Forgotten Ventures

by Ronald reagan

If you could go back two years in your life, and you could remember everything, what would you change? When Marco Diaz wakes up in his old bedroom, with memories of events that haven't come to pass, he finds out that some things should stay the same. And that some things will change on their own. Rated M for language, violent scenes, and some spicy stuff.

37. Scissor Quest

"Marco! Hurry!" Star screamed, her voice shrill and on the verge of terror.

"I'm coming! Just hang in there! Wait for me!" Marco yelled back, the fear evident over his words. He was racing back to her now, his body full of adrenaline at the excitement to come. Sweat no longer poured from his brow, his skin lighter with shock.

He tore down the hallway and vaulted over the furniture in his way, landing back on his feet before he dove once more over the backside of the couch, landing smoothly beside Star.

"See! *pant* I told you *pant* I would make it!" He yelled, leaning back as the title sequence for Verge Heartbreak Luxurious began to play. The Hispanic music and lively trumpets were ignored, however, as Star filled Marco in on the intro segment.

"Anyways, you barely made it back in time, Marco. I told you to use the bathroom before we started watching, but noooo, you said you were fiiiiine." Star handed him a bag of Cheez Nubs and began madly drinking her Rasberry Rainbow Smoothie. Marco only rolled his eyes and opened the bag, sitting back and propping his feet up

"I was! I don't know what happened! I made it through like, the first six episodes just fine. It was probably all the soda or something," he shot back. Star nodded sarcastically, sticking her rainbow-colored tongue out at him. "Whatever you say, Macho Man. You almost missed the intro. Lucky for you though, you have me here to fill you in."

"You know we have a pause button right? We could just pause it and catch up over commercials."

Star quelled a laugh and rolled her eyes, giving him a cheeky grin. "Suuure you do. 'C'mon Star, let's just pause the live t.v.!' Hahaha, good one!"

Marco deadpanned a look at her and decided it best not to argue. The intro finally ended after showcasing a wide array of characters, now opening to a setting inside a hospital as out of date organ music played. He smiled, enjoying the carefree Saturday the two had spent thus far, and could continue to spend for the remainder of the day.

"Do we need more soda?" Star whispered, shaking him from his happy sentiment. He looked down at the coffee table and noticed the sudden lack of 2-liter cola bottles, and a creeping shortage of snacks.

"We might actually be out," he answered, looking around the room. "But that's fine. We have had a lot so far. And we'd have to go out to buy some if we wanted more." Star stared at the table for a moment, contemplating the dilemma, before beaming a smile at her boyfriend. "What if we just portal to the gas station real quick, and come right back? This episode looks like a one-off anyway. Something about a kidnapping mystery and a horse? We could stand to miss it."

"No," Marco answered immediately. His abrupt seriousness threw Star off as he continued. "We only use portals for emergencies, or when we can't travel somewhere without them. We can just pause it and go get-"

MARCO! The pause button is just a myth, one quick portal, in and out, 5-minute snack run," Star countered. She gave him the longing, glistening eyes that tugged at his very soul for added effect.

He wasn't easily shaken by her look, and the pause button would save a lot of headaches, but the notion was all too tempting, being able to avoid a ten-minute walk to the store. As careful as he needed to be about a certain scissor crafter showing up, maybe just one portal back and forth would be fine? After all, he had used the scissors for a number of other odd reasons before. As long as he was careful, they should be fine.

"Fine," he finally answered, eliciting an excited squeal from Star. "But we leave the portal open, and we take no longer than five minutes."

Star waved it off and grabbed her things, jumping excitedly as Marco paused the episode anyway. "See?" He asked, staring smugly at her surprise. "Pause button. And mine didn't stop time for 60 hours, Butterbutt."

She gave him a short glare but broke out into a smile as he slowly used the scissors to cut a magenta portal through the air. It hummed the usual wavelength and shimmered into a spiral before them as the two stepped through it eagerly, finding themselves right back in the living room.

A second went by of confused silence before they tried again, this time being deposited in the center of a gas station snack aisle. Star looked at Marco with a perplexed expression across her face, whispering as they picked out a quick refill on snacks.

"What the heck was that about?"

"I have no idea, honestly. I've never seen it do that. Maybe they're on the fritz?" He answered, tossing her another bag of Cheez Nubs. Star thought about that for a moment before shrugging it off. "Well, seems like they're working fine now, I guess. Let's focus on them snack refills, boo."

Nodding in affirmation, Marco continued stockpiling a wide array of snacks that were in no short supply, thanks to his 'Scissor Princess Turdina' Merch royalties. But in the back of his mind, the worry that Hekapoo might be on to him was steadily growing.

In truth, he wasn't afraid of her little game, far from it. He was more afraid of the time he would spend. After time travel, mercenary work, and the first quest, Marco was just about forty years old, and there was no telling what this aging was doing to him.

Mentally, he still felt the same, acted the same, and thought the same, but the thing about working with magic is that the consequences aren't always so easy to see. What was it doing to him psychologically? What would happen to him when he got too old for real? Going back into the Neverzone for an unknown amount of time could be dangerous, and that wasn't even including the physical threats posed to him.

"Yo! Mewni to Marco!" Star yelled, poking him in the face. He snapped back into reality and stared at her as his senses came to.

"What's up, Star?"

"What's up? Marco, you were just staring at the donuts for like, two minutes. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, heh. I'm fine, Star. Just thinking is all. You got everything?" He asked quickly, eager to change the subject, Star stared at him critically for a few more seconds before nodding and presenting a basket full of their selected snacks and beverages. "Yup, all right here. Now gimme the Munz, hunz."

"You're the worst," Marco muttered, handing her a small stack of cash. "I know you have tunz of fundz, missy."

Star 'oooooo'-ed at his snappy comeback while handing the cashier all of the money at once. "But looka' you, providin'. You know I appreciate it, so no lip, mister."

"So what, I'm your sugar daddy now?" He asked sarcastically. Star stifled a laugh and collected the change while Marco collected the snacks.

"You'd have to be my sugar first, sweet stuff," Star quipped, poking his nose as they stepped back through the portal into their living room.

Marco took a careful look around and closed the portal, breathing a sigh of relief as he shot back, "I feel like I give you plenty of sugar, so don't even, Butterbutt."

The two sat down and cracked open a fresh soda, eyeing their loot of disgustingly sweet snacks. Star poked his arm, and kissed his nose the moment he turned to face her. "Not as much as I'd like, but plenty just the same."

"I don't know about you, but any more sweet stuff and I'm gonna vomit," a voice from the kitchen growled.

They both stood and turned to face it, but were immediately pushed back into an orange portal before they even knew what was going on. There was a warm heat, and a loud rush of wind before the light of day blinded them. Landing in soft grass, the two rolled to a stop and looked around to find the assailant.

Stepping through the orange portal, was Hekapoo, crafter of scissors and master of interdimensional gateways. She smiled an amused grin at them both and as the orange portal closed behind her, Hekapoo strolled closer. Star pulled Marco to his feet and watched the magical warrior carefully.

"Star, it's so nice to see you! What's it been, six years or-" Hekapoo froze for a moment and stared at them, her eyes wider in curiosity. "What... happened to you guys?" She asked pointedly.

Star didn't answer. Instead, she reached for her wand and aimed it square for the center of Hekapoos chest. She glared harshly at the Magical High Commission member, not taking her eyes off of her.

"It's been four, it's nice to see you too, and stay. Away. From Marco," Star growled. She remembered everything Marco had told her about his journey for the scissors, both in the old timeline and in this one. There was no way he was going through that again. Hekapoo stopped cold in her tracks and stared at the two in surprise before shifting back to her casual nature.

"Four years? Really coulda fooled me. What. Happened." Hekapoo asked. "Why do you look so different, and what's with the get-up?" Her eyes were on Star, but every now and again they'd shift to Marco for a moment. Star shook her head, ignoring the question, and glared harder, putting herself in between Marco and Hekapoo.

"I know what you're up to. You're not putting Marco in danger again. Give us a pair of scissors, let us go, and there won't be any problems."

Hekapoo smiled, amused for a moment longer before deflating into an air of annoyance. She reached for her dress and pulled out a pair of scissors, clutching them loosely to her side. "Not happening, princess. You're going to answer my question first. And how do you know what I brought him here for, anyway? I swear if Rhombulus spilled the beans I'm-"

"Marco told me. I know what you do to him, and what you're planning. So for the last time: you're not taking him."

Marco broke his silence and stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Stars shoulder. She turned sharply to face him, and stepped back when she actually took in his features.

He was a foot taller, had light scruff on his chin, and was wearing his Vintal armor, which was filled nicely by his more toned, older body. Star stared at him for a moment before looking down at herself, noticing the curves on her own body, her more defined muscles, her braided ponytail over her shoulder, and a matching set of Vintal armor.

"Whaaaa? What, is this?" She asked, her worry showing in her tone. Marco put his hands up to calm her down, and smiled, if only slightly.

"It's okay, Star. Just relax," he said calmly. Star continued to stare at him, much like Hekapoo was at both of them.

"Relax? Marco, we look twenty! Why do we look like this? Is it because of the future-"

"Shhhhh, Star, she doesn't know about that. We knew this would happen, so I took some precautions using what I remember about Hekapoos dimension."

"...what kind of precautions?" Star asked warily.

"Vintal, Star. It's a part of the Neverzone. Well, the same dimension. That whole vacation thing? It was sorta also a good way for me to train. So I would be ready for...this."

Star didn't say anything for a moment, choosing instead to shift her stare from Marco to Hekapoo periodically. After putting on a brave face to keep Marco out of harm's way, he was expecting to do this again?? She was too stunned for words, but after a moment, aimed her wand back at the portal master. She glared hard, and spoke without emotion.

"No. Heckapoo, you're not taking Marco for some godforsaken quest. I've seen what you do and what he's like at the end and I'm not letting you put him through that twice."

"You've seen it, huh?" Hekapoo mused. "I guess it was Glossaryck that squealed. Alright then, that just means I get to change the rules too, doesn't it?" She took a step closer to Star and broke her blades apart, letting them grow much the same as Marcos'. Star readied herself for a fight and moved to defend Marco, but without so much as a warning, a heavy force knocked her aside, sending her tumbling through the grass.

She rolled to her feet and turned back to find three more Hekapoos easily subduing Marco and tossing his blades into a portal.

"Where did they come from?! Let Marco go, NOW!" Star yelled, charging back towards their assailants.

"Hekapoo, leave Star out of this. I know it's me you want, so I'll play your game. Just leave her alone." Marco struggled against the tight grip on his arms as a blade pressed against his neck. Star stopped cold and watched with terror in her eyes. Hekapoo strolled forward to stand beside her three clones and smiled cynically at the two mercs now at her disposal, turning to Marco first.

"You don't have much of a choice, beauty marc. Now that we've all calmed down, let me explain the rules of the game. Marco, your quest, as Glossaryck must have shown you, is to blow out the flame on my head. ...All of them. Do that, and I'll give you your very own pair of dimensional scissors." She stepped closer to him and plucked a hair from his head, before cutting open a portal beside herself and turning to Star.

"And you, Star. You're not supposed to be here. So you need to go home. If Marco survives, I'll send him after you. That way, everyones happy."

Star glared daggers at the craftswoman and shook her head, gripping the wand in her hand. "I'm not going anywhere. Without Marco," she fumed.

Without missing a beat, Hekapoo shrugged and pushed Marco through the open portal, letting it close instantly behind him. Once it was shut, she turned to face the furious Star and grinned. Casually, she spoke, walking through the grass with her blades in tote. "Then go find him. He's your only ticket out of here now," she said, and opened a dozen similar portals around herself.

In the blink of an eye, almost a thousand Hekapoos split exponentially from the original, filling the wide clearing with reds, oranges, and whites. Star took a careful step back, but was powerless as the army began to flood through the portals, until only one was left.

The sole remaining Hekapoo turned to face Star and gave her a curt salute. "Goodluck, Princess. Glossaryck may have shown you the future, but I'm going to see what you're made of. One way or another," she taunted. And with that, she disappeared into one of the many portals.

Despite all the excitement, the clearing was now a cacophony of silence, and a light warm breeze. Now alone, Star stared, awestruck at the empty trampled field with twelve portals. Gripping her wand and letting an air of steely determination wash over her, she began marching towards the closest one. It was dark red, and was spitting sparks around its edges, looking completely un-inviting. The perfect place to start.

She stopped just in front of it, looking down at her wand and back up to the entrance several times, before nodding to herself in affirmation, and dashing through.

O - O - O - O - O - O

Glossaryck sat idly atop his book, seemingly staring off into space. His eyes were lidded and his mouth hung open, but other than that, he was dead to the world. Despite being as old as the universe itself, however, he was indeed still alive.

"No, still nothing," he sighed, relaxing his body and blinking a few times. The haze lifted from his eyes as he took out a cup of pudding, eager to chow down.

Bringing Marco back did something, but exactly what, he couldn't tell. Not even the Blood Moon Goddess could understand what was wrong with him. The branching outcomes were all just dark paths now. And Glossaryck was left searching for clarity.

With the pudding, his sight could be restored, but only so much. As it was, he could only feel the presence of events to come, but he couldn't discern what would happen. Just that something would. He had long ago seen this chapter of events taking place, but nothing past it.

"And let's see what we can find now," he mumbled, finishing his cup.

Closing his eyes fully, he sat back down and breathed in a deep breath. Upon exhaling, he allowed his vision to become clear.

There was still something big coming. A feeling of dread, panic, anger, and submission. That was still the same, but he needed to press further to see any sort of outcome. The more distant he looked, the more blurred and numb the feelings got, until it was nothing.

All he could see was darkness down any path available, and beyond the darkness was still nothing. But the future is like an open closet in a child's bedroom. Just because it's dark doesn't mean its empty. Glossaryck pressed past the pain he could feel from possible futures, and amidst the darkness, he could only faintly see something.

A small, flickering green flame of a candle. It was cold and near the end of its wick, desperate for more fuel, and nearly snuffed out by the encroaching black. The closer Glossaryck got to it, the more blurred it became, until it was a soft glimmer of pale green.

"This is certainly interesting," Glossaryck mused, floating around the mute light. "Where are you from, little one?"

He reached out to touch the light, but as he neared it, it seemed to recoil, hiding from his prying eyes. Glossaryck was about to remark on the playfulness of his vision, but a sickening sound berated his ears. It was like a knife piercing a slab of meat, and an unfamiliar scream of pain that nearly blasted him out of his own mind.

Within seconds, the darkness that had surrounded him changed into green flames, spreading like a disease through ink. It roared and laughed as Glossaryck looked around for any sign of warning, but there was none. Just a nightmare beyond the present.

