Wandering Warrior

By: Bubbajack

Beta: Icysnowsage, Grammarly

Disclaimer: I don't own Star vs, League of Legends, The Dark Tower, Percy Jackson, Prince of Persia, or Fable. They belong to their respective owners.

Ch.1: Sundered and Broken.

"Marco, You are my squire yet you keep going out with Hekapoo of all people!" Star said with accusation and betrayal in her tone and in her eyes.

Marco felt a little guilty by betraying Star's trust like he was, but if Hekapoo needed his help closing random portals to god knows where he couldn't bring himself to turn her down. He chased after her for sixteen years to gain his dimensional scissors, the two had a strange sort of bond, it was deep, yet different from the one he had with Star. He couldn't quite put it into words, but he cherished it almost as much as he did his friendship with the former princess.

Marco did his best to assuage Star's anger. "I know you're angry and I guess you have a right to be, but if Hekapoo needs my help, I can't really bring myself to say no. She is a part of the Magic High Commission and all."

Star huffed and turned away and spoke in a hurt tone with something else mixed in, "I know that but still! I bent the rules for you, Marco. I made you my squire just so we could hang out. Yet lately you've been spending all your time with Hekapoo… then you promise me you'll leave your scissors with me, and what do you do? You steal them and sneak off to her again. How can you keep a promise to her and not me?"

Marco was beginning to sense a theme here. "Star, it is starting to sound like you might be jealous of all the time I'm spending with Hekapoo. You're dating Tom remember?"

Star became as stiff as a board. She turned around, the magic marks on her cheeks had turned into thunder clouds. "I-I'm well aware of that! I'm not jealous Marco Diaz. I'm annoyed that as my squire, you are shirking your duties!"

Marco was getting a little annoyed himself now. "I'm doing the best I can here Star! I'm only a single man! I have a lot of duties for the good of all that I must do and, unlike Hekapoo, I can't duplicate myself."

"Exactly! Star exclaimed. "Hekapoo is a one-woman army. So why of all people, would she need your help?"

"Hey!" Marco was insulted, but Star carried on.

"You should know better Marco. You have a job to be doing here, and should be doing it!" She glared at the dimensional scissors Marco had clenched in his hand. "It's all the fault of those dumb things! She reached forward and managed to grab one handle only for Marco to firmly grip the other.

"If you'd never gotten them, you'd never be able to leave!" Star argued as she fought Marco for the dimension cutting scissors leaving the unspoken me.

Marco was unwilling to let his half of the scissors, the half that magically bore his name, go. It took him sixteen years to get these things damn it! He wasn't going to give them up so easily! Star had been irrational before, like with Gustav, so he tried to reason with her. "Star, if I didn't have my Dimensional Scissors I couldn't have come back to Mewni in the first place! Without these, I would have never been able to see YOU again."

"Yeah and you having them is cutting into our buddy time, now gimme!" Star rebutted pulling on her end harder.

"No! Do you have any idea how hard I had to work to get these things?!" Marco shot back.

Star in her usual stubborn nature, refused to relent. "I don't care! You're my squire! I said gimme the scissors so hand over the scissors!"

"Forget it!" Marco for once was refusing to give in to the princess' whims. He would not give in, not over his dimensional scissors. "Let's both just calm down and talk about this!"

The two turned to the side as they continued to fight over the cause of their troubles inadvertently opening a portal in the process, they turned as if dancing, Marco had his back to it.

Star had enough she spoke with an edge of power and majesty entering her tone, " I already told you… " her cheek marks began to glow white.

Star had dipped down.

"Give me the scissors!" Power echoed in her tone and flowed into the scissors themselves. And then…

They broke. The scissors were never made to handle such a strain of power at one time and then a wave of magical power flared out, blasting both teens backward. Star hit the wall, but Marco...

Marco was thrown through the portal of unknown origin, which closed the moment he fell through it.

Star could only watch in abject horror as she watched her friend, and the person who might even be more than that to her a small voice betrayed in the back of her mind fade from her life.

Star looked down at the broken half of the dimensional scissors that were still in her hand.

Her sky-blue eyes widened in shock. "Oh, no, no, no! God, what have I done?! I gotta… I gotta get Hekapoo!"

Star wished now more than ever, she could transform into her Mewberty form on the fly. Yet she could not no matter how much she wanted to. She did the next best thing she could think of. She ran to find Eclipsa. She found the 'Queen of Darkness' staring up at her crystalized husband. "Eclipsa! Eclipsa!"

Eclipsa turned when she heard Star, the only true Mewman who believed in her frantically calling her name. The blonde stopped in front of her with tears streaming down her face like rivers. Eclipsa was immediately concerned at what could make the happy go lucky girl so sad and broken.

"Star dear, whatever is the matter, you look distraught," Eclipsa asked worriedly.

"Me Marco… fight… dimensional scissors... broke… Marco gone… need Hekapoo!" Star gasped out having run at a full sprint all the way through the monster temple.

It wasn't much, but it was enough for Eclipsa to get the gist of the situation. That was more than enough. Seeing the tears in Star's eyes and the broken scissors in her hand just confirmed it. Eclipsa nodded resolve firming. She wasn't about to lose Marco. The dear boy was like a pseudo-son to her so polite and nice trying to explain to her what happened while she was frozen, truly a knight of the kingdom. "Right let's go."

Star still crying, managed a smile. "Thank you Eclipsa."

She pointed her black parasol at the wall and evoked a spell Star had never heard before. "I evoke and I intone, bring the High Commission home!"

A beam fired out of the wand and a black swirling portal was created when it struck the wall. "Come, come dear, time is of the essence." Eclipsa hurried through the portal making sure not to trip over her dress.

When the two walked through the portal, they found themselves at the top of the High Commissions tower standing across from the High Commission themselves. None of them looked particularly happy to be there at the moment.

Hekapoo had her hands on her hips, her single uncovered golden eye narrowed as the flame betwixt her horns was a blazing inferno, showing her annoyance and anger. "What is the meaning of summoning us here Eclipsa?"

"I bet she's up to something evil!" Rhombulus commented immediately. His snakes raised and ready to encase her in his crystal again.

"Enough! We don't have time for this or your petty games against me!" Eclipsa snapped a small burst of dark magic shooting off her wand and making a crater in a wall near the Magic High Commission. Stopping the High Commission dead mid-rant. Eclipsa had always been polite, now she was acting like the Queen of Darkness they all envisioned her as. Cold, hard, unyielding and powerful oh so powerful.

Hekapoo was the first to recover. Her tone was hesitant and worried, no longer flippant and irritated as it had been, "What, what's going on Eclipsa? You don't particularly like us so why summon us?"

Eclipsa turned to the former princess. "Star dear, could you take it from here?"

In response, Star eyes glued to the floor, walked forward and held out a broken dimensional scissor blade for Hekapoo to see. She recognized it immediately. She knew what all the scissors she crafted looked like, but this one, in particular, she would never forget or the man who deserved them. She held the broken blade in her hands tenderly as if it was made of glass and asked, "What happened?"

"Marco and I had a fight. It ended with Maro being thrown through a portal and his scissors breaking after I pushed my magical energy into it while dipping down..."

Glossaryck made his way forward, floating with his legs crossed as he usually did but he was unusually concerned. "A fight about what exactly Star?"

"Well, it was mostly about how he's always running off to help Hekapoo even though he's my squire…" Star began.

"What?!" The redhead snapped sounding livid, her flame blazing into another inferno. "I'll have you know, princess," Hekapoo stalked towards star from her seat and poked Starr in her still budding chest. "That Marco was helping me, close portals that you were opening in your sleep. He just tonight begged me not to tell the rest of the High Commission!" She slammed the remaining scissor blade into the hard marble table before she embedded it into something softer and Star-shaped in her anger. "I was going to keep that promise until this happened."

"Enough!" Eclipsa spoke again, every bit the regal queen of Mewni she once was.

"Should I crystalize em both?" Rhombulus brought up sounding both wary and confused.

Eclipsa shot the idiotic High Commission member a glare. She spoke in a dangerously low tone. "I do believe I said enough." She turned to Hekapoo. "I want all portals shut down immediately and a search for Marco to begin forthwith."

Hekapoo snapped her fingers with a pulse of power echoing across the room. "Done. I'll start looking right away."

"I'm coming with you," Star said, the fire of resolve burning in her eyes and the need to make things right.

Hekapoo shot the former princess a scathing almost hateful glare. "Haven't you done enough already Butterfly?" Star looked down her hair covering her eyes to hide the immense shame that Hekapoo made her feel. Hekapoo turned away her dress fluttering by the quick movement. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Besides, I don't have time to babysit a renegade princess." She stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder with a strong if not pleading grip.

It was Stars. "Please Hekapoo." Her eyes were like steel even though she was leaking tears. "Take me with you," She pleaded. "I need to find Marco. I need to apologize to him. I have to make this right. I have to."

Hekapoo sighed in exasperation. "Look, I know you wanna help, but you'll just slow me down. I can find him quicker if I go alone regardless of where he might be."

"Two people can search quicker than one after all, so take me with you." Star shot back.

In response to that, the scissor crafter created a hundred copies of herself each stern and ready to help, she then sent the clones through just as many portals. "I've got it covered."

PLEASE!" Star yelled borderline frantic as magic reinforced her plea. Her grip on Hekapoo only getting stronger, "I need to help. I need to make this right. If I don't, how can I live with myself for making such a grand mistake?"

Hekapoo wanting to get going herself more than wanting to have a tag along with her finally gave in. "Fine, you can come, but you stick with me, and you do what I tell you got it?" Hekapoo spoke in a no buts tone others may put up with Star and let her indulge in her frivolous behavior but she wouldn't have it. Not when the life of someone she cared about and respected was on the line and maybe something else.

"Fine, fine, let's get going, I just hope Marco's not hurt or worse." Star was eager to find her best bestie from Earth but felt oddly doubtful about his welfare...

"Pff, he's fine. He's been through more to get his scissors," Hekapoo cast the broken blade a baleful glance, "More than you will ever truly realize." Hekapoo opened up yet another flaming portal. "Let's move princess."

"I want you two to keep me and Queen Moon updated on the situation with Marco understood? Any leads, anything at all, you let us both know, understood? He is a squire of Mewni after all." Eclipsa spoke in an unyielding tone expecting no argument at all.

Hekapoo glanced back only briefly to nod before dragging Star through the portal.

Eclipsa slapped her parasol in her hand and set the remaining High Commission members with a steely glare her overall presence giving off a firm no-nonsense attitude. "Perhaps I have been too lenient, too kind. To be a Queen. one needs to have steel in their spine. My mother Solaria had plenty of that. Moon did as well. Star has it in spades as well when it comes right down to it. Perhaps it's time I take a couple of pages from their books, so to speak and show you my iron."

"If I could, I would gulp right now," Rhombulus said fear in his tone at the aura of power Eclipsa was giving off, a tone that caused Eclipsa to smirk.

