For the first time in months, the sun was out and the temperature was well above freezing. The residents of Echo Creek could finally come out of their homes and enjoy the outdoors once again. In addition to the nice weather, the people also had another reason to celebrate. The return of a beloved Echo Creek institution causing a long line to circle a downtown block.
The old establishment of Britta's Tacos still sat at it's original location. Cordoned off by police barricades since it was still half enveloped by the sink hole that had formed mere hours before the cleaving happened. But the proprietors were not going to allow that to stop them from selling fine Mexican foods. That is why they acquired a new state-of-the-art food truck.
Star looked on as a number of patrons sat of the hastily set up picnic tables the lined the sidewalk along the food truck. However, she and Marco were still waiting in line with at least fifty people still ahead of them. It was progress, when they got there an hour before, it was at least a hundred.
"Ugggggh," she groaned, "This line is sooooo looooong," she concluded with her voice breaking.
"Hey," replied Marco, "Remember the line for Goblin Dogs?"
"Oh yeah," she reflected, "Goblin Dogs would be really good right now."
"Tacos, Star," he reminded, "We're in line for tacos."
"Rightrightright," she confirmed, "Hey! Is that Janna over there…with Tom?"
Janna and Tom having gotten to the truck much earlier were walking down the line together. Tom held a burrito in his hand while Janna was already half way through her first taco when they saw Star maniacally waving at them. Admittedly confused since they could instantly recognize Marco but did not realize he was indeed with Star until she called out to them.
"Janna Banana!" she yelled at the pair, "Tom! What are you two doing here?!" They both slunk over to other couple, Janna maintaining a fake smile while Tom tried, and failed, to hide his embarrassment.
"Wow!" Janna declared, doing her best to sell it. "I can't believe the minute I run into this guy," she pointed her thumb back at Tom, "That I would end up running into you two…too."
"Wait, you and Tom just ran into each other?" asked Star.
Janna stared at Star with a blank expression before faking another smile and confirming. "Yup!"
"What's with the get up, Star?" Tom finally got to ask.
"Oh, I'm in disguise," explained Star, "Since some people around Echo Creek don't like me that much, I'm just trying to lay low."
"That explains the hat," concurred Tom, "And the sunglasses…I'm just not sure about the fake mustache."
Star was indeed wearing her large sunhat and oversized sunglasses along with a fake handlebar mustache. "I told you the mustache was too much," whispered Marco.
"Hey," chided Star, "They didn't recognize me until I called out to them, so it worked." She smiled as she turned to Janna, "Hey, how are the tacos?"
"Meh," Janna casually exhaled, "They're…not the same."
"What do you mean?" replied Star.
"That new truck with it's new grill and new deep fryer," explained Janna, "It's missing the years of grease build up the old place had."
"Gross," interjected Marco.
"You guys still running the whole princess bed and breakfast thing?" Janna asked.
"They finally left last night, that's why we're here," said Marco, "Doing something to celebrate."
"It was fun the first few nights," Star added, "But yeah, I'm glad to be out of the house."
"Hey, it's finally our turn," Marco said as he walked up to the food truck's window followed closely by Star.
"Hey, I know you," said Oskar Greeson, adorned in his Britta's Tacos hat and apron, "You're Star and your her boyfriend, Mango."
"Hi Oskar," Star said with a smile as Marco rolled his eyes. "Can I have a beefy cheesy burrito please?"
"You know what's weird?" asked Oskar, "A burrito is kind of like a sleeping bag for meat and toppings, you know?"
"I guess…I guess that's true," Star hesitantly confirmed.
"What can I get for you, Mango?" Oskar continued.
"A different member of the service staff?" he snidely replied.
"What?" Oskar asked.
"I would like three tacos," Marco continued, "One chicken, one beef and one…barbacoa, please."
"Ooo, fancy," said Star, "Hey, where's Sensei at? I don't see him back there."
"Ah, he went back to the Dojo," said Oskar, "Apparently self defense classes are the hot new thing now that there are like, monster dudes around." Oskar took the money Marco offered for the food and returned his change and a receipt. "You're order number one-fifty-one. We'll call when it's ready."
The two teenagers made their way to a table that was now being held by Janna and Tom. "Hey, Marco?" Star asked as they walked, "If a burrito is a meat sleeping bag, does that mean a taco is a meat hammock?"
"I don't know, Star," he replied, "I think I missed that day in Home Economics class." They both sat down across from their friends to wait for their number to be called. Tom was throughly enjoying his burrito while Janna was trying to mask her disappointment in the cleaner, less greasy tacos. "What are you two doing the rest of the day?"
"Us?!" cried Tom, "Nothing, I mean, nothing together, we only just ran into each other…what about you guys?"
"We were talking about going to the Yurt Village to see Moon and River," said Marco before turning towards Star. "Some of us haven't seen much of them lately."
"Hey," interjected Star, "How often do you see your parents?"
"Every day," he replied, "I live with them and so do you."
"A likely story," sniped Star with a grin.
"All right, you're coming with me," came a mysterious voice from behind Tom has he was grabbed by the shoulders and hoisted up. An Echo Creek police officer, wearing an over-the-top tactical outfit with a belt full of modern defensive and offensive weaponry, had ahold of him. "You should know you're kind isn't welcome here."
