Legacy Of Loneliness

A/N: Greetings :) This Fanfiction is a collaborative effort between myself and Mr Black Cat. The concept and ideas for the stories are his and I'll be help turning it from that into a story you will all enjoy :) So please join us on this AU story of Star VS The Forces of Evil :)

The crowd of villagers watched on with mouths opened wide in disbelief at the sight unfolding before them. For weeks the settlement had been violently attacked by a wild and vicious Hydra. The beast with multiple heads had raided the village's herds and killed all their cattle. After preying on their livelihood it had turned on the villagers themselves. The capable men and women of the village had taken up arms to defend their home only to return severely dwindled in number and in horrible conditions. Limbs were torn off by the beast leaving only the elderly and children to care for those wounded and await their timely death.

They had tried to send word out for aid but the husk of human flesh that was tossed back dismissed their hopes of ever receiving aid. They barricaded themselves in the village hall and waited for the end. Some days, the beast wouldn't come but others it would smash buildings apart looking for more prey. After evading the Hydra, for a week already, they knew their time was up when out of the blue a knocking could be heard on the door.

The village chief had lived a long life seeing even his grandchildren grow old and was not afraid of death. He rose from the bunker in the hall and made his way to the door. The knocking continued. It was firm and consistent but not over bearing. The aged man reached the door only to find a child wearing a red hooded jacket waiting to meet him. The chief immediately grabbed him and pulled him inside checking outside for the violent man-eating beast.

"Are you deranged child? Do you not know the horror that walks our streets? Where are your parents?" The elder questioned the boy. The boy looked up at the man revealing his face for the first time. He had tanned skin and a small mole on his cheek, brown eyes and auburn hair. His red hoodie was joined with a white top, black trousers and black shoes. The man couldn't recognise the style of clothing.

"Sorry, I was just passing through and needed somewhere to stay. I'm not sure what horror you're referring to though and my parents.. They're not around.." The chief noted that in the boys eyes he hid great pain and hurt. His eyes showed the image of an older man, one who had witnessed sights that would never be forgotten. The Chief sighed at the boy.

"I'm afraid you will find no solace here young man, there is a terrible creature haunting our village and has claimed many a life. I can only offer you condolences as very likely we will not survive this place". The old man felt tears start to form on his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose and frowned wondering what they had done to deserve such a fate and why the poor boy had been dragged into it. He looked again at the boy who was deep in thought, he couldn't be older than 14 thought the man.

"Well in that case I'll keep moving, I was meant to meet a friend at the village just over the hill but if what you said is true they might already be dead.. A shame really, he was the first friend I'd made in a while. I'll take care of your pest problem for you on my way out." Before the old man could stop him the red hooded boy strolled back out the building. He began to call out loudly hoping to attract the Hydra.

The other village dwellers who were able enough to move poked their heads out to see the old man trying to chase after him. They hesitated to follow and when they did their mouths fell wide open as they were stunned with shock. In front of their eyes was one of the Hydra's severed heads, its blood gave off steam on the cold day as it ceased its movements. They looked up the see the boy jump between the heads tricking the hydra into biting into its own neck. It recoiled in pain as he slid down its neck, back and then tail with his dagger piercing its hide and tearing its flesh. It shrieked loudly as he dodged its erratically waving limbs and sliced off another head. It looked down at the empty spaces where blood poured out realising that its heads were not growing back. He raised his daggers and ran at the creature. In fear of the boy who was tearing it apart it tried to swat him away with its tail.

It watched as the boy disappeared only moving after recoiling in pain. Looking down at the boy who now stood beside it's detached tail the hydra saw his daggers glow brightly before returning to a metallic look. It tried to run away from its hunter realising it was no match but as if walking on air the boy was following close behind it. He cut the tendons on its knee's forcing it to slide across the ground before he systematically rendered the creature dead. By the time he was done the hydra was nothing more than severed heads and a pile of flesh. He removed the hide and slid it into his bag. It was one of the trophies of his journey as it worked like a games storage slot and took whatever he wanted into it never filling up or changing weight storing it inside an artificial pocket dimension. He turned back to the villagers and started to wipe the blood off his clothes. Once he was sure he had gotten enough off he reached into his bag and pulled out a small blue box. He crushed it inside his palm and a blue wave of light began to circle him, settling to reveal no dirt on the boy. He looked up at the Chief and tried to put on a smile.

