AUTHOR'S NOTE: Credit for this chapter goes to my collaborator.

Star vs. the Flashpoint Paradox

Chapter 4: The Guys in White

"Riots continue to spread throughout most of America's major cities, most of which are in support of Cobra, whom many people believe are defending humanity from the Irken invaders. President Masters has stated that he will declare martial law if these riots are not put down."

Click.

"Earlier today, the metahuman villain known as Fuzzy Lumpkins was killed at the hands of Townsville's superhuman vigilante group known as the Rowdyruff Boys. While the group managed to stop Lumpkins, they caused over three million dollars in damage to the city as well as the deaths of over sixty people who were caught in the middle of the battle. Mayor Bellum has once again denied any affiliation with the Rowdyruff Boys, but rumors continue to circulate around her supposed connection to the team."

Click.

"The bodies of several Irken troopers were discovered just outside of a small town in Delaware known as Beach City. The bodies had apparently washed up on the beach last night and were discovered with strange cut marks on their bodies. Whether or not this was the work of Cobra is unknown at this time."

Click.

"Miracle City's masked vigilante, La Tigresa, was arrested and unmasked by police and, in a shocking turn of events, the identity of La Tigressa is in fact Frida Suárez, the daughter of Miracle City's own chief of police. However, before her trial, Frida escaped prison and stole back the belt that supposedly gives her superhuman abilities. It is currently unclear if her farther assisted in her escape or not."

Click.

"New York continues to suffer a string of violent, gang-related crimes at the hands of the notorious street gang, the Purple Dragons. The gang's leader, known metahuman Jake Long, made a statement saying that if the city does not give into their demands that the attacks will continue until done so."

Agent Pines let out a haggard sigh as he shut off the TV that sat across from his desk. He didn't even know why he bothered turning it on in the first place. It was always bad news on every channel. Reporters who had to constantly remind the masses how screwed they were. Between the war that was tearing the world apart and president Vlad Masters' insistent need to hunt down and destroy the rising number of metahumans, the young agent knew that destruction was inevitable. In an odd way, he was glad aliens and metahumans walked among mortal men, for there was a time he and his partner were the laughing stock of an agency who was once used to conceal military secrets. But then, a new generation of gods and monsters appeared and people stopped laughing at them.

Just then, his partner, Wendy, entered their office. She had been his partner since he joined the department two years ago, and in that time, they became closer than just partners, they became lovers. Since the department had gone into researching the realm of the paranormal, Mason and Wendy had encountered not only aliens and metahumans, but also ghosts, demons and other supernatural beings that would've made a lesser man die of fright. However, while the Guys in White's orders were to hunt down and either capture or kill any metahuman they discover, the two agents instead aided them and kept tabs on them so that when the time came, they would be called upon to help the world at large. One such person was the ghost/human hybrid known as Jack Phantom, whom the agents had assisted in the past with constructing his equipment and fighting other ghosts.

"I just got a call from Jack," Wendy began. "He says he needs our help with something."

"And what exactly is this 'something?'" Mason asked.

"He said it was better that we see for ourselves," his partner answered.

Mason hated when his secret ally got all cryptic with his messages to them, but his interest was piqued regardless. So, with that, Mason followed his girlfriend out the door, making sure that they weren't followed to their car before heading out in the direction of Amity Park.

Jack had told Star that it would take Mason and Wendy a while to arrive. In the meantime, the ghostly vigilante told his time-displaced guest to quietly sit in the corner and keep her mouth shut. Unfortunately for the half-ghost, the princess of Mewni wasn't the type of person who did as she was told.

"How long have you lived in the lab?" she asked her eighteenth question. "It looks like you haven't been upstairs in a while."

"I haven't got a reason to," Jack replied as he tried to keep his annoyance for the girl concealed. "All that's up there are bad memories."

"But doesn't it get lonely down here?" Star persisted. "I mean, all you do down here is sit around and brood until a ghost needs to stopped. You seriously need a hobby, dude."

