Chapter Text
In front of the hotel, Jackie rides up on her skateboard. As she does, two dimensional portals open up around her. Out of one comes Star Butterfly and the other comes Tom Lucitor. They all look at each other and blink.
“Star?” Tom says with a hint of recognition.
“Tom!” Star gives Tom a hug, who smiles.
“It’s been forever,” Tom says.
“Is that Star Butterfly I see?” Jackie says with a smirk.
“And Jackie too!” Star notices her, and gives her a bigger hug, leaving Tom annoyed. “What are you doing here?”
“I was invited to Kelly’s wedding,” Jackie smiles. “You know, Marco’s kid?”
Star smiles hugely. “Isn’t it crazy Marco ended up a dad? I never saw that coming!”
“Really?” Tom asks. “I always thought he was easily the most paternal of your dude friends.”
Star snorts. “He was my only dude friend besides you, Tom.”
“Oh, this is Tom?” Jackie asks.
Star’s jaw drops. “Oh my god, I can’t believe I forgot! You two have never met, right?”
“I think I remember him from when he visited school once,” Jackie squints her eyes.
“I was probably a jackass back then,” Tom says, while putting out his hand for Jackie to shake.
“Nice to meet you, probably jackass in high school,” Jackie winks, fist-pumping Tom, but then slightly recoiling. “Wow, you’re really hot.”
“Wow…” Star grins. “Not one for subtlety, are you Jackie?”
“Oh, I didn’t mean –“ Jackie starts, embarrassed.
“I get that a lot,” Tom shrugs. “I’m not bothered.”
“Suave,” Star says.
“No, like I meant you are actually hot,” Jackie tried to explain. “Like you are warm.”
‘Oh!” Tom nods his head. “Well, yeah, I’m a demon.”
“Wait…” something clicks in Jackie’s head. “You’re Tom Lucitor? Author of ‘How to Conquer All Your Personal Demons’?”
“Yes?” Tom says. “I’m usually more famous for being prince of the underworld rather than for my books.”
“I just kinda presumed it was metaphorical,” Jackie explains. “Not like you were an actual demon or anything.”
“Well, I’m glad it helped you out anyway,” Tom gives a genuine smile.
“Yeah,” Jackie nods her head. “I love reading self-help books by people who clearly have problems. Makes me more thankful that I’ve always had my shit together.”
Tom stares off into the distance confused as Star turns from inspecting the hotel. “Do you wanna hear something kinda interesting about this hotel?”
Jackie squints, “Isn’t this where the old movie theater used to be?”
“Yeah,” Tom nods. “There was a Mackie Hand movie marathon here once. I guess gentrification must’ve led to this whole block to disappear.”
“What?” Star looks at them both annoyed. “I don’t care about the location! That doesn’t matter. Back when I lived with Marco, like my room looked totally different from the rest of the house. This looks like a giant version of the extension for my room, but with a bit more Marco flair.”
“That’s kinda cool,” Jackie says, unbuckling her skate helmet.
“Yeah…” Star trails off. “It’s really crazy. Brings back memories.”
“How do you know it’s your room?” Tom asks. “This modern classism trend is pretty popular among new businesses now. Helps them stand out against gentrification.”
“Why do you talk so much about gentrification?” Jackie asks.
“You’d be surprised how gentrified the Underworld is getting,” Tom muses.
“Look guys,” Star asserts. “You can talk about gendering buildings as much as you want, but as for the design of this nighty nacho place, she’s definitely got some of me in it.”
“Really?” Tom smirks. “I don’t see any cheek markings on it.”
“It’s a building, Tom,” Star deadpans.
“Yeah,” Jackie nods her head. “Like if I designed a building with Marco, I guarantee you there wouldn’t be any freckles on it.”
“Am I going crazy right now?” Tom started to simmer. “I’m not saying the hotel would have horns on it if I designed it! It’s a hotel! I was making a joke!”
“Wow,” Jackie smiles. “He does get feisty.”
“I’m not getting feisty,” Tom rolls his eyes. “I’m just annoyed with Star taking credit for Marco’s hotel adding a lot to Echo Creek’s ongoing gentrification! Don’t you guys ever read the news?”
