The hyperspace trip to Mewni was nearly silent as the nervous crew of Queen Moon's Revenge anxiously awaited their arrival.
Star's thoughts dwelled on her homeworld and the beings relying on her, wondering what condition they would find the planet in. She clutched Marco's lightsaber, silently wishing to herself that her best friend were there with her.
Rosado thought of his family, wondering where in the galaxy they had fled to, and whether or not he would live through this endeavor to see them again.
Tom was having similar thoughts. He had not been in contact with his family since he had run off to become a smuggler with Janna, and he was suddenly feeling rather guilty. If he were to die on Mewni, they would never know what had happened to him.
Tom looked to his left. Janna had dozed off in the pilot's chair, sleeping soundly. Good to know at least one of us isn't freaking out.
An alarm rhythmically buzzed out a warning, and PY-HD loudly whistled. In an instant, Janna was awake, fully upright, flipping switches to prepare for the drop back into realspace. "We're coming up on Mewni. Or more accurately, the spot behind the moon where we're gonna pop out of hyperspace." Her hand stole to the hyperdrive lever as Star and Rosado scurried up the ramp to the cockpit, each holding onto one of the seat backs to peer through the viewscreen. "Here we go. Three, two, one." Janna pushed the hyperdrive lever back into its deactivated position, and the swirling colors of hyperspace dissolved into star-sprinkled realspace. A few kilometers dead ahead was a small moon, the lush planet of Mewni looming beyond.
"Perfect routing, Pony," Janna praised the astromech. "We came out right behind the moon, so we should be in the Empire's sensor blind spot."
The droid bleeped out a not-so-humble brag which went largely ignored.
"Hi, Mewni," Star said softly. "I'm back."
"Let's get cloaked before we get any closer," Rosado urged.
Janna nodded. "Right. No point in taking chances now when we're so close."
Within thirty seconds, Tom and Janna had the cloaking device powered up.
"…three…two…one," the Demonicite counted down, "…and cloaking is active." He let out a long breath. "Now we just have to hope the Raventalon is cloaked along with the Revenge."
"You guys don't know if the Raventalon is cloaked or not?!" Star exclaimed.
"Star, relax," Janna soothed. "It's attached to this ship, this ship is cloaked, so it must be cloaked, too. That's how cloaking devices work," she said confidently. Then, under her breath, she added, "I'm pretty sure."
This did little to improve Star's confidence. She didn't have a chance to voice her concern, though, as Janna pushed the throttle forward and the conjoined, hopefully cloaked ships advanced quickly toward the moon.
"Pony, can you have the navicomputer ready to jump to hyperspace?" Star called down to the astromech. "Just in case?"
The droid replied that it already did, clearly not convinced itself.
Janna kept the engines at about quarter-power, the pace of the conjoined ships slow as she guided them around the moon. The cabin of Queen Moon's Revenge became as silent and still as a coffin, the four beings inside praying to themselves that it would not become one for them.
Mewni fully came into view as they glided around the moon, and with the planet came the blockade in its orbit, the pointed prows of the twin Star Destroyers aimed directly at the cloaked ships.
"Weren't there three last time?" Rosado asked quietly.
"Three Star Destroyers plus the cruiser I blew up," Janna answered, her voice equally low.
Star nervously drummed her fingernails on the back of Janna's chair. "I thought you said they'd requested reinforcements. So how come there's only two now…?"
"If I had to guess," Rosado said, "we took so long to come back, some higher command decided it was time to reallocate the fleet. Their reinforcements are probably ground troops since that's where the rebels have been attacking. No real need for more heavy naval vessels."
They all fell silent again as the Star Destroyers grew ever larger through the viewscreen. Star held her breath, as if the mere sound of her breathing would give them away. All eyes remained locked on the Imperial ships, and the pilots' hands remained glued to the flight controls, awaiting any sign that the enemy had detected them, at the ready to turn and run.
But no sign came.
Janna guided the Revenge right between the two Destroyers. Everyone wished she would push the throttle forward and get past them as quickly as possible, but they were equally as anxious about increasing engine power. What if more speed somehow gave them away?
An eternity passed inside Queen Moon's Revenge before they were clear of the Imperial ships, and when they finally were, everyone let out of collective sigh of relief.