Before Jack could whirl around and explode on his unwanted guest, the duo heard a knock at the door to the lab. Without being allowed into Jack's makeshift headquarters, two members of the Guys in White stepped into lab. The altered versions of her friends still fail to shock Star when she laid eyes on Mason and Wendy. The once short, meek thirteen-year-old boy had been replaced by a tall, young man who appeared to be around eighteen. Dipper's build was drastically different than his previous timeline's self. Where he once was skinny, he had become muscular. Even under the white suit, the princess of Mewni could see his well-toned body this new timeline had given him. Wendy had a few changes as well, for now she was twenty years old and her normally long red hair had been cut down to just below her jawline. Like Dipper, it was quite clear that she gained some muscles as well.

"This better be good, Fenton," Dipper began. "If our agency discovers our connection to you, then it puts not just all of us in jeopardy, but the rest of our contacts as well."

"Trust me, it is," Jack assured before gesturing over to Star. "This is "

"Star Butterfly, the sole survivor of the destruction of Mewni," Mason cut him off. "I know who this is, Jack, but what I don't know is why is she in your lab and not under my great-uncle's watch?"

"Wait, time out!" Star interjected. "Stan's a member of the G.I. Joes? Seriously? Jeez, what's Mabel in this timeline, a rocket scientist?"

In the blink of an eye, Dipper lashed out at the Mewnan. With almost superhuman speed, he reached out and grabbed the blonde by the throat and slammed her against the wall. Star attempted to the punch and kick wildly at Dipper in an attempt to get him to let go of her, but it only made the young man tighten his grip on her neck. Star was taken aback by how strong this version of her friend was. Even by human standards, he was showing an almost inhuman amount of strength and durability. Jack was about to step in to get his ally to stand down, but Wendy got in front of him with her hand on her holstered ecto-blaster.

"How do you know those names!?" he demanded. "My sister and great-uncle were abducted by the Irkens during their scouting phase of the invasion and were kept top secret. So how the hell do you know who they are!?"

"And why did you say 'this timeline?'" Wendy added on.

"She claims she's from an alternate timeline," Jack explained. "One where my family is still alive."

"And Stan and Mabel as well," Star managed to add as she gasped for air. "Just hear me out!"

Mason remained silent for a few moments as he held star against the wall before finally dropping her and allowing her to get some air.

"Thanks, Dipper," she breathed out.

"Don't ever call me that," he warned with a scowl. "Now talk."

"Is everyone in this timeline this moody?" the princess asked before getting a glare from Mason. "Alright, I'll talk."

With that, Star began to tell the agents everything. She told them of the timeline she hailed from and of the villain who had apparently changed it into the world they were now apart of. Unlike Jack who was skeptical about all this at first, Mason and Wendy took everything she said in stride. In their line of work, the agents had encountered people with fantastic tales that turned out to be true in the end, so why shouldn't this be any different?

"So if this Toffee guy is the one responsible for making this world, then how do we find him?" Wendy questioned.

"There might be a way," Star answered. "If we can recharge my wand, then I can cast the spell he used to go back in time and fix whatever he changed. But we need to capture him first to keep from going back and doing any more damage to the time stream than he already has."

"If he knows about this time spell, why doesn't he keep going back to keep changing the timeline repeatedly?" the redhead furthered.

"Because he's loving this," the Mewnan answered. "He wants me to suffer for whatever my family did to him in the past."

"Then the sooner we find him, the better" Mason summarized.

"Well, first we need to charge my wand back up before anything else," the princess explained. "Jack told me that you guys are experts with stuff like this, so maybe you guys could revive it."

Star then showed her wand to the two agents, who closely inspected it for several seconds before giving their answer.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think there's anything we can do recharge it," Mason finally said. "But there may be still a way to restore your wand."

"What is it?" Star asked.

"Mason and I have been recently investigating rumors of magic-based metahuman activities in Beach City," Wendy answered. "Apparently, it's been going on since the town's formation during the sixteen-hundreds."

