

When he rounded the next corner, he stopped dead in his tracks. There she is! His woman. His amor. His wifey. She stood in front of their lockers on graceful, slender legs, texting on her phone. Marco Jr. felt his stomach flip violently, and the confidence oozing from him a moment ago dissolved like snow. His knees quivered in his jeans. Why did she have such power over him? Just the mere sight of her reduced his muscles to putty and made his head swim. Why did she have to be the most beautiful girl in the entire school? Her curious, brown eyes sparkled so much that it put the galaxies in the heavens to shame. The rosy blush on her light-brown cheeks burned with subtly that could only be appreciated up close when her dark hair—curled into ringlets— was brushed away. He needed to hold her. He needed her tiny body against his bulk. He just needed to be hers again.

But first, he must win her heart, and with his good looks and good grades, the task should be easy. Determination swelled in Marco Jr.'s spirit, and he felt his confidence soar again. I've got this, he smirked and strutted towards her. His heavy boot heels clicked on the floor with each step, summing the attention of every student in listening distance. The underclassmen guys stared in envy while the seniors rolled their eyes. The girls noticed. They watched him prowl down the hall like a great lion or a mighty stag, though Marco Jr. was more magnificent than any kingly beast. That's right, he winked at a posse of junior girls staring at him. I'm the alpha dog of this school. And the only the alpha bore the privilege of dating a queen.

He sidled up to his girl and leaned against the locker to make sure he had her full attention. "Hola, mi corazón. I've missed you," he shot her a crooked smile.

"Go away," she said without even looking up from her phone. "I'm headed to class."

"Not with your sexy face buried in that phone," Marco Jr. laughed but drew no response. He grew curious and tried to read her message. Surely, no other being could be more impressive and captivating as him—the one and only El Toro Rojo unless… "You aren't talking to a boy are you, Mia?" He asked with possessiveness lowering his tone.

"What's it to you?" Anger flashed in her eyes as she shoved the phone in her pocket. "We broke up. Period."

Her venomous words brought unpleasant memories of homecoming to mind, but Marco Jr. shoved them the way. "Ah, c'mon, my Evening Star," he purred, moving closer. "You know you'll always be my girl."

"If you say so."

"Mia, my angel, no other boy can give you what I can."

"Sure."

"You wound me, dear," he placed a hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt. "I am a changed man, Mia. I remember what you said when we broke up. I'm on the straight-and-narrow from here on out. I'm done with the women, done with the partying…you name it. You said you wanted a man with a future, well, here you go!"

He slapped his test on the locker next to her and grinned ear to ear, "Check it out, baby. I'm getting my Ph.D."

Mia frowned, studying the red X's marring the test and saw the D in the top right corner. "Is this what you're so proud of?" She asked him seriously.

"Uh-huh," he nodded firmly. "I'm finally applying myself. This grade is going to do so much for me." Including getting you back, he added silently. She always challenged him to strive for more.

They met earlier in the year when Ms. Skullnick told Marco Jr. to look for a peer tutor since he failed her class twice already. Naturally, he bullied a few nerds into finding the best one for him, and they came back with Mia—a recent transfer student. At first, Marco Jr. balked. How dare those nerds insult him by choosing a mere freshman to be his tutor! But then he got to know her quiet intelligence. For a fourteen-year-old, she was grounded and wise, and, even though he had just turned seventeen and was two years ahead of her, he became completely smitten. The football players joked about his crush, but who were they to talk? They all dated younger girls at some point, bragging about how easy they were to snag.

Mia sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I appreciate the effort, MJ," she said softly. "I really do. I can tell you're trying hard, but…you still got a long way to go."

"But I'm gonna get there," he vowed. "I'd do anything for you."

"I appreciate the kind words," she said in the same low tone. "But…it's complicated right now, and I don't think I'm looking for another relationship. Plus, you still gotta pass your other classes."

"I will," he took her hand and gave it a kiss, "Just give me a chance, mi cielo. I know I can make things right again."

