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.

66. A Sickness

Forgotten Ventures

A Sickness

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Merina fell through the shimmering portal face-first, narrowly catching herself before plowing into the muddy street below. She righted herself and took stock of her belongings and bearings, finding the bustling, drummy street of the Monster capital buzzing around her. Though, capital wasn't really the right word. It was more like a shitty village caked in mud and barely teetering on the edge of desolation near the ancient Monster temple.

Bungalow houses and bow-strung huts made up most of the buildings, with small tracts of farmland perforating the outer sectors of the settlement. It was beyond primitive compared to what it would one day evolve into, and compared to their overbearing neighbors, the Mewmans. She'd been to the shantytown a few times, the first being to stand trial for Varteks crimes. She didn't bother lingering for sightseeing or memories.

Merina dusted off her trousers and started heading towards the center of town, eager to get a plan in action.

If she wanted to learn more about a millennia-old legend, first she needed to find someone who might be old enough to even recall it. There were no libraries, nor storehouses of history and literature here. Word of mouth was how much of Monster culture spread, and the same could be said about their myths and legends. Primarily, the chieftain of Monsters might know enough to get her started, or at the very least his advisors. There was bound to be someone here who knew where and what the Nexus was.

But Merina didn't make it far, stopped on her tracks by a shouting voice down the street behind her. "HEY! Green magic lady! Over here!"

"Don't just scream at a stranger in the middle of the street, it's not-"

"She's not a stranger, we're practically on a first name basis already!"

"Then why did you call her green magic lady?"

She turned almost instinctively, readying herself for whatever apologies and condolences she'd grown used to giving out. But when she took stock of the approaching duo, she instead waited with a grin. "Hello. Ludo and Dennis I presume?"

A small man- if you could call him that, he was more of a bird- trotted closer with a much taller bird man beside him. Star's friends most likely. The smaller of the two broke into a wide smile and beamed at the other with pride. "See?! I told you we were famous now! Our reputation precedes us!" He knocked Dennis' wing, the taller of the two answering with a bashful smile and efforts to quell his brother's boisterous nature.

"Or, Star told her we were here and that you'd probably scream at her and make a fool of yourself."

"I don't scream at people! I'm projecting my authority on those fortunate enough to hear it! You could learn something from your big brother, you know."

"I'll take my chances."

Merina smiled, watching the two. In a weird, invasive sort of way, it was cute. Ludo, the smaller of the two, turned back to her with melting impatience. "We were asked by the Butterfly Girl to help you anyway we can. So… what do you want- *oof!*"

"Do you seriously not know anyone's name?" Dennis asked, shoving Ludo back and addressing Merina directly. "Sorry about him. What he means to say is how can we help? Star told us a bit about what's going on, that you're looking for something?"

Merina smiled and gave a short bow, both out of respect, and because Ludo was obviously taken with the gesture. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. Yes, I was hoping… to…" Her attention was drawn over Dennis' shoulder, watching as a ragged group of Monsters unloaded crates of soil from a cart. They likely meant to spread it over a small field of barren, wilted crops just beside the road. "I erm… I'm looking for information on a legend of sorts. I'd like to meet with the chief, in the hopes that an oral history might have-"

"Say no more! We'll take you to him right away!" Ludo shouted. He gave her something akin to a salute, beaming the entire time. "As his lordships most trusted advisors, we can-"

"We're really more like his assistants."

"Shush! Yes, as his most trusted… assistants, we can help find this legend! Follow us!"

The merry little duo made way towards the center of the village, but Merina held back, watching the crated soil be poured onto dead crops without care. It was as appalling as her first visit, and she saw fit to extend a helping hand this time. "A moment please." She gestured for Ludo and Dennis to wait before stepping onto the dirt and making her way towards the center of the field.

From the middle, she could feel years of attempts to rekindle the poor soil, all to no avail. With a gentle flex of her hands, her eyes began to glow a bright forest green. There was a touch of embarrassment from all the eyes resting squarely on her shoulders, but Merina pushed on, calling to the plants and soil far below the surface. She could feel fungus, roots, insects, everything alive below the crust of the dusty dirt above.

At her command, the very ground began to rumble with rejuvenated vigor, a slow color returning to the crumbled topsoil. The weeds that had overgrown tomatoes withered to dust as stalks of corn and beans and wheat shot from the ground. The field itself seemed to take a deep breath before the plants relaxed, settling into place before the stunned onlookers.

Merina matched that sigh of relief, her eyes returning to normal as she walked with difficulty back to the road. "Sorry, it's usually much easier, but lately magics been on the scarce side."

"Incredible!" Ludo was grinning ear to ear, jumping in place. "I heard you were that creep's wife, but to think you've got magic muscle of your own!"

Merina frowned, unaware of how much Varteks puppet really knew. But before he could let loose any secrets, it seemed Dennis had it covered. "Remember what Star told us. Keep it on the level." With a sheepish grin he turned back to Merina. "Sorry about him, we won't tell anyone about your future stuff. He just gets excited around magic."

She couldn't help but smile, growing a daisy out of the palm of her hand and leaning down, handing it to Ludo. With a pat on the head she smiled. "Don't worry about it, hun, I do too."

After a short trek towards the center of the village, Merina found her entourage standing outside a simple, bow-strung hut. There were no elite guards, no bonfires or banners, and no stone walls befitting the leader of Monsters. Just a simple shack in the middle of the roads linking the mess together. Not bothering to soak up the unimpressive sights, Merina pushed forward and strode into the hut, followed closely by Ludo and Dennis.

Inside was a little closer to what she'd grown used to in the future. There were relics of days long since passed, weapons with bloodier histories than some armies, some scrolls lying around, and a Lay-Z-thing sitting in the middle of it all. Sitting in the mock Throne of Monsters, sat the chief himself. A Minotaur with graying fur, and one broken horn. He kicked back the leg rest of his recliner and stood, bowing politely to Merina. She returned the gesture, as did his 'advisors'.

"Good morning to you, Bullmond. I hope we aren't interrupting anything?"

The old bull smiled and let out a thunderous laugh, shaking his head. "Not at all, Merina! It's good to see you! To what do we owe the pleasure of your comp-" He was interrupted by a loud rumbling that shook the hut, followed by a shrill whine in the air.

"MAGIC LADDDYYYY!"

Ludo slugged Dennis' wing and smiled. "See? Now who's the weird one?"

"Definitely still you."