"Excuse me?!" Tom yelled, "What are you doing?!"
"Placing you under arrest," the officer replied, "Aliens are not allowed within the borders of Echo Creek."
"How is he an alien?" Janna snapped, "This is his home planet."
"Do you even know who I am?!" Tom indignantly yelled at the officer as he began placing him in handcuffs.
"Tom, buddy," said Marco, "Don't be the 'Do you know who I am' guy."
Tom's eyes began to glow red as his handcuffed fists became balls of fire. "Oh, I will make sure they know who I am," he said in defiance as the office pulled a taser from his belt, activated it and stuck it into Tom's side. He jolted about as the electricity surged through his body, causing his fiery eyes and fists to be extinguished. When the officer removed the weapon from his side, a wisp of smoke emanated from his head.
"Tom!" both Janna and Star exclaimed.
"Are you all right?!" exclaimed Marco.
"Mommy?" Tom asked in a daze as the officer finished placing the cuffs on his wrists.
"Where are you taking him?!" Janna yelled as the officer began escorting him away.
"Downtown," he replied, "To the detention center for processing."
"Wait!" called out Star, "If you're taking him away for being an…alien, you have to take me too." The officer stopped and turned, looking directly at Star as she got up from her seat and offered her wrists to be cuffed.
"Star!" Marco yelped, "What are you doing?!"
"I'm from Mewni," she said to the officer as she took her hat, sunglasses and mustache off. "That means I'm also an…alien…like Tom. You have to take me too."
The officer gave Star a quizzical look before he took a zip-tie from his belt and fastened it around Star's wrists. He then proceeded to lead them both to the waiting police car that was parked across the street
"Marco!" she called out as she turned back to her boyfriend who was staring at her in stunned silence. "Bring my burrito to me in jail!"
Star sat on the cold metal bench in the grey jail cell looking ahead at the iron bars of the small room's single door. She was doing her best to stay calm and collected. But the sound of wet smacking lips was so grating as it bounced around her skull, she was at the end of her rope.
"Tom!" she yelled, "Stop chewing your gum so loudly!"
Tom who was seated next to her on the bench stopped chewing momentarily. "Sorry Star," he said ashamedly before pulling a package from his pocket, "You want a piece of gum?"
"Yes, I want some gum!" she snapped.
"Star?" they heard a familiar voice ring out from the hallway.
"Marco!" she yelled out as she got up from her seat and sprinted to the bars, "We're in here!"
As Marco appeared on the other side, Star reached through the gaps and pulled him into a hug. "Ow!" Marco yelped as his head hit the bars.
"Oh, sorry!" she exclaimed, "It's just been so long since I've seen you! Are my parents still alive? Is Mariposa in High School now? Did you find a new love and move on without me?"
"Star, you've only been in here for half an hour," he said as they both separated from each other.
"Oh," she relented, "Did you bring my burrito?"
"Yeah, but they confiscated it," he admitted as Janna turned up behind him.
"Why doesn't Tom just fire portal you both out of there?" Janna asked.
"Because of those…thingies up there," Tom replied pointing to the ceiling. Above them were two dozen hastily installed smoke detectors. "When I tried to open a portal, they all started screeching and the guards came in and zapped me with that magic zapper thing."
"Oh, that's it!" Janna huffed, "I'm going to go see about getting these two out of here, I'll be right back." Determined, she marched her way down the hall back to the detention center's front offices. Tom returned to the bench and lied down while Star remained across the bars from Marco. She offered her hands to him through the division which he took in his.
"I'm sorry, Marco," she told him.
"Why are you sorry this time?" he gently asked.
"For getting myself arrested, I guess. I just saw them taking Tom away and I…"
"It's okay, Star," he interrupted, "I completely understand."
"You do?" she smiled.
"Of course," he confirmed. "But we have to get you out of here. You can't share a jail cell with Tom all night."
"Oh really?" she teased, "Is someone a little jealous?"
"No, no," he cooed, "It's every guy's dream for their girlfriend to be locked in cell with their ex-boyfriend."
She giggled at his comment. "Well, it won't be so bad. You and Janna just need to go talk to Eclipsa, maybe my parents, oh! Go talk to Queen Wrathmelior and King Dave too."
"Yeah, okay," he agreed. "We need to get you out of here quick."
"Marco," she chided, "I can handle a few days in a cell with Tom."
"Yeah?" he queried, "You see the silver bowl thing in the corner there?" Star spin her head around to find the object Marco was referring to. "That's your bathroom," he concluded coldly.
She slowly turned her head back around to face Marco's revealing the terror that was setting in. "Get…me…out…of…here."
Down the hallway, a door was loudly swung open and the loud voice of Janna echoed down the hallway. "You can't just take someone to jail and taze them! It's a complete violation of human rights!"
"Ms. Ordonia," said a creepily familiar voice, "As I said before, neither of your friends are human. So, they will be afforded whatever rights we wish to give."
Marco couldn't believe his eyes as Janna and the stranger rounded the corner and came into full view. "Mr. Candle?!" he exclaimed upon seeing the signature bald head, facial hair and ponytail.
Star stuck her head through the bars to catch a glimpse as well. "Sir Crandle?!" she assumed seeing the familiar man wearing an unfamiliar dark blue suit and tie, complete with an American flag pin on his lapel.
