Sonder: the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as yours.

This is the longest chapter I have written and I am tired. This is a continuation of the last chapter and to be honest, I'm not that happy with it. I wanted to write more but I was really tired.

After seeing Zootopia, I wonder if other Disney movies or shows are going to use the same message and deliver in a way that Zootopia did: not being too preachy but at the same time, getting the point across.

I don't own SVTFOE.

Explosions.

Gunfire.

Angry voices were shouting amidst the fury and she coughed, smoke filling her lungs and choking. She couldn't breathe and her eyes were burning. Still, she tried to see exactly where she was.

Her eyes grew wide as she saw the familiar armor of the Mewni soldiers, some on their horses shouting at each other. Whatever they were saying she couldn't hear, her ears ringing.

She looked to her left, a solider's back was to her but they had their sword drawn, and...it was like her own. It was transformed to look like a sword but, it had the top of the crown that her mother wore. It was definitely one of the earlier incarnations of the Royal Mewni Wand. They were looking down at - she looked around their form and her stomach dropped.

A family of four, what she presumed was the mother and children shielded by their father, who all looked up at the solider with imploring in their eyes. Her ears finally stopped ringing only for her to hear -

" - Please don't. Please."

The solider said nothing. Instead, they raised their sword and Star's heart jumped in her throat. She broke out into a run and then quickened her pace to a sprint, willing herself to keep running because she can't let this happen, will not let this happen.

However, before she could reach them, she felt hands pulling her back. She tried to escape, twisting and turning but the hold didn't let up, no matter how much she tried. She focused back onto the solider, who quickly brought their sword down -

- she screamed.

She screamed and screamed and screamed but all the solider did was advance onto the rest of the family, a girl's cries ringing in the air and blood becoming part of the dirt. She felt hot tears running down her face and the hold on her evaporated; dropping her onto the muddy ground, her weight making her sink. She angrily pounded her fists on the dirt but stilling as her hands were weirdly warm, stickly so and she brought up a hand to view -

The scarlet liquid ran down her palm in thick streams, dropping back onto the ground and she could feel the bile rising in her throat but the same sticky feeling made itself known on her legs and she glanced down to find herself kneeling in a pool of it. The metallic scent was faint at first but then became stronger as she realized, overbearing and so nauseating.

There was more booming, such like cannon fire and she looked up at all the people around her that were dying. Being blown to pieces or horrendously murdered, it was heart breaking either way, the ground becoming more blood than dirt.

She glanced back at her now blood stained hands, shaking terribly.

Suddenly reminded of the blood on your hands?

She gasped, wildly looking for the source of the words but she could find no one, but the voice continued.

They begged for mercy -

The shaking traveled to the rest of her body, the sight of another monster being threatened by numerous soldiers reaching her eyes. They were overpowered and outnumbered -

Everything that your kingdom stands for is a lie.

Everything seemed to die down, the soldiers mounting the royal Mewni flag triumphantly into the blood covered dirt, but all she could focus on were bodies strewn like dolls, lying in pools of their own blood. There were bloodied, messy gashes on the parts of the body that she could see and she huffed a shuddering sob.

There was a shadow looming over her and she quickly glanced up. She couldn't make out their features but the glinting of an object caught her eye; a sword. Her stomach flipped and she looked back up at them, sobbing horribly but paid her no mind; raising their sword. As they brought it down, their face became visible and she froze at the familiar face, the monster she last fought who was grinning his sharp teeth.

Softly, chillingly, he spoke. "If only your people got the message sooner."

He swung -

- and she bolts up in her bed, a scream stuck in her throat and her body between the array of her pillows and comforters. She was sweating, her blonde hair was stuck to her forehead and neck and she fought to draw in a proper breath - her heart pounding heavily. There's a hot pressure around her legs and with shaking hands, she wildly pulls the sheets off - the fact that they were tangled around her legs meant that she was thrashing.

