Chapter 12

Star stumbled to her knees- she had overextended herself when she dove for Marco- and skidded to a halt right were her best friend had been- right where he'd disappeared before her very eyes.

"Oh god. He's gone." Star keened "He's gone. He was right there and he's gone."

At this very moment, Marco might be in Mina's clutches, and at her non-existent mercy. He could be being tortured, or dead. And she never told him, he might die not knowing that she loved him. Oh magic, she thought losing his friendship was hard, but the thought of Marco dying put it all in perspective.

She was at the edge of breaking down when Kelly's firm voice pierced through her grief "Star! Get yourself together. Don't tell me you're just going to give up on him!" She cajoled. Something inside of Star rebelled at the mere thought of giving up on Marco… she'd never.

"Do you think Marco would ever give up on any of us if we were in danger?" Kelly asked her.

He wouldn't. Marco would never, ever give up. Even if it was hopeless, even if he had nothing to go on, he'd at least try. What was she doing? She was about to cry when she could be doing something, anything to try to save Marco.

"Thanks." Star sniffed, returning to her feet. "You're right. He wouldn't give up, and we aren't either."

She looked around the room, from Kelly's steeled gaze, to Tom, who seemed torn, to Hekapoo, who just looked shellshocked. "That being said, I'm open to a plan, or suggestions, or anything really."

Her words hung in the air uncomfortably until, hesitantly, Hekapoo put in "What I don't get is, if whoever did this could kidnap people from anywhere in the universe. Why take Marco, and why take him now? If they can do this, why don't they try to kidnap you, Star?"

"I'm pretty sure Marco had just figured out who did it. He was about to ask you something. Something that would have given whoever betrayed us away." Star speculated "Uhg! How could they possibly have known to take him at exactly the right moment, unless…"

A few probing glances were being thrown at Talon and Hekapoo, but Star's mind flashed to the all-seeing-eye. Eclipsa would be able to spy on them, maybe even find a way to make portals without Hekapoo knowing, but it just didn't make sense. Why would she help Mina, someone who hates monsters? Unless it was just a ploy to spark a monster revolt…

Wait. She was missing something. "I'm an idiot!" She slapped her forehead. "I can just use the all seeing eye to find him!" It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Yeah, she didn't have the best history with the spell, but if it could find Marco... there wasn't time to waste.

"I summon the all-seeing-eye to tear a hole into the sky. Reveal to me that which is hidden, unveil to me that which is forbidden." Anticipation grew in her chest as she cast the spell, hope and fear rising in equal measure. She felt the magic surge through her, to her wand, and then outward. The purple ring formed in front of her and within… nothing. Nothing at all, just blackness.

No. Nononono.

"NO!" Star's scream of defiance was a primal sound that burst forth from deep within her. This wasn't right. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be dead.

"Oh no."

"That doesn't mean…"

The spell was wrong. It had to be. It was lying to her. He couldn't be dead. He just couldn't. Despite her frantic denials, her heart felt like it was ripping itself to shreds, and she couldn't help but shed a few hot, stinging tears.

"Star, please calm down."

"I guess we're never gonna take that photo."

"Are you seriously worrying about your stupid photo right now?"

Oh god. Oh god ohgodohgod. He was dead and it was all her fault.

"She's hyperventilating, what do we do?"

"What are you looking at me for?"

"You helped her last time!"

"If only Marco were here…"

"Well he isn't here!"

"I know how to find him."

Even though Tom's words were softly spoken, they cut through the chaos that had erupted, bringing silence to the room and wrenching Star from her breakdown.

"You do?" Star entreated.

"Well…" Tom hesitated, his voice grew pained "There's something I need to know, for this to work… Are you in love with him?"

"Tom…"

"Please be honest."

"I'm sorry." Star bowed her head in guilt "I do. I love him."

Tom sniffled, and the noise reflexively drew Star's gaze. He had brought a hand to cover his face, but she knew that behind it must have been tears. "Tom. I'm sorry, so sorry. I- there's really no excuse." As she said this, Star slid off her engagement ring, and gave it to Tom. "You deserve better."

Tom looked down at the ring in his hand, and clenched it into a fist. "I know." Tom replied tensely. "Believe me Star, I know. It doesn't make it better, but I do understand… and I want you both to be happy. Even now." His voice was rough with emotion, which didn't change as he continued "But Star, because you love him… I think that means there's a way. The blood moon."

Star gasped "I thought it was just a legend! Are you saying…"

"Star, it's real."

"What does the blood moon have to do with anything?" Hekapoo asked "It's not like… wait, you… and Marco?"

Star nodded.

"You and Marco danced under the blood moon?" Hekapoo pressed.

"They did." Tom answered for her "I was there."

"Then what the hell weren't you and Marco dating in the first place?" She berated "All three of you knew, so why?" The implications were blatant. Why didn't she and Marco get together? Why did she and Tom date at all? And neither of them could come up with a good answer.

