A/N (05/17/22) - I'm back! I did not realize how long it's been since I've updated. We are starting to slowly dip into AU waters guys. I finally got to watching season 4 and now I wished I had written previous chapters in a different way but I can still make this work. I'm super excited about where this story is going to go. It'll still somewhat follow the canon plot but there's going to be more divergence than compared to season 1. Happy reading!

Scent of a Hoodie

Marcia stood in one of the guest rooms of the Butterfly castle. She let out a wistful sigh as she packed the remainder of her things into a duffle bag. It was time for her to head home. Sure she was sad but at least Star, her family, and the rest of the Mewni Kingdom was safe and Toffee was destroyed. At least everyone hoped he was gone for good.

"Well…" Marcia put her bag on her shoulder. "Looks like it's time to head out." She turned glancing at a mirror, her eyes moving to the top of her head. "But how am I gonna explain this to Mom and Dad?"

Marcia lets out another sigh stepping out of the room. As she exited she was suddenly grabbed under her arms and lifted off her feet.

"Whoa!"

Marcia looks up to see who had grabbed her and it was Mime Girl, the mime hanging upside down being held by Ruberiot and Fool Duke.

"Oh, hey, guys," Marcia said

"We're gonna miss you, dude," Ruberiot said

"Come on, Marcia, can't you stay a little longer?" Fool Duke asked

"Love to, but Earth's callin'." Marcia's smile turned into a dark look. "Plus I never told my parents I was coming here, they are gonna be really mad."

"All right then. See you on the flip, Marcia," Ruberiot said

Mime Girl tossed Marcia and she flipped over a set of stairs landing on her feet in a deep crouch before the Butterfly family.

"Nailed it," Marcia said

"I guess you could say you've got cat-like reflexes huh Marcia," Star snorted with a laugh.

"Haha, I guess cat jokes are gonna be a thing now." Marcia adjusted her bag looking at the family. "Well, I, guess this is goodbye."

"And what a pleasure it's been." River got a bit teary-eyed pulling Marcia into a hug, smothering her with his beard. "This place won't be the same without you, my girl. But before you go, there's something I want to give you for all you've done for our kingdom. Squire!"

A squire walked over holding a small chest. He opens it and River pulls something out.

"Ta-da!" River said putting a cloak on Marcia.

"Whoa! Cool!" Marcia said, doing a small twirl.

The cloak was turquoise blue with an M embodied on the back.

"Ha-ha! You're like a real live knight now. Look at you, my girl. In fact, if you ever want to be a knight one day, give me a call," River said

"Wow. Thanks, River," Marcia said

Moon approached Marcia, "Take care of yourself back on Earth." She gave Marcia a motherly kiss on the forehead.

"Thanks," Marcia said with a smile.

Now all that was left was Star. The two teens faced one another, Marcia's new tail lazily swaying behind her.

"Bye Star," Marcia said

"No, no, no Marcia. Remember not bye but see ya later," Star said

Marcia smiled. "Yeah, see ya later."

Marcia pulls out her dimensional scissors and opens a portal. She takes one more look at the Butterfly family giving them a sad smile and a wave. Star returns the gesture and Marcia steps in.

A second later Marcia's head pops out. "Oh, Star I left something for you in your room! Bye-Oh see ya!"

"See ya!" Star said

The portal closes up and Star starts to walk away making her way up a set of stairs.

"I'm going to my room," She told her parents.

"But sweetie pie, your room's this way," River said pointing behind him.

"Uh, yeah, it's wherever I want it to be, Dad," Star said

A portal opened up in the Diaz living room and Marcia stepped out. Rafael and Angie, who were sitting on the couch, gaped at the sudden appearance of their daughter.

"Hi, Mom. Hi Dad," Marcia greeted with a sheepish smile.

"Marcia!" Her parents exclaim running over to the girl wrapping her up in a tight hug.

"Where have you been, young lady!?" Rafael said

"We were so worried! You are in big trouble!" Angie said

"Yeah...I figured as much." Marcia pulled away from her parents. "Mom. Dad. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you guys worry. I was just checking in on Star and then there was River and the giant monster. Then I got captured by rats. Also Toffee…"

Marcia continued to tell her parents what had occurred but the two adults' attention was elsewhere. Marcia's words were nothing but white noise as the couple stared, wide-eyed, at the twitching ears atop Marcia's head.