There was no heat from the flames, or rather, none that Glossaryck could feel. It burned a different pain. A cold, unyielding emptiness that stole the warmth from anything inside it. The fire grew exponentially, spreading down every path imaginable, until only one, glowing blue path was left in the distance.

He frowned and snapped his fingers, ending his journey as he opened his eyes. He breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed his temples, hoping he could pull anything from the odd vision.

"Either the corruption is affecting me as well, or this is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better," he figured, stroking his beard. "I certainly hope they're ready for what comes next."

O - O - O - O - O - O

5 Minutes Later

The high Brinkal trees pattered with falling drops of rain, collecting into larger pools only to drop further down the canopy. The ground was lifeless, save for the flora that hungrily stretched for any source of light. This forest was unlike that of Certain Death, and it only seemed to get worse the longer it remained occupied.

But beyond the patter of rain and the occasional clap of thunder, a quick snap of a twig echoed for acres, alerting the Huntress that her prey was near. Her golden hair was cut short, shoulder high so as not to get in the way, and her eyes were clouded with streaks of mud and chlorophyll to hide amidst the trees. Her armor, now battered and worn, but still as effective as the day it was specially made, clung tightly to her more grown body.

As she drew back a notched arrow, Star let the air quietly hiss from her lungs before she relaxed her fingers, releasing the string of the bow, and sending the arrow flying into the trees. For a short breath, she waited, until the distinct *Thwack* could be heard, followed by a loud wail, and a thump.

'Who's good with bows now, Jackie,' Star thought to herself as she stood up, dusting her hide skirt and clearing the broken branches from her shoulders. A few drops of rain trickled around her eyes as she began making her way through the dense brush and clawing branches.

A hundred yards away, lying in a heap of gildberry bushes, was a six-legged, purple pelted deer. Despite the blueberry shade of its fur, its antlers were bright pink, and its mouth was caked in dried blood. For months this beast had been plaguing the town's livestock and was assumed to be responsible for the disappearance of three loggers over the past few weeks.

Star, true to her mercenary nature, happily had accepted the mission, in exchange for information and pay. Much like Vintal, nothing was free in this dimension, and nothing was easy either.

After a few minutes of skinning, exactly how she had been shown to do a year into her journey, Star racked the pink horns onto her sling harness and stuffed some of the purple fur into her satchel. The journey home would take about three hours, so the weight was manageable as far as she was concerned.

In the ten years she had been in this dimension, she had honed her skills in hunting, combat, tracking, and drinking. But she was still no closer to finding Marco.

Or hekapoo for that matter. Whether this was all a farce, or if Hekapoos were really that hard to find, was anyone's guess. But much like everything else in this dimension, the information could be bought, or taken by force.

Star rummaged in her pack for a moment before pulling out a stick of rabbit jerky and gnawing on the end. "I dunno how Marco did thish in shixtheen yearsh. A thoushand hekapoosh ish crazy! But if I can find one, oh shesh dead meat."

The antlers were as unresponsive as they had been for the past hour, but Star ignored it. Mutually of course. "The only problem? I haven't found ANYTHING! No Hekapoos, no Marcos, and no fricken decent food!"

The rain seemed to let up some as she got closer to the edge of the forest, showing a small village on the side of a mountain in the distance. Star squinted towards it, then eyeballed the dipping afternoon sun, shrugging off the time to herself. "I could end this whole quest if I knew where to look, BUT NOOO! MARCO DIDN'T WANNA TELL ME WHERE HEKAPOO LIVES!" She yelled to herself.

"I mean, I probably wouldn't know where to look even if he told me, but it's the thought that counts. When I find him, first off: I'm getting a night alone with him in an inn. Second: I'm getting shitfaced. And third: I am going to break him."

The antlers didn't reply, as per usual, which didn't matter to Star. For most of her years here, she traveled, hunted, and worked, alone. She had grown in more ways than one, and the brutal reality of this dimension had done little more than sour her attitude. She couldn't afford to be carefree, because danger slept around every corner, in every crevice. She could only cling to the shred of optimism she had left, and fight her way through every struggle she faced. Gone was the old Star butterfly. In the Neverzone it was eat or be eaten.

After another hour of planning, walking, and snacking, she arrived at the entrance to the latest of the many settlements she had been to: Minerva Village.

Unlike many of the villages on Vintal, however, this village seemed more geared towards mining, and logging, rather than farming and craftsmanship. The buildings were made of cobblestone, and some type of red stained wooden roofs. Spider Webbing through the streets were minecart tracks designed to deliver ores to varying shops, as well as transport supplies and people if needed.

Star found it somewhat complicated, and decided to walk along the roadways to the center of the town instead to deliver her kill. Some of the villagers stopped to stare every once in a while, but she paid it no mind. At twenty-nine years old, she'd grown used to the gawking stares of admiration, surprise, and fear.

Arriving at the village square, the largest building stood before her, covered in carvings, and dotted with oil lamps around its perimeter. A simple wooden door was all that separated the gritty, loud exterior from the quiet, controlled interior. After approaching it, Star knocked three times, paused, then once more, a simple code to let the elders inside know that they had an unexpected returning visitor.

The door swung open to reveal a short, green-skinned man dressed in intricately patterned robes, and wearing something like a makeshift helmet on his head.

"Ah, Miss Star Butterfly. Your arrival brings me great joy, amidst these troubled times. I trust you were able to complete our request?"

Star nodded and turned slightly, showing off the fuzzy pink antlers, before taking a step inside the building. "As you can see, you guys didn't have to worry at all. Logging shouldn't be a problem anymore, Senior Zays," she answered cordially. It took a few days to get used to the uptight lingo the rich people of the mining town used, but she decided to deal with it for now.

Setting the antlers and fur down on a small wooden stand, Star helped herself to a seat and waited patiently for Zays to join her.

He took a moment to admire and inspect the trophy of her kill, before taking a seat across from her and placing a jingling leather pouch on the table. "Your payment, as discussed, Miss Butterfly. Should we need your assistance in the future, we can-"

"Ep-ep-ep, hold on there, Zays. We agreed on money, and some info. So, what did you find?" Star asked, dropping the formalities for the sake of getting what she needed. Zays looked uncomfortably at another robed individual, seated across the room. The other man shook his head with a scowl, prompting Zays to clear his throat and fiddle with his hands as he spoke. "Well, uhm, you see, Miss-"

"You didn't find anything...did you."

"Uhm...well...n-no. We couldn't find any sign of the man you described. No sightings, no rumors, not even the name helped. I'm sorry."

Star sighed and collected the pouch of coins, nodding glumly to herself. "Alright. Well, if you hear anything, you know how to reach me."

"Yes, yes, the spell-in-a-bottle. If there is...nothing else?"

Standing up, Star waved her hand and re-shouldered her bow. "Nothing else, Senior Zays. Thank you for your help."

"Goodluck on your journey, Miss Butterfly. I do hope you find him."

O - O - O - O - O - O

Star slumped over the counter of a bar in the town's best tavern, hoping to dull the disappointment of yet another failed village. Her stomach burned from the alcohol, but being Mewman, it took a lot to get going. She sighed and reached for her next glass, ignoring the conversations going on around her. Downing it in one gulp, she could finally feel the beginning of a buzz coming on.

"Hey, Jeck! Keep 'em coming! I'm just getting started!" She yelled angrily, sliding her seventh empty glass down the saplewood counter. The bartender, a red-headed muscular man whose name was actually Jack, ignored the mispronunciation and poured another glass of Saple honey brew.

"And what're you drowning today, blondie? 'another bounty get away?" Jack asked before pouring a different patron their poison. Star swirled her glass for a minute before shaking her head and frowning at the foaming red drink. "No. Just another town, another bust. No dice on finding my boyfriend. He kinda got kidnapped by some red-headed bimbo- no offense -and I still have no idea where to look."

Star took a swig of her drink as Jack shrugged casually and did his best to console his best customer. "Look, Blondie, maybe the guy ran off with this chick or something. Sounds kinda sketchy that whatever dude was able to woo you, got kidnapped by some lady."

Star set down her drink and lulled her head to the side, glaring at Jack with intensity. "Marco didn't run off with that bitch. I was there when she took him. She wants me to find him so I can go home."

"Ah, well maybe your luck will turn around. I mean, how longs it been?"

Star frowned harder and dropped her head slightly, staring at the half-empty glass in front of her. "Ten years," she mumbled.

Jack pursed his lips and stood silently for a moment before glancing around, trying to find something helpful to say. But before he could, another large man at the counter chuckled to himself.

"Yew kiddin'?! *hic* That boys prolly mackin on death's door by now! That, *hic* 'er he's suckin' face with the lady *hic* what stole 'em! Hahahahaha!" The miner howled in laughter, joined by a pair of his friends as Star just stared at her drink blankly.

Jack crossed his arms and shook his head, glaring at the rowdy group in distaste. "That's enough, you guys. Personally, I'd leave this one alone."

"Awwe, blondies all busted up 'cuz her man ditched 'er! Boo hoo! I lost mah left eye last week and ya don' see me complainin'," the miner grumbled. Jack was about to escort the men out of the tavern, when the sound of glass shattering silenced the room. "Your funeral," he muttered.

All eyes turned to Star, who now held a single shard of dripping glass in her hand as she stood from her seat. The miners all stood up to the challenge and began stepping closer to her as Jack tried to de-escalate the situation.

"Alright everyone, let's just calm down, okay?" He prompted to deaf ears. Star glared at the three men and shook her head. "You have five seconds to take that back, before I show you just how 'busted up' I am."

The miner on the right laughed loudly and grinned at her, pointing a greasy, boney finger. "Please, some lil girly is gonna cry at us? Give me a-"

"Times up."

Before anything could be done, Star spun around and ducked low, grabbing the leg of the nearest barstool and slinging it at one of the miners in one swift motion. Wood met skull and after a loud *crack* of splintering wood and a falling body, two miners were left as Star stood back up, shard in hand.

"I'm gonna break your friend's leg, and your nose. Then, you're gonna lose another eye," Star muttered, losing her buzz just as fast as it had arrived.

The one-eyed miner grit his teeth and charged forward, rearing to send a left hook, as the other reached for his knife. Star leaned back to dodge the strike before grabbing the man's head and pushing it down, right into her knee. He sprung back up, clutching his face as Star jumped up, leaned back, and drove both heels into his stomach, sending him flying.

She caught herself, pushed off the ground and landed back on her feet as the second man swiped at her with his knife. Star leaped back to avoid being disemboweled, dove back in for a short jab to the man's ribs, then ducked low under a haymaker aimed for her head.

She came back up, and as the man thrust his blade for her ribs, she sidestepped and grabbed his wrist, twisting it past its limit and driving the shard of glass into his forearm. He dropped his knife, which Star caught before swiftly driving it through his hand and into the wooden countertop.

The miner screamed in pain, but Star wasn't done. She kicked out his left knee, sending him to the ground, before hooking his jaw and knocking him unconscious. Wiping her bloodied hand off, Star turned to face the last man, who was just getting up from the pile of barrels he had been tossed into.

He wiped the blood from his lip and held his fists high, staring at the blonde woman before him. "What in the hell are you?" He growled.

"I'm fed up with the stupid game is what I am," she growled, glaring daggers at him.

He made to make a move on her, but Star took a step back before pulling her wand from her satchel and aiming it at the man's chest. The once bulbed purple artifact was now a blue hilt marked with crisscrossing hearts, capped with a star-shaped pommel, and adorned with white wings for the guards.

"Crystalline blade, Star whispered, causing a sword's blade made of quartz to shoot out from her wand. It extended up to a foot before the miner's chest, making him yelp and raise his hands above his head. She took a step closer, pressing the tip of the sword against him as she spoke.

" You think it's funny, that I lost the love of my life to some crazy blacksmith?" She grumbled.

"N-n-no, ma'am! I was just fooling around is all! P-please don't cut out my good eye!"

"You think I don't know that he might be dead in some forest, gods knows where, thanks to her?!" Star screamed. The minor swallowed hard, glancing around nervously for help, but being met with expressions just as frightful.

"When I find Hekapoo, I'm going to do to her, what I'm about to DO TO YOU!!" Star withdrew her blade to strike but the man threw his arms out desperately to stop her.

"Wait WAIT WAIT! I-I know a H-Hekapoo! Some fire lookin lady with red hair? S-she buys m-most of t-this towns mineral supply to m-make her weird weapons!"

Star stared at him, feeling several emotions running through her mind. The biggest of which was hope, followed immediately by doubt, and anger. She retracted her blade before grabbing the man and yanking him down to eye level.

"Where. Is she."

O - O - O - O - O - O

Star used to love horses. She'd ride them every day if she could. Warnicorns, Unicorns, even centaurs were fun when they stopped trying to kill you. But after ten years of riding everywhere with no portals available, it was safe to say that she had had her fill on riding horseback.

It had been two days since she ditched the small mining town, which was for the best, considering the mess she made in the bar. Jack refused to press charges, and was nice enough to politely ask her to leave, but the whole town took on that typical look of "that's the blonde huntress, she could kill you".

Letting the creep live took a lot of effort, as far as she was concerned, but she had already messed up Jacks bar enough. No reason adding murder to the list. She'd never killed anyone. Maimed, broken, and bruised? Absolutely. But even a creep like that wasn't worth her clean hands.

Star shook her head, opting to try and forget everything about the incident except for the directions, hoping that it would at least get her one step closer to finding Marco.

'There's a chance he's already finished the quest, so I either find him, or he finds me,' she thought to herself.

In truth, her hopes were maybe a bit too high, but every bit helped. She needed him. Missed him beyond words. Every minute without him was one more without truly living. To finally be back home, in his arms, and never letting go? That's all she wanted.

Again, Star shook her head and kept riding. It was best to focus on the task at hand, rather than the rewards to be reaped later. She was almost to her destination, and every second wasted was just a bit further Hekapoo could get away.

Her eyes peeled for any sign of her, Star grit her teeth and pressed on, the minutes passing by as she neared The Foggy Mountains. Not a lot of people go in and come back out, and even less actually see anything through the dense mist clouding the peaks. But maybe that's exactly the place a certain Scissor crafter would be hiding.

As Star approached the thick wall of fog that shrouded the mountains from view, she slowed to a stop and dismounted from her horse. It would be dangerous to try and steer it around without a clear line of sight, and the noise could make her an easy target for bandits, yet another wonderful thing to look forward to here.

Safe to say, Star was fed up with this dimension, and everyone in it. The bar was easily the last straw in a long list of problems she had run into since coming here.