“Why do you care about Echo Creek?” Jackie asks. “Star and I at least went to school here.”
“I just wish this town would remain the beautiful oasis it was when I visited twenty-one years ago,” Tom crossed his arms.
“Well, Tom,” Star started, “at least you left here on good terms. It’s been years since I’ve been reminded this place…”
“Well,” Jackie broke a silence that had suddenly come upon them, “I want to know where the staff is for this hotel. We might only be here for a day, but I really want to get settled in.” Kelly walks out of the hotel as Jackie spots her. “Excuse me, miss!”
Kelly turns around and looks at Jackie confused, “What’s up? Can I help you three?”
Tom cuts in front of Jackie. “I’m Tom Lucitor. Prince of the Underworld. You should have a room for me.”
Kelly blinks. “Tom... Lucitor.”
“Yeah,” Jackie says, putting her hand out. “And I’m also a Tom.”
“What?” Kelly and Tom say in unison.
“...Jackie Lynn-Thomas,” Jackie sighs. “I was trying to be suave.”
“Oh, Jackie!” Kelly smiles and turns to Star. “And you must be – “
“Star Butterfly, yeah,” Star begins looking around, weirdly nervous. “Were you expecting us?”
“Yeah!” Kelly nods her head as she nervously laughs. “I’ll get your keys, sorry!”
Kelly heads inside and the three follow her, but then she quickly turns around. “Just – stay out in the lobby.”
Kelly runs off as Jackie looks around the lobby. “I haven’t been back in Echo Creek in forever... I wonder if Emilo’s is still open.”
Star begins to pace, “The pizza place?”
“Yeah, I get it everytime I visit home,” Jackie muses. “But I guess I haven’t had it for about twenty-one years now.”
Star stops. “Wait a second! Twenty-one years? Tom’s worried about gentrification since he was here twenty-one years ago. Jackie, you haven’t had Emilio’s pizza in twenty-one years. I haven’t even been on this dimension in twenty-one years! And none of us have seen Marco in that long! That’s too many cowinkydinks for this Mewman! Why are we here?”
Star pauses as she stares directly into Tom’s eyes, looking very unhinged. Tom blinks. “Well, Starship… I don’t know if there’s a big conspiracy or anything… Jackie Lynn!”
“It’s just Jackie, thanks. Lynn is a part –“ Jackie tried to correct.
“What made you leave the skate circuit for this?” Tom asked.
“Well,” Jackie stared. “I thought we were all here for Kelly’s wedding. Marco’s kid?”
“I’ve never seen this kid,” Star continued to pace. “Have you two?”
“No,” Tom says. “But if Marco wanted us here for it, it was probably as like a way to bury the hammer.”
“I think it’s hatchet, Tom,” Star deadpanned.
“How do you know that?” Tom looked around, embarrassed.
“Marco told me once,” Star shrugged as she turned to see Jackie take a ukulele off the wall. “Put that back, Jackie! Who knows what traps might be here…”
“Wow, I forgot that classic Star Butterfly paranoia,” Jackie smirks. “I remember this ukulele.” She reads something etched on the ukulele. “J.L.T. ‘Just Loaded Totality.’ That was my nickname.”
“What?” Tom looked confused. “Why?”
“We were being dumb kids,” Jackie waxed nostalgically.
“But that’s a longer name than Jackie Lynn-Thomas,” Tom pointed out. “Like syllable-wise, you were making it harder for yourself.”
Jackie shrugs. “Don’t argue with history, demonboy. And look, there’s an M.D. too. You know who that was.”
Star nods. “Your medical doctor who gave you the ukulele.”
Jackie spit-takes. “No, Star! Marco Diaz! I got this for him at the bounce lounge with a Love Sentence shirt. We dueted ‘Just Friends’ that night and I played it on this. Now who says I’m never romantic?”
“No one said that?” Star asked.