"Whoa there," he said as he came up to the cell with Janna in toe. "I don't know who these Mr. Candle or Sir Crandle folks are. My name is Mr. Randall, the honorable City Manager of Echo Creek."
"Honorable?" Janna replied snidely, "I have a few other adjectives to describe you."
"I was told we have our first guests in our new illegal aliens detention block," he continued looking on at Star and Tom.
"Illegal Aliens?" Marco replied indignantly, "She lives here!"
"And him?" the City Manager asked pointing to Tom.
"Uhhh," hummed Marco, "Exchange student?"
"Regardless," continued Randall, "The city is in a state of emergency. All of these monsters, mythical creatures and…" He shuttered in disgust, "Peasants need to be kept off of our streets."
Janna was unable to contain herself. "Can you hear yourself with your head so far up your…"
"Unfortunately," Randall cut her off, "The blonde girl and the…" he peered again at Tom, "Satanic fellow there."
"Why do humans keep calling me that?" Tom objected.
"…Must remain in custody," Randall continued, "To await deportation."
"Deportation?!" all four teenagers gasped in unison.
"Yes," confirmed Randall as he headed back down the hallway, "I hope you all have pleasant evening."
Janna, fuming at the interaction, called down the corridor at him, "Next election, I am so voting against you! And don't let my age fool you, I've been voting since I was in preschool!"
"I'm appointed!" Randall called back before the sound of a heavy door opening could be heard. "Not elected!" The sound of a door slamming echoed throughout the space.
"Janna," said Marco, "We need to go to the Monster Temple and talk to Eclipsa. She might be able to get them out of here."
Janna took a moment to consider the idea. "Yeah," she agreed, "That makes sense, let's go!"
"Give me," started Marco, "Give me a moment with Star first, I'll meet you outside." He turned back towards Star behind the bars.
"Ugh, gross," Janna snidely said before looking over his head at Tom at the back of the cell and blowing him a kiss. He blew one back to her, avoiding Star seeing the covert display of affection between them, before she ran down the corridor to the exit.
Star stood facing Marco, arms folded tightly across her chest as she shivered just slightly. "Are you cold?" he asked her.
"Yeah, a little," she said as he unzipped his red hoodie and took it off. He folded the garment in half and passed it to her between the bars.
"Here, take it," he offered to which she did and wrapped herself up in it.
"Thank you," she softly replied.
"We're going to get you out of this," he said.
"I know."
He offered his hand to her and she took in hers and squeezed it tightly. "I love you," he said softly.
"I love you," came the response.
Marco collected his personal items from the security desk, his compact, his wallet and a cold and soggy burrito. He threw the burrito into the trash and walked through the detention center's heavy door. He looked over his shoulder as the doors slammed shut, feeling as though half his heart was on the other side. He flipped his compact open, quickly dialed and held it up to his ear.
"Hello?" came the voice of his mother on the other end.
"Hey Mom," he said pensively as he looked around the front of the building for Janna. "I have some…weird news."
"What happened?" she asked trying to sound surprised.
"Star's…" he began, "Star's in jail."
"What on Earth for?" came Angie's shocked response, "Or should it be Mewni? Or…Why?!"
"They arrested her for being…from Mewni, I guess? They arrested Tom too."
"You have got to be kidding me," she said exasperated, "After everything they let her get away with. Setting the school on fire, smashing a police car, freezing that helicopter in place."
"Yeah, I know," he replied, "Can you call Moon and River? Let them know?" He spotted Janna waving to him on the sidewalk and began walking towards her. "Janna and I are going to go see Eclipsa and see about getting this sorted."
"Okay, I'll make the call right now. You two stay safe," she said.
"We will, Mom. Thanks," he said before hanging up.
"All right," said Janna as they regrouped, "Do you think a taxi will take us to New Monstertown?"
"I've got a better idea," he said while he pulled a long silver whistle from his pocket. He put his lips lightly around it and blew it for two seconds with no discernible sound was generated. It wasn't long before the sound a a distant roaring engine could be heard. "I haven't seen her in months, and without Star here, we're definitely taking her."
The engine noise became louder and louder until soaring overhead was Marco's dragoncycle, Nachos. She spotted the pair on the sidewalk and turned coming in for a landing and skidding to a stop right in front of them. "Nachos!" he exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around her neck and brushed her scales.
"Wait, you haven't seen her months?" queried Janna.
"Nah," he confirmed, "I've been spending so much time with Star, I never get the chance." He mounted the dragoncycle in one swift motion and patted the space behind him. "Hop on, let's get going."
"You never take Star on rides?" she asked as she did as instructed, taking a helmet he was handing her.
"I would never let her ride Nachos," he clarified, "I'm terrified she'll get hurt."
"And you're not worried that I'll get hurt?" she protested over the grumbling of Nachos' engine.
"It's not that," he clarified further, "It's just, when she's in trouble, I don't worry about danger as much." With that, he twisted the accelerator on the drangoncycle's horn and took off into the sky. They ascended a few hundred feet before looping around and roaring off in the direction of the Monster Temple.
