We movin', we makin' progress! Thanks to a friend of mine, who helped me through some writer's block during this chapter. Sorry it's so short though.

As always, please enjoy and review!

Moon's jaw hung open. "But I thought—"

"That we destroyed the magic?" Star finishes. "Yeah, apparently not." Star, Marco, Moon and Eclipsa are outside Moon and River's hut in the Village of Mewmans, which is, surprisingly, still standing. After grabbing lunch, the teens went back to the funeral site. The former queens and Meteroa were still there, River and Globgor having left to check on the Johansen family.

"How?" Eclipsa paces, bouncing a babbling Meteora in her arms. "It doesn't make any sense. Why would a transformative barrier just...appear?"

Marco and Star glance at each other. "We think it may have something to do with us merging Earth and Mewni," Marco admits. "Star and I thought that you two might know more than we do."

Moon shakes her head, sitting on a nearby rock. "Star, Marco, I appreciate you telling us this, but I'm afraid that I don't know anything about this type of magic."

"This is beyond my knowledge as well," Eclipsa says. "I'm sorry we can't be of any more help, but this is new territory for Moon and I as well." Meteora pats her mother's cheeks almost consolingly. "Oh, thank you, darling."

"Okay, so we don't know anything right now," Star supplies. "What if we go check it out ourselves? You know, scout around, test the barrier—"

"Absolutely not!" Moon cuts off her daughter, standing back up again. "It could be dangerous, Star."

"Dangerous?" Star says. "Tom and Ponyhead went through it, and they came out fine!"

"But what if changing others to look more Earth-like isn't all it does? What if you do something that triggers something even worse?"

"Then we'll at least know more than what we do now!"

Marco watches the argument unfold nervously. Voices are growing louder and tempers are slipping. He wonders if he should step in, try to calm down his girlfriend and her mother. But before Marco can even open his mouth, Eclipsa speaks up. "I think Star is right."

Star and Moon abruptly stop their yelling and whip their gazes over to Eclipsa. "Thank you!"

"What?!"

Eclipsa shrugs. "Well, think about it, Moon. We don't know what this magic does. Wouldn't it be better to try and figure it's purpose now rather than be surprised and unprepared if something does go wrong?"

Moon stares at Eclipsa before sighing in defeat. "I suppose you're right."

"Yes!" Star pumps her fist, smiling. "So, when do we leave?"

"We?" Moon shakes her head vehemently, expression hardening again. "No, just Eclipsa and I. You and Marco will stay here and work on building relations between Earthlings, Mewmans and monsters."

"Wh—Mom!" Star splutters.

Moon refuses to relent. "I mean it, Star. I'm not letting down my guard while we're inside this...thing, and I want you to stay safe. And right now, staying safe means staying put. Am I clear?"

Star grumbles, crossing her arms with a fierce scowl. "Fine."

"It's not fair!" Star throws herself onto the Diaz's couch. The two went back to Marco's house after speaking with Moon and Eclipsa. Star is living with Marco, Mariposa and their parents, just like old times. She even magicked up her old bedroom, right back where it was before. Marco keeps getting deja vu whenever he passes by her door, memories of banging on it, yelling that they'd be late for school.

Now he passes his girlfriend lying on the couch, heading straight for a cabinet near the back of the living room. Star continues to rant. "I mean, after em style everything that happened, I thought that Mom would trust me more."

"Mhm."

"Seriously! Think about it, Marco." Star begins to count on her fingers. "We helped Eclipsa regain her throne and respect, we fought against a superpowered Mina, we destroyed the magic and won the war—what are you doing?" She peers over the back of the couch curiously, watching Marco dig through the cabinet and place some items into a small knapsack.

"Well, I figured that after your rant, you'd want to go follow your mom and Eclipsa in secret." Marco stands up, tightening the strings on the knapsack and swinging it around to rest on his back. "So I packed some stuff to protect us if, you know, something actually happens. It might turn out to be useless, but you don't have your magic anymore, souUEFF!" Marco grunts as Star jumps over the back of the couch and hugs him, slamming the air from his lungs.

"Thank you!" she exclaims over his shoulder. "You're the best!"

"You're...welcome..." Marco chokes out, though he's smiling. Seeing Star happy and excited never failed to make his heart and head feel light. He would follow this ex-princess to the ends of the multiverse, and he knew she would do the same for him.

Star leans back and pecks him on the cheek before pulling him around the couch and out the door. "C'mon, let's go! If we get there before Mom and Eclipsa we'll have more time to scout around!"

"Hold on!" Marco tugs lightly at the hand encircling his wrist. Star slows and glances back at him questioningly. "I also texted Tom and Ponyhead to meet us on the way. They're the only ones who have actually experienced the barrier, so they can help us know what to look for."

"Ohhhh. Smart!" Star beams at Marco and resumes pulling him onward. "Now c'mon! If we hurry we can make it before nightfall!"