Star was lost in thought over her laundry list of reasons she hated being here, when the sound of a stone tumbling down a rock face jeered her from the sentiment. Arming herself with the wand, and activating its crystal blade function, she got into a low stance and faced the direction of the noise.

"Step out of the fog, or I blast you out of it. NOW! I'm so not in the mood for anyone' shit right now," Star yelled into the blank wall of mist. For a moment it was silent, before a slow, cacophonic clap reverberated through the cliffs, getting slowly and eerily closer.

"Nice job, Princess! Only took you ten friggin years but you finally got one of me!" the familiar voice called out.

Stars face went into a blank stare as her hands audibly gripped her wand tighter, a low rumble forming in her throat. "Hekapoo," she growled.

"In the flesh, kiddo. Or, I guess, not really, since I'm just a clone, and you're not really a kiddo anymore. Looks like the years have been better to you than Marco, but your boyfriends way ahead of you, to say the least."

Hekapoo finally stepped out from the dense fog, her single flame atop her head illuminating the immediate area in an orange halo of light. "Though really, he's not your boyfriend anymore, is he," Hekapoo laughed.

Star grit her teeth and glared daggers at Hekapoo as she inched closer, keeping a wide arc around her enemy. "What. Did you do to him. I swear to corn if you did something weird to-"

"Woah, woah, C'mon, Star. I mean I like the guy but he seems way too clingy. Always trying to find me, desperate to get close, and just so destroyed when I leave, you know? But that may have been me giving him a little bit of a change of mind."

Star continued to scowl and stopped cold, her knuckles white around her blade.

"What?" Was the only word to escape her tight lips.

"See, it was just so unfair that Glossy tattled to you about my little test. I can't test Marcos resolve by just looking at him. I had to make sure that he wasn't cheating. So, I guess you could say I wiped him to factory default mode. He doesn't remember Glossaryck, the future he showed him, or you, for that matter. Just me, my clones, and I."

There was a moment of pause before Star lunged forward, closing the ten-yard gap between the two in the blink of an eye. The space she previously occupied was covered in cracks from her advance as the golden blur moved to attack.

Stars crystal sword met with Hekapoos steel halberd, and the resulting pressure wave boomed throughout the mountains, pushing back the fog to clear the outcropping. Star pressed her blade against Hekapoos and grit her teeth as a fury like no other burned in her words.

"You. Stole. MARCO! FROM ME!" Her voice rang out against the rock around them as a blue fire began to flicker around her eyes.

"Huh, well that's new," Hekapoo grunted before pushing back harder. "But you're not the only one who can-" She didn't have time to finish as Star released the pressure from her sword, dropping low and swiping her leg under Hekapoos.

Before Hekapoo could even register the fall, Star was back on her feet, driving a hard knee up into her back. A light crack could be heard above the deep gasp, before Star spun around and yelled to her wand.

"Heartthrob Hammer!" She screamed, and as she swung her wand around, the blade transformed into a massive pink mallet sizzling with heat. She completed the wide arc and connected the strike, slamming against her opponent and sending Hekapoo flying into the cliffside. A loud boom echoed throughout the mountains as a ten foot wide crater was made.

The flaming enforcer pushed the rubble aside and barely had time to dodge another hammer-slam into the rock face, jumping over Star and landing smoothly ten yards away. Star turned madly to face her, rearing for another swing as Hekapoo lunged forward and swiped for Stars neck.

"Oaken bone shield!" Star yelled, and before the halberd could connect, her hammer shifted into a circular wooden shield with crisscrossing femurs. The halberd thunked hard against the bony wood, making Hekapoo jump back in surprise.

"Nice shield, Star! Doesn't look like your style though!" Hekapoo taunted. Star groaned and shifted her wand wordlessly back to her crystal blade form, before walking forward, dragging the tip against the ground.

"Yeah well, you pick up a few things when you're fighting for your life, hunting a crazy nutjob, and surviving without your best friend! Who you STOLE FROM ME!" Star rushed forward, feigning a strike towards Hekapoos head before ducking under a swinging halberd and kicking her back against the mountainside.

Hekapoo brought up her weapon to block another swipe for her head before sending a vicious kick to Stars ribs, pushing the princess back. Throwing her Halberd like a javelin, Hekapoo rushed forward, rearing for a heavy right hook.

Star parried the flying ax with the edge of her blade, sending sparks flying, before leaning back to avoid the punch. Hekapoo flew by her and without missing a beat, and pulled her weapon from the stones, swiping it wide to parry Stars attack.

"You fight just like him, you know! And that's so damn lame!" Hekapoo shouted, darting forward and thrusting the tip of her halberd at Stars midsection. But the Huntress saw it coming. Star spun around the incoming tip, grabbed a hold of the wooden handle, and using the momentum of the spin, slammed a rainbow fist punch into the side of Hekapoos face. The craftswoman was sent flying into a pile of boulders, shattering them to pebbles.

Star, now in control of the Halberd, let it burn to ash in her hands and readied her sword, watching Hekapoo carefully. "Don't talk to me about him! You don't get to say his name, you bitch!"

Hekapoo raised her fists and took a step forward from the rocks, spitting a tooth to the ground, the sarcasm now gone from her voice. "Bold words...from the chick...who hasn't seen him...in ten years," she muttered.

Stars hair lit up in blue flames, the tendrils of warm indigo licking at the air around her. Star raised her wand and aimed it square at Hekapoos chest, letting a sizzling orb of blue light collect at the tip of her blade.

"Tell me where Marco is. Right, NOW!" She demanded. Hekapoo smiled and gave Star a shrug, shaking her head in mock sympathy. "Sorry, princess. You'll have to talk to a different me that's actually seen him. Better luck over the next ten yea-"

Hekapoo stopped mid sentence and stared blankly forward. Stars anger was growing, but even she was shocked to see a curved blade jutting from the enforcer's chest. Hekapoo looked slowly down at her pierced body, her face riddled with surprise.

"Speak of the devil. Took ya long-"

A quick breath interrupted Hekapoo again, blowing the flame on her head to a smoldering puff of smoke. Much like it, the rest of heckapoo *poofed* out of existence, revealing a man standing where she had been a moment prior. He gripped his curved sword and mumbled a few quiet words before sheathing his blade and pulling out a notebook.

Star watched, completely silent as the figure scribbled something down before shutting the book and stowing it in his tattered fur cape.

The man looked to the sky and whistled before turning to Star and giving her a short nod.

"Nice job out there, miss. I'm sorry you got caught up in that, I almost had the drop on her when you ran in. But you're safe now, so get back home, and thanks for the help."

Star dropped her wand to the ground, the crystal edge clattering against the stone as the rumble of a dragon cycle echoed through the mountains. She took a tentative step forward, then another, and another, inching her way closer to the stranger as he watched her with uncertainty.

"...Marco?" Said Star, almost in a whisper. The man looked at her with more surprise and held up his hands awkwardly. "Ma'am, I don't know where you know me from, but I'm sorry if I accidentally broke something of yours in a different scuffle."

Star kept shuffling closer, her fresh tears cutting through the grime on her cheeks.

Marco looked around uncomfortably, gesturing to the pile of dust at his feet. "You see, there's a lot of those crazy fire ladies running around, and like, I try to be careful around peoples stuff but-"

He was cut off as Star took off running at him at blinding speed. Even someone as fast as he was, had no time to react before Star collided hard with him, knocking him to the ground in a vice-like hug.

"MARCO! IT'S REALLY YOU! YOU'RE REALLY HERE!" Star screamed, not caring how far her words traveled over the quiet mountains. The man was redder than a tomato, and fumbling over what to say as he tried to pry himself from the woman clinging to him so tightly.

"Miss! Please don't yell! You know hundreds of people a year die to rock-a-lanches and-"

"MARCO! YOU ACTUALLY *SNIFF* FOUND ME! I MISSED YOU *SNIFF* SOOO MUCH! THIS PLACE *SNIFF* HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE WITHOUT YOU AND *SNIFF* I JUST WANT TO SQUEEZE THE LIFE OUT OF YOU FOR THINKING COMING HERE WAS A GOOD IDEA!"

Marco struggled against the Stars bone-crushing hug- and a torrent of tears and running nose -as Star continued to fight to keep a tight grip on him. His dragon cycle, Nachos watched quietly from the side with suspicious eyes.

"Uhmm, who are you? And why does your armor look like mine? And please let me go," Marco asked tentatively before finally squirming out of the blondes tight grip. Star stopped for a moment and wiped her cheeks dry as she stared at him, unease and fear returning to her expression.

"We...well, I...you and I are…" she stopped herself, realizing that what she hoped was a bluff was actually true to Hekapoos word.

"You and I have a long history together, Marco Diaz. My name is Star butterfly. Can you...tell me how you got here?" Star looked at Marco expectantly, but he looked around at the returning fog and shook his head. "Not here. There could be more out there, so, I'll take you to my place, if that's okay," he said, letting Star up and motioning for Nachos to approach.

Star frowned, looking around at the quiet fog around them before nodding slowly, helping Marco to his feet. "Okay. After you, safe kid."

Marco stopped cold in his tracks just before mounting Nachos, but decided not to address it. Yet.

He patted the spot on Nachos behind him and gave Star plenty of room to sit, which went wasted as she was more concerned with pressing up against him and squeezing him tight.

"Are you always like this? Because I might have to set some ground rules," Marco chided, kickstarting the Dragon cycle. Star nodded against his shoulder and when she was practically breathing down his chest, she whispered into his ear "try and stop me, Marco. You'll only make me want you more."

He shivered at the notion and with a twist of Nachos horn, they were off, rushing forward and taking flight, shooting up and over the dense fog in minutes.

Despite having been stuck here for over ten years, Star had never seen the landscape from high up. Always on horseback, crouched in underbrush, or charging into battle. Or drunk. Can't forget about that one. She leaned forward and yelled "Hey, so how come you have a dragon cycle again? Is she still nachos?"

Marco turned his head some just to convey his look of complete intrigue at her question. "What do you mean again? She's always been Nachos. I rescued her from some highwaymen a few years back, and I've always loved- okay so on Earth, they're this little snack covered in cheese called-"

"Marco I know what Nachos are! You make the best on Earth!"

Marco said nothing. He only continued to stare forward at the approaching dusk as they neared his home. Star figured they had already traveled a days worth of hiking in a matter of minutes, but Marcos silence took priority. Was he skeptical? Curious? Scared? Angry that she took so long? Star leaned back a bit off of him as she wondered silently about what he must be feeling.

'Was this how he felt when he got sent back? Alone?' She thought to herself. His silence was starting to kill the good mood she was in, and a new wave of worry at what to do next was all Star could focus on.

Apparently, Marco could sense the tension, because after a few minutes of silent contemplation, he leaned back some against Stars body and softened slightly as she wrapped her arms around his midsection.

She leaned forward into him a little and spoke softly into his ear. "Marco, I know I seem crazy, and I have to explain a lot, but...do you really not remember me at all?" She asked. He didn't respond immediately, but it still made her heart sink. "I'm sorry, Star. I don't know who you are."

She nodded to herself slightly out of acceptance, but before she could mope in silence, he continued. "But, there's something about you. I've been chasing that woman for more than a decade, and I can barely remember my life before-"

"Before you were kidnapped and stuck here for her 'catch me' game?" Star interrupted.

"Yeah," Marco muttered. But, you know things about that. And I could almost swear we've met. But it's really fuzzy. Does that make sense?"

Star stared hopefully over his shoulder at the orange blazing clouds in the distance, smiling from heart to heart. "It's all I needed to hear, safe kid," she answered softly.

O - O - O - O - O - O

Nachos sat idly just outside Marcos home, enjoying the cool evening air as her rider showed the new person around. His house was nestled high in the Bog trees of the Afflicted Forest, just out of reach of the annoying pixies. It wasn't entirely practical to live in a tree, but adding a fire escape, a zip line, safety nets underneath, and reinforcing the wood certainly made it safe enough for him.

Star looked around, marveling at the framework and the ingenuity put into building the treehouse, but more importantly, the items that were strewn about it. All along the walls, there were collections of journeys traveled, tokens of past victories, and various momentos gifted from friends now gone.

In a quiet corner, he had a bed draped with an array of furry blankets, each seemingly more fluffy than the last. And while the walls were occupied with momentos, from the ceiling hung tapestries displaying acts of kindness and strength Marco had endured.

Star was amazed simply by looking at the displays of his stay in the Neverzone, marveling at all he had collected, all he had done. She had already filled him in on most of her long journey while they had ridden, but she wasn't as well informed about his. She had next to nothing besides experience to show for her adventures, and was beginning to feel self-conscious when Marco tapped on a pair of wooden beams conjoined by steps in the center of the treehouse.

He nodded upwards towards a hatch carved into the ceiling before making his way higher up the ladder. Star, still somewhat flustered by the experience, began climbing after him up onto the roof. Once on top of the treehouse, she was met with a rather sobering setup.

There was a makeshift lawn chair seated next to a short table across from a small fire pit. As Marco set up a spare chair and lit some candles, Star found herself looking around at the shorter treetops and the clear view of the stars above them. It was peaceful up here. Like she could just sit down and forget about everything, and in half an hour, die peacefully in a now forgiving world.

But Marco interrupted the somber sentiment by drawing her attention to the pair of chairs, taking one for himself before she followed suit.

"Sorry, I don't really get guests, Miss Butterfly. Do you mind if I ask you some questions before we get started?" Marco asked in an all business tone of voice.

"You can just call me Star, if that's okay. And before we get started with what?"

Marco gave her a confused look, glancing around for a moment before turning his attention back to her. "Well, I mean, I assume you want to go after Hekapoo, right?"

Star stared blankly at him before reassessing the situation she was in. For a moment she had completely forgotten about Hekapoo, and was more concerned with Marco and his current state of well-being. "Um, yeah. Yes, I want to track down the real Hekapoo, with you. Ahaha, ask awaaay!" she sang awkwardly.

Marco blushed momentarily before shaking his head and getting back to business. "Okay, so, how exactly do you know me? And what, if I can ask, is our relationship with one another?"

Star pursed her lips and glanced around. "Oh, uh, relationship? We have a super long history together, starting when I came to Earth as an 'exchange student," and we used to go on adventures and fight monsters all the time. As for our relationship, uhhh. Well...you know ...we kind of used to…be, ya know..." Stars face was scarlet red by now, fully realizing the concept that she was essentially talking to a stranger. Marco waited patiently, watching her flustered body language for a few more seconds before his face became awash with red.

"Ohhh...OHHHHH! You mean we were...like...together and stuff!?" Marco asked frantically. Star couldn't help but smile at his childish reaction, though there was plenty to say for her own.