Star made her way upstairs and faced an empty wall. She pulls out her wand performing a spell.

"Sparkle Glitter Bomb Expand."

There's an explosion of pink magic and a new tower is created on the side of the castle. Star goes inside and flops on her bed. As she rolls over she sees a blue box waiting for her.

"This must be the thing Marcia left," Star said

She removes the top of the box and her damper mood brightness. It was full of things that Star loved from Earth. Her favorite kind of nail polish, her favorite soap, perfume, cookies, and candy.

"Awww, Marcia's so sweet."

Star sat up, scooting further on her bed. Her shifting causes a pillow to fall over, revealing something underneath.

"One of Marcia's hoodies."

Star grasped the fabric, it was stained and dirty, but that didn't matter to the Princess. She grabbed the hoodie holding it close like a child with a security blanket. She took two big whiffs, sighing out at the familiar scent.

"Oh Marcia, you sure love that perfume." Star giggled before whispering. "Apple Blossom Charm, your signature. I'm sure Marcia wouldn't mind if I kept this, I mean she did leave a whole box of things, what's one little hoodie. She doesn't even wear them all that much anymore."

Star reasoned with herself, before taking a few more sniffs of the hoodie. All the memories of her and Marcia rushed into her mind. A nostalgic warmth brewed within Star, helping to wash away the sadness of her friend's depture.

"Hey, girl!"

"Ah!" Star jumped startled letting go of the hoodie. "Pony Head!"

Pony Head floated before Star, a bag of popcorn next to her. "I heard what went down in your kingdom, and so I rushed right over as soon as my hair was done. You know I need to do that. Wait. Are you hiding something from me?"

Star scoffed, "No. This is me. Totes normal."

Pony Head narrowed her eyes. "You better not be keeping secrets from me. What's with that box huh?"

"Oh that. It's just a gift from Marcia. It's got earth things in it," Star said

"Uh Huh and what is that?" Pony Head gestured to the hoodie.

Star nervously tucks the hoodie behind her back. "Uh, nothing, just Marcia's hoodie. Nothing out of the ordinary there. She definitely left it for me and I did not take it."

Pony Head looks at her friend skeptically before leaning in closer. Her nostrils flared as she took two big whiffs. She quickly pulls back her nose scrunching.

"Ooooh! Darn it! That thing smells like feet! And it's covered in fur."

"Yeah, Liger does shed a lot. But it doesn't smell, it smells like-" Star blinked when she realized the hoodie was no longer in her hands.

She looked to her right to find Pony Head opening a laundry chute, holding the hoodie over it.

"What the?! Hey, what are you doing?!" Star exclaimed

"I'm washing this stinky thing," Pony Head said before dropping the hoodie in it.

"No!" Star dived at the chute reaching in but missed the hoodie.

"Hey, girl, you need to calm down, it's just a hoodie," Pony Head said

"No, it's not just a hoodie that's Marcia's hoodie! It-It could get ruined!" Star exclaimed.

Star ran out of the room Pony Head following right behind her. She hopped down the stairs performing a flip into a split as she landed at the bottom.

Star examined her surroundings with a keen eye spotting the castle laundry with the sign Knight of the Wash hanging over the door.

Star runs over to the door frantically knocking on it. Her frenzied knocks were quickly answered as the top half of the door swung open.

A man, a knight, appeared. He was dressed in armor, minus the helmet.

"Yes? Ah, Princess Butterfly."

"Hi, Lavabo."

"I must apologize for your blue dress. It will not be ready 'til Tuesday," Lavabo said

"I don't care. I'm looking for a red hoodie," Star said

"A hoodie? Date and time you dropped it off," Lavabo asked

"Well, just now, but it was a total accident. I just need it back before it gets washed," Star said

"A clean hoodie? Oh, not to worry. You need the pickup window."

Lavabo points to his right to a second window. Star huffs and walks over to the window knocking on it. The window opened and Lavabo was the one who did so.

"Welcome to the pickup window. How may I be of assistance?" Lavabo asked

"Red hoodie," Star said with a hint of frustration.

Lavabo pulled out a clipboard. "Size?"

"Small," Star said

"Chain mail or metal plate?" Lavabo aksed

Star frowned, "Cotton. It's a hoodie."

"Thread count?"