“I’m just talking about my other half,” Jackie rolled her eyes as she sits down on a lobby chair. “Skateboards and a yearly trip to Coachella isn’t enough for some people. They want you to surprise them too. Well, that’s why I came. Marco never doubted my ability to surprise him. I was just passing through town from a skating competition and decided to hit him up.” She begins to play the ukulele. “Spontaneously. Thank you for the music
The songs I’m singing…”
Jackie notices Tom and Star staring at her, and she explains. “This is a song we sang that night at a sweet jam session. Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing.
Who can live without it?
I ask in all honesty
What would life would be…?”
Unbeknownst to the three, Kelly has returned with the keys and, hearing Jackie sing, joins in on the song. They duet, singing, “Without a song or dance,
What are we?
So I say thank you for the music,
For giving it to me.”
Kelly smiles at Jackie, and says, “My dad used to sing me that song when I was a kid.”
Star smiles. “You must be Marco’s daughter.”
Kelly blushes. “That’s me.”
“I thought you looked familiar,” Jackie says as she continues strumming the ukulele quietly. “So you’re the great secret of the Kells.”
“Just call me Kelly,” Kelly politely requests.
“Kelly’s a pretty name,” Tom smiles. “An old bro of mine was named Kelly.”
“I’m named after a Kelly,” Kelly eagerly explains.
“Cool, but where’s Marco?” Star says, barging in front of the other two. “No offense, I just really wanna see him. To thank him for the invite.”
“Yeah,” Jackie nods her head. “It’s pretty neat for him to remember all of us.”
“Uhh,” Kelly trails off. “You can’t! Sorry. You’re a secret. I actually sent you the invitations. He doesn’t know about you.”
“Why?” Tom asks.
“Well…” Kelly tries to come up with something. “Dad’s always talking about the old days. Before he settled down in Echo Creek and was always traveling through the dimensions. I thought he’d be totally excited if I invited you all, but that was like three months ago. Now he’s so stressed out and he’s not expecting you guys, so he’ll totally flip out.”
“Wait wait wait wait wait,” Star says. “Hold up. Are you telling me Marco didn’t invite us?”
“Well, no,” Kelly frowns. “But just pretend you’re here on vacation, and he’ll get an awesome surprise when he sees all of you guys at my wedding. That’s when we’ll blow his mind.”
“Gee, that sounds great, but – “ Star tries to explain.
Kelly cuts him off by singing, “Father says I was a dancer before I could walk.
He says I began to sing long before I could talk.”
Star begins pacing again, “This was probably a huge mistake.”
Kelly doesn’t hear her as she continues to sing, “And I’ve often wondered
How did it all start?
Who found out that nothing could capture a heart
Like a melody can?
Well, whoever it was, I’m a fan.”
Jackie begins to play her ukulele and returns to dueting with Kelly. “So I say
Thank you for the music
The songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing.”
Tom walks over and puts his arms around both Kelly and Jackie, joining the two in song. “Who can live without it.”
Star groans and says under her breath, “We’ve really starred things up.”
Tom, Jackie, and Kelly don’t notice her and continue singing, “I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for music for the music
For giving it to me.”
Star yanks the ukulele out of Jackie’s hands. “Hey!” Jackie yells.
“Look Kelly,” Star explains. “I’m sorry about spoiling the big surprise, but the last time I saw your father, he told me In very clear terms he never wanted to see me again. I was hoping he had finally wanted to give being friends another shot, but if it was you who sent me that invite, I’m pretty sure I’m still banned from the Earth dimension.”
“But that was years ago,” Kelly explains as Jackie grabs her ukulele back. “I want all of you here.”
Star sits down and puts her head in her hands. “Why?”
“Well, it is my wedding after all,” Kelly chuckles. “I want everyone to be friends.”
“Ughhhh,” Star pulls her eyes down in frustration. “You are soo…. I don’t know! You’re worse than Marco was. I’m glad no one here knows my girls, it’d totally corrupt them or whatever.”
“Kids?” Kelly’s eyes widen. “What do you mean?”
“I was hoping to bring my girls here someday,” Star sighs. “That’ll probably never happen.”
“Like you used to bring my dad?” Kelly asked.
