Ace of Spades

by Bazinga007

Marco discovers that nothing is impossible and the unreal is all to real. A magic well and a spunky princess. Marco helps Princess Star to be a better princess. But she's not the only royal seeking Marco's aid. Mewni has a few skeletons in the closet. Star and Marco attempt to right the wrongs of Mewni.

22. Chapter 21

'Change is not something that we should fear. Rather, it is something that we should welcome. For without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom, and no one in this world would ever move forward to become the person they're meant to be.'

B.K.S. Iyengar

---

(Chapter 21)

Star began to feel the ground shake far before she even saw Meteora. The tremors grew greater and greater until the purple giantess was finally in sight. When Star got a good look at her from her hiding place behind a large, moss-covered boulder, she couldn't help but shudder with dread. Meteora was taller than most buildings in Mewni, as purple as a bruise, and both reptilian and feline in appearance like if a buff crocodile had a baby with a purple panther. The worst part for Star was remembering that this terrifying beast-woman was related to her. And even worse, Meteora had every right to be as pissed as she looked.

"Wait for it…wait for it…" Star softly whispered to herself as she watched Meteora stomp in the direction of the castle. The princess waited until the half-Monster was right between the grove of trees and a small pond surrounded by large rocks.

"Here goes…everything," Star muttered. "NOW!"

A dozen orange portals appeared all around Meteora and out of them leapt a squadron of Hekapoos. Armed with their scissors, they stabbed into the half-breed's flesh and hung on like ticks. Meteora roared with pain and stumbled around, trying to shake the Hekapoos off of her.

Jorby, clad in his steel, wolf armor, bounded out of the woods and ran to Meteora, jumping onto her leg and sinking his teeth and fangs into her. Meteora cried out and stomped her foot down into the ground.

Out from behind the large stones by the pond, Kelly, Higgs, and Pony Head all let out a battle cry and ran to Meteora's other leg. Kelly's greatsword went into Meteora's large calf muscle while Pony's serrated horn and Rebanador were driven into the giant's foot. Meteora roared in pain once more and stomped that foot down as well.

Behind Meteora, Tom appeared in a burst of fire. Wielding a large, wicked-looking axe forged from black metal, he raised his weapon in the air and, with eyes glowing red, he chanted in a deep, demonic voice in a language that only a Prince of Hell could speak. The ground in front of Tom caved in with fire and lava, crumbling away and leaving a fiery crater big enough for Meteora.

Star dashed to her position in front of Meteora. She raised her wand in both hands and aimed the magical relic at Meteora, summoning all of the willpower and magic she could muster.

"Strawberry annihilation!" she screamed.

A powerful blast of pink magic and strawberries fired from the wand. The beam of magic energy hit Meteora right in the face, knocking her back. With both of her legs weighed down and cut into, the purple giant swiped her hands at the air as she fell backward, right into the pit of fire Tom had summoned. The rest of the team jumped off of Meteora's body before they could go down with her. Higgs had to yank Pony Head and her horn out of Meteora's leg and leap off with Pony tucked under her arm.

Meteora screamed in outrage as she fell into the pit. Tom slammed the axe down and the pit began to close, either side coming together until they met and formed a scar across the ground. Everyone panted from the shock of what just happened, senses heightened from the adrenaline rush.

"Woah. Did that actually work?" Pony Head asked, still tucked under Higgs' arm. "I'll be honest, everyone, I, like, totally thought that would fail. I don't mean to be so negative, failure just seems, like, thematically appropriate for us."

Higgs unceremoniously dropped Pony Head in the dirt.

"It's over," Star breathed. She still had the wand held up, her arms beginning to quiver. "We…we did it. It's over."

The team of Hekapoos morphed back into one as they approached Star. Keeping a neutral look on her face, the Scissors Enforcer gently raised her hand and placed it on Star's arm, lowering the wand for her.

Star didn't take her unblinking gaze off of the scar of dirt that Meteora had fallen through. "...Did…did we actually do it?"

"Don't get me wrong. You did good." Hekapoo looked at the scar in the ground as well. "But, this…felt way too easy."

The ground began to quake violently. Everybody almost lost their footing from the intense trembling.

"Okay, here we go," said Pony. "See, this feels right. This feels appropriate for us. Cuz, like, why would anything be easy for us?"

The ground exploded outward in an eruption of dirt and stone. And out of the ground crawled out Meteora, a look of pure rage on her monstrous face.

"That's impossible," Tom said as he stared up at Meteora in shock and terror. "How did–"

One whip of Meteora's tail sent Tom flying across the lake, skipping over the water like a stone until he finally sank.

"Higgs! Get him! He can't swim!" Star ordered.

Higgs nodded and dashed to the lake. Star, Hekapoo, Kelly, and Jorby all grouped together and raised their weapons at Meteora, who glared down at Star as if the others weren't even there.

"Hello, Princess Star," the former headmistress growled. "You were always such a problem for me back when you were my student. If only I had known how deep the depths of your part in my suffering went."

"I never did anything to you, Meteora," Star said.

"It was Shastacan and Festivia, your ancestors, who stole what was mine by right." Meteora's irate gaze landed on Hekapoo. "Right after she and her ilk took me from my parents."

"I'm sorry for everything that happened to you. I really am," Star said. "But this is not the way."

"THIS IS THE ONLY WAY!"

Meteora raised her fists in the air and roared in rage, eyes glowing venom-green.

"Everybody get ready!" Star's wand glowed and so did her cheek marks. "We're all that's left!"

---

"...ke…p…"

The first sensation Marco remembered feeling was a bright light in his eyes. Thinking someone had just turned on the lights in his room, he drifted back to sleep.

"Wa…u…"

Marco then felt a slight headache coming on. He felt himself squint his eyes and turn his head.

"Wake up."

Marco felt a kick to his side. He grunted in pain as the kick awakened him and his eyes blinked open. At first, everything was blurry because everything was so bright. Propping himself up on his arms, he raised his upper body and let the water pour off of him and back into the pool he was laying in. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he noticed someone standing over him. Although he still couldn't quite make her out with his eyes still adjusting, she appeared to be a tall and strong woman.

Marco stared up at her with wide, shimmering, dilated eyes. "...Well, hi there." Marco gave the woman a goofy smile. "It's so nice to meet you. Do you know where I am? Or who I am? Or what this red thing I'm wearing is made of?" Marco began running his hands all over his hoodie. "It feels sooo comfy."

The woman sighed, then knelt down and slapped Marco across the face.

"OW!" Marco's eyes returned to normal as he rubbed his slapped cheek. "What the heck was that for?!"

Marco's eyes widened in shock. "Wait. I…I know you."

The woman standing over him smiled. Now that Marco's vision had been fully restored, he saw that she was a muscular woman with rust-colored hair set in a long braid and shaved at the sides. She wore a brown battledress and bracers on her strong arms. For a second, the woman reminded Marco of Star, with that powerful and intense look in her green eyes, like she was ready to face down any challenge. Instead of hearts, though, the woman had a pair of gold lightning bolts on her cheeks.

"You're Queen Solaria," Marco marveled. "The Monster Carver."

Solaria's smile faltered at being called that. "If it's all the same to you, boy, I would prefer it if you would simply call me Solaria." The former Queen offered Marco a hand. "I am neither a queen nor a monster carver anymore."

Marco took Solaria's hand and was hoisted up onto his feet. He took a better look at his surroundings and he went wide-eyed and slack-jawed. "Where…where am I?" he whispered.

Solaria restored her smile. "Welcome back to the Realm of Magic."

It was beautiful. Like something from the most realistic dream a person could ever have. Like heaven itself. The entire landscape as far as the eye could see was an ocean of pristine, sparkling, golden waters that only went up to the ankles. Columns of the golden waters traveled up into the gorgeous blue and lilac sky as if they were falling in reverse from invisible faucets. Protruding out of the golden ocean were amethyst crystals of every shape and size both big and small, creating different landmarks. What Marco at first thought were trees were actually incredibly tall, dark cyan lily pads.

Marco watched as a few jellyfish-like creatures floated through the air. Then he spotted a couple of bright-colored, small, baby unicorns no bigger than a pug dog. One of the adorable little unicorns spotted Marco and cutely galloped toward him. The white-furred creature with sparkling gold eyes stared up at him.

"Um…hello," said Marco.

"Hello," the unicorn said back before bounding away to rejoin its friends.

Marco stared down into the golden waters, seeing his reflection staring back at him. It seemed that while he was in the source of the magic, his cheek marks refused to conceal themselves. The red crescent moons didn't glow, but they displayed themselves proudly on Marco's skin, as if they were happy to have returned to their origins.

"Queen Solaria, what am I doing here? I was trying to…I wanted to…" Marco blinked his eyes and they became sparkling and dilated again. "...Tacos?"

Solaria rolled her eyes and slapped Marco across the face again.

"OW!" Marco blinked his back-to-normal eyes and rubbed his cheek. "What the hell is going on?!"

"It's the Realm, it affects the minds of those who intrude upon it," Solaria explained. "As sharp as your mind is, the Realm's very atmosphere is simply too much power for those who have not…moved on to a higher plane of existence."

"It doesn't seem to bother you at all," Marco commented.

"That's because I've moved on."

Marco's eyes widened. "Oh…right, you're…you're dead." He coughed into his fist awkwardly. "Sorry."

"It's fine, I came to terms with it a long time ago," said Solaria.

"Wait, if you're dead, then, what are you doing here?" Marco asked.

"This is the resting place for all beings of magic," Solaria explained. "This is the final destination of every Butterfly's journey."

"Every Butterfly…" Marco gasped. "Star! I have to get to Mewni! Nice meeting you, gotta go."

Marco made a dash in a randomly picked direction, but Solaria grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back before he could get anywhere.

"Hold it, boy. You're only going to get lost and dazed if you search the Realm on your own," Solaria warned.

Marco froze and stared at Solaria's hand which held his arm in her steel grip. A memory suddenly surfaced from his mind.

"Forgive us."

Marco looked up at Solaria. "...It was you," he said softly. "When I got pulled into the well, that…that arm. It was your arm. Your voice."

Solaria replied with a nod of her head. "Yes."

Marco pulled his arm out of Solaria's grip. "Why? What you did changed everything for me. You threw me into a world I didn't even know existed and into a war I didn't know was going on. You made me into a dark magician and gave me abilities I never wanted in the first place! My life was fine until you pulled me into that well and flipped my world upside down!"

Solaria stared at Marco for a minute before finally saying anything. "Walk with me." The former Queen turned around and started walking. "Your odd friend is with the others."

"Odd friend?" Marco asked. "I have a lot of those, you're going to have to be more–Oh, crap, Janna! She came here with me!" Marco hurried to catch up to Solaria as they walked.

Marco followed Solaria through the Realm of Magic. He couldn't help but gawk and stare at the majestic world around him. It truly was incredible, but it was obviously messing with Marco's mind. Every so often, Solaria would have to turn around and slap Marco back to his senses.

"So…who are the 'others' you mentioned?" Marco asked after a bit of walking and slapping.

"Why, the rest of the family, of course," Solaria replied.

Solaria led Marco to a sort of clearing, where a large group of women were hanging out; sitting on large deposits of purple crystal, conversing with one another, and chatting and giggling like a group of mermaids. With the way they all resembled each other, it looked like some kind of family reunion none of the men were invited to. They all looked familiar to Marco, and they each had their own symbol decorating their cheeks.

"Oh my God," Marco breathed with eyes wide with awe. "The Queens of Mewni."

"Attention, everyone!" Solaria called out. "Marco's here!"

All of the former Queens stopped whatever they were doing and gathered to see their new guest. Marco recognized more than a few faces from the Book of Queens. It was as if the book had come to life before Marco's eyes.

"Why hello there, Marco!" One of the Queens stepped forward to greet him. She was fair-skinned with curly, orange hair, wearing a yellow dress with a garnet brooch.

"Marco, meet my mother, Skywynne," said Solaria.

Marco took notice of her orange, hourglass cheek marks. "The Queen of Hours."

Skywynne smiled and nodded. "It's good to see you again, Marco."

"Again?" Marco asked. "I'm sorry, but, I don't think we've met before."

"Oh, but we have," said Skywynne. "You called upon my power once before."

"I have?" Marco blinked. "Oh, right, I have. I used your spell when Rhombulus trashed my room."

"Rhombulus," Skywynne said distastefully. "That head of his is as hard as his crystal and as filled with air as a balloon." Most of the other Queens nodded in agreement.

"So many years have passed, and some things remain entirely the same," another former Queen said as she stepped forward. Skywynne had more resembled Eclipsa, but this Queen looked more like Moon. Her large, heart-shaped hair was dark brown and her eyes were a warm, almond-brown. The light-maroon dress she wore complimented her creme skin quite well. Matching the lipstick and the mascara she wore, her cinnamon-colored check marks were in the shape of butterflies.

"Queen Urania," Marco said in wonder. "The First Queen of Mewni."

Urania bowed her head in greeting. "It's nice to formally meet you, Marco Diaz. The last time you were here, you were far too intoxicated by the magic to even make coherent sentences."

"Uh…nice to meet you too, Queen Urania," said Marco. "I gotta say, you look a lot like Queen Moon."

"Well, I am her ancestor," Urania pointed out. "We all are."

"The family resemblance is indeed quite uncanny." Another Butterfly came up to greet Marco. To Marco's confusion, she only looked to be about ten years old. Her short hair was salmon-pink, decorated with a red rose, and her eyes were grass-green. Her green shirt and her red dress made her look like a tulip. And her cheek marks were in the shape of peach-pink flowers.

"Queen Luna the Child," Marco greeted, excited to meet yet another former Queen he read about. "The youngest Queen to ever take the throne."

Luna nodded with a sad smile. "That is correct. Well met, Marco Diaz."

"But wait, according to the Book of Queens, you reigned as Queen until you gave the throne to your daughter and retired at an old age," Marco recalled. "How come you look like a ten-year-old?"

Luna shrugged. "This is how Mewni remembers me. As the Child Queen. And, that's how I went down in history. That is how my memory survives."

"What's it like living eternity as a ten-year-old?" Marco asked.

"It's not great, but, it's not terrible."

"At least you're not remembered as a coward." Another Queen stepped forward. She greatly resembled Star, same as Luna did, even being in the same age group. But her skin was paler, her hair was white, her eyes cyan, and she looked constantly sad and anxious. She wore a black dress as if she were in mourning and her cyan cheek marks were in the shape of teardrops.

"Queen Heaven the Scared," Marco greeted. "Hey, is that story about you and the Monster King Kraid true?"

Queen Heaven rubbed her arm, looking almost guilty. "That story gives me way more credit than I deserve."

"It barely gives you any credit as it is," said Marco.

"Yeah, and that was me trying to tell the truth," replied Heaven.

"You wanna Queen with bravery? That's ME!" Marco was suddenly hoisted up in the air by a pair of strong arms. Marco thought it was River at first, but it was actually a red-haired, barbarian version of Star. She looked about twenty, clad in fur and metal armor with a metal helmet over her dark orange hair set in twin pigtails. There was a scar over one of her olive green eyes and her cheek marks were red flames. "I ain't afraid to take on any man nor beast!"

"Queen Meteora the Relentless," said the startled Marco. "Nice to meet you."

"Same here, Marco Diaz! You are a strong warrior!" Meteora tossed Marco up and caught him by the hood. "You'll make a fine contribution to the Royal bloodline!"

"A fine contribution to the–oh, you mean Star," Marco realized, blushing as he wiggled out of Meteora's grip. "Is that why you people dragged me into the well? Just so I could…you know, give Mewni another Queen?"

"That's one of the reasons. More of a bonus, really," said Urania. "The main reason we agreed upon choosing you when Glossaryck showed you to us was because, well, you met all of the qualifications."

"What qualifications?" Marco asked.

"We needed someone smart, brave, upstanding, ethical and unbiased," Skywynne listed off. "We needed someone who wasn't from Mewni. We liked that you come from such a humble home, it showed signs of modesty and integrity. And we needed someone who was neither Mewman nor Monster, with an outside view on the affairs of our Kingdom."

"You seemed to have put a lot of thought into abducting the right guy," Marco said with a somewhat bitter tone, trying to be as polite as possible.

"Marco, when a Queen dies, she has a lot of time to reflect on the choices she made in life, and the mistakes she made." Solaria closed her eyes and hung her head, as did many of the other former Queens. "All we want is to make up for the mistakes we made, and you're the only one who can help us do that. Which is why we brought you to Mewni. Why we brought you to Star."

Solaria reopened her eyes and walked up to Marco. "I'm sorry we brought you to our world to fix the mess we ourselves made. But, please understand; you were the only one who could."

"Yeah, Glossaryck and Eclipsa already gave me that whole speech." Marco raised a skeptical eyebrow. "There are an infinite amount of dimensions. It's a whole 'Rick and Morty' thing when you've got dimensional scissors. Honestly, call me Rick Diaz at this point. Exactly how is it that I was the only possible option? Why me? Among the infinite options, why me?"