"I don't know! I don't count!" Star exclaimed, throwing her hands up.

Behind Lavabo, Marcia's hoodie falls out of a chute atop a pile of other clothes.

"Wait-wait-wait! There it is! Right behind you!" Star said pointing behind the man.

"Double stitch or single?" Lavabo said

"It's right behind you!" Star shouted.

"That should be enough information. I'll file this and get back to you within forty-eight hours," Lavabo said

"What?!" Star shouted as Lavabo closed the window.

Star groans, throwing her head back. Luckily for her, the window opened again, and Lavabo reapers.

"Good news! I have located your hoodie. Unfortunately, it's filthy and must be washed immediately."

"Wait! No-no-no-no-no. I-"

"I'm sorry, princess," Lavabo cut in. "But I must bother myself. It is my duty. I will never forget the moment, as a young boy, and I saw my papi meticulously making sure the royal linen stayed pure, noble, clean, and fresh."

Star stared at the man at a loss for words. "Uh…"

"And I swore at that very day that I would never let a garment go unwashed. And I have kept that promise for over forty years. Therefore, I will make it my utmost priority that this extremely soil-ed hoodie be washed!"

Lavabo closed the window again causing Star to let out a series of frustrated grunts. Seeing no other option she pulled out her wand pointing it at the door.

"Glitter Whale Battering Ram!"

She summons a small whale with wings that slams into the door but it just crashes into it before falling to the ground.

"Girl, what are you doing?" Pony Head said

"Trying to get my hoodie back before Lavabo washes it and ruins it!" Star said

She tightened her grip on her wand and cracked her neck.

"Are you for real right now?" Pony Head said

"Pile Driver Panda Explosion!"

The spell summoned an explosion of cute pandas, the force enough to take out the door. Lavabo was now wearing a full suit of armor holding the hoodie with a clawed staff.

"Through muddled scent and stained shirt piles, the dirt of yesterday shall not be the enemy of tomorrow. By the Order of the Wash, this is my promise to my true kingdom," Lavabo said

Star tilted her head raising a brow. "Seriously?"

"You know, I'm surprised to say it. But personally, I really do admire this," Pony Head said

"Seriously?!" Star exclaimed throwing her hands up.

"Star, just let this old dude do his job," Pony Head said

"Yes, I must follow my duty. Order and rules are always to be followed without fail," Lavabo said

"Okay, calm down though," Pony Head said

"Everyone must always follow the rules all the time, always, forever," Lavabo said

"What?! Okay, did you just tell my friend what to do forever?! We are getting back your weird-smelling furry hoodie. We're getting it," Pony Head said

Star eaves her hands, "Wait-wait-wait-wait-wait. Like, two seconds ago, you were like-"

"I'm aware of my actions, and I'm so sorry for not always having your back, and I hope we can move on and grow as the beautiful princesses we are," Pony Head said

"I must uphold my oath!" Lavabo exclaimed before he took off running.

"No-no-no-no-no! My gift! He can't wash the hoodie!" Star shouted

The two princesses take off after Lavabo running through the surprisingly large and maze-like laundry facility the castle had.

"Get back here, Lavabo!" Star shouted

Lavabo stops and turns a valve releasing large plumes of steam into the room. The steam overtook the area, greatly decreasing the visibility of the room.

Star let out a groan as Pony Head gasped out angrily.

"My hair!" Pony Head's freshly done hair has now flopped over thanks to the steam in the air. "Oh, he is so getting it now."

The two girls looked around the room but with the steam smokescreen finding Lavabo was difficult.

"I can't see anything!" Pony Head said

"I know! Let's split up!" Star said

The two girls go in opposing directions hoping to locate Lavabo easier. Star kept turning around until she spotted the hoodie almost floating through the steam.

"Aha! There you are!" Star said

Star jumped, her form cutting through the steam, raising her wand, she fired a blast at Lavabo hitting him square in the butt.

"Ay!" Lavabo cried out his feet leaving the ground a few seconds, but the knight quickly recovered and he continued on running.

Star let out a set of frustrated grunts before resuming her chase. She followed the man into a room with a waterway that had buckets floating down the moving water.

Star kept firing off spells but Lavabo was able to dodge each one with surprising agility and flexibility.

"Lavabo! Stop! Give me that hoodie!" Star said

"Your Highness, I can't stress enough how badly I am not going to do that."