"Never good to travel without the right equipment, hygiene 101" Silenced followed as no one replied to his comment. He sighed before flicking the blood off his knife and walking away. It wasn't the first time people had been horrified at his technique to slay monsters. He had saved many people before only to be seen as the monster when he had displayed abilities beyond his own. He didn't really care after all no matter how many people or creatures he could ever slay he would never top the monsters he knew existed and deep down he knew it wasn't their fault. People always feared what they didn't understand as all he had done was replace the horrible monster with a strange child that could easily hurt them. It wasn't that he would hurt them but the potential that they didn't understand that scared them. He was used to it. He walked a few steps before being grabbed from behind. He turned to strike his attacker only to pause at the old man cowering from his fist.

"Oh.. Sorry sir.. You surprised me.." He felt ashamed for scaring the old man like that. His parents had not raised him to hurt the elderly.. His parents..

"No, please forgive me.. I should not have brazenly stuck to you after you were just in battle.. But i cannot let you leave.." The old man paused to catch his breath. The boy knew what followed. They'd try making him stay only to report him to the authorities. He'd have to explain he wasn't from this dimension and they'd threaten him or try to arrest him and he'd have to hurt them getting free. It was why he couldn't return to the dimension he had just left because he was now wanted as a fugitive. He was about to leave when the old man finished his sentence.

"I cannot let you leave.. ..without thanking you for all you have done for us."

"Huh?"

"Why are you confused? I want to thank you with all my heart for saving us and freeing us from that foul creature. With it gone we can seek aid and try to save the lives of those wounded. Without your help we would all have been doomed to die. Please accept my thanks and these gifts. They are not much but it is all we have to give you." One of the village children ran over to the old man and passed a handful of items. He bowed to the hooded boy before returning to the crowd. The old man thrust the items into the boys hands.

A chain mail vest he knew he could wear under his top which would prove useful. It looked like it was old but the shine never failed and the metal had not rusted. It did not weigh as much as the boy would have thought meaning it would either offer little protection or was made of a special kind of metal. The other two gifts consisted of a bag of food ranging from meat to fruit and a bag of gold coins. He had gotten good at guessing the amount from the weight after several botched business deals and guessed in Earthen money it was around $650 worth. He removed his top and slid the chain mail over his scarred and toned body before putting his clothes back on. He put the rest in his bag before turning to the old man.

"Thank you for your gifts i shall treasure them, i wish you all the best in the future." He went to leave when a few smaller hands grabbed at his leg. He looked down to see a group of children looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Sowwy Mista, i just wanted to ask what your name was?" The oldest of the children asked him. The old man went to lecture them but the boy held his hand up to let him know it was okay. He looked down at the children remembering a time when he was that innocent and curious and couldn't help but want to meet their expectations.

"My name is Marco Diaz, I'm a dimension traveller... It's not important really." He ruffled their hair and walked away. They called after him thanking him and wishing him luck. He didn't turn back but raised his hand to acknowledge their gratitude. Marco realised it had been a while since he had been thanked for his actions or when he had stuck around long enough to be thanked. As he walked through the forest of torn down trees he wondered what about that village had made him stop. He always tried to help out when asked or when he could see wrongs being committed if he didn't he'd be no better than the monsters out there across the many dimensions but he had never purposely put himself into a situation like that before. Any fool could tell that village was doomed without aid, most would assume it was already only filled with corpses but he had taken time from his plans to find out. He shook off the thought as he reached the remains of the village comically named 'New Beginnings'.

He walked through the wreckage aware of the fact that there was no remains left behind. The hydra must have feasted on all the townsfolk before heading over to the village he had come from. He headed to the building that looked like it could be a bar and began to dig. Under the rubble he found a bag he recognised. Inside was an unbroken bottle of tequila and a pair of scissors, they had pale gold blades with bluish-grey handles and a fireball-like emblem on the centre hinge. He unscrewed the bottle downing half and then proceeded to pour the rest onto the ground.