"Yeah," she began, now getting slightly less flustered, "we used to be together and stuff. Before we came to this dimension. Now, my turn. What do you remember about Earth?"

Marcos expression went from one of awkward realizations to one of quiet thoughts as soon as Star finished speaking. She watched him sit still as he stared out at the wide expanse of forest around them before he suddenly turned and smiled at her.

"I remember my family, and my friends. My mom was always so kind and my dad always knew just how to make me laugh. My friends were really just a bunch of goofballs and misfits, but we always had a good time. The last time we all got together was for a really big sleepover, I think."

Star suddenly sat forward, now vastly more intrigued than she was a minute ago, hearing what she already knew. "A sleepover? Who all was there?" She asked maybe a bit too excitedly.

Marco gave her a confused look before thinking about it for a moment. "It was Alphonso, Fergusson, Jackie, you, my friend Tom, this new girl with a weird name, and of course, Janna," he answered. Star looked at him expectantly, eyeing his reaction. "You said I was there?"

"No? I'd remember you Star, don't get crazy on me," he replied with a chuckle. Star stared at him for a bit, rubbing her chin in deep thought.

'So, you don't remember me being there, but you almost did. So the memories are still in there' she thought to herself, careful not to spook the boy-...man, before her.

"Alright, my turn," Marco prompted. "So like, Hekapoo never really explained things to me. Is this place like, actually magic? Or is it just some weird chemicals in the air, or-"

Star held up her wand and turned her blade back into a simple hilt, before letting raw magic shimmer and glow around her hand like falling mist. Marco stared in awe at the display as Star simply smirked at the rookie reaction she had seen too commonly from locals in the Neverzone.

"Can...can I touch it?" He asked tentatively. Star giggled at the question and leaned back coyly.

"Marco, you should at least take me out to dinner first, ya rude." Marco blushed hard at the comment and retracted his request, instead opting to just watch. Star smiled warmly at him and held her wand out, letting the raw magic pour over him in waves. He held out his hands and collected streams of it, watching it shimmer and dance around his fingers gleefully.

Star watched him carefully, trying to gauge his reaction before he eventually leaned back and looked up at the stars. "You know," he began, "I never thought I'd get to live a life like this. I was always a careful kid in school, and I never took risks. But then I came here. This place...it made me someone better. Someone I could never have been in my other life. In a way, I'd almost be happy I came here if it weren't for the dumb quest."

Stars expression shifted to one of sober realization at his words. How that gratitude once belonged to her, and was now wasted on Hekapoos dimension. Looking up at the stars, she thought about how different things would have been for her if she had actually decided to just go home. To let Marco try and solve this on his own. Maybe he wouldn't have ended up like this, and she could have seen him sooner.

He must have noticed her decreasing mood, and leaned closer to her, speaking just above a whisper. "I know it's your turn, but can I ask one more question?"

Star gave him a halfhearted smile and shrugged. "That counts as a question, safe kid."

"C'mon that doesn't count!"

"Sorry, Marco, but them's the rulez," she chided wistfully. Marco was about to chastise her once more but a fleeting thought in his head fluttered in and out in an instant.

"...Say that again…," he prompted. Star gave him a silent look of anticipation before repeating herself, this time with more smarm, as he had done on their date.

"Sorreh, Marco, but Demz da rulez."

"You...no, I- said that to you, a long time ago! I remember you wanting something and me trying to get back at you for something! Right?"

Star gave him a small pout as she nodded, turning to stare up at the stars again. "Of all the things you remember, it just had to be that time you were mad at me," she grumbled.

Marco laughed and poked her shoulder auspiciously, glad to have lightened the mood at least some for his new friend. "Well, it's at least a start, right? If I really did lose my memories of you, then maybe…" he blushed some, turning his gaze up to the stars to match hers. "Maybe we should spend more time together. Finding Hekapoo, of course."

Star smiled immediately at the prospect of hunting down Hekapoo with Marco, and felt her heart flutter at the notion of simply being with her ex-boy-man-friend-that-you-didn't-break-up-with. "I'm all for it, Marco. Where do we start?" She asked with enough optimism to make him smile.

"Well, tomorrow for starters. I'm pooped. And as for where, I know about this seedy little mining town, where I think she sends clones to pick up the metals she uses for scissors."

Marco watched as Stars expression turned sour like an angry lemon, staring at the sky with contempt. "What's it called," she asked shortly, eliciting a nervous answer from him.

"Minerva, if I remember right. What's with the face?" He asked cautiously. Star didn't answer for a moment, instead choosing to glare out across the treetops around them. "I'm banned from that village, thanks to a little scuffle in the town bar."

Marco pursed his lips apologetically as he glanced around for something else to focus on. "Well, we can uh...always...sneeeaaak yoouuuu innnn?"

Star went quiet, though her short breathing indicated her distaste in visiting the town ever again. After a few minutes of quiet, awkward contemplation, she nodded slowly. "Fine. But I'm NOT hiding in a minecart. That's like, the first place they'd look."

"Alright alright, no minecart...yet," he whispered, standing up to prepare for bed. "But glad you're on board. I can handle one Hekapoo, maybe two, but the real one isn't going to be as easy."

Star remained seated and nodded glumly at the prospect before turning to Marco with an expectant, inquisitive face. "Hey, what was your question, by the way?" She asked.

Marco turned to face her and blushed some, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced up at the sky. "I um...I wanted to know…" he looked at her, realizing just how much she was anticipating the answer. "If you wanted something to eat before bed." Star frowned and let herself deflate some before shaking her head.

" No. No, I'm good, thanks. I already ate, uh, this morning," she replied, now completely thrown off by the change of mood. She stood to make her way downstairs, shuffling around Marco and carefully maneuvering around the chair and table in the way.

"We should just- sorry -get some sleep- just gonna go this, no that way -before the ride tomorrow."

Marco stopped her and grabbed her shoulders, holding her in place as she stared up at him in surprise. He pursed his lips and held her eyes with his, taking a deep breath. "Star, I'm sorry. That, wasn't actually my question," he said apologetically.

"Yeah, kinda figured that."

"I want to know, and please be honest, do you still feel the same way about me as you did ten years ago?"

Star, without hesitation, answered "Yes," without so much as batting an eye. Marco, relatively surprised by her quick response, nervously coughed into his hand and held his chin.

"Ahem, well, that's-...thats good! I'm happy to hear you uh...still feel so strongly about me."

His response was certainly lacking in sincerity, but Star could instantly tell there was more to it than that. After remembering something he told her over a decade ago, something about when they first met, she took a step closer and surprised him with a kiss.

Marco was more than startled at first, and he didn't give much in the way of reciprocating, but he did allow her advance, which was more than enough for Star. After a moment of silent appreciation, and affection, she pulled back and looked up at him, suddenly blushing from heart to heart. But seeing his blank expression didn't fit her expectations quite as much.

"I'm sorry!" She frantically blurted. "I just- I figured you were- I thought that- And you-"

"Star, I like you, don't get me wrong. It's like, love at first sight mixed with something else that wants...all of you...," Marco whispered wholeheartedly, his eyes locked with hers. "...but maybe we shouldn't, right now I mean. I don't want to rush into anything and wind up hurting you for reasons I don't understand, if that makes sense. ...I'm sorry."

Star took a step back and held her hands in front of her, smiling slightly at his usual chivalry. "Don't even worry about it, Marco. I'm sorry too. Take all the time you need, and know that I'll always be right here waiting for you, okay?"

"Like, right here?"

"Figuratively."

"Because we're supposed to be going to Minerva tomorrow."

"I know."

"So being right here is a bit counterproductive."

"That's why it's figurative."

"Just seems kinda weird to want to stay right here while we're tracking Hekapoo."

"If you don't shut up right now I'm going to kiss you again, Marco."

"...so like, right here?"

Star leaned up and kissed him softly on the cheek, holding his head in her hands. This time he was far more accepting of her advancement, and smiled warmly at her as she leaned back down, exactly the way that always made her heart skip a beat.

"Corn I've missed you, Marco…"

"I wish I could have missed you too, Star. But hey, when this is all over, you can catch me up on everything I don't remember, alright?"

Star paused, almost frowning at the reminded prospect of Marco not even remembering who she was. Was what she was doing with him manipulative? Was he even really in control of his own emotions? Was it fair to act the same way to him?

"You're doing that thing again, Star," he whispered as he began climbing down the ladder.

"And what's that?" She called out after him in a voice filled with mock annoyance. Marco popped his head back up through the ceiling before smirking at her playfully. "That thing where you start thinking so loud I swear I can almost hear it. Lighten up and get some rest, would ya?"

Star gave in to a smile as she watched him disappear back inside, calling out after him as she began to make her way down "Ya know, that's usually my line, Diaz! Don't get so smug just because you can't remember how much of a narc you used to be!"

At the base of the ladder, she looked around and found Marco draped over a makeshift couch amidst one of his many blankets, pointing to his bed. "Only if you promise not to worry about me so much. I'm thirty years old, you know. I can handle myself just fine when I see a pretty girl eyeing me."

"Pretty huh?" Star called out from a massive fort of blankets.

"Goodnight Star," Marco answered.

"...hey wait, what do you mean 'A' pretty girl? You got more than one Diaz?!"

"Please, I can barely handle the one I have right now, and it hasn't even been a day."

"...fair enough. Night Marco!" Star yelled in a muffled voice from beneath the pile.

"Goodnight, commander of Blanket Mountain," Marco called out, unaware of the massive grin plastered on his, and his guests face.

O - O - O - O - O - O

At the first crack of dawn, with their supplies loaded and their bellies full from a warm breakfast, Star and Marco mounted Nachos and took off, soaring into the sky toward Minerva, ready to flip it upside down.

As they flew, and the cool morning air breezed through their hair, Star leaned forward and yelled above the wind. "So, what are we looking for, again?"

Marco kept his eyes forward, safety first, and yelled back "We're going to interrogate the village elders. They should know the most about Hekapoos visits, and they should be able to point us in the right direction. If not, we can improvise."

"And what if-"

"Star, trust me. I have a really good feeling about this, okay? Just, go with the flow."

Star made to pout at his rambunctious plan, but found that a smile was far more suitable. Since when did Marco get so bold? 'Look at him, all confident and ready for action. I swear the second I get Glossaryck to fix him I'm bringing him right back here and-'

"Hey! Hands above the belt, Star! And keep the eyes above the abs!"

"Sorry! Sorry! Just got a little distracted is all!"

"Yeah, yeah, sure," he chastised, dipping Nachos low through the Brinkal trees surrounding the high mountain peaks in the distance. Zipping through the massive trunks, he brought Nachos to a stop by a small clearing that gave a good view of the village in the distance. As the two dismounted, Star began taking a position on the edge of the clearing to observe their target from afar.

Even from this distance, she could hear some of the commotions of a busy workday, and she could see smoke rising from several of the forge buildings.

"Do you think one of them is there now?" Star asked before climbing up the nearest tree for a better look. Marco stepped up to its base and stared hard at the village for a moment.

"It's hard to say. From what I've gathered, she comes and goes, a few minutes at a time, with no set schedule. Buuuut," he continued, making his way to Nachos and rummaging through her saddlebags. "I think we can draw her out if we cause enough damage, with this."

Star looked down at him and found that he was now holding a leather pouch about the size of a grocery bag, and tied on the top with taught, green string. She hopped down from her branch and approached the bag, eyeing it with curiosity. "What is that?" She asked.

Marco undid some of the green string and opened the top, showing Star a thick, viscous black liquid inside. "It's called Greek fire. I remember learning about it in history class. When you set it on fire, it spreads like crazy, and when people pour water on it, the fire only gets bigger."

Star looked stared at the concoction for a moment before giving Marco a look of unease. "I may not like a lot of people in that town, but won't some innocent people get hurt by this?"

Marco resealed the bag and tied the string tight around the mouth to keep it shut before placing the bag in a large satchel of his. "No. I've only used this against a bandit camp before, so this time we need to make sure everyone is evacuated before we light it."

Nodding in approval, Star turned back to face the village and readied her weapon. "I can get us in silently with a cloud spell, but what about me being banned?"

"Hmmm," Marco thought aloud. He looked up to the village, then back to Star, then back to the village, several times before his eyes shot wide open and he gave Star a massive grin. "You're gonna like this. But you're gonna have to not be cute for a few minutes, if that's alright."

"Compliments won't save you if you make me look stupid, Marco," Star grumbled. He waved it off and dragged her over to Nachos before rummaging in the saddlebags. "No worries. I actually have to make you look scary and menacing, which might be a bit difficult, but I think it will work."

"And, why do I need to be menacing?" She asked as Marco slid a rusty spiked shoulder guard up her arm, and tied a skull and crossbones bandana over her head.

"Because you're gonna get everyone out of the village. They'll be so busy going after you, that they won't even bother noticing the fire starting down in their mineshaft!"

Star gave him a blank stare as he fiddled with her shin guards before finally speaking up. "Okaaaay, and what happens if they just send some guys after me and keep working?"

Marco stopped and stood back to admire his work, grinning at the clearly rushed bandit look Star was now sporting. "Don't worry. It'll work. Just act like you did against Hekapoo, make your hair go all firey and stuff, beat up some goons and presto! They'll be after you like moss-flies to a plushroom!"

"More like moss-Flies to an acid geyser," Star grumbled too quietly for Marco to hear. He patted Nachos on the head, rubbing just behind her horns as he motioned Star over.

"Okay, just for added effect, take Nachos. She likes to pull to the right sometimes so be careful. I'll head up on foot and meet you there, provided you haven't killed anyone with your fire stuff."

Star glared at him and snapped her fingers, making a small tuft of blue fire dance through the air like a rising autumn leaf. "You know, you can do this too. And I don't kill people, Marco."

She watched as he stopped mid-step, turning slowly to face her with a somewhat confused face. "You don't?"

"No. I never have. Except for one guy who tried to kill you, but only because he can regenerate."

He paused for a moment, staring off to the side before slowly turning about to head into the forest. "Well, I guess you should consider yourself lucky, for having the option," he said quietly. Star didn't know what to say to that, keeping her eyes on the man Marco was forced to be in her absence. For the first time, she didn't recognize the person in front of her, and more frightening than that, she wasn't quite as sure how much of her version of him was even there.

"Marco?" She began tentatively as she mounted Nachos. "Be careful okay? And...don't kill anyone...if you have the option."

He stopped just at the edge of the clearing and without turning back to face her, called back "Don't worry about me. I'll do what I have to do to keep you and me safe till the end, and I'll keep the fire magic in mind."