She passes a hand through her messy hair, she still felt hot and could still hear the screams, could still feel the wetness of her hands and she shudders.

The fluttering of curtains caught her attention from the corner of her eye and she turned, still jittery. The doors to her balcony were open, showcasing the outside sky. While the sun wasn't up just yet, the animal noises she was used to hearing around this time told her it was morning; if only very early morning. The morning air was cooling the much warm room, but it wasn't helping. Not one bit. She threw her legs over, flinching at the cold, tile floor and walked over to the balcony, contemplating whether or not to close the doors.

She stood still for a few moments, the cold wind hitting her face and her looking over the horizon. After a while, she exhaled slowly; walking back inside and grabbing her wand. A pink flash blinded her for a second; switching her nightgown for one of her daily outfits. She then walked back out, used her wand to boost her up to allow her a head start and jumped; landing on a tree branch in one of the trees in the garden. She continued leaping, going on until she was well over the castle walls.

Marco walked down the grand staircase, whistling absentmindedly. He entered the dining room to find the king and queen at their respective places, but Star nowhere to be found. He paused, raising an eyebrow. "Uh, good morning King and Queen Butterfly. Have you seen Star?"

Queen Moon shook her head, eyes on the chair where she would have sat. "No we haven't. It's odd, she would have normally woken up by now."

Marco's stomach dropped, yet he tried to keep calm. King River raised his eyes meaningfully to where her room would've been, then trailed back to Marco. "Maybe she's in her room?"

Marco slightly nodded, not really focusing. "Maybe..."

He walked quickly out of the dining room and rushes up the stairs and the familiar hallways. His thoughts are focused on the talk they had a while ago and Star herself. He bursts into her room, looking around for any sign of her.

He doesn't see any and he mutters as he walks in. "No. No nononono - "

He looks over her bed, it's a mess of pillows and her comforters and he feels it. It's cold, meaning she was gone for a while. He checks her bathroom, study and balcony; still no sign of her. He cursed, the last time something like this upset her this bad, she went missing for a few hours and told no one where she went. He only happened to find her with the help of her mother, who tracked down her wand.

Speaking of which, he glanced around carefully for any sign of it. The room was as bare of it as it was of a Star so he made his mind up, running down. Though, he made sure to check the rest of the castle properly.

It may have been improper to run anywhere into the castle but he thought they could excuse him this one time as he threw open the doors to the dining room, the king and queen raising shocked and questioning glances at him.

He ignored the looks, breathing heavily. "She's not there."

King River's eyes widened. "Where could she have gone?"

Marco instantly went to the queen, expression worrying. "She has her wand, it's nowhere in her room. You can track her down again."

She nodded quickly; getting up and racing to the royal study, Marco and River right behind her. She grasped a bust and flipped it, causing a curtain to raise and revealing a row of numerous buttons with a touch pad; and Marco raised an eyebrow at it.

She typed in something - of what he could only assume was numbers, of rapid speed. It was as if she had it memorized. The screen then lit up with a loading symbol, the numbers having been entered. It seemed to be loading for forever, and Marco was about growl in frustration when it beeped; a paper coming out of a slot.

Her mother grabbed it instantly, eyes skimming the location and she raised an eyebrow. Marco blinked. "What?"

She sighed, bringing the paper down from her face. "It's just...Why would she go here? It makes no sense, if she wanted a quiet place for herself; then this isn't the place."

Marco re-thought her words, fingers drumming a nearby table. "Where is it?"

She showed it to him, but he could make out the inscriptions. He looked back up to her with a blank expression and she understood. "Oh. Right. Um, she's in the Ogacihc dimension. But I can't understand, it's a normal dimension inhabited mostly by monsters. Why would she go there?"

Marco bit his lip in concentration and, after a few seconds; donned a look of understanding and realization. "I know why."

Star sat atop a tall building, slumped against a cold, mossy pillar. She was currently looking down at the mass of townsfolk in the marketplace; her gaze not focused on anything in particular. Actually, she had been doing that for a while. But sondering didn't seem to help her roaming mind; it was a whirlwind, her thoughts mixed together.

