Rifts

Part 12~Hooligans

Guards surrounded the temple, closing off all the entrances. Rhombulous glared at Star, a disapproving expression on his crystal. "You are in a world of trouble, young lady."

"Look, it was just a party, okay? We weren't doing anything wrong."

"Oh, really? Then what was that huge surge of magic we detected in the dungeon earlier?"

"That was Mina! She attacked us! Have you even found my friends yet?!"

"Of course we have. They're all over there." Rhombulous waved vaguely at the other princess and princesses, wrapped in blankets and being given hot chocolate.

"Not those ones. Tom, Marco and Solar! They were still in the basement when the ceiling collapsed!"

"Don't worry about that, princess. Marco is a trained professional, he would have gotten out alive, and you're just trying to distract me!"

Star groaned, slapping her forehead.

"Do you have any idea what this place is?"

"A fun place to throw parties?"

"It's not just a fun place to throw parties. Well, I'm not even authorised to tell you what it is. That's how bad it is." Rhombulous held out a hand which blew a raspberry at Star, who looked done.

"You don't know what it is, do you?"

"What? No, I totally know what it is. It's-" Rhombulous couldn't spew all the secrets before his hand interrupted him. "I don't have time for this. You stay here. I got a crime scene to deal with." He stormed away, crystalising the car in his path.

Star sighed, a worried expression on her face. "Moc!" Jumping up, Star rushed over to her friend.

"Woah, Woah, princess. Be careful with this lot." The guard stopped Star from getting any closer, making Star gape.

"What are you talking about? What do you think you're doing?"

"We found these hooligans loitering outside the temple. I need to take them in for processing."

Star's expression soured. "Oh really? Then why don't you process those hooligans?" When the guard couldn't produce an answer, Star glared at her. "Let them go!"

"Yes, your Highness." The guards rushed away as Moc smirked.

"Nice job, princess." They nudged Star's side, pressing their helmet as it returned to being a crown.

Star sighed, approaching the other monsters. "I am so sorry this happened to you guys." The monsters didn't seem to care, too used to this treatment. She tried to make them stay, but it was too late.

"Hey, chin up, I'm still here, and the boys must be somewhere."

Star forced a smile to her face as she turned to Moc. "Moc... I need to know what happened to Marco while he was gone. Why could he make clones of himself, and what was that blade?"

"His 50/50 dimensional blade?"

"Yeah. And why was Solar so shocked down there? Who are Niki and Ace? Where are the boys?!"

Moc paused, sighing as she grabbed Star. "If you want the truth, there is only one place we can go." Moc pulled out a pair of scissors Star had never seen before. It was a mix of green and yellow, with little holes throughout the blade like it had been nibbled out. Moc cut through the fabric of the universe, leading Star through.

~~~

Tom paced nervously, chewing his nails.

"Will you chill out? They'll be fine." Hekapoo barely glanced up from her book as Tom glared at her.

"I'm sorry for caring about them! Marco was bleeding out! He almost died!"

"You don't think I care?!" Hekapoo took in a deep breath, calming herself down. "Listen, Marco has gotten into scapes like this before, but he always pulls throw. He'll be okay."

Tom relented, collapsing into his chair. "I suppose, but I don't know what's going on."

"That's fair. Most people don't know everything Marco and Solar have gone through. Heck, I don't even know the half of it. They keep their secrets close to their chest, so don't feel bad for not knowing something about them."

Tom smiled, scooching closer to Solar's side. He brushed his fingers along his fur. "I would like to know, though."

Hekapoo hesitated before she got up. "Fine." She reached into her cupboard, pulling out little glass vials.

"What's that?"

"Smelling salts. Time for these boys to wake up." She passed the salts under Solar and Marco's nose, startling them both awake. "Get up. Tom wants to find out your secrets."

Tom blinked as Marco and Solar turned to stare at him. "If you want to, that is, and I didn't mean straight after they just woke up."

Marco chuckled, stretching out. "Don't worry about it. You got me out of talking to the alicorn."

Tom was about to question it when Solar jumped up, patting Tom's shoulder. "I think we owe you an explanation anyway. Especially after all-" he paused, showing off his arms- "happened. But if we're going to give you the proper explanation, there is only one place we can."

Marco nodded, opening a portal as they led Tom through it.

"The orphanage," Solar and Moc announced at once, spotting each other from across the room.

"Boys!" Star tackled them into a hug, smiling brightly. "I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried."

The group smiled, sitting up as they looked around the town. It was mostly deserted, with only a few villagers around.

"Well, Star," Moc began, walking to the ran-down old building. "This is where our story started over 16 years ago in Mewni's time. Like many who begin their story here, it starts with a small basket and a crying child. A child abandoned by their family. That child is none other than our Solar Mothin. Three things were found with him, two dolls and one letter.

'Dear Hindahill orphanage,

Please accept this child, for I cannot. He may not come from Mewni, but he cannot stay with me. Teach him to be the perfect Mewman and live the perfect life.'

It was left unsigned." Moc paused as Solar rubbed his arm. Marco instantly wrapped an arm around him, letting him lean in for comfort. "Upon looking at the child, the orphanage discovered many things. Firstly, his fur. His tail and his glowing cheeks of pure sun. Hence why, as they took him in, he was named Solar. But this was only the beginning for our poor dear outcast child in the tales of the orphanage."