With that, he stepped into the woods and disappeared from view. Star kept an uneasy stare locked on the last place she saw him, before kickstarting Nachos and taking off into the air.

After a minute or so of flying, she reached the edge of the small mining settlement that had the unfortunate luck of being the center of this dimensions attention. She could see the smoke plumes of a busy days work rising up, as well as the various buildings housing the unsuspecting villagers.

She turned her face into a cold glare, beginning her act as a Bandit Queen before turning into a steep dive towards the town center. The wind was screaming past her face and in a matter of seconds, she was already on top of them. Pulling up sharply, Star skid to a loud stop in front of the town center, drawing the usual attention of everyone around her.

She didn't recognize anyone yet, which was a plus, but that was about to change. She found her role increasingly easy to fulfill as she took slow and heavy steps towards the front door. A certain group of elders had been hiding something, and now it was time to face the consequences.

With a well-placed kick, she shattered the wooden door into splinters, making the crowd around her begin to disperse, and the occupants of the building jump at the sight.

"Yo yo yooo, old people! Remember me? The girl you LIED TO?!" She continued her advancement deeper into the main hall as groups of elders slowly backed away, revealing the green man in charge himself.

"Ehrm- M-Miss, B-Butterfly! It's truly a p-pleasure to see you! How has your hunt for-"

Star unsheathed her weapon and grew a three-foot crystalline blade, dragging it against the hardwood floors. "Zip it, Zays. Cut the bullshit. You knew I was after Marco and Hekapoo. And you didn't tell me your secret.

Zays audibly swallowed, his eyes darting around the room. " A-and w-what secret is that, Miss Butterfly?"

Star's scowl could have curdled milk. She glared at the pompous group of men that had given her the runaround, tapping the tip of her sword against the ground. "You know where to find Hekapoo. Don't you?"

Zays was silent for what felt like an eternity. Some of the elders around him were exchanging nervous glances, but every time one of them turned to Zays, they held firm once more. "I don't know what you're talking about. Hekapoo would never waste her time buying metal in a town like this. Now I must ask that you-"

Star swung her blade in a wide, high arc, casting a wave of thin red magic against the ceiling, blowing the roof off of the building. As debris and dust settled, through the smoke Star glared at the elders with wrath written in her eyes.

"If I do that to the ground, you can kiss your mine goodbye. So I'm only going to ask you one. More. Time," Star fumed, inching closer to Zays with red energy flickering at the tip of her blade. "Where. Is. Hekapoo."

Zays' expression was one of absolute terror, his and all the other elders' eyes locked on Star. He swallowed hard, dislodging beads of green sweat from his forehead. "She'll kill me if I ruin her game. Please, just leave this-"

Star swung her blade into the air, holding it high before driving it deep into the wooden floor. The ground creaked and groaned as she buried her weapon down to the hilt, filling the foundation with boiling red energy. The ground began to shake and shudder under the force, sending everyone but Star to their knees.

After a few seconds of force, she snapped her blade from her hilt and turned to leave, not stopping as she called back to Zays. "You have about three minutes until I blow your mine and this mountain to dust. Evacuate everyone now, or you'll all die."

With that, she stepped back into the morning light, watching as various crowds of people began running every which way to get away from her. The elders ran past in a huff, fumbling over one another in a crazed attempt to save their own hides. In the distance, Star could hear a warning bell being run, no doubt due to the fake mini-quake she had caused.

'Alriiight Marcooo, time to light the fire!' She thought to herself. She couldn't see any out of place smoke cloud, yet, but that didn't mean that he wasn't about to start it. She needed to make sure everyone was evacuated.

With a flick of her wand, a new crystal blade extended from the hilt, glimmering every color in the sunlight. She swung it over her shoulder and sent a dark green pulse of energy at the nearest building, coating the front face in an acid-like liquid. Luckily, it was unoccupied, but that wouldn't be enough.

Swiping her blade in an upward arc, she sent a purple slash high into the air, where it burst against the sky and spread a dark cloud, like ink in water. The cloud grew and grew, and once it had covered the entire settlement, it began to pour down rain in thick pelts of stinging droplets.

"Marcoo, start the damn fiiiiiire," Star whispered to herself as she did her best to keep a thick scowl on her face. There was still no sign of a fire in the mineshaft, and the town square was now deserted, save for one man.

Star turned angrily at him but any semblance of malice she had was immediately wiped away when she realized who it was.

"Star. What are you doing?" Jack asked, standing unceremoniously next to a toppled minecart. He gave her a disapproving stare before leaning down and heaving it back onto its tracks. She watched him push it along down the line, before turning to assess a pile of broken wooden beams.

"I...look this isn't what it looks like, trust me, I'm just-"

"You're scaring people. And destroying the village. Is that what your little adventure is about?" He punctuated that question by folding his arms and staring her down. Star had little to do but stand there awkwardly in the rain, surrounded by the damage she'd done.

"It's the only way I can get home, I have to lure Hekapoo out so I can-"

"No. You don't have to do anything. You're choosing to destroy and terrorize, instead of finding another way."

"There is no other way, Jack. I only found one clone in ten years! How am I supposed to go home if I can't-"

Before she could finish, the ground began to rumble, and not one similar to the mini-quale she had caused earlier. This rumble was deeper, more sporadic, and far angrier. Plumes of black smoke began to rise from various areas around the village, as the ground began to crack under Stars feet.

She looked up and immediately took off for Jack. Once she reached him, she cast the strongest bubble shield she could muster, and prepared for whatever came next. Jack crouched behind her and looked around at the thick black clouds, speaking in a hushed whisper.

"What did you do?"

Star didn't answer, instead, she kept her eyes trained on the growing spot of crackling stone in the center of town, watching as it began to spout tufts of fire.

"Star," Jack repeated, "what. Did you do?"

"I didn't do anything. I found Marco. Our plan was to start a fire down there and scare the villagers away so Hekapoo would charge in and we could take her down."

"That...is a terrible plan."

"Well, it's kinda the only one we had at the time. Sorry for breaking the town square. After this is all over I swear I'll fix-"

The spiderwebs of heated cracks rose like a hill under the stone, before it finally burst in a torrent of searing fire and force that ripped the town square to shreds. The vent shot flames a hundred yards into the air, and the explosions blew everything clear off the mountain. Star, still holding her shield, rolled with Jack down the mountainside in an avalanche of burning wood and smoking stones. Sections of houses, chunks of rock, tangled knots of iron, everything at the center of the village was blown in every direction.

Amidst the chaos, Stars bubble slammed through several tree trunks before popping against a larger Brinkal tree near the base of the mountain. She and Jack tumbled down a few more yards before rolling to a stop in a heap of wooden bits and fresh dirt.

"Star, get up, NOW!" Jack yelled, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. She turned back to look up the slope to see a long line of fire headed straight for them, charring everything in its path.

"What is that?!" She yelled above the roar of flames that had ignited all around the forest.

"I don't know, but it's headed right for us! Keep going!" Jack shouted back, taking a hard right turn to avoid the path of the rolling flames. Star dove out of the way just in time to avoid being caught in the firestorm that roared past them, landing hard in the dirt next to a breathless bartender.

But the massive wheel of fire didn't continue either. Once the two were safely out of the way, it slammed to a stop, popping in a heated burst of singed air and charred trees twenty yards wide. The flash stung Stars eyes, but she rose to her feet, drawing her weapon as she stared the smoldering space down.

Over the roar of fire all around her, she approached the center of the firestorm and called back to Jack. "Get out of here! And go find survivors! Now!" Not having to be told twice, Jack nodded in affirmation and took off towards the village.

The smoke was beginning to clear, and Star could vaguely make out a dark mass in the center. As she approached, she extended her crystal blade and called out to whatever it was that had followed her.

"MARCO? IS THAT YOU?" She shouted. There was no answer. Just the crackling of spreading flames and the rumbling from the mountain.

After a few seconds, Star had reached the edge of the smoking crater and tried to get a better look at what was hiding behind the veil. Then, without warning, a soot-covered, and still smoldering Marco was tossed in a heap at Stars feet. She looked at him with a petrified expression before leaning down and checking his vitals.

"He's still breathing," Hekapoos voice called out from the smoke. Star stopped cold and slowly looked up to find a single orange halo of light sitting above the dark mass. "I'd consider your boy-toy lucky. If I had my way, I'd kill him right now. It's gonna take years to find a suitable replacement for that mine."

Star glared daggers at Hekapoo as she gripped her blade. "Yeah, it really does suck when you have to waste years looking for something important to you. Why let him live after trying to kill us for ten years?" she demanded. Hekapoo chuckled at that and shook her head, smiling as smug as ever at the two.

"I was never trying to kill you. Just trying to see if you two were worth the investment of trusting with the fate of Mewni."

"And that meant wiping Marco's memory of me? What could you possibly have gained from that," Star growled, her knuckles taking on a shade of white as she fought every nerve in her body to not attack.

"Because for reasons I don't understand, he knows about my test. Like I told you, I had to wipe Glossaryck first, but that wasn't enough. He still remembered everything. So I had to wipe you too,' Hekapoo answered, now beginning to stroll closer to the princess. "See, you were a relatively safe bet. But Marco? I had to make sure he had the resolve to fight. Even with no memory of you, or magic, he still kept going. Never stopping, never slowing down, never giving up, and never losing." Hekapoo stopped ten yards away from the two and watched as Marco began coughing, desperate to find air. Star propped him up some and turned back to face Hekapoo warily.

"But even after mowing down clones, wiping out clans, slaying enemies left and right and adapting to every challenge I threw at him, he was always drawn closer to you. I'd try to lure him away, keep him focused, but his path would always start turning to the Huntress names Star Butterfly."

Marco had finally stopped coughing and groaned as the smoldering bits of his armor stung at his skin. Star held him close as he tried to regain consciousness and never lost eye contact with the craftswoman before her.

"How did you wipe his memory?" Star asked shortly, knowing well that she had to buy time for Marco to come to.

Hekapoo scoffed and twirled a tuft of fire around her hands casually. "Trick of the trade, princess. You pick up a few things when your dad- well, don't worry about that. Your last test is me. No more clones, no more running, just me, myself, and I. Think you can handle it?"

"Give his memories back first," Star demanded.

Hekapoo shrugged and tsked her teeth at Star, shaking her head. "Can't undo it I'm afraid. That, you'll have to figure out on your own. For now, you have more important things to worry about."

Star looked down to Marco, whose breathing had stabilized and was beginning to come to. "If you want to make this worth your time, you'll test both of us. We're a team."

"If you say so, but don't carry hot-stuff through the whole fight," Hekapoo scoffed, opening a portal to her right. She pointed at it and smirked, casually enjoying the conversation she had been having. "When muscles over there is ready, you come find me. I'll be waiting, and don't touch any more of my stuff. Unless I give him permission to," she finished, stepping through the shimmering yellow portal, and out of sight.

Star sighed, relieved to have avoided the conflict alone, and knelt down to tend to Marco. All around her fires raged and trees fell into burning husks of ash and rubble, but she didn't care. Her rain cloud would help quell the flames well enough, and Jack was already looking for survivors. She knew she should have gone to help him, but Marco was all she could see.

His body was bruised, he was bleeding from several deep gashes, and he was covered in burns. Every now and again he'd cough or wheeze to let her know he was still alive, but other than that, he was motionless. Star cupped his face and did her best to brush the soot away, but there wasn't much else she could do.

As the first drops of rain began to fall, she created half a bubble shield to keep him dry, and waited. And waited. And waited. She had cleaned him up as best she could, and bandaged his wounds. For almost an hour, Marco didn't stir. Star was beginning to get worried he might need serious help, but a cough and wheeze finally rattled him awake. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around, seemingly mortified by the sight around him.

"You uh, *cough* don't look so good. I take it we messed up?" He asked with a coarseness to his voice.

"We? You lit the explosives room on fire, you idiot. You almost killed everyone in the village, and yourself," Star answered impatiently. Marco grimaced and kept his eyes trained forward, not saying a word.

Star noticed his somber expression and sighed, shaking her head. "I was really worried about you. Hekapoo saved you from the explosion, but you were still really banged up."

Marcos' eyes slimmed and his mouth turned to a frown, his stare not moving an inch. "Why would she save me after all she's put us through. Why not just let me die."

"I don't know," Star answered shortly. "She says she just wants to test us, and that she had to erase your memory because you've done this before, but I don't know how far that'll get us when we're fighting the real deal."

Marco nodded and tried getting up, but found that his leg had been sprained in several places. Grimacing, he fought through the pain and leaned against Star as the two walked toward the village.

A few minutes of shuffling carefully around fires and fallen trees later, Star could see Jack, and a few other citizens huddled around a massive pile of fresh dirt and rocks. Marco hung his head low, but Star pressed on, approaching Jack first. He turned to her with a scowl, but it quickly changed to a look of surprise.

"So, this is the Marco Diaz you've been looking for? The guy looks the part, I'll give him that."

Star nodded shortly and nudged Marco, drawing his eyes to the ex-bartender before them.

"I'm sorry for destroying your town, and I'm sorry for the villagers we lost today. It's my fault, completely," Marco said quietly as he did his best to bow. A few villagers walked up to them wearing angry expressions, but none seemed ready to enact revenge, so that was a plus.

"Sorry won't bring them back, nor our homes," Jack whispered before turning to face Star. "But I'll be holding you to that offer, about fixing some of the damage, Star."

She nodded glumly and looked around, not at all uplifted to see the aftermath of their scheme. The crater where the village used to be had since caved in on itself, and it was a miracle that half the mountainside hadn't collapsed.

"I need to take Macro to get fixed. I know about a spring that heals all wounds, maybe two days hike but a few minutes by dragon cycle from here. We can ferry the villagers there and get everyone cleaned up, maybe find you guys somewhere new to live."

Jack nodded and turned to the remaining villagers, finding a larger crowd had amassed. Faces now spouting with traces of hope were dotted around it, so he turned back to face Star, speaking slightly more optimistically. "If you can help us in any way, we'll take it. There's probably nothing left here anyway, so, we'll be waiting, Star. Thank you."

She smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up before whistling for nachos and loading Marco carefully on the back. Taking the front seat, she waved the survivors goodbye and took off into the air. She could see the massive plume of black smoke even from miles away as the landscape rose and fell underneath her. The sun was still rising, washing over the hills and valleys in breathtaking ways, but that was hardly what she could focus on.

Without turning back to face him, she spoke to Marco with a glum voice. "Did we really just destroy an entire village for nothing?"

After a minute or so of no answer, Marco leaned forward and shook his head. "We didn't do anything. I'm the one who started the fire. You were the one up top, taking the blame for my actions. This is all on me, Star."