Merina ducked low enough to not get tackled by the blur of horns, floppy ears, and bright blue. The mass slammed into the far wall of the hut, but quickly resumed the charge, letting out a bellow of hot air from her nose. From the crushed reeds and settling dust, a young monster in an electric blue dress emerged, dragging one of her hooves against the dirt. This time, when the girl charged, Merina met her with a hug of equal force and enthusiasm.

"Hello, Genny! My, look how big you've gotten over the past few weeks! I can see your horns are coming in nicely!" The young girl, who had the legs of a calf and a matching pair of emerging horns, let loose a fit of giggles and shook her hair to show them off. "I's almost gots horns as big as daddy's! See?" At Merina's returned excitement, the girl began looking around the room and poking in her satchel with interest. "Did you bring me another present?"

"Is my company not gift enough? Your father seems to think so."

"Noooo, a present! A dolly like last time!"

Merina was forced to concede as she was met with an adorable pout. She set Genny down and flexed her wrist behind her back, letting her pupils glow a soft emerald. Behind her, reeds shot from the floor and wove themselves into a doll, with marigold petals blooming to make a puffy dress fit for a queen. And of course, two roots made up a pearly set of horns. When it was done, she held the doll out for Genny to see, pleased with the wide-mouthed gasp and immediate jumping. "How's this?"

Genny was quick to snatch the doll away, but Bullmond was just as fast to ask, "What do we say?"

She stopped mid-jump and turned, throwing her arms around Merina and squeezing with the strength of half an ox. "Thank you! I love it! It's as pretty as you, magic lady!"

Merina returned the hug, though she tried to keep her smile as believable as possible. In truth, all she could see was a memory of the girl, freed from her corruption by the Goat of Death before Varteks rampage. No one was safe, not even children, and for months Merina had tried desperately to make any amends she could. So far only Queen Moon, and Chief Bullmond had voiced forgiveness.

Pulled from her thoughts, Merina set down the squirming mass of horns and hooves before Genny darted out of the hut, likely to find new victims to play with. Letting out an easy sigh, Bullmond took a seat, sinking into the recliner once more. "She adores you, but she's getting to be a handful," he chuckled, "Soon enough I hope she'll start taking after her mother, and less from her father."

Another death she was responsible for, another family torn apart by her husband, and her magic. Merina forced a smile and tried not to let her thoughts flood with her own family. "It really is good to see you again, Bullmond, and I do hate to be so forward, but I've come with urgent intentions. Can we speak alone?"

Bullmond watched her for a moment, but sensing no ill-intentions, snorted in approval. "Of course, sit. Please." He waved for one of his other attendants to bring her a wicker chair to sit in, before leaning over to address the two of house Avarus. "Dudo, Lenny, please excuse us for a moment. And ensure we aren't interrupted."

Ludo and Dennis gave each other a confused, and equally annoyed look before stepping out, shutting the hide door behind them. Finally alone, Merina let her shoulders relax and her smile melt. She met Bullmond with a grim disposition before sitting forward. "I'll be blunt: I'm chasing a legand that might assist us in an endeavor to bring justice to these lands. To the Monsters and Mewmans. I was hoping you might be one of the few who might still remember it."

Bullmond scratched at his furry beard, but he looked uneasy. "Justice… We have no need for that word here, Merina. Justice for people in our position is impossible, and it's a hope better spent on a future for our children. The Mewmans may seek it, but they will surely not give us-"

"They're not involved," Merina was quick to interject, earning a curious gesture to continue from the chief. "Mostly. We're hoping to keep it that way. The only other person with knowledge on the matter is the young Mewman Princess. She believes there might be a way to bring not only her suitor back from oblivion, but the man responsible for his death." She paused, waiting to gauge Bullmond's reaction. From the dropping atmosphere of the room, it wasn't good.

"You mean the boy, Marcus Dias. And… Vartek?"

Merina nodded and braced herself for the worst. Bullmond was many things, from kind to fair, but forgiving wasn't a quality he cultivated. "Merina. We Monsters have dealt with you, and I hope we've made our position a fair one. As little as we can give, we'd hoped to build a strong relationship with a magic user, for reasons that should be obvious. But to bring that man back?" he let the air grow thin before snorting in indignation. "That's not an undertaking we would wish to pursue, regardless of the young misses wishes. It's simply too dangerous to risk unleashing that sort of evil back in the world."

Merina couldn't help but nod in agreement, but she felt every obligation to try. "If he is brought back, after the magic he'd corrupted was purified, we believe he'll be powerless. We could offer him to the Mewmans as retribution, strengthening our relations with them, and hopefully earning their trust. We could use him to better your lives. A better future for our children, as you put it."

For a few merciful seconds, Bullmond looked thoughtful enough to consider the prospect, but with a sigh he shook his head. "It's simply too risky. Wherever he went, whatever happened to him, good riddance. I'm sorry to refuse you outright, and I'm sorry the princess is left without her suitor. But we don't need ties and closure so badly as to bring such a creature as him back from the dead."

"And what of your personal feelings?" Merina all but demanded with a heat to her words she didn't mean to ignite. "You don't want to see him put to the sword? After what he did to your people? To Genny?"

Bullmond snorted a hot blast of air and lunged to stand, his hoof digging a rut into the dirt floor as his throat reverberated with a growl that shook the hut. Merina didn't even flinch. "My wants are of no concern in the matter!" he bellowed back, his fury not reserved for her, but to the man in question. "As badly as I want to flay that lizard alive and wear his skin as a cloak, what my people need is to be kept fed, safe, and happy! My people cannot fill their bellies with vengeance, we cannot build homes with vendettas, and we cannot plant seeds of gratification in our dying fields! I cannot rest knowing a man like that is out there after what he did to her- to us!"

Merina stood, matching his powerful presence with one of resolve. She had one card to play off his emotions, and if he called her bluff, it was all over. "And if the Mewmans were to be fed their vengeance? If they were to be left satisfied? Don't you think they'd want to reward the people responsible?"

Bullmond snorted, displacing the air around her. "They wouldn't spit on us so much as thank us!"

"Perhaps not normally, yes. But if the Princess' favor were to be earned with the return of her suitor? If the Queen felt assured that her people were satisfied? You know as well as I do that we could use that as leverage. …we could even force my husband to revert the remaining Turned." She waited, watching as the bull seeing red slowly came to his senses. His shoulders slouched, but his glare remained strong.

