Star shot another Narwhale at the seemingly invincible glass case that held Marco within it. She had already used her rocket launcher, which, once again, did nothing. She didn't know what to do.
     "Star! Don't worry about me! I can handle myself! Just get the hell out of here!" She heard Marco yell from his chair that he was bound to.
     She dodged another monster and shot a rainbow blast at it. It was the largest one yet. It collided with the glass.
     The smoke slowly cleared, and once again. Nothing....
     The monsters went to surround her. She whipped her wand down, walls of pure magic energy shot up around her.
     "No..." she growled. She held her hand in front of her, pulling every drop of energy and power she had within her. The hearts on her face glowed and emanated the same color as the star on her wand.
     A loud sizzle was heard across the dining hall as a massive beam of burning magic slammed into the glass box. As the smoke cleared, she saw it was finally destroyed.
     Her friend, Marco quickly recovered from the blast and hopped out of the glass box. When he turned around, it had repaired itself, as if the blast had never even hit it.
     "Marco!" Star exclaimed, running to greet her once captured friend.
      He ran toward her as well. She thought she would never see him again. Once within distance, she dove into his abdomen, causing him to fall on his bum. He landed with an oof.
      She took in his scent for a moment. Even after being in captivity, he still smelled great. That minty cologne brought great comfort to the Mewman.
      "Uhm, Star. There are still plenty of monsters!" He announced. Just in time too, since the thumping of dozens of footsteps was heard.
     She hopped up, and Marco did the same. They got into their signature battle stance, ready to take on an army. The tensions were high. The number of monsters was significantly higher than any time before.
     But just before the battle could start, a clap was heard. Then another. Slowly becoming more frequent.
     "Well done," a smug, yet smooth voice echoed across the hall. "You guys can stand down now," the alligator like creature named Toffee finally spoke.
     "We would Nev-" Star started, but was interrupted by Toffee.
     "Just like your mother, but I was speaking to the monsters. Not you, I know you will be a battle," He had conjured a glass of what looked like red wine.
     He snapped his fingers. The ground beneath the monsters was set ablaze as they all screamed in agony, blue flames swallowing them and turning them to ash.
     "Why would you...," Star started, but was too disturbed to finish.
     "Insignifcanse, at the highest echelons of Monsters," a true disgrace.
     The lizard like creature in the suit was now hovering, circling around the stone room. Sipping on his wine.
     "So, how have you been Mrs. Butterfly?" Toffee asked.
     "Can it, Monster. I found my friend. And I'm either killing you or leaving, I may spare you if you let us leave peacefully." Star announced. Marco was surprised by her seriousness.
     "I'll be killing you," Toffee retorted. Sipping the last of his wine. Star and Marco had never let their guard down.
     "Where did he go?" Marco asked. The Lizard Man was gone. Out of no where.
    "I th-" but Star was once again interrupted. But more rudely this time, considering the alligator tried to backhand her. She barely managed to lean to the left, he barely brushed her ear.
     "Star! Get back!" She looked at Marco as he charged Toffee.
     "Marco! No! He'll kill you!" Star knew Marco had some martial arts under his belt. But he would stand no chance against Toffee.
    Toffee went to slap Marco with his tail. In which Marco jumped over his tail and kicked him square in the face. Toffee stepped back; holding his mouth and grunting.
     Star stood there in awe. How did Marco... do that? Toffee was powerful. A professional monster. Not like Ludo or those monsters. Toffee was real.
     "Star, you need to run. I'll hold him off. But this is getting real. And if we both run we both die. So find a way out now!" He ordered her.
     This was completely new to her. Her head was spinning. She had no magic energy left in her. And now Marco was giving orders and holding his own better than ever before. Like he was a grown man.
     Toffee charged Marco again, where as Marco defended himself as best he could, Toffee got plenty of hits in on him.
     Star watched, knowing she should trust Marco. Usually she would ignore his advice. And she was now. But her gut was telling her to follow it. She knew she needed to. This was serious. But watching this fight was so amazing.
    And leaving Marco with Toffee was the last thing she would do. Marco actually seemed to have the upper hand. Jabbing Toffee right in his snout just before doing a backflip and kicking him in the jaw.
    At that moment; he lost the lead. Toffee's tail extended forward and grabbed Marco by the foot. Toffee slammed Marco back and forth on the floor. Solid brick cracked and busted under the sheer force of impact.
     "Marco!" Star ran toward the battle, wanting to help Marco. But just as she had but a few inches between hear and Toffee, who was still tossing Marco around, an invisible barrier separated them.
     She ran against it; confused and shocked. She looked around. The glass box. Damn. She cursed herself. She watched in horror as Marco was tossed around and tortured.
     Slam. Slam. Slam. Slam. She heard his painful grunts. Tears streamed down her eyes, sobs so painful that she lost her voice within seconds.
     She looked in front of her. Slam. Marco coughed up blood. It splattered onto his shirt and the ground he landed on. Toffee merely looked mildly amused with this whole scenario.
     Toffee slammed him around on the floor a little longer before tossing the boy's lifeless and destroyed body to the side. Marco landed with a dull thud. His lifeless body rolled for a moment. Blood splattered on the brick floor around him.
     "Anddddd dead," Toffee sang. "Should have ran when you had the chance," he looked to Star. Who was sitting there. A blank expression covered her face. Then she broke down once again.
     "Marco!"she screeched. His body laid there, unresponsive.
     "He's dead," Toffee deadpanned. He was right. And she knew it...