"Stop talking like that. We both had a hand in this, so...we should start thinking of how we can fix it. I have some spells for creating homes and food, but we need to make sure they're all healed up. So while I make a new home for them, I need you to transport the villagers to it, okay?"

"Sounds like a plan," he agreed, smiling for the first time since he had come to. "And uh, Star? Thank you."

She looked over her shoulder and asked: "for what?" As she began to descend.

"Taking care of me, the villagers, and dealing with Hekapoo. I couldn't ask for a better partner."

She gave that some thought, reminiscing over how much they had ruined over the course of two hours, but she let a small smile creep across her lips at the prospect of how much they could fix when they had each other. "And I couldn't ask for a better friend, Marco Diaz. C'mon," she began, pulling Nachos to a stop in front of a seemingly normal tree. "Let's get you fixed, 'muscles'."

"Ugh. She's so weird," Marco groaned as he leaned against Star. His ribs still ached but the idea that a spring nearby could heal his body was inviting to say the least. "So, how'd you find this place anyway?"

"I was getting chased by some Bearcats a few years back, and I tried hiding under this tree, and I kinda fell into a pool of glowing blue water." Marco leaned closer to the hole at the base of the trunk, trying to get a good look at it.

"Wait, do you have to-"

"GERONIMO, DIAZ!!" Star yelled before shoving him through a small opening under the wide tree trunk. He made to catch himself but without the strength to do so, he fumbled and plummeted into the inky black void, his screams echoing in the hidden cave.

Star wore a massive grin and leaned through the hole, looking down at the shimmering blue water far below that housed a frantically swimming Marco. "Looka tha, it's deeper than I remember. But hey, you're all better!"

He glared up at her with water dripping down his face, now completely free of soot and burn marks. "So it would seem. Thanks," he grumbled. Star smiled at him and used her wand to pull him out of the pit before placing him gently on the ground beside her.

"No prob bob. You ready to go help some people that we kinda sorta screwed out of their homes and land?"

Marco smiled half-heartedly and shook off some of the water. "Well, when you say it like that it sounds so much nicer. Let's get to it I guess!"

As Star set off to a nearby clearing to begin making homes, businesses, and infrastructure for a new society of Minerva, Marco mounted Nachos and set off to collect the villagers. It took several hours of ferrying workers and families back and forth, but each time he arrived back to the clearing, it seemed more like home. One by one the villagers were dropped into the pit and pulled back out, and one by one they went to New Minerva to find homes for themselves.

The day wore on and after some time, it was beginning to look just like new. People were running about to get things ready, and Marco had headed out to pick up the last one.

He pulled to a stop beside a single man, standing perfectly still and watching the mountain above. Zays didn't say a word as Marco approached him, and remained motionless, watching the place he once called home settle to rubble.

"It's uh, time to go, sir. Your new home is ready for you," Marco called, but Zays didn't answer. He just turned around and stared at the man responsible for destroying his old life.

"She told me about you, boy. She said, don't trust him, he's a killing machine, he won't stop until he's won. I guess she was right," Zays grumbled. Marco sighed and sat down on a charred log, prompting Zays to join him. As the old man sat down, Marco took part in watching the mountain calm.

"She stole me from my home, my family, and my friends. She stole my memories of the woman I loved, and she doesn't care who she hurts, so long as she gets what she wants. Now, you don't have to live under her. You're free."

"But at what cost. How many lives were cut short today, just so we could be "free" of good money, and safe living?"

"Is it really living if you're in constant fear of what she might do, if you don't pony up the rocks? I'm truly sorry for the people I hurt today. I only want to make things as right as I can."

Zays scoffed and shook his head. "You can't make death right. You can give us new houses, and heal our wounds, but you can't cover up what you did today, boy."

"I don't want to. I only want to help heal the wounds on the surface. I will carry the weight of your lost villagers for as long as I live. That you can be assured," Marco spoke softly. He stood up and motioned for Zays to follow to Nachos, but the old man didn't stir. He stayed, watching the mountain.

"My entire life was devoted to keeping my friends and family safe. Now that I have failed, I see no reason to show my face to those that are left," Zags grumbled. He slowly took the makeshift crown from his head and tossed it to a pile of ashes, staring down at the scorched earth.

Marco sighed and walked over to the crown, picking it up and dusting it free of debris before handing it back to Zays. With a sincere smile, he helped the old man to his feet. "Those people, they need a leader now more than ever. If that's, not you, then so be it. You lied to Star to protect your people, and you colluded with Hekapoo to keep them fed. This world, it's eat or be eaten. They need you."

"No. They need a good man. I'm just a foolish old man," Zays grumbled, "but, maybe I can find some way to help amidst your terrible deeds."

Marco helped him onto Nachos and within seconds the two were soaring through the air once more, shooting past blurred trees and skipping over mountains. "That's...gooood," Marco chided to the old man behind him, "so long as you don't keep ties with Hekapoo, I'm sure you'll be just fine."

"Don't expect a thank you from me, boy."

"Wouldn't dream of it, trust me."

O - O - O - O - O - O

After a few more hours of labor and preparations, the sun was beginning to dip down in its usual dance of night and day. Star and Marco had since retired to a temporary home near the edge of town, looking to rest before the big day. And hopefully the last.

As Star ate bread stew and talked about the rebuilding process, Marco busied himself repairing his armor with leftover metal scraps from the old mining town.

"-so I don't really know what her deal was, but turns out Jack is married and she thought we destroyed the village to run away together! Like, what the heck girl?" Star chastised.

Marco tacked a new plate to the shoulder guard and wiped his face with a napkin before smiling at Star and raising an eyebrow. "Dunno, Star, seems pretty suspicious that you two were the only ones in the town square when it all blew up. I mean really, what woman wouldn't get nervous?"

Star stuck out her tongue at him and folded her arms. "You're just jelly because I found another man, but it's okay, I'm happy to leave him for you. Provided you apologize."

"Oh? Truly you're as forgiving as they come, Star. I'm sorry. That your side piece is eleven years older than you," he teased, barely dodging an empty bowl to the head. "Oh? Is someone unhappy with their love life?"

She didn't answer right away as she picked up the bowl and began to put her dishes away, but eventually spoke in a tired voice. "Just a bit. Kinda stinks that my boy toy isn't my boy toy anymore. And that a certain flaming bitch keeps flirting with him. And that he won't even kiss me anymore. Yeah, just a little bit," she answered sarcastically.

Marco smiled at her and put his armor away, making his way to his usual choice of couch to hunker down for the night. "I'm sorry your man couldn't be with you through all of this, Star. If it's alright, you could settle with just having me for now," he said in a sweet tone that made her knees weak.

"Is my boyfriend flirting with me like I'm cheating on him with himself?" She teased. "Not that I mind, so long as he's still flirting."

"Well, I won't lie, at least one part of me seems to have stayed," Marco thought aloud. Star sat down on the edge of her bed and rolled herself up in a burrito of furs and pillows. "And what part's that?"

He smiled at the ceiling and pulled up a blanket, settling for a heavy sleep. "The part that's crazy about you," he said just above a whisper. A snort echoed from Stars furrito as she frantically waved her hands out of the entrance. "I'm sorry I'm sorry! That's just so cheesy! But it's soooo cuuuute Marcoo! I love-...erm, thank you for the compliment, Diaz."

The room went quiet for a moment before Marco called out to her, his voice as soft and nourishing to her ears as always. "You don't have to act weird about it, Star. I may not remember your name, but I could never forget you. From whatever part of me that's still around, he loves you too, Stardust."

"Marco?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you like about me, as I am now?"

"Like, what about the new you?"

"Yeah"

"…..I...I like what you do for me."

"Like, professionally?"

"No, Star. I can't really explain it, but you make me something better. You help me see the bright side of things, you pick me up when I'm down- literally -you make me happy, you give me strength, I dunno. Actions speak louder than words, and I can tell by both that you care about me. And that you have my back no matter what. You're amazing."

"..."

"Star?"

"Sorry. I just, you said something a lot like that when we were dating. It made me happy then, and it makes me happy now. Thanks for trusting me, Marco. And tell the other part of you that I love you more."

"Heh, will do, Star. Now get some sleep. We're going home tomorrow. Together."

"Damn right we are. Hekapoo is soo dead. When I get my hands on her-"

"Goodnight Star."

"Yeah yeah, goodnight Marco."

A few minutes passed before Star rolled out of her burrito and laid flat on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. It wasn't entirely dark in the cottage, so she could still make out the decorum and beams of the room, but dark enough that she couldn't see Marco. She was about to call out his name, when he spoke up first.

"Can't sleep?" He asked from across the room.

"Yeah. I'm nervous about tomorrow," she answered, her voice hollow and quiet against the breeze flowing over the house. Marco didn't say anything, but she could tell he was still awake.

"What happens if we lose? Or we don't get to go home?" She asked, "what if I can't fix your memories? Or one of us gets hurt? There's so much to worry about."

She stared at the ceiling, unsure about what else to say, but Marco chimed in before she could think about it.

"I'm sorry you're worried, Star. I know I can't just make it go away, but trust that we'll be home this time tomorrow. We'll be alright, so long as we have each other's backs," he said, his voice tired and seemingly out of breath.

Star rolled over to lay on her stomach and stared across the room. "Marco, can I sleep with you?"

"What?"

"Can I, sleep-"

"I know what you said, but why? I'm like a total stranger to you, Star."

She sat up, glaring at where she figured he was laying. "No, you're not. You just forgot some things about me. If you don't feel alright with it, that's fine, but I asked for a reason. I miss sharing a bed with you, and I don't care how different you think you are. You're still my Marco."

The room was quiet for a moment, making Star worried she might have overstepped. Despite how true her words were, there wasn't much telling about what Marco saw it as. To him, they had only met two days ago, regardless of how strongly he felt for her on the inside.

After a quiet moment in the dark home, he finally spoke up, his voice somewhat less groggy than before. "Fine. But no-"

Before he could even finish, Star was already diving under the blanket on the couch, and had curled up next to him. Marco was flustered beyond words, but wisely didn't say anything. Star wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer, enjoying the warmth of another body for a change.

"Just like how I remember. See, you didn't change a bit."

"Star this isn't what I-"

"Sorry Diaz, Stars not here right now, but feel free to leave a message and I'll get back to you in the morning."

"You're seriously gonna cuddle me all night? I'm not some teddy bear, you know."

"I know. You're my teddy bear. And don't complain so much when a pretty girl is eying you, buddy. Sleep tight, Diaz!"

"...sleep tight, Star."

O - O - O - O - O - O

By the time the morning sun broke over the distant mountains, Star and Marco had already assembled their gear and had taken to the streets to wish the villagers of New Minerva farewell. Zays was present and as cordial as ever, and Jack was proudly selling hot drinks to the townsfolk.

"Really, you two have given us so much already. Don't even mention it," Jack explained as he handed a young girl a cup of milky brown liquid.

"And taken plenty, that is not to be forgotten," Zays grumbled, though his voice had just a hint of sarcasm to it.

Star stored her things in Nachos saddlebag and turned to face the two, smiling begrudgingly at the old man's comment. "I know we can't fix everything, but when we do come back, someday soon, say the word if you need anything at all."

"We will, believe us," Zays said in a formal tone. He bowed formally to Marco and actually smiled at the man as he saw them off. "Goodluck against that woman. And thank you, Marco Diaz, for not being a complete disaster to my home."

"Don't mention it, sir. Happy to help after almost ruining everything."

Jack stepped over to Star and extended his hand, prompting her to shake it happily. "Miss Butterfly, if you're ever in town again, drinks are on the house. For you and your friend here. Though, maybe go a little easy on em in the future?"

Star grinned and handed him a small pouch of coins, eliciting a confused glance from those around her. "Hey, said I'd pay ya back for the drinks and damages. Thanks for sticking up for me that night."

"Anything for my best customer, Miss Butterfly," Jack answered. "And don't go blowing up any more of peoples homes, got it?"

Star and Marco both mounted Nachos and as she held on tight she nodded to Jack. "No promises! This one's house is still fair game!"

Marco revved the engine and in a matter of seconds, the two were off, shooting through the wind like a thousand-pound lizard with wheels in his hands. Which is exactly what they were.

The trees below whizzed by as Star felt that familiar rush of excitement that came with flying this fast. The wind grabbing at her hair and the rumbling of a dragon cycle in her tummy, she lived for the small things. And of course, getting some payback against Hekapoo.

After a few minutes of flying, she tapped Marco on the shoulder and leaned forward, asking "Hey! So, have you ever fought Hekapoo before? Besides her clones?"

Marco shook his head and turned his head some, answering "Once, when I first got here. She wiped the floor with me and left me there after explaining the rules. But now I feel pretty good about it after some practice."

She nodded, letting that sink in. From what she could discern, Hekapoo wasn't an enemy to be underestimated. But then again, neither was Star. She had plenty of time to get ready, and even more time training. This fight wasn't going to be as one-sided as Hekapoo thought it would be.

"We're coming up on the portal!" Marco yelled above the wind and rumble. "Im gonna slow us down some, but it could be a trap, so I'm just gonna fly us through in case it's an ambush!"

Star nodded in agreement and leaned forward against him, bracing herself for the dive. With a change of gear, Nachos slowed down considerably and took a steep dive, barreling down towards the black scar of the forest. Near a sizable crater, a yellow portal blazed, wide and waiting for someone to come through.

About twenty yards above the ground, Marco pulled up from the dive and all three shot through the portal, hearing that familiar hum as they did. Once on the other side, they found a massive room made of stone waiting for them.

Marco hit the brakes hard as Nachos' tires screeched against the stone floors. Skidding to a stop just feet before the wall, the three collectively let out a sigh of relief before Star patted Nachos on the head.

"Good girl, Nachos. Sorry Marco can't drive as good as I can," she chastised, but Marco wasn't paying attention. His focus was drawn to the massive foundry at the center of the room, its furnace burning hot and the liquid metal bubbling inside. Dismounting Nachos, the two made their way closer to the foundry, their eyes peeled for any sign of Hekapoo. Sparks could be seen raining down from the ceiling, but what exactly was causing it, they couldn't be sure.

Just as the two were about to advance further into the building, a voice called out from across the room. "Bout time you two boneheads finally made it! What did you get lost in each other's eyes along the way?" Hekapoo stepped in from a large wooden door and slammed it shut behind her, walking casually towards the foundry at the center of the room.

Both Marco and Star drew their weapons, Marco sporting a vicious katana, and Star gripping her crystalline sword. Hekapoo didn't seem to mind, however, and raised her arms above her head to work. More sparks began to fall from the ceiling, but the two intruders didn't dare take their eyes off her.

