Welcome to Arc 1.5, if you will. The next few chapters are a bridge into Arc 2, so expect a little fluff and a lot of anguish lol. Enjoy.

The bed creaked and groaned along with Marco Jr. as he slowly regained consciousness. He couldn't tell if he slept or not. At some point in time, the world simply became black and fuzzy until it disappeared from view, leaving behind emptiness. It almost felt like dying, except there were no sexy angel-babes on the other side—unless all of his fooling around landed him in hell. Nah, I'm too cool for the devil, Marco Jr. smirked to himself. Plus, Tom could easily bargain Old Scratch for his soul. He started to wonder if the Lucitor king was actually Satan since they both ruled the Underworld and tortured demons. Ugh, this is too much theology right now, he clutched his head.

The details of his dark bedroom materialized from the dreamless void, and Marco Jr. knew it was early morning even without looking at the clock on his phone. He knew by the position of the moon and stars outside his window. A fat crescent moon—upended like a Cheshire grin—slipped towards the western horizon, kissing the snow on the far hills. Next season's constellations had joined the sky for their short dance before dawn, and among them, the Hydra and the Lion Dragon were the most magnificent. Their evil, red eyes glinted at Marco Jr., but he didn't care. Instead, he was relieved that he managed to pass out somewhere safe this time.

Usually, long nights of binge drinking and getting high landed him in back alleys or in his friends' garages. One time, Christina Farley—a fellow junior and ex-girlfriend—found him spooning a lawnmower in her dad's shed. She said he was muttering something about Mia as he tried to make out with the rusty blades on the underside. Luckily, he didn't cut himself and get lockjaw. But as dangerous as his escapades were, they inspired the best stories full of craziness, heroism, and girls—lots of girls—to entertain his friends and the twins. Those blackouts were the results of having so much fun, the mortal soul could not bear the weight of remembrance.

But there was something different about this blackout. Marco Jr. woke up feeling shitty and agitated. His heart pounded in his chest harder than a desperate porn star and his head throbbed. The odor of sweet rum, bitter gin, and rancid beer made his eyes water, and the empty bottles clanged together as he blindly fumbled for his phone. Worst of all was the uncomfortable wet trail running down his thighs from old accidents. How much did I drink? Marco Jr. wondered when an empty liquor bottle landed into a pile of crushed aluminum cans with a soft crunch. Shame quickly replaced his grogginess, and he instantly realized a dark truth. He wasn't drinking for fun. He was trying to forget something. But what? All he remembered from the Silver Bell Ball was feeling really tired on guard duty outside and his decision to sneak inside for a quick drink or two. Everything else after that moment was blank, so either the royal ball must have been a helluva party or something horrible happened.

I'll see if my phone can give me any hints, he thought when he finally found it, but he discovered that the phone was cold and completely dead. Great, he huffed and cursed phone manufacturers everywhere for crappy batteries as he plugged it into the wall. Planned obsolescence should be unconstitutional. The screen flickered to life, and Marco Jr. spied over three hundred missed calls and text notifications cluttering his inbox. Jesus fucking Christ, how long have I been out? The oldest ones were from three days ago. Seventy-two hours had slipped by, and he failed to notice. He let this happen. The whole purpose of becoming a squire was to learn how to be a responsible boyfriend for Mia, and he already blew it by marinating in booze and piss for three days. Why did his old vices have such control over him? I hope Mia will forgive me, Marco Jr. prayed to his collection of gods. He couldn't live with himself if Homecoming 2.0 happened, and if she walked away again, there would be no third chance.

Marco Jr. scrolled to their last conversation, and he found a long thread of messages, beginning at the end of the Silver Bell Ball. The oldest texts consisted of poetic soliloquies pleading for Mia to come back. They were quite beautiful—if he said so himself—mixing song lyrics, Shakespearean sonnets, and the one-liners he used when he first courted her. If only I put this much effort into English class, he chuckled at his clever wordplay. But as time progressed and alcohol lowered his inhibitions, the messages devolved from sweet love letters to angry demands.

R U Mine?

Mia, ur my girl. U always will be.

Baby, I miss you. Let me love you again.

Goddammit, I'm so miserable.

Talk 2 me my Evening Star

I'm not letting anyone take you from me.

When she failed to respond, Marco Jr. sent her a picture of his proud flesh, C'mon, sexy, I know you wanna 3

At last, she replied: If you do that again, I'm telling my boyfriend. The conversation ended after that.

Marco Jr. frowned. Boyfriend? What the hell did she mean by boyfriend? Only he had the right to claim her—a right he won with both gentleness and fists. Every guy at Echo Creek Academy knew better than to try and steal Mia away from him or else they'd end up stuffed in the dumpster behind the gym. He even shattered Tommy DuFey's jaw when his drunk ass tried to force himself on her at a party. Three of his molars flew into the punch bowl and bobbed around like ice cubes. From that point on, the other guys stopped messing with her. They even stopped looking in her direction for Marco Jr.'s message was clear: Mia Albertson belonged to him. Period. And now, that delicate balance of nature was threatened by an interloper. Playtime's over, Marco Jr. vowed revenge. He was going to get her, no matter the cost—even if he had to knock some more teeth out to do it.

