Chapter Text
Star summoned Cloudy once more and hopped on holding Marco up in her arms.
As they drifted up to his seat, Star asked him, “So, you enjoying the circus so far? It’s not getting too—y’know—intense for you, is it?”
“What? No!” Marco answered. “I mean, it is a little more… engaging than I expected but look at how much fun everyone is having! Trust me, I’m fine, Star. Just keep the show going.”
Star thanked him with a big hug. “Aw, thanks, Marco!”
Cloudy hovered just over Marco’s seat, allowing him to hop off back to the safety of the audience section.
Star grabbed him by the shoulder, stopping him with an eager smile. “Oh, and if you like the show so far, just wait until we get to the finale!”
But before a somewhat-excited, somewhat-nervous Marco could ask for clarification, Star had already zipped off on Cloudy back to the ring, announcing into her wand-turned-megaphone.
“Now, let’s be honest, folks—that last act was pretty intense! But we’re almost at the end of our show and I guarantee that we’re going to go out with a bang! So, we’re going to wind things down with our next guest…”
A spotlight weaved its way to the outer ring as Ruberiot conducted the drumroll once again.
“She’s the monochrome mistress of mute performance from Mewni with the most talent and the least lines… Please welcome our next guest… The Mime!
The drumroll ceased as the spotlight swung to the edge of the ring, and the sound of a melodious Mewnian accordion took its place. A lavender glove reached out into the spotlight and grasped the air like a rope. Then, another glove on the end of a black-and-white sleeved arm gripped the invisible rope, pulling forward a gaunt woman in full mime make-up and garb. She gave the rope a yank and it went limp, allowing her to wind it up and take a bow.
The Mime whipped her hands up to her ears, ready to bask in the warm welcome the audience would give her. But she heard no such cheers of joy from the crowd.
In reality, miming was high art—even in other dimensions such as Mewni—and sadly like in ours, high art often goes unappreciated. This was especially true in Mewni which, despite being rather ahead of its time for a medieval society, didn’t go for more avant-garde performance arts.
This would not stop The Mime, however. If the Mewnian people didn’t appreciate the art of miming, she would make them appreciate it!
She strode towards the crowd in a huff but bumped into something after only taking a few steps. She stumbled backwards, then shook her head. She scrutinized the space in front of her, looking for what she hit.
Reaching her hands out, she appeared to be feeling something. A wall! She ran into an invisible wall!
Unfazed, she shrugged and turned right to walk around it, only to hit another wall.
This got a few chuckles from the audience.
Annoyed, she turned to her left and stormed off.
…Into another wall.
Shocked and rather confused, she felt all around her to look for an exit. But found herself trapped—in what else—an invisible box!
Refusing to let her brilliance be contained, The Mime searched her ingenious mind for a solution, making her best thinking pose as well.
Suddenly, an idea! She gave a big smile, snapped her fingers, reached behind her back, and whipped out some invisible tool. She gave it a bend, her arm shaking it as it sprung back into shape, then started cutting through the invisible wall of her box.
“Oh, I get it: it’s a saw!” Marco helpfully exclaimed in amusement. “Ha! That’s cute.”
The rest of the crowd seemed to think so, too. A few seemed to be happily whispering to each other, so proud of themselves for getting The Mime’s act.
Now finished sawing, The Mime kicked down the wall and came somersaulting out. She unrolled in a victorious pose: down on one knee, arms spread out, and a big smile on her painted face.
The audience gave a meager round of applause for her novel performance. It was cute but it still wasn’t exactly circus material.
She took her beret off to take a bow, when suddenly, a fierce wind nearly snagged it from her grasp! At least, that’s how it looked.
The Mime held onto the staple of her iconic look for dear life. Teeth gritting, she held onto it, pulling it back with every bit of strength in her body. She silently heaved against the gale force she conveyed. So dedicated was she, that her feet dug into the ground as she trudged along. She would never surrender!
Finally, with one enormous, silent heave, she placed the beret back on her head, ever so delicately.
