Treading Twilight:

Chapter Five: Ash to dust, dust to book

Things were moving marvelously!

Star was doing better than Eclipsa could have ever hoped for. They were so similar, but the girl was so unique. If only she knew, the book fed off of the princess' feelings.

But enough about princess, Star.

Eclipsa's feet sunk in the mud, ruining her footwear and getting the messy mud all over her foot. But a queen had to do what she had to do. The woman tipped her hat as she stared outwards.

It was quiet, empty even. Eclipsa stepped into the village, the sky slowly transitioning to its normal shade of pink.

The buildings were all a bland grey color—definitely made of cement, almost like giant blocks stacked on top of one another. There were no streets, roads, or anything, just a collection of square houses that looked no bigger than her old jumbo-sized bed, all on top of mud.

Disgusting.

And that's when she saw it. She didn't know how she didn't spot it before! It wasn't just dirt and moldy buildings, no it was more. They weren't abandoned, they weren't without dwellers. They were filled!

A monster laid on its back, the sheer size it was much larger than even her own husband, bone-like spikes sticking out of her back, her matted hair dancing in the wind.

Eclipse held back a gasp, her minions gripped her shoulders from behind with their boney hands, but she gently pushed them away, held her head up, and kept her stride.

The former queen gazed out at the murky and uncontained river beyond the small village. Splashing rapidly and not even the same color as the sky!

PAT said her feet as she ignored the mud invading the inside of her shoes and the rainwater that leaked down her side. she was walking faster, her eyes glancing and staring into the open doorless homes of the monsters.

Single room dwellings. Unconscious creatures of all variety, extra limbs, scales— even small infant monsters. The dark queen could see the exposed ribs and pale skin of monsters who would otherwise have a much darker shade. And her nostrils... the smell, she had to force herself to endure it! And she'd been to Garbage beach only once but it definitely rivaled that!

She couldn't be judgmental though, they'd clearly been neglected. Neglected and forgotten.

How could anyone live like this? How could Butterfly castle allow such—Well, this was Butterfly castle, they weren't really known for their kindness towards monsters.

She moved over to the giant, curiosity getting the best of her.

She approached, cleared her throat, and spoke gently "My dear, what...happened to you? This town?"

The monster groaned "They—"

"No, no...take your time, please."

It continued "They told me.. to go... away..."

"Oh my, uh...Who's they?"

"Butterfly castle… I thought they wanted me to come here…" it finally let the tears fall, which unfortunately came out like a sprinkler.

Eclipsa eased back, but comforted her nonetheless, patting the giant creature's face "There there…"

Unfortunately, a crowd had formed and if the honking of the car said anything, Janna was already ready to make their exit.

Star turned to Marco and Jackie "You guys hurry back, I'm gonna be right behind you."

They both looked at her as she raised her wand and prepared to blast it one last time. Marco and Jackie nodded their heads and returned to the van with a hastened rush, with Marco giving her one last look.

She'd make this quick, she readied her wand and applying all the magic that she could conjure, Star was ready—

A pulse hit her like silent thunder, shaking through her and echoing like a heartbeat. She stopped mid-motion as she stared at the book for a moment.

What?

Fear was there, she felt her fingers tremble. But curiosity got the better of her and she lightly stuck the brunt of the wand on the book. It crumbled into ashes before completely disintegrating and being carried off into the wind.

Everything must have frozen over because she didn't move.

Her brain was doing pull-ups. Weird things had happened to her before, but these things just seemed unprecedented.

At least that would be the last she'd see of that thing. At least it didn't hurt Marco and if it had she would have never forgiven herself.

However, maybe….Star had the perfect opportunity to be rid of Jackie. Had...

—with that said

Could Star let Jackie be harmed? Star sat there for a moment and just couldn't figure that out.

It was wrong.

Her hands clenched.

Jackie wasn't a terrible person. She was awesome— too awesome, actually. More awesome than, Star? She wasn't sure, maybe.

Regardless—it was wrong! Star wasn't like that, she liked to believe that she was the good guy. So, why was that such a hard question to answer? If it was wrong, then the answer was clear, right?

The sound of sirens caused Star to run off and back to the vehicle entering the front passenger seat.

"We gotta go!" Janna said pushing the car into drive and hauling off.

"Wait, we're forreal running away from the cops—" Jackie said as Star turned around to see red and blue sirens blaring off.

"Yes, now floor it, Janna!" The car rumbled and Star was thrown back into her seat. Janna must've slammed her foot through the car!

"Are we running from the cops?" Marco battled with pulling his seatbelt.

Jackie neatly tucked her seatbelt in and spoke "We're... in a stolen vehicle aren't we?"