Anger jolted him out of bed, but the sudden movement brought on a sick cluster headache that flashed white spots in his vision. Cursing, Marco Jr. reached for the stash of migraine medicine he kept in his nightstand and chased a pill with stale water. His revenge would have to wait twenty minutes. Mia…his mind crooned. As he relaxed, he remembered that she was at the Silver Bell Ball, wearing the beautiful, blue dress she wore once during homecoming. She outshone all of the stars in the sky and put the splendor of the universe to shame. Oh, how he adored her and ached for her! He longed to bring Mia to his bed and relish in what lay under her fancy clothes—forbidden territory he conquered first. Although Marco Jr. had slept with many girls during his illustrious high school career, being with Mia was different. It wasn't about mindless pleasure and bragging points. It wasn't vulgar and swift. Instead, he made love to her with the totality of his experience and the tenderness of his uttermost being. He became a lover, not a stud.

Dammit, Marco Jr.'s thoughts stirred a primal restlessness within him, one that could not be dulled by fatigue or a headache. And it had been a few days…

Just as he wriggled out of his boxers, he heard a knock on the door. "MJ, are you okay?" Star asked. "We're kinda worried about you, buddy."

"I'm fine, Star." He gritted his teeth. "I'll be out in a few."

"Okay, sweetie, we're about to eat breakfast. See ya then!"

As much as he needed the release, Marco Jr. wasn't going to do it with his sister-in-law in hearing distance. Star was too sweet to know his dark doings, even though he knew that she did way worse with his older brother. By the time the queen moved away, the urge left Marco Jr. too. Whatever, he yawned and reached for his pajama bottoms and robe. Besides, the real thing with Mia was far superior, and he couldn't lay around pissing on himself while someone was trespassing on his turf.

With a yawn, he slid out of bed and stretched, feeling his muscles tighten and his joints crack. It was time to get serious. The old days of slacking off were over—for real this time. From now on, Marco Jr. was going to rocket down the straight-and-narrow at a thousand miles an hour until he found his way to Mia's arms again. She wanted a serious and responsible boyfriend, and he was going to prove himself to her by completing his squire training.

He kicked the door open, and light flooded the darkness of the room, making his sensitive eyes water. It took a moment for color and shape to emerge from the dazzling whiteness, and when it did, bookshelves, end tables, and gold-framed portraits appeared against red walls. Unlike the other loser squires, who lived in the cramped dormitories in the Knights' Barracks, Marco Jr. enjoyed a privileged life inside the castle. The squires complained that he acted more like a spoiled prince than a knight, but they were simply jealous that they didn't get to sleep on satin sheets or had a room in the Kings' Hall, a right reserved only for a queen's legitimate children.

There was so much history in the red hall as it contained every king's coronation portrait hanging on its walls. Although Marco Jr. hated academics and spent most of Mr. Henry's class staring at Mia, he knew the stories of the old kings by heart. To his left was King Rynhart, the First Queen's consort. He was her general during the Butterfly-Lucitor war and First Mewman-Monster war, and his prowess as a warrior stole her heart. When the other princesses were equally wooed, the First Queen fought each of them for the right to breed with Rynhart in an event called the Battle of the Butterflys, which limited Mewberty to females of the royal line. With her king, the First Queen bore three daughters, and their eldest, Princess Umbra Butterfly, became the heir to the throne. Next to Rynhart was King Arthus who married Queen Mercuria and fathered Princess Celesta. When she and her lover, Jack, were called away by the Blood Moon, he understood his daughter's sacrifice and tried in vain dissuade his grieving wife from massacring the Size-Shifters. Many Monsters regarded Arthus as the last ally king, and his successor, Garlaan, was less charitable to the surviving tribes. Near King Garlaan's portrait was Marco Jr.'s least favorite person in Mewnian history—King Shitstain, Eclipsa's cruel husband who smelled of old seaweed. Star isolated his picture in the shadows on the far side of the hall.

But, of course, right across from Marco Jr.'s room, in the brightest part of the hall, was a unique portrait that always caught his eye. There were no sprawling cornfields or leaping warnicorns in the background behind the young king, who only posed beside the Butterfly throne with the crown in his right hand. Marco wanted to be represented as his true self—a scared sixteen-year-old struggling with the weight of his new role as Mewni's king and Star's husband. Its honesty was more powerful than the indulgent fantasy of phony accomplishments, even though Marco actually achieved far more than his predecessors. He wasn't just Star's sperm donor—he was her equal in power and authority. He rode into battle on her behalf as her general and governed as a true king. Yet Marco didn't want to be remembered for any of that. No matter what the songs and stories told of his strength and magic, he wanted everyone to remember his humanity above all. It was such a brave statement.

How history will remember me? Marco Jr. wondered as he studied the portrait with a scowl. The bravest knights were honored in song and tapestries, and he wanted nothing more than for someone to marvel at his image one day.

"Uncle Marco, you're alive!" Jupiter's slippers softly tapped against the floor as she raced down the hall. She almost leapt into his arms for a hug but skidded to a halt a few inches away. "Eww…you stink, Uncle Marco!" She held her nose.

"Stink?" Marco Jr. laughed. "Naw, sobrina, this is the stench of manliness! The universe smells me and knows I'm a big-shot!"

"So, if I don't bathe, I can become cool too?"