Moon sat at the drawing desk with her eyeglasses perched upon her nose and a drafting pencil in her hand. She looked down on the drawn out plans of what she believed to be the archways of Butterfly Castle's grand entrance hall. Or are they from the throne room? She was embarrassed to admit that despite living there for the first 36 years of her life, she had no clue.
Across the circular room that constituted her and her husband's living quarters hung a mirror. It's gold frame mounted on one of the exterior supports of their yurt. In it's reflection could be seen the tasteful decorations and furniture the couple were possession of. That is, until it started blaring an unwelcome ringing sound and the reflection replaced by it's caller ID function.
"No worries Moonpie! I'll get it!" sounded River as he ran from behind a partition sopping wet with nothing but a bath towel wrapped around his waist. "The Diaz's?" he said curiously reading the caller ID before hitting the diamond shaped answer button on it's side.
"Oh, River," said Angie as she appeared on the mirror and saw his state of dress, "Is this a bad time?"
"Why no," he replied, "I was just getting out of the shower. How can we help you?"
Angie attempted to avoid looking directly at River as she continued. "Is Moon there with you?" she asked, "This is very important."
"Oh my, what has our daughter done now?" he asked nonplused.
"Well, she was arrested by the Echo Creek Police."
From across the room, Moon accidentally snapped her pencil in half when she heard. "Whatever did she do this time?!" she yelled towards the mirror.
"Hello, Moon," said Angie in response, "Nothing as far as I know."
Moon trotted over to the mirror and stood behind her husband. "They must have some reason," she pleaded.
"Marco said it was something to do with her being from Mewni," suggested Angie, "I suppose it's related to the same laws that got the party shut down last month."
Rafael walked into the mirror's frame from behind Angie with a smile. "River!" he exclaimed, "Moon! So good to see you, how is everything?"
"Star was arrested," Angie told her husband.
"Arrested?" asked Rafael looking to his wife, "Por qué?"
"Oh, do you have Tom's family's information?" Angie asked Moon and River, "He was there and was also arrested."
"Oh, my," breathed Moon.
"Tom was with them?" queried River, "I could have sworn Star and Marco were…"
"Now is not the time, River," interrupted Moon, "And we should hold off on informing the Lucitors for now. If Wrathmelior heard that Tom was being kept prisoner by the humans, she wouldn't hesitate to burn the city to the ground."
"Yes," agreed River, "With Dave cheering her on."
"Where is Marco now?" Moon asked.
"He and Janna are headed to see Eclipsa," said Angie.
"That's sensible," said Moon, "If we meet you at your home, could you take us to where Star and Tom are being held?"
"Of course!" declared Rafael.
"We're on our way," said Moon as she terminated the call.
"Right, onwards!" exclaimed River as he made his way for the door.
"River! Clothes!" yelled Moon.
Star sat on the cold metal bench in the bleak jail cell feeling the drafty air around her. She pulled her legs up onto the bench and bundled herself in Marco's red hoodie to try and warm up. Tom sat on the other side, staring blankly at the wall to his right, not making any form of eye contact with her.
"So…" began Star, "First time in Earth jail?"
"Yup," he replied flatly, "You?"
"Yeah," she confirmed, "Although I once did have to wash all of the police cars after I accidentally smashed one while on a sugar high."
Tom peered over and raised an eyebrow at her. "Have you ever been surprised and yet, not surprised?"
Star didn't answer, she looked to the floor as she held herself together tighter. "How are your folks doing?" she asked.
"They're good," he said, "Dad has been fixing up the Lake House for the past few months and it's looking really nice actually."
"That's good, you're mom okay?"
"Yeah, she's taking a cooking class with my aunt," he said, "Some of the results have been mixed."
"And your Grandpa? Relicor?"
"Still alive, if only to prove every doctor in the Underworld wrong."
Tom tapped his fingers against his knee as silence now hung between them. "So, how are you doing?" he managed to ask.
Star looked at him side-eye before answering. "I'm kinda hungry, actually."
"Yeah," he said, "Sorry you didn't get your burrito."
"It's okay," she replied solemnly, "Marco will get us out here and then I'll get my burrito."
"Good," he said.
"Because Marco always gets me out to trouble," she concluded before taking a brief pause with no immediate response from Tom. "Yup," she went on in a frustrated tone, "Every time I mess up or I'm in trouble, Marco always saves me."
Tom furrowed his brow. "I got it, Star," he said coldly.
"Who saved me from the Dungeon when Ludo took over the Kingdom? Marco. Who bailed me out when I was Queen? Marco. Who helped me out when my Mom went missing? Marco!"
"Star!" yelled Tom, feeling personally attacked, "Enough!"
Star got up from the bench and started pacing back and forth. "Who stayed by my side in the Realm of Magic while it collapsed around us? Seriously?! Why was he even there?!"
"Please calm down," Tom said, trying to remain calm as he realized something else was wrong and began to panic.
"I ruin everything for everybody!" she yelled as she flailed her arms. "And I'm so totally clueless about what to do next or how to go on!" She faced the wall of the cell. "For three months, I was totally clueless about what I wanted to do, how to live my life and I ended up doing nothing!"
"Star, it's okay."
"It's not okay!" she screamed at him, tears flowing from her eyes, before turning back to the wall. "He's stayed by my side the whole time! And now, I'm in jail and he once again has to go out and save me! Because I'm no longer the warrior princess! I'm helpless and I suck as a girlfriend!"