Eclipsa continued. "Things are going to change around here, I intend to bring peace between mewmans and monsters. You are either going to help me or at the very least, stay out of my way. So, what'll it be gentlemen?"

Glossaryck was the first to speak. "I am as I have always been, on the side of the one who wields the wand and owns the book, and at the moment, that is you Eclipsa. So, I live to serve I suppose. Just keep me out of politics. I hate those blasted idiotic arguments." The little blue man gave her a bow of respect.

Eclipsa expected nothing less from Glossaryck. The lazy smurf. Now whether or not he'd say or do anything useful… that was as ever, up to debate.

Rhombulus spoke next. "I… still think your evil… but I won't freeze ya. I won't help ya either though! That husband of yours deserves to stay right where he is."

Eclipsa rolled her eyes, she'd expected nothing less from him. "Fair enough. Omnitraxus Prime? What about you?"

"I shall do my job monitoring space-time, and advise you if you wish it Eclipsa. Maybe I will notice something across time and space." the deer-like skull commented after a moment of silence.

"Traitor!" Rhombulus shouted at him, "She's evil! Evil I tell you! Evil!"

"That is quite enough Rhombulus! You are dismissed!" Eclipsa waved her hand as if waving him away like the average pest.

"You can't dismiss me, I'm leaving!" The gemstone headed man retorted, stomping out of the room in a huff.

She turned to Omnitraxus and Glossaryck. "We shall be in touch Omnitraxus. Come Glossaryck, let us depart."

"Of course my lady." The little blue man hopped up on to her shoulder, and Eclipsa departed through her black portal leaving Omnipraxus on his own.

Only then did the thought occur to him. "How am I supposed to get out of here?" The Space-Time being signed. There was no choice. "Shaun?! I require assistance!"

"C-Coming Omnitraxus Prime Sir!" The moose man called out.

Marco awoke to an aching headache that throbbed with pain. He sat up, feeling a little dizzy and off-balance. He looked around finding himself in what looked to be the Forest of Certain Death. He sat up very slowly hoping he didn't draw the attention of any dangerous beast that called this place home. He shakily got to his feet being careful not to fall on his face. His vision doubled for a second. 'Great I think I have a concussion.'

He looked around and found the scissor blade buried point first not too far away from him. He walked over and picked it up pulling it out of the ground leaving a perfect hole where the scissor blade was lodged. Even that simple action caused him to feel sick to his stomach. "Yep, I definitely have a concussion. Gotta get outta here."

Tucking the scissor blade into his waistband, Marco jogged as quickly but as quietly as he could, doing his best not to attract the ire of anything living in this deadly grove When the treeline started thinning he sped up thankful to finally be out of this hellish place. Once he finally broke from the treeline, Marco stopped dead. For what he saw shocked him completely.

Instead of the clear-blue skies, he remembered in Mewni instead was an overcast in a thick greenish smog-like miasma, all of it circling around Mewni Castle, which itself looked like something out of a cliche medieval villains dreams. All long jagged spires, black stone, and imposing gothic architecture. Lightning even crackled in the distance accompanied by the cawing of crows. It was like even the weather was setting up the classic evil villain tone for who looked upon the castle.

He looked around and saw banners depicting a broken heart on a black field. And of all things Monsters were wearing thick black plate mail, stomping around and kicking in doors, dragging Mewmans away as they screamed for mercy that would not be given.

Marco pulled his hood up covering his face. "I don't think I'm on my Mewni anymore."

"Psst!" A voice called to him like a whisper on the wind. He looked around and saw a figure near one of the houses motioning him forward. Marco stealthily crept forward from shadow to shadow like a phantom in the night and not wanting to be seen by the monster guards. Only once he was in the shadow of the same building as the person motioning his trek over did he recognize them, "Foolduke, what are you doing?" The dark-skinned jester had a scar across her face and an eyepatch over her eye and her regular outfit had rips and tears all over it like she escaped someone grabbing her.

"Shush! Do you want the guards to catch us?" She whispered harshly at the kid who clearly stuck out from the regular mewman peasant.

"Sorry, what's going on here? Why does everything look like an emotional preteen took over?" Marco whispered?

"No time to explain, just follow me." Foolduke crept through the shadows like a rat, and Marco followed her. Finally, after a few long minutes of evading guards and ignoring screams of help, she led him to an outhouse.

"I don't have to go to the bathroom," Marco told her flatly.

"Looks can be deceiving dude," Foolduke replied before throwing the door to the outhouse open revealing it to actually be a spacious shed. Foolduke shoved him inside, shutting the door behind her as she followed him and locking the door tightly behind her.

Marco looked around, despite it being larger than it looked, he didn't see the point of this place. "Ok, so where are we now besides a storage room hidden inside an outhouse,"

Marco was rapidly spun around and had a dagger pressed to his jugular by the court jester in a way that if he moved incorrectly his blood would dye the room red. "Who are you? Are you one of her human spies?! Doop-Doop did anyone follow us?"

What Marco thought was just a broom replied in a squeaky voice. "I don't see anyone FoolDuke. He seems to be completely by himself."

Marco grabbed her wrist while she was momentarily distracted, squeezed and twisted causing her to drop her weapon and gasped in pain, he caught the falling weapon in his free hand. Instead of slitting her throat like she expected, the unknown boy handed her weapon back while holding the blade also while giving her a flat look. "Now, I have no idea what's going on Foolduke, would you like to fill me in?"

Warily taking her weapon back, the now startled women decided to ask calmy this time. "Who are you, and how do you know my name?"

Marco slowly reached into his waistband and pulled out his broken dimensional scissors. "This should clear up a lot."

Foolduke's eyes widened. "Dimensional Scissors," She nodded. "Yeah, that clears up a lot. It also means you can be trusted," She looked at them sideways to read the name. "Marco."

She shoved some crates aside revealing a hole. "Follow me, we've got a lot to talk about and not a lot of time to do it."

Seeing no reason to object, not if he wanted to know what was going on he jumped down into the hole after her. Hitting the ground hard caused his head to spin and he had to lean against the wall for support.

"You alright?" she asked in concern, as she pulled some ropes to move the crates back into place. Worried that he may have been injured or worse.

Marco shook his head, now was not the time to show weakness. "I didn't have a very soft landing," He replied. "Don't worry about it though, I'm fine. You wouldn't believe the hits I have taken and got back up from."

"Uh-huh," FoolDuke sounded unconvinced. "Anyway follow me. We don't use torches the light could get seen from spaces in the tunnel, it's too dangerous. You'll have to hold my hand till we get to the base."

Marco felt the embittered fool grabbed his hand hard and pull him along like a mother guiding her child out of a dark tunnel. There was no intimacy in this action however, no more than a rider would lead a horse by its reins. The dark and the silence was just too much for him, and since he couldn't do anything about one, he decided to break the other by starting a conversation.

"So, what exactly is going on around here FoolDuke?"

"We're being ruled over by a mad and cruel tyrant, that's what," she replied shortly. "One that killed her parents and is turning all the mewmans into monsters through a horrid torture spell. She kills any who resist or do not take the monster transformation spell well."

Marco blinked. He expected a lot of things, but not that. A pit developed in her stomach. "What could have caused that. Better you yet who is it?"

"It's all the King and Queens fault, if only they hadn't sent her to St. Olga's maybe things would've been different. They were the first to go… when she finally snapped. She tortured them in front of the masses at her song day celebration. Then my poor, poor Ruberiot was next he couldn't support the queen and begged to run. He stayed behind to buy me time." spoke with an amount of sadness and depression. Marco had to remind her of his question before she broke down crying and stopped the conversation.

"FoolDuke!" Marco raised his voice slightly and stopped walking, "Who. Is. She?" Marco had a mounting fear in his gut with every word the fool in motley spoke. He already knew, in his gut, he did, as much as he didn't want it to be so, he knew.

"Her name is Star Butterfly, but everyone calls her Star the Mad," Foolduke spoke with hatred and anger in her tone.

Marco felt his stomach drop out from under him. He didn't want it to be true. He wanted himself to have misheard or for her to be wrong, but he knew it wouldn't do any good, the truth was already laid bare. Instead, he took a deep calming breath, just like sensei taught him, and let it out. Then he spoke again, "Ok, what's the plan?"

FoolDuke kept walking in silence for a couple of moments before she answered. "The plan, now that your here is to use your scissors to get us as far away from her as possible."

"I can't help you," Marco told her sadly.

"What?" FoolDuke replied her voice sounded like ice. "What do you mean you can't help?"

"My Scissors, they're broken. I don't think I can open a portal to get myself home, much less anyone else out of here."

FoolDuke let out a growl of frustration and slammed her fist against the tunnel making a resounding thud. "GRRA! Well, that's just great! That just means you're stuck here to die just like the rest of us!"

"Actually, I do know something else that might be useful?" The boy added once the fool was finished raging.

"Oh, and what might that be Marco?!" The Fool snapped.

"I know how to get into Butterfly Castle undetected specifically the private quarters and the throne room ." He replied, smirk in his tone.

For just a moment. Nothing. Then, Marco felt himself being pulled along in the dark at breakneck speed. He was blinded by the sudden light after spending so long in the dark.

Squinting Marco found himself in a large circular room lit by torchlight. A large circular table dominated the room and it had plans and maps of all sorts pinned to its surface with knives. Several tunnels led to who knows where. All around him were Mewmans who were looking at him with either fear, suspicion, or hostility, most of them had bandages wrapped around them in some fashion or were wearing tattered clothing. Others freely showed the scars they bared.

Sir Dashing of Muscleton, approached the boy, clad in half rusted armor, his usually trim beard now a bedraggled mess and his blue eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. He drew his sword and pointed it at him ready to strike, "And who might you be, boy?"

Marco's head was still hurting and he'd already been threatened once today which was more than enough as far as he was concerned. Delivering a swift kick to the knight's wrist, he disarmed him and caught his sword, before promptly trimming his bedraggled beard with it. He then stabbed the blade point first into the earth and cleaned his hands of any dirt or rust. "Now before anyone else gets the bright idea of threatening me, I would like to speak to the person in charge, please and thank you."

Lady Whosits marched forward a glasgow scar stretching across one side of her face, and streaks of white in her usually fiery red hair. "That would be me, who might you be young warrior?"

Marco gave the knight captain a respectful bow. "Marco Diaz Lady Whosits. I've come to help."

The broad knight looked the boy over. Then she glanced behind him. "FoolDuke, do you vouch for this newcomer?"

FoolDuke walked up and placed a hand on Marco's shoulder in respect before nodding. "I do Lady Whosits. He comes from another dimension apparently and has information that could prove vital to the rebellion. He can even prove his loyalty. He has a personal set of dimensional scissors after all."

The woman gave him an appreciative look as the others gasped in awe. "Is that so?" Seeing the boy holding his head in pain she asked, "You alright boy?"

"I had a bit of a rough landing Lady Whosits. My head is still spinning from the impact." Marco replied.

The Knight Captain came to a swift decision. Pointing to the far right tunnel she told him. "Right, off to the baths with you. I'll send my squire to attend to you."

