Summary:
Some fun before things go bad
Dennis looked at his little (in size) brother, who made a home out of an asteroid within the void. He almost didn't believe it when Steven said this where Ludo wanted to be in, but here he was, being proven wrong. "Dennis, it's so great to see you!" Ludo cried out, looking the most happy he's…ever seen him.
"It's great to see you too! I've missed you." He kneeled down and gave him a hug. "You're looking…" It looked like he hadn't showered in months and the beard on his beak was just getting wild. "…alive."
"Oh thank you! I try my best to get cleaned up, but it's not easy when only so much water pops out from randomly opened portals." Ludo wiped off some of the grime forming on his face. "So what's new with you? Has the desire to steal artifacts of power sunk into your brain?"
"Not really. I've been talking to Steven a lot since you went away and got invited to this really fun Monster/Mewman party, at least until some of the guest got kidnapped, but other than that it was good."
"Hmm … well as long as your happy." The little man shrugged. "Come on in, mom and dad would love to see you."
Dennis's brain stopped working for a second. "They're here?" Why would they be here? Were they trying to hurt Ludo again?
"Of course." His big brother dragged him into the living room. "Hey mom, dad, look who came back, Dennis!" He said to … statues of his parents.
"Ah…hello…" Dennis was at a complete loss what to do here. The quickest assumption he could come to was that being alone in the void for so many months finally made him snap. "What…are they doing here?"
"They live here of course." Ludo waved off. "We watch TV." A stone in the shape of a cube. "We play games." Actual toys. "We eat nice meals." Rotten fruit. "Catch Star Butterfly and her wand." More statues. "... Still haven't managed to do the last one."
"Oh, I was under the impression that you've stopped trying to be evil." Dennis said sheepishly. "You know, with the newspapers saying you killed Toffee and helped save Mewni and all."
"Oh I am, I'm going to give it back the moment I catch her. It just scratches my head that I never managed to do it at all." He shrugged. "Although a few months back I found this weird portal that led me to a place that looked like Mewni, but the Star Butterfly there looked like she was a lizard." Ludo shivered. "She looked like she could bite my head off, so I stayed away from that dimension."
"I see …" Dennis nodded. "So … when do you plan on coming back?"
"... Coming back?" He asked with confusion.
"To Mewni … your home?"
"This is my home! I can't just leave mom and dad alone, they'll be heartbroken." No, they would cackle and be gleeful.
"But what about Spider and Eagle? They've been missing you everyday since you left, and they're getting a little antsy about staying in my closet." He honestly thought Spider would've cocooned him for dinner by this point.
"And what about them?" His brother asked. "They're family Dennis, you can't just abandon family." Yes you could, very much so.
"Then what about me? You're fine staying here, living with the garbage…" He pointed to the statues, and the only thing he'd compliment about them was that they were made with appropriate materials. "And leaving me?" He scoffed. "You know, at least the first time you stuck out on your own, you succeeded. You stood up to those assholes and took the castle for yourself. That's the older brother I admired for so many years."
"... But no one else did …" The boy sat against the wall. "My minions hated me other than Spider and Eagle … and after that it was just being a pawn for Toffee. With all that effort and power, it didn't amount to anything in the end. No success or admiration I've been striving for."
"Then we figure that last part out together." Dennis pulled out a piece of paper he's been hiding for a while. "I've been talking with Steven like I said, and he's been able to use his prince powers to give the ownership of the castle to me, since it technically belonged to our parents before."
"...But the castle blew up…"
"But the land is still ours, we can rebuild it!"
"But where would we get the parts?" Dennis turned to the statues of their parents. "Dennis, don't look at mom and dad like that, it freaks them out."
"... Do you mind if I talk with them in private?"
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"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, to 'talk with fusion'!" The audience clapped.
"Where is that coming from?" The fusion of Star and Marco asked.
"Dunno, Amethyst never found out when she searched for a couple miles." The fusion of Steven and Amethyst responded.
"Why don't we get the first big question out of the way and introduce the lovely duos." They put the fusions down in seats, spotlight aimed. "Would you tell us your names?"
"We went with Smokey Quartz, the color just matched." Smokey shrugged with an embarrassed shrug.
"And we're….we're…" The Star and Marco fusion held up a finger and started to sweat a little. "Wow, Neither of them actually had the time to come up with an actual name for me. Then again, Marco was about to be vivisected when we fused, so it was either fight or die."
"Aren't we all?" There was a drum rim, the audience laughing again.
"I think … Starco works." They decided.
"Wasn't that Starfan13's ship name for you?" Smokey Quartz asked.
"What, no, that's ridiculous!" The newly dubbed Starco laughed unconvincingly. "We're a purely platonic fusion, like Quana, except not insane."