But before she could savour this victory, yet another harsh wind apparently overtook her, sending her tumbling across the ring. Marco and a few audience members winced as she, obviously, threw herself across the ring with the force of a hurricane!
The Mime stumbled back to her feet. She whipped out something else. She popped it open to shield herself from the wind, revealing itself to be an invisible umbrella! But judging by how she was almost pulled off her feet, the phantom gale had already inverted the imaginary umbrella and blew it out of her hands.
She fell to her knees gripping the ground. Her fingers dug into the dirt as she slowly raised her legs in the air behind her, giving the impression that the wind could carry her off at any moment!
This feat of theatrics and gymnastics had gained more than a few audience members’ admiration.
The make-believe wind would not cease, and The Mime knew she was losing her grip. But she refused to let go!
The wind seemed to have become a cyclone now. It looked as though she was about to be pulled right from the ground! Her legs went up, up, up until she was completely vertical! Her left hand lost its grip. Now she was both gripping the ground and balancing with one clutched hand!
It looked as though it was all over. But then The Mime’s expression changed from a desperate intensity to joyous enlightenment and proudly raised a pointer finger.
She grabbed something from her waist and slammed it into the ground with her left arm. It was a stake! And now she held onto it for dear life with her hands, balancing ever so carefully on her fist.
After what felt like an eternity of struggle, that phantom gale died down. Finally, the Mime’s body gently lowered back onto solid ground with a slight thump.
Like the artist and professional she was, she calmly got up, dusted herself off, and took a bow as the audience gave her the uproarious applause she deserved.
“Wow,” remarked one astonished Mewman. “I’ve never seen such lower body strength in a performer!”
“Or such grace and balance!” Commented another.
From his seat, King River turned to his wife beaming. “That’s our Mime! I should really give her a raise…”
The spotlight followed the Mime out as she waved to her adoring public accompanied by that playful accordion piece.
Star saw the Mime off with a wave and returned to her ringleading duties. “Wasn’t she great, folks? I guess you could say actions do speak louder than words!”
A rimshot echoed, provided by a quietly disgusted Ruberiot.
Nobody was amused.
Embarrassed, Star cleared her throat. “Well, you’ve obviously had enough comedy for one night, so why don’t we get back to the action?”
“Our second-last act is the WILDEST… WOOLIEST… WHIP-CRACKING… -est thing you’ve ever seen! It’s ma’ good friend, Kelly!”
At first, the only thing that came out from behind the tarp was the head of a teenager with fluffy green hair, big round glasses, and brown skin.
She greeted them with a peppy wave and a smile. “Hiya! I’m Kelly, and this…”
She disappeared back behind the curtain. The came a great purple-reddish furred beast like a wolf, finned ears, and two horns in front of two larger branched horns, bounding and sprinting into the ring.
“…Is my riding partner, Jorby!” Kelly announced.
“What’s up, Mewni?” The lupine beast casually greeted the crowd.
Kelly leaped off her friendly stead, waving to the crowd.
Kelly was an adventurous girl, always travelling to other dimensions, training in sword fighting with Jorby, and always trying new things. She was also laidback and a very friendly person to know. She had only joined Star and Marco’s friend group a few months ago, but since then she started to join their misadventures a little more frequently. She was good company to have, she enjoyed joining them on their misadventures, and it helped her take her mind off her fights with her deadbeat boyfriend, Tad.
For tonight’s show, she wore a glittery periwinkle leotard with silver accents, white riding boots, and for extra flair, had slung a maroon leather holster holding her best sword over her shoulder. As always, she had her fluffy flowing green hair done up so that shew looked like a normal girl—as opposed to a walking topiary bush.
Star welcomed the pair with a short round of applause. “Happy to have you with us tonight, Kelly! You too, Jorby. So, ready to give this crowd its wildest act yet?”
“Heck yeah I am!” she replied, ready to jump into action. “Are you, Jorby?”
“You know it!” The canine creature readied to pounce into action.
“Now stand back,” Kelly gestured Star to back away. “It’s time for the professional to take the floor!”
With that, Kelly unsheathed her blade and took a hefty swing, assuming a sword-fighting stance, spotlights shining over both.