With no warning, she punched the cement brick wall as hard as she could, producing an impossibly loud smacking sound. Tom could see a small spiderweb of hairline cracks where her fist met the wall. "Star? Are you okay?" he asked as he stood up and approached her.
"No," she sobbed with more tears now streaming down her cheeks. "I'm…pretty sure I," she gasped for breath, "…broke my hand."
Eclipsa sat at her desk in her personal study, carefully reviewing the document before her. She played with the feathered quill in her hand before looking up at Archibald, who was hovering before her.
"Can you," she began to ask, "Explain this to me…one more time?"
"Of course, your Majesty," he replied, "This is an order reclassifying agricultural parcels 206A through 354B from light agricultural production to medium-light agricultural production."
"I see," she said as she continued examining the document. "And…why do I need to sign it?"
"Because, your Majesty," he said, "If you don't sign it, then those parcels would remain zoned for light agricultural production."
"No, what I mean is," she clarified, "Why is it my responsibility to tell farmers what they may do with their farms? Or give them permission?"
"Every Queen has done this for hundreds of years," said Archibald, "I've been told that Queen Moon signed dozens such orders every day of her reign."
"She couldn't have possibly read them all!" she contended.
"I'm sure she didn't," said Archibald, "I assume her royal advisors read them for her."
"Well, I'm not signing anything I haven't read and fully understand," she said.
"Yes, your Majesty," confirmed Archibald.
"The last time I did that, I ended up in a horrible marriage," she explained, "We all know how that turned out."
"Of course, your Majesty," he replied as he watched her scribble a signature on the document and placed it in the outgoing pile.
"What's next?" she asked as Archibald handed her another parchment.
"This is an order increasing the number of street vendor licenses for New Monstertown…"
"You mean," she interrupted, "I control the number of street carts?"
"Yes, your Majesty," he confirmed.
"Archie, please," she begged, "You may call me ma'am if you'd like. You don't alway have to use 'your Majesty.'"
"Yes, your Maj…yes, ma'am."
Eclipsa scribbled yet another signature on yet another document. She placed it on the completed pile before taking another document from the imposing "to do" pile. "Surely, not every Queen has done this much paperwork in their day to day," she complained.
"Only two Queens in Mewni's history have no such orders signed in the royal archives," said Archibald.
"Really? Which ones?" she asked as she dipped her quill in the ink well to ready another signing.
"Well, ma'am, you…during your first reign," he said before taking a breath, "And of course, Queen Star."
There was a light knock at the door causing Eclipsa to look up from her work and Archibald to spin in the air towards it. "I swear," she said, "If it's another Minister with another pile of parchments, I'm going to curse the lot of you."
"It's me, my darling," called Globgor from behind the door, "You have some visitors."
Archibald opened the door to reveal Globgor standing in the corridor with Marco and Janna in tow. "Marco!" The Queen declared with a smile, "Janna! It's so nice to see you."
"They have some bad news I'm afraid," said Globgor.
"Yeah," said Marco rubbing the back of his neck. "Star and Tom got arrested by the Echo Creek Police."
"What did that girl do this time?" asked Eclipsa, bewildered.
"Nothing," said Janna, "They were arrested for being illegal aliens."
"Illegal what?" asked Archibald.
"That's what I said!" exclaimed Globgor, "They are both from this planet, it's the humans who are the aliens."
"It's a term humans use for…outsiders, I guess," explained Marco. "Humans are really territorial that way."
"Yeah," confirmed Janna, "And looking the way Marco and I do, we've both gotten our fair share of it." She turned to Marco before asking, "How many times have you been told to 'go back to your own country?'"
"How many trees are in the Forest of Certain Death?" answered Marco.
"Well, this is simply unacceptable," said Eclipsa as she got up from her chair and marched around the desk. "I'm coming with you to Echo Creek and giving them a what for, I tell you."
"Darling?" asked Globgor as he put a calming hand on her shoulder before she stormed out of the room. "Are you sure that is a good idea?"
"Globby," she said turning to him, "We can't have a former Butterfly monarch and the heir to the Underworld Kingdom in some…prison."
"I agree," he said, "But if they will arrest them, what will they do with you?"
Eclipsa took in his words before snapping her fingers. "We'll take a few knights as protection," she said before turning to Archibald, "Gather a small detail together and ready my coach."
"Is that a good idea?" asked Marco mirroring Globgor's concerns. "You really want to march into Echo Creek with an army?"
"Not an army," defended Eclipsa, "Just three or four to guarantee our safety."
"Not to get all problematic," said Janna, "But you may want them all to be Mewman, so they blend in better."
"Quite true," said Eclipsa, once again turning to Archibald, "Enlist only Mewman knights for this mission. Tell them no armor or heavy weapons, they should be discreet."
"Hard not to be discreet in a carriage," said Marco sarcastically.
"I'm coming with you," Globgor said, "I should be there to protect you."
"No, Globby," replied Eclipsa, grabbing him by his sides, "Stay here and keep Meteora safe. That's what is needed from you."
Globgor leaned down to her and gave her a kiss. "Be safe," he said, "Should I contact to the Lucitors and let them know about Tom?"
