The bell had just rung at Echo Creek Academy, signaling the end of second period. Zion, always one to make the most of his free time, grabbed his skateboard and headphones, ready to glide through the hallways to his next class. The music blasted through his headphones, creating a personal soundtrack that fueled his momentum as he navigated the bustling corridors with ease.
As Zion skated along, lost in the rhythm, he didn't notice the petite figure rounding the corner ahead until it was too late. They collided with a thud, ending with both of them sprawled on the floor. His headphones were knocked askew, and his skateboard clattered to a halt a few feet away. Zion quickly scrambled to his feet, extending a hand to help the other person up.
"Janna!" Zion exclaimed, recognizing the mischievous girl who often had a knack for being where trouble brewed. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
Janna eyed his outstretched hand, hesitating for a moment before accepting it. As he pulled her to her feet, she couldn't help but notice something unusual beneath his shirt—a tail? Her curiosity piqued, she brushed herself off with a grin.
"Is that a tail under your shirt?" Janna asked, her voice playful yet intrigued.
Zion's eyes widened in alarm, and he quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, glancing around to make sure no one else had heard. Once the coast was clear, he released her with a sigh.
"Okay, okay," Zion whispered, resigned to explaining. "I'm half Saiyan, half human. It's... a long story."
Janna's eyes sparkled with interest, unfazed by the revelation. "Cool, so Star's not the only supernatural person we got here," she said with a cheeky grin, picking up the head of the large sack she was dragging along.
Zion finally took notice of the sack and recognized it from their first encounter. "Hey, why did you bring Star's book to school?" he asked, nodding towards the sack.
Janna shrugged, ripping it open to reveal the chaotic mess of Star's spellbook. "I couldn't figure out how to use this thing," she admitted, crouching down to flip through its pages.
Curiosity piqued, Zion crouched beside her. "Isn't there a glossary at the fro—" he began, but before he could finish, the pages began to turn on their own. They stopped abruptly, and from the book emerged a small, dark blue humanoid figure with pink eyes and a magenta gem embedded in its forehead.
"Did someone say Glossaryck?" the creature announced, floating serenely in a meditative pose. Janna and Zion exchanged looks of confusion before focusing on the curious figure.
Glossaryck bowed towards Janna, mistaking her for his current charge. "How can I be of service, milady?"
Zion interjected, correcting him. "She's not a milady."
Glossaryck studied Janna again, his expression bemused. "Could've fooled me." He then resumed his position atop the book.
Janna gave Zion a playful smack on the arm, then addressed Glossaryck. "So, can you help me figure out this book?"
Glossaryck tilted his head thoughtfully. "Well, I could use some pudding first."
Zion raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "You can't be serious."
Glossaryck floated closer, meeting Zion's gaze. "High schools have the best pudding. Simply put, the more pudding I get, the more you get to know." With that, he reclined back onto the book, signaling the end of his instructions.
Janna jumped to her feet, determination sparkling in her eyes. She emptied her backpack onto the floor, making room for as much pudding as she could carry. "Watch the book for me, Zion. I'll be back," she said, dashing off toward the cafeteria.
Zion watched her retreating figure with a mix of surprise and amusement. "Sure, why not," he muttered to himself, settling in to guard the spellbook.
True to her word, Janna returned fifteen minutes later, her backpack bulging with chocolate pudding cups. Zion's eyes widened at the sight. "That's... a lot."
Janna shrugged, grinning mischievously. "There's a lot I want to ask."
Glossaryck, now content with his pudding, was more willing to entertain Janna's questions. She began by asking if he could teach her some spells or ritual circles. Glossaryck snapped his fingers, and three pieces of paper appeared in mid-air between them. Janna caught them, eagerly examining their contents.
One paper listed five spells, while the other two detailed ritual circles. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she skimmed the spells, her interest piqued by one in particular. "A portal to anywhere," she read aloud, ignoring the warning about using it recklessly.
Zion watched her warily as she began to chant the words of the spell, paying little mind to the cautionary note. Suddenly, a swirling, ring-shaped vortex of vibrant energy appeared beneath him, glowing with a bright orange hue.
"Janna, wait!" Zion shouted, but it was too late. He fell through the portal, his skateboard clattering to the ground as he disappeared. As he vanished, his voice echoed back, "GOD DAMN IT, JANNA!"
Janna blinked at the spot where he had been, a sheepish expression on her face. "Oops," she muttered.
Glossaryck, unfazed, swallowed another mouthful of pudding. "Did you think of a destination before chanting that spell?" he asked.
Janna shrugged again, unconcerned. "Not really. I'm sure he'll be fine."