"Funny thing about infinity,"

Marco turned to see another former Queen approach him. She had tan skin and lavender hair set in a heart shape with a long ponytail. Her eyes were amethyst-purple and her cheeks were decorated with a pair of dark lilac butterflies similar to Queen Urania's cheek marks. She wore a lovely sea-green and pink gown with long white sleeves and a butterfly design on the chest and midsection and a pair of pink slippers on her feet. Her kind eyes and even kinder smile made her seem like the nicest lady in the multiverse.

"When you find that one thing among the infinite, nothing else really compares," she finished.

Marco's eyes went wide. "Queen Comet the Chef," he said. "You're Star's grandma. Moon's mom."

Queen Comet's eyes sparkled as she nodded. "That's right. It's nice to officially meet you, Marco. We've all seen your deeds in Mewni, and I couldn't be more proud of our little champion. I told everyone you'd be perfect when I proposed we choose you, and I was not wrong."

"Proposed?" Marco blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"You want to know why we chose Earth? Why we chose you?" Comet asked with an almost teasing smile. "It was I who told Glossaryck to go to Earth to find Star a champion there. And when Glossaryck suggested you, I said you were perfect. And when I showed you to the rest of the Queens, they all agreed. Truth be told, I think the dealbreaker was seeing how amazing of a big brother you are to that adorable little scrumptious muffin, Mariposa." Comet's whole face brightened. "Oh, what I wouldn't give to nibble her little toes. Moon was just as adorable, you know, and so was Star."

"Wow, you really are a grandma," said Marco. "But, I guess everyone here is."

That last part made Queen Solaria look away. It was hard to read her stoic expression, but one might've seen a look of remorse, sorrow, or even guilt if they looked hard enough.

"But wait, why did you pick Earth of all places?" Marco asked. "I'll admit, compared to other dimensions, we're not that great."

"I know what Earth is like," Comet said. "I've been there before."

"Really? I knew you went dimension hopping after you ditched Mewni for a while, but I didn't know you visited Earth," said Marco. "How'd you like it?"

"Before I answer that, I need you to promise to do a few things for me," said Comet.

"Uh, sure, whatcha need?" Marco asked.

"Tell Moon and Star that I am beyond proud of the both of them, and that I love them both dearly," Comet said with nothing but love and sincerity in her voice. "And…tell Moon…"

Queen Comet knelt down and whispered into Marco's ear. As she did, Marco's eyes widened and his mouth went agape.

"...Oh my corn," Marco whispered in disbelief. "I can't believe…that I actually used that expression."

Comet chuckled. "You remind me of Star's grandfather. That's another reason why I picked you. You're a good match for her, dear."

Marco blushed. "Uh…look, I gotta get to Mewni before it gets destroyed. Have any of you seen my friend, Janna? Creepy chick wearing a beanie hat? Believe me, you don't want me to leave her here with you."

"Oh, your strange friend is over there," Urania said, pointing in the right direction.

"Thanks," Marco said, taking off in that direction through the crowd of Queens.

Solaria looked at Comet sternly. "I need your champion to be successful, Comet."

"And he will," Comet replied. "That, I promise."

Marco eventually found his occult-loving friend conversing with another one of the Queens of Mewni. Although, apparently, the magic of the Realm was having a full effect on Janna's mind. Her dilated eyes shimmered and sparkled and her smiling mouth hung slightly open as she listened intently to the former Queen.

"You see, my dear, necromancy is a very complicated form of demonic magic. It takes considerable skill to master it."

"Uh-huh," Janna replied with a nod.

"If you're looking to master other forms of demonic sorcery, you should really check out the Lucitor Library. That library houses everything from necromancy to witchcraft to soul trapping."

"Uh-huh."

"And if you like that, then you'll love–"

"Oh, no you don't." Marco grabbed Janna's arm and pulled her away from the former Queen. "Don't even think about getting her into magic, she's enough trouble as it–Oh my God."

What had just astounded Marco so much was seeing how the Realm was divided in two. On the half of the world Marco and Janna were standing in, the waters were golden and shining. On the side of the world which the former Queen was standing in, the waters were a dark purple, with an unworldly, somewhat eerie glow like a black light. It went as far as the eye could see in the direction opposite of the golden waters. Waterfalls of the dark liquid went skyward. Marco wondered what worlds they went to, and what kind of worlds they were.

Eyes wide with curiosity, Marco knelt down and reached his arm into the darker waters. He scooped some of the purple waters into his hand and studied it. It felt colder than the golden waters, but in a refreshing way. He could feel the magic inside of him respond to the stuff. His cheek marks glowed vibrantly on his skin in the presence of the dark waters. Marco let the water fall out of his hand and back into the sea of darkness.

"What is this?" Marco asked.

"Our half of the magic," the Queen said mysteriously. Marco immediately understood why Janna, even with her mind muddled by the Realm, was drawn to this former Queen. The tall, thin, incredibly spooky woman wore a maroon skirt and a dark purple shirt with a white, frill collar. With her pale skin and unnerving purple eyes, she reminded Marco greatly of Eclipsa. The cowl she wore only revealed her purplish-pink bangs. Her cheek marks were a pair of dark purple, triple moon goddess symbols.

"Queen Hekatia," Marco marveled. "The Necromancer."

"It's nice to meet you, Marco." Hekatia's smile was chilling. "One dark magician to another."

"Your magic is different from mine, I think, from what I've read," Marco commented, holding onto Janna's arm to keep her from drifting away to somewhere else. "Your magic is more like Eclipsa's."

"Indeed. Your magic is more like mine."

Another Queen walked up next to Hekatia on the dark side of the Realm. Much as Hekatia did, this Queen more resembled Eclipsa, but mostly in profile. This Queen wore a lovely, regal, red dress over her slim figure with wide sleeves that matched her rich, red, thick hair. The cheek marks on her pale skin were a familiar pair of red crescent moons.

Marco recognized her immediately. "Queen Febe the Red One."

Queen Febe smiled. Despite her reputation, her ruby-red eyes shone with kindness. "Hello, Marco. It's very nice to finally meet you."

Marco looked out across the sea of purple waters. "Why are you and Hekatia standing in the purple stuff? Why not join the rest of the family in the gold stuff? Are the both of you trapped on that side or something?"

"Nothing keeps us from leaving our side of the Realm." Hekatia took a step out of the dark waters and into the golden waters. As she did, the dark waters followed her, turning the golden waters around her into the purple stuff. "We just choose to keep to our side for the sake of the rest of the family."

Marco blinked. "...That's the dark magic," he said. "That half of the Realm is the dark half of the magic."

Hekatia nodded, stepping back into the dark waters. The dark waters that had crept into the golden waters receded back into the dark half of the Realm as she did. "Magic users who dedicate themselves to dark magic spend their afterlives on the side of the Realm they belong to."

"Don't you get lonely with the two of you being the only ones on this side of the Realm?" Marco asked.

"It's not so bad," said Febe. "We stay close to the rest of the family. We just can't step into the golden waters."

"Well, what if the rest of the family came to your side of the Realm?" Marco asked.

"They can't," said Hekatia. "I mean, they can, but, it would eventually…corrode their spirits, for lack of a better word. Some would last longer than others, having used some dark magic during their lifetimes, but except for Febe and I, none of the fallen Queens can last in the dark side of the Realm. And we can't step into the light, or else we will simply bring the darkness with us."

Marco stared down into the dark waters. "...That's why dark magic is so feared," he said. "It…stains. Never really goes away."

Hekatia and Febe both nodded solemnly.

Marco stared out across the dark side of the Realm. "This universe is infinite, right? All universes are. How can it be divided into two halves then?"

"The concept of infinity is, in itself, a bit of a misnomer," said Hekatia. "Nothing is truly infinite."

"Oh. Well, that's kinda depressing." Marco kept staring into the Realm's darkness. "Everything about having dark magic is depressing."

Hekatia and Febe glanced at each other, a look of understanding on their faces. Febe reached across the border of light and darkness and gently cupped Marco's cheek in her hand. Marco's crescent moon cheek marks glowed in tandem with Febe's cheek marks, as if they were mirroring each other.

"You know, Marco, we brought you to Mewni because of what you were capable of. That was no lie," said the Red One. "However, we never actually thought you would receive magic from the Realm. That took us by surprise."

"It did?" Marco asked.

"Yes, I believe only Glossaryck saw that coming," Febe said. "And even more to our surprise, you were blessed by the Blood Moon, same as I was, and given the gift of dark magic."

"Can you really call it a gift?" Marco asked. "Is having dark magic really worth–"

"Really worth being feared by your own people? Your own family?" Hekatia asked. "Really worth the ten-step distance everyone tries to keep from you?"

"They never really stop treating you like you're a villain about to commit a crime," said Febe, bringing her hand back. "You never truly earn their trust."

"In all fairness though, how much can you really blame them?" Marco asked. "You both know what dark magic is like. Didn't you ever get scared of it yourselves?"

"Sometimes, yes," Febe admitted. "The only thing worse than everyone being afraid of you is being afraid of yourself."

"However, you must embrace your own darkness. Pardon the melodrama," said Hekatia. "I wasn't Blood Moon blessed like you and Febe were, I chose dark magic. And looking back, I can't imagine I would have done it any differently if given the chance. When you discover you have a talent for something, keep at it. And you, my boy, have an obvious talent for it."

"But, how do you deal with it all?" Marco desperately asked. "How do you help an entire world that doesn't even trust you? How do you help when deep down, you feel helpless."

"Ask Star," said Febe.

Marco's eyes widened. He bit his lip and looked away.

Febe sighed. "You really wanna know how to deal with it all?" The Red One placed her hand on Marco's shoulder. "One problem at a time, my dear. One problem at a time."

"Pardon me, Marco?"

Marco turned around to see who wanted to talk to him and he gasped in shock and awe.

"Queen Etheria the Knight!"

She looked like an older version of Star, somewhere in her early twenties, clad in impressive, polished steel and purple leather armor befitting a Queen, with a sword strapped to her side. She wore a lavender cape that matched her short, ponytailed hair. Her eyes were purple and her purple cheek marks matched the symbol on her breastplate–a pair of fleur-de-lis. She stood with her back straight like a soldier would.

"Wow, it's a real honor to meet you, I'm a big fan of your work," Marco said, offering a handshake. "Eh…no offense, your other highnesses."

"Don't worry about it, we all have our idols," said Hekatia.

Queen Etheria smiled and shook Marco's hand. "The honor is mine, Marco Diaz. Standing up to Moon's knights and saving those Monsters? Very well done. And saving those Princesses from St. Olga's? Most impressive."

"She looks familiar," Janna said with a goofy smile. "I feel like I've seen that face before… Ooo, a unicorn."

"We should probably get her out of here," Etheria said. "Follow me, Marco. I can show you the way back to Mewni."

"Oh, right! Mewni! I can't believe I almost forgot! I think the Realm is starting to get to me again." Marco exclaimed. "Lead the way, your highness. Come on, Janna, let's go."

"Who's Janna?" Janna asked as Marco led her after Etheria, who led them through the Realm.

"Goodbye, Queen Hekatia! Goodbye, Queen Febe!" Marco said as he left.

"Farewell, Marco," Hekatia called after Marco. "Give my best to Eclipsa! I love her work!"

Febe watched Marco walk off, smiling proudly. "He'll do great things with Star."

"I wonder if their baby will be as adorable as Mariposa," said Hekatia.

"Oh my goodness, I hope so."

Etheria led Marco to one of the many golden waterfalls that rose into the sky. Marco, holding on to Janna, stared up at the rising gold. "This is the one?"

"One of them, anyway," said Etheria. "It's the same one that we sent you up last time."

"Ah, the memories," Marco replied bitterly. "If only I had them."

Etheria chuckled. "You might want to hurry. Your beloved awaits."

Marco blushed and grumbled as he stepped toward the reserve waterfall, pulling Janna along with him.

"Marco, wait!"

Marco turned around and saw Solaria hurry up to him.

"Eclipsa. My daughter," the former Monster Carver said, looking sad and desperate. "I…" she seemed to struggle to find the right words. "Look, boy, I made a lot of mistakes in my lifetime. I fanned the flames of prejudice, I punished the innocent, and in my quest to destroy the Monsters, I created real ones."

Solaria closed her eyes. "But my greatest regret…was how I treated my own daughter." She reopened her eyes and looked at Marco with pain and sorrow brimming in her gaze. "Please…tell Eclipsa…that…I…I…I was never the best at this kind of talk…I…"

"Hold on, I have an idea." Marco reached into Janna's pocket and pulled out her phone.

"Hey, that's mine," Janna whined. "...What is that?"

"Let's see here, I don't know her password, but if I just double tap the button, I can…"

Marco held the phone up to Solaria. "Okay, it's on video. Tell Eclipsa exactly what you wanna tell her. Speak from the heart, your highness."

"What?" Solaria gave the phone a confused blink and cleared her throat. "Um…okay…" Solaria took a deep breath.

"Eclipsa, my daughter." Solaria wove her hands together. "You and I…we never had any common ground. But, that was not the problem. I realize that now. The problem was that I tried so hard to make you more like me instead of trying to connect with you and see things your way. You were never anything like me, and that was hardly a bad thing."

Solaria's eyes shined, but no tears came, like her eyes were trained to shed no tears. "I am…so sorry for what I did to you, my dear. I robbed you of a happy childhood, I doomed you to a life of despair. And marrying you off to that obnoxious pig, that must have taken the blade. I gave you nothing but misery, and it has eaten away at my soul for centuries."

Solaria sighed. "...I was wrong. About everything. I was no hero to anybody, not even you. I was a warmonger, a killer, a selfish, obsessed zealot of Mewni. And you, my daughter. All you ever wanted was to enjoy living. You were a fun child, you always were. You played your music beautifully, I wish I had been able to swallow my pride and tell you that. Despite your short reign, you were a better Queen than I could have hoped to be. The entire Kingdom were ignorant fools for treating you so horribly. And, so was I, for that matter. I am beyond relieved that Globgor and Meteora were able to finally grant you happiness."

Solaria bowed her head in shame. "I love you, Eclipsa. And, I am proud to be your mother, even if you are not proud to be my daughter… That is all, Marco."

Marco ended the video and lowered the phone, giving it back to Janna, who examined the device as if it were a bar of gold.

"...When you have a daughter, Marco, never, ever, sacrifice her happiness for the sake of duty," Solaria said. "Can you promise me that?"

Marco nodded.

"...I feel like…my life depends on this thing," Janna said as she stared at her phone. "...I can see myself when I stare at it… Wow, I'm pretty hot."

"Marco, I need you to make me one more promise," said Solaria.

"Sure, anything," said Marco.

"Promise me," Solaria placed her hands on Marco's shoulders. "that you will save my granddaughter."

Marco's eyes widened. "I'll…do everything I can. I can promise you that."

"About that. I have an idea you might like to hear." Solaria reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to Marco.

Marco took the paper and gave it a look. "What's this, a spell?"

"A spell that the Magic High Commission, namely that whiney Rhombulus, refused to let me add to the Book of Spells," Solaria explained.

Marco read the spell over. "...Huh… Well, I'll admit, I'll totally try to memorize this one, but how can it help me?"

Solaria told Marco her idea. As she did, Marco's eyes went wide.

"Solaria, are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked.

"Who else will she listen to?" Solaria asked.

Marco chewed on his lip as he read the spell again. "You might have a point," he muttered.

Solaria smiled. "Best of luck, brave warrior. I look forward to the day we see each other again."

"Please don't take this the wrong way, but, what makes you think I'll come back here?" Marco asked.

Solaria chuckled and folded her hands behind her back. "You seem to forget, my dear boy," The former Queen turned around and walked away.

"You're one of us."

Marco watched Queen Solaria leave with an unblinking gaze.

"...On the plus side, there's a certain amount of…aplomb in knowing exactly what your afterlife is gonna be like."

Janna looked around at the Realm of Magic. "There's not enough…fire. And it's too damn bright here."

"Good to know that not even the Realm of Magic can suppress that," Marco commented, folding up the paper and putting it in his pocket.

"You should get going," said Etheria. "Mewni and Star both need you."

"Right, right. It's getting harder to remember stuff the longer I'm here," Marco said. "Again, it was an honor to meet you, Queen Etheria. See you when I'm dead, I guess."

Marco turned around toward the column of golden water, but froze when an idea hit him. "Oh, wait!" He spun back around. "Queen Etheria, I need a favor! And I need to ask for it now, because I'm beginning to forget why I'm here!"

Etheria tilted her head and raised an eyebrow curiously. "What would you ask of me?"