"Let's hold off on that for now," said Eclipsa, "If the humans won't listen to reason, then we can let Wrathmelior burn their city to the ground."
Star sat on the examination table in the cement brick room that constituted the detention center's infirmary. She gripped an ice pack on her swollen right hand and did her best to ignore how much pain she was in. She hated how cold it was, how cold everything was. Her only source of warmth and comfort in that moment was Marco's hoodie. She worried about Tom who was now left alone in their cell.
She jumped at the sound of the door swinging open as a man, wearing a white coat and sporting a military-style haircut marched in. "Well, you messed your hand up pretty good," he grunted as he placed an X-ray on the light board. "The good news is your metacarpals are okay. The bad news is the proximal in your middle and ring finger and broken completely in half."
Star just looked down at the ground, not really listening to what the man was telling her. "I'm also pretty sure you bruised your knuckles and sprained your wrist," he continued. "I can put you in splints for the broken fingers and give you a brace for the wrist. You'll have to lay off the hand for at least four weeks."
The man turned around to see her looking at the ground and not paying attention to him at all. "What were you even thinking punching a brick wall?" he snidely asked. "Are you just plain stupid? Is that why you're in here?"
She finally looked up at him with glassy eyes as she fought back further tears. "Wait," he said, seeing her face clearly for the first time, "How old are you?"
"I'm," she paused to sniff a little, "I'm sixteen."
"Sixteen?" he gruffly questioned, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm from Mewni," she replied, "Apparently, I'm illegal."
"That's a bunch of bull hockey," he responded.
"Bull hockey?" she asked.
"It's not like we don't have enough criminal scum in this place," he complained as he prepared the splints. "Now they want to fill it with these monsters, I heard they booked a fire breathing demon today."
"That's my ex-boyfriend."
"And now they're arresting teenaged girls?" he went on as he took the ice pack from Star and began working on her hand. "What are they even afraid of?" He finished applying the splints and wrapped her wrist in a brace. "Sorry I don't have any pain killers, it's policy unfortunately."
"Thanks," she said meekly as she got down from the examination table.
"Don't punch anymore walls while you're here," he ordered. "You'll have to wait until the guard comes to escort you back to your cell."
"Okay," she said holding her new brace in her non-injured hand.
"And I hope you get out of here soon," he said as he opened the door to leave. "This whole place is going down the drain, no need for a young girl to go down with it."
Star walked through the door to her cell to see Tom waiting for her on the bench. She flinched at the sound of the heavy door slamming back into place as the unsympathetic guard who escorted her left down the corridor.
"Star," said Tom as he stood up and approached her, "You okay?"
Star hid her brace from him under Marco's hoodie. "I'm fine," she said flatly, "It was nothing." She caught a glimpse of the wall she had punched, the spiderweb of cracks clearly visible where she struck it.
"Okay," he said, "I don't totally believe that, but I'll accept it."
She walked past him and fell into a seat on the bench and stared at the floor. He returned to his seat next to her and resumed starting into space as well. "Tom?" she asked softly, "I'm sorry."
Tom was taken back by the sentence. "What are you sorry for?" he curiously asked.
"I was a terrible girlfriend to you," she said, "You didn't deserve any of the bull hockey I put you through."
"Bull hockey?"
"I never made time for you, I ignored you a lot and I kept secrets from you," she went on. "You did all that work to improve yourself for me and I basically threw it all away."
"Star, that isn't what happened."
"I was in love with Marco the whole time we were together," she continued. "The second time, I mean, I didn't even know Marco the first…"
"I know that, Star," he interrupted.
"And that doesn't make you mad?!"
"No," he said, albeit unsure of himself, "I mean, it doesn't anymore."
"It doesn't make you mad that I hung out with him more than you? It doesn't make you mad that I would always forget we had plans because we were out on an adventure?"
"Nope," he said, more confidently.
"He kissed me while we were dating," she clambered.
"Yeah," he said, "We've been through this."
"One time, he watched me sleep while we were dating," she admitted. "Doesn't that make you mad?"
Tom's expression became blank at the seemingly random confession. "He…watched you sleep?" he sheepishly confirmed. "If I was in bed with you, I could have thought of a lot more fun things…"
"Thomas Lucitor!" she yelled as her face turned a deep crimson. "He wasn't in bed with me, he was in a chair…across the room!"
"Why are you even telling me this now?" He couldn't help laughing at her embarrassment and the absurd direction their conversation had taken.
"Because, I'm a bad girlfriend," she pleaded, "And I need someone to agree with that."
"I don't agree."
"Why not?!"
"Because," he said before clearing his throat and taking a breath. "You're a good girlfriend. Just not to me and that's not your fault or mine." Star furrowed her brow and gave him an angry look. "Would it help if I accepted your apology?"
Star considered his offer but replying. "No, it wouldn't."
"Good, because you don't need to apologize," he defiantly said, "And as for what you said before you punched the wall…" Star softened her look as he went on. "Marco…loves you. He's my best friend and I know he loves you…more than I ever could." Star could feel tears once again forming in her eyes. "And you're still an amazing person and I'm glad we're friends."
Star reached over and gave her ex-boyfriend a hug. "Thanks, Tom," she whispered, "I'm glad we're friends too."