"And you guys were worried," Janna smirked. But the grin was a facade. She was just as relieved as her friends were.
The conjoined ships passed through the atmosphere and Janna pointed them toward the planetary coordinates Star had indicated back on Stobar.
"You're flying straight toward Monstertown?" Star asked.
"Um…yeah?" Janna answered, thinking the answer should have been obvious.
"Can you fly over the village first? And the castle?"
Tom and Janna exchanged a glance. "Star…" Tom said gently. "We don't know what we're gonna find…"
"I was here just after the invasion," Rosado said. "It's bad. Probably worse now-"
"I don't care," Star interrupted curtly. "I need to see it. Please."
So without another word, Janna slowly angled the control yoke and altered course.
Skywynne Airbase came into view first. It appeared to have not only been repaired, but expanded. An Imperial shuttle was parked on the central landing pad, and more Imperial transports, mostly speeders and small cargo ships, were staged on brand new landing pads in a semi-circle around the main building structure. The most glaring alteration, however, was the Imperial cog emblem, which seemed to be plastered everywhere.
"Looks like Moff Toffee and his crew have been busy," Rosado observed quietly.
Butterfly Castle appeared next. It, too, appeared to have undergone some repairs. The most glaringly obvious alteration was to the main entrance. Gone were the massive handmade wooden doors, replaced by ones made of durasteel.
"Castle's still standing, that's good," Tom said.
Star said nothing. She wasn't looking at the castle. She was looking at the village. What few buildings still remained upright were heavily damaged. Those that weren't had been reduced to little more than rubble. Scrap and debris cluttered the streets, and a haze of smoke and ash hung in the air.
"Oh, man…" Janna murmured.
They stared a moment longer, until Star said, "I've seen enough. Let's get this thing on the ground."
"Copy that."
The colossal, multiheaded monster was visible almost before the Monstertown was. It stood nearly a full story taller than the tallest structure in the village, its bright teal skin starkly contrasted against the dry, wooden structures. From its huge, bulbous body sprouted six long and spindly necks, each supporting a head baring a mouth full of dagger-like teeth. It stomped down the middle of the street, it's various heads zooming about like huge birds, sniffing for food between the buildings.
"Well," Rosado began, "that has to be the single most intimidating creature I've ever seen."
"Clearly you've never been to Malastare," Janna smirked. Then she turned more serious. "You're sure that thing is gonna leave us alone?" she asked Star.
"Oh, totally. Just wait until we get closer. It'll run away as soon as it realizes we're heading right for it."
Sure enough, as Janna slowed the ships' forward momentum to a crawl on landing approach, the hydra-monster shrank back in fear. Just before the Revenge reached its intended landing zone, it turned tail and ran, crashing into and partially demolishing one of the still-standing buildings as it did so, and disappeared into the thick forest.
"Huh. How about that?"
Tom deployed the landing gear, and Janna guided the Revenge right between the rows of buildings, gently setting the ship down parallel along the main street. The teenaged pilots flicked off the power, and as the engines whirred to a stop, Captain Ordonia turned and met Star's gaze. "Welcome home, Princess Butterfly."
Star led Janna, Tom, Rosado, and PY-HD out of the partial wreckage of Monster Town to a disused and overgrown path into the forest. "I guess the first thing we gotta do is try and find the rebels."
"How are we gonna do that?" Janna asked.
"I honestly don't know. But this is the only pathway out of the village, so we'll start by going this way, I guess."
"Um…are you sure that thing isn't gonna come back and attack the ships?" Tom asked.
"I am One-hundred percent sure," Star said, igniting Marco's lightsaber for approximately three seconds to slash away the branches of a fallen tree which blocked the path. She shoved the limbs out of the way using the Force, creating a clearing that PY-HD would be capable of traversing. "That monster is beyond terrified of anything bigger than it is. It won't go anywhere near the ships."
And so the long trek through the thick woods in the general direction of Butterfly Castle began. Monster Town was over a dozen klicks away from the castle, and the path was so overgrown it may as well have not been a path at all.
Star started the journey utilizing her lightsabers to clear a path as sparingly as possible, as the glowing blades would more easily give away their position. But the further they walked, the more she was forced to use them, until eventually the glowing blades never left her hands, utilizing both simultaneously to slash a clear walkway.