"My friend. What's her name? Can't remember. It had a fun ring to it, I made fun of her for it a lot. Right! Higgs! Hilda Higgs!" Marco said. "She really wants to be a Knight and she really deserves it, but, I kinda blew it for her I think. If you can, could you, I don't know, make an appearance or something, do the whole ghost thing, and tell the Queen and everyone else that Hilda is totally worthy of being a Knight? Oh, and tell the Knights of Mewni that they all suck. Except for Lavabo. Lavabo is great, awesome dude, was really nice to me."

Etheria narrowed her eyes and rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Hilda Higgs?"

Marco nodded.

"...Tell you what." Queen Etheria removed the sword on her belt and held it up, removing it from its decorated scabbard. It was a beautiful weapon with a shiny, steel blade. The weapon's crossguard was crafted in the figure of a purple butterfly, with a mauve leather-wrapped handle with a garnet embedded in its end. At the base of the blade on either side, a fleur-de-lis was engraved into the metal.

"Say hello to Alexandra," Etheria said.

"Woah, sweet," Marco said. "I should introduce you to my Rebanador."

"I received this sword as a gift from my instructor on the day I was knighted. I've kept it with me ever since, even after I was crowned Queen, and I even chose to be buried with it." Etheria put the sword back in its scabbard and offered it to Marco. "But, perhaps your friend Higgs will get more use out of it than I do these days."

Marco stared at the sword in astonishment and amazement as he took the weapon from Etheria. "You would really give this to Higgs? I've read about this sword, it was your most prized possession."

"I love this sword, yes," said Etheria. "And I wish for it to be wielded by a great Knight. Make sure it is so."

Marco stared at Etheria for a second before giving her a firm nod. "I will."

Etheria smiled. "Cornspeed, Marco Diaz. Make us proud," she said as she turned around and walked away.

"Okay, Janna, let's go," Marco said, turning back to the reverse waterfall.

"Where are we going?" Janna asked. "Somewhere fun?"

"I can't remember, but I know we have to jump into the golden fountain," Marco said. "Here we go."

Marco jumped into the column of gold, pulling Janna along with him. They were both pulled upward by a current of unknown origin. Up they went, blinded by the light of the Realm until everything went black.

Solaria watched from a distance as Marco and his friend were sent skyward, a woebegotten look on the departed warmonger's face. And yet, despite the grief and sorrow caused by the regrets of her past, Solaria felt hope. Something she rarely even felt when she was alive.

Another former Queen hurried up to Solaria's side. She was fair-skinned with long purplish-blue hair, purple eyes, and mauve four-point star cheek marks. She wore a long, green tunic with a purple sash and a headband with curved horns. She looked like somebody you'd meet at a wine party or a charity benefit.

"Grandmother. Did Marco already leave?" Queen Festivia asked.

"You just missed him," said Solaria.

"Oh, curse it," said Festivia. "I was going to ask Marco to tell Mother that I was never mad at her. That I always idolized her, that I wished I had grown up knowing her. I…" Festivia looked down at the golden waters dismally. "I wanted to ask her if I was able to make her proud of me as a Queen."

"For whatever it's worth, I am proud of you and the Queen you were." Solaria wrapped her arm around Festivia and pulled her close, giving her granddaughter an affectionate kiss on the forehead. "And I'm sure your mother is as well."

Festivia's sad face managed a smile. "Thank you, grandmother." Festivia the Fun frowned again. "Grandmother…they'll help Meteora, won't they? Marco and Star will make sure that no harm comes to her, right?"

Solaria closed her eyes and sighed. "...They will do all that they can, my dear. They will do what needs to be done to save Mewni."

Solaria lead Festivia back to the rest of the family. "Now, let's find your great uncle Jushtin. I feel like beating him in another game of makruk and making fun of him when he loses."

---

"Sparkle lightning blast!" Star fired a stream of electricity at Meteora. The blue lightning struck the giant, causing her to spasm and twitch. But Meteora powered through it, roaring with rage as she withstood the shock.

Star continued to back away as she readied another spell. "Supersonic leech bomb!" A pack of neon-green leeches shot out of the wand and stuck all over Meteora's body. Meteora had just enough time to look disgusted before the leeches all over her beeped a few times and exploded in a powerful sonic explosion.

Meteora stumbled back, but didn't go down. She glared down at Star with glowing green eyes, ready for an attack of her own.

"Syrup tsunami shockwave!" A tidal wave of maple syrup shot out of the wand and covered Meteora from head to toe.

"Ah, disgusting!" Meteora cried. "It's in my hair, you wretched little brat!"

Star looked behind her to check on Hekapoo. The Princess was currently covering the injured ifrit, who was covered with bruises and barely able to even hoist herself up on her arms, let alone stand back up.

"Hang in there, Red," Star said.

"Don't…call me that," Hekapoo managed to say.

As Star continued to fire off spell after spell at Meteora, Higgs emerged from the lake, pulling a wet and unconscious Tom out of the water. Fighting through the exhaustion, Higgs pulled the demon prince onto the shore and flopped him onto his back. He wasn't breathing, so Higgs knew she had to act fast.

As hard as she could, Higgs drove her fists into Tom's stomach.

Tom's three eyes flew open and he leaned over to puke up all of the lake water that had either gotten into his lungs or his stomach. Once he was done retching out lake water and whatever he had for lunch, Tom gasped desperately for air, crying a little bit as he did.

"Corn dammit!" Tom shouted. "Didn't anyone ever show you how to perform CPR?!"

"Have you seen your teeth? I'm not performing CPR on you," Higgs said.

"Bet if I was Marco, you'd totally do it," Tom muttered.

Higgs drove her fists into Tom's stomach again.

"...Ow…" Tom whimpered. "...So, uh…how we doing with Meteora?"

Higgs simply pointed up. Tom looked up and saw Kelly and Jorby both floating in the air. Their eyes were black, blank, and lifeless as they floated above like heavy balloons.

"Oh, crap," Tom said in alarm.

"They fought bravely, the both of them," said Higgs.

"Rainbow fist punch!" they both heard Star yell. Tom and Higgs looked over to see Star fire a rainbow beam of energy with a fist formed at the end of the beam out of the wand. The beam struck Meteora right in the face and she reeled back, crying in pain.

"My eyes!" she shouted. "And my face!"

Star readied the wand for another attack. "Mega mushroom destruction–"

"ENOUGH!" Meteora reopened her eyes and fired a blast of green energy at Star.

"Star!" Tom blasted off like a rocket at Star, throwing sand all over Higgs as he took off. He got to Star just in time to push her out of the way, getting hit by the blast himself.

"Tom!" Star cried, shooting back onto her feet with a horrified look on her face.

When the green light of the magic attack ended, Tom was still standing there, staring up at Meteora defiantly.

"What the?" Star blinked. "Tom, how are you not a balloon?"

Another beam of venom-green magic shot out of Meteora's eyes and struck Tom. He flinched from the attack, but once the attack ended, he was still standing there.

"She keeps trying to steal my soul." Tom got hit by another blast. "But what she doesn't realize," Another blast. "is that I have, like," Another one. "hundreds of these things." Another blast. "I always get a bunch of them for my birthday." Yet another blast of magic.

"This kid is a whole smorgasbord," Meteora said excitedly. She hit Tom again with another blast of her magic. "After I'm done with him, you'll be perfect for dessert, Princess!"

"Jellybean hallucination mist!" Star fired a cloud of mist at Meteora. The green mist engulfed her large head and her eyes became dilated. Meteora lifted her arms up and stared at her hands. She then began to dizzily stumble around as if she had vertigo.

Higgs rushed up to Star and Tom and looked up at Meteora. "The hell's she trippin' on?"

"Jellybeans," said Star. "Everyone, fall back!" Star summoned Cloudy and hopped onto the purple, winged cloud. "Pony Head, come on!"

Pony Head, who was stabbing Meteora with her horn without even getting Meteora to notice her, stopped stabbing and looked over at Star. "Awww, but I was doing so good!"

"Pony!"

"Okay, fine, I'm coming."

Star lifted Higgs up onto Cloudy with her and Tom scooped Hekapoo into her arms. Pony Head followed after them as Star drove Cloudy into the forest with Tom jetting along with her. They heard Meteora let out a furious roar behind them, suggesting she had broken out of Star's disorientation spell.

Star flew Cloudy as fast as she could through the woods and away from Meteora. Tom and Pony Head struggled to keep up with the Princess, not entirely sure where she was leading them to.

"Uh…Princess Star?" Higgs asked. "Where are we going?"

"I have no idea," Star said, not bothering at all to deny it. The look on her face looked void of nearly all hope. "That was supposed to work, but Tom almost drowned, Kelly and Jorby are floating in the air, and Hekapoo can't even stand on her own two feet from getting the corn beaten out of her. What else can we do?"

"Well, whatever we do, we do by your order," said Higgs. "With Queen Moon MIA, that makes you Acting Queen."

Star's eyes widened. "...Oh, crap, it does, doesn't it?" She clenched her teeth to keep herself from screaming in frustration.

"Yes, it does," said Higgs. "So, Acting Queen Star…what do we do?"

Star took a deep breath. "...We go back to the castle and evacuate everybody to another dimension. We'll go from Kingdom to Kingdom and do the same thing, getting everyone out of Mewni and safe from Meteora."

"We're abandoning ship?" Higgs asked. "With all due respect, your highness…what the hell?"

"You got a better idea, Ginger?" Star snapped. "Meteora was too powerful for even my mom and the MHC! We have to make sure she doesn't hurt anybody else. So yes, we are running away and living to fight another day. You gonna give me lip or you gonna help me save as many lives as we can?"

Higgs blinked. "...As you command, your highness."

"Thank you," said Star, returning her focus to Cloudy's flight path. "...Sorry for calling you Ginger."

"As long as you don't call me Hilda, we're fine."

"But isn't that your name?"

"I just prefer Higgs."

"Uh, okay, that's fair, I guess."

Higgs looked over Star's shoulder. Her eyebrows raised when she spotted something. "Hey, look over there. I think I see someone trying to flag us down."

"What?" Star looked in the direction that Higgs was pointing. Through the trees, Star saw a tall, fat, green figure waving his arms in the air, trying to get their attention.

"Wait, I know that guy," Star said. "It's Buff Frog!"

"He looks a little too paunchy for that name," said Higgs.

"Please be nice, he's a friend." Star steered Cloudy towards Buff Frog and Tom and Pony followed her. Buff Frog was standing off the shores of a river and Star landed Cloudy down by the river side. Tom landed with Hekapoo in his arms, gently setting her down on the soft grass once they were safely landed. Pony Head caught up to the rest of the group, her tongue lolling out of her mouth as she panted for breath.

"I'm fine, everyone. Like, thanks for slowing down for me," Pony bitterly remarked.

"Princess!" Buff Frog greeted with a big, toothy grin on his froggy face.

"Buff Frog!" Star hopped off of Cloudy, causing the spell to end and poof away, leaving Higgs to fall onto the ground. "What are you doing out here, you need to get you and your buff babies somewhere safe!"

"Babies are safe vith babysitter. I vas just passing by on way to home," Buff Frog walked further down the river and pointed. "Vhen I found them."

Everyone looked at where Buff Frog was pointing and gasped in pure shock.

Further down the river, two teenagers were lying by the shore. One of them was wearing a familiar beanie and the other one wore an even more familiar red hoodie.

"Marco?!" Star shouted.

"Holy hell, she found a way back," Tom said with dread thick in his voice upon seeing Janna. "There's really no getting rid of her. She's a curse."

Star dashed down the river to Marco and Janna. Tom picked Hekapoo back up and everyone followed after the princess. When she reached Marco, Star knelt down by his side. As she stared at Marco's sleeping form, joy formed in her eyes, as well as hope. Marco and Janna both appeared unharmed. Marco had a sheathed sword held in one arm. Star recognized the weapon as Mewnian craft, and was curious as to where he could have gotten it.

Hekapoo stared down at Marco in pure bewilderment. "That's impossible. His dimension is on lockdown."

"This is same place I found him last time," Buff Frog said. "Eh, girl vith weird hat is new though."

"We can send her back, right?" Tom asked. "Right? Hekapoo? Right…? Anybody?"

Star hovered her hand over Marco, as if afraid to touch him, else he might disappear. "Are they okay?"

Higgs came up and kicked Marco in the side. Marco's eyes opened wide as he lurched forward.

"Dangit, Solaria!" Marco blinked and frowned. "Wait, Higgs?"

"Marco!" Star tackled Marco back to the ground with a hug. With the air knocked out of him, Marco took a moment to let Star crush his ribcage.

"You came back!" the ecstatic princess shouted.

"Of course I did," Marco wheezed with a smile on his face. "Hurgh…take it easy, blondie."

Janna let out a groan and came to. She lifted herself up on one arm and used the other to rub her forehead. "Oh, God, what happened last night?" She opened her eyes and looked around. "Oh, hey, Tom. Love the demon samurai outfit. Hey, can you take me to your family's private library? I'm not sure why I want to go see it, but I really do."

"How did you get back to Mewni?" Hekapoo demanded.

"I went through the Realm of Magic, same as the first time." Star finally released Marco and helped him to his feet, a big grin still plastered to her face.

"Do you have any idea how many laws you just broke?" Hekapoo managed to lift herself up on her feet. "You were banned and exiled by the Queen of Mewni and the Magic High Commission. Even if you didn't use dimensional scissors, the fact that you're here violates–"

Hekapoo cringed and grunted in pain as she fell down to her knees.

"Hekapoo!" Marco hurried up to the Scissors Enforcer. Her breathing was hoarse and shallow as she knelt on the ground, unable to stand.

"I'm guessing the fight with Meteora isn't going so well," Marco guessed.

"You know about that?" Star asked. "How?"

"Uh…Glossaryck told me." Marco knelt down with Hekapoo and put his sword on the ground. "Hold still, H-poo. I think I still remember one of Queen Soupina's spells."

Marco clapped his hands together and began rubbing them together like he was keeping warm. Every so often, he would blow into his hands before continuing to rub them together. After a few seconds, a pink fire formed in Marco's hands.

"Oh, stop showing off," Star pouted, crossing her arms and puffing her cheeks.

Marco raised the fire to Hekapoo's face and the pink flames entered into her mouth. Hekapoo's back straightened and she took a sudden intake of breath as her eyes went wide. A pink light seemed to flow through Hekapoo's pale body and her injuries healed themselves.

Marco smiled. "Feel better?"

Cautiously, Hekapoo stood back up, with Marco doing the same. She checked her body and, appearing satisfied, smiled appreciatively.

"Thanks, Marco," Hekapoo said. "It's…good to have you back."

Janna crept up to Tom and laid her head on his shoulder. "Did you miss me, boo?"

"Please send her back," Tom whimpered. "Please."

Hekapoo blinked and frowned when she noticed Marco's new sword. "Hey, hold on. Where'd you get that?"

"Oh, right, thanks for reminding me." Marco picked the weapon up and walked over to Higgs. "Here, Higgs, this is yours."

Higgs blinked at the weapon. "You got me a sword?"

"This is Alexandra, the sword of Queen Etheria the Knight," Marco said. "She gave it to me so I could give it to you."

Higgs' eyes went wide and her mouth hung open. "W…w-what?"

"When did you meet Etheria the Knight?" Star asked in disbelief.

"I met all of your ancestors in the Realm of Magic," Marco said. "By the way, your grandma says she's proud of you and that she loves you."

"Wait, what?!"

"Marco, I-I can't take this," Higgs stuttered, taking a nervous step back. "You're telling me this is the sword of Queen Etheria herself? You should keep it, not me."

"Queen Etheria wanted me to give it to a great Knight," Marco moved the weapon closer to Higgs. "So, here."

"But I'm not a Knight," Higgs argued.

"And you're still a better Knight than most of the Knights," said Marco. "Come on. Queen Etheria wanted you to have it, Higgs. And I can't think of a single person who's more deserving of having this sword than you."

Higgs stared down at the weapon. She licked her dry lips and flexed her hands. "Is…is it really the sword of Queen Etheria?"

"That's Etheria's sword alright," Hekapoo answered. "Geez, she got testy whenever somebody so much as looked at that sword for too long. I seriously can't believe she actually parted with it."

Higgs gulped. With shaky arms, she finally reached up and took the sword in her hands. Eyes wide with awe, she pulled the sword out of its scabbard just a bit to see the blade and marveled at the craft.

"You think you could trade me for Rebanador?" Marco asked.

Without taking her eyes off Alexandra, Higgs slid Rebanador off her shoulder and handed it to Marco.

"Hello, old friend." Marco unsheathed his sword. "Did you miss me?"

Pony Head snickered. "Hey, B-fly, how's it feel to place second behind a sword?"

"Oh, shut up," Star grumbled.

"Marco…" Higgs finally took her eyes off the sword and looked into Marco's eyes with a sparkling gaze. "...Thank you."

Off in the distance, everyone heard a loud, enraged roar of a she-beast. It sounded far too close for comfort.

"Oh, crap, she's coming for us!" Pony cried.

"No, I don't think so." Marco out Rebanador back in its sheath. "It's Mewni she wants, not us. She'll be heading to the castle."

