"And you're sure you don't have any other option?" Marco asked, pulling a massive tray of nachos from the oven and setting them down on the counter. The steam from the cheese curled around in the air as Star shook her head.

"Nope. I have to. Just like you. We don't have a choice, no matter how much it infuriates me," she finished angrily. She popped a chip in her mouth and let the creamy cheese deliver torrents of flavor, easing her, if only slightly.

Marco looked at her, his expression somber and his eyes seeping with denial. "Star, I know we have rules we have to follow, but I don't have to go with her if it makes you unhappy. You and I being together changes a lot as it is. I could just go with you and-"

"No, Marco. You and Jackie are supposed to have the dance. And I get stuck with Ludo. That's...how it's supposed to be." Despite her clear decision, however, her expression faltered into one of remorse at the admission.

"Star, you don't have to go alone. The only thing that needs to happen tomorrow night is Ludo taking the book. Let me be there with you so I can keep you safe."

"That's just it, Marco. You weren't there before. He might be too scared to take the book at all if we're together. Just...go with Jackie and we can be together for the after-party or something."

Glossaryck crunched on a chip with all three points before raising his hand. "Don't I get a say in this?"

"No," Star grumbled. "It's bad enough we have to do this at all. You're going with Ludo," she began before turning to Marco, "and you're going with Jackie."

Glossaryck finished his 'perfect chip', and after loudly licking his fingers clean, he addressed the two bickering teenagers. "If I may, why exactly do I need to be taken? If the events you've laid out don't lead to that outcome, then perhaps it's more detrimental to force it."

Star and Marco exchanged a confused glance as Glossaryck continued, hungrily searching for an evenly coated cheesy isosceles chip. "If Ludo doesn't even bother attempting to get the book, then you two will have effectively wasted your evening for nothing. All I'm suggesting is, go to the dance, leave the book here, and if I'm taken, you lose nothing. Or better yet, bring the book with you, and just hand it off at the dance."

Star shook her head angrily. "But Ludo came after me specifically. If we go to the dance and he's looking for the book then we might have to fight him."

"So be prepared for a fight, and chase him away if he's gotten me," Glossaryck prompted, turning to face Marco. "What do you think?"

Although his expression was tight with focus, Marco eased into one of denial. " Who knows what could happen if Ludo doesn't take you? We might have gotten lucky last time and avoided something worse than Toffee. So you have to be stolen by Ludo tomorrow night. "

"Exactly!" Star shouted, throwing her hands into the air. "We should stick to what we know, and do what we did last time."

"I don't think that's a good idea either, Star," Marco continued, tossing a chip into his mouth and leaning forward. "There's one person we're forgetting is involved in all this. ...Vartek," he finished quietly."

"What about him?" Star asked incredulously. She was too close to proving her point for a non-issue to ruin everything. "We haven't seen him in person since we got rid of Toffee! He might not even be alive after getting sucked into that portal thing."

Marco held his chin and paced around the kitchen for a moment, analyzing the situation. "True, but we can guess that he was behind your dreams and my visions. All I'm saying is, we can't afford to be reckless with this."

There was a slow pause as all parties concerned processed that suggestion. Some nachos saw their lives cut short, until it was Stat that finally broke the silence. "So what do you suggest we do? We can't just abandon the way things are supposed to go."

Marco shook his head, sitting back down beside her. "Star, this is gonna sound really, reeaally stupid, coming from me of all people," he began, taking her hand. "But, I think we should go to the dance together."

"What?!" She asked incredulously. Marco held up his hands to ease the situation, and explained, "We go through all these hoops, deal with tons of baloney, things still end up changing like crazy, and we're the only ones who pay the price for it. I'm just saying, after all of the nonsense we go through, don't you think we've earned at least this?"

Star scowled at him, her lips taught into a pout and her shoulders tense. "No, Marco. You made it A HUGE deal that we change, nothing. And now you want to mess up the most important night for the future of-"

"Us," he interrupted. "Star we didn't get a chance last time because of me. I don't want to make that mistake again. Glossaryck will get captured, and I can finally show you a good time at the dance."

At the idea, Stars shoulders loosened if only slightly, matching her expression as she leaned forward. "Marco, that night wasn't your fault, you know that, right?"