Mia opened her mouth to say something else, but the warning bell rang. "I gotta go," she yanked her hand away and disappeared down the hall. Marco Jr. lingered by the locker and smiled. I think I've got this, he savored her scent and touch for a moment more, then headed to class. She'd come around in time. She always did.

Before they started dating, it took a while for Mia to succumb to the Diaz charm. Marco Jr. never worried though. He had plenty of experience with girls and knew the way into their hearts and beds. But unlike his previous lovers, Mia refused to sleep with him after the first date. And the second. And the ninth. No matter how much he bragged about his prowess or took her on long motorcycle rides to romantic spots, she still said no. Although frustrating at times, Marco Jr. loved Mia's fierce independence. She made him think and demanded that he treat her with respect. As a result, he. became more than a standard boyfriend to her. He learned to put real effort into dates, went to class, and stopped indulging in his vices. The parties ceased, the weed went away, and he stopped hitting on other girls. The changes sucked at first—especially giving up girls—but, it made him feel better about himself. He grew up. He matured and felt wiser than his peers, who looked immature and selfish next to the shining light of Mia. Now, his love for her inspired him to reach the next level.

The warning bell rang, and Marco Jr. hurried to class to prove his seriousness as a student. When he stepped into Mr. Henry's Advanced World History class, the students were already in their seats with their books, notebooks, and pencils neatly arranged on their desks, ready for another period of learning. Losers, Marco Jr. rolled his eyes at their eagerness. These were the students who actually liked being stuck in school for eight hours a day. Even though the class consisted of mostly sophomores, they were worlds apart from Marco Jr. and his remedial cohort. They did their homework, studied for tests, took notes, and cried if they got a B on anything. Honor's kids. Part of him believed they weren't human.

Julio Banderas shuffled past Marco Jr. and tried for the empty desk next Mia. Don't do it, kid, a single glare from the larger male dissuaded him. Julio slithered towards the back, yielding the coveted front row desk beside the brightest student in the class to its rightful owner. With normal order restored, Marco Jr. sat next to his queen and fumbled in his backpack for a pencil and the least wrinkled piece of paper in his binder. Mia sighed at him, then typed one last message on her phone. See you after school, it said though Marco Jr. couldn't catch who she sent it to. Before he could ask about it, Mr. Henry entered the room.

"Good morning class," he greeted. "I hope you're as excited as I am about today's lesson! We're headed to ancient India!"

The other students clamored excitedly, but Marco Jr. shrugged. All of the ancient civilizations were practically the same to him: find a river, build a town, form a religion, and add conflict. Repeat for the other continents. Nevertheless, he feigned enough interest to scribble notes on his paper about India's earliest civilizations. To keep himself awake, he wrote in a mix of Spanish and Mewnian. Suddenly, he felt his phone buzz in his pocket.

Writing in Mewnian again? Mia texted him.

He smiled and responded, Yep. High Mewnian. The courtly language spoken by Mewnian nobility. He also knew Middle Mewnian—the commoner's tongue—and a tiny bit of Low Mewnian—the queenly language. Star taught it to him when he was learning to write in kindergarten, though she told him to keep it a secret.

You never taught me how to write in Mewnian, Mia pointed out. In fact, he hardly used it around her except for the day he accidentally blurted "I love you" in High Mewnian during sex. Mia honestly thought he was having a stroke then.

I could teach you one day, he replied.

Mia's eyes lit up, but she swiftly put her phone away and answered Mr. Henry's question. A few moments later, she sent a reply: I wouldn't mind that.

Score one for Diaz, Marco Jr. grinned.

Suddenly, an announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Teachers, please excuse all juniors with last names from A to D for career counseling."

"Looks like I'm cutting out early, Mr. Henry," Marco Jr. commented with a sense of glee in his voice. Everything's working out today, he inwardly beamed.

"Looks like you are," Mr. Henry said flatly. "Make sure you get today's notes from someone. There's a quiz on Friday."

"Oh absolutely," he replied, after winking to Mia.

She pretended not to notice.

