In the war room, Marco and Globgor stood beside a big table with a map of Mewni. The room screamed with the propaganda of the Monster kingdom with all its decorative flags of the walls. Various chess-like pieces were appropriately spread out on the map and a small box held lots of extras if needed. The only thing needed was a knife stuck in the map, but atlas the movie trope died from there.
It hadn't been long after the incident, Eclipsa was to join them, but she needed to be refreshed and then order the defending garrison and her army of the tense news. Usually, the two generals would be with them in the room, but they would be discussing something that even the generals couldn't know about.
"how come you aren't going to be the king?" It was a rude and blunt question, but as far as Globgor knew that was just how he was when formalities weren't involved.
"Direct as ever. But the walk we had after you broke the news of my return we talked for a long, very long time."
"I can imagine, your time before being crystalized would be quite the long story. So I'll just ask why you've both decided to not get married. So, why not?"
Globgor stood a little while and while Marco was direct and could be insensitive and provocative (borderline asshole) when he disagreed, he wasn't going to push him.
"Have you thought of the conse-"
"I changed when she got frozen. And oddly enough it wasn't her that changed me, it was the one in her that did."
Monsters are very in tune with their instincts and while it vastly differs it would seem he's the one where one could sacrifice themselves in a way that a minority of humans ever could. Like how an octopus would die caring for its children while a hamster could kill and eats its young for smelling wrong.
"Even now I have a deep hatred for them, but I am a bit grateful that they didn't kill her off when she was reduced to being bait. Still, I'm not the man she fell in love with, but I'm okay with that and... Hopefully, I can change my slight resentment of her for her mewman heritage. Now I just want the best for my people and daughter."
"It's understandable, but you've sworn loyalty to someone you recent- somewhat recent?"
A sworn oath isn't something that just could be reversed. Especially one as great and noble as Globgor.
"You should know what I experienced is still fresh no matter how long I've been crystallized... But I truly believe she is the best for the future of monster kind."
"You're making it harder for me to understand why you haven't been crowned king yet."
"He won't be," It would seem that Eclipsa finally joined. She had battle armor on that wasn't too dissimilar to the one Moon would adore on the battlefield.
"You do realize that it will create a faction in your kingdom, right? While your kingdom is new and smaller than the others it has- had the advantage of being truly united."
Marco felt the souls of the two nearby and studied their faces. There was no hesitation to find. It would seem it was what both wanted despite the drawbacks. Globgor truly held some resentment for Eclipsa and she is adamant about not marrying a man she doesn't love.
"Yes, but I've made a decision."
"If he's loyal it will not be more than trivial."
"I am."
"It can work because Meteora is a child of you two otherwise you would most likely have your kingdom split in two once you or he dies."
"That's good and all, but shouldn't we focus on the more pressing matter? I got a century or two in me and..."
"I got a good 70 years, thank you very much," Eclipsa spoke for the shapeshifter.
"Heh, sorry," he rubbed the back of his head.
"If you're done flirting I will get to the more pressing matter. I would like to know whether you're going to run or not. Heh, Rather poetic considering-"
"Don't you dare..." Eclipsa scowled at him.
"The flirting or the poetic part?" It was hard to say if he was brave or reckless but nonetheless, he was poking the corrupted butterfly.
She ignored his question," Shouldn't we ask you that? It would seem the plan of preemptively dispelling you from Mewni has gone as you wanted."
Marco frowned at the unspoken accusation. However, she was hurting and under a lot of pressure, he would stay his tongue.
"I will stay, it could cause suspicion if the camp suddenly disappeared and it's obvious who it will fall under. Besides they have always been the ones ambushing it's time they try being on the other side."
It was a rather ruthless and cold statement that left them both a little speechless. Eclipsa had been seeing it once in a while so she somewhat recovered before the silence was made awkward, but Globgor who had no concept of this side of him still stood processing it.
Globgor loves his people and the thought of putting them in harm's way for just a lesson is borderline evil. "Are you going to let them die? Aren't they your people?"
He shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. Like the lives of people following you didn't matter. "They don't fear death. Besides the captains, every single one of them came to Mewni voluntarily." He was resolute in his answer.
It just made more questions for Globgor. He was already confused as to the reason for him being here when he was not born to Mewni. He's also not a true invader who is conquering his dimension.
"Why did they come here? Why did YOU come here?"
Eclipsa was also very curious about this. Whenever she had inquired into this question he had always left it vague. Things like the good and bad memories. For Star and her whom he cared about. It all just seemed so righteous and gullible which she knew he wasn't.
"Experience and furthering my abilities." He smiled at Eclipsa, she hadn't in a million years thought he would ever give a straight answer. "Don't look like that. You've always asked why I did what I did and never why I came."
"Such bollocks. That's..." She was completely flabbergasted, but it was true. He could go to any other dimension for his purpose but he chose to intervene in Mewni's affair because of them.
Knowing she would already lose the argument,"don't forget I have a punishment which you swore to take."