He stiffened and didn't say anything, avoiding Stara gaze as she went on. "Marco, that night was a fluke. You were doing you, and I was doing me. Sure it could have been better, but-"

"But I wasn't there when you needed me. I was chasing Jackie and you were heartbroken. You almost died that night, Star. It was my fault, and I want to make it up to you this time."

"Then it's decided!" Glossaryck chimed in, pulling another perfect chip from the pile, though this time it was bare. "You two go to the dance, leave the spellbook here, and enjoy yourselves!"

"No!" Star yelled, slamming her fists down on the countertop. "Nothings decided because we're not going together! You and I are going to the cemetery and Marco is going to the park with Jackie!"

There was a moment of stillness in the room before Glossaryck held up his naked chip. "Star, hun, what do you see in my hand?"

She glared at him, gripping the edged of her seat so hard, her knuckles were white. "Probably a stupid metaphor. Why don't you eat it?"

"No, no no nonononono, you see, this is a perfect chip. Not, unlike you and Marco here. Guess what happens when I load it with toppings?" He asked, gently pressing it against a pile of cheese and peppers.

Star squinted at him, her frown withstanding his question as she quickly shrugged. Marco said nothing and only watched as Glossaryck continued to press for toppings. With an audible crack, the chip snapped in two.

"It breaks. Any questions?"

Marco raised his hand, but was immediately waved off by Glossaryck. "Yes, it's a metaphor chip for you two breaking under pressure. Go to the dance and if you really want to, bring the spellbook and hand it off."

Star scoffed and stood up sharply, turning to leave the room. "It's a dumb metaphor, and we're not going. You and I are going to the cemetery, with Janna. And Marco?" She asked, not even turning around to face him.

"Yeah?"

"If I hear more than two rings of dial tone, you and Jackie are dead," she finished gravely. Marco grinned and leaned back in his seat, eyeing her daringly as he answered. "As much as I love jealous Star, I've gotten my fill of that. I'm going to the dance. With you. And If you argue, then I'm going with...um...Stacy!"

"The cheerleader? Ha! No offense Marco, I don't think you'd enjoy that any more than me. But, we'll put a pin in it for later. Right now, it's relationship Thursday, and I want some more."

Marco glanced around the room nervously, furrowing his brow at the vague insinuation. "More...what?"

"I'm quite certain she wants to spar with you to decide what you're doing tomorrow night," Glossaryck tossed in, munching on another, less than perfect chip.

"Actually, I wanted to cuddle up with a movie going, buuuuut-"

Marco sighed, standing up and nodding grimly to the blue man enjoying a snack. "There are worse ways to decide where to go, but alright. Winner chooses what the plan is."

"Deal," Star answered, opening a portal with Marcos scissors before tossing them at him. "But don't cry when I win, again."

"Please. You won because Toffee took control and-"

"And what? Took away my sense of restraint?" Star asked with a fiendish grin.

Marco stared at her as she stepped through the portal before shaking his head. "Because you had sooo much already."

Once Marco had stepped through, the portal collapsed on itself, leaving Glossaryck alone in the kitchen to finish the hardly touched plate of nachos. He was fully prepared to chomp into a fresh chip, but before he could, the hexagonal gem atop his head shook softly and hummed with a red glow.

Sighing, he set down his snack and tapped it twice, allowing it to shoot it's signature red beams of light around the room until they converged to trace the outline of a portal. Once it had opened like a camera shutter, he casually floated through, into the massive chamber of floating crystals where the Goddess of the Blood Moon resided.

At the center of the room, surrounded by sapphire and ruby gems, was a monolithic gem comprised of the two, pulsing and humming with raw magical power. At the face of it, was a simple carving of the blood moon, and on either side of it, was a blazing sun, and a shining star.

"I figured you'd want to speak with me at some point, my love. Though, I feel it might be a while until you get the chance again," he sighed.

The central crystal comprised of mixed sapphire and ruby glowed once before humming softly, filling the room with a warm purple light.

"Yes, and I trust you will return?" The goddess said in a voice like music, as the floating crystals around the room shimmered at her words.

"You're speaking english now? That's new."

There was a short pause, as Glossaryck began to grow nervous at her silence. Then, with a soft hum, the base of the center crystal glowed with a brightness not seen for decades. Glossaryck shielded his eyes and after a moment, once the light had subsided and the noise had died down, he took a brave glance back at the centerpiece of the room.