She sat down on Zion's skateboard, turning her attention back to the spellbook and Glossaryck, ready to continue her exploration.
Meanwhile, Marco rushed down the hallway, his expression one of urgency. He skidded to a halt when he saw Janna with the spellbook. "Janna, why do you have that?" he demanded, but he was pressed for time. Star needed his help with her mewberty, and he couldn't linger for long.
Before he could delve deeper, his gaze fell on Glossaryck, floating serenely above the book. "What are you?" Marco asked, his curiosity momentarily distracting him.
Glossaryck introduced himself with a flourish. "I am Glossaryck of terms, magical mentor to the past queens of Mewni and to Star Butterfly."
Realizing the urgency, Marco explained Star's predicament. Glossaryck, initially reluctant to assist, softened when he learned it was for Star's sake. "It's a natural process that can't be stopped," he said sagely. "But she may, or may not, return to normal by 3:57 PM."
Just then, a scream echoed down the hallway. Marco turned, ready to help, but paused to address Janna one last time. "Why do you have Zion's skateboard?"
Janna, unfazed, replied nonchalantly, "I'm holding onto it for a while."
Marco hesitated, questions swirling in his mind, but he knew there were more pressing matters at hand. He ran toward the source of the scream, silently hoping Zion was okay.
Meanwhile, with Zion*
Zion awoke in a dimly lit space, his head throbbing with a dull ache. He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The air was thick with the scent of chemicals and electricity, and the walls were lined with dark, metallic panels, giving the impression of a chaotic genius at work.
He quickly realized he was in a prison cell, its bars cold and unyielding. As he stood, a voice echoed from nearby, though he couldn't pinpoint its source.
"I wouldn't try that if I were you," the voice advised. "The guards will come running if you start making a fuss."
Zion paused, considering the warning. "Where am I?" he asked, keeping his voice low. "And who are you?"
The voice responded, its tone tinged with sadness and nostalgia. "You're in the laboratory of St. Olga. They plan to use us for experiments, to create new androids for capturing rebellious princesses."
Zion's mind raced as he processed the information. "Why do they need strong warriors for that?" he questioned, frustration creeping into his voice. "Isn't this a bit much?"
The voice chuckled, a hint of bitterness in its tone. "The princesses wield great power. If left unchecked, they could become dangerous. St. Olga's reform school was meant to teach them control, but those ideals died with its founder."
Zion frowned, gripping the bars tightly. "And now?"
"Now, a new leader has twisted its purpose," the voice replied. "The individuality and freedom of those girls are at stake."
Determined, Zion declared, "I'm getting out of here, and I'm taking this place down with me."
The voice chuckled again. "If you have the power to do so, who am I to stop you? But forget about me. Just make sure to tear this place apart."
Zion nodded, his resolve steeling. "I'll do it," he promised, before focusing his energy.
With a deep breath, he harnessed his ki, unleashing an "Omega Surge" that blasted the cell bars apart. Alarms blared, but Zion was undeterred. He searched for the source of the voice, only to find empty cells.
"What are you waiting for?" the voice urged. "Get moving!"
Zion followed the voice, finding a man suspended in an incubator. His heart clenched at the sight of wires and circuits entangling the man's form.
"Leave me," the man said. "Just destroy this place."
Zion nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I will," he vowed, turning to leave.
As he dashed through the corridors, Zion unleashed ki blasts in every direction, leaving destruction in his wake. He stumbled upon a door labeled "Dr. Myuu" and slipped inside.
The office was cluttered with blueprints, but one caught Zion's attention: a sketch of a gemstone labeled "R.I.S.E." It was a renewable source of energy for the new androids.
Anger flared within Zion, but before he could destroy it, he spotted a black box emitting a faint glow. Inside was the R.I.S.E. gem.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Zion knew he had to act fast. He blasted the hallway, creating a barrier of debris, and pocketed the gem. As he exited the lab, he encountered a courtyard filled with android guards.
At the center stood a hunched figure with purple skin and a mechanical leg. "You've caused quite the ruckus," the figure sneered. "But your luck has run out."
Zion smirked, his aura flaring with power. "I'm just getting started," he retorted.
The androids surged forward, but Zion met them with a powerful explosion wave, knocking several back. He leapt into the air, unleashing a "Celestial Barrage" of energy projectiles, reducing the remaining guards to rubble.
As the dust settled, Zion found the figure struggling beneath debris. He lifted him by the collar, demanding, "Where are your dimensional scissors?"
The figure, named Gemini, begrudgingly handed them over. Zion smirked, tossing him aside. "Thanks," he said, slashing open a portal with the scissors.