Marco repressed a shudder. 'Man-Baby attending my wounds? God help me this will be awkward.'

He took off down the tunnel towards the baths. He still didn't know where he was exactly, but if he had to guess this was either the sewers or some sort of magical bolthole the royals used in case of emergency or something Star's dad built to hide from his wife when he angered her. Other than the Magic Sanctuary of course.

"I really hope I'm not about to bathe in sewer water… but it wouldn't be the worst bath I've ever had." Marco remarked to himself. Remembering some of his experiences in the Neverzone.

What he found at the end of the tunnel was a steam engulfed room. He swatted his hand in front of himself hoping to be able to see. When he finally could, he gasped. For he found himself in a marble bathhouse covered in a butterfly motif, Jets and streams of water seemed to fall from every conceivable angle from spigots shaped like monarch butterflies colored in intricate detail covered in amber and rubies and onyx.

He saw two rooms and thankfully, they were clearly labeled. He made his way into the male one and quickly got changed, coming back out in a towel. Marco slipped into the water and let himself relax.

He must've drifted off because the next thing he knew, he felt more than saw someone getting into the bath next to him. The first thing he knew that something was off was the hand. It was slender and feminine, it gently touched his shoulder and gave him a shake. Then the voice that reached his ears definitely wasn't Man-Baby's. "Hey wake up, you're going to make yourself worse sleeping like that."

Marco cracked an eye open hoping against hope it wasn't who he thought it was. But it was not to be. Higgs of all people was sitting next to him in the bath, a towel wrapped around her slender if muscled and slightly scarred frame. Her hair was longer, it now trailed down to her neck but was still in messy curls and she still had bright green eyes but now they seemed harder and somewhat broken as if she was haunted by things no one her age should have to see.

Marco had seen eyes like hers before. He saw them every time he looked in the mirror. Sixteen long years in the Neverzone had given him eyes like that. He could only wonder why the Higgs before him now possessed those eyes. He wondered just what she saw to get eyes like his and if she might be as broken as him in some way.

He dare not ask.

"Higgs." He said with a nod.

She was mildly surprised if not a little delighted when he greeted her by name. "So it's true, you really are from another dimension!"

"Is that really so surprising?" Marco asked sitting up and hearing a pleasing pop as his spine realigned allowing a sense of ease flow through his body. "Surely your Hekapoo has handed out Dimensional Scissors before?"

Higgs scoffed at the notion. "Ha, yeah no," She looked him in the eye. "How do you think Star the Mad has stayed in power so long? The Magic High Commission is backing her or at least they have done nothing against her."

This threw Marco for a loop. Sure Glossaryck was lazy but he wasn't evil… was he? "No!"

But Higgs nodded. "It's true," She looked down into the clear steaming water. "When Star the Mad snapped at her Princess Song celebration, she killed a lot of people. She started with her parents, the Rubariot. When the knights tried to stop her, she either killed them or turned them into monsters. Sir Stabby, my mentor, was the first knight she turned not only in body but mind. He leads the monster knights now. Man-Baby had himself turned inside out somehow. Old Guy was strangled to death with his own beard."

"I'm-I'm so sorry Higgs." Marco placed a hand on her shoulder in slight sympathy not knowing how to feel about this new information. The girl broke down a little at the first chance of honest sympathy towards her from a stranger. Deciding to take a chance since they were alone she threw her arms around him crying into his shoulder a little to help let out all the emotions she has bottled up for so long. Marco didn't give any thought to propriety or modesty, right now a girl was crying and needed comforting. He gently hugged her to him as she cried.

After about five minutes, she pulled away dabbing at her eyes. "Sorry about that. I came here to look at you, and in the end, you ended up taking care of me. It's not everyday a random stranger offers more kindness than your own compatriots"

Marco gave the girl a reassuring smile. He was nothing if not compassionate. "Don't worry about it. Are you feeling better now?"

Higgs sniffed but nodded and graced him with a smile. "Yeah, thanks for… for listening to the cries of simple squire."

"Anytime. I just can't let a girl cry and not try to help." He replied before proprietary manners kicked back in for him and he politely turned away.

Marco heard a giggle come from behind him. "What's the matter, Diaz? Shy? Don't worry, I don't bite." Higgs teased with a smile that meant nothing good if Marco saw it.

"I-It-It's not that," Marco denied. "I just figured it would be easier for you to check my head for bruises from this angle that's all."

In response to this Higgs spilled warm water down his head and began running her hands through his damp locks and then massaging his scalp. It felt very relaxing if Marco was honest with himself, and he felt his headache ease away into nothing as his head was warmed by the water. After several minutes of this Higgs commented. "I don't feel anything, but then again, it probably has to do with the healing effects of the springs here."

Marco stiffened as he heard that. "Healing effect? But if they can do that then why are you still…"

"I felt like it. Besides Lady Whosits told me to take care of you. You aren't going to make my duty unnecessarily difficult are you?" There was a teasing, yet threatening edge in her tone. Marco didn't know what to make of it and not sure if he should push it.

"No?" he replied unsure.

"Good boy," Higgs replied, patting his head like he was a loyal dog or something.

She proceeded to rub him down with a bar of soap, well the places she could see anyway. Which included his hair. "You really don't need to." Maro began embarrassed for the action and the glimpses of her toned body Higgs was giving him. Only to hack when he suddenly had a bar of soap in his mouth.

"Bad boy, no talking," Higgs grumbled, grabbing a pitcher and after filling it dumping it over his head to rinse him off.

Finally managing to spit the bar of soap out, he growled in annoyance. "Do you even know where that soap has been?!"

"Marco." Higgs pressed her head against his back and continued in a soft but hopeful tone making Marco's anger evaporate. "Can you really help us?"

The boy was silent for a moment before he let out a deep breath. "I'll do what I can to help. Who knows, maybe Star can be reasoned with."

Higgs gave a cold mirthless laugh. "Yeah right, and maybe the sloths at quest buy will be fast and chipper one day."

Marco shrugged. "I won't know until I try and I owe it to my Star to do that much."

"Your Star… the version of Star Butterfly you know from your dimension, is she nice?" Higgs inquired.

"She's… eccentric, kind, easily excited over the silliest things. She loves fighting monsters, and she cares about her friends and family… at least I thought she cared about her friends." Marco said under his breath mostly to himself, but the red-haired squire heard him regardless, due to their close proximity.

"What happened?" She asked concerned.

"We had a fight, it's what caused my dimensional scissors to break and for me to end up here in the first place. Technically speaking, I'm my Star's squire."

Higgs sounded awestruck. "Woah, squire to a princess, good on you Diaz. Didn't even know that was a thing…"

Marco gave an awkward little laugh and rubbed his head. "Technically it's not. She bent the rules a little bit for the sake of our friendship."

"Ah, still amazing though. Is there a version of me in your Mewni?" Higgs inquired curiously.

"Uh… yes?" Marco suddenly felt like he was walking through a minefield and if he wasn't careful he would die.

"Are the two of you close?" Higgs asked curiously.

For a brief moment, Marco considered lying but decided against it. There wouldn't be any point in it. The truth always seems to come out with him "No, we're not. She doesn't like me very much if I'm being honest."

"What, why?" Higgs was confused Marco seemed nice enough, and he disarmed Sir Dashing in but a couple of movements, that spoke volumes of his skill and its not like his looks were lacking if everything she saw in the bath showed.

"Well, she doesn't think it's fair that I got to be a squire just because Star said I could whereas she had to bleed, sweat, and cry for the position. She even makes chainmail in her sleep according to herself anyway."

Higgs heard that blinked a couple of times and scoffed. "Tch, her loss," Marco didn't expect that. Or what came after. "If you ask me, I think she's jealous of your skill and the fact that you were able to become friends with royalty. If she could get past her own ego she would find you are a very nice person. At least to me you are."

Marco gave an awkward laugh. "You can't really say that about me, you don't even know me."

"I know enough," Higgs retorted. "You come in, easily disarm Sir Dashing like he's a peasant who's never even held a sword before. Then offer to help us with our problems not looking for any kind of reward and before even getting your own wounds looked at. Lastly, even though I think it's pointless, you say you're going to try and talk sense into Star the Mad. All this alone speaks volumes about you, Marco Diaz. You are either a knight, a hero or a fool"

"I'm just naturally helpful. They call me the 'safe kid' back in my home dimension since I supposedly don't take risks."

"You're not from Mewni at all are you." It was a statement, not a question.

Marco nodded. "I'm not. I'm from Earth it's… Different, very different from Mewni."

Higgs was intrigued. "Is it safe? Are its monarchs kind?"

"We don't have monarchs in my country." Marco decided to just turn and face her. He found her looking at him in shock. Marco count his blessings for tight towels.

Higgs was doing her best to wrap her head around this. "No Monarchs? But then how do you make decisions? Who makes the decisions?"

Marco wished he had his phone right now, so he could take a picture. Higgs just looked so adorable right now. "We put it to a vote. It's how we elect our leaders and everything."

Higgs needed a moment to process all this."Vote… election? Woah, total mind blown man."

"Yeah," Marco looked at his hand, he was starting to prune. He decided it was time to get out less he develop a nosebleed while pruning. "Anyway, I'm getting out."

Higgs turned around and folded her arms on the edge of the pool they were relaxing in. She graced him with a catlike grin. "Go right ahead."

"Your not gonna turn around are you?" Marco asked flatly.

Higgs laughed. "I don't see what the big deal is Diaz when we're out on campaign usually we have to bathe in streams. We can't afford to be all modest and junk. Don't worry, you'll be covered up and I won't be seeing anything I haven't seen before."

Marco couldn't argue with her logic. So he just got out and quickly made his way to the changing rooms. He heard a wolf whistle before he made it there and Higgs calls out, "Nice ass Diaz! I like what I see!"

Marco rushed into the changing rooms a blush on his face.

After the baths, Marco followed Higgs back to the central room. Lady Whosits beckoned the two of them over. She gave Higgs a look. "You two spent a lot of time in the baths… We don't need to have its scrubbed clean, do we?"

Higgs blushed the same color as her hair. "N-No, ma'am! We just talked for a bit that's all. Diaz is every bit the chivalrous knight."

Lady Whosits looked over the boy who met her gaze and returned it. Ever since she lost Man-Baby, she treated Higgs more like a daughter than a squire. "I see. Goodman. Diaz, I want you to find a bunk and fall into it. Tomorrow after breakfast, or what counts for it around here, we'll hear what information you have. Understood?"

Marco nodded. "Yes, Ma'am!"

"Good, to bed both of you, if Diaz information is as useful as we hope it is, tomorrow could change everything."

"Ma'am," Higgs nodded and grabbed Marco by the hand. "Follow me." She led him down a different tunnel now, and Marco didn't complain.

He did have a question though. "What is this place?"