After gathering his things, Marco Jr. headed down the hall to the counseling wing. He knew the way there with his eyes closed, thanks to the countless trips to the principal's office. It was as familiar as an old friend. I wonder what amazing future lays in store for me, he stood at the end of the line snaking to the counselor's door and daydreamed. He saw himself as a man—taller and more handsome than he was now—with a fuller goatee and less acne on his face. Mia was his wife, and they lived in a mansion with a garage full of sports cars. Meanwhile, his friends were still their boring selves: weak, pale, and stuck in cubicle farms. Ha! He laughed at their sullen forms. I'm going to be better than all of you.

"Yo, MJ," a girl—Clarissa Bremman—snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Get your head outta the clouds—you're next."

"Alright, alright, sheesh," he waved her away harshly. "What's up your ass today?" It clearly isn't me, he would've said if he wanted Clarissa to smack him across the jaw. She still hated him for cheating on her last year.

"You're holding up the line, smartass" she snorted. "Get moving."

Perhaps, if she wasn't so abrasive, he wouldn't have gone to Devon's party and hit on a girl from her math class. At least I have Mia now, Marco Jr. glared at Clarissa once more, then disappeared into the counselor's office. It was a small, dark room, crowded by a metal file cabinet and a huge desk sitting in front of a window. The blinds were drawn shut, and only a trickle of light managed to enter the room. At the desk was a thin, odd man. He wore his hair in a ponytail and had a glib smile on his face. He looked like a hippy, and Marco Jr. half expected him to whip out a guitar and start singing.

"Ah, you must be Marco Diaz Jr.," the man spoke in a smooth voice as he read from a file. "Please sit down. I'm Mr. Candle, by the way." Judging by his name, the counselor had to be a hippy. His first name had to be something as equally stupid, like Sunshine or Blaze.

"Sure thing, Candlestick," Marco Jr. squeezed into the small wooden chair across from him.

Silence fell as Mr. Candle read more of the file. In the corner of the desk, a cat-shaped clock waved its tail in sync with the passing seconds. Tick. Tick. Tick.

"You're King Marco's brother, aren't you?" Mr. Candle finally asked.

"Yep, and the son of Lord and Lady Diaz," Marco Jr. answered boastfully. "You better be careful, cuz I'm royalty."

Mr. Candle took a sip from his coffee mug, unphased, "Right. Tell me more about your personal life. Are you dating someone?"

The teen leaned back and smiled, "I've got an awesome life. My sister-in-law's the queen of this joint. I have two amazing nieces and a nephew. I'm a kickass linebacker, and the ladies really love my Diaz charm—if you know what I mean, Candlestick…"

"You certainly have a witty sense of humor."

"We'll go with that…As for dating, I've got a girl—had a girl—but I'm workin' on her as we speak."

"I see. I also see that you are struggling academically."

"Struggling? Me?" Marco Jr. scoffed. "Not anymore. My grades are about to hit the roof. MJ's a new man starting today. He's going places."

"But are they good places?" Mr. Candle said sternly, and an eerie light shone in his murky, pale eyes. It made Marco Jr. stop joking around, and he sat stark-still in his chair, scarcely able to breathe.

Mr. Candle sighed and spoke slowly, "I'm concerned for you, Mr. Diaz, because Mr. Candle cares a lot about his students. I remember when your brother sat in that same chair, and I told him that he wasn't going to amount to anything. Wanna know why I did that? In short, because Tom made me, but I also knew that my words would challenge Marco to become who he was destined to be—the King of Mewni. I don't think I can say the same about you."

"What are you talking about?" Marco Jr. grew angry. Was this shrimp of a man implying that something was wrong with him—the king's brother? He could pound him into a paste right now! No one insulted El Toro Rojo! No one told Marco Jr. he was nothing!