"I didn't think it was real!" Star cried out. In hindsight, she should have known. But after the ball, she sort of just dismissed it. She hadn't understood her feelings for Marco at that point (and wouldn't until she almost had to watch him get crushed to death by Toffee). There was no way she could have admitted to liking him, let alone him being her soulmate.

"I… I guess it was just wishful thinking." Tom said sadly.

"Can someone please explain what's going on?" Kelly asked.

"The blood moon ball occurs once every six hundred and sixty seven years. At the ball, the blood moon choses two people who are exceptionally well suited for each other and binds their souls together, forever." Hekapoo explained. "Apparently the blood moon didn't account for the people it chose being utter morons."

"Okay. I get it, I screwed up. But how is the blood moon supposed to help?"

"The legends say that blood moon lovers can sense each other, find each other, across dimensions even." Tom told her heavily "They say that if you focus on him, on how you feel about him, then you'll be able to feel a connection to him, and it will guide you back together."

Tom's eyes found Star's as he said this, and Star had to blink away tears. "Tom… thank you."

"He's my friend too. So if you can save him, then… do it."

It seemed like a fool's hope, but it was all she had. So Star closed her eyes and felt.

I don't want you to go, I want you to stay. She remembered when she and Marco first became friends. How happy she'd been to find a friend on Earth. She remembered how patient he'd been with her, showing her the ins and outs of human technology and culture. She remembered their adventures- exploring dimensions and fighting monsters hand in hand.

She remembered falling for him in stages. When her Mewberty forcibly made her realize her bestie was a boy. How entranced she'd been by the beautiful 'stranger' that had danced with her at the Blood Moon ball. When Toffee threatened his life, and Star realized just how precious he was to her, and just how much she'd give up for him.

And he was precious to her. Marco, who'd guided her and helped her become a better person and queen. Marco, who could always life her spirits even with just his presence. Marco, who she'd always felt a deep connection to, who she always felt like she belonged with. When he was by her side, she felt invincible. When they were in each other's arms, it felt like coming come. Marco- her best friend, the love of her life, her soulmate.

What she wouldn't give up to save him now. Please. She begged desperately. Please let him be alive. Please let it not be too late. Even if he wants to be with Janna, even if he never wants to see me again. Please.

Her prayers were answered. She heard several gasps, and when she opened her eyes, she realized the room was bathed in the red light of the blood moon. But even more than that- Star could feel him- a presence linked to her heart that felt distinctly Marco- it felt like nights spent cuddling while watching a movie, like fighting together in battle, working in perfect harmony, it felt like his hugs and his smiles, his kindness and determination. She reached out to him (she couldn't not), and almost toppled backwards from the force of emotions rolling off of him.

Greif unlike anything she'd ever felt before. So all-consuming and painful that Star began to cry herself. Oh Marco, what could possibly make him feel this way? She needed to find him… now.

She reached deeper across the bond, and now she could feel a tug, pulling her to him. Instinctively, she transformed into her butterfly form and used the tug to guide the creation of a portal. She took one last look around the room, and motioned for everyone to follow her.

It was at that point that Marco's emotions shifted suddenly from grief to rage.

Marco tumbled to the ground, landing awkwardly and trying to right himself as quickly as possible. It was all for nothing, Marco was grabbed almost immediately- his arrival had been expected.

"You!" Marco spat.

"Yes, me." Omnitraxus Prime replied coolly.

"What the fuck is wrong with you! You betrayed us! Star, Hekapoo! Do you really hate monsters that much?" Marco raged as he struggled helplessly. If only he could reach his scissor blades, but his arms were pinned to his sides by Omnitraxus' grip. He truly was massive in his true form within the Time dimension- and to be honest Marco didn't completely understand all of his powers.

"You might as well stop struggling; there are no potential futures in which you escape." Omnitraxus said offhandedly "And for the record, Mewni's relationship with Monsterkind is not my main concern."

"Well I'm not about to take your word for it." Marco retorted as he continued to thrash. Omnitraxus did not seem to be in a hurry- in fact, he seemed to be mulling his options over. Maybe, he could stall him? Keep him talking long enough that Star could find him- maybe with the all seeing eye…"So what's your problem, then?" He asked.

"My problem, Marco Diaz, is you."

That caught Marco by surprise "Me?"

"Yes, now hush. Do you think I'm daft? I know there's only a minute or so left until Star uses that scrying spell to try to find you. I'm going to deal with you before that happens, and you aren't going to be able to distract me."

Deal with me? "Are you going to kill me?"

"Of course not! Well, not directly. That sort of thing leaves a permanent mark. It's one that could only be discovered through dark magic, but most futures from this point have Star delving deeply into dark magics, resulting in her uncovering the truth and exacting her revenge upon me." Omnitraxus explained all of this matter-of-factly, as if he were solving a math problem.

Marco was reeling. Not directly? Star, going dark? If he wasn't bluffing, it almost seemed like Omnitraxus could see everything coming. What chance did they have against that?

"So no, I won't be killing you. I'll be sending you to a parallel timeline where you'll meet a gruesome fate post-haste. Ah, that's the one!"