"We can't let her get to the castle, she'll destroy everything within a hundred-mile radius," Higgs said.

"And then she vill do same to next Kingdom," said Buff Frog. "And Kingdom after that, and Kingdom after that. And then, she vill attack the Monsters."

"How do we stop her?" Tom asked.

"Star and I are the only ones who can stop her now," said Marco. "We're the only ones left who can use Butterfly magic against Meteora."

"Buff Frog, you need to go warn the Monsters," Star said. "Grab your babies and go somewhere safe until we can portal you somewhere safe."

Buff Frog saluted and croaked before hopping into the woods.

"The rest of you, get to the castle," Star ordered. "If Marco and I can't stop her, then you all need to protect the people of Mewni. Evacuate everyone you can to another dimension if it comes down to it. Make sure to warn the other Kingdoms about Meteora, too."

"Wait, hold on, at least let me fight with you," Tom argued. "Face it, you need my firepower."

"Yes, I do," said Star. "I need your firepower to protect the people of Mewni."

"But, Star–"

"That's an order from the Acting Queen of Mewni," Star snapped. "Protect the people."

Tom sighed and nodded. "Alright."

"Hekapoo, get everyone out of here," Star ordered. "Get back to the castle and explain to my dad what's happening."

Although apparently apprehensive to do it, Hekapoo relented and pulled out her scissors. She cut open a portal that led back to the castle.

"Janna, you're going with them," Marco said.

"Will you stop acting like I'm either a helpless damsel or an irritating nuisance?" Janna demanded.

"I know you're neither," said Marco. "But I'm not letting you get caught in the crossfire. You're going where it's safe, end of story. Tom, take her to the castle. Keep her safe from danger. And if you can, try not to let her out of your sight."

"You sure she can't stay here with you? It can't be that dangerous, I'm positive she'll be a formidable opponent against–"

"Tom."

"Okay, fine, I had to try." Tom took Janna's hand. "Time to go, spooky."

"I'll go anywhere with you, hot stuff," Janna purred. "Star, Marco, try not to die, okay? If you do though, I'll name the first boy and girl after you two."

"Can't you use her as bait or something?" Tom begged.

"Let's go, my handsome prince," Janna said as she pulled Tom toward the portal. "I wanna see the Butterfly Castle guest rooms."

"Wait. Hold on. I just realized I'm gay. I just now came out of the closet. I, uh, I have a crush on Marco like every girl that he meets for some reason, I–" Tom was pulled through the portal before he could finish.

"Those two are sooo gonna screw," said Pony. "And, like, I'm not leaving."

"We don't have time for this," Marco said tiredly. "You need to leave."

"Ah, no. I ain't leaving until I say what I've gotta say." Pony Head floated to Marco's eye level. "Listen, Earth Turd, and listen good. Cuz, like…I'm sorry. You know, for, like…being so mean to you."

Marco blinked, genuinely surprised by the apology. "Uh…it's fine."

"No, it ain't," said Pony. "I'm sorry for being so mean, I guess I just felt, like, threatened or whatever by you and Star's friendship. I've known B-fly for most of my life and you were still able to be a better friend to her than I am."

"Pony Head, you're an awesome friend," Star said. "I mean, freakin' Stump, I love you like a sister. Growing up with you was the highlight of the royal pain that was my royal life."

"Oh my corn, B-fly," Pony Head gushed happily. "I am, like, totally about to cry right now."

"Higgs, get her out of here before this takes any longer," Marco said. "And be safe. Be strong. Keep everyone safe."

Higgs nodded. "I will. Come back alive with the Princess."

Marco smiled and reached out for a handshake. Higgs smiled and respectfully shook Marco's hand.

"...Thank you for being my friend, Marco," Higgs said.

"It was my pleasure, Higgs," Marco replied.

"Corn dammit, this guy's gonna end up spending a fortune in child support," Pony Head commented. "For like, the two ginger bastard babies, and the two blonde ones, maybe a dark-haired, creepy one, probably a turquoise-headed one, and depending on how many of the Princesses from St. Olga's track him down–"

Higgs grabbed Pony Head by the snout and pulled her toward the portal.

"Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow," Pony Head whined. "Marco, take care of Star. Bring her back safe. If you don't, I swear I'll–"

Higgs pulled Pony Head through the portal with her.

"She actually called me Marco," Marco commented.

Hekapoo walked up to Marco, a regretful look on her face. "Listen, Marco." She pulled her bangs back, revealing her other eye. "About what I said last time we saw each other."

"Don't worry about it," Marco said.

"I just…" Hekapoo sighed. "You're my…best and only real friend. When I left you on Earth, I thought I was losing you for good."

Hekapoo looked sadly into Marco's eyes. "I don't want to lose you for good. So, do me a solid, and…don't die."

Marco smiled supportively. "The Neverzone couldn't kill me, and neither can Meteora."

Hekapoo managed a smile. She reached into her dress and pulled out a familiar pair of scissors. "If anyone asks, you didn't get these from me."

"My scissors!" Marco happily took the scissors from Hekapoo. "Thanks, H-poo."

"Don't call me that." Hekapoo wrapped her arms around Marco for a hug. "And, you're welcome."

Star let out an angry growl escape her throat, glaring pointedly at the fire genie who chose to ignore her.

"Best of luck, fleshwad." Hekapoo let go of Marco and walked through her portal, which blinked out of existence, leaving Marco and Star alone.

"...You really came back," Star said, a smile on her face.

"When I learned you were in trouble, I had to find a way back," Marco said.

"How'd Jackie take it?" Star asked.

"Uh," Marco rubbed the back of his head. "Well, we broke up, so, yeah, that's how she took it."

Star blinked her eyes wider. "...Oh… Um, I'm, sorry about that."

Marco took a deep breath." Star, there's…a lot I need to talk to you about."

"Yeah, so do I," said Star. "But, we should probably take care of Meteora first. Then we can sort out our feelings."

"Star. We can't destroy Meteora," Marco said. "We have to find another way. We have to save her."

"You don't think I want that too?" Star asked. "I want to help her, she's family. But how are we supposed to do that?"

"The same way we'll do everything from here on out." Marco offered Star his hand. "Together."

Star beamed as she took Marco's hand. "You dork. But seriously, though. How are we supposed to stop Meteora?"

Using his free hand, Marco brought his fingers to his mouth and let out a long, loud whistle. He then stared out into the woods.

"Come on, girl, I know you're nearby."

Star raised an eyebrow.

They both suddenly heard the sound of a rumbling engine. Then, without warning, a dragon cycle with olive-green scales burst out of the woods and launched at Marco. Star jumped back as the dragon cycle pinned Marco on the ground between her tires and began licking his face with its forked tongue.

"Ah! Down, Nachos, down! I missed you too!" Marco cried. "Ow! Easy, girl, your wheels have spikes!"

Nachos let Marco up and he rewarded the dragon cycle with a scratch under her chin, causing the reptilian vehicle to kick her leg in enjoyment. Then he mounted the dragon cycle, who, thankfully, still had her saddle on. "Hop on, Star."

"Man, if only you still had your Neverzone body–can we go to the Neverzone real quick?" Star shook her head. "Never mind, we have a Kingdom to save. Do you actually have a plan?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Marco took a piece of paper out of his hoodie pocket and handed it to Star. "You might not like it though."

---

With a newspaper tucked under his arm, River walked down the halls of the castle. "Time to use the bathroom with the door open because that's what everyone does when they're home by themselves."

An orange portal appeared in front of River. Janna and Tom walked through it, followed by Higgs and Pony Head, and then Hekapoo.

"Ah, curse it," River complained as the portal vanished. "Alright, what happened? Wait a minute, where's Star? Where's my daughter?"

"She's with Marco, they're going to try to stop Meteora before she gets to the castle," said Hekapoo.

"Marco's back?" River asked. "How is that possible?"

"King River," Higgs stepped forward. "We have our orders from Acting Queen Star. We have to keep everyone safe from Meteora."

"Well, the people have already been evacuated and we have Knights guarding the borders," River said.

"Yeah, it's not enough," Tom said. "Believe me, it is so not enough."

"Look, King River," Hekapoo stepped forward. "Meteora has already defeated the other members of the MHC and I can only assume she's defeated Mina and Queen Moon."

River's face fell with worry and alarm. "And Star's still out there?! Well then, what are we still doing here?! We need to ride to the aid of my daughter?!" he roared. "I'll rally the entire Johansen Kingdom if I have to!"

"Acting Queen Star wants us to make sure that Mewni and the people are safe and away from Meteora," Higgs said. "I know it doesn't look good, but we have to trust Star and Marco and follow the Acting Queen's orders. You're the King of Mewni, it's your duty to protect Mewni as much as it is mine."

River let out a loud groan and ran his hand down his face. "...Marco is with Star, correct?"

"Yes, your highness," Higgs replied.

"Then…perhaps she'll be okay." River looked at Higgs' new weapon. "Ooo, nice sword."

"Well, look who it is."

Everyone looked to see Sir Stabby and Lady Whosits approach the group. With a smug smile on his face, Sir Stabby crossed his muscular, armor-covered arms.

"Hello, Higgs. What brings you back to the castle?" Sir Stabby mocked. "In case you've forgotten, to the surprise of absolutely no one, being the squire of that foreign, dark magician freak didn't turn out so well. As such, you have no business being here."

Higgs glared angrily at her former charge.

"And did I hear that right? Eclipsa's dark knight actually had the gall to come back?" Lady Whosits asked. "Well, at least we'll finally get to take that freak down for good."

"Can it, the both of you," River growled. "In fact, since it sounds like we'll need all the help we can get,"

River turned to Higgs. "Care if I borrow that sword for just a second?"

"Um, sure, but, please be careful with it." Higgs handed River the sword. "It belonged to Queen Etheria the Knight."

Sir Stabby scoffed. "As if. What a load."

River pulled the blade from its scabbard and let out a whistle. "This is a really nice sword. By corn, I'd like to shake the hand of the smithy who made this beauty. Alright, I'll try to make this quick."

"What–"

Higgs yelped as River pressed on a pressure point on her leg and caused her to drop to one knee.

"Congratulations, you're being drafted," River hovered the sword's blade over Higg's shoulder then hovered it over the other shoulder. "Until this battle is over, I hereby dub you Lady Higgs, Knight of Mewni."

Sir Stabby, Lady Whosits, and Higgs all gasped in shock.

"Wha…?! You can't do that!" Sir Stabby protested.

"Do you even have the authority to do that?!" Lady Whosits demanded.

"With both Moon and Star gone, that leaves me as the highest authority," River said. "And therefore, what I say is law. Ergo, you can choke on that."

"Star's dad is freakin' awesome," Janna murmured.

"He's right," said Hekapoo. "Under the current circumstances, by Mewman Law, King River has all the authority Queen Moon would normally have."

"And you know what? I'll take it up another notch." River offered Higgs her sword back. "As it was the Acting Queen who ordered you back to the castle to keep it safe, I hereby name you Commander Higgs, giving you full authority over all of the Knights of Mewni until further notice."

"WHAT?!" Sir Stabby's eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. "King River–"

"And if anyone has a problem with my decision, they are allowed to voice their complaints at the cost of their teeth."

Sir Stabby shut up.

Higgs looked like she was about to pass out as she took the sword back from River. She took a deep breath and recomposed herself, getting her game face back on.

"Back to your posts, the both of you," Higgs ordered the other two Knights with a steely voice and a matching gaze. "That's an order."

Sir Stabby and Lady Whosits glanced at each other. They looked like they wanted to argue, but were smart enough not to. They both turned around and went back the way they came.

"As for the rest of you," Higgs turned to the group and put her sword back in its scabbard. "Let's get to work."

---

"Marco, this is a terrible idea," said Star. "And this is me saying it. You're supposed to be the one telling me that my plan is terrible, not the other way around."

"I know it's crazy, but he's the only one who can possibly talk down Meteora," Marco said. "Believe me, I am not feeling confident about this."

Within the depths of the ancient Monster Temple, Star and Marco stared up at the menacing giant frozen in crystal. The plum-skinned behemoth had a mouth full of sharp teeth, long, pale hair, and a strong, powerful body. As far as scary monsters went, this guy took first place, without question.

"Globgor," Star whispered fearfully. "The Monster King."

"I'm…suddenly giving Mewmans less crap for being scared of this guy." Marco felt a shiver run down his body. "Jesus, even frozen in crystal, he's enough to give you night terrors."

"Yeah, and imagine how much scarier he'll be if he's free," Star said. "We shouldn't do this, we'll just have another giant Monster to deal with."

"Look, either we get this guy to talk down Meteora, or we go and put her down ourselves before she turns anyone else into balloons or, God forbid, really kills somebody."

Star sighed. "Are you sure this will work?"

"I'm hoping this will work. I'm not sure of any of this," Marco confessed. "Now give me the chicken."

Still looking unsure, Star raised the bloated chicken up to Marco. The feathery little fowl looked like someone had filled him with air before tying his beak shut with a red ribbon.

"God, if this isn't animal cruelty, I don't know what is," Marco said as he took the chicken.

"So we gave a chicken the worst indigestion of its life so it'll burp apart the crystal or something?" Star asked.

"Hey, I followed Solaria's crystal pulverizing spell to a 'T'," said Marco. "I mean, yeah, it was a bit of a rush job, but it should work."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Well then, it'll probably kill us, but Meteora was planning to do that anyway." Marco walked up to the base of the giant crystal. He felt his blood chill at being so close to Globgor, but tried to ignore the frozen giant as he set the chicken down.

"I'm, really sorry about this," Marco told the chicken. "If you don't just straight up explode, I'll brew you some chamomile tea after this is over."

Marco pulled on the ribbon, yanking it off of the chicken's beak. "Fire in the hole!"

Marco dashed away as the chicken bloated some more. The chicken then let out the king of all burps, releasing a powerful blast of blue energy and smoke that struck the giant crystal. Marco hit the deck and Star raised her arms up to protect themselves from the loud and strong blast of magic. When the blast finally died down and ended, the chicken was lying on its side, looking completely exhausted.

"...Baaaawk…" the chicken croaked.

Star looked up at the large crystal. The spell didn't even put a chip in the crystal.

"Well, that was a big nothing," she said.

Marco stood back up and stared at the crystallized Monster King in disappointment. "Dammit. Why didn't that work? Maybe we didn't feed the chicken enough romano."

A crack appeared along the crystal.

"Up, never mind, here we go."

Marco and Star backed away as another crack appeared on the face of the crystal, followed by another, and then another, and they continued to appear and spread along the crystal until an intricate spider web of cracks covered the entire crystal. There was a pause for effect, then the Monster King exploded out of his crystal prison with the sound of a hundred falling, glass chandeliers.

"ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-aaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwn!" Globgor's roar turned into a yawn as he flexed his arms and scratched his body. He placed his hands on his back and pushed, popping his back with the sound of an entire forest being blown down.

"Ah! Ah! Pins and needles, pins and needles." Globgor winced as he flexed his shoulders and grunted in discomfort. "Ah, it's the worst in the neck area. Geez, here's a tip: never hunch over when you're about to be frozen. Man, this is torture."

Marco and Star glanced at each other. Star took a step forward and cleared her throat. "Uh…King Globgor?"

"Hah?" Globgor took a break from rolling his shoulders to look down at the two teenagers. "Oh, hello, there. Strange, you normally don't see Mewmans in this temple unless they're trying to kill Monsters. You aren't trying to kill any Monsters, are you?"

"Uh, no, we don't do that," Star said.

"Great! Nice to meet you, then!" Globgor greeted with a friendly grin. "Oh, uh, I'm Globgor, by the way, although I think you might've already known that."

"This here is Marco, and I'm Star," said Star. "Star Butterfly."

"Star Butter-what?" Globgor blinked and frowned curiously. He shrunk down to an easy eight feet, thankfully, he was at least wearing a forest-green speedo, and took notice of Star's cheek marks. "Oh, yeah, look at those hearts."

Star blushed, making her red hearts brighten. "Yeah, I'm Eclipsa's descendant."

"Festivia's line or Meteora's?" Globgor asked.

"Uh…Festivia's," Star said, looking and sounding guilty.

Globgor sighed and nodded sadly. "Yeah, I figured." He smiled good-naturedly. "It's alright, kid, don't worry about it." Globgor then frowned. "Wait, hold on, Eclipsa's descendent? Exactly how long have I been in that crystal?"

"A little over three hundred years, give or take," Marco said.

"Three hundred years?!" Globgor cried. "I…I don't believe it! Is that a chicken?"

"That is a chicken, yes," said Marco. "Listen, King Globgor,"

"Oof, just Globgor will do," Globgor said, holding up his palms. "Never really liked being called 'King.' It just never felt right, you know?"

"Listen, Globgor," Marco said, starting over. "We really need your help and you're literally the only person in the entire multiverse who can help us."

To Marco's confusion, Globgor gave him a good sniff.