"Whatever you're up to, knock it off! You're sending us home now, or you'll die by my blade!" Star yelled. Hekapoo merely ignored her, and tossed a glance at Marco.

"Yo muscles, looking good after a nice bath yesterday, huh? What, you wanted to freshen up before coming to see me again?"

Marco held Star back as she was practically foaming at the mouth, doing his best to restrain her and answer. "Thanks to Star, I'm not dead. I'd thank you, but it's kind of your fault I'm here at all, so I'll pass on that. Let us go Hekapoo."

"Jeez, you two are all business, huh? That's cool, I can work with that. But no can do on letting you go, Marco. You guys have one more Hekapoo to beat," she teased. Marco nodded solemnly and held his blade out while still managing to hold back Star, earning him a few scratches.

"Lemme take a crack at her! Just one minute Ill rip her to pieces!" Star yelled. Marco held firm and squared his blade at the craftswoman before him, watching as she waved her arms in their rain of sparks. "So we're doing this here then? This is your last chance, Hekapoo," he warned.

She didn't respond, instead, she held her hands out for something Marco couldn't see. He craned his neck to look up, and saw the source of the sparks. "What...is that?" He asked, bewildered at the sight.

Twenty feet in the air, was a glowing orange pair of metal scissors, slowly descending towards him. Hekapoo pointed at him, and then the scissors, suggesting he take them. Star had finally calmed down and was watching with nervous interest as Marco slowly held out his hands, catching the scissors just as they had cooled. The blades were a polished gold capped on the ends with dark bronze, and the handles were forged of dark silver. Right before his eyes, his name burned itself into the blade, glowing bright orange, before shifting to a moderate sky blue.

"So that's it then," Hekapoo thought aloud. "Blood moon, huh? Well, that certainly makes things interesting. But I still need to see you in action for myself, Muscles."

Marco looked up at her and smiled slightly before attempting to pull the blades apart. But nothing happened. They stayed firmly locked to one another, not moving even a little. Getting frustrated, Marco tried pulling them differently, also to no avail. "Damn it, how do you work these things?" He asked aloud.

"Just stop being an idiot and show WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF, DIAZ!" Hekapoo shouted, shooting two torrents of orange fire at the two. Star had barely enough time to react to a wall of approaching flame before summoning a bubble shield around them.

The resulting blast blew the floor and the wall behind them apart, throwing them far outside to what looked like a barren valley. The building they had been in looked like some sort of sinister temple, guarded by two Hekapoos that wisely stayed out of the fight.

As Star slowed the bubble to a stop, Hekapoo was on them in the blink of an eye, armed with two scissor daggers. She dove up into the air and arced high above them before jetting fire from her feet, shooting her down at the bubble like a tomahawk missile. She brought down both blades on the top of it and blew the two warriors apart like a bomb.

Star rolled into a larger pile of debris and readied her blade for the next attack, but none came. Hekapoo was far too interested in Marco to care, and that pissed her off to no end. Star brought out her massive mallet and made a dash for Hekapoo, but she was too quick. The craftswoman dodged the first swipe, then the next, before cutting open a portal and kicking Star through.

Marco watched as Star was shoved through a portal and deposited half a mile away in the sand, but had little time to dwell on it. Hekapoo readied her blades and strolled closer to him as he frantically tried to work his scissors.

"Hurry up Diaz! I don't have all day! Use that big brain of yours and make those bad boys work!"

He decided not to waste time figuring out the blades just yet, and opted to use his traditional katana. But no sooner than he had unsheathed it, Hekapoo disarmed him of his weapon and blasted him back twenty yards in a heap of smoking dust.

Star shot out at Hekapoos side like a raging bull, but a quick portal dropped her far away, yet again. She was getting frustrated now, and aimed her blade right at Hekapoo, yelling a spell loud enough for her to hear.

"Concussive Cannonball!"

As soon as she said those words, her blade ignited with orange flames and shout out a massive metallic sphere glowing bright red. Hekapoo didn't even bother looking, however, and simply cut another portal in its path. Star, anticipating the destination, dove far out of the way just before a massive red explosion ripped apart the barren ground she had just been occupying.

"Star!" Marco shouted as he carefully dodged Hekapoos swipes. He could tell she was actually trying, but she didn't seem to be trying that hard.

"I'm fine! Just use the scissors even if they aren't like hers!" Star yelled back. She cursed at the ground for forgetting that Marco wouldn't know how to use the scissors, but it wasn't entirely her fault. Who gives a weapon to someone they're about to fight?

Marco grunted as he barely avoided another swipe at his midsection, using his bracers to parry the strong metal as beat he could.

Star rushed forward again and swiped her blade, sending an arc of red energy at Hekapoos back, right as the woman cut a portal to send it elsewhere. But Star had anticipated that. She redirected her blade around the edge of the portal and blasted the ground beneath Hekapoo to glass.

Marco was thrown back, but not nearly as far as Hekapoo was. Star helped him to his feet and waited for the next strike to come. "Marco," she began, somewhat out of breath, "if you can't use the scissors, at least try to use some of the blood moon magic, alright?"

Hekapoo shot from a fresh portal and brought down a heavy slash at the ground, blasting both Marco and Star back. "And what the hell is that??" Marco yelled.

"Just think warm thoughts and about me! It comes from our feelings for each other, and being in dang-"

Another arc or orange energy came screaming their way as Star swiped a red one of her own through the air. Both waves collided with one another into a brilliant blazing inferno of force before Star barely parried a jab from Hekapoos blades. Now furious, Star pushed back and ducked low under a burning swipe, feeling the head at the base of her skull as her hair began to ignite in blue flickering flames. She sent a vicious spartan kick to Hekapoos midsection, throwing her back ten yards before rushing up to meet her with a swing from her mallet.

Now focused on the blades, Marco thought hard about warm things, and Star. 'It's probably easy, just. Hot chocolate. A day at the beach! Lava!" He was doing his best to ignite the blue fire he had seen Star using, but nothing helped. 'Summer! The sun! A warm bed!'

Something clicked at the random guess. His eyes slowly closed as he began to feel a hot pressure in his gut, and his mind became flooded with the memory of sharing a bed with Star.

"You're seriously gonna cuddle me all night? I'm not some teddy bear, you know."

"I know. You're my teddy bear."

Marco could feel the heat rising in his chest as his senses sharpened, and a flutter of blue flames ignited around his eyes as he opened them. Hekapoo was holding her own pretty well against a flaming blue Star, but every now and again she would slip up and barely catch a crystal blade with her own.

Stars hair fluttered as though it were underwater, and burned just as blue while her blade and arms began to do the same. Marco watched carefully as Star channeled the fire from her chest to her arms, and used the energy to deliver a massive right hook, knocking Hekapoo back ten yards before the two dove back at each other.

"You're gonna regret ever taking my Marco from me!" Star screamed. Hekapoo jumped back as a mallet swung down and shattered the rock at her feet to pebbles.

"Funny you keep calling him that, when he doesn't even know who you are!" Hekapoo yelled, capitalizing that by stepping through a portal and exiting behind Star, kicking the princess down and blasting the ground beneath her to bits.

Marco watched the display as the heat continued to form around him. He gripped the small scissors in his hand and tried once more to split them, but even covered in blue flaming magic, they stayed together.

"Just like Star and I…" he whispered. His eyes went wide as a newfound explosion of energy filled every fiber of his body. His hand got tighter around the scissors and before his eyes, they grew into a three-foot-long blade rolling with blue flames, with both handles forming the guards and the hilt. He swung it once to test its weight, and found it virtually weightless.

Star dashed back to his side as Hekapoo watched from a distance, both of them now seething with anger. Taking one look at Marco and his new weapon, Star gave him a nod and turned back to face Hekapoo.

"You ready to actually start trying or what, ya flaming bitch!" she yelled. Hekapoo took in a deep breath and cut a portal next to herself, zooming in so fast she displaced the dust in the air around her.

Marco readied his sword as Star did the same, the two going back to back and watching for any advance. "Now the real fun begins, hot stuff," Star chided.

"Let's just hope we live through it. She was definitely going easy on you, Star."

The two turned slowly to watch every angle, both blades awash with blue fire as they waited.

"I know. That's what scares me. But we got this. We beat a time-traveling nutcase, an immortal lizard, and a demigod the size of a mountain. Just another day in the park."

Marco had to fight the urge to turn and give her a look of bewildered confusion as he spoke, watching the barren ground and the arid sky around them. "You definitely need to fill me in on the demigod part when we get back. ...if we get back."

"Deal," Star agreed, right as a soft tearing sounded to her right. She turned to look just as Hekapoo swung for them both. But glowing orange silver met flaming blue crystal as Star blocked the swing and sent Hekapoo back through a new portal.

Marco was about to speak up when another portal opened and Hekapoo shot towards him, swinging for his head. He brought up his blade and blocked the attack, ready to dish out one of his own, but Hekapoo dove back and disappeared through another portal.

"Stop being a chicken and fight us already!" Star yelled to seemingly nothing. She got her response in the form of twenty portals opening all around them like a glowing, shimmering dome.

"You just had to open your-" marco didn't finish as Hekapoo dove out at him from the portal to his right, slashing a deep gash across his arm before diving into the portal to his left. She exited above Star and delivered a vicious kick to the princesses Jaw before slipping into a portal in front of her.

Hekapoo came back out another portal and hacked away at Marcos blade before portaling past Star and slicing a cut across her cheek. Marco made to call out a play of his own but Hekapoo turned it up to eleven and became a blur of orange, red and white, turning the portal dome into a blender. Marco and Star had to use every ounce of focus just to avoid being cut to pieces amidst the blade storm.

Every which way Hekapoo went, she either landed a successful strike, or was merely parried out of the way and into another portal. Marco could hear her echoing laughter as she zoomed in and out of view, barely blocking all of the attacks. Strike after strike, it began to wear down on him and Star as the flurry showed no sign of slowing.

"ENOUGH!" Star screamed, swinging her blade wide before driving it into the ground. She filled the rock with torrents of blue flames, fracturing it until it burst open with a boom that echoed like thunder. The shockwave threw all parties concerned in different directions, and shattered all of the portals around them. Marco and Star managed to land on their feet and rushed back to stand side by side as Hekapoo charged at them.

Marco spun around and drove his heel, now surrounded by blue flames, into the ground, letting it crack under the weight of his strike. A wall of fire shot forward from the point of contact, almost knocking Hekapoo to the side. She stumbled slightly and was about to change direction when Star barreled from the cloud of dust and slammed her with an upward hammer blow.

"This is so cool!" Marco yelled before swinging his sword in a downward slash, letting a rolling arc of blue fire tear apart the ground in front of him. Hekapoo regained her bearings and dove through a fresh portal before emerging behind Marco and driving her heels into his back. He went tumbling before rolling to his feet and bringing up his blade to block.

Hekapoo smiled at him and tested his strength by forcing her blades down against his. The two related pieces of metal sung against one another as orange flames rose to meet the blue.

"Not bad for a human, Diaz," Hekapoo sang before ducking low to avoid a hammer to her head. She swung her free blade wide and blasted Star back before turning her attention back to Marco, both of the clearly struggling to keep the high point. "But you still haven't shown me what you're made of."

Marco released his grip on his blade and let Hekapoo slide past him, rolling behind her and grabbing his sword before swinging it in her direction. A line of blue energy hummed and once it collided with her back, it burst like a bubble, blasting her twenty yards away before diving through a portal.

"Getting real tired of your portal nonsense, Hekapoo!" Marco yelled. Star heard a tearing noise and dove forward just as Hekapoo fell from above and turned the sand beneath her feet to glass in a fountain of flames. "Gonna be a while before I let you cut some of your own, Diaz!

Marco rushed forward and made to swing at Hekapoo, but feigned to the right and slid low as Star swung an arc of sizzling blue energy over his head. Hekapoo cut a portal in front of her and narrowly avoided the ensuing explosion that ripped the ground apart. She emerged behind Marco and made to strike but he knelt down and swung his blade for her feet. She jumped into the air to avoid his sword, only to be caught mid-air by a strike from Stars hammer.

She flew through the air and portaled to Star, crossing her blades and slashing an X of fire at her. But Marco dove forward, thrust his blade straight for the inferno and shot a ball of blue fire that blasted both attacks to smoke.

Hekapoo rushed forward with blinding speed and spun to strike at Star, but instead buried her blade and blew both Star and Marco back in a massive fireball. Star fell back to catch her breath as Marco gripped his sword and charged at the craftswoman with blinding speed of his own.

The two met blades and as they fought for control, Hekapoo dropped her left scissor and caught it low, thrusting it for Marcos' ribs. But he let go with one hand of his own and parried the strike off of his bracer, driving a kick into Hekapoos gut and rushing forward to deliver a hard jackhammer punch to the face. When his fist made contact, it ruptured in a ball of blue flames, blasting Hekapoo down to the ground.

Star walked up beside Marco, her blade at the ready, watching as Hekapoo stood carefully.

"What's our gameplan, Marco? Is it time to finish her off for good?" She asked quietly. Hekapoo wiped some blood from her lip, smiling at them both as Marco answered. "We can't kill her. She's the only one who can make this thing work. I think she just wants us to beat her."

Star cracked her neck and stepped up, gripping her blade and transforming it into a hammer. "Hows about I throw her a party?"

"What?"

"Just get ready. And go. All. Out. She says you're the real test so don't hold back."

"Hey! You guys know I'm standing right here? I'm still waiting for muscles to-"

"NOW!" Star yelled. Grabbing Marco by his armor, she tossed him up into the air and as Hekapoo made to charge forward, she caught Marco on the face of her hammer mid-swing, boosting him forward at breakneck speed. Hekapoo got wide-eyed as Marco rolled into a downward slash midair, and sent a massive wave of blue fire down at her. She swung her blade to open a portal, but the arc touched down before she could jump through.

Hekapoo was flung back by the shockwave and made to portal as she flew, but Star was waiting for her. She smiled menacingly at Hekapoo as she reared back a rainbow fist punch that would make omnitraxus squirm. Star swung hard and knocked Hekapoo back down to earth like a meteor as the concussive force of the blow nearly cleared the dust from around them.

Hekapoo hit the ground hard and rolled to a stop, shaking her head to catch her breath. But it was short lived as the moment she looked up, a massive pink hammer slammed into her face, throwing her right into an arc of explosive force from Marcos sword. The shockwave ripped the ground apart as blue fire rolled in every direction.

The smoke hung heavy in the air and as the dust began to settle, Star and Marco stood side by side with their weapons ready, staring down the crater wall with sobering seriousness.

