Camping Trip

Marcia smiled as her family's car pulled up in a large woodsy area. She hopped out and started to unpack the camping gear from the car. As she pulled a tent out she's not surprised to see Star's face behind it.

"Camping!" Star shouted before jumping out the trunk, "What's up nature? You're gonna get tamed!"

A mosquito buzzed by and landed on Star's arm causing her to let out a gasp.

"Nature's touching me. Hey, little guy." Star said

Just like what every mosquito does to everybody it lands on it bit Star.

Star frowned and raised her wand aiming it at the bug. "Cataclysmic total extinction death blast!"

Marcia grabbed Star's arm stopping the magical blast, "Star, we're not on Mewni." She pulled out a can of bug spray and sprayed the mosquito causing it to fly away.

"Nature's nice here…..well most of it is. You'll see. We'll do some fishing, a little hiking, and then…" Marcia pulled out a map, "this!"

"A treasure map?" Star said with a large smile.

"What? No. It's old Youthful. One of the oldest geysers on Earth. And guess when it's erupting." Marcia sang out.

"Today?" Star questioned

"Mmmm-hmmmm. Well, we got a big day ahead. Let's get started." Marcia said pulling out some fishing supplies.

"Aren't your parents coming?" Star asked

"Nah. You know how most parents show slideshows of their vacations? Mine show paintings," Marcia said pointing behind her.

"And done," Rafael said finishing a painting of Angie putting a stake in the ground, "Next." Angie changed her position and Rafael went back to painting on a new canvas.

"It's gonna take them a while. Last time we went camping it took 3 hours to light the fire," Marcia said

"So it's just the two of us then?" Star said

"Yeah. Just us girls," Marcia said

Suddenly there was a large explosion in the distance. Marcia and Star quickly looked over seeing a large plume of dust rise above the trees as something landed in the forest. The two girls ran over finding a large crater in the ground. They peek over the crater looking at what was inside. As they peek over the edge they see a manly figure crouched over in the crater. He slowly stands up and turns around facing the girls.

"Camping!"

"Dad!" Star exclaimed happily.

"Well that's one way to make an entrance," Marcia said

Marcia decided since King Butterfly was here she would bring him along with her and Star. The destructive princess rarely got to spend time with her old man so this seemed like a good opportunity. Right now the trio were sitting in a boat on the lake fishing, well Star and Marcia were the ones who were finishing. King Butterfly was sitting on the edge of the boat doing sit ups making the boat rock up and down. Star used her wand to create pink life preserves for her and Marcia.

"Dad, oh, it's always great to see you. But what are you doing here?" Star said with a quizzical look on her face.

Marcia simply stared at the man confused and slightly weirded out by what he was doing.

King Butterfly let out a strained grunt pulling his upper torso back in the boat, "What, I can't go camping with my own daughter? I taught you how to camp."

"Yeah, and now Marcia's showing me how to go camping here on Earth," Star said

"Really? Is she showing you how to stalk a Narinthian tar beast for eleven days with no food, no sleep, and no clothes⁈" King Butterfly said

"Uh, we don't have anything like that here," Marcia interjected. Just like any other normal day Marcia's words go unheard.

"No Dad, nature's really nice here. Look at what it gave me," Star held up her arm to show her mosquito bites, "Love bites. Here Marcia. Show Dad how to Earth fish." Star said handing Marcia her fishing pole.

"Yeah, sure." Marcia smiled handing the fishing pole over to King Butterfly.

King Butterfly looked amazed having the same look in eyes as Star does when she got excited, "Whoa. So how do I…" The fishing reel unravels dropping the hook in the water, "Amazing. Now what?"

"You're already doing it," Marcia mused putting her fishing line in the water too.

"Yay Dad!" Star quietly cheered throwing her arms up.

"Now we just sit and wait," Marcia said

"You wait for the fish to come to you?" King Butterfly asked

"Yup, Just relax and take it all in. Maybe do a little chatting and bonding," Marcia said

Star slid up next to Marcia, "Speaking of chatting. How's it going with you and Jax?" Star said with a sly smile.

Marcia's cheeks tinted a little pink, "Nothing much. We've just been talking."

"Talking huh?" Star said with a smile, "Don't think I don't see you giggling at your phone."

"Star!" Marcia said with an embarrassed smile pushing her friend lightly, "Like you're one to talk. What about that guy from history class who wanted to 'tutor' you." Marcia said putting air quotes around tutor.