Higgs was quick to reply. "Emergency fallback shelter. It was built by Solaria the Monster Carver just in case the monsters ever came together and created an army large enough to attack the Mewmans. Very few people know about it, Just the Knight Captain and the current Queen who is only told of its existence after her official coronation. Besides the bathhouse, it has the bedrooms, a corn storage area, and a stockpile of both clothing and wool, and an area for livestock."

"Ah, cool. I wonder if it exists on my Mewni too." Marco wondered allowed to himself.

"Probably, if Solaria the Monster Carver existed there." Higgs mused.

"She did, Eclipsa, her daughter, is the current ruling queen."

Higgs stopped and turned to look at Marco in horror. "Eclipsa… as in the Eclipsa Queen of Darkness? The one who married a monster? She is the one in charge of your Mewni. Man you may be worse off then us."

Marco wasn't going to just stand there and let Eclipsa be insulted. She was the only person short of his mother who he looked up to as much and who'd done so much for him. "I'll have you know she's actually a very nice person."

Higgs held her hands up in surrender, "Hey I didn't mean to insult your friend. I just… I've heard a lot of bad things about her growing up. Like if you don't go to bed, Eclipsa will come and feed you to Globgor same thing if your bad and all that."

"Well, let me tell you the real story. Or what I know of it anyway."

Marco proceeded to fill her in as they walked, he described in detail how Eclipsa was betrayed by the Magic High Commission, all because she fell in love with a monster, named Globgor. A monster who loved her enough to become a vegetarian, according to her. When she ended up having his child she was deemed a traitor to her people, her chapter on magic was sealed and her daughter was cast aside in favor of a child of one of the Pie Folk, then she was imprisoned in Rhombulus' crystal for the next three-hundred years, until Star finally got her a fair trial.

By the time Marco had finished speaking, Higgs's mouth was agape in shock. "Seriously?"

Marco nodded his face grim. "Oh yeah, she got a seriously bad rap. Of all things, this is something that I still hold against Hekapoo and I consider mine a good friend."

Higgs whistled. "Dang man, heavy stuff. Well, if we manage to dispose of Star, we have a good Queen waiting in the wings I guess." She opened a solid wooden door banded together with iron to reveal it was a room full of bunk beds and cots. "Pick one and fall in, tomorrow is a big day… we're… we're depending on you, Marco. Um, no pressure or anything." She added quickly hoping to not scare him off.

Marco chose the nearest unoccupied cot and laid down, with Higgs taking the one right next to him. Marco took out his Dimensional Scissor Blade and looked at it. "Sometimes, sometimes I wonder why Hekapoo gave me this thing in the first place."

Higgs stretched out on her cot and glanced at the curious new boy who could very well be the key to their salvation. "Truly a mystery Diaz in all of recorded history, Hekapoo ours anyway never made any Dimensional Scissors. But yours did it for you… so maybe… she likes you?"

That caused the boy to snort in laughter. "Yeah, right. If anything, it's because I was way too stubborn to give up."

Higgs gave a noncommittal grunt. "Yeah, how long were you doing her task for those things anyway?"

"Sixteen years or so." Marco nonchalantly replied as he continued to gaze at his scissor blade, gleaming in the faint light of the room.

"What?" Higgs said flatly, turning to the boy and fixing him with a hard green stare.

Marco, fearing divine retribution of some kind from that look, quickly elaborated. "Time moves faster in her dimension compared to Mewni. It took me sixteen years to complete her quest. Technically speaking, I'm thirty-one years old, but it only shows when I go to Hekapoo's dimension. I kept most of my skills though. Muscle memory is funny like that."

Higgs looked in his chocolate brown eyes and could tell he wasn't lying. She just shook her head in wonder. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you Diaz? Well, you disarming Sir Dashing makes a whole lot more sense now. Sixteen years of experience will do that."

Marco gave an awkward little laugh. "Yeah, I guess so? The survival skills really come in handy. Among other things I picked up."

"I'll bet." Higgs yawned. "You can continue to shock and awe me tomorrow Marco for the first time in a long time, I think I'm gonna have some sweet dreams. Night." Higgs told him sleepily before she drifted off and dreamed of a better dream of knights and heroes.

Marco smiled at the girl, happy he could ease her into a gentle slumber in a world that caused only pain. "Goodnight Higgs."

Marco's eyes snapped open in an instant. It was a habit he'd picked up from the Neverzone, one that had never really left him. The moment something, anything even remotely approached his personal space, he awoke and reacted. In this case, he grabbed Higgs's arm and flipped her beneath him before he even realized what he was doing. Once he did, he quickly got off her and apologized.

"I am so sorry Higgs! It-it was a natural reaction from my time in the Neverzone, Hekapoo's dimension and I-I just…" He was forced into silence when Higgs placed a hand on his mouth with a smirk on her lips.

"Marco, it's fine. I should've realized last night when you mentioned you had sixteen years worth of combat and survival experience that something like this could happen. I… It's just you don't look like someone who roughed it for so long. It's off-putting."

"Yeah, I had abs, glorious, glorious abs! You should've seen them! I was so buff!" Marco complained before hanging his head in sullen defeat.

Higgs ruffled his hair playfully, "You're really making me wanna go to this Neverzone place, for your abs if nothing else." she teased.

"H-Higgs!" Marco sputtered cheeks reddening at her playful banter.

Higgs pulled him to his feet. "C' mon hero we're all waiting to hear your glorious plan for getting into the castle."

"Wait did you guys let me sleep in? That seems pretty reckless with you know a mad tyrant on the loose." Marco asked as they walked down the tunnel.

"Lady Whosits thought it would be a good idea. You looked a little rough, plus you're still adjusting to everything. Just know that when you go to infiltrate the castle, I'm coming with you." She told him in a tone that would brook no debate. "Someone needs to watch your back, Diaz."

"I'm not going to say no to more help," Marco replied as they exited the other end of the tunnel where Lady Whosits, Sir Dashing, and FoolDuke were waiting. "Hey everyone, you ready for this?"

FoolDuke nodded looking severe. "We are, have you eaten anything? You likely aren't going to get another chance once things start moving into motion."

"Right here." Higgs had disappeared without Marco even noticing and returned with breakfast for the two of them. A wooden bowl filled with what looked to be Malt-o-meal and a corn muffin.

"Good job Higgs, I want you to keep doing what you're doing and shadow Marco. He could very well be the key to our success, we can't afford to let anything happen to him." Lady Whosits commanded.

"I'd have kept him close even without you ordering so ma'am…" Higgs paused and blanched when she realized what she'd said. "I mean um…"

Lady Whosits and FoolDuke were giving the girl knowing looks. "Oh I see, that's good to know Higgs, good to know indeed." Lady Whosits commented slyly.

FoolDuke signed airily, "Ah, for young love to exist even in these dark times. It's like a rose, blooming in the dead of winter. If only my beloved was here to write a song for it."

Higgs gave both older women a deadpan glare. "I hate you both."

Marco was not going to comment on any of this, he was going to eat his food and shut up. Yes, he was. He was thirty-one and knew damn good and well when to keep his mouth shut by now, yes he did. The only reason he had to open his mouth right now was to put more food in it, not his foot, which is what would happen if he tried intervening on Higgs' behalf. So he kept quiet and let the women have their verbal spat.

Sir Dashing saddled up beside him. "Not going to intervene on Higgs's behalf?"

Marco gave Sir Dashing a sideways glance. "I'm nowhere near as dumb as you look, dude."

The Knight nodded, "Yes yes I… hey! Your wit is as sharp as any blade I see, Sir Marco."

"I'm no knight Sir Dashing." Marco denied. He had technically been knighted nine times over in his sixteen-year trek across the Neverzone but after the second or so time, the appeal started to wear off.

The blonde knight wasn't buying it, however. "The way you easily disarmed me with no weapon as well, reminded me of my own mentor, Sir Buff of Nudes. He was twice the knight I'll ever be, which is why I'd like you to have this."

Sir Dashing offed the boy his own sword, sheath and all. Marco blinked. "I-I can't take that, it's yours."

"No Sir Marco, you've proven yourself my superior so I must insist you take it. I'll more than make do with a different blade I assure you."

Marco shrugged. "If you're sure. Then thank you." He accepted the weapon and strapped it across his back. He then unsheathed it. It was a fine weapon, the three-foot steel edge was polished to a velvety shine the grip was wrapped in black twine and had a name inscribed across the solid brass hilt with the circular pommel inset with a single black pearl. "Vivian?"

"Yes, though none know the origin of the name, not even my mentor. Yet I hope it serves you well. Best you head to the armory and find yourself some chainmail and leather." The Knight proposed. Pointing off towards another tunnel.

"Higgs can help him with that later." Lady Whosits commented finally having her fill of bickering with her squire/adopted daughter. "For now, we need to know what you know Diaz."

This was it, the moment of truth. Marco took a breath. "I know the Castles ventilation system like the back of my hand. Back in the Mewni I came from, it was taken over by Ludo."

Ludo?!" Everyone cried in confusion.

"You mean Ludo Avarrius?" Lady Whosits inquired.

Marco nodded, feeling like he was missing something here. "Yeah is he a big deal around here?"

Higgs was the one to tell him. "He's Star the Mad's advisor. One of the first things she did was give Ludo a place on the Magic High Commission."

Marco pinched the bridge of his nose. He had a pretty good idea of what was really going on here. "I think I know what's really going on here."

"You do?!" Everyone cried at once.

"Toffee," Marco replied with a grimace.

"Queen Moon's ancient enemy?" Lady Whosits commented.

"Lady Moon defeated him when she was just a girl. That is why her epitaph was the Indomitable." Sir Dashing commented.

"Is there anything anything at all you could tell me?" Marco asked trying to piece this all together.

Lady Whosits wracked her brain, she did come up with something. "When the princess came back from school she was a prim and proper lady, it was… odd to be sure. But after some time, she started having… fits."

"Fits?" Marco was confused.

"Spasms where she would rant and rave, and go into delirious fevers. The King and Queen were desperate to find the cause and as usual, Glossaryck was no help. So they sent word outside the kingdom any who could cure the princess would be handsomely rewarded. Many tried, but only one succeeded. He was a strange man garbed all in black, with long scraggly hair and a crooked nose. He introduced himself as…" Lady Whosits stopped to tap her chin. "What was his name again? Ah! Ah yes, it was Martin Ly'air Broadcloak, not much of a name really."

"Ly' air… Liar?" Marco questioned… "This guy whoever he was either had a really weird name or is a professional troll."

"A troll? No, he was human. Ugly sure, but no troll." Lady Whosits attested.

Marco shook his head. "No, no, no! I mean it's literally right there in his name. Ly'air. Liar get it?" Seeing they weren't getting it he spelled it out for them. "He tricked you all. He could very well be the reason Star is acting like this." Marco started speaking like he was talking to small children and hoping he was right.

Everyone gasped. "If this is true, then the Queen and the High Commission they could be ensorcelled!" Lady Whosits commented rubbing her chin. "This changes everything!" She locked eyes with Marco. "Diaz, will you lead us to the Queen so we can try and save her?"