At the being's exclamation, Marco found himself being shoved into Omnitraxus' chest, and was confronted by a dazzling array of crystals- each with snippets of different worlds reflected in them. He'd heard Star's story about meeting Omnitraxus Prime, but her words honestly did not do the experience justice.

Omnitraxus led him deeper and deeper into the field of crystals, until Marco was faced with one that was fractured and laced with tendrils of blackness.

That doesn't look good.

"Well Marco, I congratulate you on being such a thorn in my side, but now it's time for you to go." Omnitraxus said, before flinging Marco at the crystal. Marco bit back a scream as his body collided with the crystal and felt… nothing. Instead, he passed seamlessly through the barrier, his vision blurring and morphing in ways that hurt his brain as he did so. Moments later, reality reasserted itself and Marco tumbled once again to the ground.

Quickly, he righted himself. Wherever he was, it was supposed to kill him, so he needed to keep an eye out for threats. Frankly though, there wasn't much to see. He was alone on a craggy outcropping of a barren mountainside. Alone that is, except for one figure who appeared chained up not far away.

He cautiously approached it, and felt his heart drop when he recognized who it was.

"Star!" He called, breaking into a run. His heart clenched at the sight of her. She looked terrible. Her skin was bone white, and marred by black energy running through her veins. Her cheek marks were broken, cracked right down the middle. He would have mistaken her for dead if her eyes hadn't flickered toward him- and broadcast such a whirlwind of emotions- grief, hope, disbelief, and resignation. Oh Star, what's happened to you?

He skidded to a halt beside her, and used his scissor blades to slice through the chains binding her to the mountainside, but Star merely slumped over. "Marco." She moaned "I guess I really am losing it? Is this it? Is it over?"

"Star, it's okay. I'm here now." Marco soothed, enfolding her in a tender hug.

"But you can't be." She babbled. "You're dead. Does this means, I'm dead too?"

Oh Star. His heart cried out. He'd died in this world already, leaving her behind to suffer. Not anymore. He was here now, and he was going to take care of her.

"It's a long story… I'm from a parallel timeline. Omnitraxus from my world sent me here to… well he sent me here, so I'm real, and alive."

Star let out a hiccoughing sob. "You're real?"

"I promise."

"Oh Marco." She wept, her arms wrapped around his body weakly. "I- I- I missed you." Marco didn't know how to respond expect to pull her closer. "E-everyone's dead. You were one of the last people left, but then T-toffee… he got you too! He- he…"

Toffee? Marco felt a chill go through his heart. "I'm so sorry Star." He murmured "I'm sure I tried my best to stay with you."

"You did. You were wonderful. It's my fault for dragging you into this. I-if you'd just stayed on Earth you'd be-"

"Nothing. Nothing but 'the safe kid' until the day I died. You have no idea how wonderful you made my life. I guarantee you Star, I didn't regret going with you. I don't regret a thing." Marco insisted, pulling back so he could look into her eyes and she could see his sincerity.

Star's eyes roamed his face hungrily, drinking him in. "Marco… I regret some things." She confessed.

"Star…"

"Please, let me do this. I don't have long- not with Toffee's magic in me." She insisted. Mustering her strength, she tried to pull her head up, but failed.

"What is it, Star?" Marco said, tenderly cupping her cheek in his hand.

"I love you." She admitted, tears spilling over her cheeks "I love you, and I never got to say it. You never knew."

"I love you too." Marco returned, his heart clenching bittersweetly at the admission "I love you so much, Star."

"Kiss me." She entreated, and Marco realized that was what she'd been trying to do moments ago. Wordlessly, he leaned down, cradling her head in his hands, and pressed his lips gently to hers. Star's eyes fluttered shut as their lips met, and her mouth curved into a soft smile as he pulled back. He noticed in amazement that her cheek marks were healing, the cracks being filled in once again.

"Star, your cheek marks, they're healing." Marco told her, to no response. "Star?" He asked, laying a hand back to her cheek again.

Marco felt a deep chill settle in his heart, but he couldn't, didn't dare acknowledge why it was there. "Star!" He barked, shaking her roughly. "Star!" He repeated, his voice breaking.

Nonononono. "STAR!"

No.

"Please Star. Please. I can't… I can't…" I can't lose you. I can't do this without you. I can't live in a world that doesn't have you in it. "Please. Stay."

Star didn't respond. She just lay there in his arms, still, lifeless, dead.

Marco had no more words, just a soul wrenching sob as he hugged Star's lifeless body to him. She was dead. His best friend. The woman he loved. His soulmate. He thought he knew what pain felt like when he was living with his unrequited crush, and when he broke things off with Star, but that was nothing, nothing compared to this.

Star was so vibrant and wonderful, knowing that her light had been snuffed out, it was beyond agony. Maybe this dimension hadn't killed him yet, but it certainly made him want to die.

"Well, I'll admit, I wasn't expecting this."

Marco froze, grief dispelled momentarily in favor of white hot rage. He set Star's body down, and rose to meet him. Toffee.

A/N: I'm aware that I haven't really explained Omnitraxus' motivation, that'll be next time. Kudos for everyone who called Omnitraus! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter.