Rifts

Part 29~The Orders

Star stormed into her room, groaning. Glossaryck screamed, running away as Star sat on her bed. "Mom! Your job is really hard! I need your help. I can't do this alone." Star sighed as Glossaryk jumped up, licking her hand. Star gasped, shooting up and picking Glossaryck up. "Glossaryck, what do I do?"

Glossaryk shifted his eyes, growing more distressed. "Globgor!"

Star screamed, throwing Glossaryk down and screaming into her pillow. Janna hesitated as she walked inside, jumping onto Star's bed. "So, the chefs are working on dinner, but they wanted to ask you about dessert."

Star shot up, pulling at her hair. "How am I suppose to delegate anything to these cornheads? Can't anybody here actually think for themselves without my mom around?" Star screamed as her door was pushed open again.

"Good day, acting Queen Butterfly!" Sir Lavabo pushed the rack of clothes inside as Star smiled.

"Finally, somebody gets it right."

"I have your laundry freshly pressed!"

"Thank you, just leave it on the thing."

"I've sorted it all from your favourite to least favourite colour and removed a couple stains I found. I also re-dyed a few items to better compliment your skin tone."

"Oh, thank you. That's actually really helpful."

"I also ironed your socks and re-hemmed your favourite dinosaur skirt."

"Wow, that's amazing."

"It seemed better to head off the problem before it got worse."

"Why didn't I see it before?! Lavabo, it's you!" Star grinned as the room grew confused. Star laughed, running forward and hugging Lavabo. "Steadfast Lavabo, dependable Lavabo! Sir Lavabo, I have a job for you."

Janna tilted her head in confusion. "What?!"

Sir Lavabo sighed, taking Star's hand. "My queen, it would be an honour to serve you in any way-" he couldn't finish when Janna pushed him out of the door.

"Can you give us just a second? Star?! What the heck?! You want to send him? That's the laundry guy."

"Do you have a better plan, Janna? Because I have been waiting to hear one all day!" Janna paused, tapping her chin.

"Send Marco."

"Marco? No offence, but it's gonna take more than a red belt to defeat Meteora."

Janna chuckled. "I think you forgot; Marco has years of experience fighting thousands of monsters and defending all those societies. And he trained under the magical high commission. He can take it."

Star hummed, "I'm not sure."

"Test him."

"What?"

"Test him! Test him!" Janna jumped up and down as Star sighed.

"Listen, even if Marco can take on my spells doesn't mean he can take on Meteora. I don't know if anyone can."

"You mom can. Isn't that what the creepy lady said? If the grandma hadn't interfered, your mom would have beaten Meteora. Marco doesn't have to stop her. He just needs to buy you time to find your mom and bring her back."

Star frowned before she smiled. "Okay. We gotta divide and conquer. Marco will keep Meteora from reaching the castle while I go find my mom."

"Great, you know how you're doing that?"

"My mom is stuck in the magic dimension. I gotta go there to find her."

"Is that wise? Last time you went there, you lost your mind, and Solar had to drag you out of there. Isn't it like... dangerous."

"I know, but I don't have a choice." Star took a deep breath, grabbing her wand. "First, let's test, Marco."

Janna smiled nervously, her expression faltering as she thought about the situation.

~~~

"Defend thyself!" Star screamed, bursting through the door. "Strawberry Shake Quake!"

Marco jumped back, swinging out his knives and cutting through the Strawberries. Marco stood up, looking confused. "Star? What was that?"

Janna snorted, pushing Star's shoulder. "Come on, Star, you've got better spells than that."

Star nodded, spinning as she screamed. "Narwhal Blast!"

Marco slid to the side, cutting a hole in the universe and sending the narwhals far away. "Alright, Star, my turn." Marco rushed forward, kicking the table up and throwing it at Star, who ducked.

She gasped as her horns fell to the floor. "Not cool!" Star stood up, spinning as she held her wand close. "Warnicorn Stampede!"

The warnicorns charged forward as Marco jumped up, digging his scissors into the wall and hanging there. Jumping off, Marco kicked the first in the face, knocking him to the ground before Marco landed on the other, grabbing his horn and flipping him, knocking the rest of the warnicorns down.

Star began to levitate. "Sparkle Kitten Firework Shower!"

Marco ran up the stairs, grabbing the mace as he jumped over the edge, spinning down softly and knocking each explosion down without breaking a sweat.

"Honeybee Tornado Swarm!"

Marco laughed, slipping over the bees as they implanted themselves in the wall. "Are you done?"

Star narrowed her eyes. "Spider with a Top Hat Blast!" The spider jumped out as Marco deflected each of its blasts, sending them back to Star.

Star screamed as she ducked, avoiding the blasts. Spider fell to the floor, and she pointed her wand at Marco.

"Okay, you were right." Star lowered her wand, panting as Marco relaxed.

Solar gaped, charging forward and tackling Marco to the ground excitedly. "That was so hot! I forgot how good a fighter you are!" Solar chuckled as Marco blushed.

"I'm not that good a fighter..."

"Just take the compliment, my knight." Solar placed a kiss on the top of Marco's head, and he blushed more. Solar climbed off, offering out a hand and pulling Marco to his feet.

Marco scratched the back of his neck as he finally turned to Star. "Are you going to tell me what that was about?"

Star took a breath. "Listen Marco. I'm out of warriors, but... Janna pointed out, I have you."

Marco blinked. "You were testing me?"

"Yep. Listen, Marco, I need you. I need you to stop, Meteora." Star placed a hand on Marco's shoulder as he blinked.

"You could have just asked!" Marco sighed, rubbing his eyes. "But, of course, I'll stop her."

"Okay, as acting queen, I order you, defender of dimensional stability, Marco Diaz, to do whatever it takes to stop Meteora from reaching Butterfly Castle."

"I accept my orders. Moc, call the EAC! We have a monster to catch!"

Moc grinned, opening a portal and jumping through.

"Ready to catch a monster, Sunshine?" Marco grabbed Solar's hand as he nodded.

"Let's get the gang. We're going hunting." Marco paused, pulling Solar into a hug. "Stay safe. Whatever you're about to do, do your best."

Star smiled, stepping back as she rubbed her arm. "I will. Stay safe too."

"I will. Let's go, Sunshine." Marco took Solar's hand as he walked through the portal.