"...Why did you just sniff me?" Marco asked.

"Oh, sorry, it's just that…" Globgor rubbed his chin curiously. "You don't smell like any Mewman I've ever eaten–met! I said met! Pretend you didn't hear that first part!"

"I'll certainly try," said Marco. "And, also, I'm not a Mewman. I'm a Human."

"Wuzzat?"

"I'm from another dimension."

"Oh. Neato." Globgor sniffed him again. "Huh, that's strange. You kinda smell like my wife. I…realize how weird that sounds, and, I'm really sorry for saying it."

"Apology accepted. Look, it's a really long story, but I can use dark magic," Marco explained. "Blood Moon blessed."

"No kidding!" Glossaryck said. "Heh, how about that? Makes me wonder what you would possibly need my help with."

"Globgor," Star stepped toward him. "It's Meteora."

Globgor's eyes widened and his smile faded. "What…my Meteora?"

"Yeah, that's also a long story," said Marco. "And this one I'll tell you."

And so, Marco told Globgor about everything that was going on. How Eclipsa was crystalized shortly after he was, how Meteora was sent to St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses and became the Headmistress after spending three hundred years siphoning the youth from the princesses who went to her school. How Meteora had tapped into both her mother and father's powers and was now using them to destroy Mewni to avenge her parents. And how Meteora was on her way to Butterfly Castle and no one could stop her.

"And so, we need you to talk Meteora down," Marco finished. "You're the only person she'll listen to. Eclipsa apparently couldn't get through to her, and Meteora just wants to kill everyone else!"

Globgor stared at Marco for a long minute. Then he closed his eyes and ran a hand down his face. He began pacing back and forth.

"How did this happen?" he asked himself miserably. "How did I let this happen? Everything was fine at first–we got married, we had Meteora, we were gonna leave the dimension. Where did everything go wrong? Why can't anything go my way for once? I fall in love with a girl, and she's the princess of a Kingdom that hates me. We start seeing each other and she gets pregnant, but she's married and already has a kid with some awful fat guy. We run away together, not looking to do anybody any harm, and we get hunted down and put in crystals while our kid gets put in a boarding school. And now, to top it all off, this. I mean, when will it end?!"

Star stared at Globgor as he continued his hysterical rant. Then she glanced at Marco, then back at Globgor, then at Marco, then at Globgor. "Huh… I'm starting to think us Butterfly girls have a type."

"What do you mean?" Marco asked.

"Come on, Marco, listen to this guy. You're telling me he doesn't sound familiar to you?" Star asked. "And let's face it, you and my dad aren't exactly polar opposites."

"I don't sound like that," Marco argued. "And what exactly do I have in common with your dad?"

"You're both fighters, you both have a favorite weapon, you both complain whenever you're asked to do something you don't wanna do and try to weasel out of it."

"There's a difference between not wanting to put on pants and not wanting to fight an ogre for a pair of sunglasses!"

"Yeah, but the complaining sounds about the same."

Globgor looked over at Marco and Star. "...Are you two, eh…together?"

"No."

"Yes."

"What?"

"Huh?"

Globgor chuckled. "Ah, to be that young again."

"Globgor, are you going to help us or not?" Marco asked. "Because we need your help, and we need it now. I know you don't owe Mewni a damn thing, but please, a lot of lives are at stake both Mewman and Monster."

Globgor looked down at the floor. He sighed through his nose as he made his decision.

"...Take me to my daughter."

---

"This was the room Marco was staying in," River said as he opened the door and walked into the guest room. "You can stay here until we're done with this whole 'Meteora' debacle."

Janna walked into the room after the King, followed by Tom. "Dang, this is a nice room," Janna commented. "Marco had it made here. Up until the point he was arrested and exiled, that is."

"Okay, great, you stay here and out of danger," Tom said.

"I could help if you let me," said Janna. "I know how to put together a good scheme."

"Marco wanted me to keep you safe, and that's exactly what I'm going to do," Tom said. "If only he had considered using you as bait."

"Oh, stop pretending you don't like me, you totally like me," Janna teased.

"I'll, uh, give you two some privacy." River headed out the door. "Make yourself comfortable here in our home, Joann."

"It's Janna," Janna said as River closed the door behind him. "Well, at least he didn't call me Jackie."

"I should go, too," Tom turned around to leave.

"Woah, hold on," Janna grabbed Tom's arm, keeping him from leaving. "Maybe you could stay for just a moment?" She cuddled up against Tom's side. "For just long enough."

Tom gulped and gently pulled his arm out of Janna's grip. "Uh, okay, look, Janna, don't get me wrong, you're…great, but…I'm…not really looking for a relationship."

Janna raised a skeptical eyebrow and crossed her arms. "You sure you don't mean 'I'm not Star, so you're just going to pretend you're not interested in me?'"

"What?" Tom blinked. "That's not true."

"That's absolutely true," said Janna. "Come on, Tom, take me out on one date, that's all I'm asking. And if you're not totally over Star and sticking your forked tongue down my throat by the end of the day, I'll leave you alone. I mean, I won't, obviously, but it won't matter because you'll totally be sticking your forked tongue down my throat."

"Okay, first off, it's not forked, it's a normal tongue," Tom said. "Second, it's not because you're not Star. Janna…you terrify me."

"I terrify a lot of people," Janna said nonchalantly. "I terrify you because you have to restrain yourself from sticking your forked tongue down my throat."

"It's not forked!" Tom stuck his tongue out and pointed at it. "Thee?"

"Aw, man, it isn't," Janna whined. "Do you at least have a tail?"

"I refuse to answer that," Tom quickly replied.

"You mean you do?" Janna asked excitedly.

I'm leaving," Tom turned back around toward the door.

Janna dashed in front of the door, blocking Tom's exit. "Agree to take me out on a date once this is all over."

"No," said Tom. "And I can easily just fly out the window."

Janna stared at Tom. Then, her lips began to quiver.

Tom blinked. "What are you doing?"

Janna's eyes became sad and watery.

"Stop that." Tom pointed a finger at Janna. "I know you're faking it. Stop that."

A tear fell from Janna's eyes.

Tom let out a loud, miserable groan and ran a hand down his face. "Seven rings, you are evil. Fine, I'll take you out on a date once this whole thing is over with."

Janna took off the mask and wiped away her crocodile tear. "You have to take me to your family library."

"I'll take you to Lava Lake Beach."

"Ooo, you'll be shirtless, right?"

"Nevermind, I'll take you to see the Lucitor Private Library."

"Eh, good enough." Janna stepped aside. "I give you permission to leave."

Tom grumbled under his breath as he walked up and opened the door.

"Bye-bye, boo."

"Oh, bite me."

"With pleasure."

Tom growled in irritation before slamming the door behind him. He heard Janna's wicked laugh as he walked down the hall.

Tom made his way to one of the high towers of the castle. He stepped onto the balcony where Higgs was surveying Mewni with a bronze spyglass. Her new sword, Alexandra, hung on her back on a chain cord.

"Has the civilian been placed in a safe location?" Higgs asked as she continued watching for any activity.

"Marco's friend is in one of the castle's guest rooms. Hopefully, she'll stay put there," said Tom. "Any sign of Meteora?"

"No, not yet. But it should be any second now," Higgs said. "I focused the Knights in the direction Meteora will be coming from. We should have just sent them to keep the evacuated Mewmans safe, but King River insists that we stand our ground with our troops at ready. He's not the kind to turn tail and run. He'll go down fighting first."

"And, we'll most likely go down fighting if Star and Marco can't stop Meteora."

"Most likely, yeah," said Higgs. "At least I was able to convince King River to send Hekapoo to join with the evacuated Mewmans. If she doesn't hear back from us, she'll open her portals and send the evacuees out of the dimension. Then, she'll go to the other kingdoms and try to convince them to leave as well."

"Well, the Cloud Kingdom and the Underworld should at least be fine," Tom said.

"Meteora is a Butterfly, she can use the magic of the Royal family," Higgs said. "It's impossible to say for sure what exactly she's capable of. At the moment, no one is safe."

"Huh…okay, good point." Tom walked up and leaned on the balcony railing. He drummed his fingers along the balustrade.

"...I still can't believe Marco actually managed to find a way back to Mewni," Tom said for the sake of conversation. "And the freakin' dark magic thing? Guy's full of surprises, ain't he?"

"Marco is…a very capable individual," Higgs said. She sounded like she was making an effort to keep her voice flat. "One cannot help but…greatly admire him for his abilities."

"Eh, tell that to the rest of Mewni," Tom said. "If he actually survives this, Marco's gonna be in for a world of hurt. Even if he does get pardoned for coming back despite his exile, all of Mewni knows he's a dark magic user and that he and his family were harboring Queen Eclipsa. Everyone's gonna be demanding that he either be put back in a dungeon cell or in a crystal prison. The Mewmans will never trust him again. None of the Kingdoms will."

"...Whatever happens," said Higgs. "Marco will have our support, at least."

Tom smiled at that. "You don't normally hear this from a demon, but…amen, sister."

"Oh, dammit."

"Come on, that was good."

"No, not you and your lame joke," Higgs finally lowered the spyglass. "...She's here."

"Meteora's here?"

"No, the clown I hired is here–Yes, Meteora is here, you idiot!"

"Geesh, sorry."

---

Across the field of grass, Meteora could see Butterfly Castle and the town that surrounded it. Upon seeing the home of her mother's ancestors, rage burned in Meteora's eyes in the form of her venom-green magic. She clenched her clawed fists and ground her sharp teeth.

"I will destroy it all," she snarled. "I will have my revenge."

Meteora advanced towards the castle, but a blue portal appeared in front of her. She stopped and stared down at the portal as two teenagers walked out of it, recognizing them as Star and Marco.

"YOU?!" Meteora glared down in outrage at Marco. "I thought I got rid of you?! Why couldn't Mewni do what it does best and take care of you?!"

"Meteora, you have to stop!" Star cried. "What are you hoping to accomplish from all of this?!"

"Mewni is going to get what it deserves!" Meteora shouted. "Starting with you!"

"I know you won't listen to me," Star and Marco stepped aside from the portal. "But maybe you'll listen to him."

Globgor stepped out of the portal.

Meteora gasped loudly and took a step back. A dozen different emotions flooded her face at once.

"N…no, it…i-it can't be."

Globgor smiled warmly. His eyes shimmered upon seeing his daughter. "It's me, Meteora. I'm sorry I've been gone for so long."

Meteora's lips began to quiver. "You're…you're really here."

Globgor grew to be just a little taller than Meteora. He walked up and placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders.

"Heh-heh. Ah, look at you. Daddy's little girl right here." Globgor tilted Meteora's chin up. "You're as beautiful as your mom, though."

Meteora's eyes began to water. "...Why…why did you and mother have to be taken away?" she whispered. "Why was I left all alone in that school?"

Globgor sighed sadly. "...Your mother and I…we did our best, we really did. She had a kingdom to run. I had Monsters to protect. And then, much to our joy and delight, you came into our world. We tried to leave it all behind, find a new life for you. But running away from your problems…that rarely ever works."

"Don't make it sound like it was you and mother's fault, it was the Mewmans!" Meteora cried. "They destroyed the life we could have had!"

"The Mewmans are what they are, you can hardly blame them for that," said Globgor. "They feel comfortable with what they have and feel threatened when it's challenged. I mean, just look."

Globgor raised his hand at Butterfly Castle and the Mewman Town. "Three hundred years, and it's the same as it's always been. You think we scare these people? Nothing scares the Mewmans more than change. They feel safe with what they have and what they know. The thought of anything else terrifies them. They're scared of their world changing into something they don't even recognize anymore, even if it is for the best. Sacrifice is always difficult, you can't be mad at the Mewmans for not being strong enough to make that sacrifice. To sacrifice so much for people you don't even know, for people you have little in common with, that takes a special kind of strength."

Marco stared down at the ground. Star, taking notice, gently took Marco's hand and smiled supportively.

"And you wanna know what else takes a special kind of strength, Meteora?" Globgor asked his daughter. "Forgiveness. In fact, only the strongest kind of people can do it."

"They don't deserve forgiveness!" Meteora yelled. Tears began their way down her face. "They…they deserve retribution! For what they did to you! To Mother! To us!"

"Sweetheart, you and I do not have the right to play judge, jury, and executioner any more than the Mewmans do," Globgor said. "I know you're angry at them, I won't lie, I am too. But we don't need to let them be our problem. Even if you can't forgive them, you can still just turn your back on them and walk away. Let's just go. We'll find your mother, we'll pick a nice dimension, and we can forget about this place. It's not too late to start over. Rage and destruction do not have to be your future."

Tears flowed freely down Meteora's miserable face. She sniffled and cried, letting it all out.

"Oh, I know, I know." Globgor kissed Meteora's forehead. "But it'll be okay, I promise."

Meteora sobbed onto her father's chest. In return, Globgor hugged Meteora and patted her back.

From the tower balcony, Higgs observed what was happening through her spyglass. Her mouth hung open as she witnessed the tender father-daughter moment.

"What's happening? I can't see what's happening," Tom asked.

"Star and Marco apparently set the Monster King Globgor free and they brought him here to calm down his daughter, Meteora," Higgs explained. "And now, Globgor and Meteora are hugging and crying it out. Well, Meteora's the one doing all the crying. I don't wanna jinx it, but it looks like it's going to work."

"Alright!" Tom frowned, "Aw, crap, that means I gotta take Janna out on a date."

"It's one date, and she really likes you, don't be such an ass."

"Eh, you think Marco will give you that one date?"

Without even turning her head, Higgs delivered a strong kidney punch that dropped Tom onto the floor.

"I really need to have a talk with my armorer," Tom wheezed.

Back out on the field, Meteora sniveled as she finally lifted her head off of Globgor's chest. She looked into Globgor's eyes, who smiled lovingly at his daughter.

"Come on. Let's go find your mother," said Globgor. "Where is she, by the way?"

Meteora raised her hand up and wiped off her tears. Then she blasted her father with her magic.

"No!" Star cried.

The green magic that shot out of her eyes died away, revealing the pain and sorrow in them. She stared into Globgor's blank, lifeless eyes with heartbreak and anguish.

"I'm sorry." Meteora kissed Globgor's cheek. "But I can't let Mewni walk away from this scot-free."

Meteora released her hold on Globgor, letting him float up into the air.

"I'm just not strong enough to do that."

"Aw, man, we were so close," said Marco.

"Meteora, why?!" Star demanded.

Meteora stared sadly up at her floating father. "...You know, I suppose I should thank the both of you," she said in a disturbingly calm voice. "Because of the both of you, I found out who I was, where I come from, and I was even reunited with my parents."

Meteora looked down at Marco and Star, eyes glowing with her venom-green magic.

"But instead, I'm going to kill the both of you," she said. "And I'm going to enjoy it. More with Marco than with you, Star, if it's any consolation."

"Not to me it's not," Marco complained.

A powerful blast of green magic shot out of Meteora's eyes. Marco raised his arms up just in time to summon a red, transparent, dodecahedron barrier around him and Star, cheek marks and eyes glowing with his magic.

Marco strained from the effort it took to keep the barrier up. A few cracks appeared on the shield.

"I can't hold it for much longer," Marco said, sounding like he was lifting up a hundred-pound weight.

"There's really no stopping her," Star said, despair thick in her voice. "I can't believe it. I…I failed. Mewni was counting on me, and I failed."

"You didn't fail, Star," Marco said. "If anybody failed, it was the rest of Mewni. Mewni sucks, I figured that out on my first day here."

"Marco."

"What, it's true and you know it."

Star let out an irritated and frustrated groan. "Why did they have to put Eclipsa and Globgor in a crystal? Why did they put Meteora in that awful school? Why couldn't they just let them leave the dimension? This is Mewni's own fault, why did all of that awful stuff have to happen to Meteora? And why couldn't Meteora just go with her dad and restart her life somewhere else?"

"Restart her…" Marco's eyes went wide. "Holy crap, I have an idea."

"I hope it's better than your last idea," Star replied bitterly. "I'm sorry, it was a good idea, I just wished it had worked is all."

"Star, listen carefully, 'cause this barrier isn't going to last much longer," Marco instructed as more cracks spread along the barrier. "I think I know a spell that can fix this. But I'm pretty sure it's gonna take a lot of energy to do it. I need you to distract Meteora while I get the spell ready."

"I think she wants you dead more than me, won't she just go straight for you?" Star asked.

"Not if she can't find me." Marco's eyes glowed mint-green and his cheek marks glowed even brighter. A blue mist seemed to appear out of his body. The mist covered Marco's entire body, and when the mist faded away, Marco had completely vanished.

"What the?!" Star cried. "Marco?!"

"It's okay, I'm invisible," Marco said. "It's a trick Queen Heaven the Scared loved to do."

"It really bothers me that you know more about my ancestors than I do," said Star.

"We break on three, ready?"

Star raised her wand. "Ready."

"One…two…THREE!"