"Wait, did you say Beach City?" Star questioned. "So the Crystal Gems are still in this timeline too?"

"The Crystal who?" Jack asked bluntly.

"The Crystal Gems," Star reaffirmed. "In my timeline, they're aliens who had protected the earth from their own kind for thousands of years, but I don't know who or what they're like in this timeline."

"Well, let's hope their still friendly," Mason pointed out. "Because if you want your wand fixed, they may be your only hope of doing so. We should stock up on weapons in case they're hostile. Wendy, I need you to do a weapons check. Star will help you."

"I will?" Star asked before getting a glare from the young man. "Uh, I mean, I will!"

His partner nodded in acknowledgement before she and the princess went about gathering up weapons from around the lab. While that was going on, the young agent then turned his attention toward Jack.

"You and I need to talk," he ordered.

Jack snorted in displeasure, knowing damn well what he meant he meant by that. Mason lead the half-ghost aside so that they could talk privately.

"You know what's coming, Jack," he began "Cobra and the Irken forces are massing at London. It looks like they're getting ready to end this war, and they'll take the world with them if they do so."

"And you think your little band of freaks can stop them?" Jack countered. "Just leave it to the Joes, Mason."

"My uncle's team has no chance of surviving this war," the agent replied. "But maybe our team does."

"Who exactly have you roped into this little suicide squad of yours so far?" the half-ghost questioned in a disinterested voice.

"Jake Long, La Tigressa and the Rowdyruff Boys have all agreed to join us," Mason explained. "We could use someone with your powers on a team like this."

"And get killed?" Jack scoffed.

"It's not like you're living for much these days," the young agent coldly countered.

Rather than give an answer to that, Jack looked back at Star, who was busy helping Wendy stock up on weapons for their possible clash with the Crystal Gems.

"You think she's telling the truth?" he mused.

"It would be a nice thought," Mason replied. "If there's a chance that I could bring back Stan and Mabel, then I'd do anything for it."

Jack gave a nod in agreement on that before speaking once more.

"If I do this, then there has to be one condition," Jack informed him. "We help the girl fix her wand. It's like you said, if there's a chance to save your family, wouldn't you take it?"

"And if it turns out she's just crazy?" Mason suggested.

"Then I can at least say I did something worth being called a superhero for her," the half-ghost answered.

Meanwhile with Star and Wendy, the redhaired agent decided to ask the princess a few questions of her own.

"So, in this timeline you're from, what was Mason like?" she asked curiously.

"Well, for starters, he wasn't a jerk," Star began. "He was kind, curious and a bit O.C.D. about everything. But the biggest thing about him for me was how much he loved you."

"He did?" Wendy pressed further.

"Oh yeah, he was nuts about you," the blonde answered. "Before all this happened, you two had just started dating. I guess some things don't change by the looks of it."

"Were it so easy," Wendy commented sadly with a head shake. "After his sister and great-uncle were taken away, it, well...it changed him in more than one way. I was just starting at the department when I first met Mason, and even back then he was distant from everyone, and even more so what with his theories about aliens and metahumans. I should've asked for a transfer when we were out looking for Bigfoot, but there was something about his need to find the truth that me want to stay by his side."

"I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say he hasn't said 'I love you' yet?" the Mewnan surmised. "Well, don't worry, if he's anything like the Dip-I mean, Mason, from my timeline, then he cares about you more than anything."

Wendy couldn't help but smile at the teenager's words before Jack and Mason came back up to them.

"Are we all set?" the young agent inquired,

"All set," his partner answered.

"You're not carrying a lot of weapons," Star noted.

"I am a weapon," was all Mason said response.

"O...kay," Star slowly acknowledged despite being confused by that statement.

"It'll be an eleven-hour drive from here to Beach City," Jack mentioned. "I hope you all like road trips."

"Or we could always use these," Star suggested before taking out her dimensional scissors.

"And just how are a pair of scissors going to help us?" the half-ghost questioned.