Overhead, Star floated by on Clody, megaphone in hand. “Now don’t worry, folks. Everything you are about to see has been practiced over and over again to ensure that no performers—animal or otherwise—will be harmed during our next performance! …Just so you know.” She added with a wink. “Alright, guys. Take it away!”
Not wasting a moment, Kelly and Jorby charged at each other, screaming battle cries at the top of their lungs. Their spotlights tracking them closely. They leapt to meet each other, Kelly with sword raised and Jorby with teeth bared!
But instead of coming to blows, Kelly threw her sword like a dagger. Jorby responded with lighting-quick reflex, twisting out of the way and catching it by the hilt in his teeth!
Kelly landed and turned to applaud him. “Good boy!”
Jorby happily trotted back to her, his tail wagging behind him. He dropped the sword at her feet.
The audience was quite pleased as well, giving him a bit of applause.
Jorby graciously bowed his head. “I knew they’d like that one!”
Kelly picked up her blade and sheathed it once again. “Then they’re gonna’ love the next part. Ready?”
“Always!” The canine beast crouched again.
But rather than pouncing, he let Kelly jump onto his back. She then pulled herself up to his head. She took hold of his horns, and with a peppy, “Hup!” and did a handstand on them effortlessly.
The crowd gasped in astonishment.
“Don’t worry, folks. I don’t feel a thing!” Jorby reassured them.
“Now,” Kelly clicked her heels together, “giddy-up!”
“You got it!” At her behest, Jorby set off on a mad dash around the ring.
Atop his head, Kelly held tight to his horns. Then, she shifted her balance and swung herself right side up. Using Jorby’s horns like parallel beams, she tucked and kicked and swung her legs, keeping them together, and keeping her hands moving. She was performing gymnastics on a moving wolf beast, perfectly balanced at that!
Tucking her legs in again, she released his horns and let herself tumble backward onto Jorby’s back. Then she grabbed hold of his body with her hands and thighs.
“Woah there!” she commanded.
Jorby reared up with a mock howl and came to a stop in the center of the ring. Kelly rewarded him with a scratch behind his fins.
She slid off his back, back down to solid ground. She waved to Star and hollered, “Hey, can we get some props over here, please?”
“Not a problem!” The royal ringmaster sent out a bubble of magic zooming down from her cloudy stead to meet them, which manifested as an exceptionally large teal ball with fuchsia polka dots.
“Thanks!” Kelly waved back. She directed Jorby’s attention to the top of the ball. “Okay, now hop on!”
“You got it!” Jorby obediently pounced on the great ball. Without another word, he steadied himself then started walking on the ball, rolling around in circles around his master.
Once again, the crowd was delighted by Jorby and Kelly’s charming act.
“You think that’s good?” He paused, teetering on the ball. “Watch this!” Now standing up on his hindlegs, he continued to roll around, staying perfectly balanced the entire time. “Look, two paws! As opposed to four!”
“Looking great, buddy!” Kelly called out, giving him a thumbs up. “Ready to wrap things up?”
Jorby rolled up to her on his ball. He stood as steady as he could on two legs atop the giant rubber ball. Balanced and ready, he looked Kelly in the eyes and nodded.
Kelly met his glance and nodded back. She ran to the other side of the ring, a spotlight following behind her. She crouched, readying to launch herself. She squinted, focusing on Jorby atop the ball. Her breathing went deep and steady. The drums rolled as Ruberiot played an elevating riff on his guitar.
Then, in a burst of speed, Kelly sprinted across the ring, her bushy green hair flowing behind her. She leaped toward the ball, sending herself bouncing up into the air. Ever so gracefully, she flipped in midair, as if she had jumped off a diving board and…
And…
Stuck a perfect landing on Jorby’s head!
“Ta-da!” They declared in victorious unison.
The crowd practically jumped out of their seats whooping, clapping, thoroughly impressed by the daring dos of Kelly and Jorby’s dynamic duo act.
Kelly was graciously bowing when a piece of hair seemed to suddenly fall off, landing on Jorby’s snout with a startled, “Oof!”
Kelly stared with displeased disbelief at the lump of mint green fuzz in front of her. “What the—Tad?!”
Eyes, a little mouth, and two small feet popped out of the pile of hair. It really was Tad! The same deadbeat boyfriend that Kelly had an unpleasant relationship with.
“Oh! Uh, hey, Kelly! What brings you here?” The strange little lump wiggled his eyebrow.
Suffice to say, he was anything but charming.
Kelly picked him up, staring daggers at him. “Tad, I thought I told you I needed some alone time!”
“You did! I just heard you were gonna’ be in a show so I thought I might come along and offer you some emotional support and—”
“Did I ask you to do that?”
“No.”
“Did you do anything supportive?”
“Well… no.”
“Did you at least get your admission?”
“No, but isn’t this show free?”
“It is. But my hair isn’t.”
“Is it though?” Tad gave her a charming smile.
“NO.”
Done with Tad’s freeloading, she dropped him like a rock and punted him off somewhere into the audience section with an undignified scream.
With their act finished and the fuzzy layabout dispatched, Kelly and Jorby happily rolled off on their ball backstage.
The spotlight returned to Star and Cloudy once again, and once again she made a grand announcement to the audience with her megaphone wand. “Well, folks. We’ve had a lot of fun here tonight, but it’s time we wrapped things up and got back to our lives.”
The crowd let out a collective “Aww…” of disappointment.
“…Which is why we’re going to end this show with a real BANG!”
The audience’s enthusiasms returned to life.
Drums rolled while the spotlights swept back and forth over the eager audience.
“We saved the very best for last, ladies and gentlemen! One final special guest in a surprise act—he’s the bravest man I know. He’s fought by my side more times than I can count…”
Marco’s heart skipped. Wait, he thought, she couldn’t be talking about me, could she?
“A master-in-training of the martial arts, as well as a pretty awesome dude in general… He’s the mightiest, smartest, safest, and bravest boy I ever encountered during my travels on Earth... Please welcome, our final guest of honour: Marco Diaz, the Karate Cannon Ball!”
The spotlights finally ceased their search, their blinding glow centering on a shocked Marco in his seat. Like a deer in headlights, he sat there paralyzed with panic. His cigar drooping out of his mouth, held open in shocked gasp.
The crowd whistled and cheered him on for his non-consensual bravery.
He barely managed a confused, “Wuh…” before he felt someone grab him from above. He looked up to see Foolduke’s grinning face looking back at him. She was hanging upside down with The Mime holding her by the ankles, herself upside down as well. The two of them were suspended by a trapeze that seemed to have magically appeared— oddly enough.
“You heard the Princess, you’re up!” The two performers hoisted him up from his seat with another yelp out of him. They swung through the air with speed and force.
With another yelp from Marco they flung Marco through the air on the swing back, sending him hurdling into Kelly and Jorby’s reach.
Jorby leapt into the air and Kelly caught Marco in her arms. “Break a leg, bud!” She tossed him to Star’s side in the center ring with a smile.
Marco landed with an exasperated “OOF!”, getting up with a groan.
Star gleefully helped him back to his feet, dusting him off. “We gotta stop meeting like this, Diaz!”
“Star, I don’t want to sound rude but,” Marco threw his arms up in the air, “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!?” Up until now, Marco had been a little on edge from the excitement he’d been put through but was having fun. Now, however, he was looking completely stressed out. His eyes were open wide in panic, his hair was sticking up everywhere after he’d been thrown around, and he appeared to have the faintest signs of sweat stains on his hoodie.
Star shifted awkwardly, looking away, scratching her arm. She seemed to be a little ashamed of herself. “Uh… Yeah, sorry about all that, I was going to surprise you, but I also hoped you’d pick up on the, um… y’know, clues?” She shrugged, trying for her best apology-smile.
“Clues?” Marco gave her a baffled look.
“Like the catapault?”
“Wait, that was—?! Ugh,” he dragged a hand over his face. “Right, of course it was.”
“Don’t worry about it, Marco! You’ll make a great human cannonball! Now, hold still, I got to get you into your costume.”