"Precisely! Let the universe smell your might, Jupe. Let it bathe in your juices," he grinned.

"Yay! I'mma tell Daddy when I see him at breakfast!" She cheered and raced down the hall.

That's my niece, he smiled even though he sensed an impending lecture from his goody-two-shoes brother about giving Jupiter bad ideas. It didn't matter to him. Marco Jr.'s priorities revolved around being a badass knight and wooing Mia. In the bathroom, he slipped out of his smelly clothes and sought the warm embrace of the shower. There, in the cleansing envelope of steam and water, Marco Jr. found his sweet release. Now, I feel like a new man, he leaned against the wall and caught his breath. That felt way more refreshing than being clean.

After drying off, he returned to his room and put on the cleanest set of clothes he could find: a pair of dark jeans, a faded, red shirt, and his signature jacket. He also grabbed his chainmail and practice sword for squire training, sending a quick prayer to the moon and stars that Higgs wouldn't skin him alive for skipping the last few days. At least, she should have the compassion to humanely kill him and then skin his hide. Ms. Skullnick would grant him that at least.

"Discipline is the whetstone of a knight," Marco Jr. recited the words his mentor said before every lesson. "Knowledge is his sword, and experience, his shield. The weapon is not stronger than the mind, but the mind is the master of it." I guess I have learned something, he thought proudly to himself on the way to breakfast.

The Butterfly dining room was an absurd place for a family of six to eat. Even when Star invited her extended family and servants to dine with her, they only took up one of the several long tables that stretched from one side to the other. It left plenty of room for everyone to spread out in small groups. The older adults usually sat closer to the roaring fire in the hearth while the kids lurked in the back of the room or ran around the tables. Marco Jr. smiled as he recalled the old days of playing with Star's younger cousins, and, later, the twins. All the trouble we used to get into, he saw Uncle Heartrude scold the next generation of Butterflys when they ran into a pillar. Jewelia, his own daughter, muttered an apology and ushered the young ones back to their seats. Marco Jr. imagined his own children running with the future princes and princesses Orion and Andromeda would produce with their spouses one day. I'm gonna have a lot of fun making babies with Mia, Marco Jr. smirked.

"MJ, over here!" Star waved.

"Hey, Star," he greeted her with a hug. "Morning, Marco—"

"Morning," the king looked up from his newspaper.

"—And morning, my favorite nieces," Marco Jr. patted both Andromeda and Jupiter on the head before sitting with them.

"But, Uncle Marco, we're your only nieces," Jupiter giggled.

"I'm surprised, knowing how often your parents screw each other."

Marco spat out his coffee and choked while Star laughed.

Jupiter made a face, "Mommy and Daddy aren't building anything…"

"That's not what he means," Andromeda said nervously.

"Then what does he mean?" the young princess asked innocently.

"Well, Jupiter, when a king and queen love each other very much—" Star began.

"—Star!" Marco glared at her. "She's too young."

The queen rolled her eyes. "Oh, Marco. You and your human morals. Besides, she knows we're having another baby. Why not tell her?"

"A baby!" Marco Jr. grinned with delight. "You're pregnant?! Damn, brother, you really were gettin' it with Star the day I came to Mewni." The blush on Marco's face told the squire all he needed to know. "But seriously, congrats both of you. I can't wait to meet the little guy or girl."

Star rubbed her belly and said, "He's a boy."

"Oooh, I can't wait to teach him how to ride bikes and woo women. We all know how dangerous those Diaz genes are. And speaking of princes, where's my boy, Rye? Is he sleeping in again?"

"Oh no," Star giggled, "Rye's just—"

"—Hanging out with the princes," Andromeda chimed in before she could finish. "Yes, he's out sparring with Dante and Shellheart."

Why does that sound so suspicious? He studied her nervous expression and scowled. Just like her father, Andromeda was a shitty liar, and Marco Jr. instantly knew something was up, especially when he watched her signal something to Star silently. What was Orion doing that needed to be a secret…from him?

Before he could ask, the servants arrived with huge platters of breakfast food balanced on trays in their hands. Food! Marco Jr. salivated as he smelled salty bacon, sweet sausages, eggs, and tart juice, and he hardly waited for the plate to touch the table before inhaling his breakfast. The feeling of eggs sliding down his throat, followed by a tall glass of weak beer was orgasmic. I think I almost missed this more than jerking off, he asked for another serving of everything. Star, Marco, and the princesses watched out of both amusement and horror. With each chew and swallow, Marco Jr. felt stronger and his mind grew clearer. After all, a big guy like him needed nourishment in order to seize the day.

"Are you ready for training, MJ?" Star asked after he ate. "Higgs wants to see you early."

"Is she gonna kill me?" He winced at the thought of her square boots embedding themselves up his ass.

"Not if I talk to her first," Star got up. "C'mon, I'll walk you over."

"Thanks, Star."

Star and Marco Jr. said their goodbyes to the family and walked into the early morning. The sun had risen over the horizon, but her weakling rays did little to drive away the night and its gloating stars. The townspeople were stirring in spite of the darkness, and Marco Jr. saw their lanterns and torches bobbing along with footsteps and their carts. Monsters and Mewmans had decent night vision, so even the long and deep nights of winter hardly dissuaded them from continuing with their lives. But Marco Jr. struggled along the half-lit path because of unseen sticks and stones in the way. If it weren't for Star guiding him, he probably would have died. If only humans weren't so lame, he secretly envied his Mewman relatives, who were strong and nimble while he clumsily plodded around.