Star giggles along with Marcia as the two girls continued to chat. King Butterfly has a small distressed look on his face as he looks back and forth between the girls as they talked about….boys. He suddenly jumps in the water making the girl's stop their conversation.

"Uh...why'd he do that?" Marcia pointed out looking confused.

King Butterfly surfaced the water holding a large boulder, "Fishing!" He throws the boulder into the water, "Yah." Then he started to crazily punch at the water as the girls watched confused. "Take that and that." King Butterfly ended up grabbing his own leg and started punching his own foot, "Oh, gotcha now."

"Is that what fishing on Mewni looks like?" Marcia asked Star.

King Butterfly continued to strangle his own foot then he put it in his mouth gnawing on it.

"Should we stop him?" Marcia asked

"He'll tire himself out…..I hope," Star said

After finally pulling King Butterfly out of the water and bandaging his foot the girls thought it'd be best to take a nice hike.

Marcia pulled out her map, "It says Old Youthful actually got its name from early settlers who believed that it had rejuvenating powers."

"That sounds really…"

"Boring!" King Butterfly drawled out cutting Star off. "Why are we walking so slow?"

"Well, I was trying to take it easy 'cause you know, what you did to your foot," Marcia pointed down at King Butterfly's foot. It was all wrapped up and bruised with teeth marks.

"But I don't even feel it," King Butterfly said with a smile.

"Come on, let me magic you up some boots," Star said pulling out her wand.

"I don't need any of that; I don't even need feet," King Butterfly jumped on his hands getting into a handstand. "Can you do this, huh? Can you do this? Want a piggyback ride, honey?" He asked Star.

Star laughed, "Aw, Dad." Then her face got really serious, "No." She stated

"Since when are you too cool for piggyback rides?" King Butterfly asked

"Uh….." Star said looking anywhere but her father.

King Butterfly gets an awkward look on his face then takes off running on his hands, "Race you to the water thing. Hahaha!" He let out a healthy laugh as he jumped through some bushes.

"Is that the right way?" Star questioned

"No." Marcia said before she and Star took off running after King Butterfly, "Is your dad okay?" Marcia asked as they walked through some bushes.

"I think so. He just really loves family camping trips." Star took out her wand and used it like a tracking device, "Okay, where'd you go, big guy?" She moved her wand so it was facing the highest point of a tall tree, "Got him. What's he doing way up there?"

Star creates a magical umbrella with her wand and uses it to float her and Marcia up to the top of the tree. The two girls land looking confused as they see King Butterfly in a large eagles nest.

"Hey, Dad. Everything alright?" Star cautiously asked.

"Shh! Staring contest." King Butterfly said

King Butterfly was crouched before a bald eagle staring intently at the bird who started right back.

Marcia lets out an amazed gasp, "Whoa! That's a bald eagle." She said in an awed tone but then her face of amazement quickly turns to worry, "*GASP* That's a bald eagle! I think we're are breakin' a whole bunch of laws here."

"He started it." King Butterfly said, his stare getting harder as he got closer to the eagle.

"Marcia's right Dad. Let's go see Old Youthful." Star said

"Don't worry, darling. Once I break his spirit with my eyes, he'll fly us there." King Butterfly claimed, a crazed look in his eyes. He started to speak gibberish to the bird. "Llama pajama llama...pa...ja...ma."

They continued to stare and King Butterfly's crazed look gets worse as eyes start to bulge.

"This guy's unbelievable. You can't let him beat you in front of your own daughter. She looks up to you. Does she though? What is that supposed to mean? Did you notice, she's pretty much over your piggyback rides. She used to love those. And she went camping without you. Her and Marcia are talking about boys and dating. Your not the only man in her life now. What? No way."

King Butterfly talked to himself making Marcia and Star stare at him perplexed expressions.

"My little girl isn't dating yet. Whatever. Keep lying to yourself, old man. Old? Who are you calling old?" King Butterfly rambled out.

King Butterfly's babbling was broken off by the sound of a siren. The three looked out of the eagle's nest to see a park ranger parked underneath the tree signaling for them to come down.

