Hello everyone! Just about a good week since the last chapter but this took a while to write. Longer but stronger content but slower upload speeds. Hope you understand the weekly updates :). But yeah, this chapter is one I'm very proud of. Huge thanks go out to user Kuriyan BBQ who not only read through this entire chapter but gave valued feedback on it to before publishing it now. Thanks go out to two friends of mine; Meep and FrostyHawk. You guys gave good private feedback on this chapter mid-production, so thank you so much.

Now, enjoy the chapter! Review round-ups are coming up at the chapter's end.

*Highly Encourage you play this track during this scene - (YouTube: watch?v=-4zdhA3rawA)*

The purple and black skies of the Void were unleashing a small rainstorm, blue rain gently crashing against the ground. Odd plant life slowly came alive, taking in the nourishing liquid while the various inhabitants of the land went toward their shelters. Near a small pile of rainbow flowers and roses was a blond haired girl. Her heart marks glowed vividly, making a small humming sound.

Wildlife slowly moved toward her sleeping figure, one squirrel/bird hybrid touching her white-heeled boots. The girl twitched in response, making the creature scurry off in panic. Other creatures looked in wonder, seeing the girls figure slowly open her eyes. Bright blue eyes watched the rain-soaked landscape, slowly getting up. Rubbing her head, she looked toward the small cat/lizard hybrid. Its face looked demented but it had kind yellow eyes. The creature moved toward the girl, rubbing against her body. Smiling, the girl pets its scaly back. The cat/lizard creature purred loudly, letting out a small meow.

The other animals crawled forward, sitting down next to the blond girl. She smiled at them all, feeling a sense of peace. Closing her eyes, she felt her inner magic get stronger, creating a small purple dome blocking the rainfall. With the cat/lizard creature now sitting in her lap, it curled into a small ball, closing its eyes. Now, wide awake, the girl studied her surroundings. Rubbing her chin, she noticed the odd purple hue coating the sky, not unlike the blue skies from where she was before.

Thinking about getting up, she frowned, not wanting to wake up the cat. "Little one…I'm sorry but I need to figure out what's going on." She gently picked the creature up, kissed its forehead and placed it on a nearby pile of leaves. It nuzzled into the red and green leaves contently with other creatures surrounding the being. She looked to her right, seeing a small pond. Leaning forward, she gasped, seeing her very reflection.

Bright blue eyes were surrounded by a ghastly white completion. Trickles of blood came down her head, originating from concealed scars. Her lips oddly enough were bright red, as if she put lipstick on. Hands were covered with black gloves, her body coated with a light purple dress gown. Her hair was hanging down, but it was disheveled as if escaping something horrific. "Why do I…"

"Because that's what your heart feels sweetie." The girl turned around, seeing a slightly older woman. She had poufy green hair, wearing a stylish black hat covering it. Her face looked kind, her cheek marks being very noticeable. The girl slowly walked toward the woman, feeling her legs lock up. "You can calm down Star, I'm here to explain things."

"Okay, Grandma," Star answered back, sitting down next to the woman. She gently brushed Star's hair, her touch soothing the troubled girl. "Eclipsa…what happened? I remember going to school with Marco and…"

"You…" She took a deep breath before continuing. "You used one of my most powerful spells, sweetie. It was something I only used for my most hated foes. Sure beats that spell I gave to a foolish queen one time." Eclipsa giggled as Star raised an eyebrow. "Oh posh, nothing to worry about. But why you are here…to be frank confuses me. Part of you is still on Earth…well, most of you are. Your heart is so fractured my little Starlight." She hugged Star, feeling tears come down her face. "I wish I could do more than being here right now…" Star patted Eclipsa's back, feeling safe within her arms. "But listen to me; you must prevent that demon boy from escaping this place."

"Demon boy…" Letting go, Star tapped her chin. But she soon stood up, covering her face in horror. "No…nonono… I…I killed Tom. I can't let him control me again! I'm not going to be someone's slave! NO!" Star held out her hands, unleashing a wave of golden light at a wall. The creatures that were sleeping darted awake, running off. "What the…"

"Mmm…magic without the wand? Impressive." Eclipsa stood up, placing a hand on Star's shoulder. "The 'you' that is here right now…is the one that faced the worst of everything. Our minds are funny little things, always trying to block out the pain." She made a somber frown, which Star looked away from. "You…never embraced the pain you felt, have you?"

"N…No. I haven't." Star admitted, letting her hands hang down. "I…I was trying to move on. I felt safe with Marco. But now I'm here… Wait…" Star felt her eyes shine brightly. "I get it, I'm part of 'me', while the other 'me' is on Earth, finally being happy. In order to be back… I need to kill Tom here, correct grandma?" Eclipsa smirked proudly, ruffling Star's blond hair.

"Yes, that is correct my little one." Eclipsa folded her arms, looking toward the sky. "I have something for you." She passed Star her umbrella, its tip glowing brightly. "This is my wand. While I'm…well, in the 'grandma farm', the wand has versions of Mewni's queens inside it." Star tightly held the wand, it glowed brightly. What was left, was nothing. Star looked at her right hand, seeing a glowing crescent mark on her palm. "My magic, my spells…they are in you now Star."

"But what about the other 'me' on Earth? Is she going to be safe? I…" Star clenched her firsts, feeling them nearly burst with magic. "I saw everything. Saint O's. The chains. The torture. I…I don't want us to suffer again." Eclipsa kneeled down, placing her hands on Star's shoulders.

"Butterflies are free spirits, destined to fly in the great skies around us. It's ironic, with our 'destiny' being to rule some stupid kingdom that doesn't really care about us. But our namesake defines the queen's soul. How much we embrace our true nature, determines the person we become. Remember what history said about me?" Star spat on the ground, feeling annoyed.

"Yeah, said you were a 'horrible person' for running away with a monster and trying to make a kingdom for them." Star threw her hands in the air. "But you just wanted to be happy! But noooo, people refused to understand. I mean, I was a bit confused growing up." Star clenched her fists, letting dark memories dance in her mind. "After everything, those fuckers put me through though? I don't care about the kingdom." She turned around, facing Eclipsa with a determined grin. "I will make my own path. One that hopefully 'us' can be happy with."

Eclipsa closed her eyes, vanishing into the air. Looking toward the sky, she felt a red moon shining down. The light landed before Star, showing the image of Tom romancing the void, shivering from snow. Touching her head, she felt a sudden rush of information. Letting go, she smirked, walking toward the light. "Oh, Thomas…you are going to regret messing with me."

*Highly Encourage you play this track during this scene (YouTube: watch?v=lPUTddT8APc&t=875s)*

Making her way across the massive landscape, Star felt her body shiver from the harsh rain. Narrowing her eyes, she spotted a small house, one that seemed to be falling apart. Running toward it, she stopped. A familiar sensation came over her, warmth; one that made her skin crawl. Before she could shake off the feeling, the rainfall got heavier, its blue drops turning into black snow. Looking up into the sky, Star felt her blue eyes take in the odd sight in wonder.

Standing still, she just watched as the snow gently fell around her body. The ground, which was a mixture of purple and green hues, was slowly covered with the black snow. Star felt her blond hair gently blowing in the breeze, letting the dark warmth inside her linger. Closing her eyes, she focused on one person. The sensation of soft fabric covering her arms made her smile, covering her arms as if hugging herself. Opening her eyes, she saw a black and white hoodie coat her purple dress. Throwing up the white hood, she rushed toward the house.

"Uh…is anyone…" Star was going to knock, but the simple touch of the door made it fall down. "Ooookay then." Walking inside, she took in the little home's features: One floor, with a simple kitchen and couch. Rubbing her chin, Star walked toward the couch, poking it with her right hand. It felt rough, with some of its fabric ripped apart. Cracking her fingers and smirking, she blasted it with her magic. Golden and Pink light escaped her hands, restoring the couch's original state. Smirking at her victory, she sat down, gently bouncing up and down.

The silence in the house was haunting but soothing. She looked at the ground, noticing some blood stains coating the carpet. She sighed, getting out of the couch and focusing on cleaning objects. A simple pink mop appeared within her hands and she cleaned the small little home. After a good five minutes, Star wiped her head, smiling at the lemony scent coating the air. Looking at the home's entrance, the cold winds were blowing. Shivering from the cold, Star walked slowly toward it, picking up the fallen door and trying to fix it up. It finally closed, protecting the little location from harsh winds.

Sitting back down on the couch, she looked out the window. She could hear the harsh winds slamming against the creaking wood holding the house together. Gently laying her head on a small pillow, she locked her blue eyes on the window. The black snow danced in the air, like a perfect pair of lovers. Star closed her eyes, imagining dancing with Marco at the dance again. Swaying to the music, she remembered his fast heartbeat, his worried touch, kind hands holding her back. A small tear crept down her glowing heart mark, joining a small smile. Star glowed dimly, a golden light covering her body. The light vanished, leaving heavy blanket having hearts and yin-yang signs coating her slightly shivering body.

"I…I will see you soon, Marco. I love you." She kissed the pillow and entered the realm of dreams, having pleasant memories.

"Hey Princess, get a good sleep?" A kind but a familiar voice whispered. Star slowly opened her eyes, looking blankly at a figure sitting on the couch. "You shouldn't be sleeping like that. People in the void might want to harm you." She sat upright, rubbing her tired eyes. A dim orange light shined through the windows, exposing the black-covered landscape surrounding the house. "You know who I am?"

"Uh…you broke into my home and now you are asking if I know you?" Star asked with sass, making the hooded figure chuckle. He got up, stretching his back. Star was able to get a clearer vision of him. He was lanky in stature but his body coated in seemingly royal attire. The colors Star recognized immediately; the royal crimson color of the Underworld Kingdom. Star tightly clenched her hand, letting charge up with purple magic, but her eyes went wide; the figure despite having three eyes, had an eyepatch covering one of them. "You…aren't Tom?"