"I may have only known you for a few weeks but you were a good friend to me. I was hoping it would be us together who would raise the forces of good against the evil of my past.. But I guess destiny isn't our friend. Thank you for looking after my scissors and I share this last drink with you as both a celebration of your life and well wishes for the next. Goodbye" Marco sat down on the broken building and twirled his scissors in his hands. 16 years he had taken to win these babies off of a fiery demon of a gal. He had met her 1 year ago his time while trying to scale up the Sorrow filled Mountain of Doom. After helping her find a rare type of ore she was searching for she offered him to do her trial. He knew time would flow differently and with access to different dimensions his quest would speed up. He gave it everything he had but it was no easy feat. Still, he had completed it. She asked him to stay with her but he had a goal that he couldn't give up for anyone. He needed to keep moving as if he let himself stay in one place for too long he didn't know if he'd have the strength to go on alone anymore.

He ran his hands alongside the engraving as the sun passed overhead. He suddenly found himself squinting as some light was reflected into his eyes. He covered the scissors thinking it was them only to discover it wasn't them after all. He looked back to the bag and realised it wasn't empty. He pulled out a small glittery card that caused the sunlight to bounce off of it. He tried hard to read the letters on it before remembering that the language was one he'd learnt in Heckapoo's dimension.

"Come to the Bounce Lounge, Only the coolest place around". Marco recognised the name he'd heard both Heckapoo and his late friend mention it before. He stood up slowly realising the half a bottle he downed had quite the effect on him. He looked at the card and memorised the dimensional co-ordinates, without being there before this was the only way to get to a new dimension without guessing at random.

"Guess I should check it out, nothing left for me here." Marco opened up a portal and stepped inside leaving the wake of death silent behind.

/

Star Butterfly was a 13 (about to turn 14) year old girl. She had long blonde hair, bright blue eyes and red hearts decorating her cheeks. Today was the day before her birthday and she was bouncing off the walls. Literally. She raced around the castle sliding down banisters and jumping over the servants in a fit of hyper joy. Tomorrow was the day she got her royal wand and became not just a Princess but a magical Princess.

Her parents watched her run up and down the castle both looking at the wand in the Queen's hand worried of what was to come.

"Are you sure you think its the right time Moonpie?" Asked the short muscular king.

"It's not about what i think River, it is tradition. Whether we like it or not tomorrow Star becomes the owner of the Butterfly Wand and begins her training... We just have to hope for the best." As she finished her sentence she heard a crashing in the hallway followed by Star yelling out "My Bad!"

Star ran back up the stairs and leapt wildly onto her bed as her mirror phone began to ring. She quickly answered it to see a floating Pony head.

"Hey B-fly! Girl you are not still at that castle when i know i told you that the most awesomest place in all the dimensions would be hosting the most amazing fabulous being ever created... Me" She raised her eyebrow at the blonde girl.

"Oh Pony Head! I want to go I really do but my parents won't let me when my wand giving ceremony is tomorrow.." Star admitted deflated. Her bottom lip trembled as her eyes widened and watered.

"Oh no don't you give me that face. No way you are not going to be here. Let me pull a few strings and get you a ride!" The floating Pony Head turned back to the room full of people behind her.

"Hello! Be quiet! I am talking! I have a princess in trouble here that needs a portal to this dope place and lacking a means to make it happen. Any of you fine and not so fine, looking at you over there, people got a pair of Scissors to let a lady have a good time!" At first Star thought she had been ignored as everyone carried on dancing and moving when a boy came over to her wearing red.

"Hello handsome you wanna help a pony out?" Star could see the boy was a bit uncomfortable with Pony Head but offered up his scissors to her which she immediately cut open a portal that appeared beside Star. She quickly got changed and did her hair before jumping through the portal and landing into the arms of her helpful stranger.

"Erm.. Sorry.." She managed to say to him as he lifted her up and placed her back down. He brushed all the glitter that had followed her through her room and looked up to her.