Star looks at Kelly in confusion as Jackie begins playing her ukulele again. Kelly begins to sing, “I’ve been so lucky
I am the girl with emerald hair
I wanna sing it out to everybody
What a joy, what a life
What a chance.”
Tom crosses to Star and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and Star looks at him with a hopeful melancholy. He sings with Jackie and Kelly; whereas the other two are more singing as a jam session, he is pleaing to Star: “Thank you for the music
The songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing.”
Tom leads Star back to Jackie and Kelly, and Star begins to smile as the three continue their song: “Who can live without it?
I ask in all honesty,
What would life be…”
Kelly and Jackie look at Star, smiling: “Without a song or a dance
What are we?”
Star chuckles and their trio becomes a quartet as she joins them in song: “So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me
So I say thank you for the music…”
Kelly closes it out on her own with, “For giving it to me.”
They all smile for a second until Jackie awkwardly breaks the silence. “Do you all have a jewelry store here in Echo Creek? I would like to get a new necklace before the wedding.”
“I can find you one,” Kelly says, smiling. “I can take you to your rooms now.”
Kelly leads them down the hall when suddenly from the stairs, Marco enters, singing to himself, “There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright Rafael…”
“Is that Marco?” Tom asks as Jackie smiles and Star holds her breath.
“They were shining for you – “ Marco stops singing when he sees – “Tom?”
“Hey Marco!” Jackie gives him a peace sign.
“Jackie?” Marco is still confused.
“Uh,” Star reveals herself.
“You!” Marco grimaces as he goes up to Star’s face in anger. “I was cheated by you
And I think you know when,” Marco looks out the window and sees pigeons flying around. He runs away from Star, “So I made up my mind
It must come to an end.”
Marco runs out of the hotel and looks down the empty street, “Look at me now… will I ever learn?
I don’t know how. But I suddenly lose control…” He looks back to the lobby.
“There’s a fire within my soul.”
“JUST ONE LOOK and,” Marco belts as his hotel staff exits all the hotel rooms to join him.
“I can hear a bell ring
ONE MORE LOOK
And I forget everything
Whoa, whoa!”
Marco with his hotel staff try to sneak past Kelly, Star, Tom, and Jackie without arousing their suspicion, but unfortunately, they continue to sing. “Marco Mia!
Here I go again!” Marco gets lifted by Foolduke and Talon to hide, but he glances back at his three lovers.
“My, my, how can I resist ya?
Marco Mia!
Does it show it again?
My, my, Just how much I’ve missed ya?”
Marco jumps on a couch and flips over into a hiding spot, filled with pictures of his youth, “Yes, I’ve been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?”
The staff, still out there with the three guests and Kelly, sing and dance, “Marco Mia!
Now he really knows
My, my, he should not have let you go!”
Tom, Jackie and Star stand there in total embarrassment as Kelly runs to stare at her father, who is singing pulling down picture frames. Marco looks at a photo of he and Tom playing ping-pong and smiling. He shakes his fist, “I was angry and sad
When I knew we were through.” Marco goes to another picture, a selfie of himself with a cape and Jackie having a strained smile. He sighs, “I can’t count all the times
I have cried over you.”
Marco throws both photos on the ground, “Look at me now
Will I ever learn?” He knocks all the framed pictures of the wall,
“I don’t know how,
But I suddenly lose control.” Marco rips off his hoodie and throws it onto the threshold like a whip. Kelly ducks out of the way as he swings back into the lobby. “There’s a fire within my soul.”
The staff turns to Marco as he leads them up the stairs, keeping his eyes on Star, Tom, and Jackie. “JUST ONE LOOK
And I can hear a bell ring
ONE MORE LOOK
And I forget everything.” Marco, having reached the top of the staircase, slides down the bannister as he belts the classic “Whoa, whoa!”
The staff all do cool flips off the balcony into the lobby as Marco leads them in a two-step dance as Kelly joins Star, Tom and Jackie. Marco has run out of breath, so the three visitors and Kelly lead a chorus: “Marco Mia!
There he goes again”
“My, my, how could he resist us?” Star, Tom, and Jackie look at each other worried.
“Marco Mia!