He jumped into one of the floating buckets causing Star to groan out and jump into one of her own. Pony Head zoomed in from an open doorway situating herself into the same bucket as Star. The buckets floated into a large room that contained a medieval-style giant washing machine. Lavabo's bucket was about to go over the small waterfall that dropped into the room but the man jumped out hooking himself on a cord above ziplining himself safely down. He immediately starts climbing up the stairs that wrap around the washing machine heading to the top.

Pony Head and Star aren't so quick and the two girls' bucket goes over the waterfall.

"Kitten Pegasus Battle Barrel!" Star said

She transformed the bucket, causing it to sprout wings with a cat-like face on it.

"Stop! Do not wash that hoodie!" Star shouted

"As long as this body of mine is capable of moving, I shall always move towards my duty," Lavabo said

Lavabo holds the hoodie over the water of the spinning machine and Star's eyes widen with fear.

"Shimmer Soap Tentacle Wave!"

A pink film-like substance shoots out of Star wand landing on piles of dirty laundry. The clothes start to move and stretch up to the top of the machine ensnaring Lavabo. The man struggled against the fabric but found his efforts futile.

"You're not moving towards anything anymore. This is your last chance," Star said

"My entire life I have dedicated to my knight's oath. This is something that cannot be bent or broken. My brothers and sisters taught me that." Lavabo looked up to a stained glass window. "I cherish the moments we had together and hold onto them every day. It has made me who I am, and soon I shall see them again."

Star stares at the man a bit confused which quickly changes to shock. "Wait, what? You thought I was gonna kill you? Over a hoodie?!"

"Is that not what is going on here?" Lavabo questioned

"No. I was gonna maybe turn you into a duck or, like, boop you on the nose real hard," Star said

"But your eyes, they had the bloodlust," Lavabo said

Star lifted her wand releasing Lavabo. "That's just 'cause..." She stammered before sighing, "Pony Head was right. I really am messed up about Marcia. I mean, I spent all day chasing down a knight who was just doing his weird job. All because I thought that if I didn't have Marcia's hoodie, I wouldn't have any piece of her left, which just isn't true. I'll always have Marcia. We'll always be friends-"

During Star's speech of realization, Lavabo had taken the opportunity to toss the hoodie into the wash.

"Whoa-whoa-whoa, what are you doing?"

Lavabo leaned down to Star. "Do not worry. I put it on the gentle cycle."

After Marcia's hoodie was cleaned and washed the fabric sparkled. Lavabo neatly folded the garment before giving it a whiff, testing its smell.

"Miladies, the garment is clean and up to the standards of the Knights of the Wash," Lavabo said

Pony Head leans over sniffing the hoodie. "Oh, wow. Now, that is delightful. Star, you should…" She looked over at Star, the princess frowning devastated, her heart cheeks broken in half. "Awww...Girl, don't be pouty. Come over here."

"Meh," Star grunted.

"Milady, please."

Star takes the hoodie back holding it close. She takes a deep inhale, prepared to be disappointed, but she pauses to take another sniff. A wide smile splits her face, her broken heart cheeks mending.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! It still stinks like Marcia!" She joyfully exclaimed.

"What?!" Pony Head gasped confused. "No, it does not! I just sniffed it!" She looks at Lavabo. "Tell her it doesn't."

"The hoodie is, in fact, clean. What you are experiencing is the memory of a scent," Lavabo explained.

"You don't need to hold on to that stinky hoodie anymore. You know why? 'Cause, like, what we have learned is that Earth Turd's scent is, like, in your heart or whatever."

"Awww. Thanks, Pony Head," Star said.

"You got it, girl."

The girls made their departure from the wash, chatting away.

"You know girl, you really did go all psycho about that hoodie," Pony Head said.

"Pony Head didn't you get mad when you thought someone stole those earrings I got you?" Star said

"What are you talking about girl, I was pretty calm and rational in the situation," Pony Head said

"Didn't you blow up the wing of a castle?" Star said

"As I said perfectly calm and rational, now open that thing," Pony Head said

Star rolled her eyes, a good-natured smile on her face.

"You know I've only ever seen you this whacked-out once," Pony Head said.

"Huh?" Star rose a brow.

"You know with T..."

Pony Heads' words faded obscured by the sounds of Sir Lavabo performing his duties as a Knight of the Wash.