Marco, Janna and Eclipsa entered the lobby of the detention center. They were followed by three knights, all dressed in what passed as "plain clothes" on Mewni. They approached the reception window, with Eclipsa taking the lead. A bored looking office worker opened the window for them.
"How can I help you?" she asked in a monotone voice.
"Hello," said Eclipsa, "We are here to demand the release of Star Butterfly and Thomas Lucitor."
The office worker looked at Eclipsa with a blank stare. "Those aren't real names," she said with no inflection.
"I assure you, they most certainly are!" Eclipsa said with defiance.
"Hang on," said Marco, "They gave me a copy of Star's booking paperwork." He began digging through his pockets and not finding what he was looking for. "Where's my wallet?"
"Looking for this?" Janna stated as she held out the missing wallet.
"Really?" he said as he swiped it back from her, "Robbing me in a jail?" He opened it and pulled out a folded up paper that he passed through the window. She unfolded it and slowly read the document before typing something into her computer.
"And your name would be?" she asked of Eclipsa.
"Queen Eclipsa Butterfly," she responded.
"Well, now you're just pulling my leg," she coldly stated. Eclipsa stared daggers at the functionary until she finally relented. "You and your entourage can take a seat over there and someone will be with you shortly." With that, the window was slammed shut and nothing further could be done but wait.
"Oh thank heavens," said Eclipsa as the rest of the group took seats in the waiting area. "A vending machine." She walked up to the machine sitting in the corner of the room and examined it's options through it's windows. "Oh, which ones are chocolate bars? I don't know any of these Earth brands."
"I can help you out Eclipsa," said Janna as she joined her, "I would go for E7, I think you'll like that one."
"Thank you, Janna," she said as she typed the selection in. "Does anyone have any Earth money?" she directed towards the knights.
"Here, I got you," said Janna as she haded a dollar to her, "Courtesy of Marco."
"Janna!" he called out as the entrance doors swung open and Star's and Marco's parents all entered together.
"Marco! Janna!" called out Moon as she jogged over to them.
"Hello Moon!" Eclipsa greeted through a mouth full of chocolate. "So unfortunate we should always meet in the worst of circumstances."
"It comes with a territory," said River.
"You didn't call Wrathmelior, did you?" Moon asked in earnest.
"Of course not," said Eclipsa with a heavy roll of her eyes, "This isn't my first day."
"I'm sure if we explain the situation to whomever is in charge," began Angie, "They will release Star and Tom."
"And when that fails," interjected Janna, "We'll call Tom's mom."
"Yes," confirmed Eclipsa.
"No!" shouted Moon, "You're not having the entire city torched!"
"Not the whole city," defended Eclipsa, "Just the jail, maybe a few other structures." Moon gave her a stern, disapproving look. "Goodness, did you ever have a sense of humor, Moon?"
"Sense of humor?!" Moon snapped at her.
Marco held his hands up at the fighting adults. "Will the various monarchs and former monarchs please stop fighting?" he begged, "And focus on getting your daughter," he pointed at Moon and River, "Your pseudo-daughter," he pointed at his parents, "Your pseudo-granddaughter," he pointed at Eclipsa, "You're boyfriend," he pointed at Janna.
"Janna and Tom?" Eclipsa asked before smirking, "How darling."
"And my best friend and my girlfriend out of jail?!"
"Unfortunately, that won't be happening," came a familiar voice as everyone turned to see City Manager Randall standing in the lobby observing them with two uniformed police officers behind him.
"You?" queried Eclipsa, "Did I not demote you to stable boy?"
"I have no clue what you're referring too," replied Randall, "And please don't allow me to interrupt you. I appreciate this glance into how your primitive government operates. Lots of shouting and theatrical declarations, very fun."
"I assure you," Moon protested, "That is far from how our government works."
"Queen Butterfly, I presume?" Randall said as he offered a hand to Moon.
"Once," said Moon, "But I believe you are referring to her." She motioned her hands towards Eclipsa.
"Queen Eclipsa Butterfly," the monarch declared, offering her hand to Randall, "And yes, that is my real name."
Randall took her hand and gave it a brief shake. "Well, Miss Butterfly, I'm afraid your journey here was all for nothing. We have no intention of releasing the blonde girl or the devil boy. They were in flagrant violation of our ordinances."
"I see," responded Eclipsa as she peered at the ground, "Sir Papanuginea, my compact, if you would?" she asked of one of the accompanying knights. She was presented with a dark purple compact mirror featuring a pattern of spades and clubs along it's outer bezel. "The…devil boy as you described him," she said as she took the compact and flipped in open. "You're aware he is the heir to the Kingdom of the Underworld?"
"Miss Butterfly," began Randall, "You will not hoodwink me as you did our police officers at that," he used insulting air-quotes, "Child's birthday party."
Marco couldn't explain it, but the offhand dismissal of Star and her birthday party made his blood boil. As he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, Janna put a hand on his shoulder.
Eclipsa fussed with her compact. "Why do they always make these buttons so small? My mother used smoke signals and carrier pigeons to operate whole wars. But no, the Rich Pigeons say that's slavery…ah, here it is." She presented the compact's screen to Randall. "This is Wrathmelior, the Queen of the Underworld and Thomas's mother."