"Man!" she exclaimed, taking a short break to wipe sweat from her brow. "Who would have thought pruning a jungle with superheated blades that cut like a hot knife through bantha butter would be so much work?"
Janna held out an open hand. "Want me to take a turn?"
"Be my guest." She started to hand over Marco's lightsaber, but hesitated, and Star handed Janna her own lightsaber instead.
The teenage smuggler grinned mischievously, excited. "Alright, let's show some foliage who's boss!" She ignited the blade and began to wildly slash her way through the thick brush. Star followed close behind, leisurely slicing back smaller brambles and branches that Janna missed, partially to make it easier for herself, Tom, and Rosado to follow, but mostly to clear the way for PY-HD.
Half an hour later, Janna was running out of steam, too, but she was having far too much fun demolishing a path with Star's lightsaber to quit. Ahead, a large fallen, long-dead tree blocked the way. The trunk was entirely off to the side, with the thick tangle of bare branches laying across the path. Janna found it incredibly satisfying to slash through them, watching the dry wood splinter and shatter as she hacked through.
The last cluster of branches fell away, revealing even more thicket beyond. But something among the greenery caught Janna's eye.
"Whoa…that has got to be the freakiest plant I've ever seen."
The others peered past her. "That is freaky," agreed Tom.
Just in the center of the gray-colored foliage of the plant in question, nestled beneath flowered stalks resembling mushroom caps, was unmistakably a humanoid face, appearing as if asleep.
"There's something familiar about this…" Star muttered to herself, but her quiet words fell on deaf ears. Her friends were too enraptured by the strange plant.
"I can honestly say," Rosado said slowly, leaning in for a closer look, "that I have never seen a plant with a face before."
And then the eyes opened. "'Ahlo, there!"
"GAH!" Rosado yelped, stumbling backwards. Tom and Janna jumped back in shock, too.
But Star did not. "Eddie!"
The plant's eyes widened in surprise. "Princess?!"
She dove forward, tackling the plantman into the thicket with a crushing hug. "Eddie, it's so good to see you! I'm so glad you're okay!"
Eddie wrapped his leafy arms around Star and warmly returned the hug. "It's mighty good to see you, too, Princess," he said quietly.
Releasing him, Star helped Eddie back to his feet. "Guys, this is Eddie, my dad's best friend."
He gave a little wave. "Pleased to meet you."
"Eddie, this is Janna, Tom, Hovis, and Pony Head." The droid bleeped a greeting.
Janna could not contain the burning question inside her. "Are you, like, half-plant or something?"
"Indeed, I am!"
"How…how does that…worrrrk…?"
Star interrupted. "What are you doing out here in the middle of the woods?"
"I was scouting! On the lookout for Imperial patrols! Doesn't look like they've come this far, though. Reckoned I was pretty safe here, thought I'd just have a quick little nap."
"Have you had any contact with…whoever it is that's fighting back against the Imps?"
Eddie chuckled. "Who did you think I was doing the scouting for?"
"Can you lead us to them?"
"Course I can! Follow me!"
Eddie did not lead the crew of four and their droid further on down the overgrown path. Instead, he took them deeper and deeper into the thickest part of the forest. They could not believe the ease and speed at which the plantman could move through the trees, brambles, and vines, seeming to pass through the growth like a ghost. Star and Janna had to work together as quickly as they could to swathe a path just to keep up with Eddie.
At last, the trees began to thin. Then, almost without warning, they burst from the shade into the warm sunshine cast upon a large clearing. The girls hurriedly switched off their lightsabers and Janna handed hers back to Star, who quickly hid them in her bag.
The clearing was crowded, the assorted beings present numbering two hundred, at least. Many sat in groups around open campfires, attempting to cook food. Everyone looked miserable, malnourished, and exhausted.
"Oh…" Star squeaked, unable to find the words to say anything else.
Eddie led them on through the center of camp. People would look up at the newcomers as they passed by. Star noticed that when they looked right at her, their expressions would rapidly change from mild interest to shock and then to anger, glaring at her as she passed by.
"Coward," a male Mewman muttered under his breath.
"Deserter," quietly snarled another.
Several large makeshift tents had been erected utilizing tree branches to support their roofs, and Star could see medical aid being administered to injured beings inside one of these. The smallest tent, the only one which was a real tent and not a patchwork of scavenged fabric, was situated in the center of the camp, and it was here that Eddie led them.
"Wait here just a minute," Eddie told them. "I'll pop inside and get the General!" He bounced over to the entryway, leaving the group wondering who was in charge of this operation.
"General!" the plantman called out, pulling aside the flap and ducking into the tent.
Buff Frog was staring pensively at a holomap. "Eddie, why are you back? You are supposed to be keeping watch for enemy."
"Well, I happened upon some folks lost in the forest and brought 'em back here to camp!"
Buff Frog frowned. "Did they escape from Empire?"
Eddie rubbed his chin. "Not exactly recently, but yeah, I reckon they did. You should come meet 'em!"
"Not now, Eddie. I must plan for next attack."
"Now I get that, I do, but I reallllllllly think you oughta take a moment to come say hello. They could be a mighty big help to us!"
Buff Frog sighed and switched off the holoprojector. "Alright, fine." He followed Eddie outside. "Where are they?"
"Right over there!" Eddie pointed.
Buff Frog's eyes about popped out of his head. "Princess?!"
Star, Tom, and Janna were equally shocked. "Buff Frog?! You're alive!" all four said in unison. PY-HD let out a surprised squeal.
Forgetting the angry glares of those around her, Star took a flying leap, throwing her arms around the big frog man's neck, squeezing him in a hug that would have suffocated any less-muscular being. "Buff Frog! It's so good to see you!"
The general happily returned the hug, his eyes tearing up as he held the princess in his arms. "Is good to see you, too, Star."
When they finally broke apart, Tom and Janna exchanged warm but slightly less enthusiastic greetings with Buff Frog, who profusely thanked them for keeping Star safe.
"Who is very normal-looking adult man with you?" Buff Frog asked.
"This is Hovis," Star said. "Hovis, this is General Yvgeny Bulgolyubov, but we call him Buff Frog. Because he's buff, and he's a Frog."
The two shook hands. "Hovis Rosado. Pleased to meet you, General Bulgoy…Bulgolyoubuff? Uh, Sir."
Buff Frog chuckled. "Please, call me Buff Frog. How do you know Star and friends?"
Rosado turned red. "Uhhh…"
"He's ex-Imperial," Janna said, as if it were no big deal.
"What?!"
Rosado took a big step back. PY-HD laughed in droid binary.
"We got captured, and he helped us escape. Don't worry, he hates the Empire, too," she added.
"He's helped us a lot," put in Tom. "Trust me, he's fully on our side."
Buff Frog looked skeptical. He glanced at Star. "You trust him?"
"Definitely! We never even would have made it past the blockade if not for Hovis!"
"…Well…alright. If Star trusts you, then so do I." Buff Frog's features suddenly tightened up, his expression perplexed. "Wait a minute…someone is missing here…where is Saber Boy?"
Four sets of eyes and one photoreceptor abruptly broke eye contact, expressions turning solemn. Buff Frog got the message. "Oh, no…Marco is…?"
Star nodded.
"How?"
"Sniper shot," Janna explained briefly. "On Anaxes."
Buff Frog knelt down to meet Star's eyes. "Oh, Star…I am so sorry…"
She looked back at him hard. "I made a promise to myself that I would not let Marco's death be in vain. We're here to kick the Empire off our planet, and I'm not leaving until they're gone. So how can we help?"
"Kick Empire off-?!" Buff Frog exclaimed loudly, but he stopped himself. He looked around. As the group had been talking, a handful of residents of the camp had circled around, word apparently having spread that Princess Butterfly had returned. Their expressions looked less than pleased. Buff Frog stood, motioning toward his tent. "Let's continue this inside."
So they quickly filed past him into the tent. Eddie tried to follow, but Buff Frog stopped him. "Eddie, you are in charge. Alert me if necessary, otherwise see we are not disturbed."
The plant man saluted. "You can count on me, General!"
"Buff Frog, I have to ask…" Tom began as the Frog Man entered the tent. "…and I don't know how to ask this without it sounding rude, so, sorry in advance, but, um…how the heck are you still alive? Exactly?"
Janna had nearly forgotten about the seemingly hopeless situation in which they had last seen the General. "Yeah, you were surrounded by, like, a whole sea of stormtroopers. How are you still alive?"
Buff Frog laughed heartily. "Yes, yes, was quite a battle. Cannon you gave me really even up the odds! I fired non-stop for so long that the barrel melted! So many dead bodies, you could walk around that field without ever touching the dirt! But there were still a few dozen left. I tried to fight back with my pistols, but I could not lay down enough suppressing fire to keep them from closing in on me. And then, just when I thought I was goner, Laundry Knight comes running out of woods with big rotary canon!"
"Laundry Knight?" Star asked. "Lavabo?"
"Indeed!"
Star was stunned into silence. "Wha-? Bu-?"
"Why is that so surprising?" Tom asked.
Janna smacked his arm. "Because she was unconscious when Lavabo helped us escape the castle."
"Riiiiight."
"Lavabo blast about half, and was distraction enough for me to blast other half." The General folded his arms triumphantly. "And that is how Buff Frog is still alive." Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, he turned serious. "Now, Star…I know you want to send Empire packing, but we are not equipped for such a fight."
Star was confused. "But…but we heard that the Mewmans were fighting back. The Empire even called for reinforcements."
Buff Frog's eyes bulged. "What?! Reinforcements?!"
"…Guess that means you didn't know that…"
"Oh, dear…this will make things more complicated…" the General muttered to himself. "We will have to move fast if we are to-"
"Hang on, time out," interjected Janna. "If you aren't trying to defeat the Imps, why are you bothering to fight back?"
"We are only trying to free Mewman prisoners from Imperial work camps. Once everyone is free, we will steal some ships and evacuate planet."
"Your plan was just to abandon Mewni?!" Star burst out. "We can't just give up! If you can fight enough to free the prisoners, then together we can kick their butts!"
Buff Frog shook his head. "We barely have enough capable fighters and weapons to overtake facilities where prisoners are being held. Most of people here at camp are too old, too young, injured, or weak for battle, and we barely have enough blasters to go around for those who are."
Star's heart sank. She turned and peeked through the tent flap. Buff Frog was right. The camp was heavily populated, but very few of the beings she could see were in any condition for a battle.
She also could see that there seemed to be a growing crowd, staring angrily at the tent and whispering to each other.
She let the tent flap fall. "How many more prisoners are left to free?"
"Still two work camps left to liberate," Buff Frog said. "Usually about fifty at each one."
Star sighed. "Alright. Let's free the last of the prisoners first. How big are the facilities?"
"None have been larger than footprint of Airbase."
"Okay, so not huge. Should be pretty easy. We should start by freeing the rest of the priso-"
"Hey, General?" Eddie had poked his head into the tent.
"Not now, Eddie, can you not see we are in middle of something?" Buff Frog scolded.
"Sorry about that, General, but I just thought you might want to know that Lavabo is back."
"Oh! Send him in! Send him in!"
"Righty-ho. I'll tell him to come see you."
Star opened her mouth to continue, but before she could, Sir Lavabo, clad in shiny full-body armor which clanked as he walked, burst through the tent flap. "General," he began gallantly, "I have brought news-" He fell silent as his eyes fell upon Star. "Princess?! You have returned!"
"Hey, Lavabo. Yeah, I'm back."
"I am very pleased to see that you and your friends are safe! But I must report to General Bulgolyubov immediately."
"I agree," Buff Frog nodded. "Please, report."
"Four transport ships have just arrived at the Airbase. Another full battalion of stormtroopers."
"Battalion?!" echoed five voices. PY-HD squealed.
"They are to be divided up amongst the remaining work camps."
Buff Frog's features scrunched up. "Whatever they are making at work camps must be more important than we thought."
"What exactly are they making?" Tom asked.
Buff Frog and Lavabo both shrugged. "We do not know," said the General. "We have examined components from each facility we capture, but we cannot figure out what they are making. They take everything they make to Airbase. Must be doing final assembly there, but we cannot get close enough to find out."
"Do you have any of the components here?" Rosado asked.
"Ooh, yeah! Show Hovis!" Star said. "If the Empire is doing something super-secret, he might know about it!"