Before stepping through, Zion charged one final blast at the lab, ensuring its destruction. The portal shimmered, and Zion stepped through, leaving the chaos behind.
Back at Echo Creek Academy*
Zion emerged from the portal to find the school in disarray. Purple hearts and vines covered the walls, and students were breaking free from webbing. Star and Marco lay on the floor, catching their breath.
Zion raised an eyebrow, taking in the scene. "What happened here?"
Marco, relieved to see him, stood up. "Dude, where have you been?"
Star, excited, showed off her tiny new wings. "Look what I got during mewberty!"
Zion listened as they recounted their adventures, pulling out the black box he'd taken. He opened it to reveal the R.I.S.E. gem.
Star and Marco stared in awe. "What are you going to do with that?" Star asked.
Zion shrugged, closing the box. "Not sure yet. Maybe keep it as a souvenir."
They shared a laugh, the tension of the day giving way to relief. As they headed home, Marco remembered something. "Hey, Zion, why did Janna have your skateboard?"
Zion stopped in his tracks, realization dawning. "GOD DAMN IT, JANNA!" he shouted, sprinting toward her house, Star and Marco's laughter echoing behind him.
In the hushed remains of the once-bustling laboratory, a somber and tense atmosphere hung in the air. The metallic tang of soot and the acrid scent of burnt circuitry permeated the ruins. Sparks flickered from severed wires, and the soft hum of failing machinery echoed through the wreckage. Gemini, the hunchbacked assistant, moved with a sense of urgency, sifting through debris in search of anything salvageable amid the chaos.
His fingers, deft and practiced, retrieved scattered papers and half-intact files, each a fragment of the extensive research led by the notorious Dr. Myuu. The destruction was near total, and the task at hand seemed monumental. Yet, Gemini persisted, driven by a mixture of fear and loyalty.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the ruins, heralding the arrival of Dr. Myuu himself. His eyes, alight with fury, surveyed the devastation wrought upon his domain. His anger was palpable, a storm barely contained beneath a veneer of calm.
"What happened here, Gemini?" Dr. Myuu demanded, his voice a low growl as he surveyed the destruction.
Gemini paused, his eyes flickering with apprehension. "A boy, Doctor. He tore through the lab... like a force of nature," he stammered, gesturing towards a nearby monitor.
With a flick of a switch, the screen crackled to life, replaying footage from the security cameras. The image was grainy but clear enough to capture Zion, his aura blazing as he unleashed a torrent of energy upon the lab, reducing androids to scrap and igniting chaos with every move.
Dr. Myuu's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he watched the scene unfold. "A single boy did all of this?" he muttered, a mixture of disbelief and grudging admiration in his tone. He turned to Gemini, his voice cold and calculating. "He will pay for this. I will see to it personally."
As the footage ended, Dr. Myuu's attention shifted to a more pressing matter. "And the R.I.S.E.?" he inquired, his voice sharp with urgency.
Gemini hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "It might have been destroyed with the building," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dr. Myuu's fury erupted, his fist clenching around the phone in his hand. The plastic and metal buckled under the pressure, shattering into pieces. "Unacceptable!" he roared, the sound echoing through the skeletal remains of the lab.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Dr. Myuu retrieved another device, his expression darkening as he prepared to make a call. The line connected, and he spoke with measured precision.
"Headmaster," he began, his voice unwavering despite the fury simmering beneath. "We've encountered a significant setback. Production is heavily delayed, and the distribution of guards will be reduced by seventy percent. I advise using the remaining units for capture missions only."
Though the headmaster's response was inaudible, the sharp tone was unmistakable, fueling Dr. Myuu's ire. With a curt nod, he ended the call, casting the broken pieces of the phone aside.
"Gemini," he commanded, his voice regaining its steely edge. "Deploy the 'ladybug'. We need to gather data on this boy—his genetic makeup, his fighting style. We cannot afford another interference like this."
Gemini nodded, his movements quick and efficient as he retrieved a small, unassuming device from a drawer. The 'ladybug' was a marvel of miniature engineering, designed to remain undetected as it tracked its target. With a flick of the wrist, Gemini sent it on its mission, the tiny device buzzing to life and disappearing into the shadows.
As the 'ladybug' embarked on its covert pursuit, Dr. Myuu turned away, his mind already orchestrating his next move. The setback was infuriating, but it would not deter him. If anything, it fueled his resolve, driving him to adapt and overcome.
With the lab in ruins and the path ahead uncertain, Dr. Myuu's thoughts were singularly focused on Zion. The boy had become a thorn in his side, and Dr. Myuu was nothing if not persistent.