"Are you okay?" Star slowed and walked by his side.

"I should've brought a flashlight," he grumbled though it was now light enough to see the outlines of objects.

"No, I mean about the Silver Bell Ball," she said. "I don't know if you remember, but something happened between you and Orion."

"Really? This is the first time I'm hearing about it." What on Mewni could drive a wedge between him and his favorite nephew?

Star paused and studied him for a second before continuing, "I won't get too much into it—that's for you to discover—but I will say that familial ties are important to us Mewmans. Never let anything get in the way of them. Promise?"

Man, this is cryptic as fuck, Marco Jr. shivered but nodded, "Of course, Star."

"Good." She kissed his forehead. "I want the best for you, MJ, because I love you."

"D'aww, you're making me blush."

"That's my job."

They arrived at the Knight's Barracks as the morning sun touched the top branches of trees. Already, the other squires were drilling in the arena, their clashing wooden swords and shields splintering in the cold air. One of the squires was shoved backward by his sparring partner, and his impact left a skid mark in the frost. "Ha!" A feisty blonde girl, Freyja, stabbed her practice sword in his side. "You gotta be quicker than that, Rolland."

The boy grimaced, "I swear you're cheating every time, Frey."

"Don't be such a wimp." She helped Rolland up. "Only the toughest squires will go on to be Kingsguard. And speaking of—" she glared in Marco Jr.'s direction. "—Looks like Prince Marco Jr. has decided to grace our presence."

The other squires mockingly bowed and sneered at him.

"Aren't you precious, Freyja?" Marco Jr. stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Why don't you get back to bossing your pet around?"

"At least, I put effort into my training." She narrowed her eyes. "What have you been doing since Prince Orion almost whooped your ass at the Silver Bell Ball?"

"What do you mean…?"

"Of course, you'd forget," she scoffed. "First, you abandon your post, allowing a demon to get past security, and then, you tried to pick a fight with the prince over a human."

Marco Jr.'s head started to hurt again as he desperately tried to remember the Silver Bell Ball, but his memories yielded nothing. The years of drinking and smoking must have damaged his hippocampus already. Why can't I remember anything? He felt worthless and ashamed amid his laughing peers. Why did he constantly fuck up?

"Excuse me, Sir Freyja, you wouldn't want me to send a negative report to Sir Bree, would you?" Star reappeared with Higgs behind her.

The squire ducked her head in embarrassment, "No, Your Majesty."

"And let's put it this way, Freyja Greywood, if Sir Bree doesn't put you in your place, I will." Higgs folded her arms. "Get back to work—all of you!"

In a heartbeat, the squires returned to sparring, leaving Higgs, Marco Jr., and Star alone. The queen nodded to her Captain, "I best be going." In English, she whispered to him, "Good luck. I tried."

"Thanks," he replied.

Once Star disappeared, Higgs's demeanor changed, and she stomped her feet. "You're so lucky the queen is your sister-in-law or else I'd have you running naked through a dragon's lair covered in meat sauce. That being said, your behavior has to be dealt with, so I've decided your punishment. Guess who's gonna shovel the royal stables with their bare hands, Diaz?"

Oh joy, he sighed.

"Think of it this way, those horse turds will keep your fingers warm. Now, get moving, I want you back here before noon."

By the time Marco Jr. emerged from the royal stables, covered head to toe in grassy stains, the sun had fully risen, and the sky had turned into a rosy blush. When the squire gazed deeply into it, watching the idle clouds roll by, he thought of the first time he noticed Mia falling for him. For the longest time, it seemed like she had no interest. Usually, girls immediately fawned over Marco Jr. if they wanted to hook up, but Mia acted rather indifferent. She only praised him when he answered a homework question correctly or actually focused during a tutoring lesson. Otherwise, their relationship was strictly businesslike until one day where they decided to study on the highest hill in Echo Creek Park. The setting sun caught the world below ablaze, and Marco Jr. just so happened to catch Mia staring at him. A new fire flashed in her eyes, and he saw a subtle blush resting on her cheeks.

Whatcha lookin' at, Albertson? he laughed then.

N-nothing, Diaz. She bit her lip and peeled her lovely eyes away. Now, let's back to work.

The memory brought a smile to his face. I miss those simple days, Marco Jr. sighed and watched the wisp of his breath climb into the sky. The innocent days of their relationship were among his favorite—in some ways, even more so than their fiery, passionate phase. He watched her blossom like a radiant wildflower, slowly opening herself to him until he saw the beauty of her soul. Mia's shyness on their first date was adorable—handholding made her swoon. An old pro such as Marco Jr. rarely reflected on the delicate beauty of romance. He had to put aside the bravado around her and become a softer, gentler boyfriend since he was her first everything: her first kiss, her first dance, her first time... It was an honor that she trusted him so much—the famous womanizer of Echo Creek—and he took his duties seriously.