"They're capable of cutting small holes between long distances for quick travel," Mason answered before everyone gave him a look of surprise that he knew that. "I've read through the Joes files on you."

To show Jack and Wendy what the agent meant, she cut open a portal that lead right to Beach City. The redhead and the half-ghost were impressed by Mewnan's trinket before the group stepped through the portal, all the while unsure what they would face on the other side.

Ever since the war in Europe broke out between Cobra and the Irkens, news coverage of the progress of the war and the condition of the citizens of the once great continent was very limited. For someone to even think of going across the sea and into what most would consider to be Hell on Earth would be considered insane, but for said someone to actually make the journey there was downright suicidal. Such was the case with Heidi Weinerman, a young news reporter for United World News who was hungry for a story that would make her famous, and what better topic was there other than the war that raged from across the Atlantic Ocean.

Despite her brother's warnings, Heidi secretly hired a pilot by the name of Jackie Lynn Thomas to fly her to London so that she could get a closer look at the war. The pilot refused to land in London and instead told her that she would fly the reporter over the ruined city where she would then parachute out of her plane so that she wouldn't run the risk of being killed at the hands of either army. Heidi reluctantly agreed to Jackie's terms and boarded her plane on a midnight flight on what she considered to be the story that would make her would bigger than her rival, Debbie Kang.

During the flight, Heidi managed to get in radio contact with the European Resistance, a small band of rebels made up of human and metahumans who had been fighting against both Cobra and the Irkens ever since the nations of their respective countries fell during the conflict. After a long debate, the rebels finally allowed her to meet up with them. They gave her coordinates for her to rendezvous with a few of their soldiers so that she could be safely escorted back their base. After a long, eleven-hour flight, Jackie's plane finally reached the coordinates the rebels had given her.

"You sure you wanna do this?" Jackie asked as Heidi put on her parachute in the back of the plane. "You're going into a pretty rough area."

"I've covered wars before, you know," Heidi stated.

"This isn't an ordinary war," the pilot informed her.

"Well, I'm not an ordinary woman," the reporter answered with a proud smirk. "See you around, Thomas!"

With that, Heidi opened the door and lept out of the plane and began fall toward the war-torn world below her. Once she was close enough, she opened her parachute and glided safely down to the ground, where she ditched her parachute and instantly began to take pictures of the wreckage around her with her camera. The rebels were nowhere to be found which made the young reporter start to feel nervous. Just then, she heard the sound of footsteps coming her way and at first assumed that it was the rebels coming to meet up with her. To her dismay however, it wasn't the rebels, but an Irken patrol that was passing through the area who had spotted her dropping into the city.

"Halt!" one of aliens commanded as he and the other troops approached her with their weapons drawn. "Hands up!"

Heidi instantly did as she was instructed to do and put her hands up and stood absolutely still, but not before quickly putting her camera in her pocket. One of the Irkens took the butt his plasma rifle and struck the ginger in the stomach, making her double-over and fall to her knees in pain. The other soldiers aimed their weapons at her while the one who had hit her aimed his weapon directly at her head. However, despite the amount of fear she felt inside her, Heidi put on a brave face in front of the alien invaders.

"So I guess this means an interview's out of the question, huh?" she asked them before the Irken in front of her slapped her. "I'll take that as a yes."

The Irken solider placed his finger on his rifles trigger, but just as he was about to pull it, he stopped completely. The Irken stood there in silence for several seconds before his head slid off from his shoulders. Heidi, as well as the other Irkens, were equally surprised and horrified by this sudden death. Even though the Irkens didn't see who or what had killed one of their own, they began to shoot wildly at the area around them. While the aliens were distracted, the redhead took this opportunity to quickly run and hide behind some nearby debris, where she then took out her camera and began to snap pictures of the fight.

The figure that had attacked the patrol kept to the shadows as it continued its assault on the now frightened and confused Irkens. While the assailant stayed close the darkness around him, Heidi could see that her savior wore a black suit and was covered in scales like a type of reptile. The man-lizard darted at another Irken on all fours, dodging the plasma bolts that rained down on him as he did. He then lept forward at his target and slashed the invader across the throat, spraying his blood everywhere in doing so.