"No problem, Just happy to help." Pony Head passed his scissors back to him using her tongue which he took in a handkerchief before placing it in his pocket. He went to leave when Star grabbed at his shoulder finding herself being flung through the air. With her long history of combat and fighting she quickly regained her stance and jumped back to punch him only for him to catch her fist.

"Sorry about that.. Bad habit of people sneaking up on me" He admitted uncomfortably. He was then met by Pony Head who started to have a go at him for assaulting her best friend. Star looked on in awe realising this boy probably around her age had bested her. He'd thrown her before she could react and caught her fist. No one anywhere near her age could match her physically and this boy could. Not only that had he helped her get here and then helped her up. The most significant thing was that he didn't treat her any differently even though she was royalty. She found herself admiring the boy and ended up cutting up Pony Heads rant.

"I'm terribly sorry about my friend Mr..."

"Diaz, Marco Diaz.." He replied.

"..Mr Diaz Marco Diaz, I'm sorry we got onto the wrong foot. Let me make it up to you by showing you an awesome time. I don't mean to be rude but you seem like a first timer!" She held her hand out for the boy.

"It's just Marco, Diaz is my surname and is it that obvious?" He asked nervously.

"Yes Marco it is, you can spot a first timer here a dimension away. I will be your guide for this evening" He shook her hand and smiled at her.

"You still haven't told me your name?" Marco reminded the girl.

"Oh sorry... My name is Star Butterfly Princess of the Butterfly Kingdom on the Dimension of Mewni. Honoured to meet you." Star performed a formal curtsey only to then laugh with the boy. She hadn't noticed but Pony Head on seeing how much Star had taken to the boy had floated off texting into her status. 'BflyXRedHood, know when to give my G-Friend her space!'

The rest of the evening Star showed Marco around the bounce lounge from the super bouncy clouds to the banging tunes of the dance floor. She showed him the fizzy sparkly drinks that would make you glow different colours and almost choked on hers when he turned bright pink. The two partied hard before heading to the photo booth.

"Oh no i left my purse at home!" Star moaned remembering she had left it when she had headed out in a rush.

"Does it take gold coins?" Star turned to see Marco with a small coin purse. Her smiled lit up brightly before grabbing the bag, sliding in a coin and hopping into the Booth with Marco. A few minutes later the two were waiting for their photos when one of the guys from the lounge walked past and slapped the Princess' arse while whistling at her. She had turned to confront him only to find Marco had already punched the guy in the nose breaking it and causing it to bleed. One of the bouncers ran up to the group and demanded answers.

"I dwidnt dwo Anytwing" the downed boy managed to say while trying to stop the blood. The bouncer looked up at Marco and Star as if demanding their side.

"He slapped my friends arse and sexually harassed her. Not sure what dimension this is but as far as I'm concerned common decency doesn't change that much" Marco replied coldly. His story was supported by a few random on lookers and the bloody boy was escorted out. He looked down at his knuckle to see blood dripping. He must have grazed it when fighting the hydra as no normal person would leave him with a mark. He heard Star struggling to find what to say behind him and went to leave not wanting to be called a freak again only for her to grab his shoulder again. Instincts kicked in as he flipped her over his shoulder only to find himself flying into a mountain of pillows. He landed upside down and looked up at the girl smiling down at him.

"Same trick won't work twice Marco.. Look.. Thank you for sticking up for me.. No one really even bothers as they all think i can take care of myself... It was nice really.. Please don't run off.. I'm having an awesome night.." She admitted. She recognised the look on his face. She'd seen the same face on a servant before who had tripped and spilled soup all over her one time. She had been a new worker and the horror of the looming judgement from her parents had shown on her face as she begged forgiveness.. She had been fired, Star had been told for failing her duties but she had never seen her again. She reached out to pick him up again wanting to understand what he was so afraid of but being too scared to ask.

"Ermm.. Okay.. I'll stay.. Sweet throw though, never saw it coming.." He mumbled trying to readjust to the girl. He wasn't sure how to deal with her as she wasn't judging him, wasn't calling him freak or something akin to it or harbouring ill will towards him.