Marco pointed at himself. "Me? You want me to… what am I saying of course you do, I'm the only one who knows the ventilation system well enough to get us in." Marco rubbed his temples. "I'll do what I can but first I should suit up."

"Agreed, someone, get this boy some armor!" Lady Whosits shouted.

Marco now clad in chainmail and boiled leather was army crawling his way through the vents of Butterfly Castle. Higgs was directly behind him and FoolDuke was taking up the rear of their little group. Marco was easily able to get everyone inside… they just had to pretend to surrender to the monster guards. The group was led to the dungeons where Marco who had a stick of butter tied to his leg set out freeing everyone after the guards had left.

"I should've... worn a… dress! This would've been… so much easier!" Marco said, grunting in exertion as he finally managed to get the stick of butter from around his leg.

"Ok, I really want to hear this story about the dress," Higgs commented being chained up right next to him.

"Another time perhaps," He managed to grease his wrists and pull them out of the cuffs before rapidly doing the same for everyone else. "Right now, we've got a princess to go save, let's hope she's in this castle.

"This is Butterfly Castle we're in the right place." Sir Dashing commented.

Marco groaned. 'I really need to stop making pop culture references around these guys.' He swiftly replied. "Never mind, just get that grate open!"

"Things rusted shut, won't budge!" Sir Dashing commented trying as hard as he could to open the grate to the ventilation system. Marco sighed and pulled out his dimensional scissor before he sliced the grate off the wall. It may not be able to cut through dimensions anymore, but they could cut through anything else just fine.

"Let's move we're on a timetable here!" Marco commented. "Higgs, FoolDuke your with me! Lady Whosits Sir Dashing, if you follow this path and take every right you can, you should end up at the throne room. Take it over."

Lady Whosits and Sir Dashing saluted. They knew better than to defy someone in their element.

He looked over at the other people in the resistance whose names he didn't get to know. "Everyone else… spread out and take this Castle!"

"Yeah!"

Thus Marco and co set off, trying to find the mad Queen hoping to talk some sense into her. Marco could hear fighting breaking out in the distance, he sent up a silent prayer for everyone's safety as they carried on. The trio crisscrossed all over the castle looking for Star, it was only after they made their way to the tallest spire that they finally found her, in her personal chambers humming on her bed.

Marco beheld Star the Mad for the first time. She had her hair done up in two pigtails which were curled into ringlets, she seemed to prefer gothic lolita styled dress compared to her more out-there style he was used to, and she had a small black crown perched on her head. The biggest change was her face. Her cheek marks usually full hearts were now broken hearts and her usually vibrant blue eyes were now blue and cold, devoid of emotion or even reason, like the cold unknowable depths of the ocean with an added unknown depths of madness as seen in the void.

Even her wand had changed. Instead of the vibrant pink winged wand his Star carried, this one carried a mace tipped with five spikes in the shape of a star. It was all black steel and cold iron unforgiving and merciless.

"Come out, come out little rats in the walls. I know you are there." Star singsonged. She then turned and looked right at them, frowning, "Well, if you're going to be rude…" She smiled a wicked smile, "I'll make you come down! Raspberry Ribbon Lasso!"

"Oh crap!" Marco said the moment before a red ribbon of magic wrapped itself around his torso and he was yanked out of the grate, with Higgs and FoolDuke quickly following when they futilely tried to keep him from being pulled down.

Marco looked up to see Star standing over him, a malicious grin plastered on her face."Now that I have you pesky little rodents in front of me, what to do with you? Should I crush you? Burn you? Draw and quarter you maybe? So many choices… Mummy, Papa, any input on the matter?" Star looked over her shoulder and Marco followed her gaze to two blood-soaked skeletons which were wearing tattered rags. Star shook her head, "It's rude to ignore people when they ask you a question you know, you taught me that mummy! So rude these days the both of you! All you both ever do anymore is hang around my room… hahahahaha! Get it?! Hang around because they're dead!"

"Yeah, you're a regular comedian Star," Marco replied dryly getting to his feet.

Star narrowed her eyes at the boy in front of her. "Who… are you? I don't recall ever meeting you… We haven't met have we?"

Marco shook his head. "Not specifically no. In another life, in another time, perhaps."

Star curtsied her manners literally forced into her, "Queen Star Butterfly."

Marco played along, bowing at the waist. Maybe he could end this without bloodshed. "Marco Ubaldo Diaz your Highness."

"Lord? Duke, Count, Knight?" Star quickly rattled off some titles.

"Emperor!" Marco stated quickly much to his chagrin. "I am Emperor Marco Ubaldo Diaz First of his name."

Star bowed again even lower in respect. "Emperor Diaz, what might this queen do for you today? And might I inquire of your presence in my kingdom of Mewni?"

"I...uh am here to see the sights. At least that was the original reason then I heard tell of Mewni's royalty and how they possessed a magical wand and wished to see it for myself."

Star flushed and curtsied again, "You honor us, Emperor Diaz, as, for the wand of Mewni's royal line, this is it here." She held her mace out for inspection.

"Milady, that is but a simple mace is it not? A morningstar specifically if I am not mistaken?" Marco inquired, silently praying his gambit would pay off.

"No, no, no!" Star rebutted, "The magic wand of Mewni takes a different shape depending on the person who holds it. For me, it is a morningstar, for my mother, it was a golden scepter encrusted with diamonds. For my ancestor Solaria, it was a sword of magical energy. Do you see now?"

Marco pretended to be amazed. "I do! Simply astounding Milady! May I…" Marco turned away, "No! I ask too much!"

"What is it, Emperor Diaz?" Star asked curious about his request.

Marco turned back to her. "I was wondering if I could hold it, if only for a moment. Just to see what form it would take for one such as myself. But I couldn't ask such a thing of you, no."

"Oh, sure!" Star smiled kindly yet it only enhanced the madness in the depths of her eyes when there was no warmth to the smile. She held the wand out to him. "Here you go, take it."

Marco picked up the wand and it took the form of all things a long thin dagger, it was a swooping blade with a thick curved belly that narrowed to a sharp point, with the star of the wand becoming the handguard. It shone darkly in the room giving Marco a sense of resolve and peace. Something Marco desperately needed. Marco's hand tightened around the weapon. He looked into this Star's eyes hoping to see an ember of her old self… he saw nothing but the black endless abyss of madness therein.

He knew what he had to do.

Faster than he even knew he could move, he stabbed Star in the stomach with the wand turned dagger quicker then the bite of a viper, she was surprised for just a moment, but then surprise turned to rage and she ripped the dagger out of her and out of Marco's grasp spraying blood on both of them, turning it back into its morningstar form even as she bled profusely from the wound in her stomach.

"Traitor! Assassin! Deceiver! You! You're just like all the others! Trying to destroy what you can't understand! Just like my accursed parents! Well, I know just what to do with people like you!" She pointed her morningstar at him and rapidly intoned a familiar curse, much to Higgs and FoolDukes mounting horror "Releaseo Demonius Infestica!"

The beam hit him dead on covering Marco with its foul energy… and did absolutely nothing. Everyone, including Star, was surprised by her supposed spell failing. Not Marco though, he'd had a monster arm once, and that was enough thank you very much. He, however, used Star's distraction to his advantage. Rushing over he kneed her in the gut causing her to cough up blood and forcing her to double over moments before he wrapped his hands around her neck, and started squeezing. He pushed Star the Mad to the ground so he could get better leverage.

Marco wanted it to be fast, he really did, but even in her death throes, Star was a fighter. She kicked and punched, bit and spit, tried bucking him off a couple of times but he held on even as tears collected in his eyes and he started crying. Not because he was killing someone. Oh no, he'd done that plenty on his sixteen-year stint in the Neverzone. But this? This was different this was on another level entirely. This was Star, his best friend, and he was choking the life out of her with his bare hands. Even if the abomination with her face was nothing like his Star it still hurt.

Slowly, Star stilled yet she had just enough strength left to raise her arm, touch his face and say, "I see the recognition in your eyes. To care so much to end my pain. Maybe if I met you before. Things could have been different... "

Maro released a howl of inhuman rage and with an equal show of strength squeezed even harder until there was a sudden snap that echoed across the room. Then cries of despair followed soon after.

Higgs and FoolDuke who had been struck paralyzed first with fear at being discovered by the mad queen, then awe at the sheer balls of Marco Diaz, then shock as he was not only not turned into a monster but killed the mad tyrant queen with his bare hands and strength. It was the sudden snap of Star's neck that finally shook Higgs from her daze. She rapidly raced to his side shaking his shoulder. "Marco, Marco, are you alright?!"

Marco turned and looked at her. While Star's blue eyes had been consumed by madness, Marco's were now dark brown pits of utter despair. "I'm not injured if that's what you mean, as for everything else… I… I… don't even want to think right now."

"Marco," Higgs tried to get his attention. "Marco listen to me, the person you killed, wasn't your Star! She's still out there, she's still alive and looking for you. Ok? Ok?!"

"Just because I know that doesn't make what I just did any easier Higgs!" Marco snapped at the red-headed squire. He looked at his blood covered hands and the now dead Star.

Higgs rested a hand on his shoulder. "I know Marco, I know, but it has to bring you some form of comfort, right?"

"I've gotta get home," Marco said suddenly urgently. "I need to get back to Star before… before she becomes this." He looked down at the still-warm corpse of the now disposed monarch again. Marco suddenly felt the breakfast he'd eaten coming back up. He rushed to the window and hurled it out down to the streets below.

Higgs walked over and rubbed his back comfortingly. "Are you going to be ok?"

Marco turned back around when the only thing he had left in his stomach was bile. "I've no idea. All I know is right now, I can't stay here, not, not anymore."

Marco marched to the door and flung it open, and walked out, leaving the two women behind. Higgs followed in Marco's footsteps stopping only long enough to grab the wand, lest it falls into enemy hands. And FoolDuke she glared down hatefully at Stars corpse spitting on it before saying, "I hope you rot in hell witch. For Rubariot, your parents and all the other lives you've ruined." Before she followed the other two out.

The battle in the castle was going the way of the attackers, for the biggest plus of having a castle was being able to withstand a prolonged siege. That didn't mean diddly squat when the enemy could sneak in past your various fortifications and get the jump on you. Then it turned protective walls of stone into a tomb. Fortifications became a deathtrap with nowhere to run. All the monster guards had been defeated, knocked out or slain, sans three.

The throne room was a place of mass panic. Ludo swung a skull-topped staff which belched fire with every pass it made. A giant boar creature stood tall, wielding two double-bladed axes one in each hand, and the last was this slug yellow looking creature, whose slime seemed to be very acidic.

Higgs saw the boar creature and she narrowed her eyes. "Sir Stabby."

"Your old mentor?" Marco asked when Higgs nodded Marco knew what he had to do. He unsheathed the sword from his back and handed it to her. "Go, this is your fight."

"But Marco what about…" She stopped when she saw him pull out his dimensional scissor blade from behind his back, his gaze focused intently on Ludo.

"Go." He said again before calmly then walking forward into the chaos like a man on a mission.