She didn't even know why she came here if she was honest with herself. Really, this was not the place for quiet-alone time. It didn't help, she still thought about the dream earlier this morning. Tears pricked at her eyes and she growled.

Why was she so upset? She never went through any of what they had, what gave her the right?

Her hands shook as she looked down at her wand, she was this close to shooting him with a wand blast. She wasn't going to kill him, obviously not; she could never bring herself to do something like that. However, his comments had still made her think.

How long will it be before you leave that reasoning? It would be so easy, wouldn't it? Just blast a spell to shut me up.

How do you feel? Terrible, isn't it?

Her wand, passed down from generation to generation; came from a person or people who would've used its powers for evil, or for their own selfish reasons. She huffed and threw the wand off to her side. Did she really know her history? All she knew was from what she was told as a child, what if all of that was a lie?

"Y'know princess," Star froze at the familiar voice. "Walking out without telling anyone where you were going is not very becoming."

She swiped quickly at her eyes as Marco picked up the discarded wand and sat down; his legs folding under him and raising an eyebrow.

"I can tell you've been crying, Star."

She huffed, his comment basically telling it was useless to try and pretend she wasn't. "How'd you find me?"

He shrugged, gazing across the horizon. "The same way I did the first time. Also, the fact that I have my own Dimensional scissors helps. Question is - " He then gazed into her blue orbs. " - What are you doing here?"

She hesitated, something he caught but stayed patient. Star sighed, a heavy exhale of air. "I don't know."

"Really?" His voice was faux-surprised and she scowled at it. "So, you just up and left because you don't know."

"I don't!" She spat, rubbing at her eyes. "I just needed some air and I kept running and this is where I stopped."

He looked her over, eyes then jumping back to hers; gaze burning. "You haven't been sleeping." It wasn't a question.

She winced, shrugging and trying to be nonchalant. "Just today. I couldn't sleep, which is why I left."

"I'm pretty sure 'not sleeping' isn't the reason for you making a surprise getaway."

Her silence was all the answer he needed and he sighed; looking down at busy people. "Why didn't you get me or your mom? Your dad?"

She shrugged and he frowned. "That's not an answer."

"Oh yeah," Her tone grew a slight mocking edge to it. "I could just go up to them and be like; "Hey, mom. Hiya dad. Do you mind if I just ask you the billion and one questions I have about our family history? No reason or anything, just the fact that they might be murderers."

"Well, maybe." He shrugged, lips curling into a small smile. "That'd be one hell of a backstory opener."

She gave a non-committal noise and looked back down upon the townspeople. He followed her non-focused gaze. They stayed like that in silence, the only noise being the chatter of the below market vendors. Marco was just about to open his mouth but Star beat him to it.

"I just - Why am I so upset?" She sighed. "I never went through any that, I have no right to be." She picked at her hair strands and Marco placed his hand on the one in her hair, stopping her action.

"Maybe it's the fact that you descended from someone who authorized for it to happen."

"That doesn't excuse it." She frowned.

"But that also doesn't make you responsible." He stressed, passing the wand to her. She grasped it but the still had a dejected look on her face; he tried again. "You know, I understand what they're going through."

She raised her head up immediately. "What?"

He gave a shrug. "Racism isn't just a Mewni thing, remember?"

She did. Back on Earth, she stumbled upon it during History class; not understanding why the slaves were being, well enslaved. She curiously asked Marco, who sat her down and explained it the best he could. She also found out that he experienced it a few times because of his half-latino-ness. The memory left a dry taste in her mouth and she weakly nodded.

"I know, but I just thought that...I dunno; that Mewni was above that. But I guess that's just the base of the kingdom." She sighed. "What kind of queen am I going to be if I know nothing of my family history?"