There, at its base, was a woman unlike any other in the universe. She had bright red hair, rolling in the air like smoke from a candle, and a dress that shimmered like red diamonds. Her ruby red lips parted to speak, and glossaryck felt his heart slow at her silk-like voice.

"Yes, the children have rubbed off on me, if only a little. But you're evading my question, my love."

"And what question would that be?"

She stepped closer to him, her feet stopping inches above the ground with each pace, and her blue eyes piercing through his soul.

"Are you going to be alright, Glossaryck? I could lose a great many things, but you, I cannot live without. We have seen this course of events play out before, but I can feel something… cold approaching. Something rotten."

He smiled smugly at her and floated closer, taking in every detail he rarely got to see. She stopped a foot before him, her hair pouring over her shoulders, and waited for his response.

"Someday, you will have to lose me, Luna. But for now, yes. I will be fine, despite the ever advancing danger that poisons my vision."

"Is there nothing else we can do? Dying at the hands of that… that… filthy bird and wretched lizard…" as she spoke, her eyes began to take on a reddish hue, mixing with blue to make a deep violet as her hair began to writhe angrily. "If I had my way, I'd destroy them right now and be done with it."

"I know, Luna. But we have rules for a reason. My death is inevitable, and in this instance, required and temporary. I'll be back before you know it. I promise."

She glided through the air, her hair trailing in gentle wisps as she circled around him and cupped his much smaller cheek in her hand. "See that you are. And please, Glossaryck, be careful."

He smiled at her delicate touch, allowing her warm waves of ease wash over his mind before holding the edge of her hand. "My fate is sealed, one way or another. But you, my Goddess, have my word. I'll be back soon."

She leaned in and kissed the gem at his forehead, smiling gently at his words before dissipating into the air. The center crystal glowed once more as her words washed over him like honey. "I can't wait. Tell Star and Marco to have fun at the dance, and don't let them get carried away. Goodbye for now, My love."

With a rush of air, and a short blink, Glossaryck was floating pleasantly back in the kitchen, staring down at nachos that had turned slightly soggy in his absence. His small smile wilted into a look of uncertainty as a portal opened near the entrance to the living room.

"-told you we should have avoided the canyon!" Marco shouted, his hair a mess and his clothes dusted in soot and dirt. Scorch marks dotted his hoodie alongside various holes, with Stars singed dress matching.

"Well, next time don't be a sore loser and collapse a cliff just to avoid my spell!" Star answered in kind. Glossaryck smile returned as he looked on at the two sitting down.

"I trust your negotiations were successful?" He asked innocently.

"No," Star quipped, tossing a venomous glare at Marco. "It was more of a tie, so we still don't really know what to do. I'm still voting we keep things the same, and avoid crazy changes!"

"And you think things haven't changed like crazy already?" Marco asked in a huff. "I say we keep the spellbook close, and when Ludo shows up, we just give it to him and enjoy the dance."

"That could ruin everything, Marco! What if he wants to fight anyway? Or Toffee sicks him on the people at the dance?! We should be out in the woods, where we can make sure nobody gets hurt!"

With a grin, Glossaryck quipped "I see you both still have some planning to do, so, I guess I'll be going now. Wake me when you've decided."

"Oh no, you don't!" Star yelled, grabbing his small robe and yoinking him back. "Since Marco won't listen, tell him that we can't change history!"

"And who says that's the right thing to do right now?!" Marco shouted, standing up and meeting Stars gaze. "Glossaryck, tell her we should enjoy the night and make things as painless as possible!"

Both teens turned their curdled glares at the small blue glossary, but found him staring blankly back at them. With a shrug, he answered, "Look, you two should decide this on your own. I'm not some couples counselor helping you make choices. I trust you'll figure it out, and in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my last hours of freedom."

In a poof of smoke, he disappeared from view, leaving the two huffing teens alone. Star immediately turned on her heels and began striding towards the stairs, throwing back, "I say we keep things the same. If you want to be a suicidal hypocrite, go right ahead!"

Matching her intensity, Marco called out after her, "If you want to waste a perfectly good night waiting for a fight that might not even happen, go right ahead! I'm going to the dance, with or without you!"

"UGH! FINE!" Star yelled from the top of the stairs. "Maybe you can take Jackie again! Since she probably won't mind you being an idiot!"

There was a slam of a door upstairs before Marco sighed and sat down, glaring at the soiled nachos on the counter. "And you. Getting soggy after only a few minutes. Who does that?"

The nachos were understandably unresponsive, frustrating Marco even more. "Why am I talking to nachos. Though, at least they can listen to me, unlike some people!" he shouted angrily to himself. The kitchen fell quite, despite his outburst, to which he sank into his chair and stared at the counter.

"Well, if I'm going alone, I'd better get an outfit together. And find a way to keep an eye on Star." He made to walk towards the stairs, but his body was unresponsive. The entire room went cold, washed in soft green light, as he found even breathing to be impossible.

A woman's words crept into his mind, but he didn't fear them. They came with a calming wash of ease and sounded as though he was thinking them himself.

"Marco, you must stay by Stars side, no matter what. Hide the spellbook, and keep it locked away where no one can find it. Terrible things are in motion, and if he gets the book, all will be lost."

The green light remained, and his body continued to refuse to move, but he found that he could think back a response, and knew that it would be heard.

"Who are you? And why would losing the book mean 'all is lost'?"

There was a silence that followed his question, his mind blank and empty against the stillness. Just before he made to speak again, the voice returned.

"You'll find out soon enough. She can sense me, so I can't stay. Don't trust her. Hide or destroy the book. He cannot get it, Marco Diaz. Mewni will fall if he can perfect his weapon."

"What weapon? Who wants the book? Who can I not trust?" he asked in vain to the emptiness of his mind. One word was all that was said as the cold presence receded.

"Vartek."

He tried to think back more questions, but instead found that his body could move again, the green light already fading. He dropped to his knees, what felt like a massive hangover already pounding against his skull as he drew in a sharp breath of air to fill his now burning lungs.

Breathing heavily, he got back to his feet, and shakily leaned against the counter, knocking over the plate of nachos. "Jeez, *pant* what the *pant* heck is-"

"Can you stop throwing stuff in a tantrum? If you're just gonna trash the hou-" Star stopped at the bottom of the stairs when she saw Marco hyperventilating and looking extremely pale.

"Marco? What happened? Are you alright?" She asked, running to his side and checking him for wounds. "Breathe Marco, in and out, deep breaths," she prompted.

Marco complied, letting his chest rise and fall with his breaths, satiating the ache of his lungs. "I'm *pant* fine Star. *Pant* I just stopped *pant* moving for a minute, *pant* and couldn't breathe."

"Maybe I overdid it with the sparring. I'm sorry for getting mad at you, I came down to apologize," she said, continuing to look him over. When no wound could be found, she set him up in a chair and sat down beside him. "If you really think we should go to the dance, then… fine. We can go, hand over the book, and enjoy-"

"No! We can't!" Marco interrupted, holding up his hands defensively.

"Well fine then, moody. Just pick one already and we'll just do that."

"No, no Star, I stopped breathing because time stopped. Like when the Blood Moon talked to me in your room. But it wasn't her, it was someone else. She said that if we give him the book, then he'll perfect a weapon or something, and Mewni will fall."

Star stared at him for a moment, processing his statement before furrowing her brow ever so slightly. "Marco, we have to give him the book. If we don't, everything will change. We know that. What we don't know is who that was."

"I know, I know. But if Ludo has a weapon, it could be worse than things changing. And...she said Vartek was the one who wants the book. She said either hide it or destroy it."

Again, Star took a moment to process that, her eyes darting around the room before settling on the countertop. "How do we know we can trust whoever it was? Maybe they want to make sure we ruin everything?"

"We don't. She said not to trust someone else. She said 'don't trust her'. I think we should hide the book somewhere, and see what happens tomorrow."

Pursing her lips, Star tilted her head. "What are we gonna do?"

Marco shook his head and drew a shaky breath, looking around the room in desperation. "I...I don't know. We need to talk to Glossaryck, and figure out a plan. If they really are coming for us tomorrow, then we have to be ready for them. All of us."

Star made to respond, but Glossaryck interrupted them from behind. "I heard everything."

"So what do you think we should do? Personally, I still vote on being at the cemetery where we can be ready," Star said with determination.

Glossaryck shook his head, turning back to face the two. "Hide the book, and be ready for anything."

To be continued in:

Dancing with the Star pt. II