The group was quickly taken to the Ranger Station where they were forced to pay a fine. Good thing King Butterfly had it covered. The still stressed out man threw a pile of gold coins on the Rangers desk. There was a second younger ranger who stood off to the side talking with Marcia and Star. Star look flattered and Marcia gave a shy smile as the young ranger complimented them. King Butterfly growled as he put the final amount of money on the desk.

"Something is definitely goin' on with my dad," Star said to Marcia.

King Butterfly walked over to the girls, "Okay, everything's cool. Turns out that feathered thing was some kind of a sacred animal." He gave a side glare to the young ranger "Heads up would've been nice."

"You folks better get a move on if you wanna see that old geyser." The Older Ranger said sitting back in his chair.

"Who are you calling an old geezer⁈" King Butterfly snapped facing the Ranger.

"Let's get him out of here!" Marcia whispered to Star.

The two girls grabbed onto King Butterfly's arms pulling the angry man out the station.

Marcia's head popped back in, "Oh do you think I could get a map I've seem to misplaced mine."

"Anything for a pretty girl and her pretty friend," The Young Ranger said handing the map over to Marcia.

Marcia let out an awkward giggle taking the map as she heard King Butterfly let out a loud growl and Star struggling to hold her father back. She ran out the station helping Star pull her the King back.

Marcia was able to calm down King Butterfly by showing him that the ranger was talking about the geyser. She gave him the map showing him the natural landmark.

"Oh. Geyser." King Butterfly said looking at the map.

"Yes Dad, the thing Marcia's been trying to see all day," Star said

"We can still make it in time. This trail should take us straight to….it….." Marcia trailed off when she saw the road fork into multiple different pathways, "I don't remember this. What does the map that ranger gave us say?"

King Butterfly quickly crumbles the map and shoves it into his mouth chewing it.

"Is he eating the map?" Marcia said looking bewildered.

"I was hungry. Everything is food when you're struggling to survive," King Butterfly said

"Except we're not on…"

"Mewni. Right. Sorry." King Butterfly interjected.

Marcia sighed rubbing her temples, "Stay positive. Stay positive," She whispered to herself. "Okay, one of those trails is the right one. Maybe we'll get lucky. Eeny, meeny, miney-"

"-Nooooo!" Marcia shouted out seeing a sign that said 'Old Youthful 50 Miles'.

"You know what? I think this may be my fault. You kids wait right here while I score us a ride." King Butterfly said before running off.

Marcia's sad look was wiped off her face, "Oh man, if he could get us a ride, that would be-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

King Butterfly got them a ride alright, on the back of a bear. Star and Marcia screamed holding onto the back of the bear as the group was chased by four ranger cars and a helicopter.

The group was back in the Rangers office with King Butterfly paying more fines and the girls once again being flirted with by the young ranger.

"You'll never make it to Old Youthful now. He goes off in five minutes, and it's a ten-mile hike," The older ranger said

"I'm sorry Marcia," Star said comforting her friend.

"Oh, come on. What's the big deal?" King Butterfly said

"Dad, what is up with you?" Star said

"Is this about the bear?" King Butterfly said

"No Dad. You've been acting really weird all day, and now Marcia's plans are basically ruined. She really wanted to see Old Youthful." Star said

"No Star, I've seen it, like, ten times. I wanted my bestie to see it. You've shown me all kinds of amazing stuff I never knew existed. I just wanted to pay you back. Show you something amazing here on Earth," Marcia explained

"Marcia!" Star said happily

"Marcia," King Butterfly said an awed look in his eyes.

"I guess we can come back to see Old Youthful erupt some other time," Marcia said

"Oh, you poor, poor girl. Didn't nobody tell you?" The Older Ranger said

"What?" Marcia pondered

"This here eruption is gonna be the last." The younger ranger said

"What⁈" Marcia blurted out.

"Those big-city scientists gave that geyser a look-see, and he's all dried up. He's been fadin' away for years. Oh, he used to be impressive. King of the geysers." As the ranger talked King Butterfly's face started to slowly drop, "But now, he's just a sad shadow of his former glory. Aged out and obsolete. Ready to retire and getting in everybody's way. Yes, sir, to use clever wordplay, Old Youthful is plumb out of youth." By the end of the Rangers speech King Butterfly had a frown on his face and so did Marcia.

"We should just go," Marcia said standing up.

"Yes, Marcia. We will go...and see that geyser," King Butterfly said

"Didn't you hear what that guy said? It's impossible," Marcia groaned out.