“Wait, what costume—”
Star conjured up a custom-made outfit for Marco with a shot of magic like a fire ball. Glowing white with a trail of orange and red, it jumped off Star’s wand and onto his body, bursting into a puff of orange glitter.
Marco now found himself wearing a white jumpsuit decorated with red dragons, a red belt, white boots with flame decals on the toes, and a white helmet with a headband around it. He looked himself over in bewilderment. Glancing at his back, he noticed a black circle on the back of the jacket, lined with flames, and the words “Brave Cannonball” in the centre written in crude Chinese lettering. Marco couldn’t tell if he looked kind of cool or completely ridiculous.
Both, he figured.
“Oh. This costume.” His withdrawn bewilderment showing through his comment.
“You look so cool! Now, I just gotta’ grab this…” Star snatched the magic cigar from his mouth, which had managed to miraculously stay in place even after all the excitement. She tapped the ashes off the end, exposing the glowing pink embers within. Holding her wand out, she cried, “Amazing Ornate Closing Cannon!”
In another flash of magical light, a massive pearly white cannon materialized, held in place by purple quartz placements. The mouth of the cannon had lacy golden patterns like a delicate explosion effect. Daisies, pansies, and violets painted on its sides. A long, long silvery fuse winded from the back of the cannon to their feet.
Star turned back to Marco, looking all full of pride and ready for action. “Alright, now hop in!”
However, Marco wasn’t having any of it. “Star, I don’t think I can do this. I’ve already had several flaming projectiles thrown at me. I’ve been grabbed, thrown, tossed, and I’ve had a cigar full of explosives in my mouth this entire time!”
He looked down, overcome with stress. “Star, I know you want to make this show as fun as magically possible, but this is starting to feel… a little too dangerous for me…”
Star could see his concern, and she could tell he felt guilty for trying to back out. Her friend was scared for his safety and knowing everything he’d been through—not just in the show—it donned on her that maybe she was taking these thrills a little too far.
Dropping her ringmaster persona for a moment, she breathed a sigh.
Resting a gentle hand on Marco’s shoulder, she looked him in the eyes, a caring look on her face. “Marco, I understand you’re freaked out. I admit,” she winced thinking back on the more intense acts, “I might have gotten a little carried away coming up with the ‘greatest show on Mewni.’ But I want you to know that I never stopped thinking about you—ugh, wait, that came out weird…”
Marco chuckled a little, slightly relieved. “It’s okay, keep going.”
“Phew! Thanks,” Star smiled. “What I mean is I’d never do anything with you if it was too dangerous. Everything that’s happened I only did because I thought you’d like it. And if anything went wrong, I promise you that I would keep you safe.”
Marco relaxed a little. “So, if I got sent flying at high speeds over Mewni, you’d catch me?”
“Absolutely.”
“And if I caught on fire?”
“That’s why I made your suit fireproof!”
“Oh!” He gave his outfit an admiring second glance. “Cool! But if I explode?”
Star gave him a playful push. “As if I’d make a cannon to blow up my best friend!”
They shared another moment of joyous awkward laughter. Marco doubled over with relief while Star held him up.
“Come on, Marco. You know I’ll always look out for you.” She took her arm off his shoulder. “…Which is why if you’re still scared, you have my full permission to back out.”
“Seriously?! But who’ll replace me?”
“Meh,” Star shrugged. “I’m sure one of my spells is up for it.”
Marco took a moment to look inside himself. He thought about Star’s words, all the times Star came to his rescue when he was in trouble. The many backyard brawls with Ludo’s gang of monsters, when one goon got lucky and grabbed him, Star would help. When they broke in and out St. Olga’s School for Wayward Princesses, Star rescued him from being brainwashed by the evil headmistress, Miss Heinous. Even just last week, when she saved him from a dungeon.
Marco had already made up his mind.
“You know what? I’ll do it!”
Star eyes lit up again. “You’re sure?”
“Positive!” He adjusted his helmet. “Besides, you promised everyone that you’d end your show with a bang, and I’d sure hate to disappoint an entire kingdom!”