Marco opened his mouth to answer when screams echoed from wherever it was; the two of them instantly getting to their feet. When the screams continued, Star gave him a look, one that was completely absent of her original mood. "Follow me."

They jumped to get to a rooftop of the other side, Star then grabbing a hold of Marco and using her wand to blast them up; landing on a nearby concrete roof. They crouched down and peaked over the roof's parapet, looking down at a crowd of people all standing back; soldiers and two monsters in chains in the center.

One solider, face drooped into a sneer; acknowledged the crowd. "So it's come to my attention that two of your people have stolen from this very marketplace."

The other dragged them forward, pushing them to kneel. Various gasps sounded throughout the crowd.

"And, as we all know," The solider continued, eyeing the people of the majority. "This is a crime, that is punishable by death."

The crowd grew into a frenzy; Marco's eyes widening at the words while Star gasped. A sharp wail sounded over the mass of monsters; an elderly monster stumbling forward and grabbing a hold of the speaking solider's arm.

"Please don't! Please." She begged. "They're still young. I'll pay a fine, any fine. Just -"

He wrenched himself out of her grasp, narrowing his eyes. "Sorry m'am, but the law must be upheld against the guilty."

He then looked to the other solider, who; kept a firm grasp on them. He then pulled his sword from his holster; causing the female monster to cry hysterically and making other town-goers hold her back.

Star watched this with trembling hands, flashing of the family in her dream resurfacing. Blood accompanied the images and she could feel the vomit threatening to resurface. The solider readying the sword above his head caught her eye and she shuddered; Marco's voice filling her head.

You can't stop it. But, you can stand up for them and in turn, people will follow. And maybe, there will be more people fighting for them rather than against them.

She gasped at the words while Marco looked her way; he saw her eyes narrowed at the scene before them and blinked at the anger that seemed to be bubbling in her expression. "Star?"

The solider swung his sword down with all his might and the young monster flinched, squeezing his eyes shut. However, many things happened in a millisecond. Before it could slice him; the sound of a someone falling next to him reached his ears. He opened his eyes to see the flowing movement of a dress; trailing his eyes up to see a girl; eyes filled with fury, which was the last thing he saw in that moment. For she flicked her wand and blue fire materialized and crackled around the center; making the guard releasing the wand, surprised.

She growled at him, shooting a red blast which caused him to fall. The other guard immediately drew his sword but a knife hand at his neck, followed by swift kicks to his body made him crumple to the ground, groaning.

The people gasped at the display, Star paying them no mind and formed a sort of knife with her wand; swiftly cutting the monsters free of their bonds. They immediately ran into the crowd to disappear; the crowd sheltering them. She then turned to the fallen guards, one in a harsh choke hold by Marco and spoke; threateningly pointing her wand.

"You..coward." She spat. "How dare you treat these people like this?!"

He frowned. "We wouldn't have to if they didn't act like thieves - "

"Which they wouldn't have to if they weren't forced into the position they're in!" Star looked around at the townsfolk; who looked at her in either awe or slight fear. "Is this how your legal system is?"

He frowned, eyes hardening. "Do you have a problem with our laws, kid?"

"Hell yeah, I do." She glared at him harshly. "Your kingdom has no right. Killing someone for stealing what I am pretty sure is a small thing? How could you jump to that severe of a punishment?!"

"Well unfortunately little miss," The solider grunted as got to his feet; and Marco kept a close watch to make sure he wouldn't attack her. "This is a monarchy. Not a democracy."

Star bristled at his words. "That still gives you no right."

"If you have a problem, go to our Royal Highness, the King." He sneered; and Star growled. "I'm sure he'll listen." He guffawed loudly, his partner joining him with matching snickers. Star narrowed her ire-filled eyes and Marco had a distasteful expression on his face.

"Actually;" Star's voice grew eerily calm. "I have a message that you can take to him."

He opened his mouth to answer but one look at the princess stopped him. Her hair rose, pink hearts turning to glow a light blue. He stepped back in slight fear and Marco quickly released the other guard and walked quickly to be out of her way. The other guard looked on, stunned.