"I know, I'm stronger than I look.. But dude chill.. Let's just enjoy our night." She grabbed his reluctant hand and dragged him to the dance floor. He found himself feeling things he hadn't for so long that he wasn't sure what they were called. At one point he passed a cubicle with a mirror and realised he was smiling. Fun. That was the feeling he was having. He wiped the smile off his face not letting himself enjoy the moment too much, he wasn't allowed to forget the past and enjoy himself. His actions didn't go unnoticed by Star making her frown. When the end of the night came and most people had either passed out on the cushions or headed home. He opened a portal for her and went to say goodbye.

"You know Princess, I actually had a lot of fun tonight, thank you for the tour and for not judging me for punching that dude, I know it wasn't chill but I couldn't forgive him." Marco looked down at the ground not wanting to meet her gaze when she wrapped her arms around him. He felt panic and fear build up inside him not knowing how to react, it had been a long time since he had felt physical contact from someone else.

"No thank you Marco, truthfully I was nervous about the big day I'm going to have tomorrow and I wanted a chance to let it all out and thanks to you I did that.. I really did have a blast tonight too. Thank you..." Star hesitated before continuing to talk.

"Look.. I'm.. I'm having a very important ceremony tomorrow.. I'm getting given a family heirloom that means the next stage in my life as a Princess and I don't really have anyone coming as a friend. Pony Head said she's busy and can't make it and well the other people I know aren't exactly people I want around at the moment.. So if you are free.. I don't want to inconvenience you.. But if you are free I'd love for you to attend as my friend.." It was Star's turn to look at the floor as she asked. Unsure of why she couldn't match his gaze she avoided his eyes. She felt stupid for even asking and wished she could take it back when he spoke.

"I'm free tomorrow.. Is it a black tie sort of thing or wear what you want?" She looked up with a big smile as he was rummaging through his bag.

"BlacktieI'llseeyoutomorrowbyemarcobye" Star rushed out before disappearing into the portal leaving Marco standing there confused. He hadn't really wanted to go but couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet people with power and influence. He could use their aid at a later time if the past caught up with him. He didn't want to admit to himself but he had grown to like the girl and trust her, not something he would usually do but he felt pulled over when she had called him her friend. He's one and only friend.

He smiled before grabbing a large cushion from the corner and pulling a blanket from his bag and settling down for the night.

/

Marco looked at the mirror he had pulled from his bag. He'd taken advantage of the full bathroom at the Bounce Lounge to grab a much needed shower. Cleansing cubes were useful but nothing beat a traditional shower. He had pulled out a black suit with a white shirt. He slipped it on and did his tie. He picked a red flower from the ground and slid it onto his chest. After checking his appearance for the last time he walked up towards the castle marvelling at the multi-coloured wonder before him.

"Halt! Only invited guests may enter" Marco felt two spears pushing against his neck and held back all urges to rip them from their owners hands and plant them back inside their chest cavities. He breathed out slowly as inside his head he told himself that they weren't his enemy. They weren't the ones responsible for all of his trouble and didn't deserve that. Sometimes he let his rage get the better of him but usually it was a well-earned event. He didn't want to make a scene here and cause trouble for his new friend so he calmed down and ignored the metal being pushed against his neck.

"I am here as an Invited Friend of Princess Star Butterfly, I'm sure if you were to ask her you'd be able to confirm this. I'm Marco Diaz." He watched them withdraw their spears noticing their poor posture with the weapons. They seemed to be ceremonial versions and were more heavily weighted at the top. A useful weapon in the right hands but a novelty in the untrained. He watched as an envoy rushed into the castle and disappeared and waited for his return.

He never did return however shortly after a loud crashing sound was drawing closer and closer, the guards stepped back from the bridge as Marco stared at them confused. Suddenly Star came diving out from the doorway leaping at him. He could dodge her and even stepped to the side but chose to just take it stepping back into her reach as the two went tumbling across the floor. They came to a halt and Marco picked them both up realising that his flower was now a pile of petals on the ground he shrugged before looking back at an ecstatic Star.