The barrier broke apart with the sound of shattering glass and Star dove out of the way before the blast of green magic could hit her. The princess recovered immediately and raised her wand at Meteora.

"Dagger crystal heart attack!" Star shouted.

A beam of pink energy and red, heart-shaped daggers shot out of the wand and struck Meteora. The purple giantess recoiled and growled in pain as the heart-shaped daggers stuck into her skin. She glared daggers back at Star before shooting another beam of green magic at the young princess.

With Meteora distracted, Marco took position behind the giant Monster-Mewman as Star continued to fire spells at her and dodge her green magic. He took a deep breath and clapped his hands together.

"Come on, Queen Skywynne, I really need your help on this one," Marco muttered. "Help me out with this, and I promise I'll have as many babies with Star as you want. I mean, one of us is going to have to set a limit, but you get the idea."

Marco shut his eyes and concentrated. He reopened his eyes, which were glowing sky-blue. Marco then traced a large circle in front of him in the air with his finger, forming a red circle, which turned into a red drawing of a clock.

"Tick. Tick…Tick. Tock…Tick. Tock…" Marco softly chanted.

The same clock outline, although much bigger, formed on Meteora's back.

"Time to turn the clocks back." Marco grabbed the outline by the minute hand and began rewinding the clock.

The clock on Meteora's back copied Marco's clock. She finally took notice as her body began to develop a red, glowing tint as if she were heating up. Whatever was happening to her, she apparently didn't like it. Meteora let out an enraged roar and, with a powerful motion of her body, the clock outline on her back broke apart like a shattering phone screen.

The same thing happened to Marco's clock. The explosion was enough to knock Marco onto his back. He hoisted himself up to see Meteora turn to him and angrily stomp toward him with glowing green eyes.

"Glittery heart slap blast!" Glittery heart-shaped energy hit Meteora right in the face.

"MY EYES!" Meteora screamed as she stumbled back, shutting her eyes tight. "GLITTER IN MY EYES!"

Star rushed to Marco and helped him up. "What the heck happened?!"

"I couldn't perform the spell. I didn't have it in me," Marco said. "Meteora has hundreds of years of agony from her terrible life. Setting the clocks back on all of that, especially as she is now, it's too much for me on my own."

"Well…what if you used this?" Star offered Marco the wand.

"That…might work," said Marco. "But, don't you need that to fight Meteora?"

Meteora let out a roar and finished rubbing the glitter out of her eyes. She glared bloody murder at Star and Marco.

"We don't have time to argue, just take it!" Star yelled, shoving the wand into Marco's hands.

In Marco's possession, the wand once again changed form, forming bat wings, a sea-green, compass-like design, a spike at the top, and a purple gem at its center.

"But, Star–"

Star pushed Marco out of the way just in time for a powerful blast of Meteora's magic to narrowly miss them. But the blast struck the ground and threw them both back and away from each other.

Meteora charged, but instead of attacking Star while she was unarmed, she went for Marco. While Marco was still recovering from the blast, Meteora raised her large foot to crush the boy.

"MARCO, NO!"

Star raised her hands and a golden beam of magic energy shot from her hands while a golden light enveloped her.

The beam of energy struck Meteora in the shoulder, singeing her flesh. Cringing with pain, Meteora gripped her shoulder and stumbled back away from Marco before her foot could come down.

Marco got back on his feet and stared at Meteora. "What the hey?" He looked over at Star and his eyes went wide while his jaw hung open. "What the hey?"

Star had…gotten a new look. Her dress and her boots were golden and orange as were the horns on her headband that had grown to resemble antennae. Her golden, yellow hair was now set in a twin braid and arched up, also resembling antennae. Her skin had a healthy glow to it and it looked like she grew about a foot, in addition to the two extra sets of arms she had grown. She had also grown four butterfly wings that looked like golden fire. There was a golden, shining heart glowing on her chest and her heart cheek marks glowed against her skin.

"Ahhh…ahhh…ahhh…ahhh…" was all Marco could manage to say as he marveled in pure awe at Star.

"Oh, no, please tell me I'm not going through Mewberty again!" Star cried as she looked herself over. "...Actually…this feels…"

Star grinned as she clenched her six fists. "Awesome."

Meteora roared loudly and charged at Marco again. Star took off into the air at Meteora.

"Cupcake blast!"

A beam of pink, magic cupcakes fired out of Star's hands as if they had been fired from a tank. The deadly pastries exploded upon striking Meteora and she roared in pain. Star flew around Meteora, dodging all of the giant's blasts of green magic and firing back with her own spells. Apparently, in addition to giving her the ability to fly, Star's butterfly form amped up her magic tenfold. Each spell had a much stronger effect on Meteora than before, hurting and infuriating the purple giantess greatly as she tried in vain to shoot Star out of the air.

Marco positioned himself behind Meteora once more. He took a deep breath and repeated the spell. With eyes glowing sky-blue, he raised up the wand and used it to reform the red clock outline. Just like last time, a larger version of the outline formed on Meteora's back. With the clock currently at twelve, Marco placed the wand onto the minute hand, which set in place as if it had been fitted into a slot. Grabbing the wand's handle with both hands, Marco turned the clock backward, straining to turn the clock as slowly as he was.

The clock on Meteora's back copied the one Marco was turning. Meteora's body began to tint with a red glow. Meteora could obviously feel the effect of Marco's magic, because she roared in outrage and turned toward Marco, ready to kill by the look of it.

"Oh, no you don't!" Star shot a beam of light in the shape of a fist that struck Meteora right in the face, knocking her back. She continued to assault Meteora with her spells, keeping her from getting to Marco.

Meanwhile, Marco was using the wand to work the spell, using all the energy he could to rewind the clock.

"Hijo de perra," Marco whined as he worked. "Why is being one of the good guys always so much work?"

The clock stopped moving, getting stuck with the minute hand at nine.

"Oh, no." Marco tried with all his might to get the clock moving again, but it wouldn't budge. "No, no, no."

Star was still flying around Meteora like an eager gnat, dodging her venom-green magic and firing off her own magic at her. Although even in her butterfly form, all Star could do to Meteora was hurt her and enrage her. And as well as she was at keeping up the fight, Star was beginning to feel somewhat tired from keeping Meteora busy.

"Star!" she heard Marco cry out. "I can't…it won't budge!"

Star glanced at Marco's situation just for a second. "Winterstorm hyperblow!"

A powerful arctic gust of blue wind blew over Meteora, freezing her legs to the ground and covering her upper face with frost and ice. As Meteora struggled to get the ice off of her, Star dove down to Marco's side.

"What's the problem?!" Star asked.

"It's stuck!" Marco exclaimed as he tried in vain to get the clock going again.

Star dropped to the ground and her butterfly form dispelled, reverting her back to her regular Star form. She placed her hands on the wand with Marco and helped him push the clock backward.

To both Star and Marco's surprise, the wand changed form again. It formed two black, angelic wings like the wings of a dark angel. Its main body was a midnight-blue circle surrounding a blood-red gem in the shape of an eight-point star set in an onyx background, resembling a red star in the dark night sky. The wand's handle was the same midnight blue as the outer circle of the wand's main body, wrapped in rich, black leather like a sword handle. A blue diamond was embedded in the wand's hilt and three dark blue crystals protruded out of the top of the wand's main body as if resembling a crown.

Marco and Star took a moment to gawk at the wand, but then went right back to pushing on the hand, trying to get it moving again. Even with their combined strength, they couldn't get the clock to budge.

Meteora busted out of the ice holding her.

"Marco!" Star cried.

Marco let out a frustrated and angry yell.

"I fucking hate MAGIC!"

With a powerful shove, Star and Marco sent the wand and the hands spinning counterclockwise.

As the clock spun in reverse, Meteora let out a roar into the sky as her entire body glowed bright red. Meteora spun around and swiped at the air, trying to fight against whatever the magic was doing to her. She grabbed her head and continued to fight against Marco and Star's spell.

Again she roared skyward. But as she did, a column of green magic shot out of her mouth and into the sky. As the column continued to shoot out of her mouth and spread through the sky, a tendril of the green energy parted from the column and flew to Globgor, entering into his mouth.

Globgor's eyes returned to normal and he fell to the ground. Fortunately, he was able to shrink to eight feet to avoid making a crater, instead just landing on his back.

"Oof! Gonna feel that in the morning." Globgor gasped in shock when he saw what was going on with his daughter. "Meteora!"

Meteora continued to cry out and spin around swinging her arms about in a panic. The way she screamed made it sound like she was experiencing a hundred nightmares at once. Her panic only increased as Meteora began to shrink. She became smaller and smaller, shrinking until she vanished underneath her tattered clothes.

"Meteora!" Globgor ran to his daughter's pile of tattered clothes.

With the spell complete, Star and Marco panted for breath from utter exhaustion. They didn't even notice what was going on with Meteora, they were too drained of energy from the spell to care.

"That…took…a lot…out of me…" Marco wheezed.

"Yeah," Star struggled to stay on her feet. "I…feel like…I just ran…through half of freakin' Mewni."

Marco and Star swayed tiredly on their feet. Star let herself fall onto Marco, who fell onto the ground. The teens crashed into the ground and immediately passed out. The red outline of the clock faded away, and the wand dropped down to the ground. Wouldn't you believe it, the wand fell right into the unconscious Star's outstretched hand. In Star's hand, the wand transformed into her version of the wand, with its white wings, purple body, and a yellow, star-shaped gem.

From the tower balcony, Higgs lowered her spyglass with a look of shock and awe on her face. Slowly, she turned to Tom.

"We should get down there."

---

(Some time later)

Marco slowly woke up feeling terrible. Figuring it was just one of those mornings, he squinted his closed eyes and grumbled as he reached over to his nightstand to pick up his phone and check the time. When he couldn't find his nightstand, Marco grunted from the effort as he blinked his eyes open.

To his confusion and surprise, Marco was in a room with white walls lying in one of the pink beds that lined the walls in rows. Marco recognized the room as the castle infirmary. The table with the knives and saws was still there. And it still looked like they needed to be cleaned.

Marco heard a moan to his left and looked to see Star in the bed next to his, waking from her sleep and blinking her tired eyes open. She slowly sat up on the bed and smacked her lips, eyes widening with startled confusion as she figured out where she was.

Star then noticed Marco and their eyes locked. Marco sat up and the two of them simply stared into each other's eyes, hot chocolate brown and clear sky blue getting lost in each other.

"...Hey," Marco finally said.

"...Hi," Star softly replied back.

They stared at each other in silence for another minute.

"Did…did we do it?" Marco asked. "Did we win?"

"Well, we're not dead. And we're in the castle," Star pointed out. "So, yeah, I think we actually did it."

Marco laid back down on the bed in pure relief. "Thank God. It's over. It's finally over."

"Yeah, I think it is." Star moved out from under the covers and hung her legs over the bed. To Marco's relief, she was fully clothed in her dress, as Marco was still wearing his red hoodie outfit. "And, now that we have a minute to talk. Maybe we should."

Marco's expression became somewhat anxious as he sat back up. "Oh."

Star gave a silent nod. "Anything you wanna confess?"

Marco took a deep breath in and out of his nose. "Star…a lot has happened since we first met. A lot has changed. For both of us. And, truth be told…I wouldn't change a thing. Okay, that's a lie, I would absolutely change more than a few things. But, meeting you, becoming a part of your world, I would never change that for anything."

"Because…" Star urged, standing up off the bed.

"Well, because…" Marco cleared his throat. "I…care about you. I care about you a lot. You mean the world to me, Star. You mean both our worlds to me. Sorry if that sounded lame, it sounded really good in my head."

"Go on." Star began walking toward Marco.

"I…I, uh…" Marco started drumming his fingers along the bed. "You know, you're really pretty, you're a lot more fun than I am, you have an infectiously cheerful attitude, you're one of the strongest people I know, you're an incredible person, you're the ADHD to my OCD...and…uh…I…"

Star placed her hands on Marco's bed and leaned forward with a smile, an eager and expectant look shining in her eyes. "Say it."

"Ah, you're killing me here." Marco gulped. "Star Johansen Butterfly. I…I love you."

Star launched herself at Marco.

---

"I assure you, the children were unharmed," Dr. Chills explained as the pale, dark-haired doctor led the parents through the hall to the infirmary. "They were simply all out of steam. Any energy the two of them had was completely drained. But with the supplements and tonics I poured down their throats while they slept, they should both be awake by now."

"We're not being charged with any medical bills for this, are we?" Raphael asked.

"Raphael!" Angie scolded. "Our son almost died!"

"Fear not, Mr. and Mrs. Diaz," Dr. Chills said in her emotionless, shiver-inducing voice. "All expenses shall be paid for."

"Angie, I think just found us a new doctor," Raphael whispered to his wife. "I'm willing to overlook her whole mortician vibe if you are."

Angie rolled her eyes and sighed. "Thank you for alerting us about Marco's syncope, Moon."

"Oh, of course, Angie," Moon replied. She had the Butterfly wand in her hand, which had taken its 'Moon' form with a baby-blue, heart-shaped crystal head and golden handle. "I know you're about the poor boy. A lot has happened to him."

"Marco's not in any trouble, is he?" Angie asked worriedly. "I know he came back to Mewni even though you banned him, but you won't punish him, will you?"

Moon let out a silent sigh. "We can discuss the…legal obligations and consequences of Marco's return to Mewni once he and Star are fully recovered."

"Moonpie, come now. We can't simply just give Marco the boot back to Earth," River said. "He and Star saved us all. You were floating in the air like a dead-eyed balloon until you were saved thanks to Marco's efforts."

Moon gave River an irritated look. "Thank you for the reminder, River."

"Moon, if I may," said Angie. "Marco is a great kid, we all know it. He risked a lot just to come back here so he could help you all. And, to point out the obvious, he and Star adore each other."

"Angie, it's not that simple," Moon said. "We have laws here in Mewni. Star is the Princess of Mewni and heir to its throne. Marco, as accomplished as he is, is a commoner from another dimension we didn't even know about until Marco showed up. Not to mention that Marco wields the magic of my ancestors, in violation of the laws of the Magic High Commission. And if that were not enough, he is a wielder of dark magic."

"But, Moon, those two love each other," Angie pressed.

"Star and Marco are mature enough to understand the way things are," Moon said as they reached the infirmary doors. "Despite their feelings for each other, I'm sure they've both come to an understanding and decided to simply be friends."

Moon pushed the doors open and the parents all walked in on Star holding Marco in her arms and attacking his face with a barrage of kisses.

"Oh, for the love of," Moon muttered under her breath.

Angie's eyes sparkled as she beamed at the affectionate display. Raphael and River simply glanced at each other, both of them unsure of how to proceed as parents.

Star finally put a cease-fire on her kisses and hugged Marco against her chest, resting her chin atop Marco's soft hair as her heart cheek marks pulsed brightly. Marco had a happy, dizzy smile on his face as well as several dozen magical, pink kiss marks that slowly danced around his face as if they were all drunk on something strong–possibly love, if you wanted to be cheesy about it. Star held the love-struck boy over the floor with his lower body resting on the patient bed he had been lying in.

"Ahem," Moon fake-coughed into her fist a little loudly.

Both of the teens let out a startled and frightened gasp. Star dropped Marco, hitting his head on the floor. The Princess quickly picked him back up and, in a panic, started slapping the magic kiss marks off of Marco's face. Once Star was done slapping the kiss marks off of Marco, the two of them faced their parents with their hands folded behind their backs and nervous looks on their faces. Star noticed she missed a kiss mark and raised her hand to flick it off of Marco's face, earning an 'ow' as the kiss mark was flicked off.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Diaz," Star greeted. "How have you been?"

"We've been great, Star," said Angie. "Are you feeling any better, dear?"

"I feel great, actually," Star replied.

"Yeah, I can tell."

Star and Marco both developed a severe blush.

Marco was, to Star's surprise, brave enough to step forward and clear his throat. "Uh, listen, Queen Moon, I–"

"We will discuss this. Later," The Queen said in a tone that made Dr. Chills sound friendly.

Marco felt his blood go cold. "Yes, ma'am," he replied in a quiet voice.

Queen Moon ran a hand down her face. "Let's just all go to the dining hall. The others are waiting for us there, we can discuss everything that needs to be discussed while we have something to eat." Moon offered Star the wand. "You can have this back, dear."

"Oh. Thanks, Mom." Star took the wand back and it transformed into her version of the wand.

"Alright, let's go everyone," Moon instructed. She walked out of the infirmary and everyone except for Dr. Chills followed the Queen after her. The doctor watched as everyone exited out of the infirmary.

"To be in love again." With a face void of any emotion, Dr. Chills raised her hand up to wipe away an escaped tear.