"Die all of you!" Ludo screeched as fire flew from his staff, a gift from a strange man in a black cloak. One that told him if he bided his time and played his cards right, he could all but rule the Butterfly Kingdom using Star Butterfly as his pretty little mouthpiece. His plan, his ambitions, his dreams! All of them were being ruined in one fell swoop.

"Ludo!" A voice Ludo did not recognize cried out above the din of a battle getting his attention. A boy, one of tan complexion and dark hair with a mole on his left cheek garbed in leather and chainmail was rapidly making his way towards him.

Ludo saw his death reflected in that boy's eyes.

"No, stay away!" Ludo shot a ball of flame at the boy but he just slid under it and kept marching towards him, undeterred. "Get back!" This time, a wall of fire sprang up between the two. The boy crossed it without blinking. "This wasn't what I was promised! Curse you! Curse you, you Man in Black!"

Ludo didn't get to utter another word for Marco's scissor blade slit his throat. He stared at the pigeon man bird thing… whatever the hell Ludo was supposed to be, and turned away as he choked to death on his own blood, choosing instead to watch Higgs face off against her former mentor.

The sword he gave her was awhirl of steel in her hands. Never still always spinning, as was she. Higgs ducked, rolled and even flipped over incoming blows. She wasn't a rock that enemies fruitless pounded against until they tired. No, she was the ocean, she found her way around and through their defenses and swiftly ended her fights, using her more agile feminine frame to her full advantage. It was something she took full advantage of here and now, peppering her former mentor with numerous but shallow cuts, across his arms chest and face. Cuts that only bled more and more as the fight dragged on, wounds that widened and deepened with the monsters exertions. Then, the beast began to slow the loss of its life's blood finally getting to it.

That was when Higgs struck! Darting in as quick as a viper past his guard, She rolled and came up into a kneeling position stabbing her sword into her former knight's throat. Blood dripped from the blade as Sir Stabby dropped his axes. And tears fell from Higgs' eyes. "See Sir Stabby, I learned it, just like you taught me, wear em down and cut em up as you always said."

The Boarman fell to his knees then onto his side with his life rapidly fading from his eyes. More tears rapidly followed the first, and Higgs soon felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Marco staring down at her sympathetically. "Higgs, we need to move."

The redhead sniffled but knew he was right, now was not the proper time nor place to grieve. She took his hand as he helped her to her feet silently wondering just what kind of resolve he had. 'How on Mewni is he holding himself together right now? Is he even human?'

She watched as he turned his gaze to the entrance hall where the Magic High Commission stood waiting.

Marco held his hand out to Higgs. "Wand?"

Higgs took it out from behind her back and handed it to Marco, it immediately took the form of a curved dagger. "Your queen is dead Glossaryck what will you do now?"

The little blue man floated forward surveying the carnage. "Hmm, yes, you've all made a fine mess of this place, haven't you… oh, it's going to be so hard to get the bloodstains out of the carpet!" The two-inch tall blue man suddenly had a dagger-wand at his neck. "Hey now, why so hostile Marco? I haven't done anything to you have I?"

"Yes, and that's just the problem! All hell breaks loose and what do you do? Nothing just like you always do! What the hell is your malfunction man?!" Marco screamed at the top of his lungs.

Glossaryck gently pointed the dagger-wand away from his neck. "You don't seem to understand my dear boy. I am just an advisor to the queens of Mewni. I can only advise them on a course of action. If they choose not to listen to me then well…" The man shrugged. "I have no choice but to abide by their decisions."

"Bullshit!" Marco all but spat."

"How dare I ask is anything I just said the shit of a bovine?" Glossaryck asked, quirking an eyebrow questioning.

"You say, and do, and know things no one should be able to know or do or talk about, but you just do it. Like my name for example! How the heck did you know my name?" Marco asked.

"It's right here." The old midget held up his bloodied dimensional scissor blade. "In plain English. I'm old but I'm not blind boy."

"That's the thing though, your Hekapoo never made any dimensional scissors!" Marco shot back

"He's right." This world's Hekapoo seemed to favor black dresses and wore her bang on the opposite side of her face, she was still stacked to hell and back though and her emerald? eye shimmered with mischief and if Marco didn't mistake it guilt. "This is definitely my work." She suddenly slapped him upside the head. "How the heck did you manage to break it? They're supposed to be indestructible!"

"None of your business!" Marco snapped at her.

"When it comes to my scissors made by me or a version of me, it's my business!" Hekapoo got closer and closer to Marco with every word she spoke until they were almost nose to nose, glaring at one another.

"Piss off H-Poo." Marco rebutted.

"Don't call me that!" She went to slap him again but this time he caught her wrist blocking it with his dagger-wand before dropping the weapon into his other hand and promptly raising it to her throat. "I've already killed one person I care about today, what's one more?"

Hearing that made Hekapoo blink in surprise and a little wonder at what he meant. It was just the opening Glossaryck needed to get between them and separate them. "Alright children, settle down settle down! No need to start fighting and for someone to lose an eye or something."

"I'm half tempted to try my hand at killing you right now you talking blueberry, you know that right?" Marco's tone was heated.

"Do it, please!" Rhombulus yelled from across the room.

"Stay out of this Rhombulus or you're going in the time out corner!" Hekapoo shouted at him in response.

"Bah, Bahbah!"

"See, even Lekmet wants you to do it!" Rhombulus shouted.

Gritting her teeth Hekapoo turned around and stomped back to Rhombulus and then an explosion ensued between the two and when it cleared, Rhombulus was sitting on a stool, covered in bruises facing a corner.

Lekmet could only shake his head at his friend's stupidity. "Bah bah, bah bah, bah, bah-bah-baaah!"

"Ah shut up." Rhombulus sulked.

"No talking in the timeout corner!" Hekapoo snapped before she made her way back to the stunned Marco and bored looking Glossaryck. She faced her father, "Now, what are we gonna do about him?" She flicked a finger at Marco.

Glossaryck stroked his white beard, "Hmm, well, on the one hand, you did commit regicide, on the other hand, she was batshit insane due to her parents sending her to 's which I advised against. Nothing good comes of that place. I told them to send her to Earth. A nice simple dimension where she could practice her magic and the people there would be powerless to stop her."

"You're an asshole." Marco deadpanned.

"Dude, you're just now catching onto that?" Hekapoo asked.

Glossaryck shrugged. "Well, what's done is done. No point in crying over spilt milk now." He hummed when he saw Marco holding the wand. "Ah what the heck, hey Marco, wanna be the next king of Mewni?"

Marco shook his head like a wet dog. "I'm sorry what?"

"Do you… want to be… the next king… of Mewni?" Glossaryck asked again very slowly like he was talking to a small child.

"Not a snowball's chance in hell you smurf reject. And besides, like I told Star earlier, I am a motherfucking emperor! Why go for the position of a king with only one queen when I can be an emperor and have all the wives I want like the two beautiful redheads here with us. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I WOULD TAKE IT? Besides, you replaced your queen once already, why not just do it again if you dislike me?" By the time Marco finished his rage filled rant at the utterly insane offer by Glossaryck, he was huffing and puffing like the Big Bad Wolf from the Brothers Grimm.

"So, I take it that's a no then on the position?" Glossaryk asked.

"No, it is a firm no you diminutive jackass!"

"I love this guy! Wanna go get a beer later?!" Rhombulus called out from the timeout corner.

"Fuck off!" Marco snapped at him.

"Okay."

Glossaryck nodded, "I see you're well informed. Also, just saying you have strange taste in women but who am I to judge? After all, no one can compare to my greatness" He raised his voice and called out to the crowd. "Anybody want to be the next king or queen of Mewni? Jobs open! First come first serve folks!"

When people scrambled to claim the wand Marco was trying to figure out just what Glossaryk meant when he said he had a strange taste in… 'Oh shit did I say that out loud?' He glanced over at this world's Hekapoo who's cheeks were as red as her hair. 'Shit I did it again! I always say embarrassing things when I get angry or frustrated!' He then looked over and saw that Higgs too, was doing her best impression of a rose, her face was currently crimson red. 'Damn it brain wait to screw things up for me like you usually do!'

Hekapoo regained her composure and suddenly grinned like the cat that ate the canary and sauntered up to him with intent. She quickly wrapped his arm between her very soft cleavage and batted her emerald green eye at him. "Beautiful huh?"

"I uh… yes?" Marco said nervously. Let it be known that despite sixteen years of survival, swashbuckling, and adventure, Marco Ubaldo Diaz has yet to turn in his v-card, and still kinda sucks at talking to the opposite sex.

He was suddenly and quite forcefully yanked from Hekapoo's embrace next to an angry-looking Higgs who was glaring daggers at the Magic High Commission member. "Back off!"

"Oh my, didn't you hear him? Marco's an Emperor and he wants both of us. No need to be greedy now is there?" Hekapoo teased, sending the other girl a playful wink.

Higgs' glare just intensified. "I said, back off, skank!"

Maro was about to back way the hell up, because he knew now, just like he knew earlier. There were some fights you just didn't get involved in. And this was looking to be one of those fights.

'But I can't just stand back and let them kill each other, can I?' He looked at the two about ready to rip each others heads off like a pair of half-starved rottweilers. 'Yes, yes I totally can. No way in hell am I getting in the middle of that.'

Just as it looked like the two were about to go at it. Someone from the group fighting over the wand finally claimed it. "Ladies and gentle-mewmans let's have three cheers for our new Queen, Queen Whosits, the Bold!" Glossaryk cheered. "Hip-hip!"

"Hooray!" A majority of the crowd cheered in pain having blackened eyes, missing teeth, and the occasional broken limb or two.

"Well," Hekapoo said lowering her hackles. "I guess that's settled."

Higgs did the same. "Yeah, Lady Whosits will make a great Queen, shame I won't be around to see what she does with this place."

"What do you mean Higgs?" Marco asked.

In response to his question, Higgs took a knee and offered Marco her sword, his sword with both hands, head bowed. "Emperor Marco Ubaldo Diaz, will you accept me, Higolatya Higgs, into your service as your sworn knight?"

"Higolayta?" Marco questioned.

"It was my grandmother's name, shut up." Higgs shot back quickly looking up and shooting him a glare before lowering her head and continuing, "To protect your person with my life and ease your burdens in any way I am able as long as we both shall live?"

'Why the heck is this sounding like a marriage proposal?' Marco thought to himself. "Higgs, you know I'm not really an Emperor, right? That was just something I said in the heat of the moment."

"Just say yes, pick up the sword, and tap me on both shoulders moron," Higgs said hotly.

"Fine, fine just sayin' geesh." Marco picked up the sword. "I accept you Higolayta Higgs into my service as my personal knight, to protect my person with your life and ease my burdens in any way you are able as long as we both shall live." He tapped her once on each shoulder with the point of the blade. "Now rise and take your weapon."

Higgs rose to her feet and she took back the sword Marco offered her once before, now hers. Two swift slaps met her cheeks. And she sent Marco a glare. "What was that for?"