Star, overcome with joy, thanked him for his bravery with yet another great big hug. “You’re the best, Marco.”
He squeezed her back. “Anytime, Star…”
They then remembered they had a show to do and quickly backed away from each other with a few “Um yeah’s” and “Okay, it’s cool’s,” trying to change the subject.
“Well, don’t keep the whole kingdom waiting—put me in, ringmaster!” Marco put his arms out, assuming an action-ready position.
“Oh right! But first…” Star leaned close to him and whispered, “Shoot for the stars, buddy.” She was about to back away when a proverbial light bulb seemed to come on. She leaned in again and whispered something else so quietly that only Marco could hear.
“You want me to say what?” Marco listened puzzled. “Isn’t that from that from…?” Star made a small sound of acknowledgement before she continued to eagerly whisper in his ear. Marco shrugged. “Alright. I’ll say it.”
Star picked him up under his arms and with a great heave, threw him high up into the air, where he cannonballed right into the waiting cannon!
Once he wiggled into position, Marco gave Star a thumb’s up. He was ready as he’d ever be.
“This is it, ladies and gentlemen! The moment you’ve all been waiting for! With this cigar,” she held the magic cigar aloft, “I will light the fuse to the cannon, which will then send the brave Marco Diaz flying through the air at top speeds!”
The audience giggled and chattered in anticipation.
A flying Earth boy? This ought to be good!
Star tapped the ashes off the cigar, then popped it in her mouth with a grin. She picked up the tail of the fuse, touching it to the sparkling embers of the cigar.
With a small puff of smoke, a pop and a hiss, the fuse jumped to life! A ball of sparks raced up leaving a trail of smoke behind it.
Star signalled Ruberiot to start the final drumroll. Nodding, Ruberiot conducted his band. The drums rolled more intense than ever. Ruberiot’s guitar playing a climactic riff for good measure.
Star announced to the crowd, and Marco as well, “Now don’t be alarmed, folks. It’s all perfectly safe. All we need to do now is count down to my good friend’s perfectly safe flight. Ready, everyone?!”
“READY!” the crowd yelled in unison.
“Three…”
Marco tensed his whole body, bracing himself for the blast.
“Two…”
Star plugged her ears, grinning with anticipation.
“ONE!”
The cannon blasted Marco with a grand “KABOOM!” and a glittering cloud of smoke. The Earth boy rocketed up into the air and straight through the canopy of the tent, screaming, “Looks like I’m blasting off AGAAAAIIIIIIN!” at the top of his lungs all the way.
Through the hole he left, Star and the audience could see Marco, still screaming, disappearing into the pink evening sky with a twinkle.
For a moment, astonished silence filled the tent. Everyone stared up at the hole and then…
The entire crowd, one and all, royal or not jumped to their feet to give Star, Marco, and their magnificent finale a grand round of applause. Everyone stood clapping and cheering, whooping, and hollering, a smile on every single one of their faces.
Star basked in their applause.
She did it. She really did! With the help of all her friends, and her determination she pulled off Mewni’s first and most spectacular circus. After everything that happened—everything that they’d been through—they got have some fun and make an entire kingdom smile again.
Seeing Pony Head, Tom, and Kelly peeking their heads from behind the curtain, Star beckoned them to come join her in the spotlight.
“Oh dang, that’s our cue!” Proclaimed Pony Head. “Alright, boys and girls, get out there! Move, move, move! I don’t wanna’ miss a second of that adoring praise!”
And so, all the performers in Star’s circus hurried out into the ring, lining up in front of the ringmaster and the cannon.
Everyone was there, not just Tom, Pony Head, and Kelly, but also Ruberiot, Foolduke, The Mime, Monkey Two, Hekapoo, Jorby, and even old King River came down, all waving to the happy audience. Then, they all took a bow as the crowd continued to shower them with another thunderous round of applause.
Star, however, seemed more than a little anxious. “Thank you so much, everyone! You’ve all been a wonderful audience! I couldn’t have done it without my wonderful friends! Okay, now if you’ll excuse me, I really gotta go, bye!”