Randall stared at the photo being displayed and turned white. "You see that little fellow down at her feet?" Eclipsa continued, "That's David, her husband and the boy's father. He's slightly taller than you I believe." She snapped the compact shut and stared at him.
Randall straightened himself up and readjusted his tie. "I see you're point," he said, not looking directly at anyone in the group. "I'll order their release. But they both must leave the city immediately. No exceptions."
"Star actually lives with us in Echo Creek," said Angie.
"No exceptions," stated Randall once more. Eclipsa flipped open her compact and showed him the picture of the Queen of the Underworld once more. "Fine…devil boy has got to go though!"
Marco, Janna, Marco's parents and Star's parents all waited patiently in the detention center's lobby. The only sound being produced being Janna munching on corn chips she has purchased from the vending machine with Marco's money. Seeing the matter resolved, Eclipsa had left with the knights to return to the Monster Temple. Moon finally sighed before turning to Marco's parents.
"I think Star should come stay with us for a while," she said.
Rafael's and Angie's looks showed deep disappointment while Marco stared at the floor. He wasn't in any position to argue against the suggestion.
"Are you sure, Moon?" Angie asked earnestly.
"It isn't entirely safe for her to be in Echo Creek," Moon took a pause, breathing in before concluding, "Right now."
"Do you think she is not safe with us anymore?" Rafael asked.
"It isn't a question about you," Moon replied, "I trust you to care for her without reservation. It's the rest of this city I don't trust."
"Moonpie," said River, "We haven't the space for Star…"
"We have plenty of land and we can build another yurt," Moon was quick to point out. "She can have her own space and come and go as she pleases. Marco can visit her anytime they desire, every day even."
"Well, she is sixteen," Angie agreed, "She really should be with her parents."
Janna stopped her snacking and elbowed Marco next to her. "Are you hearing this? They want to take Star away."
"Doesn't matter," Marco said, "She won't go."
"Star is willful," said Moon, "Stubborn really, but if we all present a united front…"
"You really think you can convince Star to leave the Diaz's?" Janna asked the adults with hostility.
"Janna," said Marco finally looking up from the ground, "Knock it off."
"Maybe we can't," said Rafael.
"But one of us could," responded Moon looking directly at Marco.
"What, you think she'll listen to me?" Marco replied feeling a little heated. "You think I didn't suggest she go live with you months ago? I even suggested going back to the Monster Temple. Her three-story tower is still there!"
"We were just there," Janna said to herself, "How did I not notice that?"
Moon looked crestfallen and River wrapped his arm around her. "Don't worry so much Moonpie," he told her, "The Diaz's will keep her safe, and that boy has demonstrated time and again, he'll lay his life down to protect her."
"I know," Moon solemnly said.
"Maybe…" Marco began before taking a breath, "If I come with her?" Moon perked up at the suggestion. "You know, just to make it easier for her?"
"We only just got you back!" protested Angie, "I don't want to go back to being empty nesters!"
"Um, Mariposa?" Marco asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Dios mio!" exclaimed Rafael as he got up from his seat. "I forgot to pick her up from daycare!" He ran for the doors before turning back to Angie. "Give Star my love, see you at home!"
"Anyway," Marco continued after his father ran out the door. "It's not like I'm going to a completely different dimension this time."
"True," Angie cautiously admitted.
"Hey," said Star, appearing seemingly from nowhere followed by Tom who was stretching his back behind her.
"Man," said Tom, "Those benches are murder on your lumbar."
"Star!" shouted all who were waiting for them.
"Yeah, fine, I'm totally not getting out of jail either," sniped Tom.
"Ugh," said Janna before waving her arms in the air comically, "Tooooom!" she exclaimed sarcastically before giving him a knowing look.
Marco ran up to Star and gave her a tight hug. "I was so worried," he said before noticing the splints and brace on her hand. "What happened to you?" he asked taking the hand is his.
"Nothing!" she snapped pulling her hand out of his. "It's nothing, don't worry about it." Moon and River came up from behind Marco and gave her a hug as well. "Mom! Dad! Thanks for getting me out of jail…again."
"Wasn't a problem, pumpkin," said River squeezing her tighter. "This time didn't even cost us any gold."
"Let me see your hand," said Moon as she attempted to inspect the injury, only for Star to pull away from her.
"Mom, it's nothing. I'm okay," she said as she stuck her hand back in the red hoodie's pocket.
"Where are my parents?" Tom asked looking around. "Did you even call them?"
"You know full well we didn't, Thomas," replied Moon as she gave her daughter another hug.
Star stared into space as her mother hugged her, feeling exhausted from the day's turmoil. When the hug was finally broken, she looked at Marco and Angie. "I'm…really tired," she said, "Can we head home now?"
Marco and Angie gave each other a look before exchanging the same look with Moon and River. They each nodded at each other before Marco responded. "Sure, let's head home, we can watch a movie and I'll make you some nachos."
"That sounds pretty good," Star said as she made her way toward the exit.
River stopped Marco and Angie from following her before whispering to them. "Are we going to tell her?"
Marco put his hand on River's shoulder. "Give me a day or two to talk her into it," he whispered, loud enough so Moon could hear as well. "You should start planning that second yurt."
"And the third if you're coming with," Moon whispered with a suspicious look.