Does it show again?” Kelly and the chorus add.
“My, my, just how much he missed us!” Star, Tom and Jackie murmur to each other.
Marco tears off his shirt and begins to head-bang as he once again climbs up the stairs, while staring directly at his three old suitors, “Yes, I’ve been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted.
Why, why did I ever let you go?” Marco disappears into an elevator.
The staff disperses, dancing their way out of the lobby and into the street with Kelly, as they sing, “Marco Mia!
Now we really know.”
Kelly looks back at the door as she sings, “My, my, he should not have let them go,” as the door closes.
Tom breaks the silence. “You know, she never gave us our keys.”
Before Star or Jackie can answer Tom, a bell rings and they turn around to see Marco, once again fully clothed, and looking at all three with a very forced smile.
“Wow,” Marco says in a manner similar how a red racing car might say that word. “I must be dreaming. You three can’t be here?”
“Do you want me to pinch you, Marco?” Star says, winking.
“Nope!” Marco declares. “None of you are touching me right now!”
“You sure?” Star asks sincerely. “Because you just seemed to be telling your staff how much you – “
Marco cuts her off, “What the heck are you doing here, Star? Don’t you have Mewni to rule? And Tom and Jackie, you should be busy too!”
“Well,” Jackie smiles. “I’m doing an article here for a magazine about going back to your old roots.”
“And I’ve always loved Echo Creek,” Tom explains. “So I decided to take a quick vacation here.”
“And I thought I’d drop in to…” Star tries to come up with an excuse but fails. “I wanted to say hi!”
“Oh, boy!” Marco says with a very fake disappointment. “Too bad we don’t have any rooms. It’s the busy season.”
“Well it’s a good thing I booked our room a few months ago,” Star explains, a little annoyed with Marco’s sudden two-faced-ness.
“Oh, good,” Marco says, a bit aloof. “It’s just a bit inconvenient, is all.”
“What do you mean?” Tom asks.
“Well,” Marco decides to tell them. “My daughter, Kelly – you met her, she has green hair and was probably who met you when you showed up – she’s getting married tomorrow and I really need to give it my full attention.”
“Marco,” Star gives a light smile. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll stay out of your way for your big girl’s wedding. Tom wanted to check out the cemetery and Jackie wanted to see the school again.”
“Yeah,” Marco wasn’t convinced as he goes behind a desk and pulls some keys, “and what about you Star?”
“Me?” Star was never good with new excuses. “I came back to see the sights and well – “
“Whatever,” Marco rolls his eyes and hands all three of them a room key. “I’d love to catch up over some tacos, but I gotta go… clean the pool.”
“Don’t you have a staff for that?”
“It’s my favorite chore,” Marco yells, letting his stress finally show as he runs out the door. Star, Tom, and Jackie all let out a big exhale.
“Age really doesn’t ruin that man,” Tom smiles.
“Yeah,” Jackie smirked. “I was expecting at least some dadbod.”
“Yup,” Star bubbles. “It’s the same old Marco.”
The staff returns from outside as the three head down to the elevator. As they wait for it to arrive, they look at a photo of Marco smiling with a young Kelly on his shoulders. Star, Tom, and Jackie belt, “Just one look
And I can hear a bell ring.” The elevator’s bell rings and the doors open. The enter the elevator. Jackie pulls up a photo of Marco on her phone which Star and Tom also stare at, “One more look
And I forget everything.” The elevator’s door open to the second-floor balcony, revealing the staff ready with a luggage cart. Star, Tom and Jackie jump on the luggage cart and sing “Whoa, whoa!”
Talon pushes the luggage cart as the rest of the staff is led by Foolduke in running down to their door to open it for them. “Marco Mia!
Here we go again!
My, my how could we resist him?
Marco Mia! Does it show again?
My, my, Just how much we’ve missed him!”
They arrive at the door and Talon throws all their luggage in as Foolduke lets them in the room. “Yes we’ve brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted.”
Talon, Foolduke, and the staff leave as the door to the room closes and Star, Tom, and Jackie all slouch against the wall, exhausted, and sing, ”Why, why did we ever let him go?”