"I'm saying that you'd be lucky to get a job at Britta's Tacos in your current state," Mr. Candle said calmly despite the giant teenager huffing across from him. "You think life will just work out for you without any effort? That's not how it works. Your parents are where they are because they worked hard. Your brother is king because he worked hard. You, my friend, are hardly working. A D isn't a grade to be proud of. How can you provide for yourself and a wife and kids if you are barely scraping a way out of high school?"

The words crumpled Marco Jr. into a ball, and the rosy view of his life shattered into a million pieces. This was the breakup all over again. Mr. Candle and his cruddy office turned into the parking lot behind the school where his date stood with angry tears streaming down her face.

"You lied to me!" She yelled then. "You told me you were getting better in school and had stopped whoring around! How can you say you love me when you still act like a giant man-child? I want a boyfriend who isn't a big laughingstock on the verge of dropping out of school. Answer me, MJ, who are you?"

Just like then, Marco Jr. stared at his shoes and said nothing. What could he say to her? He should have done something—reach for her, hold her, tell her that he was more than the sordid rumors and stories of his past. Tell her that he was more than a dirty drunkard with no future. But he didn't. He let her walk away.

In the present, Marco Jr. staggered backward and blinked back the tears threatening to well in his eyes. "Mia…I'm sorry," he mumbled over and over. The walls closed in, and he ran out of the room in spite of Mr. Candle's apologies for sounding harsh.

The school passed by in a blur, but he didn't stop until he reached his motorcycle.

"MJ!" He almost drove away but saw Mia running toward him. "Are you okay? What happened? We saw you running." Her eyes widened, and he saw genuine fear and hurt swirling in them. "Are you crying…?"

She hugged him, and the teen cried in her arms, not caring about the circle of spectators drawing near. Her scent and touch calmed Marco Jr. down enough for rational thoughts to enter his mind. He failed. He failed his family and his entire legacy. He failed Mia. He failed himself. He wasn't the big-shot he thought he was. I'm a nobody, he choked back a sob.

At last, he pulled away and gave Mia a kiss. Surprisingly, she did not slap him across the jaw. "I need to find myself, babe," Marco Jr. revved the engine to his motorcycle.

"What do you mean?" She reached for him, but he pulled away again.

"You might not see me for a long time…"

"Should I call your parents? You better not try and kill yourself." She started to cry too.

"I won't, mi cielo," he promised. "But I need to do this. Du vi'latha."

I love you.

Without another word, he sped away into the afternoon sun, letting its rays dry his bitter tears.

"Honey, are you in there?"

A knock on the bedroom door woke up Marco Jr. several hours later. The sun had long set, bringing an end to the second-or-third worst day of his entire life. He clutched his head as pain seared from temple to temple. He wanted to run away and never return or ask Star to turn back time—turn it back all the way to the day his parents conceived him.

His mother knocked again, "Son, please let me in. I'm really worried about you. I heard about what happened. Mia came by and told us. I know you're upset and disappointed, but you're not a failure. You're just on a path that's so unique you can't see where it goes yet."

Sure thing, Mom, Marco Jr. sniffled. Mothers always said stupidly nice stuff about their kids. They were incapable of telling the truth. He could have killed twenty people, and his mother would've said the same thing.

Soon, there came another knock on the door. "Mijo, no matter what you do, we'll always love you," his father said through the door. "You're not a failure. You're a Diaz—we never fail at anything."

Marco Jr. still said nothing and wormed even deeper under the covers. He heard his parents whisper something to each other, then his mother spoke again, "We left dinner in the microwave. It's going to be okay, Marco Jr. Take some time to sort things out, but we're ready to talk when you are. We love you."

But did they mean it? Did they really love their failure of a second son, who stood like a dim candle to their other Marco? They named him Marco because they wanted him to be prosperous and fortunate like the then-Prince Consort of Mewni. Yet he turned out to be the opposite. What could he do now? His high school years were set in stone. If only he could get a fresh start somewhere else…

"Like on Mewni," Marco Jr. whispered aloud.