"Insanity is a matter of perspective." Sardonyx chuckled with the audience. "So, first question, what makes you, you?"stion. How exactly did the four of you feel doing those first three seconds of existence as entirely new beings?" Some could say the first time was always the best time.
"Like I said, It was because Mina Loveberry was trying to kill Marco, so Star did it without thinking of anything but saving Marco." Starco recounted. "So I'd have to say…intense and freaky."
"I was also life and death, but it was much more playful." Smokey answered. "We, the worst fusion, kicked but with YoYo tricks."
"Nothing to be ashamed of, Amethyst and Steven are incredibly child-like, which from personal experience can be quite advantageous." Sardonyx smirked. "Besides, just imagine how humiliating it is for the enemy to say they got the snot beaten out of them by a child's toy."
Everyone snorted at that one. "Yeah, and then you got all the people who'll think you're a complete badass for using nothing more than a yo-yo." Starco clapped all four of their arms. "I mean, I got magic rainbow gauntlets, but I can't use a yo-yo like that." Starco then looked curious. "I actually have a question of my own." Starco asked. "It may be the Marco in me, but I'm curious how the whole 'gender identity' thing works. Is it fluid, non binary, both?"
"Gems don't have genders or gender identity, organics thought we were women so we just decided not to argue for convenience. Everything after that is up to you."
"Got it, don't think too much about it." Starco nodded. That was the best option.
"Oh, what about the eye and arms thing?" Smokey asked.
"Multiple eyes for multiple points of view, multiple arms for acting in multiple ways." Sardonyx explained. "Usually dependent on personal mindsets. Fusions like Stelly, who have the normal amount of limbs and eyes, are usually signs that the components are super confident in the abilities of themselves and each other."
"So I have three arms … half confident." They looked themselves over. "Hmm … oh well." Smoky Quartz shrugged with a smile. "Better three hands than two. Think of how many yo-yos and pies I can hold now. Ohh, playing guitar and the harp just got a whole lot easier too!"
"Okay, onto the next question." They leaned forward. "What skill sets do you all have?" She asked. "All fusions get something. Opal has perfect aim, Sugilite gets massive strength, I'm quite articulate." She swung her top half around in a 360.
"Hm…I haven't really taken this body out for a spin, considering I'm about, five, maybe ten minutes old." Smokey pondered. "Everything I've done has been with Yo-yos. It acts like a grapple, nunchuck, shield, whip, and tornado maker."
"Versatile." They nodded. "And what about Starco over here?"
"I can do anything Star can do, except for each attack I make is made better with Marco's karate knowledge." Starco said with a light hint of boastfulness in their tone. "I can make a single upcut feel like you're being trampled by a hundred Warnicorns." They closed their eyes for a second, before slightly tattered butterfly wings popped out of their back. "I also make these super crystal bombs like Steven can, except I can put them on a timer."
"Very impressive." There was the clapping of the audience. "Anything you'd like to tell our lovely folks at home before you go?"
"Other than the lingering dread they must feel all the time knowing they won't exist when this show is over…" Smokey said. "Is that when life threatening cosmic horror threatens your life, find the nearest friend you have and squeeze then life out of them with the biggest hug you can muster."
"Cause that friend will always give you a comforting hug back." Starco finished.
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Kelly rubbed her arms. "Mom … this is Steven." She introduced her … who she hoped was still her boyfriend to her mother. They probably should've done this sooner, but three years alone with someone tended to make her forget about anybody else.
"Ah, so this is the 'warm pillow' that my daughter can't stop talking about." Her mother extended a giant hand to Steven and squished his face. "Ooh, for someone with such short hair, he is rather soft." Well that was already top 10 in 'embarrassing moments of her life'.
"Heh, thanks, I try to moisturize twice a week…" Steven said as he attempted to pull himself from the hold. "I'm glad I can finally meet-WHOA!" Steven summoned his shield to block incoming fist his way.
"Nice reflexes, and he knows how to take a punch. Definitely an improvement over the last boy." Her mother couldn't help but continue to embarrass her. "Little deadbeat couldn't even handle a flick to the head."
"Mom, can we please not focus on my ex, like, at all? My head's already feeling weird about it as it is."
"Of course." The woman waved off. "Come on inside, I'll fix up a nice meal for all of us."
"Sure …" Steven looked at the woman, before slowly looking around. "Um … how do I enter?" He whispered. She pointed to the giant wooden door. "... Why do you not have a door?"
"My hair is not bushy enough to warrant it, plus I'd need to grow another five or so feet." She shrugged.
"So you're going to grow into a giant woman naturally?" Steven asked as a blush formed on his face. "That's…something I don't mind waiting to see happen."
"I mean I was already taller in the neverzone." She smirked as she walked inside, the two of them sitting down.
"So what finally brings you around?" Mom asked. "Wanted to ask for a mother's blessing?"