---

Moon opened the doors to the dining hall with her magic and the six of them entered through the door. Sitting at the table on the end near the door were Tom and Janna, Higgs and Kelly, Pony Head and Hekapoo, and Eclipsa and Globgor. Everyone who had been wearing armor was now dressed in their usual clothes. Globgor, to be polite, had put on a pair of black trousers, a white shirt, and a dark green vest. As everyone else ate and drank from the selection on the table, Globgor chowed down on some tofu burgers and potato fries, every now and then taking something from the veggie platter.

"Slow down, Globby, you'll get sick if you keep stuffing your stomach," Eclipsa cautioned him with a tender tone.

"I haven't eaten in three hundred years," Globgor said with a face full of food. "That kind of cat nap really works up an appetite."

"Yes, I know," said Eclipsa. "Chocolate never tasted so good."

Little Mariposa was in the dining room as well, playing with toys in front of Eclipsa and Globgor, currently stacking blocks. She was playing with another baby. The other baby, with pinkish skin and fitted in a pale blue onesie, had bright, magenta eyes with slitted pupils like a snake's eyes and a small patch of curly, light purple hair on her head between her pointed ears. She had clawed, little fingers, a cute, little fang on the right side of her mouth, and a thin, dark purple tail with a plume of light purple fur that matched her hair. Her cheeks were decorated with familiar clover shapes like the clubs on a deck of cards that were a cyan opaque color.

"Hey, wait a minute." Star pushed her way through her and Marco's parents and Marco followed her. "Is…is that…"

"Star! Marco!" Eclipsa got out of her seat and rushed to the two teens, wrapping them both in a big hug. "Oh, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you both okay!"

"Uh, Eclipsa–great to see you, by the way," Marco pointed at the other baby. "Is that…Meteora?"

"Yup! Isn't she the cutest half-Monster half-Mewman baby you've ever seen?" Eclipsa released her hold on the Star and Marco and looked down lovingly at her daughter. "Just like we remember her. You know, before she became a giant murderous force of destruction."

"The spell really worked," Marco marveled. "It turned back her clocks to before you and Globgor were even crystalized."

"It looks like she's getting along pretty well with Mariposa," Star commented.

She wasn't wrong. Every time Mariposa stacked up all of the blocks, Meteora would topple them down, and the babies would clap their hands and giggle happily.

"So, she…doesn't remember anything prior to being turned back into a baby, right?" Marco asked.

"No, of course not," said Eclipsa.

Previously distracted by her game with Mariposa, Meteora finally took notice of Star and Marco. Star, the baby simply blinked at. But when she looked at Marco, the baby hissed angrily at the boy.

Marco took a frightened step back. "You sure about that, Eclipsa?"

"Mawco!" Mariposa waved her little hands at her big brother. "Mawco!"

"Oh my gosh, she says his name," Pony Head gushed with rainbows in her eyes. "How can that baby possibly be any cuter?"

"Let me pinch her cheeks," Kelly begged. "Please? Just one for time!"

"I will fight it. I will fight it," Higgs chanted, using all of her willpower to keep a straight face. Her eye began to twitch from the effort.

"Yeah, she's cute, get over it," Hekapoo said in a bored tone. She took a sip from her mug, but didn't take her eye off Mariposa.

Mariposa then looked at Star. "Sta!"

"Ahhhhhh, she said my name!" Star cheered with sparkling eyes.

"Oh, darn it," Angie complained. "At least let me be her third word."

"How about we all take a seat and discuss what happens next?" Queen Moon suggested. "There is much to discuss."

Eclipsa and Globgor shared a worried glance before the Queen of Darkness sat back down, as did everything else. They all let the babies continue to play with their toys on the floor, who just glanced curiously at everyone else before going back to playing.

"Hey, Kelly," Marco greeted. "I'm really glad to see you're alright."

"Thanks, Marco," said Kelly. "It's good to see you again, too."

"Hey, Diaz," said Janna, looking smug. "Guess who finally got a date with the devil."

"Really? Good for you, Janna," Marco congratulated. "Where's Tom taking you?"

"His family's private library so I can read as many books and tombs on demonic sorcery as I want."

"Wait, what? No, no, no, not there. Anywhere but there." Marco looked at Tom. "Take her somewhere else. Anywhere else. Take her to Lava Lake Beach. Show her as much skin as she wants. Just don't create a monster." Marco looked over at Globgor. "Uh...no offense."

"None taken," Globgor replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "There's what you say then there's how you say it, you know?"

"If everyone is finished." Queen Moon, seated next to her husband, folded her hands in front of her. "Let's begin by–"

"Um, actually, if I may, real quick, your highness," Globgor said, sounding nervous about interrupting the Queen.

Queen Moon raised an eyebrow at the Monster King. "You may."

"Thank you." Globgor stood from his seat and faced Star and Marco, clearing his throat and clasping his hands together.

"Star. Marco. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me and my family." Smiling warmly, the big guy took Eclipsa's hand in his own. "You set us free."

Globgor looked down at his daughter, playing on the floor. "All of us."

"Well, technically, that was mostly me." Marco was rewarded for his modesty with an elbow to the ribs from Star. "Actually, now that I think about it, it was a joint effort."

"I don't know how I can even begin to repay you for reuniting our family," Globgor went on. "Consider us forever in your debt. And, consider yourselves members of our little family."

"Meteora's staring at me," Marco said. "She looks like she wants to bite me."

"She, uh…might need some time to warm up to you," said Globgor.

"She's still staring at me. You ever seen a snapping turtle eyeball you when you get too close to it?"

"Moving on," said Moon, letting Globgor sit back down. "First off; I would like to commend you, Miss Higgs, for the bravery you displayed during the fight against Meteora and your dedication to the protection of Mewni."

Higgs blinked in surprise. "Th-thank you, Queen Moon."

"I understand you were enlisted and appointed as Commander by my husband, the King," Queen Moon continued. "And although it went off without a hitch, you are aware that your enlistment as the Knight Commander was strictly temporary, yes?"

Higgs nodded, looking down at the table. "Yes, Queen Moon."

"That being said," Moon stood up from her seat. "Let me see that sword."

Higgs' eyes widened. She stood up from her seat, hands shaking for a brief second, and walked over to Queen Moon. Higgs took off the sword and scabbard that hung on her back and handed it to the Queen.

Queen Moon took the sword in her hands. Her eyes shone with awe as she stared down at the weapon.

"The sword of Queen Etheria." Moon looked over at Marco. "We'll circle back to how you could have possibly come into possession of this blade."

Marco looked away nervously.

"But, if Alexandra was truly meant to find its way to you, Miss Higgs, then it would seem that I have little choice."

Queen Moon drew the sword from its scabbard, taking a quick moment to admire the metal. "Kneel, please."

A shudder seemed to pass through Higgs' whole body before she got down and knelt before her Queen. Her wide eyes appeared to refuse to blink.

Moon set the scabbard on the table and held the sword with both hands. "Hilda Higgs of Mewni."

Kelly snorted. "That's her full name? It has such a fun ring to it."

Higgs grumbled under her breath before keeping silent.

"In recognition of your service as squire to both Sir Stabby the Sharp and Sir Marco Diaz, as well as your courage and capability in battle displayed in the protection of Mewni and its people,"

Moon placed the blade over one of Higgs' shoulders, then moved it over to the other shoulder. "I, Queen Moon the Undaunted, hereby name you Lady Hilda Higgs, Knight of Mewni. Rise, Lady Higgs."

Higgs stood back up, looking like she was trying to figure out whether or not she was in a dream. "I…don't understand."

"I have accepted that Mewni needs better Knights. More honorable Knights, who understand and respect the concept of chivalry," Moon explained. "You will make an excellent addition to my Guard, I have no doubt about that."

Higgs managed to put on a serious face and saluted Queen Moon, although it looked to Marco like she was trying hard not to cry. "I will not fail you, my Queen."

"Can I be a Knight, too?" Kelly asked. "I've actually been looking for a job in Mewni. I was gonna try getting a job as one of your castle cooks or maybe at that calzone place, but being a Knight sounds pretty cool."

"Well…you did fight bravely alongside my daughter against Meteora, risking your own life for the people of Mewni. You even had your soul taken just as I did. And you Woolletts are well-known brawlers." Queen Moon narrowed her eyes at Kelly as she thought about it. "...Very well, you'll do."

"What?!" Higgs exclaimed. "Where's her dead Queen's sword?!"

Kelly stood up and excitedly hurried over to Queen Moon, sticking her tongue out at Higgs as she did, and knelt down in front of the Queen.

Queen Moon raised the sword up. "In recognition of your efforts to protect Mewni at the risk of your own life, as well as your bravery and strength displayed in your fight against the forces that would do harm to the people of Mewni,"

Moon moved the sword from shoulder to shoulder on Kelly. "I, Queen Moon the Undaunted, hereby name you Lady Kelly…I'm sorry, what is your last name?"

"Woolletts don't have last names," Kelly explained. "When it comes to names, we just pick one we like and if one of us ever meets someone else who has the same name, we fight for the right to that name and the loser has to pick a different name."

"Yeah, you're gonna make a great Knight," Higgs remarked.

"I hereby name you Lady Kelly, Knight of Mewni," Moon finished. "Rise."

"Sweet!" Kelly exclaimed as she got back on her feet. "Thank you, Queen Moon, you won't regret it!"

"Whatever," Higgs muttered as Queen Moon handed her back Alexandra. "At least I still have the cooler sword."

Queen Moon sat back down, folding her hands professionally, and turned to Eclipsa and Globgor. "Now to address what your family shall do next, Eclipsa."

Eclipsa and Globgor glanced at each other in worry and held each other's hand in support.

"Do not fear. The last place either of you are going is back in a crystal," Moon assured them.

Hekapoo took a large swig from her mug before putting it down on the table. "On behalf of the Magic High Commission, I would like to apologize for everything that has happened to your family. But I know an apology is meaningless to you, so allow me to assure you both that the MHC will no longer bother your family ever again. We will not tell you where to go, nor will we object if you stay. However, we have no choice but to insist that Meteora be put through the same training as any Princess of Mewni would, regardless of where you decide to go."

"That's fine. I agree that Meteora will need training with her magic," said Eclipsa. "And I was thinking: Globby, perhaps, with Marco's blessing of course, we could move to Earth."

Marco's eyes widened. "Uh, I…don't think that's such a good idea," Marco said. "I know Eclipsa can blend in, but Globgor is just going to terrify everyone."

"Eh, what else is new?" Globgor sadly asked.

"Come on, Marco, you don't know that," said Janna. "I look at this guy and I'm thinking he'll slowly become a celebrity. He'll be all over the media."

"I kinda wanna go to Earth now," said Globgor. "Humans aren't easy to freak out, are they?"

"Before you make that decision, I have a proposition for you," said Queen Moon.

"Oh?" Eclipsa asked. "Alright, let's hear it."

"In regards to Mewni's future and in light of everything that has happened, it has come to my attention that the Monsters, Mewni's native people, have been oppressed by the Mewmans for far too long. They roam Mewni, divided and in fear of us Mewmans, living in shanty towns and often on the run. Even the children are subjected to the cruelty of the Mewmans and denied the comforts of decent living conditions."

Eclipsa raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going with this?"

"You are the Queen of Darkness, the Monsters have seen you as a patron saint ever since your reign as Queen of Mewni," Moon said. "And Globgor, your reputation among the Monsters is just as revered if not more so. I propose, if you are both willing, that we establish a Monster Kingdom here in Mewni, with you both as the King and Queen."

There was a collective gasp around the table.

"What…Moon," Eclipsa blinked. "Are you being serious?"

"The entire process will be extremely difficult, of course," Moon explained. "The other Kingdoms will, no doubt, object to the establishment of a Monster Kingdom. You will have to start out as a subordinate territory of the Butterfly Royal Family with me sponsoring you, especially since you and Meteora are both Butterflies."

"Um, Queen Moon, as much as I appreciate the offer, I don't think it's such a good idea," said Globgor. "Establishing a Kingdom of Monsters? That's just asking for trouble. And how would we even convince the Monsters to agree to such a risk? Even with our reputations?"

"I agree we will need help. Which is why I hired two Monsters who are popular and respected among their people." Moon looked at the door. "You may enter now," she called out.

"Dangit, she knows we were eavesdropping!"

"You vere eavesdropping. I show respect as guest."

The doors to the dining hall opened and a pair of Monsters entered. One of them was big and fat while the other was short and small. Both of them green, though.

"Buff Frog!" Star happily exclaimed.

"Ludo?" Marco asked in disgust.

"Princess! Marco!" Buff Frog cheered with a big, toothy.

"Hey, what's up?" Ludo asked casually. He had ditched his staff and his skull helmet, just wearing his green robe.

"Yvgeny Bulgolyubov, a.k.a, Buff Frog, is quite popular among the Monsters as a trusted and dependable leader, often overseeing the evacuations when the Monsters need to either run or hide or both. He's also a single father of twelve."

"Awww, look at cute, little, girl-Marco baby and adorable, little, snake-eyed baby." Buff Frog's eyes sparkled as he knelt down to look at the babies. "Hello, babies!"

Mariposa stuck her tongue out at Buff Frog. "Mmmmmmm." Meteora watched her do it and copied her. "Mmmmmmm."

"And Ludo here is the grandson of the former Monster King, Albacudo Avarius," Moon continued. "Many Monsters will listen to him out of respect for his family's legacy."

"So, yes, I am the important one," said Ludo. "And I could really use the work, so, please hire me."

"They can both be of great help in gathering up the Monsters and building a new community for all Monsterkind," said Moon. "You are going to need their help, as I can't imagine there will be many Mewmans willing to offer their aid and support."

"It vill be an absolute honor to vork vith the Queen of Darkness and King Globgor," Buff Frog said, clasping his hands together. "I am at full disposal. Unless babies have doctor's appointment. Then I vill have to take a day."

"Eclipsa, you have to do it!" Star exclaimed. "Think about it! A Kingdom where Monsters can actually be safe? Without having to worry about being harassed by a bunch of jerk Mewmans? How can you pass it up?! You know I'd be more than happy to help you and the Monsters out in building your Kingdom!"

"I can give you the territory surrounding the Monster Temple to start with," said Moon. "Any more territory than that will have to be further discussed in the future."

Eclipsa and Globgor looked at each other for a while, then they looked at Queen Moon.

"Do you honestly believe this could work, Moon?" Eclipsa asked.

"I believe that the reward would be worth the effort. I believe this will push Mewni in the right direction," Moon said. "And, yes, I believe it can work."

Eclipsa took a deep breath and steepled her fingers. "...The rest of Mewni will indeed scream their protests at us. Establishing a Kingdom for the Monsters will ruffle more than a few feathers. All of Mewni's dander will go up like a firework."

Eclipsa smiled. "I'm in."

"Oh, boy," said Globgor. "Well, then, I'm in, too."

"Hooray!" Star cheered. "This is great! Right, Marco?!"

"Can I be in charge of building the school and establishing a curriculum for the Monster kids?" Marco asked. "I would love that, and none of those kids could possibly be as difficult as Star or Janna."

"Gee, thanks, Marco," said Star.

"To be fair, he's probably not wrong," said Janna.

"Ah, yes," Moon turned her attention to Star and Marco. "That brings us to you two."

Star and Marco frowned, glancing at each other and preparing for the worst.

"Ho-ho, this oughta be good," said Janna. "Give 'em hell, Queenie."

"Who is that kid?" Globgor asked. "She reminds me of you at that age, Eclipsa."

Janna did a fist pump. "Yes."

"As I was saying," Moon said, sounding briefly annoyed. "Star. Marco. You know what I'm about to tell you."

"And, I'm leaving." Hekapoo got out of her seat and opened a portal. "Hey, newbie-Knights. Wanna celebrate your new jobs by getting hammered? I know a good bar. On me."

"Count me in."

"Sure, I'll go."

Higgs and Kelly followed Hekapoo through the portal, which blinked away once they were gone.

"Eh, ve should go," Buff Frog said to Ludo.

"Sounds good. I hate this teen drama stuff anyway," Ludo said as he followed Buff Frog out of the dining hall.

Tom tried to get up and leave, but Janna placed a hand on his arm.

"Nah, I wanna watch," she said.

"Why do I have to stay then?" Tom asked.

"I like knowing where you are."

Tom had no reply to that.

"I'll be blunt about it," said Moon. "The two of you cannot date each other."

"Mom!" Star protested, slamming her hands on the table. "What the heck–"

"Uh, Star, let me try," Marco said, placing her hand on Star's shoulder and easing her back down. Marco turned to Moon. "Look, Queen Moon. I have sacrificed a lot for you, for Star, for your entire Kingdom. All because of how much I care about Star. And for her, I'd do it all over again."

"Awwwwww," went Eclipsa and Angie.

"You have a really good kid," Globgor told Raphael.

Marco took Star's hand and they shared a loving smile.

"I want to make this work," Marco went on. "And I'll face any of the consequences to make it work."

"And I can promise you, I'll never accept any suitor unless it's this guy." Star arched her arm over her head and pointed at Marco. "This guy, right here."