The figure took off his hood, showing his kind face. His two eyes were blue like Star's but had a fire to them. "Funny you mention him, I'm looking for my stupid brother too." Star slowly got out of the couch, tightly clenching her fists. "Look, I know what he did to you Princess and I have no idea how you got here."

"It's…a long story," Star said bluntly. The boy before her rubbed his chin, narrowing his eyes. Seeing Star's iron-locked orbs, he shrugged his shoulders. "I need to kill him. He… He hurt me. I want my revenge." The figure before her laughed loudly, slapping his black combat pants. "What? Think I can't fight bub?"

"No, not that." He wiped a tear away. "I just need him back. Dead or alive, doesn't matter." Star and the figure had blank expressions, both trying to read each other intently. Silence lingered in the air for moments, but Star and the figure exchanged a single thought. Star held out her hand, which the figure took willingly. "Name's Dante Lucitor, older brother of Tom."

"You know me I guess but name's Star." She shook his hand, feeling a sense of warmth radiating off it. "Hot to the touch, huh?" Dante snickered, walking into the kitchen. Star followed, noticing food sitting on a neatly organized table. "What's this? I can cook for myself."

Dante pulled out Star's seat, which she sat down with a raised eyebrow. "I figured, my brother, did all those…" He shook his head, giving a weak smile. "I'm going to make up for his actions. We are partners in hunting the jerk down. Eat up, I know where he's going next." Star looked at her silver plate, noticing cooked meat and red eggs laying upon it. Taking her wooden spoon, Star took a bite and smiled at its tangy taste.

"Thank you," Star said in a muffled tone, munching the food rapidly. Dante smiled, eating his own food slowly. His eyes were locked on Star, feeling a burning sense of guilt gnawing at his insides. Her pleased smile, bright blue eyes, semi-glowing heart marks; Dante felt rage bubble up. Closing his eyes, he focused on water, soothing, dripping water, coming down from the Void's dark skies. Feeling his nerves at peace, he continued eating. Star looked up at her now finished plate, studying Dante. "I never really met you before… What's your deal?"

He put down his fork, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Well… I'm a famous adventurer of the void after being trapped here for a long time." Star looked at him expectantly, earning a light chuckle from Dante. "No, I didn't slay any demons…that's just silly. Though I do have my fair share of bounties." He got up, walking toward his hanging nap-sack. Star noticed him taking out a large map, placing it gently down upon the table. "I've visited many locations but one that I've had the most trouble conquering was this one." Star looked where he pointed, showing an image of a cave masking a large tower. "The void is filled with dungeons from the multiverse, leading to all kinds of rare loot being ripe for an adventurer's hands."

Star collected the plates, placing them in the sink. "So buster, you are a hero huh?" Dante nods proudly, making a pose. Star rolled her eyes and place hands upon hips. "Well listen here. I'm no damsel and I can do… A lot of my magic." She held out her right palm, making it unleash small sparks of golden, pink and purple. Dante folded his arms, leaning on the white walls.

"I know that. Women aren't objects, they are people." Dante said seriously, taking Star off guard. He bitterly laughed, closing his two working eyes. "My brother didn't get that memo, thinking his status as a prince allowed him to take any girl of his desires. I left my kingdom the moment they tried to force me into using that stupid headband on a poor soul." Star felt her legs shake at the mere mention of the headband. "The jerk didn't tell you? The headband is a proud symbol of the underworld. We must put it on our 'mates' after connecting with them. It's…very barbaric. I'm… I'm sorry you suffered Star."

Star looked at her white boots, hugging herself within the black & white hoodie she was wearing. "It's… I'm okay. My goal is to end Tom and I can go home. Back to Marco… I will be happy." Dante gave a sly smile, walking closer to Star. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he gave it a firm squeeze.

"Tell me this. Is Marco a better mate?" Dante asks, with Star nodding. "Good. You have something to fight for." He walked toward the living room, a relieved smile growing across his pale face. Star followed him, folding up the map and grabbing his backpack. Tossing it toward Dante, he caught it easily. Blinking a few times at Star, he noticed her grinning. The look in her eyes made his own shine. "You want to raid a dungeon, don't you?"

"I'm not expecting to find Tom for a while and…" She tapped her chin, thinking of an idea. "…I want to collect some things for Marco." Dante nodded in understanding. He kneeled down and dug through his backpack. Finding a small sword, he tossed it toward Star. "I have my magic… So I don't need this little…dagger thingy."

"Just charge your magic into it," Dante suggested. Star tightly held the small blade with both hands. It soon expanded into a larger sword, having a lightweight and its metal coated darkish purple. "It's something I first found here. Very useful and hard to break." Star tightly held the blade, soon morphing back into a dagger. Putting it away in her star-purse, she looked at Dante thankfully.

"So, partner, ready to bust some heads and explore this joint?" Star said confidently. Dante grinned, walking toward the door and throwing his backpack on. Opening it, Star and Dante left, getting ready to explore the large void together.

"AAAAAHHHH!" Star shouted as she blasted a mutant-dog creature with golden light. The creature stumbled back, it's yellow fur getting burnt. Growing from anger, it grew ten-feet in size and charged into Star. She smirked teasingly, holding out her palms. A purple dome surrounded her, sending the creature bouncing back. "Okay, you can do your thing now Dante." He threw up his hood, hiding a joyful grin. Charging fire magic into his spiked sneakers, he leaped up in the air, spinning around a large sword. He dived right into the creatures head, sprouting green blood from its head. Hissing from the pain, the creature ran off, darting back into a hidden cave. Star folded her arms in annoyance, feeling her stomach growl.

"I heard that Star; seems your gut isn't happy with our loss," Star smirked, giving a playful jab at Dante's arm. The two have been adventuring together for seemingly days, weeks or months. Dante explained that time runs 'differently' in the Void. Star didn't mind it much at all; she was actually quite happy. During the night, she imagines her 'other self' having fun with Marco but during the day, she goes on adventures with Dante across the void.

Dante shared Star's smirk, for very similar reasons. 'It finally feels nice making a real friend in this dump. But we have…' He looked at his wrist, blinking rapidly. "I think our targets are on the move. Feel strong enough to fly?" Star sighed, focusing her magic. Wearing a pink and purple combat tunic, she makes slits in the back to let her growing wings breathe. Her black and red wings tinged gold, growing twice in size. Springing up into the air, Dante focused his own magic. Hovering next to Star, the duo flew across the Void, following their targets. Star's eyes were focused and ready, tightly holding the dagger-sword within her right hand. Dante studied Star, noticing her nearly bloodthirsty expression. Finding their targets, he grabbed Star's arm and guided her behind a rock.

They took deep breaths, relaxing their inner magic and studied the two beings near them. One wore a simple brown jacket, letting his robotic arm and two swords on a black belt. The other figure was Tom, having to wear a silver gauntlet and tightly holding his gun-blade. Daylight shined down on Leb and Tom, both holding their arms up to cover the burning light. As Dante intently studied the walking duo, he had a thought. "Star? I never asked you about this…but where were you last night?"

Star nervously rubbed her arm. "Something…told me to follow Tom." Dante gave a nasty glare at Star, nearly burning her skull from his piercing gaze. "Oh knock it off! I can fight him, remember?" He kept his gaze, though it gradually got softer as Star's worried eyes calmed his soul. "But… The Blood Moon talked to me again."

"Oh…" Dante commented. He and Star were dead silent, trying to look away from each other. "So, what did it tell you?" His voice was slightly strained, but Star was too busy looking at her right hand to notice.

"That I'm bound to Marco now." Star gave a small smile, letting out a girlish giggle. "Can't believe how that happened…the other 'me' stabbed herself and odd strings busted out of her. Marco tried to help and… I guess we are bound to each other now. I love him, so I'm really happy about this." Dante sighed in relief, nervously laughing. "What did you think happened?"

"Something about my brother using the bond to hurt you." Star bit her lip, looking back at Tom and Leb. The two were leaning on a rock of their own, talking about something in front of a large cave. "But if you're bound to Marco, it's nothing but good news. Feel stronger?"

"Yeah, actually," Star answered, folding her arms. "I don't remember much, but a red light shined down on my bed back at base and I 'followed' it. The light lead to a camp and I blacked out." Star patted her head, trying to remember her fuzzy memories. "I think I told Tom off or something but that's it. I think at least…"

Dante rubbed his chin, going into deep thought. 'The moon…' He snapped his fingers. 'Of course, I get it now.' He smirked, lightly punching Star's arm. "Well, let's use that power boost of yours to take Tom out before…" The duo jumped at a loud noise. Looking back at Tom and Leb, the duo walked into the cave. "How did that happen?! You need keys to open the door and we got all three of them!"

Star walked away from the rock, with Dante holding his arm out. Star didn't turn around, locking her blue eyes on the entrance of the cave. "We finally have our shot. Ready?" Her voice was cold, menacing and scary. Dante said nothing, throwing up his hood and following her. They held out their keys, making the hidden doorway open up. Looking at each other, both gave a focused expression. Readying their weapons and gear, Star and Dante headed inside.

Inside the cave, it was dank and quiet. The sounds of light winds echoed through the cave, unnerving Tom slightly. Leb tapped something in his robotic arm, showing a hologram of a map. It was blank, only show blinking dots. "Mmm… Seems like I couldn't get a good read on this place."

Tom rubbed his forehead in slight annoyance. "What about that chip we spent two days hunting down? It was supposed to be a map…the thing, you put in that arm of yours." Leb chuckled, folding his arms together. "It wasn't a map, was it?" Leb playfully wagged his finger, making Tom growl in anger.

"Be careful, might burn down the cave if you keep it up." He started walking but stopped, having a mock shocked expression. "Oh right! Demon boy lost his magic to the princess. Shame, but hey, not like you need the magic or anything." Tom's right eye twitched, marching toward Leb and jabbing at his chest.