I really need to do better, Marco Jr. stared at his shit-covered hands and sighed. He spent three hours removing soiled straw from seventy warnicorn stalls while the grooms laughed because a fuming, red-headed woman with a stick up her ass told him to. All because he was so in love with Mia that he refused to fail knight training in hopes of being with her again. Marco Jr. had to be the craziest guy in the universe to run away from and home, drop out of school, and endure rigorous training for a girl. But Mia was worth it. The sun rose and set with her.

He went into the adjacent bathroom and scrubbed his hands until they were red and raw, but even then, Marco Jr. didn't feel clean. On the plus side, Higgs was right—the horse turds kept his hands warm. On the wall, the clock struck quarter-to twelve, and Marco Jr. figured that he had enough time to clear his mind before slinking back to Higgs for training. And the fresh air would help his residual headache.

He set out on a narrow path behind the stable and occupied paddocks to a great hill few visited. Star used to bring him here when he was a toddler—often with the twins in tow—and they watched the greening of the distant woods after the great war. The Mewmans called it Ancient Hill because of the old tree, thicker and taller than any other, that stood proudly on top. Supposedly, the First Queen and her band of settlers climbed the hill and gazed across the broad plain of their new home after surviving a terrible blizzard their first winter on Mewni. She heard a voice from the opening sky that said: Set forth ye and conquer. Build a kingdom on this land and a people from its soil. Of course, the building of said kingdom cost the lives of millions of Monsters, but a young Marco Jr. only cared about the view. Even now, he loved staring over the land. To the far west, the Hill of Flags served as a boundary between the Butterflys and the Johansens, and, on the eastern horizon, he saw the dark home of the Pigeons and Spiderbites. I'd love to bring Mia up here, Marco Jr. smiled at the thought of the two of them watching the sun sink behind the far hills.

"Wow, you can see the whole kingdom up here!" A feminine voice caught the squire's attention. Mia? Were his prayers answered? Had his toil appeased the Spirits as well as his uptight mentor?

Before he bolted towards her, Marco Jr. realized that she wasn't alone. Another set of footfalls echoed hers, signaling that someone walked beside her—and they sounded heavier too. A boy! He rolled into a nearby bush and lay in wait to size up his rival. Mia summited the hill first, wearing a puffy, pink coat and matching earmuffs. Geez, babe, it's not that cold, Marco Jr. snickered to himself. It was a balmy thirty-five degrees today, but Mia never experienced real winter in either Florida or Southern California.

"This is incredible!" she breathed, and her beautiful eyes grew into wide, copper suns.

"Oh, that's not even a fraction of the kingdom, Mia," a deeper voice answered. "Just wait until you see the Southern Wilds or the Forest of Certain Death."

No way! Marco Jr. bristled in disbelief when he saw Orion reach for Mia's hand. It couldn't be! There had to be a mistake…

"By the way," Orion said. "I'm sorry the last time you came to Mewni ended so badly. I promise you my life isn't constantly full of danger, and we can have a relaxing time today."

"I hope so," she said with a hint of fear lingering in her voice. "I'm excited to sit in on a squire training session. It sounds like school but cooler."

He laughed, "Yeah, I guess, but at least you get a winter break. My Captain doesn't allow us a day off from our studies."

They continued their innocent conversation, and Marco Jr. watched intently, although he felt somewhat at ease. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so far—Orion was just being his usual sweet self to Mia. They're probably just friends, Marco Jr. insisted, partly for the sake of his own sanity. A thousand questions rattled in his head about how Mia and Orion knew each other, but he ignored them. New Echo Creek and Mewni were linked together, so it seemed logical that the two would cross paths somehow. Right?

Suddenly, the conversation ended with ticklish laughter as Orion hoisted Mia against the tree, holding her in his arms. "Wow, you're so strong…" she marveled, pressing her forehead to his.

"I'm a Butterfly," the prince boasted. "That's what we are."

"Oh, really?"

"Really. What's it like having a bug prince for a boyfriend?" He purred when Mia cupped his cheeks, causing his sun-shaped marks to glow softly.

"I love it."

Their lips merged in a kiss, and Marco Jr. nearly blew his cover by hyperventilating when Mia wrapped her legs around Orion's waist. No…nononono! The world turned black, and Marco Jr. staggered backward, trembling mightily to the point of hysteria. Everything was wrong. The air tightened his throat, the ground became like a mere shadow, and the light of the sun dimmed. Reality evaporated into thin smoke, revealing a horrible nightmare that shook his soul out of his body for a split second. When it returned, Marco Jr. choked and sputtered as a thousand conflicting emotions consumed him with immeasurable rage, sorrow, and hurt.

No. No, it couldn't be. This couldn't be real. He couldn't have lost his soulmate forever. Mia was his world—his life. Without her, he had nothing as a pathetic high school dropout who hinged his entire existence on being hers. What was his purpose anymore? Why the hell was he on Mewni? What was his future? A dark madness shrouded his vision until his eyes saw nothing: no sun, cloud, or trees. He was alone. Utterly alone with the thing he feared the most—himself. This was his fault, and now, he had to live with it. Lady Fate always dealt the cruelest hand.