"What?!" Steven looked like he was choking on the air he was breathing. "No, no not at all, we're not old enough for that sort of thing yet.."
"So you have thought about it?" Her mom asked in a teasing tone.
"Well, yeah, while we were in the neverzone, I had this whole plan to prop-Ah, we got off topic!"
That had Kelly's eyes popping. "Wait, you planned what in the neverzone?"
"It was this thought I had since I didn't think we'd ever make it back home, and I thought you'd get a chuckle at the idea-not the point I wanted to make!" Steven's entire face was read as he tried to hide himself in his arms.
"Just know I approve of you, but if you ever do propose, you need to fight me first. I need to know you're capable of protecting my baby at all times." Her mom 'helped' reassure. "I'll be ready when you are.
"… Actually, we kinda came here to fight?" The boy spoke with hesitation. "Our last combat style wasn't … the best." It turned into a shit show. "And Kelly said we could learn Wool Fu Do?"
"Oh, sorry to disappoint, but that's my husband's specialty." Her mom said with a slight nostalgic tone. "Back when he wasn't a backstabbing cheat. The bodies that hit the floor when we teamed up." So this was how Steven felt when people talked about 'Rose's Love' all the time.
"I know, I know, we just came to collect the book that Dad used to read to me." Kelly explained as she looked at Steven. "I've been told every move since I was a kid, and there's a special style where you and a partner need to move as one by stacking on top of each other."
Steven looked at her, then her mother. "Literally or metaphorically?"
"You do realize you're asking that as you're inside a Woolet's hair, which are basically mobile homes?" Her mom laughed. "If you're actually serious about this, then try this on." Her mom pushed her hand inside, and tossed Steven a long reddish pink wig. "This'll at least help you two connect more when you stack on top of each other, as well as give you a chance to be in our shoes as you train."
"Huh, neat." Steven placed it on his head, tying the back of it into a ponytail. "How do I look?"
"Very … very … hot." She attempted to hide her blush with very little success.
"You know, your father and I would train a lot too when we were younger." Her mom just had to barge in again. "One day we were training really hard, and nine months later, you came into my life."
"MOM!" Kelly yelled as Steven hesitantly chuckled. Even just sharing this embarrassing moment together…this felt right to her. She was going to try her damndest to never lose this feeling again, fusion or no fusion.
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Buff Frog walked back to camp. "Alright, you're the last grou-..." He saw some Monsters with a tied up Star Butterfly, one of them holding a knife menacingly. "... WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
"She was coming after us sir, we had to defend our secret!"
"That's the princess of Mewni, one of the few allies we have!" Buff Frog shouted before moving the monsters out of the way and untying the girl.
"Don't worry Buff Frog, it's cool. It's not the worst kidnapping I've ever experienced." The girl shrugged as she was free. "Now if it was my brother that got tied up, then it'd be a different story.
"Star!" Speak of the devil, the other young Butterfly came rushing in on the ferocious pink beast that followed him around along with shield in hand. "I'm coming to save…oh it's just Buff Frog." He looked at the cut ropes. "Were the tadpoles playing hostages again?"
"No, the Tadpoles are packing the last of their things." Buff Frog said sadly. "I'm busy helping monsters. We found a pair of dimensional scissors, and are using it to leave for better lands."
"What, no!" Star shouted. "That note was too well written, it couldn't have been you."
"That was actually my little Katrina." He sighed. "I've managed to procure books for babies so they can have better opportunities. Unfortunately, they still don't fully understand the concept of being anonymous."
"Well it's a good thing she wasn't." Steven spoke. "You can't just leave, we're working on peace."
"Yes … and many teens at that party were almost killed." Buff Frog answered. "Many are scared that people like Loveberry keep existing, and that their unrelenting actions will only cause us more chaos and harm in the end."
"Okay, that is a problem, I admit.." Star rubbed her arms sheepishly. "But she's an extreme example of a monster hater.."
"And she's not the only example." He clarified. "And even if it's not as extreme, people still detest one another. Even if one stops someone will spark something to snowball into another catastrophe." He answered. "Just like how Toffee was an example for hate on the opposite end." He saw the sadness grow on their faces, but he had to keep going. "All the good will in the world can't unteach hundreds of years of mistrust."
"But..but we've been working so hard.." Steven began to tear up.
"And you've done so much." He kneeled down. "Never doubt your efforts, they are good and right." He whipped the tear. "My father had a saying. 'One drop of water will never crack a rock. But over time, many many drops will break it into dust'. Even if it doesn't look like it now, your actions will be the first step of generations."
"If you say so.." Star placed her hand on her brother's shoulder. "I'll try to make sure we don't screw it up like everyone else before us." Star sniffed. "I hope you and everyone else can at least be happy in your new homes."