"Ah, but remember you have to desire it," his teasing tone flowing without any regard for shame, "And if you wholeheartedly desire it then anything is on the table, queen Eclipsa."
She wasn't up for any frolicking and it showed. "I think maybe you shouldn't take it as complete bullshit." She raised a brow and while the skepticism was very much present she allowed him to talk, "I could allow you and your people to settle in the dimension where my knights reside."
"What?" She was half expecting him to offer to assassinate royals or perhaps even eradicate a kingdom. What he proposed was much more but...
"Isn't your desire to keep your subjects safe and comfortable? I can promise land, a self-sustaining environment, and best of all no hostile people."
She opened and closed her fist a few times seemingly lost in thoughts. Marco looked indifferent at her. This decision would be completely up to her.
"No..." Standing firm after struggling internally. It was tempting but only for a small time.
Globgor with brows furrowed and soul full of vigor did he speak, "we will not abandon our home. This was our home first. It's either co-existing or us."
"My, I've forgotten this aggressive side of you, but I do share the passion," a flirtatious undertone along with the usual Eclipsa smirk. It would seem the resolve to stay has brought her through her grief at the betrayal of a united Mewni.
It wasn't really on purpose. It was an honest offer and it was one he would have taken if he were in her shoes. Then again he's someone who abandons his own home dimension...
With a deep and obnoxious sigh, he caught Eclipsa's attention, "Disappointed I didn't take the easy way? I'm sorry but you know I like it done the rough way."
Smiling at the suggestive sentence he shook his head"Don't I know."
Despite the livelier mood, Globgor was still eyeing Marco skeptically and a single question haunted him, "Doesn't their lives mean anything to you?"
"Besides the captains, they are all volunteers- Don't look like that."
Globgor had his fist closed and his eyes showed the fury that befitted the former king of monsters. He was angry at the leader that saw his followers as tools properly even less than that. The determination and will to give one's life are wasted on someone so heartless and callous.
It was an unspoken statement one which Marco wouldn't let stand. "They are no different from soldiers that are in service for the kingdom. Just instead of a kingdom it's for me. They fight for my interest, they commit genocide for my benefit and they die for my greed."
To say it was a heavy atmosphere would be laughable. The somewhat stabilized room was thick with tension. The glare that was between the two was getting closer and closer to sparking... Until they both relented. Globgor took small satisfaction that Marco halted first, but it was brief as the words he spoke were true to a certain extent.
"Anyway- would you stop grinning like an idiot?" Eclipsa was for some reason holding in a giggle that threatened to escape any moment.
"Sorry, it's just, no it's nothing. I just had an interesting substitute scenario for your little eye-laser battle."
Marco looked at Globgor for a moment; all he got was a shrug.
"us or co-existing? Both rather hard to obtain, but at least you have a direction," that would be his parting words if Eclipsa didn't anchor his arm.
"There's more to discuss?"
"Just a question... Some privacy please?"
Globgor straightened with a jolt. He was so caught up in the sudden seriousness from Eclipsa that he was only focused on the coming question. "Of course, I'll be back with the generals later."
When the door closed and it was only the two of them did the question that even made Marco curious itself know, " Who would you pick between Star and me?"
Eclipsa held an expert poker face after her inquiry. One not too dissimilar from when he asked if she wanted to abandon Mewni.
"I assume it's the "us" scenario?" an affirmative hum sounded in the quiet war room. Star or Eclipsa? It's a decision he never thought he would ever need to make but he had thought of it before.
Objectively it would be to help Star, discreetly assassinate her parents while egging and assisting her in becoming the highqueen. Being the only one she could rely on he could easily let her return to that habit from their younger days and then manipulate her to be his puppet.
But then the question is, why would he need that? Why is his first sketch of the future in this scenario ultimate control? It doesn't matter, the bottom line is that he can't think objectively about this.
Then there's only subjectively and that's... "Neither."
"Neither? How would you do that? Just turn a blind eye?" Eclipsa wasn't accusing or even disappointed. He couldn't decide if that was good or not, perhaps it would make the answer easier if she were to yell and feel betrayed.
"No... I think I would do what I'm doing now but just for serious. I think... it would be better to force you both on your knees even in chains if needed than see you two kill each other."
The eerie silence stretched on for a minute or two. One that he was willing to leave under if Eclipsa hadn't surprised him.
" In that vulnerable state, who would you first put before your crotch?"
Completely blindsided he stared dumbfounded, " I,I- uh. What?!" He couldn't hold back the laugh that forced itself out. Letting his stomach calm he thoughtlessly spilled his thought, "That would be quite the arousing sight to see."
"And you say you aren't a sadist."
"If you're just spewing nonsense I'll take my leave."
Leaving in a reasonably lighter mood he was now headed to the butterfly castle and have a hidden meeting with Star.
"How long has it been?" It's a question he simply mumbled to himself. If he didn't know then who would? But it's certain, it's been a long time since he has had a one-on-one session with her.
