King River wiped the sweat off his face with a handkerchief and looked at the item in front of him. It had taken him exactly 5 days to find it. River figured that Star would need this particular item.

He reached down the chest and grabbed the item. It was a silver necklace. Not just any ordinary piece of jewelry, but his family's greatest treasure. It was lost for hundreds of years, but thankfully he decided to look at one place his other family members hadn't dare looked: the castle basement.

The silver necklace was just a small diamond barely bigger than his thumbs fingernail. The chain was golden and was said to be unbreakable. From first glance, it didn't seem like much, but don't let appearances fool you. This necklace was enchanted to protect the wearer at all cost and double their power.

River knew Star may not need it since she already has enough protection and is very powerful at a young age, but an extra precaution wouldn't hurt. He tucked the jewelry away deep inside his royal garment and went up the stairs. He need to get out quickly.

His family never liked the fact that he married Moon and they weren't embarrassed to hide the fact and nor did hers. Of course after Star was born, the two families decided to stick around only for the child. But that doesn't extend to the point that they would give her the item they lost years ago.

"Going somewhere River, dear?" His mother asked behind him.

River cursed inside his head and turned to his mother. He was so close! He just reached the front door and was one step away from this place! River's mother sat elegantly in her wheelchair as her handmaidens stood right behind her, waiting for her every command.

"Actually yes, mother. I was about to head home. Star will be arriving tomorrow and I need to prepare everything." River said as calmly as possible.

"Hmm."

"Yes mother?"

"Nothing. But you know River, Queen Pickle from the Cropery Kingdom just became a widow recently. Perhaps it would be best to move on. I'm sure that after...your daughter.. has taken on the throne, you can remarry."

River's blood boiled. Thai is exactly why he hasn't dared visit this castle ever since he and Moon wed. His mother has never been discrete on anything she had wanted and it always bothered Moon, though she never would show it, and not to mention rude and completely against anything royals were taught.

"I'll think about it mother," River chose his words carefully. "But right now, I really have to get back to Mewni. Star needs to have her coronation."

"The sooner the better if you ask me." She looked hard at the Mewni crest on her son's cape. Just looking at it disgust her. "Goodbye son. Too bad you couldn't stay longer. All because of the hard work dumped on you."

River nodded and walks out the door. His home planet looked completely fine. When it was revealed that Mewni was at war, his mother outright refused to help. It was no secret on how much she hated Moon and her planet. It came to a shock to him on how there was never a war between Mewni and his home planet. Yet.

The old king boarded his dimension carriage and head straight for Mewni. King Tom should be there. It was tradition for Mewni to be introduced to their future king before the princess's coronation. That is, if there was any. If not, they would be introduced exactly 12 hours before they marry.

As soon as River step foot at the ground of Mewni, every eye turned to him. Not wait, it was aimed at whatever was behind him. Or who. The widowed king turned to see the King of the Underworld standing behind him.

Tom bowed in respect and River did as well. He cleared his throat and looked at his citizens. Some looked at him with confused while majority looked as if they already knew what was going to happen.

"My people, I am well aware of our current situation in these trying times but I implore you to keep your heads up. The war will be over soon. Just hang on a little more. You'll see. The tables will turn and Mewni will win this war!"

Cheers and whistles were thrown around but the king signaled them to be quiet. He wasn't over yet. River beckoned Tom over. Whispers and gasps were heard, but they hushed down as soon as they saw the king about to speak again.

"As you al know, Star will be crowned Queen of Mewni tomorrow. And as tradition stands, the future king is introduced a day before the coronation. May I present: Tom Lucitor of the Underworld!"

Tom took a step forward as River took a step back.

"As King River stated, I am King Tom of the Underworld. I will be your future king and help you defeat these monsters. My demons will be coming often to check around for dangers. As your future king, your lives are now part of my concerns. I promise to lead Mewni in prosperity. We will win this war!"

Tom's eyes glowed red and a skull appeared at his head leaving the Mewmans in awe. He had taken a royal promise. It signaled that Tom was being serious. A royal promise was nothing to laugh about. It was a serious commitment.

One by one, the people cheered. They knew that demons are nearly impossible to kill, so having some of them on there side will defiantly help a lot in the war. They could practically taste their freedom again.

WITH STAR⭐️

Marco, Janna, Starfan, PonnyHead, and Jackie sat down in Marco's living room. While Star was sleeping in her room getting her well deserved sleep, Marco told the gang her situation. They all had the same reaction: shock, hurt, angry, and worried.

Shocked that something so bad is happening to the most happy going, cheerful, and bubbly person they all knew and love.

Hurt that she doesn't trust them enough to tell them.

Angry at the monsters for doing this to Star. Especially Toffee.

And worried about Star's safety.

"There's really nothing we could do?" Janna asked.

Marco shocked his head, "no. Star refused us to help. She doesn't want any of us to get hurt because of her."

Janna stood up harshly, "bull! If one of us gets hurt, all of us gets hurt!"

PonyHead floated higher, "I never did knew what was going on with Star's planet, daddy reuses to tell me. But I could see why he's sending some soldiers to Mewni."

Jackie grabbed Marco's hand. "Perhaps we should respect Star's wishes. Don't get me wrong, I worry about her too. But she's right."

Marco looked at his girlfriend confused. "What do you mean?"

"Star's a princess. That's common knowledge. But royals give hints between the lines that say. She means to say that she doesn't want us to get killed and what could we do? We're only humans and they're magical creatures."

They looked at PonyHead, "well, mostly all of us."

Was this really the end of their happy days with Star?