"Kinda...sorta…" Star shrugged and turned to them.

"WHAT!"

"Points for being accurate, Jackie."

"Wow, we're in stolen property..." Jackie poked her chin and stared at the ceiling.

"If Janna hadn't been so resourceful, the book would have burned me to dust!"

Marco's eyebrow rose "What, it attacked you guys,

too?"

"Well, I found it… Janna came, was weird...and then it just took off like it was on autopilot—swoosh!"

"It was ridiculous," Janna confirmed.

"Star…"

"I didn't do anything! The book was just there and I was reading it and then it went and attacked the park!"

"This is such a mess...they're following US!" Red and blue lights flashed.

That was a problem, she couldn't just blow up police cars.

"Calm down, Marco, watch and admire, I'll lose 'em." Janna suddenly cut a super sharp turn.

Star hung by her seatbelt, the fabric pressing into her body, Janna didn't even try to slow down as she swerved around three different cars.

The Butterfly castle garden could be seen from the inside of the castle sanctuary. The magic high Commission was in session and Moon couldn't stop rubbing her temples.

"Everyone in favor of increased military spending, say I." Rhombulous hit the table with his snake fist, and it owed in response.

The room erupted "I!"

Though Queen Moon kept her mouth shut, increased spending was one of the only things they could do. Hundreds of knights and misalliance soldiers were on the search for the wicked queen Eclipsa—the entire castle was on high alert and Moon could just sit and worry about her only child.

Oh, she was such a strange girl—but that strange girl was her, Star. How could she protect her? Did Star even need protecting? Star was powerful enough to defeat Toffee and her powers truly were exceptional—

Still, a mother couldn't help it!

"Well, that sorta puts us in a negative million in debt...but who do we really owe?!" Rhombulus said.

Omnitraxus Prime spoke "Okay, I believe increased military spending is wonderful, sure, this is a worst-case scenario, but are we just gonna ignore the fact that the wand is in the hands of a child in another dimension?"

There was a silence that hit the room like a cool wind. Heckapoo looked on impassively then said "Hero of Mewni or not, Eclipsa's a whole different beast entirely!"

"Increased spending! INCREASE THE SPENDING!"

"Excuse me!" Moon cleared her throat. "I understand this is a stressful time, but let's not lose our sanity amongst this...mayhem. We can at least control that much."

Rhombulous sat down, his face flushing red. He was a loveable idiot, she reminded herself with a sigh.

"It's been a whole day and not a single trace of Eclipsa, I think we have to assume the worst of the worst and return the princess back to Mewni!" Heckapoo said.

Except Star would never come back, especially after Moon had promised her she could

What type of mother would she be if she turned on her word?

—what type of queen would she be if she let Eclipsa get the wand?

What type of mother would she be if she let Eclipsa harm Star?!

"That task may be near impossible," Moon said. "Star won't come so easily."

"Can Eclipsa get to Earth, is it possible?" Omnitraxus Prime slapped a mystical fist into his palm.

All eyes went to Heckapoo but she shrugged "She was evil, yeah—but powerful nonetheless. I'm sure she could."

"Can we get a definitive answer, the evil Eclipsa is eventually going to come here for..." Rhombulous gasped then whispered "...you know who!"

Moon's mouth dropped "I won't let that happen, either!"

Heckapoo's hands slammed into the giant table then stared heavily at Moon "So, we're bringing Star back!"

"If she comes back willingly!"

Heckapoo crossed her arms "She should understand the importance and understand that she would be safer here—"

"Queen moon!" That's when the door opened and popped in a skinny frame, with two long purple pigtails. She jogged in before hunching down and heaving her chest out. She got on her knees before Moon and bowed "Queen Moon—my lady!"

"Mina…"

The old warrior of Mewni bowed "Please. I've dedicated my life to keeping Butterfly castle monster free my entire life! I live to slay and rip those nasty beasts limb from limb. I served Queen Solaria well! Please! Use me!"

The room fell silent and for a moment Moon did nothing. Mina was an exceptional warrior, among the greatest—and she'd served butterfly castle for way longer than Queen Moon's been alive. They'd even fought in battle together!

Then it hit her, she figured out how she would protect Star!

"You've very powerful, Mina. Strong-Willed and loyal."

Moon sighed "However, I've just decided...you are needed—elsewhere."

It took some time, but finally, she found someone who wasn't unconscious and or dying. He was muscular, his skins a pale blue that all around and his antlers informed her that he was a fully mature buck.

Ungroomed and clearly was in need of deep bathing.

He laid there, in the mud just as all the other monsters, but his eyes glistened like he had to tell her something.

"Please…" he began.