"Don't fret, young Buttefllies, there's plenty that a new dimension can offer. Many monsters can blend in naturally with inhabitants of Boiling Isles, and Amphibia is a very frog friendly environment." At least from what he heard over a couple hundred years ago.
"Bye Star, Bye Steven!" His little Angel waved. "You were the best babysitters a girl could ask for."
"Thanks! It was great being an older sibling for once." Steven replied back with a wave.
"It's one of the most fulfilling feelings one can have." Star nodded.
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Marco sighed as he walked to his door. "Haven't seen them in months …" He muttered. "You think they're mad?"
"Marco, they never once got mad at me everytime the laser puppies fried the walls or anytime Lion burst through the living room." Star reassured him. "Your parents are probably more forgiving than Steven."
"It's true, I always at least yell at Star whenever she sets something on fire." The boy in question admitted. "Now come on, the door isn't gonna wait forever to be knocked on."
"Well it can, it's a door." Kelly deadpanned. "It doesn't care whether or not you knock on it."
"What about that one dimension where doors eat you?" Marco asked. It was honestly less weird than the dimension where chairs were people and they ate phone based products.
"Correction, doors in most dimensions don't care whether or not you knock on them." Kelly retracted. "Traveling dimensions can make terminology so weird."
"Yep …" That was enough stalling. With a sigh he knocked on the door. After a few seconds it was opened his father.
"Marco, you made it!" The man laughed.
"Yeah … sorry, the card kinda got ruined." By a water spell Star was trying out. "What did I make it to?"
"My baby shower!" His mom came out … with a large belly …
"You're pregnant!?"
"You ate your baby?!" They really needed to get Steven into a sex ed class or something.
"Your going to be a brother!?" Star shook her excitedly. "OMG! OMG! OMG! You're getting your own little sibling! Your own little cute bundle of joy to pinch the cheeks of!"
"I … how … why… when!?" He shouted.
"I'd say … the day you told us you were leaving." The woman who raised him said without a shrug. "Now give mama a hug."
"Oh..Ah, okay." This was a little awkward knowing there was a little person now in her mothers stomach, so he opted for a side hug.
One that his mother was clearly not a fan of. "Give me a real one, Marco Diaz. I did not carry you for 8 months and give birth to you so you could go to another dimension for months without contact. I gave you life and I can take it away."
"Okay, okay, I'm hugging, I'm hugging!" He quickly changed his tone and gave the tightest squeeze he could summon.
"How did I just feel more intimidated by her just now than meeting your mom?" Steven turned to his girlfriend.
"Never mess with a pregnant woman Steven." Dad patted the boy with a laug. "Come inside, we have a feast prepared!"
"Ah man, oh man…I'm going to be a big brother.." The thought both excited and made him nervous. "What's the little guy's name going to be?"
"The doctor said it was going to be a boy, so we settled on Marco Jr." His mom replied with no sense of irony in her voice at all.
"A little in the nose." Steven noted with a chuckle.
"I'm sorry, should I take it up with Quartz Jr and Steven Jr?" Marco asked rhetorically. By this point, bad names were pretty much a staple. He'd be more surprised if he heard something more original.
"So..how's it feel to know you'll be a big bro soon?" Star said with barely continued excitement as she poked his shoulder. "You know, leading them on the right path and punching anyone that tries to mess with them?"
"I … feel scared." He admitted. "I … don't know if I can keep them safe."
Star snorted. "Coming from the safe kid?"
"Hey, I've long outgrown that title. I don't wear a helmet in the shower anymore." He just took a sword with him just in case someone planned to ambush him. "It just seems like..a really big job."
"Been there, still doing it." Star waved to her own brother. "The fact you're concerned about how you'll do is a first step. Besides, you've done a great job helping protect me, oh great squire."
"Didn't we almost die to Mina multiple occasions?" He asked.
"Details, schematails, those are rare occasions at best." Star waved off. "I had no idea how this whole older sister thing worked at all when I was growing up with Steven. I made mistakes, that's obvious I know." The princess sighed. "The trick is to just…be there for them. Be a part of what they're going through, and you'll have a best friend for life."
"Just … be there …" He looked at his mother, smiling and laughing with his father. "… Yeah … I can do that."
"Let's just hope he doesn't end up loving danger as much as his older brother." Kelly smirked. "Hah, who am I kidding. He'll probably be dragging your butt out of problems one of these days."
"If this little boy goes around danger before eighteen, I'm breaking a spine." Mom casually said as she munched on some pickles.
"Something tells me we're going to grow up very differently." He wasn't sure it was a good or bad sign his parents would probably be more restrictive than they were with him.
"Family..It always seems to get bigger and better the more I look around." Steven smiled.
"Well the current ones anyway." Star shrugged with a smile of her own.