"Ooh, yes. That is good idea." Buff Frog quickly hurried to the rear of the tent and retrieved a bundle of cloth. He set the cloth on the holoprojector table and carefully unwrapped it, revealing four small components. "This is what we were able to recover from facilities we attack. No idea what they are."
Rosado knew what they were almost instantly. "These are pieces of armor."
"Like, armor for a ship or a walker?" asked Tom.
"No, armor like that." Rosado pointed to Lavabo's knight attire.
Buff Frog raised a skeptical eye. "How do you know that?"
Hovis held up one of the pieces, thin metal of some kind cut into an arch shape, but also curved along its length as if to wrap around something. "See the half-round shape of this one?" He held up two more metal pieces of similar thickness. These did not share the first one's curvature. "These two are unfinished. They haven't been stamped yet." He picked up the piece which was curved, clearly the one that was the most complete. "See these grooves on the edges? That's where the articulating joint connects. The Republic used to build some of its high-rank Clone armor the same way. It's definitely not stormtrooper armor, though. Their armor doesn't have metal in it."
Janna's eyes widened. "But we've seen Imperial armor that does!"
"We have?"
"On Anaxes! Remember that trooper we fought in the hanger? Blasters had no effect on it, and even your lightsaber had trouble cutting through its armor."
"That's what they're building here?!" Star exclaimed.
"Moff Toffee has had a top secret project in development for a while now," said Rosado. "Even I didn't know what it was. I guess now we do."
"We'll never be able to take on a whole army of them!" Tom exclaimed. "Star and Marco together had a hard enough time fighting just one!"
Buff Frog sighed. "Star, I am sorry. We are far too outnumbered, outgunned, and now also apparently out-armored. There is nothing more we can do. We must get people off-world before it is too late."
"You're right."
"I know that you want to fight, but we have to- …Did you say I am right?"
"Yeah, Star, what gives?" Janna crossed her arms. "I thought you weren't leaving Mewni until the Empire was gone?"
"I never said I was leaving. I still fully intend to kick their butts. But Buff Frog is right, we can't leave all these defenseless people in harm's way. We have to get them off-world." She pointed at Tom and Janna. "That's why you two are leaving."
"Ohhhh no! We've been over this, Star," Janna snapped. "Tom and I aren't going anywhere until this fight is over!"
Star pinched her forehead as if in pain. "I should have expected this…Look guys, we have to get these people off-world, and we have a stealth ship that can get them past the blockade. But, in case you've forgotten, I can't fly…not very well, anyway…and neither can Hovis. That leaves the two of you."
"But-!" Tom started to protest, but found himself cut off.
"And after you've taken them somewhere safe, I fully expect you guys to return. I can't take on a full battalion by myself. Seriously, I'm gonna need all the help I can get…But I can't go with you. I promised myself that once I made it back here, I would not leave until the Empire is gone, and I am going to keep that promise."
Tom and Janna glanced at each other, but said nothing.
"Plus, if I'm not mistaken, I am the Queen now, which means I outrank everyone in the Mewni Militia, so you have to do what I say."
"Star girl has point," Buff Frog agreed. "Technically she is in charge now."
Janna sighed. "Alright, Star. We'll do it."
"Thanks, guys. While you're gone, I'll try to free the prisoners from the last two work camps." Star looked between the three adults in the room. "You guys don't have to stay either if you don't want to."
"You're gonna need someone who knows the Imperial's tactics," said Hovis. "I'm not going anywhere."
Star smiled.
Lavabo took a knee, respectfully bowing his head to the princess. "As Knight of the Wash, it is my duty to protect the Mewman royal family. My place is at your side, princess."
"Thank you, Lavabo…" She turned to Buff Frog. The General grinned with determination.
"I want Empire gone just as badly as you. I will be here until the last one drops dead."
Star opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly became acutely aware of commotion and shouting coming from outside the tent.
"What is going on?" Lavabo wondered aloud.
Eddie's head poked through the tent flap. "Um, General? I don't mean to be a bother, but I reckon perhaps you'd better come out here."
"Are we under attack?"
"Errrr…not from the Empire."
Buff Frog stormed through the tent flap, and everyone else quickly followed. The second Star emerged from the tent, the source of the disturbance became instantly clear. It was also clear that she was the cause.