Her wand lit up; and the guard finally realized what was about to happen when a sharp, fiery blue blast hit him square in the chest. He flew back a great distance; landing in the crowd of people who quickly dispersed to avoid being struck by him. His partner went to his side; assessing whatever damage he may have and Star walked to where they were.

Her hair was still airborne, and she fixed the two guards with the hardest glare she could muster.

"Y'know;" She started. "I've had a week full of harsh realizations and an identity crisis. I mean; do you know what it's like to find out that your entire country, is founded on the genocide of innocent people and your family members may have carried it out? I'm still not over it." She sighed. "I shouldn't be upset over that, I should be upset at the fact that with that genocide; there's still proof of it today. Much like your beloved kingdom."

Marco rested a comforting hand on her shoulder, and she gave a thankful smile to him.

"But with this," Star redirected her gaze back to the guards. "I've made a choice. I'm going to start with Mewni first; by trying to make it a better place. No person, or monster, should be treated like that and I'm going to fight against it."

The crowd started murmuring at her words, looking at each other in contemplation. Star took no notice, still speaking. "They deserve to be treated as equals, no matter what legal system is in place. They deserve to live in a nation where no harm can befall upon them, where they don't have to watch their every move."

"So," Star used her wand to beam the two guards up, and brought them to her level; eyes burning their own. "Tell your king, that I stand with them. That I don't condone the legal system he has in place and that I will fight him on this. He shouldn't be a king if he allows things like this. Tell him Princess Butterfly of Mewni sent that."

With that, she blasted them into the air; the guards letting out screams of terror as they rocketed off. Marco watched them go, an unsure look on his face. "They won't get hurt terribly, right?"

"Not more than they already are." She shrugged and turned to walk off when the gaze of the crowd pieced her view. "Uh..."

The same elderly monster from earlier, holding the two monsters from before in an embrace, walked up to them. "Princess Butterfly, I..thank you."

The two males responded with thankful chimes of their own and Star waved her hands quickly. "Oh, no no. You don't have -"

The crowd cheered, the cries of happiness taking the blonde princess aback. They started to gather inward and some monsters came up to her.

"You're th' first to do somethin' like this. Pretty sudden if ya' ask me." A male one spoke, his gaze wary and his..wife -Star assumed - smacked his arm. "Harry! Sorry, your highness. It's just that..we're just so used to defending ourselves that..."

She trailed off but Star caught the rest of her words. "It's fine, I understand. I did mean what I said though. I am going to fight with you, I'm keeping my promise."

"What exactly is your motive?" A female monster raised her eyebrows, arms folded. "Are you looking to abolish it just like that? Because lemme tell you sweetie, that's not how it works."

Star paused but slowly shook her head. "No, I know it's not to be that easy; I actually have thought about this a lot. Still am actually." She gave an timid laugh, gauging the expressions of the monsters around her. "But, I want to stick with this and I want to connect with you. If you have any problems, you can send letters to the Mewni castle or tell me myself when I visit here; which I will make sure is often."

She sighed, staring around at them determinedly. "However, I can't do this without all of you. I need you all alongside me to do this. Together; we can overthrow your king and get this country an actual ruler."

There was a pause and Star faltered, an nervous grin growing on her face when a female monster with children squeezed through the crowd of monsters. She touched her arm comfortingly, her touch reminding the girl of that of her mother and Star gave a thankful squeeze back.

"We will spread the word, your highness." She looked for confirmation towards the other monsters who all mostly nodded or gave noises of agreement. "Ogacihc is indebted to you."

She shook her head. "There's no need for that."

Marco smiled at the scene before him, eyes softening at the woman who handed Star one of her children; the rest of them crowding around her feet with the many other monsters coming up to her. He shook his head, chuckling to himself. "And you were worried about becoming queen."

He definitely was proud.

Reviews are appreciated.