An idea came to his tired head when his eyes landed on an old picture on his nightstand. It was of him as a toddler on a little black pony beside Star on Sir Runs-A-Lot during one of their pretend knights' quests around Mewni. He loved being her pretend squire and used to listen to her tales of valiant warriors with rapt attention, dreaming of the day she'd let him ride into battle with her and Marco. Maybe those days had finally come. Maybe he had a future after all! I'm going to show Candlestick and all of them, he reached for his phone and texted a note to Mia. I'm going to make everyone proud, including you. He sent it and gave the screen a kiss, imagining her soft lips instead of the cold plastic. Then, he snuck out of the window and rode towards the far end of town.

I'm going to become a knight of Mewni!

"And that's why I'm here," Marco Jr. finally concluded his tale. "I'm here to become a knight and get my girl back. Hope you enjoyed The Song of Marco Jr. In my humble opinion, someone should make a movie out of it."

Silence sat over the royals and Kingsguard assembled in the throne room until Star applauded. "What an amazing story, MJ!" she cheered. "I loved the colorful details!"

Marco Jr. folded his arms proudly and smirked, "Only learned from the best, sis. I still remember all of your stories."

"And I remember all of yours," said Andromeda with a huge smile on her face. "Too bad Rye's off somewhere and missed this one." Her voice contained a wistful note to it.

"Yeah," Jupiter chimed in. "That was the best one yet!"

Aside from the queen and princesses, the reactions from everyone else in the room were a mix of general indifference to Marco Jr.'s tale of high school drama or dismay over the parts about failing and womanizing. Aunt Etheria and the Butterflys were the most disturbed. Their faces turned white, and they muttered their concerns about Marco Jr.'s forwardness in front of the queen. It's not like Star doesn't curse or have sex, Marco rolled his eyes at their overreaction. He heard worse things from his wife on a regular basis. Even Jupiter accidentally knew what tits were.

Instead, Marco's pause came from the pride gleaming in Marco Jr.'s eyes. He wasted three years of high school chasing girls, fighting, and flunking. Three years he would never get back. And he felt no remorse about it, even though their parents ducked their heads in embarrassment. In the same amount of time, Marco transformed from a boy into a king: saving Mewni, marrying Star, and helping her rebuild what Meteora and Eclipsa destroyed. A year later, he became a father. While he certainly did not expect Marco Jr. to undergo the same amount of growth, he expected him to at least do well in high school. The adult world was cruel to slackers.

Maybe I'm being too harsh, Marco tried to feel moved by his brother's story of self-discovery but failed. He was still annoyed about interrupted earlier. He tasted Star's readiness for him in her kisses, as sweet as honey and as intoxicating as ale. She needed him right then and there. She needed him to love her until she conceived again, and Marco was very eager to do so. But then Fate allowed Marco Jr. to crash through the window, and the rest of the day was devoted to an emergency Diaz-Butterfly meeting.

"Aww, is someone grumpy about missing out on sex?" Star teased him. "There's always next time, Wild Man."

He blushed, "It's not just that." Although he greatly missed being in bed after sitting on the throne for three hours.

Star rolled her eyes and fell silent again while studying the teenager standing confidently before her. Usually, when people stood before the Queen of Mewni, waiting for her verdict, they trembled in fear. But not Marco Jr.

"You really wanna become a knight, huh?" the queen asked.

"Yep," Marco Jr. replied.

"Then I don't see why not," she shrugged.

"You can't be serious?" Marco shot her a glance.

His brother was the epitome of irresponsibility and being a knight was a serious job. It involved years of training and learning as a squire in complete obedience to a mentor. How did Star expect Marco Jr. to handle that if he could barely handle public school?

"I think he's just an unconventional learner," Star replied. "He needs a new approach."

"He's failing remedial classes!"

"Maybe Earth isn't for him. I remember a young squire who broke into a princess's room once…"

"That was different!"

"Is it really, dear husband?" Star playfully put her hands on her hips. "You came to prove yourself worthy of my father's meat cape and to win me over. You and your brother are literally the same person."

No, we aren't, Marco fumed while her laughter rippled in the bond.