"Is it?" King Butterfly said with a smirk and a quirked brow.

"Tick-tock. Tick...tock." The Ranger said

"What do you say, Star? One last piggyback ride from your old man?" King Butterfly asked

King Butterfly put Star on his left shoulder and put Marcia on his right as he raced across the forest. The older man huffed and breathed heavily as he ran with the two girls on his shoulders. They came upon a deer crossing and he tossed the girls in the air rolling under a deer before catching the girls. They quickly came upon a large river with a waterfall. He jumped across the river on rocks than with a powerful leap he jumped to the top of the waterfall.

King Butterfly jumped across a mountain terrain like a goat the girls holding onto his back. They then made it to a war re-enactment and King Butterfly ran through the explosions like they were nothing.

Marcia pulled out her map, "We're almost there. Just a glacier and two more war re-enactments."

"You hear that, Dad?" Star said excitedly

"Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh." King Butterfly huffed out seating.

The three arrive on the scene of the geyser where some tourist were surrounding it awing as it blew. As soon as they get close enough to the geyser it stops and the tourist vacate the area.

"Oh No!" Marcia said

King Butterfly falls on his knees then face first into the ground.

"Dad!" Star shouted

"I'm so sorry girls. I let you down," King Butterfly said

"Are you out of your mind? You ran ten miles in five minutes; that's like, a hundred and fifty miles an hour," Marcia said astounded.

"I used to be able to do it in four minutes." King Butterfly put his face in his hands, "I'm not the Dad I used to be Star. You need someone younger to take care of you now. You have Marcia help you pick out a nice boyfriend. Like that young man from before."

Marcia slaps her forehead realization hitting her, "I get it now! How could I not have seen it before? Your Dad was just upset because he thought since he was getting older he didn't think you needed him anymore and well all the boy talks we been having probably didn't help. My dad goes through the same stuff."

Flashback

Marcia and Angie were sealing envelopes together. The two were getting ready to send out invitations for Marcia's 12th birthday party.

"What are my two favorite ladies doing?" Rafael asked with a big smile walking into the room.

"We're just finishing up Marcia's invitations for the party," Angie said

"Yeah, dad. It's gonna be awesome. I hope everyone likes the theme," Marcia said smiling.

"Hmm? Party? But don't you normally have a sleepover honey?" Rafael asked a confused expression on his face.

"Well I can't have the boys sleep over now can I," Marica said ending her sentence with a chuckle.

Rafael's eyes get big and a stunned look washes over his face, "Boys….." He stood there frozen and Marcia looked at her mother.

"Is Dad okay?" Marcia asked her mother.

"He'll be fine….I think," Angie said

"Boys!" Rafael yelled, "Marcia doesn't need any other man than me!" He let out a loud yell grabbing his head before running around the room screaming.

Marcia and Angie just watch him freak out as he ran around.

Present

"It's normal for dads to act crazy sometimes. Besides King B you're not old! You fell up a waterfall dude! Who does that?" Marcia said

"I'm older too Dad, but I still need you. No matter how old I get, you'll always be my hero because you'll always be my Dad." Star said with a smile.

"Come here you," King Butterfly said hugging Star.

"Well, it's getting' chilly out, so what do you say we go find you some pants?" Marcia said giving King Butterfly a slap on the back.

King Butterfly stumbles forward and lands backwards in the geyser. The geyser started to rumble the pressure building up under King Butterfly. When it becomes too much it erupts in a huge blast of water sending the King soaring high into the sky. The water from the geyser creates beautiful a rainbow.

"Wow!" Star said with wonder in her eyes, "Marcia. It's beautiful."

The teen girls continue to stare at the geyser until the sound of the King once again landing in a huge crater caught their attention. They run over to the crater seeing King Butterfly standing up his skin looking raw and fresh.

"Look Star." King Butterfly said with a smile on his face.

"Dad. You look so young." Star said

"Yeah. Fresh-out-of-the-womb young. What was in that water?" Marcia said

"Brand new dad!" King Butterfly cheered throwing his arms up.

"And here's the king with his arms up." Rafael changed paintings, "And here's the king putting his arms down." *Changes painting* "And here he is walking out of the crater." *Changes painting* "And climbing out of the crater…"

Marcia, Star, and King Butterfly were sitting on Marcia's couch watching the paintings.

"This is so much better than a slide show," Star said with a grin.