Eclipsa kneeled next to him, taking his head and placing it in her arms. "Oh darling...poor poor thing, tell me what's wrong..."

"Sick...we're sick."

The minions flanked her and she conjured a purple pillow and blanket.

"Sick?" there was a moment of clarity the suddenly hit her like her original plans were stupid and this was exactly what she needed.

"Probably a plague...maybe something to do with drinking filthy water." he pointed to the brown river "But there's nothing—else to drink."

"...oh my beautiful creature, if only you knew." Eclipsa let go of the monster, sighed and looked up to the heavens, the shades of pink swirled like someone had painted it as she stared further past the planet's star.

—Ah, like cherry blossoms!

"Knew? Knew what?"

And her plan to raise an army went underway.

Eclispa lowered her head and gave him her greatest pity face "Why—who poisoned you of course."

Truthfully, she shouldn't have been angry that her best friend was hugging his girlfriend. But, also truth be told, Star was more deserving of Marco's affection. Now, the only problem was making him see that.

Marco let go "I'll call you tonight!" he said, standing next to Star who tried her best not to look impatient.

"Please," Jackie said then waved to Star who hesitated at first but waved back nonetheless. Jackie smiled and it made Star cringe.

"I'm sorry, for what happened, I know it was a terrible tim—" Marco couldn't finish his words.

"Terrible time? The adrenaline rush was greater than anything I could've gotten from those flimsy roller coasters! And plus…." Jackie jumped to the passenger side of the van. "I get to ride shotgun! Woohoo!"

"Don't tell anyone about the car. Okay? I know where to get rid of it." Janna said.

Marco scratched his head but nodded and Star kept her arms crossed.

With a final beep, the red van pulled off, Star's gaze stayed on them long after they turned the corner. She was so glad Jackie was gone. And now, they were alone. Her and Marco.

"Look, Star, I'm sorry—"

"You already apologized, I'm totally not angry at you."

"I feel like a jerk after today...it didn't turn out how I had wanted it."

"Uhuh."

"And what was with Janna and that stolen car?"

That she felt she had to defend. "We did what we had to do. Definitely wasn't my first choice though, BUT we did need it to save you."

"Jackie."

"Jackie, I mean, right." Star's eyes went to his and there was a buzz that went through her body at his simple stare.

"I just hope it doesn't come back to bite us."

"Trust Janna…"

Marco scratched the back of his head.

"Okay, maybe that's a bad idea." It was Star's turn to scratch her head. They were silent and Marco sort of eased closer to her.

She saw this and did the same closing the distance, as Marco opened his arms open for an embrace. It was exactly what she needed and with no time wasted she jumped into his arms, pressing herself into him as she clasped his hands together around her back.

And they remained like that, losing a track of time and giving Star butterflies. She was weird and took a good inhale of and it made her comfortably sigh.

The blonde shifted, lifting her head and staring up at the teenage boy.

This is what Jackie Lyn Thomas wanted to take away from her.

The thought irked her, as she stared up at the boy's mole and then his lips and then before she knew it, she was crashing her mouth into his.

And at first, he was surprised, but for one long almost eternal second that sent her hair skyward, Marco kissed back, for a mere second he pushed his head forward and accepted it.

Ecstasy!

But it didn't last.

The boy stopped and gasped and Star jumped back and held a hand to her mouth.

Why did she do it? She could have possibly ruined any future relationship with him!

They just stared, the crickets and the birds ceased.

"I'm sorry, I—"

"No, Star look—"

"No, I know you have a girlfriend—that was so wrong of me.

What could she do? She needed to save herself more embarrassment!

"Just—that's just it. I—I—"

"Lightning Change Back!" The familiar tug of teleportation followed by the flash of pink light was a relief as she found herself back in her room in Marco's house.

She landed right on the rug, sighed, and then began to pout over the entire thing. The lights were off, everything was dark. The princess stepped to the door, locked it, and hurled herself on the bed, consuming her face into the solitude of pillows.

Now, what was she going to do with this? It had felt so right, it felt like the perfect time to do it! It was everything she had wanted and it only made her crave more. If Jackie wasn't in the picture if Jackie would just—

Goosebumps appeared on her arm, as a pulse shook her bed, it came out in beats. Star rose her face, as a green light softly shined, consuming the room in emerald.

The magic book of Dark Spells it read and all Star could do was sit there, stare and wonder just how the hell the book wasn't a pile of ash in the wind?

That's when Star got the craziest idea. Maybe this book could solve her small, Jackie Lyn Thomas dilemma? Wasn't that what dark spells were good for?

A/N: Thanks for reading this installment of Treading Twilight, there is much more to come and expect a time skip and a lot more action in the future!