Using the dying Irken as cover, the metahuman got behind the alien and used his body as a shield as he used his gun to shoot at the other members of the patrol, killing one and wounding another in the process. He then flung his now dead body shield at the patrol before rushing at them once more. In a flash, he had already reached the Irken he had wounded and stomped on his neck, killing him instantly. Using his tail, the man-lizard reached out and tripped another Irken before leaping at him and disemboweling him with his already bloodstained claws. Another member of the patrol threw down his gun and drew out his knife from his belt before running at the creature who had slayed his comrades. The lizard-man turned around just in time see the Irken ram his knife through his chest. However, instead dying instantly, the lizard merely pulled the blade out of his chest and jabbed in right between its owner's eyes.

There was only one member of the patrol left, and he had run out of rounds for his plasma rifle. He knew that that his knife and sidearm would be useless, so he instead threw down his weapon and put his hands up.

"I surrender!" he proclaimed in fear.

"I don't care," the metahuman answered without any hint of emotion.

He then approached the frightened Irken and constricted his tail around captive's neck, all the while he begged him to let him go. With one, quick flex in the muscles in his tail, he snapped the invader's neck like twig before dropping it to the ground. Heidi was in a state of shock as she watched the massacre she had just bared witness to, but she did manage to snap few pictures of her surprise savior in the process, abeit blurry ones. A part of her wanted to come out of her hiding spot and personally thank the metahuman, but another, more logical side of her mind told her to stay hidden until he left.

After hearing the man-lizard's footsteps fade away from the scene, the redhead finally got up from her hiding place and found herself standing before a trio of heavily armed teenagers looking at her with their weapons drawn. The small group consisted of a boy and two girls. The boy and one of the girls were dark skinned while the other girl was Caucasian with blonde hair. All three of the teens where dressed in military grade body armor and carried assault rifles that they no doubt stole from the bodies of dead Cobra soldiers.

"I haven't been here for more than an hour and this is twice in a row I've had guns pointed at me!" Heidi pointed out.

"Are you the woman from United World News?" one of the girls questioned.

"Yeah, that's me," the reporter confirmed. "Can you lower your weapons now?"

The girl looked over to her teammates and gave them the signal to stand down. She then walked over to the reporter and shook her hand.

"Pleasure to meet you in person, Ms. Weinerman, I'm a big fan of yours," the girl began. "My name's Alya, and these are Nino and Chloe. We're your escorts to our base."

"Where's the guy who saved me?" Heidi asked.

"Come again?" Alya said in confusion.

"You know, the lizard guy who killed all these Irkens," the redhead explained as she pointed to the dead aliens.

"Lady, I don't know what you think you saw, but we don't have anyone like that on our side," Nino mentioned.

Heidi was left confused by hearing that. If the man-lizard wasn't a member of the resistance, then who or what did she just see?

"Now, I'm sorry in advance for this, but we can't let you see the location of our base before we reach it," Alya informed her.

"Sorry for wha-hey!" Heidi attempted to say before Chloe threw a black bag over her head.

With that, the rebels lead their now blinded companion through the war-torn streets as they made their way back to their base of operations, all the while Heidi wondered who exactly the creature that had saved her was.

Meanwhile, a figure hide atop rooftop and looked down at the group. He didn't show any sign of it on the outside, but on the inside, he was smiling at the fact that his plan was working out perfectly. He then slunk back into the shadows and waited for his trap to be sprung. Heidi may not have realized it, but she had just played a huge part in his ultimate revenge against Star Butterfly.

DISCLAIMER: Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Gravity Falls, Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, and American Dragon: Jake Long are owned by Disney, Danny Phantom, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, Invader Zim and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are owned by Nickelodeon, The Powerpuff Girls and Steven Universe are owned by Cartoon Network, G.I. Joe is owned by Hasbro and Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is owned by Zagtoon.