I have to do something, Marco Jr.'s hands formed fists as he continued to watch Orion with his woman. He wanted to hate him. He wanted to charge into battle and fight as he always did when someone wronged him at school, which earned him the feared name of El Toro Rojo. At Echo Creek Academy, Marco Jr. ruled with his brawn and might, winning every fist and knife fight to be had. But what could he do against his nephew—his flesh and blood? Orion wasn't masher Tommy DuFey or racist Oliver Smith, who constantly ragged on immigrants. This was his nephew, whom he loved as his own brother since the day they first met. The precious memory was as vivid as if it happened yesterday and not fourteen years ago. Star and Marco had visited Earth a few weeks after the twins were born to drop them off for some alone time. At first, Marco Jr.'s parents tried to prevent his three-year-old self from bothering the babies too much, but, eventually, he snuck into their room and met them face-to-face. Even if he drank and smoked his brain into a shriveled raisin, forgetting everything including his own name, Marco Jr. would never forget the curious green eyes—his own eyes from his mother—beholding him with warmth and curiosity. His nieces and nephews were Marco Jr.'s life. They were the siblings he wished he had, and as much as he wanted Mia back, he couldn't hurt Orion.

Why would I want to? Shame and anger left Marco Jr. confused, and he wept bitterly. Suddenly, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. "Excuse me, Sir Marco, Captain Higgs wants you back for training."

Wiping away his tears, Marco Jr. cleared his throat. "Alright, I'm coming, Douglass."

"Are you okay, sir?" the young squire asked in a quiet voice. "It sounds like you're crying."

"What's it to you, Johansen?" Marco Jr. grunted.

Mewmans greatly valued familial relationships, and Douglass was King Rock's sister's son, and therefore, Marco Jr.'s kin by marriage. The young boy always stuck by his side, even when the other squires loathed him, but he wasn't in the mood for obligation-induced pity. He stormed down the hill and into the training arena where the other squires and knights were gathered on low benches. A few of the knights, namely Jackie and Kelly, greeted him, but Marco Jr. simply walked past them to his seat on the last bench. Orion and Mia appeared a few moments later and sat with Andromeda and the other young royals. The princess greeted Mia with a smile, and Marco Jr. realized that she was an accomplice in this too. Who can I trust anymore? He continued to sulk.

"On your feet," Sir Jorby barked. "Salute!"

The entire Kingsguard stood at attention with their fists over their hearts. Captain Higgs strolled into the arena and surveyed her forces with deep scrutiny to ensure everything was in order. Once pleased by her knights, she nodded, "At ease, Kingsguard, and welcome to another day of group training." When they sat down, she continued, pacing as she talked, "Now, I know we're still recovering from the demon attack during the Silver Bell Ball. And while I won't name any names—" she glared at Marco Jr. "—I think we all need to be more diligent in our duties to the castle. Demons aren't something we ordinarily deal with in the Overworld, but in light of the recent attacks, we'll be working with the Lucitor Kingsguard in learning anti-demon fighting techniques. This will require us to wield one of these bad boys."

She unsheathed a fancy rapier for all to see. Its elegant, black blade almost disappeared into thin air until it caught a flash of light from the sun, revealing its deadly edge. "Feast your eyes on this beauty," Higgs smirked at the awe in her knights' face. "A good warrior may master one weapon, but she must be competent at others. Rapiers are the Lucitors' specialty and are the premiere demon-fighting machine when enchanted. Now, before I turn you all loose with magical swords, we're going to learn how to wield a normal rapier. The best way to approach this weapon is—"

Marco Jr.'s ears roared with blood when he saw Mia nestle in Orion's arms for warmth. Something had to be done. He couldn't just allow another boy to steal her away. An alpha male like Marco Jr. had a reputation to uphold, and he wasn't about to lose the sole reason he came to Mewni. If Mia wanted a man of action—someone who took charge of destiny—then she was about to get it.

"I'm tired of hearing my own voice, so I've arranged for some peer teaching." Higgs concluded her lecture, "Prince Orion and Prince Dante are both very familiar with rapiers since their fathers are accomplished swordsmen. Therefore, they're going to spar and show you the basics. Are you, Prince Dante?"

It's now or never, Marco Jr. shot to his feet and pointed the tip of his sword straight at Orion, "I object! This fight is mine. I hereby challenge Prince Orion Diaz-Butterfly to a Duel!"

The knights gasped, and Kelly and Jackie exchanged a concerned glance. In an instant, the atmosphere of the arena grew tense as two sets of green eyes met each other: one recoiling in shock and the other glinting with cold determination. For a split second, the hurt and fear on Orion's face almost made Marco Jr. back down. Am I really going to do this? The thought of fighting his own nephew made his stomach twist into knots, but when he saw Mia staring in horror, protective rage set in again. So be it, adrenaline surged in his blood and quaked in his muscles.

"Look, Uncle Marco, we don't have to do this," Orion insisted. "I was going to talk to you about Mia after you sobered up."

"I'm not talking, Rye! We're settling this the old-fashioned way: whoever wins, gets the girl."

Mia objected, "Excuse me, MJ, I'm not a trophy, and I already broke up with you! That's final!"

He rolled his eyes. "You don't mean it, babe. I know you don't."

"Stop!" Orion took a step forward. "I'm not fighting you, but I'm also not going to let you treat my girlfriend rudely."

"Your girlfriend?" Marco Jr. scoffed with a sick laugh. "Mia will always be mine—one way or another."

"Diaz, sit your ass down or it won't be attached to you much longer!" Higgs became so furious that her face and ears turned as red as her hair.

Normally, Marco Jr. would have bowed and obeyed her command, lest he drew her ire, but he was beyond fear now. Nothing scared him except losing Mia, and he swore a black oath to the universe that he'd do anything to win her back, even if it jeopardized his soul.

"Stay out of this!" he boldly barked at her. "It's between me and Orion. Mewmans are allowed to fight kin over mates, and I'm exercising my right. This is about dignity and love and honor!" His last words gave Marco Jr. the perfect idea to bait his nephew into a fight. "In fact, I also challenge your honor as Prince of Mewni, Orion, for sneaking off with my girlfriend behind my back!"

The knights nervously murmured amongst one another, and their eyes sought the Orion for his response. Even Higgs did not intervene, although she muttered a cascade of curses under her breath. Just like high schoolers, Mewmans fiercely guarded their honor, and to have it challenged openly demanded action. Checkmate, Marco Jr. narrowed his eyes with gleeful satisfaction. He was going to get the fight he wanted.

Reluctantly, Orion sighed, "Alright, uncle. I'm not doing this because I want to but because I have to."

Sure, Marco Jr. shrugged.

"You're not going to fight me with a practice sword, are you?"

"Hey, Dante, let me borrow your sword." Marco Jr. demanded.

The demon prince handed him the rapier. "This is a real weapon, MJ," he said. "Just keep that in mind when you use it on my best friend."

"Whatever you say, Lucitor," Marco Jr. grumbled, sensing Dante's sharp rebuke.

Andromeda refused to look at him.

The warriors marched to the center of the arena as the sun approached its late zenith, melting the frost from the browned grass stalks. The anticipation in the air was almost maddening, but Marco Jr. drank it in until it drove him into a frenzy. He loved this feeling. He loved how nature held her breath when he faced an opponent and how everyone's attention was on him, the big star. Seldom did Mewmans watch a proper Duel, and he'd give them—and Mia—a show to remember. After all, El Toro Rojo never lost a fight, especially not one over a girl.

Orion and Marco Jr. met in the middle and shook hands as custom mandated, reciting the traditional Duel blessing to appease the Spirits. "Let the Spirits judge between you and me and be honored by this contest," Orion said.

"And let the Stump's wrath tarry another day," Marco Jr. said the traditional reply, although he badly wanted to boast about his previous victories and the epitaph given to him by vanquished foes: El Diablo. He only used that title during fights to intimidate others.

With pleasant words exchanged, Marco Jr. and Orion retreated to their corners of the arena, signaling the start of the Duel. For several moments, they stalked around in circles to look for weaknesses in each other. Although Orion would deny it, Marco Jr. saw bloodlust in his eyes—a desire honed by generations of warrior ancestors. As the rivals gradually drifted closer, the familial bonds that held them together dissolved, and they settled into the same deep instinct that drove stags to fight during the rut, overriding the normal aversion to pain and conflict. Here, Marco Jr. and Orion—old master versus young buck—were pulled by a primitive pull as old as time, one the squire knew very well. Only women had such power over men, transforming them from gentlemen to brutes in mere seconds. Marco Jr. doubted whether or not Orion truly understood. After all, his virgin mind could never comprehend the addictiveness of love—from its innocence to its depraved carnality—as he did.

Closing his eyes, he thought of Mia—her scent, her touch, her presence—and reveled in the sudden burst of energy and focus. This was his last battle for her heart, and Marco Jr. knew he could not lose. When he opened his eyes again, he drew his sword and uttered a silent prayer for strength and cunning before charging straight for Orion. The heavy heels of his cowboy boots sunk into softened earth and the whole world blurred around him into a single tunnel with only his opponent at the end. Several feet away, he held out his blade to prepare for a strike. I'm not sorry! He closed the distance but swiftly realized that the target had vanished. Where'd he go? By the time Marco Jr.'s brain fully registered what happened, he felt the tip of a thin blade penetrate the chainmail protecting his side.

"Dammit!" He winced in pain, realizing just how close he came to being disemboweled on the first pass.

Orion flicked the blood off his blade and readied himself for another charge. "You gotta be quicker than that," he said. "This isn't a broadsword, Uncle Marco. Rapiers are about speed and precision."

"Don't tell me how to fight!" Marco Jr. rushed again but was repelled backward with a shove of Orion's blade, which created enough distance for the prince to strike again. Though the blade pierced his stomach—just above the bellybutton—Marco Jr. still remained undeterred. He had received paper cuts worse than this. "I'm just getting started!" he boasted. "You haven't seen anything yet."

He swung his blade, but it met nothing but empty air as Orion sidestepped. Every time Marco Jr. lashed out, his opponent ducked and dodged out of the way. The squires began to laugh in the background, and embarrassment made Marco Jr.'s attempted attacks more erratic. He blundered perfect opportunities and stumbled on his feet, even tripping into a pile of mud when Orion evaded to the right. Stop laughing at me! Part of him wanted to slap the shit-eating grin of Freyja's freckled face or teach Gary Jumpblossom a lesson about picking on an older squire, but Marco Jr. knew he was getting ahead of himself. Right now, he needed to focus on beating Orion, and then he would pound the other squires into paste.

"Stop being a fucking coward and fight me!" Marco Jr. roared in frustration.

"I'm not going to," Orion feigned to the left.

"Aren't you supposed to be the son of the greatest warrior queen ever?" Marco Jr. jeered. "Hell, I bet my brother was more daring than you at your age."

"Watch it," Orion narrowed his eyes.

Encouraged by the reaction, Marco Jr. continued to egg him on, "And newsflash, dearest nephew, I'm never giving up Mia. She's mine. I had her first. What's a young boy like you in comparison to a man like me? You can never give her what I can."

His laughter was cut short by a sharp slash to the thigh, and Marco Jr. slumped to the ground. Blinding pain left him reeling when the razor-sharp blade dug into his shoulder. Screaming, he looked into Orion's eyes and saw the chilling resolve dance in them. "I am no man," Orion growled in a voice wilder than anything a human could utter. "That's why I'm giving you the chance to stand down before I really hurt you. Come on, uncle, we can just end this here."

Orion offered his hand, but Marco Jr. kicked mud in his face and used the opportunity to tackle the prince to the ground.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Darrion yelled, but Marco Jr. did not care if his actions incurred the Stump's wrath. He had to win no matter what.

With their weapons forgotten, they continued to fight, kicking and punching each other as they wrestled. In the beginning, Marco Jr.'s size and weight gave him the advantage, but he vastly underestimated his nephew's cunning and strength. Orion carefully waited for him to tire out before taking control of the battle. A blow to the face sent Marco Jr. reeling, followed by a kick to the jaw. He instantly recognized the restraint in each attack, which should have shattered his skull and knocked out teeth. Still unfazed by the danger of fighting a superhuman alien, Marco Jr. rose to his feet and sprang again, landing a solid punch to Orion's chest. Once the prince fell to the ground, he unleashed his fury. No one defeats the one and only Bull of Echo Creek! He summoned all of his experience from school: back-alley brawls, clumsy incidents fueled by drunken words, and, of course, fights over girls after school.

"There," Marco Jr. panted, wiping the sweat off his face. "I think that does it." Now, all he had to do was claim his prize.

As he turned to walk away, a single punch sent him flying across the arena and into a screaming crowd of squires. His vision dimmed, but he saw a pair of blazing suns emerge from the gloom, followed by flaming, blond hair and dazzling, green eyes. Purple and green magic radiated from Orion's body, causing the sun to flee behind a veil of clouds. There, in the middle of the arena, stood the son of Star Butterfly and future King of Mewni in all of his majesty. This wasn't a dopey kid from high school, who could be forced into submission with one push, and Marco Jr. felt dread freeze his blood for he knew the dark truth. Orion let him win. How could he be vain enough to think that he could beat a Mewman with magic that could tear apart dimensions? Orion wouldn't use that kind of magic on me, would he? Marco Jr. remembered the story of how Star nearly killed Tom after he tried to murder Marco.

"This Duel is over," Orion said.

"Hey, who said I was—"

"I, the Prince of Mewni and heir to the throne, say it is!" Orion snarled in his Butterfly voice, and the air shivered with magic. "I'm tired of this nonsense!"

It was then that Marco Jr. remembered what happened at the Silver Bell Ball. He was half asleep when the Magic called him into the ballroom where he caught the tail-end of a spectacular dance between Orion and Mia. Panic set in, and he tried desperately to deny anything was going on. But now, he knew the truth: the fight really was over. What if Mia had really left him for an opponent he couldn't defeat? What human had a chance against a magical creature with six hands?

Orion stood over Marco Jr. and raised his fist, ready to strike him down, but he exhaled and released the magic. Tears fell down his cheeks, extinguishing the glow of his suns. "Please," Orion's voice became a whisper. "I love you, Uncle Marco, and I don't want something to come between us. I don't want to lose you like I lost Andie." He wiped his tears away and extended a hand. "Truce?"

As much as he wanted to take his nephew's hand, the cold reality slammed Marco Jr. hard. Mia was gone, and he was alone. I can't deal with this! Sobs racked his chest, reducing him into a crying wimp. Defeated and disheartened, Marco Jr. turned the other way and ran, not caring if stupid Freyja laughed at him. Candlestick was right: he had no future. Especially not without Mia.

Review Roundup

viceversa96-I can't say more to that point but expect the unexpected...

RJWritingInk- You are right about Etheria and elitism. Out of all the characters, there are very few who are unredeemable, but she and Dave are one of them. They want to carry everything back because the old days suited them, but it'll be up to Star, Marco, and the gang to stop them. Also, we'll see how the Promise really works but basically, Festivia's line is still bound by it.

Lyger 0- Poor Mia, her first trip to Mewni ends in a demon attack. You're right that it's not a good first impression, but I wouldn't worry. Danger is a part of the Butterfly business.

Aldal- Thanks! I love lore, and I think it's a welcomed addition since the whole AU is a more in-depth view of Mewni. We'll definitely see more Lucitor lore later on. We'll find out more about Dave soon, but the old and next generation must be ready for anything.

Starco4everr- Thanks. I've always imagined them with a large family.

Alfonso Sparda- The demons at the Silver Bell Ball are only the beginning...and we'll see what happens with the baby.