"So you don't forget your oaths. It's a bit of a custom where I'm from." Marco replied.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I'll let you get away with that this time Diaz, next time I'm putting you in an arm lock."

"Is that really any way for a knight to talk to the emperor they swore to?" Marco joked.

Higgs sheathed her new sword and shook a fist at her 'emperor'. "Keep it up Diaz and we'll see which one of us is really the better fighter."

A chuckle was shared by the two but it died off in Marco's throat, he turned away in sadness gloom all but hanging over him. Higgs grabbed him by the arm. Looking at him worriedly. "Marco… you know you had no choice right? With Star I mean?"

Marco nodded despite the mirth he'd shown just a moment ago, it was a flimsy cover for what he was truly feeling, abject despair. Gut-wrenching torment for what he'd done. He looked down at his hands. They were covered in blood. Ludo's blood, but they might as well also be covered in Stars to.

'I killed my best friend. Nothing is ever going to change that.' He thought to himself. 'Even if it wasn't her, even if it was a clone or doppelganger wearing her face, to me, Star is Star.'

Marco walked slowly towards the entrance of the throne room. He looked back when Higgs started to follow him. "I need to be alone for a bit, please don't follow me."

Higgs stopped and watched him go, she watched worriedly.

Hekapoo walked past her. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn't do anything dumb." Hekapoo then followed Marco with a sway in her hips while thinking of what could have been for her other self. "I don't give scissors out to anyone after all." she muses to herself.

Marco sat on top of the grand steps that led to the entrance of Butterfly Castle. He held his face in his hand as he sighed. "God help me what have I done?! I'm a murderer now. Killing in self-defense is one thing, but what I did up there with Star? I was the aggressor, that was murder."

"Is that really what you think?" Hekapoo asked as she sat down next to him on the stone stairs.

Marco glanced at her from between his fingers, "What else would you call it?"

Hekapoo gazed out into the distance at the sun as it sets over the Forest of Certain Death. "Preempting mass murder? Saving many lives by taking one life? Cutting the head off the snake? There are numerous ways to put it really." She produced his dimensional scissor from behind her back, now free of blood. "You forgot this by the way."

Marco gingerly took it in hand. "Can you fix it?"

Hekapoo shook her head. "Unfortunately no. Your Hekapoo uses different metals in her forging process than I do. It would make it nigh impossible to create a second scissor blade for you. Sorry, Marco."

Marco shook his head. "Don't apologize, it was just wishful thinking on my part. I don't suppose you could send me home?" He asked hopefully.

Again Heakpoo shook her head. "I've never been to your world or even your Mewni Marco, again, sorry I can't be of more help, especially after all you've done here."

Marco shrugged. "It's fine, don't worry about it H-poo." He earned another burning slap on the back of his head for using the forbidden nickname.

Hekapoo's arm found its way around his shoulder. "So, what'll you do now?"

Marco was silent for a time, thinking. Hekapoo didn't interrupt giving him time to plan his next move. "Well, I can't stay here. I need to find some way to get back to my Star. If I'm gone for too long she might… might…" Marco couldn't bring himself to say it the depression, misery, and guilt eating at him like piranha on their prey.

"End up like our Star?" Hekapoo finished for him.

He nodded. "Yes."

Hekapoo nodded. "I understand." she punched him in the shoulder. "You'll be missed though, hero."

Marco grimaced at being called a 'hero'. He didn't feel like a hero. He felt like garbage, trash, something lower than even dirt. He truly felt like a fool. Beyond all that he felt very, very tired. Weariness seemed to seep into his very bones, and Marco found himself drifting off, using Hekapoo's shoulder as a makeshift pillow.

Hekapoo blushed a little and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Her first kiss to be exact, "Sleep well Marco, you've earned it."

The next three days were a flurry of activity. The dead were gathered and either given a proper burial or burned on massive funeral pyres depending on what side of the conflict they'd been on. The only two exceptions to this.

They were Sir Stabby at Queen Whosits command on Higgs's request for her former mentor, and Star herself, who was to be laid to rest in the Butterfly family crypt along with the remains of her mother and father.

It was one of three favors Marco asked for and it was the one that caused an uproar.

FoolDuke tried to strike him and was held back by Higgs but that didn't stop her from yelling at him. "After everything she's done, all the people she's hurt, she deserves to burn with the rest! She deserves to be forgotten!"

"Silence!" Queen Whosits demanded slamming her wand which took the shape of a massive lance, on the ground. "I have already decided to grant Count Marco's request."

This threw the boy for a loop. "Count?"

Queen whosits nodded. "Yes, I have decided due to your service to the crown and its people, knighting you would be insufficient. Instead, you are to be granted the royal title of count and a monthly tithe of six hundred and fifty gold coins a month."

Marco rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I'm flattered but I have no intention of staying here, or being responsible for a bunch of people."

Whosits grinned knowingly. "I already figured as much." She snapped her fingers and Higgs came forward presenting him with a pouch embroidered with two manticores rampant upon a shield the royal crest of Mewni. "That is why I had this fetched for you. This Marco is a Bag of Holding. It can hold quite a bit of gear and has been enchanted to fill itself with a set amount of gold every month."

Marco blinked at how useful such an item was. "Wow, thanks." He strapped it to his belt.

The newly minted queen waved away his gratitude. "Its but a small token of thanks for what you've done for us. Now, I owe you three boons and you've used one. What are your other two? Have you given them some thought?" Queen Whosits inquired.

Marco nodded. "I'd like to keep the armor I was given and I need supplies for a long journey. Hekapoo may not be able to send me home, but that isn't going to stop me from trying to find a way back there."

Whosits let out a bellowing laugh. "I like the cut of your jib boy! Yes, you'll have all the supplies you'll need as for armor we can certainly do better than flimsy chainmail and leather for you. Give us some time to raid the armory and you'll have the best light armor we have."

"I'm going with him, my Queen!" Higgs piped up suddenly.

This surprised the former Lady. "Are you now?"

Higgs nodded resolutely. "I swore myself to him as his knight yesterday while the rest of you fought over the wand. I would be remiss if I let him wander off on his own and get into who knows how much trouble."

The queen laughed again. "I see! You work fast girl! As expected of my squire, you see something you want and you go after it."

"Could you not phrase it like that?" Higgs asked, a blush dominating her face.

The queen chuckled again but said nothing more. Instead, she turned back to Marco, "And your last boon?"

"Ah, I kinda assumed the armor and supplies counted as two," Marco said sheepishly.

"Nonsense." the queen commented. "Now is there anything else you needed?"

Marco scrunched his brow in thought. There was one thing. "Can anyone tell me anything more about this Martin Ly'air Broadcloak?"

The people muttered amongst themselves each trying to piece together any information they could. Finally, the queen slammed the butt of her lance-wand on the floor again, calling for silence. "We'll get as much information as we can and get back to you."

Marco bowed respectfully and took his leave, heading towards the kitchens intending to raid the royal kitchens for food. The royal kitchens were huge and well-stocked. Marco went straight for the links of smoked sausage and hardtack. He stuffed a fair portion of both in his bag of holding and then he looked for the cellar. Food was only as good as the drink it went with. He found entire casks full of… Whiskey? Maybe bourbon? He wasn't sure. Either way, he knew there was no way those gigantic casks were fitting into his bag.

"Marco." Higgs called, "What're you doing?" she asked coming up to him.

Trying to get supplies for the journey ahead." He replied absentmindedly.

She rolled her eyes in the dim light. "I see, and alcohol is high on the list is it?"

It's good for more than just drinking. It can be used as a disinfectant, starting fires in the wind and cold, and yes, drinking." He replied dryly.

Higgs saw his logic. "Ok well in that case," she shuffled around in the dark for a bit before she came back rolling several smaller oak barrels his way. "We'd better stock upright?"

Marco blinked surprised when she came back with no less than twelve smaller casks that were just small enough to fit into his bag of holding. "How did you?"

"Part of being a squire was fetching drinks," Higgs told him then placed her foot on one small cask and posing before continuing, "Sir Stabby liked the double aged bourbon and whiskey. They were made in smaller batches and kept in smaller casks. So I already knew where they were."

Maro placed a hand on the girl's shoulder comfortingly. "Are you gonna be ok?"

In response, she hugged him. "Not right now, but I will be." She cried a little bit having kept a brave face up during Sir Stabby's funeral out of respect, but now in front of him and alone, she let her walls fall down and her tears fell. Marco could only hold her as she cried. Gently rubbing circles on her back like his mother used to do for him when he was younger and he awoke from a terrible nightmare. Higgs took a couple of shuddering breaths and finally lifted her head from his shoulder. "Thanks, Marco, I needed that."

"Anytime, wanna help me get this packed away?" The boy motioned to the casks.

"Well it is my job to help you bear your burdens, so I guess I should." Higgs joked.

The job was done in short order with Higgs rolling them into the bag of holding while Marco held it open as wide as he could. Once they were finished, Higgs inquired. "What kind of food did you grab?"

"Smoked sausage and hardtack for the most part."

Higgs winced a bit. "Yeah, that's not gonna get old fast. Gonna grab some smoked salmon, dried fruit and nuts while we're doing this."

Marco nodded conceding the point to his knight. He thought about survival, not variety. In the Neverzone he didn't get to complain about the food he ate, more often than not, he was just thankful he got to eat anything at all. 'But if you have the chance to switch it up a little, then why not?'

He followed her back to the kitchen and watched as she expertly packed away dried apples, cranberries, walnuts, and pecans. Wrapping up smoked salmon in rough burlap and tying it tightly closed with twine. It was impressive how quick and methodical she was with the whole process.

"Was this apart of squire training too?" He asked.

"Yes actually," Higgs replied easily as she worked. "The knights often expected us to get meals and such ready for them whenever they went out on campaign. So we would have to learn how to package things properly so they wouldn't spoil on the road. We were also taught how to hunt and fish, help our knights don their armor, and things like that. In return, they taught us how to fight, what it meant to be a knight."

"Well knowing how to be self-sufficient isn't a bad thing," Marco commented.

Higgs nodded. "Yeah, I think that's part of the training too." She finished wrapping the last of the fish and Marco placed it in his bag. "There, that'll do it."

Marco placed the bag back on his waist. It still felt as weightless as ever. 'I wonder how much this thing can actually hold?'

"Now what?" Marco wondered. "We've got food, drink, armor is on the way."

"Camping gear," Higgs replied, with surety. "All this food doesn't mean anything with nothing to cook it with." She led him over to a closet in the kitchen and came back out with a metal tripod a cast iron pan that hung from some chains, and a couple of old fashioned tents made out of what looked to be beaver skin.

She placed the cooking supplies in the bag of holding then looked at the tent. "Hmm, do we really need two tents? She shot him a wink. "We could always share one you know?"

"H-Higgs!" Marco flushed the same shade as his hoodie.

Higgs burst out into laughter. "I'm just messing with you, Marco… sorta." The girl said under her breath before she stuffed both tents into the bag of holding.

