Starco4everr: Thank you for your encouragement! You have been a constant joy throughout this series-thank you so very much! I hope you enjoy this last chapter.

EDD17SP: That is definitely how I felt Marco would propose to Star-he is such a sweet guy but sometimes just goes a bit overboard. I hope everyone finds their own relationship-whether it is romantic or just friendship or family-like Star and Marco. Thank you for your encouragement!

SugarQueen97: I agree-Star can be a bit difficult at times but she is such a kind and well-meaning character. She grew up over the show and really became a compassionate advocate that is admirable. I agree-the older she gets, the more adorable she becomes. And no worries-you're about to see some Starco grandkids. Thank you for your encouragement!

Wow. The last story. I can't believe we made it! Thank you all for reading my stories-it has been an absolute pleasure. Well-without further ado-let's hop in one last time. I don't own Star vs the Forces of Evil.

Chapter 26: Zest for life

Star looked around herself, a small smile growing on her face. Brushing some graying blonde hair behind her ear, she walked down off the porch to join Marco, who was playing Cornball with all their grandchildren and children. "Ahh, no! I'm down!" Marco called, laying on the ground as his granddaughters and great nephews piled on top of him. They all giggled, pushing him down and tickling him. Finally, a clap brought all the attention as Comet called out to the kids. "Hey, who wants to play Flags?"

"ME! ME! ME!" All the children cheered and leapt up, dashing toward him.

Smiling, Star walked over to Marco, who lay on the ground, one arm over his eyes. "I'm too old for this." He groaned, flopping his arm back onto the ground. "Is it just me, or did those kids get bigger? They make the Buff-grandbabies look like tadpoles."

"Maybe you're just shrinking in your old age, Diaz."

"I'm not that old! I'm just 67!"

Laughing, Star helped her husband stand up and kissed his cheek. "Come on, Wild Man. The in-laws are here." Marco grinned back at her, small wrinkles appearing around his eyes. Star still couldn't believe how quickly time had passed. Though neither really looked their age, both were in their late 60's and age was slowly catching up with them. Still-Marco looked dang good for 67. Though according to Marco, she was the one who still looked 'foxy'. Tugging his hand, Star guided him down the hill.

All of Echo Creek sprawled in front of them as their family played on the lawn of the Monster Temple. Comet and his wife, Lashina, were playing with the kids-though Lashina stayed back with a smile as she rubbed her pregnant belly. Comet was directing the kids into two teams to play flags, a large grin on his face. He was looking more like King River every day. Cassie and her husband dashed after their two girls, making sure they were behaving. Mariposa, her wife Katie, their adopted boys, Meteora, her high-school sweetheart Carter, and their many children and two grandkids lined up as well. Star smiled, feeling her heart grow warm seeing her family.

"MARCO! Dude-It's been too long, man!" Tom dashed up the stairs, interrupting Star's thoughts. He was followed by a smirking Janna, still wearing a beanie over her silver hair.

"Too long? Tom-I saw you yesterday."

"I just said it was too long!" Tom grinned at him, giving Star a quick hug as he looked around at the busy scene around them.

Janna looped her arm through her husband's. "Time is relative, Marco. Aren't you supposed to be smart or something." She noticed Star giving Tom a strange look, cocking her head to the side. "No, Star. He still doesn't have any gray hair yet."

Shaking her head, Star looked at Marco, gesturing to the Prince of the Underworld. "It's just-you look so good! You don't look all old and stuff like us!"

Frowning, Marco glanced at his wife through narrowed eyes. "You don't have to get so excited about it."

"Ahh, Marco. Don't get too jealous, bro! It just comes with being half demon-I age at half the rate of humans. I'm about to enter my mid-thirties." Tom cockily tugged at his tie, winking at the couple. Marco rolled his eyes as Star giggled.

"So Janna, how do you feel about being married to a man-child?"

"HEY!"

Janna shrugged, ignoring her husband's outburst. "We've talked about it. Once I kick the bucket, he can marry whoever he wants-but with one condition." She whirled around, poking her finger into his chest. Tom's three eyes went wide as Janna got into his face. "She cannot be as cool as me." She paused, glancing to the side before poking her finger back into his chest. "And she has to be called Janna 2." Flicking Tom in the nose, Janna turned and pulled Star with her. "Come on, Star. Let's go play Flags with our grandkids."

As the two walked away, Marco turned to look at Tom. Awkwardly, Tom coughed into his hand and cracked his neck. "Yeah…don't ask." The best friends followed their wives back to the game, which had dissolved into a wrestling match between Meteora's kids and Comet. Seeing Cassie and her husband talking, Marco glanced at Tom.

"I still can't get over the fact that Cassie and Ubaldo are married and have kids. And we're in-laws!" Marco exclaimed while throwing his arm around Tom, before grunting as Star nudged him in the ribs. She handed him a white-grape juice box with narrowed eyes. "What? I was just saying-"

"I think it's great! We are all family now! I love having Ubaldo Flamethrower Lucitor as a son-in-law." She high-fived Janna, how had picked 'Flamethrower' as a middle name. Tom laughed and fist-bumped Star as well.

Marco sighed and muttered under his breath, earning another nudge in the ribs. "Yeah, but still not sure about having Janna in the family…Oh, hi Estrella! Hi Ellie!" Cassie and Ubaldo's kids dashed up to their grandparents, throwing themselves into Janna and Tom's arms.

"Grandpa! Grandma J! You're here!" Estrella and Ellie cheered. Estrella whirled, tugging on Marco's hand. "Abuelo! Abuelo! Can we play Flags? I want to crush my opponents and reap the fruits of my labor!"

Nodding her head, Janna smirked. "That's my girl." She fist bumped her granddaughter. "Okay, mini-me. Go tell your dad he's about to be spanked by his momma." Cheering, Estrella threw her hands into the air. Star smiled, noticing her small horns beginning to grow on her forehead as she glanced up at Star before racing over to Ubaldo. Ellie cheered, cartwheeling down the hill after her sister-the spitting image of Star with red hair.

"I'm not sure the world can handle two more of you." Marco muttered as Tom chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. Fighting a smile, Star looked after their grandchildren-Estrella was just like Janna and Ellie (named after Eclipsa, who really bonded with Cassie as a kid) was the spitting image and personality of Star-just with horns. Though Star couldn't quite put her feelings into words, her heart ached both with happiness and longing. She didn't quite know why, it wasn't like anything was missing. Well-besides her mom and dad, the Diaz', Eclipsa, and Globgor. They were all gone. But that wasn't it…Suddenly, Tom's hand on her shoulder brought her back to the present. Blinking, she looked over to see Marco and Janna arguing-as per usual.

"I'm just saying, maybe you should think about what you say to Estrella or she's going to start getting into trouble at school!" Marco ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair.

Waving her hand nonchalantly, Janna scoffed with a single laugh. "She just has a zest for life-just like her grandmas. Right, Star? Uh, Star? You okay?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Totally. Totally. Totally." Star shrugged her shoulders, reverting back to her teenage self for a moment. "Just, lost in the moment!"

"See? Zest for life." Janna nudged Marco in the ribs, causing him to growl in annoyance. Smiling, Star realized some things never change. "So-" Janna turned, gesturing toward Lashina struggling to pick up something she dropped on the floor. She snapped at Comet that she could get it as she sighed in relief once she got her plate off the ground. Rubbing her pregnant belly, she saw the older adults looking at her and she flashed a smile before grabbing more food. "Looks like Lashina is about to pop. Comet sure he's ready to be a dad?"

"UNCLE TOM!"

"TOM-TOM!"

Star saw her oldest son dash and fling his arms around his namesake, interrupting Janna's question. Tommy, dubbed Uncle Tom-Tom by his nieces pulled away from Tom, grinning ear to ear. Tommy looked at his uncle before glanced at his parents and Janna. "Oh, hey. Sorry I'm late. Just bringing in the Calvary." Suddenly, the lawn was flooded with friends and loved ones, an explosion of noise warming Star's heart.

Shaking her fist in the air, Janna yelled at the kids running around. "GET OFF OUR LAWN! Man, I always wanted to say that. Being old is cool." Star giggled as she raced over to hug her friends. The party had finally started. Jackie waved, bringing over a banner that said, "Happy Butterfly-Diaz-Lucitor-Ordonia-Lynn Thomas-Man Carver-Ponyhead Family/Friend Reunion!" Star greeted and gave everyone a hug, the strange feeling still churning in her belly. As she looked around at her loved ones, the longing slowly turned to guilt. Evidently her face was obvious as Marco laced his fingers in hers. Glancing over, he wordlessly jerked his head toward the porch. Smiling, Star followed, sitting on the steps with her husband.

The two sat in silence, taking in the lively activity around them. Star felt odd-usually she would be in the mist of everything. Talking, laughing, playing jokes, dancing. But it was as if she felt she had to take a moment. "They would have loved this." She whispered. Marco nodded, not even having to ask who she meant. He squeezed his hand in comfort. Both their parents. Eclipsa. Globgor. The past few years had been pretty tough on their family.

Jackie and Chloe were making plates for their teenage adopted children, talking with Tom, Alfonso, and Ferguson. Carter, Meteora's husband, was telling an animated story to his two grandkids, gesturing with his hands and roaring like a lion-bear. The children shrieked and his five adult children dashed over and began to chide their father. Meteora laughed, picking up her grandson and tossing him in the air. Janna was shuffling around everyone else into two teams to play Flags, flicking those who didn't move fast enough with rocks from her slingshot. Ponyhead put on some music and began to dance, her plastic surgery keeping her face in a permanently creepy smile as she whirled around in the air. She shouted that everyone could start partying now since she had arrived. Everyone groaning in return.

Noticing Star and Marco, she floated over at them and snorted in their face. "What are you doing? It's time to get this party started!"

Star straightened out her legs and looked up at her friend. "It already has started."

Pony looked around herself, her plastic grin trying to droop to a frown. "Umm…I don't see a party. All I see is the equivalent of bingo night at a monster senior center-it's time to get this party started!"

"Right on." Janna yelled over to her, air-fiving the princess.

Ponyhead shrugged over toward the game forming, nodding to the couple. "You're being boring! It's like that time you closed down the Bounce Lounge, Marco."

"Umm, I didn't shut it down, that weird, old lady just got tired and stop."

"Well-stop being weird, old, tired, and lame."

"Pony-we never said lame…"

"Oh no-my fourth ex-husband is calling me. I gotta take this!" Pony whipped out her phone and opened it with her tongue. "What do you want? I'm busy…" Star giggled as she floated away, laughing at Marco shaking his head. Some things never change.

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her shoulders. Looking to the left, Star noticed Tom looked out at their family too, a soft smile on his face. Marco let go of Star's hand and looped his arm over Tom's shoulder, Star doing the same. The three friends just sat and watched, something they were not used to doing. Finally, Tom broke the silence.

"I can't believe it has been over 50 years since magic has been gone."

Star felt her heart give a tug as she quietly nodded. "Me neither." She felt Marco's hand find her arm around Tom's shoulder and give it a squeeze.

Nodding his head, Tom began to lean back. "It's been a good run."

Marco cocked his head, eyeing his best friend with a raised brow. "You're talking like we're about to kneel over!"

"Well-you guys don't live that long!"

Star noticed Marco nudge Tom in the ribs. She laughed, the two still had that weird, silent bro-language they created-which only grew stronger once they became in-laws. "Why don't you two get a room?" She asked them. Tom laughed, shoving her playfully as Marco grinned at them, a blush on his face. The former princess nodded toward the group. "You probably should go protect your grandkids-Janna and Estrella seem like they are about to lead a revolution." The trio turned to see Janna pounded his fist into her other hand, marching back and forth while addressing all the kids.

"You should be strong-don't conform to the patriarchy! The government is out to get us-we must be ready to strike! This is no game-this is combat practice. Death to the-"

"WHOA!" Tom flung himself up, panic in his eyes. "Honey! You can't tell the kids that!"

"I'm an old woman now so I can say and do what I want!" Janna thrust her finger toward the children, who all fell onto the ground in nervous giggles, unsure if she was serious or not.

Tom looked back at his two closest friends with a blank look. "When did she not?" With a sigh, he turned to go prevent his wife from forming a child army. Star and Marco caught each other's eye and fell into a fit of giggles. Though they were older, they still acted like teenagers every once in a while.

Star looked up to see the sun setting and the Mewni moons hanging high in the sky. The guilty longing churned in her stomach again and her smile fell from her face. Marco noticed her frown and looked at his wife. "Hey, you okay? You haven't even eaten one cob of corn or the sugarittas I made."

Shaking her head, Star continued to look out at their family. "Did we do the right thing?"

"Uhh…you gotta be a bit more specific than that, Star."

Glaring at him, she sighed using her whole body, seeming like a teenager in an old woman's body. "You know-merging Earth and Mewni. Cleaving it together or whatever nonsense Glossaryk always spouted." Marco's face strickened as he realized what Star was talking about. When he opened his mouth to talk, Star put her finger to his lips and gave him a look that rivaled her mother in severity. "I mean, we were just dumb teenagers not even able to confess our feelings to one another-who were we to decide the fate of two whole worlds?!"

Marco rubbed the back of his head, his frown causing some wrinkles to frame his aging face. "Yeah, timing was never our thing back then, was it?"

"MARCO! I'm being serious!"

"Sorry! Sorry. But Star, we didn't decide that-you just destroyed magic."

"But…did we do the right thing? Destroying magic?"

Star sat quietly, looking back out at the scene in front of them. Tommy was now tackled to the ground by all the kids and grandkids as he pretended to die from death by tickling. Carter and Mariposa were pushing back chairs and directing Katie and Meteora on where to put a dance floor. Suddenly, Janna-followed closely by Estrella who copied her every move-marched forward and demanded everyone to line up. Star fought down a smile as everyone began to line up, Janna counting them off in groups of two. As each group went to their teams, everyone began to tease one another, challenging the others to defeat them. Tom fired up his hands, causing Cassie and Ubaldo to jump away from him. Ubaldo chided him. 'DAD! How can you still be embarrassing!' Suddenly, everyone realized that Janna had all the adults on one team and the children on the other-lead by herself.

Just as Star was about to speak, suddenly the sound of ribbeting filled her ears. Smiling despite herself, she turned to see Katrina Buff Frog hobbling over to the game, followed by all her siblings and nieces and nephews. She banished her cane at them, silencing all her family members mid-ribbet. "Sorry we're late!" Smirking, she nodded at the group. "But it looks like there is a new winning team for Flags."

"BRING IT ON! We can take 'em!" Ellie called, thrusting her fist in the air. The other children cheered, jumping up and down as Janna merely nodded in approval, arms crossed.

"Yeah-she's definitely your granddaughter." Marco laughed, Star grinning back at him. Both looked up to see Mariposa and Tom looking at them with raised eyebrows. Marco raised a finger to signal for one minute before turning back to Star. "Star…look at this. Look at our family and friends. Look at the life we created together." He gestured toward the air, looking around them. "We made this. We made Earthni."

Taking her chin in his hand, Marco pulled her gaze to look him in the eye. "Star. We didn't know that magic would cause all this. We didn't know Earth and Mewni would merge. We didn't know all the hardships and troubles that would come from that." His eyes began to water but he quickly blinked them away, placing a hand on Star's cheek. "But things worked out. Magic may have been gone but things just changed. We grew and we worked to make a difference. And we are together."

Star felt her own heart begin to beat, the feeling of guilt slowly dissolving. Marco rubbed a finger over her cheek where her hearts used to be so long ago. She leaned into his hand, feeling like a young woman again. "Magic may have been destroyed." Marco continued, the wrinkles around his eyes crinkling as he smiled at her. "We just made a different kind of magic."

The feeling that had been eating away at Star all day-really, her whole life-suddenly disappeared. Star felt lighter, lighter than she had ever felt in her life. She leaned in, kissing her husband softly. Pulling away, she smiled at him. "I love you, Safe Kid."

A goofy grin grew on Marco's face. "I love you too, Princess Star Butterfly."

"ARE YOU TWO DONE BEING LOVELY DOVEY YET?" Jerking apart, Star and Marco say Janna glaring at them, hands on her hips. "I've had to completely reevaluate our strategy to defeat those overgrown tadpoles. I need you old farts!"

"Janna-don't call them old farts!" Tom admonished her, hitting her arm with a frown on his face. He glanced at his friends, silently asking them if everything was okay. Star just smiled at him and whatever was on her face caused Tom's tail to flick back and forth as he smiled back.

"I'm old and I can call them whatever I want!"

The whole group dissolved into chaos, everyone moving to stand at attention as Lashina placed the flag at the top of the Monster Temple, waving down at them with a smile. Star looked around at everyone she loved all in one place. Looking back at Marco, she took his hand and pulled him up. "Ready to ravage and destroy?"

"Wow. You have such a way with words." Marco joked sarcastically, pulling her toward the game. Mariposa waved them over to her team, her old Cornball face on as they began to strategize.

Star squeezed his hand as they grinned at one another before joining their family. A peace grew in her heart, as she knew they had lived a wonderful, magical life.

And that is all she wrote. Literally, my heart is so happy yet sad it is all over! I cannot thank you enough for everyone that has read my story and followed me throughout this year-long journey. Thank you everyone for commenting, following, favoriting, and most of all reading! You have all been so encouraging and wonderful-I couldn't have done it without you. I hope you enjoyed this series as much as I have. I hope your life is as wonderful and magical and Star and Marco's!