Hekapoo trudged from the flames, her dress torn and bleeding from several fresh wounds. The flame on her head was extinguished, and her expression was that of a furious lion.

"How does it feel, Hekapoo?" Star called out, shouldering her hammer. "Sucks to lose, doesn't it?"

Hekapoo glared at Star for a moment, before turning to Marco and smirking. "I have no idea where you guys got that kind of magic, but I want some. You got a real spark in your step, you two. Don't blow it," she chastised before poofing out of existence.

"What?" The two asked in unison, watching as Hekapoo turned to dust before their eyes. No sooner than their eyes turning to meet each other, a tearing sound came from behind, pulling them both back into the forge. The walls had been repaired, as well as the floor, and the real Hekapoo stood proudly before them, smiling as smug as ever.

"Nice job guys. That clone was just as strong as me, even if she wasn't as fast."

Marco finally let his jaw fall open, but Star glared daggers at the real Hekapoo and pointed her blade at her chest. "Fix. Marco. Now." She demanded.

But her resolve was shattered when Hekapoo shrugged. "Sorry, princess. I can't fix him. Took like all of my strength just to do it."

Star regained a menacing scowl and took a step closer, pressing her sword against Hekapoo. "You stole him from me. Everything we did together, it's all gone. Because you wanted to test us. I'm not letting that go, Hekapoo."

Marco stood up and pushed the two apart, turning to face Star. "Look, maybe we can figure something out back home. You mentioned some Glossaryck guy?" He asked sincerely. Star held her expression and turned to face the door, crossing her arms as she spoke.

"We can try. But if I can't get your memories back," she began, turning sharply to face Hekapoo, "I'm coming back here to finish what I started. Hekapoo nodded and leaned forward, tapping on Marcos sword. A thin sheen washed over it before it returned to normal, now resembling a normal pair of scissors.

" Use those to get home, Muscles. Just think of where you wanna go, and cut away. And Star?" Hekapoo asked, tossing a glance her way. "Don't be afraid to bring him back for some more good times, yeah? I feel like I'm gonna miss you guys."

Star snorted and stared Hekapoo down before turning on her heels and pulling Marco towards the door. "Yeah, I'll bring him back alright. I'll show him a good time. Fuckin better believe it."

"Wait," Marco stopped and made his way over to Nachos, who had largely gone unnoticed this whole time. "I can't leave Nachos behind. And there are so many people I have to say goodbye to."

"Hekapoo, watch Marcos awesome Dragon cycle and I'll consider forgiving you," Star called out from the door. "Done," Hekapoo answered, turning back to her forgery to work on another pair of scissors.

"And Marco, it's fine. We can come back at any time. You're not saying goodbye forever. I promise. It's time for us to go home," Star explained, smiling at him and taking his free hand.

Marco still looked uneasy, but nodded in agreement, sharing a smile with his best friend. "Alright. But how's that gonna work? My family won't know who I am. Or my friends. It's been like fifteen years, Star."

She gave him a curt smile and bit her lower lip, eyeing Hekapoo from afar. "Yeah, seeeee, time here goes super slow. Like, two years a minute, slow."

"...so, It's only been seven and a half minutes?! Seriously?! What the hell is with this place? Everyone we know will be dead by the time we come back!"

"Ha ha haaaa, seeeeeeeeee, because of us, that only happens when we're here. So when we go home, time works just like ours!" Star sand in a cheery tone.

Hekapoo dropped what she was working on and turned madly to face the two. "What."

Star smiled innocently and took the scissors from Marcos' hand, cutting a bright purple portal through the air. "Byyyeeee Hekapoooooo!"

"WHAT?!"

The two stepped through just as fountains of fire began to erupt, gently being deposited safely in Star bedroom. The afternoon sun was still high, and the room seemed completely foreign to both inhabitants. After a few minutes of getting readjusted to their new, younger bodies, Marco and Star resumed observing the space around them.

Marco looked around slowly, taking in every detail with an expression of complete confusion. "Star, this isn't home. Where are we?"

She smiled at him and opened her bedroom door, showing him his room across the hall, and the stairs leading to the familiar living room below. "See? Home. That's just my room. You uh, don't remember anything about it, do you?" She asked carefully.

"No, he does not," Glossaryck butted in, floating between the two. Both teens turned madly to face him, and Marco nearly tore up the carpet backing away. "What the hell is that?! He shouted.

"Now that's just rude, Marco. But, given your situation, I'll let it slide for some pudding later," Glossaryck hummed. He floated forward and examined Marco carefully, eyeing the minute differences in his appearance.

"Can you fix him?" Star asked cautiously, watching the two of them with anticipation.

Glossaryck continued to stare at Marco before turning slowly to face Star. He floated over to her and patted her shoulder, shaking his head. "Unfortunately, I cannot. His memories were erased, not taken."

Star frowned and tried to argue, to no avail. "No, no no no no there's gotta be some way you can fix him! He didn't even remember who I was after like ten years of being without him! You have to do something!" She demanded, turning back to a confused Marco.

"There's nothing I can do, Star. I don't have control of this sort of thing," Glossaryck answered.

"Then who does! Can't your supernatural girlfriend pull his memories out of another Marco from right before we got kidnapped?"

To her surprise, Glossaryck actually considered the idea, but shook his head nonetheless. "No, no. That would be incredibly risky. Plus, she's not exactly a people person."

Star leaned forward, grabbed Glossaryck by the robe and pulled him closer. "Well, I am. Take us to her so we can get his memories back. Now."

After a moment of pause, Glossaryck smiled and tapped the gem on his forehead, making it glow bright red. Star backed away and stood beside Marco as the hexagonal gem shot out a dozen beams of light, each pointing their own direction. The gem began to shake softly, and Glossaryck frowned, speaking seemingly to himself. "Sorry, my love but I'm afraid they're insisting. Go easy on them, okay?"

The twelve beams began to move, carving an elaborate design into the wall beside them. Once the design was complete, the beams all converged at the center, opening the portal like a shutter lens. "Alright, head on in!" Glossaryck said happily. "And be considerate. English isn't her first language."

Star and Marco exchanged an uneasy glance before taking a cautious step through the portal.

While Hekapoos portals were blocked by a shimmering whirlwind, this one was like a glowing hole that showed you what was on the other side.

As they stepped through, the portal closed behind them and they were left in a dark, red-hued hallway carved with murals they couldn't recognize, with a massive wooden door at the end. Star took Marcos hand and the two began to walk, hoping that whatever the goddess was, she could at least be helpful.

"Star, I don't know about this.." Marco whispered.

"It'll be fine. She either helps us, or her plan goes down the toilet, but I'm pretty sure we can trust her."

"And, what happens if this works?" Marco asked tentatively. A few yards shy of the door, Star stopped and turned to face him.

"Then I get my Marco back, silly. You'll be all fixed and better and you'll be you again."

Marco frowned at that and took a step back, taking his hand from Stars. She gave him a confused look, but his expression was one of quiet disapproval. "I'm already Marco Diaz. And I don't need to be better, Star. Are you...not happy with what you see?"

Star didn't say anything for a moment as she looked carefully at the boy in front of her. Instead, she lowered her head and took a step closer, pulling him into a surprisingly gently hug. "I could never ask for anything besides you, Marco. But, I don't want you to forget all the reasons you fell in love with me… I don't want to be the only one who remembers everything you did for me. I love you, Marco. But I want you to love me ba-"

He pulled back from the hug and pulled her into a deep kiss, feeling the warmth of her lips against his own. For the first time in a long time, Marco felt at peace. The two held each other for a long while, barely taking time to even breathe. Star pulled him closer, never wanting to let go as Marco wrapped his arms around her, never wanting to lose her.

After a few minutes, Star finally leaned back, taking a moment to catch her breath as Marco did much the same. He smiled and hugged her softly, resting his chin on her shoulder. "I do love you, Star. In so many ways that I can't even explain. If remembering everything about you from before the quest helps me realize why, then I'll do it. Let's go remind me of all the reasons."

She pulled away to look at him and smiled, pressing her forehead to his. "You're such a cheeseball, Marco. But thank you. So much."

"Don't mention it. ...Erm, I'm not gonna see anything compromising, am I?"

"Not until later, safe kid. Just don't think too hard about Vintal."

"Noted?" He answered as they slowly pushed the massive door open. The sight before them, however, was something completely unexpected.

It was a massive, cavernous rotunda with carvings on every surface, depicting battles, love stories, histories, and prophecies. Floating around the room haphazardly were enormous crystals, in shades of red, and blues, glowing in intervals like a heartbeat. And in the center of the room, was a mixture of ruby and sapphire, unlike anything they had ever seen before.

Easily the size of a city bus standing upright, it hummed and glowed purple along the connections as the crescent moon etched on its face glowed white.

Marco and Star approached the crystal and purely out of instinct, bowed before it. The power it radiated was unreal. It made their skin crawl just being near it. But it also made them feel warm, and safe.

"Hello?" Star called out to it, waiting patiently for an answer.

"We're talking to a rock?" Marco asked before earning a sharp slap to the back of the head. "Don't be rude to the goddess rock, Marco!" She seethed back at him.

"¿ƏƜOꞍ ʎƜ OꞱ NOʎ SƁUIɹQ ꞱⱯꞍʍ PƏꞱƆƏDXƏUUN OS ƁUIƏQ ꞱI ƏꞱIDSƏP 'NOʎ ꞱƏƏƜ ʎLLⱯUIɟ OꞱ PƏɹOUOꞍ ƜⱯ I UƏɹPLIꞍƆ ʎƜ 'ꞱꞍƁIɹLⱯ SI ꞱI"

The crystal hummed like a massive warning horn turned up to max. Star and marco exchanged an uneasy glance before turning back to the Goddess of the Blood Moon.

"I'm really, really sorry," Star began, "but is there any way you could talk like us? It's kinda hard to understand you."

A minute of quiet went by, and Star was beginning to get nervous before the crystal hummed again, this time much softer.

"Is this clearer for you to understand?" The Goddess asked.

"Yup! Crystal!" Star exclaimed.

"Wonderful. It is so nice to finally meet the two of you in person. Tell me, what is it you need, my children?"

Star grabbed Marcos' shoulders and shoved him slightly forward, holding him in place as she explained their predicament. "You see, we were taken away for ten years in the dimension Vintal is in. Hekapoo was testing us for something, and since Marco knew about it, she wiped his memory of me, the future, and Glossaryck. Is there any way you can, fix him?"

The crystal was silent for a moment before a long tendril of purple magic snaked its way from the Moon carving. Marco began to feel uneasy as it approached him, but found that as it held the side of his face, it was warm and inviting, like a mother's hand on a cold day.

Finally, she spoke again, retracting the purple magic back into the crystal.

"I am sorry, my child. I cannot fix what is not broken. It is sadly, irreversible."

"So there's nothing you can do?" Star prompted. Marco moved to shush her from speaking out at the Goddess, but the Blood Moon continued.

"His memories are gone. But yours, are still intact. If you desire, I can give him your memories of the past, present, and future. You may share with him what you wish, and he will be returned to nearly the same state you seek."

"Nearly? Is he gonna see it from my point of view?" Star asked.

"The process is not perfect. But, since you are bonded, the issues of his perception of the events will be obsolete."

"Okay, one moment please," Star hummed with a smile. She turned to Marco and gestured at him cautiously.

"So, what do you think? Sound good?" She asked.

"I mean, it sounds good to me, if you're fine with it. I trust you have nothing to hide."

Star smiled curtly at him, remembering the love trials, and her behavior during Vintal. But if it meant helping Marco remember, it was worth it.

"Of course," she said, taking his hands. "Are you ready to fall in love with me a fourth time?"

Marco snorted and the two broke out into a fit of laughter at the realization. "Yeah, yeah I am," Marco answered with a grin. The two turned to face the Goddess and smiled, ready for anything.

"Give us the goods, mama!" Star called out, eliciting a sharp slap on the back of the head from Marco.

"Very well. When you awaken, give Glossaryck my regards, and tell him to warn me when I should expect guests. If you need me, all you need do is look up, my children."

The crystals all around the rotunda began to glow a vivid red and icy blue, filling the room with a mixed purple that was nearly blinding. Star and Marco pulled each other closer into a hug, just before a white flash stole their vision, turning everything to black.

Star slowly opened her eyes, and blinked away the daylight pouring in from the living room window. She yawned and smacked her lips a few times before realizing the couch she was on was incredibly uncomfortable. Sitting up, she realized she had been haphazardly draped over Marco, who was just beginning to stir.

She sat up quickly and straightened her hair as best she could before waiting patiently for him to come to. When he finally did, he looked around the room with curious eyes until they fell upon her. He was silent for a moment, letting her image soak into his mind, before she let her nerves give way to a bone-crushing hug.

"Star…" he breathed, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her down to his level. "You...I...everything…… I love you," he whispered, pulling her into a tight kiss. The two held each other for what seemed like forever, letting both of their needs take over until eventually they separated and held each other's eyes.

"I missed you, Macho man," Star chided.

"I missed you too, Stardust. So much more than I could have ever known."

She pressed her forehead against his and held him close, enjoying the moment she had been dreaming of for ten years. "It was so hard...being without you, Marco," she breathed, letting fresh tears fall down her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry you had to be alone. I should have found you sooner."

"Shh. You didn't know better. I'm just glad you were still you, deep down."

"Thank you, for everything, Star. You're amazing," he whispered. Star smiled at him and kissed his nose, pulling him up slightly more to her level.

"Don't mention it, safe kid. Cuz I've been thinking of how you're gonna make it up to me, for ten whole years."

Marcos' cheeks flushed red as he stared up into her endearing blue eyes. His throat was suddenly as dry as a desert in Chile as he answered, completely flustered. "Ahrm. Oh? A-and h-hows that?"

Star gave him a soft grin with lidded eyes as she slowly stood up from the couch and made her way to the stairs. Her eyes never leaving his, she took the first step and motioned him over slowly. "Come with me and find out, Diaz," she purred.

"Ho boy," Marco whispered.

To be continued in: Training wheels

As both Ludo and Star work to unlock the secrets of their wand, Marco focuses on mastering his new scissors

AUTHORS NOTE

Hey everyone, sorry for the delay, I know I said by friday but damn I cut it close with this one. 26 thousand words. holy hell. Idek how I wrote that much. literally crashing fanfiction on my phone with this. I really hope you guys like this chapter, and the subtle notes scattered throughout it. if you guessed the big twist, which was that Star would be going along for the journey, CONGRATS! YOURE AWESOME! Thanks so much for reading, leave a review with thoughts, suggestions, and questions, and I'll see you all in the next chapter! Buh Byyyeee!!!

~Mr. Ronald Reagan