"Look, ever since last night, you've been a prick toward me. What is your deal?" Leb stopped walking, turning toward Tom with his robotic eye glowing vividly. It was bright red, looking right into Tom's soul. "Don't tell me… You want to hurt her too!"

"Hunting something is fun." He took out one of his two swords, spinning it around skillfully. "The fear a prey has is… Fun to track down. It's like you can feel the respect they have for you, even if they are horrified." He stopped spinning the blade, pointing it right at Tom's neck. "But I felt something different from that girl. She was scared and has no respect for you. It's just pure fear. See, I like a good hunt and I'm down for helping you, truly." He put the sword down, having an annoyed expression. "But how you accomplished your hunt isn't my style. I do things my way, so respect that kiddo."

Tom marched off, tightly holding his blade in pure rage. Leb put his own weapons away, throwing up his brown hood and continuing the walk. The silence was in the cave but born from anger and tension. The duo of Tom and Leb made their way through the cave, seeing a bright light at its end. Tom rushed ahead, Leb causally strolling behind. They felt their vision get cloudy before light dissipated.

Before them, was their destination; the Dungeon of Rings. The first floor they were on mirrored a fancy castle, with many rooms seemingly open to them. A clear second floor was above them but a ladder out of reach to access it. Leb held out his robotic palm, scanning the area. It marked many key points but he felt his body freeze upon feeling two specific objects. Tom was busy walking around in awe, trying to figure out to get the ladder down. He aimed his gun-blade, pressing the trigger. A small bullet released from the blade's tip, sending the ladder crashing down. Folding his arms smugly, he started climbing it. "Hey, Leb! I'm going to explore the second floor. Got our talkies ready?"

Leb snapped out of his thoughts, taking his black walkie-talkie out. "Yeah, I got mine. Be careful here… The dungeon is supposedly 'dangerous' or something." He scoffed at the idea, Tom mirroring his chuckle. "Yeah, we explored some tricky buggers before."

"Gotta ya. Be careful too. Get the feeling…" Tom tapped his chin before shaking the thought away. "See you soon." He ran off, Leb rubbing his chin in thought. Looking at his radar, he picked up another demon and a Mewman. Sitting down on a nearby broken pillar, he tapped his arm frantically, trying to figure something out. The image showed the fuzzy faces of a very familiar demon and the Mewman Princess.

"Well, this hunt sure got interesting." He stood up and walked toward the nearest doorway. Passing through it, he saw a very strange site. It was a two-floored room, having white plant life covering various pillars. In the center of the room was a small wheel, handles rusty and badly covered up with nails. Toward Leb's right, he noticed a small pillar, having a blue flame keeping it lit. Spotting an open door above him, Leb cracked his fingers and smirked. "Ah, love me a good puzzle."

Walking toward the wheel, he gave it a hard kick. The wheel spun very quickly, sending a small ladder down. Wiping his hands smugly, he started walking toward the ladder but felt a dark presence in the room. Three shadow creatures, each having bright white eyes studied Leb, not moving a single inch. "Shadow Buggers, huh? Haven't hunted you fellas in ages." Taking out his two swords, he charged into the first one, slashing it clean in half. The other two hissed in rage, jumping toward one another. A semi-large mass was now in their place, having large clawed hands. Leb rolled out of a clawed strike, firing a few dark magic shots from his arm. They just went through the creature like nothing, jumping toward Leb ready to strike. Tightly holding one of the swords with his robot arm, the blade glowed a vivid white. Closing his eyes, he made a clean swipe right when the creature was inches away. Opening them, nothing was before Leb. Only a pile of black goop remained. "Always annoying ones… Never leave anything good behind."

Putting his blades away, he climbed up the ladder and was going to enter the open doorway. "Where are you going?" Leb felt his eyes grow wide, sharply turning around. It was a woman, his height, waving hello. "I remember when we raided things together." He held his robotic palm over the woman before him.

"Is it her?" He said in a whisper, lacking the confident bravado from before. No beeping or anything emitted from his arm. "You…you are just another vision. Go away." The figure giggled before vanishing in a puff of smoke. Falling to his knees, Leb studied shaking hands. "No… I won't let this get to me. Not like before." Standing up, he grinned once more, walking into the open doorway.

"Of course, this room is made of fire… Why wouldn't it be?" Tom sarcastically joked, seeing small fireballs coming out of the ground beneath him. The room he was exploring had fireballs coming out of the walls and tiles, matching the crimson-colored ceiling. He sighed, holding out his right hand. "Maybe I could…" A small spark of fire escaped his hand, moving away from the hot fumes back. Tom was pushed back though, gritting his teeth in annoyance. "Magic isn't working still thanks to her." Tom touched his gauntlet, feeling it glow a light blue.

A white haze slowly covered the room, making the fireballs turn into snowy chunks. Tom folded his arms smugly, walking through the now frost covered hallway. Clenching his gauntlet-covered hand, he smirked at the device. "Glad the hunt for this thing was worthwhile. Though not sure how to use the fire and dark magic elements." Looking toward the doorway, he groaned in annoyance. It was covered in ice, the very ice he created. "Lovely…" He clenched his gauntlet-fist and punched the doorway, but it wouldn't budge.