Before Marco could question what she's said under her breath, the girl had darted away, grabbing a couple dozen tin plates, wrought iron forks and spoons and knives, setting each set its own little leather pouch before dumping them all in the bag of holding. Seeing her lieges' questioning look Higgs commented. "If a Bag of Holding gets punctured from the inside, it gets ruined and you lose everything you put inside it. So you need to be careful with sharp objects."

"Duly noted. How much can this thing hold anyway? Any idea?" Marco asked his knight.

Higgs tapped her chin in thought. "Considering that it is bearing the royal crest of Mewni, it is likely a bag of the highest quality. Festiva the Fun was known to give them out at the end of her parties as goodie bags. If they're one of hers, it's capacity could be anywhere from fifteen hundred pounds to limitless."

Marco gave the bag another look of appreciation. "Wow… best to err on the side of caution and assume its fifteen hundred pounds."

Higgs was quick to agree. "Yeah, even then, everything we've put in it so far is nothing."

Marco was glad to hear that. "Good. Who knows what we'll come across in our travels."

"Think we should go check on your armor? It could be ready by now since we've been here a while." Higgs suggested.

Why not, it can't hurt anything right?"

Marco grabbed an apple on his way out and munched on it as he walked, while Higgs chewed on a fist full of walnuts.

When they reached the throne room once again, they saw two things covered by sheets. Whosits greeted them eagerly with Hekapoo standing next to her throne and Glossaryk floating near her shoulder. "Ah, there you two are! Do you have everything needed for your journey?"

Higgs nodded. "Yes my queen, we are ready to depart as soon as Marco gets his armor."

"He will not be the only one receiving armor today." the queen said before she snapped her fingers and the sheets were pulled away revealing what lay underneath. Two sets of armor lay set on mannequins, set side by side.

The first was made of pale off white leather and had horned spikes on the shoulder and knee guards, it had golden filigree spiraling throughout its length. And had a crimson half cape attached to the left shoulder. His scissor blade was also sheathed diagonally across his chest. He looked at Hekapoo questioningly.

"The only thing Scissor metal can't cut is more scissor metal. Makes a good sheath." The redhead replied.

The second set was clearly more feminine in design. Goatpig fur and leather overlapping shining steel arm and leg guards, a breastplate that hooked over the throat with a steel girdle and connecting skirt, with pauldrons in the shape of a manticores head on both shoulders completing the outfit.

"Woah!" Both teens went at the same time before rushing up to their respective armors. Marco was quick to check out the cape. It was made of crimson silk and stitched in golden thread in the center was a single scissor blade. He gave a grim smile, it ironically suited him. He ran his hands down the leather, it felt smooth and seemed oddly familiar for some reason.

Seeing the questioning look in his eyes, the queen commented. "That armor was crafted from Hydra hide during the time of Solaria the Monster Carver, not only is it durable, but it's slightly magic resistant too."

"Cool cape," Higgs commented as she looked over his armor.

"I like your pauldrons," Marco replied. "It would hurt if you shoulder checked somebody with those things."

"Yeah, totally," Higgs replied before she started putting her armor on piece by piece.

Marco did much the same, shedding his old armor of leather and chainmail, once he was down to his hoodie and jeans he changed into his new apparel. It was all held together by straps so it was easy enough to get on.

"Marco," Higgs said in a tone of slight annoyance, "You're supposed to let me help you with that. It's one of my jobs as your knight."

"No need," Marco easily replied, "I know how to put on armor."

The boy proved it by quickly and methodically having everything in place. He just finished adjusting the shoulder cape and saw Higgs doing the same, affixing her armor around her throat. Marco had to admit, if only to himself, Higgs looked good in her armor.

She caught him staring and sent him a wink. "Like what you see, milord?"

"I um I uh… you look nice Higgs." Marco finally managed to get out.

His sworn knight sauntered forward and adjusted her lord's armor a little bit shows that her armor was a little more open in the chest and fit her body a little loosely allowing for growth... "You don't look too bad yourself." She playfully swatted him on the backside as she turned around to face her queen making him jump.

Queen Whosits let out a chuckle. "You fill out that armor quite nicely Higgs. It too was from the time of Solaria and was meant for her daughter Eclipsa should she take up her cause. Since that never happened… well, no point in not putting good armor to use."

"I will cherish it milady." Higgs bowed respectfully knowing within her heart that the greatest gift Solaria gave Mewni now was her daughter thanks to Marco...

Whosits nodded. "Good, good." She clapped her hands, "Now to the stables, I've one final gift for you both."

The stables were musty and hot and smelled of dry hay. It was there that all the royal animals were kept from the manticores to the many stallions the former Queen Moon favored. The new queen threw the massive stable doors open and told the two soon to be travelers. "Go, pick out whatever steed you wish to aid you in your journey."

Higgs immediately went over to a pure white mare whose hair and skin gave a sparkle like snow in the first rays of sunlight, and looked at her queen pleadingly with puppy dog eyes. "Well, you did say any steed."

Whosits let out a laugh. "I should've known you'd pick Snow." Queen Whosits came over and patted her personal mount. "Go on, take her girl," She said, adding, "She always liked you better than me anyway."

Higgs gave a girlish squeal of joy and hugged her second mentor/ mother turned queen. "Thank you Lady Whosits… I mean many thanks, my queen."

"Ah cut the pomp and ceremony girl. Between you and me, it's just Whosits you hear." the queen said firmly before drawing her in for another hug that was as tight as it was loving. "You be safe on the road."

Higgs nodded. "I will."

"Don't go getting yourself killed," Whosits commanded softly and with slight fear.

Higgs felt herself tearing up a little at the tenderness and care in her tone. "I won't my lady."

"Don't forget about me, about all of us, while you're out there traveling your own path girl."

"Higgs shook her head. "Never mom." Higgs finally putting a voice to what both women thought of the other only now at their time of parting did she dare voice the emotions of love and adoration for Whosits did Higgs voice it...

The queen wiped some suspicious liquid away from her eye. If anyone asked it was her having a reaction to the hay, and she was allergic. That's all it was, and nothing more. Separating from her mother figure, Higgs said, "I'd better go and see what's keeping Marco."

"Yes of course." The queen nodded at her daughter in all but blood.

Higgs walked amongst the stallions and manticores, and unicorns yet she did not find her liege lord. Marco, she called out worriedly, hoping a manticore didn't eat him. The royal family had lost more than one coach driver that way before now.

"I'm in the back." He called.

Higgs had never been so happy to hear his voice before. She lit a lantern and hurried to his side. She found him all the way in the back that was hardly ever lit at all. He was staring into a dingy looking stall Higgs raised her lantern and saw a miserable sight.

A black stallion seemingly forgotten about by the staff. It was bone thin, it's ribs clearly showing through its emaciated frame. Yet despite its frail appearance, a stubborn fire burned in its eyes. It refused to just lay down and die.

"This poor thing, Marco, c' mon let's find you a proper mount." Higgs grabbed his arm, but Marco wouldn't budge. "No," he said, "He'll do just fine."

Higgs blinked before exclaiming. "Marco forgive me for saying this, but… are you stupid?!"

The horse neighed and nodded its head as if agreeing with her assessment. "See even the horse agrees with me, and it's on its last legs!"

The horse snorted and flicked its wispy black tail at her. Higgs narrowed her eyes at the horse, "Quiet you."

The horse whinnied and shook its head at her showing his resentment and strength.

"Babieca," Marco said snapping his fingers after a moment. "That's what I'll call you."

"Babieca? What is that? Some kind of Earth language?" Higgs wondered.

"It's Spanish, it means idiot actually," Marco replied rubbing his head sheepishly. Maybe I should name him something else."

Yet the horse shook his head and neighed. Marco shrugged. "I guess he likes it. Higgs, is putting tack and harness on a horse any different than doing it for a dragon-cycle?"

Higgs was perplexed. "No, why?"

"Then I should be just fine," Marco hopped into the stable. "Get me a harness will you?"

Higgs shrugged. If Marco was dead set on this horse, she wasn't going to stop him. She had better luck fighting a mountain, "I'll be right back."

Higgs honestly didn't even think the horse would hold Marco's weight, but it did. It let him put a harness on him with no trouble, and stood stock-still as he mounted up. The two rode their new steeds out of the stables, both glaring at the fading light of the sun. The remaining Mewmans of Mewni cheered as their heroes paraded out into the fading sun. Their cheers rapidly died when they saw Marco's choice in steed and they started muttering amongst themselves.

"Marco, are you sure you want that horse?" Queen Whosits asked looking disturbed by its sickly looking nature. "It looks about ready to keel over at any moment."

Marco patted Babecia's side affectionately. "I'm sure this one's got grit. I can feel it."

The queen looked to her surrogate daughter questioningly. Higgs just shrugged just as confused as her. "Well if you're sure."

Hekapoo walked in front of the two she smiled and then smiled a Cheshire smile, then batted her eyelashes seductively at Marco. "You sure I can't… convince you to stay handsome?"

"Permission to kill her?" Higgs asked coldly, her green eyes narrowed as she slowly unsheathed her gifted sword and prepared for a battle to the death with the pale harlot.

"No, no! There will be no killing of Hekapoo." Marco told his knight. While he was looking at Higgs with eyes that all but pleaded for her to stop. Hekapoo was sticking out her tongue and pulling down the eyelid of her visible eye.

Higgs gripped the reins on Snow tighter and grit her teeth but did nothing. Instead, she watched as her lord turned back to the scissor crafter and replied. "No, sorry Hekapoo. I gotta get home."

Seeing the High Commission member pout in disappointment caused Higgs to smirk in glee but she hid it when Marco looked her way. "Ready to go?"

"Born ready," Higgs replied.

"Where are you sending us Hekapoo?" Marco asked as the girl cut open a flowing crimson portal with her own dimensional scissors that pulsed and thrived with power unlike anywhere else on Mewni.

"A magic heavy world full of elves, they should be able to help you. Just drop my name, ask for Eredin Bréacc Glas, and tell em I'm calling in my debt. They'll know what it means."

Marco nodded and said in a soft earnest tone. "Cool, and thanks Hekapoo, for everything."

"No problem hot stuff." Hekapoo sent him a final wink causing him to blush before he faced the portal and made Babieca walk into it. Marco was grim and determined as he thought. 'Don't worry Star, I'll be back soon, I promise.'

Word Count: 18,146 Number of Pages: 43 Date Completed: 8/29/2019

AN: Hello and welcome one and all to my Star vs Fic! I wrote this in like three days. I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. I will say Marco won't be getting back home anytime soon though. It'll be a long, hard road for him but he'll make friends, and enemies all along the way.

Yeah bubba "friends" is that we are calling them now. I fear for Marco's virginity more than his safety. But but but I will say this. Notice a theme here my fellow readers. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and Marco has started a path he cannot turn back from. Let us hope he returns home similar as when he left.

Nice quote Snowy and ominous too… I do hope our readers are intrigued at the very least. Till next time everyone. This has been a Bubbajack and IcySnowSage production.