The royals murmured to each other, wondering if Star saw secret potential deep inside of the boy, or if she had finally lost her mind. Meanwhile, Jupiter bounced excitedly in Orion's empty throne. "Yay! Uncle Marco's gonna stay with us!" she clapped her hands.

"It depends on what our abuelos decide," Andromeda said. "Uncle Marco is still a kid under Earth laws."

Angie shared a glance with Rafael, who nodded slowly. "I think it's a good idea for you to spend some time with your brother," she said to Marco Jr. "Maybe you need a French summer too."

Marco Jr. tilted his head in confusion. "A what?"

Not this again, Marco groaned inwardly.

"You'll have to ask your big brother," she giggled, then added on a more serious note, "I'm sorry things didn't work out at home. I honestly wished your father and I provided more guidance."

Although Marco Jr. pretended to act tough, Marco saw his gruff exterior soften as he blinked away tears. "It's not your fault," he placed a hand on hers. "I screwed up. Me. You and Dad did all you could to get me to straighten out. But I'm gonna make you proud this time—I promise."

"We're already proud of you," said Rafael, pulling his family in for a hug. "Nothing will ever change that."

After giving them a moment to say their goodbyes, Star stepped down from the throne and ordered Manfred to bring a sword. "Please kneel," she said to Marco Jr. When he dropped to one knee, she laid the cold steel blade on his shoulder and said, "Marco Ubaldo Diaz Junior, do you solemnly swear your loyalty to the Queen and King of Mewni, to uphold and protect the kingdom of Mewni and her allies, even if it costs you your life?"

"I do," he vowed.

"And do you promise to learn the ways of becoming a knight and swear allegiance to your mentor?"

"I do."

"Then I dub thee, Marco Ubaldo Diaz Junior, a squire of Mewni," Star lifted the sword off of him. "As for your mentor, I choose a knight who has proven herself to the kingdom and my family a million times over as a protector and loyal friend. Captain Higgs, step forward."

The knight snapped to attention and joined the queen in front of Marco Jr. He's really in for a rough time, Marco commented inwardly. Higgs was a stern mentor—the opposite of his brother in every way—yet maybe he needed a firm hand to correct him.

Star turned to her knight, "Do you swear to teach Marco Jr. to the best of your ability?"

"I do," Higgs's reply rang in the hall.

"Then it is done. Everyone, welcome Marco Jr., Higgs's new squire!"

The lords and knights clapped, although Marco sensed their uncertainty about the match. But the queen's word was law, and they knew it. While Higgs talked a few things over with her new charge, a portal opened next to the prince's throne. "Sorry I'm late," Orion rushed through and dipped his head to his family. "I had to meet a friend. She's going through a rough time."

"She?" Star gasped excitedly in passing.

"It's not like that, Mom," he insisted. "We're just friends."

"Uh-huh, sure, Rye," she rolled her eyes. "You spend hours with a girl each day, and you think there's nothing weird about that?"

"Mom!" He hissed when Jupiter started laughing.

"Oooh, Rye's got a girlfriend!"

"Mia's not my girlfriend!"

"Then why are your cheeks turning red, brother?"

"They aren't!"

"Alright, kids," Marco tried to intervene. "Let's be nice."

The siblings continued to bicker, but Andromeda kept to herself. Clearly, Orion never told her about his new friend, and she felt hurt. They have to sort that out on their own, Marco sighed.

When Orion and Jupiter stopped bothering each other, the prince noticed Marco Jr. among the knights and smiled, "Ah, sweet, Uncle Marco's a squire now! That means we can hang out and do super awesome stuff together."

"Like talk about girls…" Jupiter teased.

Orion ignored her.

The meeting began to break up as the royals either left to attend to other matters or split into small conversation groups. Marco hung back from the excitement and pondered the decision to let Marco Jr. stay. I hope he does well, he signed, This is his last chance to turn around.

"Uh, Dad, can we talk?" Marco noticed Orion sitting next to him in Star's empty throne.

"Sure," he replied warmly.

Orion clicked his shoes together a few times, then said. "I'm sorry about a few weeks ago during…y'know. I didn't mean to attack you or the girls or—"

Marco silenced him with a hug. "You don't have to apologize to me, Orion," he whispered tenderly. "I know you didn't mean it. The most important thing is that my son is okay."

While the prince remained in his arms, Marco remembered when he was a squirming newborn, just moments after he came into the world with a mighty battle cry. Never before had Marco met someone so tiny yet so bold—so unafraid of anything. Even when Star argued with her relatives about making him a full heir alongside his sister, Orion remained unphased. At the same time, Marco also remembered the dark altar where his son's body lay after a cruel sacrifice. His heart still knew the deep despair swallowing his soul, the hopelessness when he cradled Orion's limp body against him. Love was a powerful force—a bond that could never be broken, not even by Mewberty-induced rage.

Or by doing poorly in high school, Marco let go of his son and let his eyes and mind wander to his brother. It was hard to believe that the huge teenager was once a quiet baby seventeen years ago, born to a brother who was already engaged to the Queen of Mewni. There was nothing Marco wanted in the whole universe more than to watch Marco Jr. succeed and find a place for himself.

Suddenly, the king thought of a matter he needed to discuss with Orion. "You need to make amends with your sister," he said simply after thinking of his own relationship with Marco Jr.

"I know," Orion sighed.

"Honestly, sibling relationships are the hardest out there," Marco continued. "They get on your nerves, test your patience, ruin mornings with your wife—"

"—Gross, Dad."

"—The point is, your siblings do a lot of annoying things, but you'll always love them. Treasure that bond always, Rye."

Orion's eyes trailed to Andromeda and Jupiter and he nodded. "Yeah…I'll work on it. I promise."

"Good."

Marco watched Orion join others, feeling his heart swell with love and duty. He'd do anything for them. Anything to keep them safe. I pray good things over them, Marco saw the Blood Moon shine through the window. Something tingled in his soul, but he ignored the foreboding feeling and joined the celebration with his family.

Review Roundup

robertkellett- Setup chapters are always a fun challenge. It's great to know how things are going to end and plan the best way to tease the audience of what's coming next. Also, this is new territory for the twins. They've always been together and super close, and now, they are upset with each other. The fallout for Mewberty has ramifications through this arc, but we'll have to see how the twins handle things. I wanted to incorporate some lore that happened off-screen, and there's no better way to do it than have Orion tell his new friend about her new home. Plus, it's interesting to see how Orion's magic has become more powerful like his mother's. With Andromeda, yes, we do get to see a fantasy version of TomStar if Tom and Star were actually good for each other. That being said, there's the sweetness of Starco and the cleverness of JanTom in there too. Her move to hide her relationship fits her character. It's Marco's cautiousness and Star's desire to be free from royal duties tied in one.

viceversa96- Thanks! Royal Secrets is still very much in production, albeit slowly to allow time for me to finish Starco Vs. and keep updating this story since it's going to be long.

Aldal- Jackie is forever the cool mom/aunt of the group even with her other duties lol. Orion's on a personal mission to right his wrongs, and I won't spoil much about what happens with him and Mia...but maybe next chapter will lay some hints...Mia doesn't were glasses btw. Andromeda and Dante are going to have an arc as well. Higgs has a lot of layers. like an onion. As for MJ, next chapter is his debut!

Lyger 0- Yes, lol. That's the vibe I was going for.

Starco4everr- Thanks!

RJWritingInk- First, we'll see why MJ is on Mewni soon. Let's say he's kinda like his brother in some respects. Second, I had this idea even before Cleaved. It's not that Earth and Mewni are one dimension. They're separated but linked through New Echo Creek via a permanent portal. Third, I have plans for Etheria. Fourth, I make no promises...

Vinestrikeart- Thanks! I plan to for quite a while.

Alfonso Sparda- The twins are both alike and unlike their parents. Star and Marco would've never resolved their issues this quickly lol. Poor Marco though, we'll see what happens next!