To his right, was a small airway, letting out wind shot through the upper floors. Tom rubbed his chin, jumping toward the current. Being sent up into the air, he landed gracefully on the upper platform. "Yes! I beat you, room." He took out a map from his pocket, frowning harshly. "Now I have five more to get through." Shoving the map into his pocket, he looked toward his left. He was shocked at the sight, seeing Star having wide eyes.

"Oh boy." Star and Tom uttered, glaring at each other harshly. Star tightly clenched her fists, purple magic surrounding them. She blasted Tom on the spot, but he blocked it with a small shield of ice. Rushing toward Tom, she took out her dagger-sword, using its enchanted power to slice through the shield.

Tom jumped back, focusing on the ground. Ice slowly escaped his hand, coating the ground Star was standing on. She leaped into the air, focusing on her back. Large wings sprouted out, avoiding the attack. Star looked at Tom, seeing his iron-focus gaze. "Why are you hurting me?"

"What?" He nearly screamed, letting down his guard. Star slowly hovered down, folding her arms and glaring coldly at him. She was holding back a bitter laugh, remaining silent. "You hurt me Starship!" His three eyes glowed red, the cuffs around his wrists preventing the fire from escaping his enraged form. The room slowly melted, the snow covered ground turning into slushy water thanks to Tom's heated rage. "After you escaped, my father had to leave the kingdom! I was forced to rule it and…" He punched the ground, feeling his anger reach a boiling point. "I loved you and you left me!"

Star remained her ice-cold glare, letting her arms fall to her sides. "Well, I loved you too. But that wasn't enough, was it?" Tom felt his rage seep away, calming down at her blunt words. "We had fun together for a few months, actually being friends. But you had put that cursed headband on, didn't you? Just because I wasn't a perfect little princess, you had to control me." She slowly marched forward, balling her enraged fists. "All my life, people tried to control me. My mother, that school. And you, my friend. My lover." She was now inches away from Tom's face. Bitter tears came down Star's face before a loud smack was echoed across the room.

Tom touched his cheek, feeling a bright red spot form upon his face. He looked at Star, slowly walking off. "I only did that because I had to." Star laughed bitterly, stopping in place. "You don't get it. That's part of…"

"Underworld traditions, enslaving your lovers so they won't leave you. I know." She turned around, her blue eyes glowing a dark shade of purple. "A friend of yours told me. We will fight soon. Be ready, I won't show mercy." Tom stayed in place, watching Star leave the room.

He touched his eyes, feeling tears come down them. Closing them, he let some happy memories with Star play on loop, ending with a very familiar memory. Their first and last fight. The sounds of gusting winds snapped him out of his thoughts. Picking up his gun-blade and fixing the gauntlet, he left the room.

Walking through the second floor, Dante fixed his backpack after nearly losing it to acid in the last room he explored. "These dungeons get more and more nuts… Spent years in this stinking place and acid is the best they come up with?" He winced at some pains, looking at his slightly burned arm. Kneeling on the ground, he took out a green bottle, slugging it down. Wiping his mouth, he felt the wound's pain slowly seep away. A ringing was felt from his pocket, picking up his mirror phone. "Star? Where are you?"

"After encountering your brother, I found two of this joint's keys. Wonder what monster we are facing next." Dante looked at Star worriedly through the phone's mirror. "I'm… Not exactly okay but fine enough."

"If you say so. Going to meet up with you soon." Star raised her finger to ask a question. "I know how tracking works with these phones. I made them, remember?" Star pouted before ending the message. Dante lightly chuckled before putting the mirror phone away. Walking toward the floor's edge, he stopped in place. He spotted three figures walking toward the floor's center. Rushing towards it at blistering speeds, he stopped inches away from Star's face. She was going to say something but he slid before her, glaring darkly at the demon before him. "So… We meet, brother."

Tom felt his chest tighten, seeing his brother guarding Star like her knight in shining armor. "How… Mom said you vanished!" He readied his gun-blade, Tom glared back at his brother. "So, seems Starship found another boyfriend." Dante snickered at the comment.

"Wow, even after she kicked you to the curb, still jealous? She has a kind guy back at home waiting for her. Just… Lending a hand is all." He turned around, seeing Star smirk at him. They shared a silent message before Dante toward back at Tom. "For old time's sake brother, want to duke it out? I promise to not use magic."

"Gladly!" Tom charged into Dante, who slid to the side. Star sucker punched Tom, sending him flying back. Star ran off, heading to the center of the dungeon. Leb and Tom exchanged a quick nod, with him rushing after her. Dante and Tom were alone now, ready to fight. He jumped back, taking out a concealed sword. Charging into Tom, he blocked it with ease, swiping harshly.

Dante jumped to a pillar, holding it tightly. "Oh brother, you keep missing your strikes." He jumped to another one, with Tom missing another strike. "All this time in the void and you can't use a simple little sword?" Tom leaped into the air, trying to perform an aerial strike. Dante darkly grinned, punching Tom square in the face, sending him crashing into the ground. Landing right in front of him, a look of pure contempt was plastered across his face. "Such a damn failure, trying to take a woman but unable to fight like a man."