"You Came! You actually came!... Oh sorry for jumping on you I saw you went to dodge but then changed your mind. Thank you for catching me again. Quick follow me!" She grabbed his hand and forced him to follow her into the castle. The guards all looked on confused at who her mystery friend was and how he managed to be completely fine after being 'Starstruck'. The two teenagers came flying into the ceremony room to see River and Moon looking over several details. They looked up to see Star showing her new friend around and went to investigate.

"Star, honey, who is your little friend?" Queen Moon opened the conversation unsure of when her daughter had acquired this friend. Marco put two and two together and realised he was standing in front of the Princess' parents, A.K.A the King and Queen. He pushed his body together and bowed to the pair.

"Your Royal Highness, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Marco Diaz and I recently became a friend of your daughter, Princess Star. She invited me to attend this ceremony for the passing of her Heirloom. Please accept this gift as a token of my respect." Marco reached into his bag and all the guards seemed to shift simultaneously but River held his hand up to halt them. Marco pulled out of his bag a pair of Diamond Tiger Lilies. On his adventures he had found a dimension where all the flora was made of diamonds and kept the flowers as he was sure they'd be useful. The pair looked down at the flower shocked recognising it. Unbeknown to Marco these flowers were extremely rare and seen as a generous gift in even the highest circles. Moon was impressed, it was the first time one of Star's friends had been not just polite and presentable but accustomed to royalty and knew how to impress. River was more impressed when he noticed the scissors hanging out of Marco's pocket. He read the engraving and knew the scissors belonged to the boy meaning he had completed his trial.

"Well thank you for your gift Marco, It is splendid and been many years since I have laid my eyes on such a wonderful specimen. I hope you will continue to look after our daughter and support her through her troubles and hardships." She smiled at the boy but in her mind she started to wonder something about him.

"Yes exactly as Moonpie said m'boy. Welcome to the castle, let me just go make sure you have a good seat." Both the ruling royals departed leaving Marco to breathe a sigh of relief while Star was staring at his awestruck.

"How did you do that?!" She asked him grabbing his sleeve. He managed not to react and had come to realise she was not planning on giving him space. Ever.

"Do what Princess?" He looked confused. He wondered if he had come off too strong and they suspected something of him.

"Both my parents like you? They don't like anyone I've ever brought here? Not just that what was that flower you just gave them.. It looked so shiny!?" Marco breathed again realising that against his deep fears of rejection and judgement he was being accepted quite happily.

"..I'm a people person? I don't know I've met a few royals in my travels or at least an empire or two and I know what the people in charge expect to see from the lower. It's a flower I picked up in a really strange dimension. I'll show you sometime if you like.. But I think your thing is about to start?" Marco pointed over to the stage where Queen Moon was gesturing for Star to join her. Marco went to sit in the seat that River was pointing at in the front row. Star looked over at Marco who gave her a thumbs up and she turned to meet her parents.

Every guest in the room was surprised to see the Princess calmer than usual. She was dressed in a beautiful light blue dress and wearing her crown. They had crazily expected Star to come riding through the door on a Unicorn or something. Star began to pant excitedly holding her hands out to receive the wand.

"Now, Star, this wand is a big responsibility. If it falls into the hands of evil forces, the universe could be destroyed." Moon tried to explain to Star. She wasn't sure Star was really listening as she laughed to herself. She reached up and took the wand from her mother. It began to magically change from a royal sceptre form to a light purple form with white wings.

"Don't worry, Mom. I can handle it." Were the choice last words Star had chosen.

Within half an hour of Star having the wand she stood looking back at Mewni as a magical rainbow rained fire down on the kingdom. The civilians ran wild screaming in terror as she looked down unsure what to do. Marco ran past her and pulled a grapple hook from his bag. He used it to scale the buildings getting higher and higher until he neared the rainbow. Once close enough he pulled from his bag two vials of liquid and tossed them into the rainbow. It stopped raining fire and started instead to rain down different coloured liquid. Some of the civilians realised they were no longer on fire and stopped to taste the rain only to find that each drop had a different fruity flavour. They ran round cheering as Marco tossed small containers at the buildings that were still smouldering which released a cloud of small dots which began reversing the damage to them and restoring the kingdom to normal. He hid from the crowds as they ran to Star, picked her up and started to cheer her name in joy.

Moon, River and Glossaryck observed through binoculars.

"She can't handle it!" Both Moon and River said in union.

"Yes... but maybe he can.." Glossaryck added stroking his chin.

Later that day Marco awkwardly stood watching as Star was on her knee's begging her parents.

"Please don't send me to St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses! I promise I won't do it again and that I can be good! Nothing was even damaged as Marco managed to fix it!" She wailed to them both.

"Sweetheart, we're not sending you there" River said with a smile.

"Oh.." Star breathed out with relief.

"...Yet." Moon added under her breath.

"We have decided that you can stay here to train and practice your magic under the supervision of Glossaryck Of Terms, your magic tutor... under one condition." River explained to the girl. He looked at Marco which made him feel uncomfortable and with a foreboding sense of dread.

"What is it? I'll do ANYTHING" Star pleaded.

"We would allow you to continue to train and live here, on the condition that your friend Marco over there stays here with us and helps ensure you do not cause any similar accidents. We were quite impressed at his efforts to contain your devastation and his ability to turn it around into a positive public moment for you." Moon moved to address Marco personally.

"Mr Diaz, I am sure it is much to ask for people you have just met and I'm sure you have much to do however we would ask that for at least one year would you please stay and live in the castle with us. To help Star overcome her... difficulty in her magic training. We also believe that you may be a positive influence on our daughter. We assure you that you will be fully rewarded for your efforts and we would happily pay you in goods or in favour." Marco froze not knowing what to say. It was an offer he couldn't afford to refuse, he'd be under the protection of a powerful kingdom, with them owing him a favour and be able to learn and study magic possibly too. He only hesitated as he realised part of him wanted this not for his mission or goal but for himself. He couldn't afford to be selfish in his life anymore and was tempted to refuse when he looked past Queen Butterfly to see Star's face beaming at him. He could tell this would be exactly what she wanted not just to avoid the prison school but because she was excited to have him stay around. He thought about it deeply and then replied.

"Queen Butterfly, I humbly accept your offer and look forward to our future working together."

/

Much later that day Marco threw his bag down onto a bed. He had been given a room close to Star's to ensure that he was close whenever the Princess would cause trouble but was a tad surprised with how welcoming the Butterfly royalty was. He put his daggers onto a table and grabbed a screwdriver from his bag. He began to undo the cartridge on the base of each dagger and took out the expired Nano battery. He reached into his bag and pulled out replacements.

He checked his storage of back up weapons. He would have to create more of the compound mixtures he wasted when he restored the flaming clouds. Originally he had developed them as a way of surviving hospitable environments by turning the composition of the food to edible for himself. The cubes he had used to restore the buildings and his clothes were packed full of Nano machines built with a complex memory programme to set the particles of the things they came into contact with back to their previous state. For the people of Mewni it probably seemed like Marco was adept at using magic but the truth of the situation is that Marco had never learnt any magic skills and that all of the 'powers' were simply advanced science. While he did not have magical skills he had Nano Weapons and cyber enhancements to all of his belongings. The last gifts he had taken with him when he had left his home. Marco put all the stuff back into his bag before heading to his bed. He would deal with this Princess gig for a year and earn himself the aid he needed. There was a knock at the door so he quickly hid his bag under the bed.

"Marco? It's me Star?" She called through the door.

"One second." He replied. He straightened himself up a bit, somewhat disappointed he wouldn't be able to take off the suit just yet. He opened the door to find the Princess already wearing her night gown.

"Hey Marco.. I was thinking.. You didn't really get to eat that much earlier and you were at the bounce lounge all night.. If you were hungry we can always take a midnight trip to the kitchen." Star beamed hopefully. Something about her positively and innocence seemed to sway him as his stomach rumbled loudly as if answering the cry for adventure.

"Sure thing Star.. But.. How about I cook?" Marco suggested.

"You can cook? What do you know?" Star's eyes lit up.

"I have a few ideas. Come on I'll show you." Marco looked back into the room and smiled before closing the door and racing down the hallways with the Princess.

Hope you enjoyed the Chapter :) Please remember to review and let us know what you think, any questions feel free to PM me and I'll try my best to get back to you.