Starnapped: A SVTFOE Story

Starnapped: Chapter 4 - A Deal

Marco's mind was still racing from what had occurred only moments before. Star's wand had just... vanished. How could she possibly use magic that strong without the use of her wand? She must have gained an immense amount of magical strength after her rundown with Toffee, unless she has always been this strong. But that couldn't be possible...

"Excuse me? Did you forget about me?" spoke the mysterious voice from before, her voice now riddled with hints of annoyance. Marco was quickly pulled away from his thoughts as his previous fears returned to him. There was still an unknown being standing directly behind him. With a short gulp and a silent prayer, he slowly turned himself around, only to be filled with confusion by what he saw.

"Who are you?"the boy whispered, his curiosity finally overtaking his fear.

"My name is not important. All you need to know is that I'm the one that took your little friend here." she remarked with a grin as she began to wave her hand in a mysterious motion. "But if you really must know, I am the one they call Eclipsa."

Marco's emotion suddenly turned to pure anger as he quickly rose up from his spot on the floor and broke into a sprint. If he was going to get Star back, he needed to show this sickly woman that he meant business. Violent, violent, business. But, just as quickly as the pursuit had begun, it was stopped dead in it's tracks.

Marco was now floating mid-air, his fist hovering just inches away from Eclipsa's skull. "Now that is no way to treat your guest. Luckily, I knew you would do that, so I prepared a spell just for the occasion." with a snap and a smirk, Marco was back where he started on the floor, his brain still trying to comprehend what had just happened. He tried to move his legs to stand up again but it was as if he was glued to the ground below him. She had frozen him in place.

"Now I can talk business. Where is Moon?" questioned the enchantress, her eyes searching around the room as she spoke.

"I'm right here." spat the Queen from behind her dark ancestor. "And what have you done with my daughter?"

"Don't worry your little royal head, your daughter is fine. But that is not my point. I am here to discuss a deal with you. A ransom, you could call it. Unless, of course, you don't ever want to see your daughter again." her mouth twisting into a grimace as she explained.

Tears began to build up in the back of her eyes as Moon negotiated the terms in her mind. On one hand, the deal could bring back her daughter, which of course was her highest priority, and she knew that Eclipsa would hold up her end of the bargain. But then, on the other hand, last time she accepted a deal with the powerful queen it released her from captivity in the first place. Only god knows what horrible things she would do to the kingdom if she had the Queen of Mewnie at her fingertips. But sadly, Moon had no choice. "What is your proposal?"

"The deal is simple. I give you back your daughter, and you hand over the crown. Decline, and I kill her. The choice is yours. If you need proof, I will allow you to call her so you know I haven't harmed her. Yet. If you accept my offer, come to the Forest of Certain Death tomorrow at dawn. I will await your response."

Moments passed in silence as Moon and Marco stared in shock. Satisfied at their response, Eclipsa snapped her fingers and pulled out her scissors, stating "My work here is done" as she waltzed back into the portal from which she came. After she had left, only one thing was left to say. "We have to warn Star."

Star was in an ocean. An ocean of darkness that is. Waves of mysterious liquid threatened to pull her under, pushing her farther and farther away from the shore. She was gasping for air, preparing herself for the inevitable. She knew it was coming. She just didn't know when.

It was then when the voices started. "Destroy it." "Poor Butterfly. You've lost your wings." "Goodbye." The voices grew louder and louder, increasing in numbers by every passing second. In the waves ahead of her something became to rise up, taking the shape of different body parts. "No no no. Not again. Not again!" The sea did not listen to her pleas. First came an eye. Then one arm. Then the other. The body continued to build up until there was a huge monster head poking out of the sea. "Well hello. Princess."

Star knew what was next. She begged her mind to let her stop, but it was too late. The liquid around her started to rise, encasing her in a cylinder of darkness. Star took a deep breath just as the cylinder began to collapse, bringing her down with it. She saw the gold once again in the ooze, like a firefly in the darkness of the night sky. Just as she began to swim towards it, she heard yet another voice. "Star." She ignored it. But it kept repeating, gradually getting louder and louder, the area around her beginning to shake from the force. "Star!" The last word surprised her so much, that she gasped in surprise, black ooze now filling up her lungs. She was about to die. She coughed over and over, attempting to get the goop out. But it was too late. However, just she was about to accept defeat, she woke up.

"Star!" yelled the same voice in a more annoyed tone. It was in fact Eclipsa, just as Star had begun to expect. Thank corn. All of that was just a dream. "Ah! Thank goodness you are finally awake! I was beginning to think you were dead already!" Eclipsa said with a chuckle. Star did not find it nearly as funny. "Regardless, honey, you are expecting a call rather soon. I wouldn't want you to miss it."

"A call? Who would possibly want to call m...." Star began to say, before she was interrupted by her own ringtone. How could the woman have known she was about to get a call? She shrugged and pressed the "accept call" button, holding the phone up to her ear. "Marco?"

"Star! I'm so glad you answered! Are you ok? Where are you? Has she hurt you?" Marco quickly questioned, concern flowing out of his mouth like a waterfall.

"Yes, an old cabin shack, and well sorta." Star responded, counting on her fingers as she answered each question. "Wait how do you know that who took me is a she? And why are you calling anyway? I can handle myself!" she continued, suddenly overcome with anger.

"Star, no, calm down! I know you don't like it when I try to help you, but this time it's really important!" Marco responded, worried that she may not listen to him through her rage. "Eclipsa is planning to kill you, Star. We just want you safe."

Star suddenly snapped out of her irrational anger, her mind finding something different to focus on. However, she forced herself to respond to her worried friend, stuttering with fear the whole way through. "H..how do you know that?"

"She told us. She says if we don't hand over the kingdom to her, she will kill you! You know we can't let that happen, Star." Marco muttered, tears building up in his eyes as he spoke. "She told us that if we came to the forest tomorrow at dawn, we could get you back. Stay safe Star, I'll see you again soon."

"Marco wai...!" But it was already too late. The line was dead. Star glanced over to her captor, that sickly grin still plastered across her wicked face. She was about to get exactly what she wanted. If Star had only been more watchful, this never would have happened. Marco and her mom would still be safe. And she wouldn't be about to die. Laying back down on the cold, solid concrete, Star prayed that tomorrow would be the last day of this seemingly endless torture.