Tom rolled back, holding out his gauntlet. "Fine, not playing nice then." A storm of ice escaped from it, with Dante unable to avoid the attack. He was frozen in place, blinking his eyes comically. "Great mighty brother, now you are just a…" He tapped Dante, sending him falling to the floor. The ice shattered, freeing Dante. He groaned in pain, rubbing his forehead. "…failure to the kingdom."

Dante side-swept Tom, sending him falling to the ground. "No, just set you up for a good strike." Just as he was going to punch Tom, a girlish scream echoed from across the hall. Both brothers exchanged a look of understanding, dashing toward the sound's source.

"Come on you bugger, stay still!" Leb shouted, blasting dark magic from his palm. Star was flying in the air, rolling and spinning to avoid the strikes. Blasting gold magic from her hands, Leb simply swats it back with his blade. The blast hit Star, sending her falling to the ground. "Finally…" He pressed some buttons on his robotic arm, charging it with lighting. Sending it toward Star, she screamed in pain before huffing in exhaustion.

"You… Made a big mistake bub." Star grunted, picking herself up. Taking out her dagger sword, she charged forward, striking rapidly at Leb. He blocked every strike but a clever kick to the chest sent the warrior flying back. Jabbing one of his blades into the ground, Leb regained footing. "You know the story, why are you helping Tom?"

"His methods are…puzzling. I will admit that much, Estrella." Star froze in place, feeling some fear take over her. Leb smirked as he cracked his neck. "But your family took things from me. Shamed me. While working with that demon isn't the best… Hey, can't pick your partners, am I right?" Star tightly held her blade with two hands, awaiting another attack. Leb turned around, seeing Tom and Dante come into the room. "Ah, hello boys. I was going to catch a butterfly." He tossed three rings toward Tom. "I know you really want to do this, so have fun."

Star glared at the rings, feeling her blood turn cold. "No…" She walked back, legs starting to shake. "No…" Flashes of a dark dream played in her mind. "NO!" Dante rushed to Star's side, giving her a warm hug. "What are you…" He gently rubbed her back, holding back angered tears.

"I won't let that happen to you." He let go, turning around. "You are about to see a side of me… I keep hidden. Something very few people in the void seen before. Don't judge me, promise." Star nodded, not fully understanding. Dante closed his eyes, feeling a surge of dark magic dance inside him. His body burst into dark red flames, glaring at his bother violently. "Tom. Put those down."

Tom didn't budge, walking toward Dante. "I came too far for my prize. I won't lose now." He held out his gauntlet, shooting a stream of ice and fire at Dante. He was going to block the attack but the room remained silent.

Dante's eyes were wide at what he saw; Star kneeling on the ground in deep pain. Her entire arm was covered in frost, chest coated in scars. "No… Our fight… Happens soon, Thomas. Just me and you." She passed out, falling into Dante's arms. Dante glared at Tom, picking Star up gently.

"Put her down," Tom ordered, opening the largest ring. "She lost, so I won." Dante laughed coldly. Leb just folded his arms, leaning on the wall behind him.

"You think everything just comes to you, huh?" Dante's eyes were glowing, ready to kill at a moment's notice. "Just because you are a prince, doesn't mean the world comes to you." He charged his feet, fire sprouting from his body. "Your time's running out brother." Dante shot through the ceiling, seemingly flying off. Tom was going to give chase but Leb held up his hand.

"Partner… You got the tools." He pointed to the rings, getting off the wall. "Just gotta get out of here and find the real butterfly." Tom looked at the rings, tightly holding them victoriously.

*Highly Encourage you play this track here (YouTube: watch?v=dfHfR1jAzWQ*

Dante landed at his home, kicking the door down. Rushing upstairs, he placed Star down on a soft bed in his room, checking her temperature. "Please… Don't die on me now Princess." She took his hand, giving a weak smile. "Thank goodness you are okay."

"I'm not." She kept her smile, a lone tear coming down her face. "I had fun with you here man, really. Outside of Marco, you are the only good guy I know." Dante let a small laugh come out. Both grew silent, looking toward their window. It was raining, blue water crashing against the void's landscape. "It's like when I first got here. Rain hitting the ground, giving life. Funny how mine's being taken away now."

Dante passed a green bottle, but Star pushed it away. "What? You need this in order too…" Star forced herself to sit upright but fell back on the bed. Dante noticed her body faintly humming.

"I'm going back to my sister. She needs to be aware of Tom coming after us." She took Dante's hand, giving it a soft kiss. "Thank you for everything. I'm happy to have met you. Please, get out of here. Find Marco, use my power to beat that prick brother of yours into the ground." Letting go of Dante's hand, Star closed her blue eyes. He looked down, seeing a half-star crystal in his palm.

"Don't go. Please. I… I don't want to lose my friend." The silence was his response, with Star's body turning into purple and golden particles, dancing in the air. Tightly clenching the crystal, he punched the bed, crying softly. Only the sounds of crashing rain were heard from the house that night.

On Earth, Marco and Star were cuddling after an intense day. Both their eyes were closed, smiling contently. Within Star's mind, she was thinking happy thoughts, adventuring with an odd hero. But the dream vanished, leaving Star confused. "What? My dreams acting up again…" She walked through a dark hallway, seeing a lone chair. Sitting on it, was…herself. Holding in bitter tears and frowning harshly. "Who are you?"

The girl looked up, a smile coming across her face. "Finally, I meet you in person." She held out a purple glove-covered arm. "I'm you… Or, another version of you." Star shook the girl's hand, unsure where this is going. "Please, sit down." She waved her hand, making a chair appear beneath Star.

"So why are you here exactly? There can't be two versions of me running around. That's just…odd." The girl laughed, feeling some relief come over her. "But what do you need to tell me?"

"I will be blunt; Tom is coming to Earth and he knows how to control us again." Star stood out of her chair, her hands shaking violently. "I know, I'm pissed about that too. Just fought him before and…" A lone tear came down the girl's face. "I had to leave a friend behind."

Star felt the world crashing down, slowly sitting back down. "How do I fight him though?" The girl took Star's hand, closing her eyes. Both their marks glowed a vivid white, feeling a surge of power coursing through. Letting go, Star looked at her hands in complete shock. "This power, I feel so strong now."

"Tell Marco the truth." The girl hugged Star tightly, feeling herself slowly vanish. "He is needed to defeat Tom. Your friends are a great power." A bright light overtook Star, with one message ringing in her confused and scared mind.

Star, we aren't alone anymore.

Review Round-Up

Sussy - Thank you for the feedback! Jarco is a relationship I have issues within the canon show too personally, as they could do a lot more with it. But hey, that's what stories are for right :)? Happy I did a good job characterizing Jackie and giving Oskar time to shine. Both are characters I feel are underused in the show, so wanted to use them well here. Marco is in a tricky pickle in the show and I honestly doubt the writing team will deal with it without making a slight mess with things. We just have to see I suppose.

TheOneWhoSaysMeep - Hehe... You know it buddy ;).

Kuriyan BBQ - Giving everyone needed screen time is key; the story is about Marco and Star but how others interact with them is important as well. I honestly didn't intend for Star and Marco to be 'outshined' as it were, but glad that happened :). The other characters are very important to their development.

Anonymous. MISTER Anonymous - Yeah man! 50+ chapters is a lot and going to be a hoot writing this massive adventure. And Toffee will be used ALOT more as the story continues. Just... He needs the right moment, you know?

Oracle6044 - Star finally got some happiness with Marco and things are looking up for her. With this chapter though. Um... Mmm... You tell me if things are picking up for her still.

Bedrock Armor - Yes, that was a playful jab at me. Through weekly updates are going to happen, that's for sure. And Toffee is a good guy, that will be clear. But why is he good? You will see for sure :).

Momijifan Low-Ki - Thanks for the review man! Yeah, diving into a lot and doing that in this chapter too.

RobLebron - Thanks for the review :). Your character might deviate a lot based on your original plans honestly. But, I will use him right, as I grew attached to the guy. His swordplay is used a lot here and even if his role shifted from what you originally planned, he will be an important character. Hope you're cool with that.

JJmmmmmlol - Thank you for reading this story! I will respond back to your points in a PM later on but I really love your reviews. Thank you :).

Nina - That was the intention ;). Leave answers to questions, and more questions to answer. Hehe... But glad you are enjoying the story thus far.

8unicorns - I sent you a PM about your comment but Marco's backstory isn't fully delved into yet. He will get fleshed out a lot more but the focus is on Star for now.

Mario and BFDI Bros - You just entered the feels-fest. Get your tissue box and be ready for those tears to fall. I put my all into this project, so hope you can feel that as you read it :).

Magnet of Awkward - I sent you a PM about this but yes and no. Yes, because the strings were used in that story. No, because I'm not making them a massive plot point. You will see as things continue but everything I use is for good reason. Thank you for reading!

PureTrash202 - The story gets a whole lot darker from Chap. 1 onward, so hope you're ready for that. And Jarco happened and will be divided into. This is my take on Star Vs, so while I like all ships, this story is focused so much on Star and Marco's bond, I really didn't want to address the stupid love triangle the show is currently using. I'm... Not very fond of it personally, even if it's written well. But yes, Jarco will be explored via flashbacks.

your manDrake - Thank you yet again for an amazingly in-depth and massive review. Always love seeing them :D! But regarding your comments, Star trusting others and forming new bonds is very important. And Jessica is... Well, I'm not saying anything but ghosts are funny things. That's for sure.

MindCleaver27 - The bond with River and Toffee is one based on trust and friendship. How other pieces (Moon and Eclipsa) play into things will be explained later on for sure. And thank you for the kind words!

JoyArchive - Thank you yet again for a wonderful review round-up! Happy you are enjoying the story so much right now :). Hope I can keep getting those high marks on reviews!