"How much of that do you actually believe? Look at this place, at these people. Look at our village, Merina. We are not a people who can survive another affront from that man, nor can we withstand the encroaching kingdoms of Mewni. We have nothing left, and I won't spend that nothing on hopes and beliefs."

Merina could only nod as the raging bull sunk back into his recliner. She extended a hand, her eyes flashing green as the room felt a breath of life. The plants, the sunlight, the air; they were rejuvenated like a passing summertime breeze. She took a seat, smiling gently at Bullmond before leaning forward. "I'll believe what I need to, if it fixes what he did. As a friend of mine said in bad faith: We're running low on hope these days. Please, let me give you some?"

For a long while, Bullmond watched her. His eyes were heavy, and sad, but beneath that sadness lay an ocean of desire to see her proposed future brought to light. True, they were a people left discarded and withering, just as the plants in the field were. But as she'd given life then, she could give hope now to see them returned their bounty. Finally, Bullmond sighed, kicking up the legs of his Lay-Z-thing and staring at the bow-strung ceiling.

"What do you want to know?"

O - O - O - O - O - O - O

Stepping out of the portal, Star took a deep breath and reacquainted herself with the fresh air of a sunny Earth afternoon. It still smelled like stagnant water and coconuts, thanks to her proximity to the city moat, but it was a small consolation that brightened her mood.

She looked around at the familiar sights of Echo Creek, from the glistening windows of skyscrapers to the distant, rolling hills that surrounded the city. She was really back, and it was time to get to work. Her first order of business, restoring magic to its former glory, required her to get into the realm of magic. And without her butterfly form, a clear picture to portal to, or her flaming blessing thing, there were only two options.

One involved including her mother in her little escapade, so that was shelved. The other? Britta's Tacos. It felt like a millennia since she and her friends took a joy ride through the watery, equestrian-ridden realm, but the way was still fresh on her mind. Though, the thought wasn't without its pitfalls, having rudely reminded her that she was, in effect, alone on this leg of her journey. But she was too busy to dwell. Too busy to feel like warnicorn poop. And too excited.

Wrapped up in her own head as she approached the taco stand, Star was caught completely unprepared when a familiar voice called from one of the tables. "Star?" Jackie beamed her a smile and stood, surprising her with a hug. "It's so good to see you, dude! What are you doing here?"

Star frantically returned the hug. Though, as of late, it wasn't quite to her usual caliber. Jackie didn't notice, and thankfully she managed to get her wits about her enough to answer. She beamed a forced smile and braced herself for more of the same. "Heeeeey, Jackiiieee… Just uh… ya know. Felt nostalgic for some burritos? Gotta… get the grub?"

"Right on, Britta's definitely makes em better than anyone else in the universe." Thankfully Jackie didn't find her behavior alarming, pulling her to the table and gesturing for her to take a seat. "Pull up some chair and relax, yeah? You look exhausted." Star sat, eying Britta's side door before letting off an easy sigh. She had time to relax. And admittedly, it was nice to be seen in public again. "Yeah, I kinda am. It's been a pretty wild day. Month. Year. You know."

"Totally. It's nice to see you again," Jackie admitted, patting her hand with a grin. "I missed you, we all did. It felt kinda weird hanging without you after you left."

Immediately, Star felt guilty, nodding as she slumped against the table. Grumbling past a set jaw, she stared out at the inviting blue sky. "I know what you mean. These last few months haven't been the same without you guys." She eyed the door again, but pushed it off, returning her gaze to Jackie. "I'm sorry I left out of nowhere, you guys deserved a better goodbye than-"

"Hey, it's okay, dude. Nobody blames you, for anything," Jackie stressed. She didn't need to say it out loud, but Star immediately felt an immeasurable gratitude welling up within her. Too often she'd been told she wasn't responsible, but now more than ever it felt good to hear. "Plus, I totally understand why you had to go, your people needed you. Even walking past Marco's house is… it's a pretty big bummer. I can only imagine how it must've been for you."

Fighting the urge to feel like she had for the last six months, Star managed a returning smile, this one slightly more genuine. She had too much good news and potential for those sorts of feelings to get in the way now. And talking to Jackie seemed to only further her relaxing comfort. "It was rough, yeah. But we're coming around, I think." She glanced at the door and held her leg from twitching. "How's everyone here been holding up? I haven't seen the Diaz's since last month for that big search party."

Jackie nodded. "Yeah, I heard about that. I wanted to go but… I had school." As if lost in thought, she shook her head and gave Star a wistful smile. "They're doing alright just holding it together, but they have each other. I think those two'll be alright with more time. Fergusson and Janna went to Arizona last week, they got back together four months ago. And apparently Alphonso took a page out of Marco's book. He's dating a Swedish exchange student."

Star managed a bigger smile, and this time she ignored the urge to glance at the side door. "How scandalous, we're gonna have some serious competition as 'best couple of Echo Creek, huh?" Almost immediately Jackie started, her smile shattered. She stiffened and offered a meager, "Oh… Star I'm sorry, I didn't mean- I shouldn't have brought up- …nevermind. Sorry, dude."

It took her a moment to figure out exactly what the supposed offense had been, but after a moment it hit her like a jackhammer. She'd been so caught up in the idea that Marco was just around the corner, step one not even twenty feet away behind an unlocked door. She realized she was still faking her attitude. Though this time it wasn't grief, but hope she didn't want to share. Hope that could just as well leave her as hollow as she'd been since day one.

But seeing Jackie again, seeing how different everyone had been shouldering the loss? To selfishly hoard that hope? She couldn't keep it up, as badly as she wanted to. She couldn't help but fidget from excitement and fear, and with a sigh, Star relaxed. Jackie deserved to know. "Jackie," she asked softly, her smile gone. "Can I trust you to keep a secret? Like, the kinda secret that could be dangerous if it gets out?"

'It hasn't even been ten minutes, girl! Really?!'

But with her offer already sent, Jackie nodded. "Of course, dude, always. My lips are sealed."

Her gut turned somersaults like she was about to jump off a cliff, but Star swallowed her nerves. "I'm uhh… it's a whole big… some things happened, a day ago." She forced her words out like they would bring her physical pain when freed. "I still don't know if I'm losing it, or maybe I was already crazy to begin with. But… Marco… might be… alive."

And over the cliff she went.

Jackie looked absolutely pale, her smile wiped from her mouth and her eyes as big as silver platters.

"What?"

She didn't have any choice but to double down now. If anyone might believe her insane story, it would be the easy-going, cool-headed Jackie, right? "Last night I saw Darc, the parasite that lived in his head. He told me Marco and Vartek were trapped somewhere, alive and dead, if that makes sense. He gave me some vague instructions on how to find them, and I passed out right after. It's what I'm actually doing back here; I'm gonna fix my magic… so I can try to bring him home."

Jackie stared out over the table, her silence leaving the sunny air cold and grim.

She wouldn't meet Star's gaze. But when she finally did turn back a moment later, her eyes were already wet with tears ready to fall. She shook her head with a fist clenched against the tabletop. In a quiet, choked voice she asked, "you… really think there might be a chance?"

Star couldn't help but give her a smile, as sad as it was hopeful. She nodded. "If I really am going crazy, what more could we lose by-"

Jackie pulled Star into a bone crushing hug, a few choked sobs escaping the chill and collected surfer. Star returned the gesture with far more vigor this time as Jackie managed to gasp, "I won't make you promise anything. But… I really, really hope you're not going crazy."

"Me too."

"And the other guy? He's with Marco?"

Star managed to pull back, though only Jackie took her seat. That sad smile had been replaced with a scowl acidic enough to melt steel. "I hope he is. Me and Merina owe him an ass whooping, and then we're handing him over to the kingdom. …they can have what's left of him."

Jackie nodded, her fist involuntarily curling once more. "Give him a couple for me. That douchebag deserves everything coming his way," she growled. "Don't let me keep you. If you're on your way to get them, just make sure I'm there for the homecoming party. And if not… like you said, what more could we lose."

Star glanced at the side door and pulled her wand from her purse. The once purple sheen was a dim lavender, the wings were crumbling to dust, and the star centerpiece was gray in the morning sunlight. "I'll do everything I can to bring him home. That, I can promise." Jackie nodded, bumping her fist before Star began to approach the alluring side door.

With one kick it swung open and slammed against the wall. The clerk nearly screamed, shouting, "Hey! You can't be back-"

Star turned and glared at him, and immediately the guy shriveled down to a soft mumble, taking back to his grilling with a new sheen of sweat on his brown. Without a word she opened the supply closet door and started down the dusty ladder, down to the dim cave, and there it was. The Well of Magic.

It stood, an unimpressive, boarded up cylinder of cobblestone in the center of the cave's largest room. Nothing stood out about the subterranean chamber, but as before, the carvings on the wall were quick to grab her attention.

There were depictions of Glossaryck flooding a well with what could only be magic, surrounded and worshiped by ancient people. Below that, the magic seemed to flow into its Realm where unicorns lay in wait. 'Yeah yeah, same old junk, Glossarycks high and mighty, and nobody has a clue… how he… works?' A small collection of ancient Mewnic runes caught her eye, and she could barely make out the words 'before all.' Apparently her studies paid off more, now that she was actually paying attention to them. Star moved to brush off the display, picking at clumps of sediment when the dust and dirt of the cave wall to her left collapsed.

She coughed through a shower of debris, wiping her face and arms clean before staring at what remained. There sat another, far dirtier carving in a buried slab of stone, this one with depictions she couldn't recognize, and several she could. There was a small visage of Glossaryck, the same as before. But on both sides were three other, larger individuals. One of which she recognized as Luna, with her ethereal hair and small crescent Moon above her head. But the others were a mystery.

Above the seven figures were four beings that looked human, save for the halo above their heads. They carried tools, stars, moons and planets, and above them was some sort of tree, its roots extending to surround the figures and carvings. Below the depictions, there sat runes and scrawled texts in languages she couldn't recognize, and one she could barely interpret as the ancient Mewnic runes. Tracing her finger over the lettering, she sounded out, "before the magic, before the well. The Ones before all, before they fell."

She could have stared at the carvings for hours, but she wasn't here for a lesson in archaeology. She had a promise to fulfill, some magic to restore, and a particular creep to beat the snot out of. So with reluctance, Star made her way over to the well, flipping the lid and staring down into an empty hole. There wasn't any golden liquid, as before, but she was going to fix that. "I'm coming, Marco. Just… hold on for a little bit longer."

O - O - O - O - O - O - O

"I will go no further. Evil spirits in these woods, and a greater evil in the mountain."

Merina smacked a few stray insects buzzing around the jungle. Even a nature spirit would have found the change of scenery unpleasant. It had been an arduous walk from the monster village, even after a generous ride towards the base of the surrounding mountains. Whatever was out here was meant to be as far out of the way as possible. At a few miles from civilization, the Wild Lands beyond Mewni's borders left plenty to the imagination, and left plenty of room for danger.

Merina had asked for nothing more than direction, a step closer towards finding Vartek. Bullmond had been, understandably, a little unhelpful at finding a lost fabled place without a name or proof of its existence. But out here? In the mountains, he knew someone with more experience under his belt. The problem didn't come with location so much as with the man in question.

"You'll find him under Wisdom Tooth mountain, there's a cave hidden beyond a clearing of ferns. But I must warn you, Merina, do not let your guard down around him."

"I'm familiar with that man and his kind, I've spent the last few years of my short life surrounded by crazy and magic. I'll be careful."

Bullmond gave her a sympathetic sigh, shaking his head. "There are no men like him, be they Monster or Mewman. He can reach into the darkest parts of your heart and pull out your deepest fears. Keep your wits about you, and don't trust him. Find out what you can and leave before you can't. Do not, stray from the path."

If the man was enough to get even Bullmond nervous, Merina knew it would be best to heed his warning. Four hours later, a little past midday, she was slogging through towering trees and forest mud, all without a clue as to how she would interrogate… someone like him. She splayed her hands with a soft green light, pushing the roots and branches of trees aside to form a lattice walkway. She'd thought for hours, then thought some more, and given herself every chance to turn back, but it was no use. The only bit of consolation that would cool her nerves was the thought that it was all not without purpose. This was just a stepping stone, no need to panic. Just a little jaunt in the woods to meet a legend.

As expected whenever her nerves eased back to a state of serenity, Merina flinched at the movement in the corner of her eye. More shadows seemed to dart in and out of the thicket. Whispers passed around just beyond the tree line tickled her ears, but Merina paid none of it any mind. Spirits, pixies, Monsters, whatever they were. They'd only serve to distract. But… gods there were getting to be a lot of them.

She could just barely remember a time with Vartek, when he'd first taken her into the swamps. When you couldn't see below the algae covered waterline, your mind would demand that there was something there. Here she was alone and at the mercy of her surroundings, as Magic was only a small crutch to lean on. But with company the fear of the unknown was never so bad. It didn't matter what was below the water, because they could handle it together. Vartek was a bastion of confidence and optimism… until Nebula. Despite her change of mind and body and time, Merina never let that burning hatred for Mewmans fade, especially for that one in particular. she was aggregable with the Mewmans of this time, mind you, but hers? A special place in the underworld would wait for them at the end of the...

With a statrt, Merina found herself standing in a clearing surrounded by ferns, and a cliff face at the north side towards the mountains. The stumps of long dead trees barely poked through the grass. They'd been cut down, probably by her target long ago, but that wasn't the interesting detail. What captivated her attention was her sudden lack of magic. That small pressure that was always present in her palms and chest? She couldn't feel the plants at her feet, nor the coolness of the roots beneath the soil. She just felt, hollow.

Not wanting to dwell where she likely wasn't wanted, Merina pushed on towards the base of the cliffs at the far end of the clearing.

There, she found the cave Bullmond had spoken of, a simple hole in the rock face bored deep into darkness.

"You'd think the dimension's biggest criminal would be a little more conspicuous," she huffed. But then again, he'd been long dead by the time she was born, so what did she know? Stepping into the cave, Merina still couldn't feel her magic, but it was too late for second guesses now.

Almost immediately, there were whispers just around every corner, words of warning and objection to her presence. But as with the pests in the woods, it was best to pretend they weren't even there. 'He waits'... one disembodied voice hummed, but to deaf ears. Merina wouldn't be stopped by shadows in the trees, and she wouldn't be stopped now. Down she delved, deep into the heart of the mountain, farther than the light of day would allow. For the last few minutes, it was a harrowing march through blackness as she dragged her hand against the right wall of the cave.

'Turn back… to the light.'

Merina turned, but it was only towards the comfort of a memory. She tried to focus fondly of an afternoon with Genny. Or speaking to Star after a hearing. Anything to distract herself from the frigid walls of stone around her. Her memories were questionable at best, but like a locket she could pull out of her collar, she had a smile. A little girl and the warmth of her joy, the feeling of that love was one of the few things that hadnt faded.

'Your husband was a murderer. He killed your daughter. Thousands more perished. Your magic is to blame… your malice to the queen… it burns within you still... you cant fool us..."

She focused on her footsteps. One after the other, creeping deeper towards the inky void. It reminded her of her time as a statue, speaking to the boy, or protecting the Turned as best she could.

'You got yourself killed… you drove him mad…'

It wasn't her doing. It was vengeance for a slaughter that had never been so deserved in the universe. But… her mind began to wander. Vartek wouldn't have… there's no way he'd have killed their child. He was mad, but not even madness like that could have driven him to-

"STRANGLED your little monster child in the night!" The voices yelled from every crack and crevice around her, "You left him screaming to bring you back! Anything to save-'' Merina snapped her head to the right and a suppressed crack of green light lit up the wall before dimming to nothing. Her ears ticked towards the sound of retreating giggles. Her face twisted into one of rage, but she struggled to remain on the path. Her fist unfurled against the stone, and with tentative steps she continued on. He wouldn't have. There was enough good in him even at the end of his life; he must have known to leave Silva with an ally. Whoever was left…

There was light. Breaking through the darkness like a sunrise were the flickering beams of a torch, isolated and alone beside what appeared to be a heavy iron door.

She let out a slow breath, surprised to find that she'd caught it in the first place. She'd stopped in her tracks no more than ten feet from the banded barrier to the unknown. The air was… frigid down here, no trace of magic, no sign of life save for the torch. She was alone.

Regardless of what the voices had been egging her to do, she watched helplessly as she inched closer to the door. This had to be a mistake. She could still leave. Star would understand, there had to be other ways of getting to the Nexus. Vartek could be saved through magic, surely. If she just turned around now, everything would be-

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

The sound nearly made her jump out of her skin. She hadn't even realized she'd approached the door and given it several good raps that echoed throughout the caves. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but that wasn't the only deafening sound that followed. In a voice far louder than should have been possible, a man demanded from behind the iron door, "IDENTIFY YOURSELF!"

Before she could answer, Merina swallowed her nerves and took a deep, gratifying breath of air. Her fists balled in an attempt to keep them from shaking, but it was hardly doing any good. Her time to turn tail and run was out. An answer for the man on the other side of the door was all that stood between her and her fate. "I am Merina of… nowhere..." She cursed under her breath, but quickly she tried again. "I've come to talk about history? I've been told it's a subject you're well acquainted with?"

A moment passed, filled with nothing but the soft flutter of the torch's flame. Worried she may have blown it, Merina readied herself to try again when the door creaked with protesting metal. Iron gears groaned as heavy locks slid out of place. Dust showered from the cave ceiling as the door screeched open, skidding against the rock.

Through the dust and darkness, she kept her resolve and squinted through the debris. Merina stood unmoving as she waited, until finally her proprietor stepped into the light. There before her stood a man straight out of records. Mewni's most wanted. The most vile and corrupt creature to have ever walked among Monsters.

Merina smiled and bowed enough to convey her intentions. "Good afternoon, Seth."

Before her stood a massive man, a species of Septarian known as the Awati, and one ex-king unlike any other. The fanned fins on either side of his head, the spikes on his shoulders and arms, and the ghostly color of his hair were all identifying traits. But now, he was far past his prime. He looked nothing like the archived wanted posters and exaggerated records. He was withered and old, even as an immortal lizard. His skin hung like drapes over his old bones and fading muscles, scarred and graying as it was. But one detail that apparently hadn't changed was his smile. His lips curled into a frightening array of yellowing teeth. "To what do I owe the pleasure… Mewman."

Whatever his intentions, whatever his history, Merina wouldn't be intimidated further. If he wanted mind games, she would play along. "I'm as Mewman as any other creature on this rock, am I not? We are all children of Mewni." She tossed a lazy glance over her shoulder and smiled back. "I would lose the Mind Pixies, love, I doubt you get much company down here in these frigid caves."

Seth answered with a nod, opening the door wider and gesturing deeper into the cave. "Then by all…means. Let's *cooouuugh* …chat." Merina stepped inside without provocation, finding the antechamber of the cave system nothing more than a dingy little hovel. There were furs arranged around a campfire, incense to give the whole place an alien scent, banners and old keepsakes along the walls, weapons; the works. It was like some ancient gladiator had taken up residence and the villain of every bedtime story was just an afterthought to tranquility.

Merina cleared her throat and took a comfortable seat on one of the furs at the center of the room. The campfire in front of her cast dancing shadows on the tapestries hanging from stalactites, and wisps of incense snaked through the fragrant air. Seth closed the iron door, but he didn't lock it. He just fell into a coughing fit, slowly made his way over, and took a seat opposite to her. For all his bravado and intimidation, he must have actually wanted some company after all. "Speak… What is it you wish to discuss?"

Merina eyed her surroundings for a moment longer, formulating her question with care. As harmless as he looked, he was still once the King of Septarians. The last thing she wanted was to set him off. "You wrote a scroll a thousand years ago, one that was thought to be of a dream… about the 'Nexus'?" The old man's eyes widened, but that was the only sign he gave that he understood. "What do you know about it? What can you tell me about getting there?"

For a moment he just stared; still, but not apprehensive. Just when Merina was ready to give him another nudge, he simply let out a bored sigh and reached for a small stone cup to his left. It gave off an earthy, sweet scent from the wisps of steam, so he must have fancied tea now that his murderous days of mischief were over. Whatever was in the cup didn't seem to soothe his abraded throat. "You want… to talk about my dreams?" He wheezed out a chuckle, and there his smile was again. "You Mewmans of nowhere… are as arrogant… as ever."

Merina smiled back. She wouldn't bite so easily. If he wanted to be an ass, he'd have to work for it. "Be that as it may, I want to know how to find the Nexus. You're the only one who can give me an idea of where to-"

"Ha! Haaaa haaaaaaaaa!" Seth's laugh cut through her inquiry like a dusty wind. "The Nexus ain't real! It's a fairy- *cough! Cough cough!* a fairy tale… for kids to better understand magic!"

"I know it's not just a fairy tale." Merinas voice was hard. She kept her posture rigid and watched him, noticing the way his eyes narrowed at her refusal. "You had a vision about this place, and much more. Please, I have to know what you saw."

Seth answered her with a slow, languid drag of claws against rock. Another sip of tea, another fit of coughs, and he seemed to relax a little. "How's the Queen?" He asked. "The old windbag… still breathing?"

"Better than you, I suspect," Merina grumbled. "Did you write your theories on the Nexus based solely on your visions? Or did you find anything-"

*COUGH COUGH! COOOUUUGH!*

This time when he coughed, it took far more out of him. He reached a shaking hand for his tea and pot, which Merina was happy to pour. She handed him a cup brimming with hot tea and waited for him to recover. When he regained his stance, he regarded her with a touch more dignity, inclining his head to meet her eyes. "You Mewmans think you can… barge into a place… start telling people what to do…"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm asking you. If you'd like me to start telling you, I'd be happy to oblige."

Seth waved a dismissive claw. "Keep your loins in line… I'm sure we can… work something out…" He took the pot of tea and poured her a cup, offering it gingerly. Like she might snatch the stoneware away and never return it.

Merina took the cup and helped herself to a hearty sip, finding it absolutely divine. Smooth but robust, not a far cry from Varteks 'Fancy Swamp Wine'. "What is it you want from me?"

"Same as you…" Seth rasped. He sat up a little straighter; a little taller. "I know who you are, Mewman- the whole kingdom knows what your Septarian did. You want him back because you need him, because you need a way home or some hole in your heart filled. But I want a Septarian returned as well. You help me… I will help… you."

She frowned, an act mirrored by Seth. "A Septarian?" He stared at her, his slitted eyes narrow and calculating before nodding. So he was serious... "What, do you want Toffee back from the dead or something? Let me just step out to the temple of Glossaryck and scrape him off of the stone-"

"I WANT MY SON-" *COUGH cough cough* TAKEN FROM ME BY- *coouuugh* *wheeeeeeeze*

Seth's outburst ground to a halt with another coughing fit. As he hacked and wheezed he slammed a boney fist into the stone, even cracking it despite his old age. He was still a fighter, but it wasn't enough to recapture her attention. Merina didn't know about any relation between the two apart from their proximity to Queen Comet, no one probably did. Not that it mattered, anyway. A trade like that… wasn't ideal. Star would probably dive into a fit of rage at the very idea of resurrecting Toffee, but if it got her to the Nexus…

"Toffee is your son?"

Seth glared at the fire. "The resemblance lies… with his mother. But his ideals… those he got… from me. Revenge is a sympathy… only the wounded and marred have felt…" He cleared his throat of either mucus or scar tissue, hacking coughs echoing loudly through the cave. "Unlike Toffee, most of my... extended lifespan... was spent without those vermin infesting our lands. Unlike so many others I remember a time before the Butterflies."

"If I can get Vartek and a boy out of the Nexus, then… you can have what's left of Toffee."

Seth turned a curious glance her way to find this mysterious woman's resolve absolute. Whatever he thought of her, though, it didn't take long for the temptation to take him. After a long few minutes of silent contemplation, he set down his teacup and extended a hand, withered and flaking as it was. 'I know better… don't trust words. There is magic within you, so make a pact…"

Merina inclined her head. "A pact."

Seth nodded. "A pact. You carry magic, or else I wouldn't... have needed to seal it. You have my terms, so make your choice... or get out of my home."

If the alarm bells weren't going off before, they certainly were now. But in for a penny, she thought to herself, there was no going back now. Whatever dangers and pitfalls may come, what Merina saw at the forefront of it all was simply… Vartek. Her Septarian. Her daughter. Her home. The only way to see any of them again was through Seth. And Star, a girl lost on the precipice of an endless ocean of grief. She was a child who had no business knowing the kind of loss burdening her shoulders. If this was the only way to fix them both... why not take the leap of faith? So with care, Merina extended a hand and gently took hold of his. "By the old laws... by my word am I bound."

Between them was a small ribbon of dark purple energy that curled to bind their hands together. It tied them up to the elbows as a modest bow bounced atop their wrists. A soft burn etched a rune into the skin of their palms with a flash of purple light. As the smell of burning flesh and light faded, the ribbon began to disintegrate into a shower of propel snow. Merina winced and inspected the mark before turning back to glare at Seth. "There. Now tell me what you know."

As the warmth that had grown in the cave settled, Seth smiled, inspecting his own rune as if it brought him joy. "Everything, girl. The Nexus point… is everything. It is where magic comes from… The hub of creation before time was an idea… the center of the universe…" He snatched up his teacup and took a ginger sip. "The Ones… they made everything."

Despite her frown, Merina leaned closer. "The Ones..." The fire kept her warm, but those words gave her chills. The Ones weren't even a legend. They were hardly an idea, primordial creatures from before the beginning of the universe, barely even a fledgling concept in her time. "How can I get there?" She demanded, "our deals no good based on theories. You saw where it was, and you don't get any more than I do unless I get them out." Seth answered with a frown. He must have known she was right. She took a sip of her own tea, but never took her eyes off him.

"The Nexus isn't a place… so much as a point where your laws of nature bend."

"That sounds like a place to me, so what's the difference?"

"You don't go to the Nexus, girl." Seth took a breath and tried to formulate it for a mewmans feeble mind to grasp. Another sip in silence. "Ahhhh…. It is a concentrated magnus of nature and reality… a focus point and a beating heart at the same time. It lies where all magic converges, where it comes from…. To find it you must follow the Ones. They made it… like a crossroads…"

Merina nodded. If she could write all of this down without pissing off the old snake, she would have. "And I can still go to this mystical place at the center of everything?"

"You go… every time you use those scissors. The portals all pass through the Nexus like a lense, or the spokes of a wheel."

"That's not- that doesn't make any sense."

Seth gave her a shrug and for once, took a dignified sip like he wasn't speaking to a relative toddler. "I saw it in a dream, and even then I barely comprehend it... despite my age, I am but a mortal... we weren't meant to understand the laws of our reality... any more than a bug can comprehend the sun."

"That doesn't exactly get me where I need to be," she groaned and took a calming sip of tea, digesting the revelation of the portals. "How do I follow the Ones? I can't imagine that the footsteps of a dead civilization of gods are still lying around these days."

Seth nodded, using his claw to scratch markings into the rock beside the fire. "There is a temple… beyond the reaches of time... It was once a place of healing and knowledge. All history is recorded there, like the Mewmans and their quills… Your best chance is to start there, if it still exists." He dragged his claw back to his side and gestured to the markings. Merina inspected the crude drawing, but she was shocked to find that she recognized the place. It was the same temple Vartek had created her in. Where she'd spent the better part of a year in near solitude, waiting.

She nodded solemnly, giving him no reaction that would give away her knowledge. If Seth knew where the way to the Nexus was… she didn't have to imagine the outcome. And with Toffee coming back she didn't need to give either of them an in. "Thank you, Seth," she sighed. "I don't know if any of this will be of use to me, but you've been a help all the same."

Not wanting to give him a moment to pry, she stood and bowed, already turning to leave when she heard him croak, "wait." She froze in place not out of force, but anticipation that made her skin crawl. She still couldn't feel her magic, and Seth had a frightening set of claws. Preparing to fight, she was surprised to hear him ask, "You're from the future, aren't you…"

She didn't answer his little pets the first time, and she was reluctant to now. No one but a very select few knew about her dealings with other times. Apart from Varteks crazy ramblings and the children's knowledge of the future, that is. "I know more about you than your little friends probably do." She heard Seth stand and pop his back. He didn't sound so old and creaky now. His voice was as smooth as silk, deceptively calm, and curious. "I got good ears, little lady. You... aint like the rest of em, loving a monster and all that. You had a little monster girl of your own in the future, I won't tell… don't you worry. But the Mewmans of your time. They never change, do they. They took from you exactly what they took from me: a happy little family. Content to live out their lives in peace."

Her continued silence was all the answer he needed. Seth smiled to himself and turned to collect his tea effects, but Merina turned to meet his curiosity with a glare. "Mewmans stole plenty, but they didn't take my family from me. A goddess did." She rounded on him and approached, her glare a heated torrent of emotions and bitter resentment. "They do change, but power doesn't. Power infects and corrupts Mewmans, Monsters, wives, father, children, until there's nothing left to destroy. You seem to be familiar with the concept, but you blame one type of people for the illness of ambition, fear and pride when in reality, that sickness can and will infect anyone who carries the bigger stick."

She expected the old man to withdraw and mumble about any multitude of excuses. But Seth only smiled, his yellowed teeth gleaming in the firelight. "Spoken just like my son… to remove power from the hands of mortals… is to remove corruption from their hearts." He turned to his tea set, shuffling back to his business as though nothing was wrong. "Keep that in mind when you're shaping your future…"

As the heavy iron door slammed shut behind her, Merina folded her arms and walked out of the cave. She'd been given everything she needed, but for some reason it was a hollow victory. She still needed Star to deliver on her end before she could deliver to Seth. Toffee would soon be returned to the land of Mewni, and with him would follow the future of the universe.

O - O - O - O - O - O - O

One blink was all it took.

One second she was climbing down the ladder.

One foot after the other.

One deep hole into darkness.

Nothing.

Star looked around, finding herself in what she could only describe as a 'Wasteland'. There was no memory of how she got here, but that was on brand with what this place was supposed to be. The Realm of Magic, only now it was more like the dead husk of magic. All around her were sandy dunes, rocky hills, mountainous plateaus in the distance, and a dark sky above. There was something of a vacuum that pulled in every direction of the empty and still expanse of… nothing.

It was a blank canvas, a dried up friggin tundra that wouldn't do an ounce of good on its own. But, that was the point. Star knew she had to rejuvenate this place somehow. She had to make a Millhorse… but… She blinked again, harder this time. She hadn't destroyed the wand this time, right? It was all sorta fuzzy trying to remember… where was the good? The giant smiling man? The blue guy?

With a start, Star realized where she really was. "Corn, I didn't bring any pudding! This stupid dimension and its dumb mind magic!" She cried, tearing into her purse. She needed her scissors, now that she'd seen this place she could come back, right? Better than forgetting who she was and dying out here without anyone coming to- "It's no use."

Her wand was armed and aimed before she'd even finished turning around. Star leveled the dimly glowing bulb at- "Toffee?" She gasped. The Septarian stood there, unphased, unaffected, and unchanged since their last physical encounter. He was wearing his suit and gave her no regard other than a disappointed frown. "Are you done?"

She answered with a muted stare, her eyes far colder than the last time he'd seen her. Toffee nodded so slightly, it was almost like she'd imagined it. "You and I are stuck here. And that wand of yours is about as useful as a paper Mache water mill."

She didn't lower her wand. Sand whispered by with the breeze as they stood unmoving. He was entirely right, given how the realm around them was devoid of even a single drop of magic, but that didn't dissuade her caution. She just watched him, waiting for him to move a muscle other than his flapping jaws. The action came when he gave her a dismissive wave. "There is no magic here, not even in me. The forgetfulness will pass with a few minutes, so make yourself comfortable."

Star continued to glare at him. She wasn't as dumb as he may have believed. "You seem awfully calm about being trapped here. Guess that means the big dumb snake has a plan?"

He smiled. Theeere it was, classic Toffee. "I always have a plan. You're just late," he answered before abruptly turning on his heels. Sand hissed beneath his feet as he began to walk away, bidding her to follow. "Come. The sooner you finish your work here, the sooner we can go our separate ways. And I have no intention of waiting any longer than needed."

She let her wand fall uselessly to her side, but she didn't relax. "How did you know-"

"Please. You obviously aren't here for me, and there's nothing else here for you to exploit, so you must be trying to re-arm yourselves."

With grating disdain, Star took one step after him, and then another and another until she was walking several paces behind. She'd keep a close eye on him, regardless of his motives. Of which, she had no idea. Sensing the curiosity of the princess, Toffee sighed. "We were just about to make a deal to rescue what little remained of your people. That fool Vartek pushed me out of Ludo, leaving me stranded and taking control of all magic. Then he drained the entire realm with help from the boy. I've been waiting here ever since, undying and alone. There, all caught up."

"Must have been preeeeeetty lonely around here then," Star mused, hardly caring about his shortcomings. "Don't suppose you've seen the Millhorse around, then?"

Toffee gave her a dismissive wave, careful to step over a puddle of suspiciously dark ooze. "That old thing is dead." The crunch of gravel beneath their shoes was the only sound as Star stared at the back of his suit. It wasn't impossible, given what all Vartek had done. But it was still a rough blow to deal with. "Hence the lack of magic. The crucible has been emptied, and you've not even a drop left."

Star kicked a rock across the sand. "So why bother helping me, then, asshole? You got what you wanted, no more magic for anyone or anything, mission accomplished right?"

"I'm 'helping you' because I have to," Toffee corrected, "I want out, and you're merely the key." His voice was a grating monotone, but there was a hint of regret to his words. "This… isn't what I wanted, and it doesn't solve anything. Magic hasn't been erased, it's just been removed. And sooner or later some fool will show up to fix it. Then it's back to square one."

Why was she even following this dirt pile? What could he possibly know about the crucible or whatever it was? If he was just going to use her to escape, then she'd rather take her chances alone. But the chance to gather information about her oldest enemy was too alluring to ignore. "And you'll be right back where you started a year ago huh?" Star glared at him as he stopped. "Trying to get back here to erase the magic? Killing anyone who gets in your way?"

Toffee only rolled his eyes. "I've learned plenty during my isolation in this dull place. The end of magic… is not the answer I thought it was." He glared right back at her. "I was wrong. So how do you plan on fixing that fool's mess?"

Flabbergasted, Star floundered through several replies before siding with, "wha- me? Glossaryck should be here to help me! But thanks to you setting everything up for Vartek and blowing yourself up, I'm on my own!" Toffee didn't budge, which only served to aggravate her further. "I have you, but you hate me, you don't have magic, and you're 'about as useful as a paper Mache watermill'!"

Where she expected to finally get a rise out of cool, calm and collected Toffee, he didn't even flinch. "Don't flatter yourself. You were but a stepping stone to the real prize: equality across a prejudicial universe." Before she could argue, he rounded on his heels and continued towards the horizon. "The idea that your people know so little about a force intrinsic to their very rule is offensive. Yet despite that, I don't hold you in ill regard. You people are sick, in that you've been infected with power. It serves to corrupt, infest, and destroy, and I still intend on curing you all. Albeit through far different methods."

Star wanted to ask any number of scathing questions, but before she could utter a word or draw a single breath, she doubled over. Pain flooded her head as a deafening ringing overtook her senses. She thought it was Toffee, maybe some last ditch to render her helpless and steal the wand, or break magic more, or to just kill her. But he stood idly by, concerned, but distant in his regard to her. Then, the visions started.

She could see… Glossaryck, only he looked younger, less old and ratty. He was sitting between four beings that looked almost Mewman, but so impossibly large they could forge the very stars into creation. Their hands were like brush strokes that painted golden streams throughout the universe, each of them connected and weaving and branching until it took a familiar shape. They were the roots of a tree, spreading anywhere the beings put them. And all the while Glossaryck waited patiently for them to finish.

They spoke without speaking, a language only they knew, telling him that this was his new rule. He would safeguard 'magic', a force of the universe that would breathe life into the living. It would change everything, adding beauty and creativity to every corner of reality it touched. Across every dimension, and throughout all time. It would add rule when they were gone, and he would be outside the control of the lesser 'gods'.

But it was a dangerous, volatile force. Glossaryck would protect it, he would govern it, and should it be compromised, he would destroy it. So why hadn't he, Star wondered. In this trance, she knew what hadn't been said and she could see what no other eyes had seen. The roots that spread throughout the universe…

It was the Nexus. So why did she…

Star sucked in a heavy breath, lurching upright and grasping at her head to calm the ringing. Slowly, it began to ease into a dull throbbing, but her mind raced with fleeting memories she could hardly cling to. Toffee was waiting nearby, watching her as she demanded, "what… was that?"

Toffee raised a critical brow. "You had a fit. The closer to the crucible we get, the more prominent it will become." Noticing her confusion, he added, "you've been around magic your entire life. For generations of your family history. You are far more connected to this place than me, so you will see things I can't. You understand?"

Star held herself and with reluctance she nodded. "This place… it's not just some tank where all the magic waits. It's like- the middle of the entire universe," she breathed, "I… this is older than just Mewni. This is-"

"This is everything," Toffee agreed. "Now you understand why people like you can't hope to wield power like that; why I want it removed from the hands of tyrants and despots."

With reluctance, Star couldn't help but nod. She didn't agree with him, she didn't even think he could fully grasp the concept he was touting. But there was a shred of logic to his line of thinking. Star pulled herself up and staggered for a moment, eying the horizon.

Darc had given her a warning that night, something about releasing something from somewhere. If the scale of magic truly did extend as far as she'd just seen, this was bigger than Vartek. It was bigger than just Mewni. And apparently, it was coming.

"We need to hurry."