Without wasting another second, she jumped into the cannon and using her magic blasted herself out of it right after Marco.
Marco soared over the Mewni countryside, still screaming his head off. He flew straight as an arrow, stiffened by both years of endurance training at his local strip mall dojo and—of course—mortal peril.
The scenery raced past him in a blur. All kinds of greens, pinks, blues, and whites blurred before his eyes.
He could feel himself slowly tilting downwards. He hoped that whatever Star had planned would happen soon.
Suddenly, something white and fluffy rushed past him, moving too fast for him to notice. He thought he saw someone atop it but that’s when he felt something snatch him by the arm. They grabbed him with such force it nearly yanked his arm out of its socket. He looked up in surprise.
“Wha—Star?!” he gasped.
“Don’t worry! I gotcha’, Marco!”
The princess nearly lost her balance, but she steadied herself and hoisted Marco up onto Cloudy with her, safe and sound.
Marco heaved a sigh of relief as he let himself melt into the comforting fluff of the cloud spell.
Star leaned overtop of him. Her face contorted by worry. “Marco are you…” she panted out of breath. “Are you alright?”
Marco looked up at her, his face blank. “Are you kidding?” He bolted upright, his face beaming. “I’m great! That was so cool! I flew out of a CANNON! I can’t believe I was scared at all!”
Star’s heart fluttered. Her cheek marks glowed pink as a great big smile spread across her face. “So, you really did like the circus?”
“Heck yeah, I did! I mean sure, I had my concerns here and there, but I had fun.”
He gave Star another big hug.
“Thanks, Star.”
Star, overcome with joy, hugged her best friend back almost twice as strong. “Aww, thank you, Marco! I couldn’t have done it without you!”
There they sat, holding their best friends in each other’s arms, in a moment of pure happiness. No drama. No danger. Just two best friends sharing a joyful embrace atop a smiling cloud flapping in the wind.
Cloudy let out gentle, “Awww!” which quickly brought Star and Marco back to reality.
After hastily awkwardly releasing each other with embarrassed laughter and awkwardly releasing each other with embarrassed laughter and some hurried small talk to change the subject.
Her eyes lit up with an idea. “Hey, you want to see one more surprise?”
“Are you kidding? Sure I do!”
Star took the cigar out of her mouth, which stayed put between her teeth even after being launched out of a cannon at high speeds and put it to the wand. Creating a tiny flickering flame from its faceplate, she held it up to the cigar which lit it up like it never had before. Star gestured at Marco to move over. “You might want to stand back for this one.”
She held the cigar up and it went flying like a rocket into the sky, creating a thick cloud of smoke behind it. It went screaming through the air right over the circus tent, where it exploded into one final firework—bigger, brighter, and even more colourful than all the ones that came before it. Star and Marco, as well as all the circusgoers and circus performers watched in awe as sparks in the shape of all Star’s favourite spells shone in every colour of the rainbow. Pink flying pigs, yellow laser puppies with red eyes, purple spiders in top hats, blue narwhals, green and pink butterflies, and more popping and sparkling in the sky against the violet sky for all to behold.
Star and Marco watched the grand finale in awe. When it was over, they looked to each other and noticed that they had been both covered in the dark purple soot from the magic cigarette’s take off. Though a little embarrassed, they broke out into another giggling fit and laughed it off.
Star instructed Cloudy to fly her and Marco back to Butterfly Castle nice and slow for Marco.
Gently, Cloudy drifted back to Star’s home while the two best friends happily discussed the circus. Marco praised Star’s inspired acts, eagerly inquiring about how she pulled this and that off and got who to agree to what. Star gabbing about her creative process and what strings she had to pull, her eyes alight with pride. The two of them just laughing at what the other one had to say. Marco even suggested that Star could blast him out of the cannon again for special occasions!
Marco felt a true sense of calmness coming over himself as he looked at the glorious warm glow of a sunset over Mewni.
“You know, Star… I’m really looking forward to summer break. No matter what happens.”
Star smiled at him, gazing at the sunset as well.
“Me too, Marco. Me too…”
The End.