"There she is!"
"It is her!"
"The princess!"
"Princess Butterfly!"
"Coward!"
"Deserter!"
"You left us to die!"
"Traitor!"
"Everyone calm down!" Buff Frog yelled, but the crowd only grew louder and advanced toward them. Before Star even realized what was happening, Lavabo quickly stepped in front of her, obscuring her from view. Janna, Tom, and Rosado stepped into a semicircle at Lavabo's side, shielding her further. A few people from the crowd attempted to rush Star, but found themselves brushed back by PY-HD, the astromech brandishing every last pointy, sharp, hot, and electrified attachment in its arsenal.
"String her up!"
"Deserter!"
"Coward!"
"Make 'er suffer as we 'ave!"
"Traitor!"
Buff Frog was losing patience. "Quiet! That is an order!" But his voice was lost to the crowd.
"Traitor!"
"Execute her!"
"Coward!"
"SILENCE!"
The crowd instantly fell silent, apparently just as surprised as Star and her friends that the booming command had come from the normally soft-spoken Knight of the Wash. Thinking quickly before the crowd could regain its former rowdiness, Star pushed past her wall of friends and spoke as loudly as she could.
"People of Mewni! I understand how you feel seeing me here, and I regret how long it took me to return! But let me assure you, if it had been my choice, I never would have left Mewni when the Empire attacked!"
"Lier!"
"Traitor!"
"How could running away not be your choice?!"
"Because King and Queen Butterfly order me to help her escape!" Buff Frog boomed. "I could not disobey direct order from King and Queen!"
"She could have!"
"She could've chose to stay!"
"Actually-!"
This voice was unexpectedly loud. It was Janna, talking into a voice amplifier deployed by PY-HD.
"-she couldn't choose to stay!"
"Why not?!" asked the crowd.
"Because I knocked her unconscious so she wouldn't have a choice!"
This time when the crowd fell silent, those standing nearest to Janna took a step back.
Star beckoned PY-HD over and trained the voice amplifier on herself. Her voice now echoed loudly over the crowd. "My friends and General Bulgolyubov were tasked with getting me to safety by my parents, the King and Queen, and they did their job. And once we left, it wasn't as easy as just deciding to come back because, in case you haven't noticed, the Empire is blockading the planet. You wouldn't believe what we went through just to find a way to get back here without getting blown up!"
A few quiet murmurs rippled through the crowd of people, but no one spoke up.
Star sighed. "I never forgot about my duty to the people of Mewni as heir to the throne. I always intended to come back. And now I'm here. And I promise, this time, I will not leave the planet until the empire is eradicated from our home!" She paused, incorrectly expecting a cheer from the crowd. There was only silence. "Okay then…first thing's first: my friends Janna and Tom here have a stealth ship that can make it past the blockade. They're going to relocate you all off-world somewhere safe.
"Now I want to kick the Empire out, but I can't do it alone. General Bulgolyubov and Sir Lavabo have already informed me that they are staying to fight. I need volunteers ready and willing to fight for Mewni to stay behind and join us!" Then she added, "And unlike many of Mewni's past monarchs, I will be leading you into battle, not issuing orders from the safety of some command post."
Suddenly, the camp became deathly silent. One could have heard a pin drop. Star felt her heart sink. The people had given up. Mewni was lost.
"I'll stay!"
Two hundred beings looked to see who had spoken up. The identity of the volunteer was unsurprising to Star and her friends. Eddie proudly held his hand aloft.
"I reckon your old dad would be pretty miffed at me if I didn't stay and fight for Mewni, especially if his little girl was the one leading the fight."
Star smiled. "Thank you, Eddie," she said softly, though the amplifier still made her voice loud enough for all to hear. She turned back to the crowd. No one moved.
And then suddenly, a hand shot up from the sea of faces. "I will stay!"
And then another. "I will stay!"
"I will stay!"
"I will stay!"
"I will fight!" shouted a man standing right in front of Star.
"I will fight!" yelled another, following the lead of the previous volunteer.
"I will fight!"
"I will fight!"
"I will fight!"
Star's smile grew. She turned to her friends as more and more hands were raised skyward. They grinned back at her.
"It's not exactly a whole army," Janna said. "But it's a good start."