Moon sighed and pinched her brow. "Marco Diaz. I, of course, give you my eternal gratitude for all that you have done for my Kingdom and my daughter. I can pardon you for returning to Mewni and violating the terms of your exile. I can even argue with the MHC and have the fact that you're a dark magic user who wields the magic of the Butterfly Royal line overlooked–although with a few conditions to its allowed usage, no doubt. However, I cannot, by Mewman law, doctrine, and tradition, overlook the fact that you are not of any noble lineage. I'm sorry, Marco, but you are a commoner from another dimension."

"So was your dad," Marco argued. "And he was a human, like me."

"Excuse me?" Moon demanded, raising an eyebrow as high as it would go.

"I met a bunch of the former Queens of Mewni while I was in the Realm of Magic," Marco explained. "Including your mom, Queen Comet."

Moon's eyes went wide. "Y…you met my mother?"

"Yeah. She wanted me to tell you that she loves you and she's proud of you." Marco looked at Star. "Both of you."

Queen Moon shut her eyes and pursed her lips, trying to fight the urge to cry.

Marco faced Moon again. "She also wanted me to tell you that your dad, Lazlo Marmalade, was a human chef from Earth."

Moon's eyes flew open. "What?!"

"Lazlo Marmalade?!" Raphael shouted. "Your dad, was the Lazlo Marmalade!"

"Dad, you know who he is?" Marco asked.

"I never told you about Lazlo Marmalade?" Raphael asked, sounding excited. "He used to be a world-famous chef, I used to watch his show all the time. It's how I got into cooking. A lot of the cooking techniques I showed you, son, I learned from that show."

Queen Moon's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "...I…I-I'm half human?"

"And I'm one-fourth human?" Star asked. "Cool!"

"Why do you think Glossaryck picked a human from Earth to go to Mewni and help out its crazy princess?" Marco asked.

"Watch it," Star warned.

"It was Queen Comet's idea," Marco went on. "She knew about Earth. And she knew about humans. I guess she loved and respected your dad so much, she decided that another human would be the best candidate."

Moon stared down at the table with a conflicted look.

"...This changes nothing," she finally said. "You're still a commoner, Marco. I cannot legally allow you to court my daughter."

"Oh, come on!" Star complained.

"Then can't you make me a Lord or a Count or something?" Marco asked. "Preferably a Count? I feel like that would just somehow sound cooler."

"I could have, if not for your deliberate violation of your exile," said Moon. "As such, I am not allowed to so much as give you a job cleaning the bathrooms, let alone a lordship."

"If he marries me, that would make him a prince." Star got out of her seat and faced Marco, getting down on one knee. "Marco Diaz–"

"Nice try, Star, but it doesn't work that way," said Moon.

"Dang it," Star whined as she got back in her seat.

"I'm sorry, Marco," Moon said sincerely. "But as the Queen of Mewni, I cannot ignore the laws of my own Kingdom. Unless you can earn the favor of one of the other Kingdoms of Mewni and be granted a title of nobility, I'm afraid you cannot court my daughter."

"How is he supposed to do that?" Eclipsa demanded. "The Kingdoms of Mewni all know he possesses dark magic. He'll never so much as be granted the title of stableboy. You're hardly being fair, Moon."

"Earn the favor of…" Marco's eyes shot open. "I'll be right." He stood up from his seat and gave Star a quick kiss on the cheek. "Don't go anywhere."

Star rubbed her cheek and blushed as Marco made his way down the table, grabbing Tom by the arm and pulling him out of his seat.

"Janna, I'm borrowing your demon," Marco said as he pulled out his dimensional scissors.

"Eh, make sure to give him back once you're done," said Janna.

"Will do." Marco cut open a portal and pulled the startled and confused demon prince through the portal with him. Once they were gone, the portal vanished.

With Marco gone, everyone sat in awkward silence around the table. To pass the time, they all watched the two babies play. Meteora was currently giving the giggling Mariposa a piggyback ride.

"We absolutely must start scheduling playdates for those two," said Eclipsa.

"Oh, definitely," said Angie. "You know, when Marco was a baby, he had a favorite pacifier. It was impossible to get him to take a nap unless he had it. And get this; his favorite pacifier was the red one."

"When our little Star was born and I held that adorable little angel in my arms, she pulled on my lip hair," River reminisced. "And let me tell ya; even as a baby, she had one heck of a grip."

"At least yours never had fangs." Globgor rubbed his fingers. "And she started teething early."

Becoming bored as all the parents conversed about their babies, Pony Head floated over closer to Janna.

"Hey, what's up?" said Pony.

"Not much," Janna said as she scrolled through her photos to pass the time.

Pony Head looked over at Star, who stared down at the table with her fingers drumming along the fine wood. She looked worried, but hopeful.

"I, like, seriously hope they're allowed to date each other," Pony Head said. "They totally deserve it."

"Right?" said Janna. "All these rules are freakin' stupid. Just let them date each other for crying out–" Janna arched her eyebrows up. "Huh, that's weird."

"What's weird?" asked Pony.

"It's just that…I don't remember taking this video," Janna said. Her phone screen currently displayed the image of a tall, intense-looking, red-head chick with some kind of golden landscape background that looked somehow familiar. Janna turned the volume down real low and hit the play button. After a few seconds, she understood who the video was meant for and paused the video.

Janna got up out of her seat and walked over to the Queen of Darkness. "Hey, Eclipsa." She handed her the phone. "I think you should see this."

Eclipsa took the phone from Janna with a curious look on her face. When she saw the image of Queen Solaria on the phone's screen, she gasped in utter shock.

"Mother?" Eclipsa whispered.

"So he did travel through the Realm of Magic again," Moon declared when she saw the image as well. "He…met our ancestors."

Janna turned the volume back up and restarted the video for Eclipsa.

"Okay, it's on video. Tell Eclipsa exactly what you wanna tell her. Speak from the heart, your highness."

"What…? Um…okay… Eclipsa, my daughter…"

---

Marco and Tom came back to the dining hall through a portal shortly after Eclipsa finished watching the video. Globgor had his hand on her shoulder as she wiped away her tears. Once Eclipsa had recomposed herself, everyone looked up at Marco. He had put on the cape River had gifted to him and wore Rebanador on his side. He had also put on the ruby pendant that Star had given to him, hanging on a silver chain around his neck. Marco was writing on a scroll that Tom was holding up for him, instructing him on what and where to write.

"And, here. And, here. Place of birth here and date of birth there. Full name here. Parents' names here. And just sign your name in blood at the bottom here and you're all set. Middle name too, no skimping on the blood."

Marco groaned before he raised his hand up to the black metal that held the scroll. Sharpened to points at both ends, Marco pricked his finger on one of the scroll's ends with a quick 'ow' and used the blood that came out of his finger to sign his name at the bottom.

"Perfect." Tom flicked his wrist and rolled up the scroll, which disappeared in a wave of fire.

"Uh, Marco?" Star asked. "What'd you just do?"

"Well, remember that unconditional favor I got from Tom for kicking Janna out of the Underworld?" Marco recalled.

"Some good that ended up doing," Tom muttered.

"I was able to cash it in and, after a bunch of signatures and with Tom's blessing," Marco grinned and pointed his thumbs at himself. "You're looking at a new Baron of the Mewni Underworld."

Star's face lit up as she shot to her feet. "Really?!"

"Aw, sweet! Marco's a Baron of Hell!" Janna cheered. "Right on!"

Everyone's eyes went wide. Moon's especially.

"Thomas, are you even allowed to do that?" the Queen asked.

"I mean, I'm probably gonna get chewed out big time by my parents for this. But yeah, it's totally legal," said Tom. "He, technically, won his favor from a member of the Royal Lucitor family and the heir to the throne of the Underworld. He has the blessing of the Prince of the Underworld–a.k.a, me. All the paperwork is in order. And in addition to his title, I even granted him ownership of his own demesne and manor house."

"He has his own freakin' manor?!" Pony cried. "That is like, no fair!"

"Well, to be fair, I got him about a shantytown's worth of land that hasn't been tended to in over a century with a run-down manor that has, like, a million things that need to be fixed," Tom admitted. "It was the best I could do on such short notice."

Tom pulled something out of his pocket. "Now that we have witnesses, we can conclude the legally required ceremony." It turned out to be a medal pin that Tom had pulled out of his pocket. It was a neat-looking medal, held under a gray ribbon the color of a phantom's robes. A black iron medallion decorated with a pentagram of ghostly silver. At the very center of the medal, made of the same ghostly silver as the pentagram, was a skull. If you looked closely, you could see a red glow in the eyes of the skull.

"I, Thomas Draconius Lucitor, Prince of the Mewni Underworld, name you, Marco Ubaldo Diaz, a Baron of the Underworld and a vassal of the Royal Lucitor Family." Tom pinned the medal to Marco's hoodie. "Welcome to the family–kinda, sorta. You're gonna love it, Barons receive fifty percent off at any Underworld restaurant or cafe. I wouldn't recommend actually going to any of them, but you can still appreciate the fact."

"There, I'm a Baron," Marco turned to Queen Moon. "Can I date Star now?"

Queen Moon took a deep breath and ran a hand down her face.

"...Marco…you understand that the other Kingdoms, especially my family, are not going to agree with you dating the future Queen of Mewni."

Marco nodded. "I am aware, and I don't care."

"Ha-ha, he made it rhyme," Globgor commented.

"Do you promise to do everything you can to make my daughter happy?" Moon asked.

"Cross my heart," said Marco.

"Then…I give you my blessing." Moon smiled. "You two can date."

"Finally!" Star shot out of her seat at Marco, nearly throwing him off his feet as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. Marco was quick to return the kiss.

"...You did good, Earth Turd," Pony said. "You did good."

The kiss ended and Star released Marco from her hug, holding onto his arm and placing her head on his shoulder. The adults all smiled, happy for the new couple.

Inspired by a sudden idea, a sly look formed on Eclipsa's face. "You know, it's customary for the Princess of Mewni to learn more about her suitor's culture," she said. "If they're going to start dating, perhaps Star should spend more time on Earth."

Marco frowned. "I mean, alright, I figured some of our dates would be on Earth anyway."

"But what if," Eclipsa said. "Star started attending school with you?"

Marco's pupils shrank. "Say what now?"

Angie gasped as her eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! Summer vacation is almost over, she can start this fall and stay with us!"

"Wait, wait, hold on," said Marco. "I'm not entirely sure that's a–"

"Say, that's not a half-bad idea!" River exclaimed. "Spending a few semesters abroad in the home dimension of her grandfather and her boyfriend? It'd be a huge step up from St. Olga's, that's for sure."

"Okay, let's take a step back," Marco said. "Star's not exactly a citizen. You can't just–"

"That just might actually work." Queen Moon rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "We can discuss the matter of Star's tuition with the school's headmaster. Earth just might be the perfect place for her to continue her magic training."

"Her magic training?" Marco asked. "Didn't she burn down the town when she first got that wand?"

"I LOVE that idea!" Star cheered. "Being on Earth will be the best time of my life! You don't even have to worry, Mom, I've been to Earth before, I know all of Earth's rules, I can behave myself on Earth."

"She was on Earth for less than a day," said Marco. "She didn't have her magic wand and she was being watched by literally the warden of interdimensional travel. Of course nothing happened."

"And Marco will no doubt be acting as her guide and chaperone," Moon said. "Helping her through her education and keeping her out of trouble."

"I was kinda hoping I was done with that," said Marco. "Am I invisible right now? Is that it?"

"Ahhhhhh, this is gonna be great!" Star crushed Marco in another hug. "We'll be living together, I'll get to see Mariposa and your parents more often," the Princess placed a big kiss on her boyfriend's cheek. "Isn't this great, Marco?!"

Marco let out a defeated sigh and smiled, placing a kiss on Star's forehead.

"You are…my greatest adventure."

---

(Later that day)

From the tower balcony, Eclipsa watched as Star's belongings were loaded up into the carriage. The ecstatic blonde was watching the castle servants load up her stuff with an eager smile on her beaming face, hopping on her heels and squeezing her nervous-looking boyfriend's hand.

Eclipsa smiled down at them from the balcony. "Everything turned out okay," she whispered to herself. "It actually did."

"I did good, didn't I?"

Eclipsa looked to the side and saw Glossaryck sitting cross-legged on the balustrade, smiling at the Queen of Darkness.

"Glossaryck?!" Eclipsa angrily exclaimed. "Where the cornhusk have you been?!"

Glossaryck shrugged. "I took a little vacation. It's not like anybody needed me. Like you said; everything turned out okay."

Eclipsa yanked off Glossaryck's beard and shoved it into his mouth.

Glossaryck pulled his beard out of his mouth and coughed and spat out some hairs. "Ack…I remember when this job actually came with some respect." The little genie put his beard back on. "Actually, no I don't."

"And you wonder why no one likes you," Eclipsa remarked.

"Oh, I know why no one likes me," said Glossaryck. "Come on, Eclipsa, are you really mad at me? You were reunited with Globgor, you got your baby back, Star and Marco are dating now, and to top it all off, there's a Monster Kingdom on the way. This whole thing turned out even better than I had hoped."

Eclipsa sighed and looked back down at Star and Marco. "...We really picked the perfect champion for Star, didn't we?"

"Yes, he turned out quite nicely," said Glossaryck. "He started off a total geek, and now he's a Baron dating a Princess…and still a total geek."

Eclipsa looked back at Glossaryck, worry shining in her eyes. "Glossy…I think we both can see the storm that's heading Marco's way. All of Mewni knows exactly what Marco is and except for the Monsters, they're going to despise him for it, the same way they all despised me. After everything that's happened, what exactly is next for your knight and my ace?"

Glossaryck looked down at Marco, smiling mysteriously. "Next…he becomes a king."

---

Moon smiled down from the window of her office as she watched her daughter bounce on her heels and give her new boyfriend a kiss on the cheek as her belongings were loaded into the coach.

Moon chuckled and shook her head. "I'll kill him if he doesn't treat her well. But I'm sure he will."

The door to her study flew open and Mina Loveberry shot into the room.

"Queen Moon!" the mad, anime-looking supersoldier shouted.

"Mina," Moon's smile was replaced by an irked frown as she turned away from the window. "I've told you before about simply bursting in here."

"Have you gone coo-coo crazy?!" Mina yelled. "Letting those two out of their crystals to roam free and wreak havoc on Mewni?! Letting Eclipsa's little lackey woo the Princess?! A ding-dang Monster Kingdom?!"

Mina rushed up and grabbed the sides of Moon's head. "Did Eclipsa work her voodoo on your noggin?! I know you're in there, my Queen, blink three times if you can hear me!"

"Release me," Queen Moon growled.

Mina immediately let go of Moon's head and took a step back. Moon used her magic to fix her hair and close the door that Mina had left open.

"This will be good for Mewni, Mina," Moon said as she took a seat behind her desk. "And Eclipsa and her family have suffered enough."

"Eclipsa is a deserter and a traitor, Globgor is a freakin' Monster," Mina said with dramatic waves of her hands. "And don't get me started on that half n' half freak baby of theirs!"

"I won't then," said Moon, her tone telling Mina to watch it.

"Maybe you forgot about being turned into a floating birthday balloon. I sure didn't!" Mina exclaimed. "My Queen, our duty is to protect the people of Mewni from the forces of evil!"

"My duty as Queen is to keep the peace and to keep the denizens of Mewni from harm," Moon said. "Your duty, Mina, is to obey your Queen."

"So you're just going to do nothing?!" Mina demanded. "You know what the three of them are capable of!"

"...Indeed I do," said Moon. "Which is why I'm having you keep an eye on Eclipsa and Globgor and the progress of the Monster Kingdom."

Mina blinked, looking hopeful. "O-kay! Now we're talking!"

"Mina, your assignment is purely reconnaissance," Moon said sternly. "You are to observe them, nothing more."

"Yeah, sure thing," said Mina.

"I'm serious, Mina." Queen Moon stood from her seat, brow furrowed. "Listen carefully, Loveberry: My tolerance for your berserk behavior is wearing thin. If I hear anything about Monsters going missing, being killed, or what have you, I will throw you out of this dimension myself."

Moon narrowed her eyes. "Am I understood?"

Mina stared hard at Moon. She looked like she had something to say to the Queen, but was able to restrain herself from saying it, instead bowing at the waist respectfully.

"I understand, Queen Moon."

"Good." Moon sat back down. "You are dismissed."

With her fists clenched, Mina turned around and walked out of Moon's study, slamming the door behind her as she left.

Once Mina was gone, Queen Moon returned to her paperwork, preparing for all that was to come.

---

[TO BE CONTINUED IN 'KING OF HEARTS']

---

Thank you all for reading my story. Thank you for all of your reviews and feedback. This was the second fanfic I started and it was a whole lot of fun to write and finish. I'm honestly really proud of it.

If you enjoyed this story, then stay tuned for the sequel. And make sure to check my other stories if you're interested.

Peace.