As he strode away from the wreckage, Dr. Myuu's mind was a flurry of plans and contingencies. The game had changed, but he was determined to emerge victorious, no matter the cost. And somewhere in the distance, the 'ladybug' began its silent surveillance, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the unfolding conflict.
A few months later:
At Echo Creek Academy, the air was thick with anticipation as the third period rolled around. Oskar Greason, perched on the hood of his car, was lost in his world, strumming the new bass guitar he had proudly bought with his part-time job earnings. The notes flowed effortlessly from his fingers, and his dedication to his craft was evident. He was determined to prove to Zion and the others just how serious he was about music, especially with the prospect of performing in front of the school looming on the horizon.
As he played, the full moon in the sky glowed an unsettling red. The scene was almost surreal, and it became even more so when the ground suddenly burst open in a flash of fire. From the depths below, a black carriage emerged, drawn by a skeletal horse. All eyes turned to the spectacle.
A young man stepped out, each step burning the ground beneath him. His presence drew the gaze of every girl he passed. He wore a simple black jacket with matching pants and shoes, complemented by a large black belt with an army green buckle. His white button-up shirt had a protruding collar, and a loosely worn black tie hung around his neck. But what truly set him apart were his three-lens sunglasses, spiky salmon-colored hair, very pale lilac skin, and three red eyes, one in the middle of his forehead. Black eyeliner accentuated his otherworldly features, and two pale-orange white-tipped horns jutted from the sides of his head. He had sharp teeth and pointy ears and nose, completing his demonic appearance.
This was Tom, and his destination was Star's classroom. He entered with a confident air, inviting Star to the Blood Moon Ball.
Star, however, was having none of it. She pushed Tom back towards his carriage, refusing his invitation and reminding him of their breakup. Tom, undeterred, tried to convince her that he had changed. He'd hired a life coach named Brian and proudly displayed a pin, boasting 53 days of being anger-free.
Before Star could respond, Marco and Zion appeared. Marco, without hesitation, chopped off Tom's right hand, and Zion swiftly followed with a ki blast that sent Tom flying three feet back. To their surprise, Tom's hand reattached itself moments later, and he remained calm and composed, showing he had indeed changed.
Star, watching with a mix of fear and curiosity, saw that Tom was keeping his temper under control. Before leaving, Tom handed her a tiny black bell and hammer, instructing her to use it if she changed her mind.
That evening, as Star picked out a dress for the ball, Marco lingered nearby, his mind racing with concerns about Tom's true intentions. "Are you sure about this, Star?" he asked, his tone cautious. "What if Tom hasn't really changed?"
Star, adjusting her dress in the mirror, smiled reassuringly. "Marco, I can handle this. Trust me, okay?"
Marco sighed, unsure but unwilling to press further. "Just... be careful."
With a nod, Star used Tom's bell, summoning a demonic elevator that erupted in flames in front of the balcony, ready to whisk her away to the underworld. Despite Marco's lingering misgivings, Star bid him goodbye, stepping into the elevator and descending into the depths.
Meanwhile, at the Diaz household, Marco found Zion in Star's bedroom. Marco wore a sharp black tuxedo, while Zion casually spun a Día de los Muertos mask on his index finger.
"Zion, I need to talk," Marco began, his voice edged with worry. "I'm really concerned about Star going to the Blood Moon Ball with Tom."
Zion, still spinning the mask, raised an eyebrow. "And you want me to come along and back her up if things go south?"
"Yeah, exactly," Marco replied, hopeful.
Zion shook his head, setting the mask down. "I can't, Marco. Tonight's a full moon, and I risk transforming into a great ape. I really can't be there."
Marco frowned, trying to come up with a counter-argument. "But Star might need us—"
Zion cut him off, his tone firm but understanding. "Marco, you like Star, don't you?"
Marco blushed, sputtering out denials, but Zion waved them away. "It's obvious, man. If you're really that concerned, you should go. Either take action or let Star handle herself."
Zion tossed Marco the Día de los Muertos mask. "Think about it. You know what to do."
As Zion left, Marco sat alone, turning the mask over in his hands, contemplating Zion's words. His gaze drifted to the black bell on Star's dresser, the weight of his decision pressing down on him.
Outside, Zion felt a rumble beneath his feet as he headed home, but he didn't panic. Instead, he glanced back at the Diaz household, watching the fiery spectacle of the demonic elevator. Shaking his head with a bemused smile, he muttered to himself, "Marco's really down bad for Star," before continuing on his way.
With the night deepening and the full moon casting its eerie glow, the stage was set for an evening of unexpected revelations and perhaps even newfound courage.