Star Vs is Owned by Daron Nefcy and Disney. As well as any entertainment media in the next decade. ANYWAY ON WITH THE STORY!
The Amethyst Arcade was a hot-point for the Multiverse youth that:
A- Is either too young for the dozens of high profile clubs.
B- Too awkward to go to them
C- Is actually born in this dimension and is aware that it's virtually the only interesting thing about this cavernous realm, and given up to video games to bring the escapism the natives so desperately seek.
D- Just want to play video games.
Marco Ubaldo Diaz didn't really fit a lot of these descriptions, at least in the regards of escapism. The thrill of combat he already gets daily from his spars with the knights and Kelly in his path to become a knight of Mewni, an escapism from reality for him would be kind of silly, considering his decision many months ago from abandoning a safe life on Earth for the dangerous, thrill-seeking journey alongside Star. After all their adventures, all of their struggles together, after Hekapoo, Toffee and everything?
He knew he wouldn't be able to forget, nor truly be happy outside of the Multiverse. He's living his dream, why would he have any need for escapism?
He winced a bit, rolling his shoulder a bit, and chuckling "Wow, she really doesn't carry that big sword for nothing, doesn't she?". The stares he gets from the "pixels", the natives on the arcade, from the fact he had any contact with any female doesn't escape him, but just another similarity he can chalk between Earth and the Multiverse; however, that will be the last time he says he can take Kelly's punches in training. Her jab almost brought uncomfortable memories from Toffee again…
No. He isn't here to remember that. He's simply having his...me time; the stump celebration was really nice in the end, even if...mentally scarring; dealing with Star's smugness on the breakfast table about how she was right and everyone was wrong was just annoying, but to give her credit, she really was right; it's dumb to think things in Mewni are impossible, he's proven again and again otherwise: The invisible goat, and now the Stump.
Besides that, the day was heading to be just another usual day for him: Star and him chat up about her monster peace plans, then he heads to train with the others, deal with their snobbishness, Janna, and trains; Seems like not even in Mewni is he truly free of her, because now she's just saying she's staying in Mewni?
He would ask why, and how, which she just shrugged, and gave that grin that told him absolutely nothing, and the fact that Star parents just went with it after she gave them a letter of her parents approving made his hopes for a life where he doesn't need to lock his door every night and the knowledge of the futility of it crashed down in flames.
That letter was probably faked too. It's Janna.
Is it been a year huh? This place was his first dimension experience, and where he first met Ponyhead; in a way, it really was a good way to introduce him to Star's world. An odd dimension, with odd people, with Star's odd friends, that ended with them fighting something, the memories bringing him a smile to his face, especially after he passes the Lance Lance Revolution machine. "I think I have a quarter here, somewhere…" He digs through his pockets, fishing one, and inserting in the machine. The motions, once weird for him are now second routine, attracting a small crowd as he breaks high score after high score with ease.
Hah, he isn't even sweating! Take that, Ponyhead!
In his excitement, he doesn't notice a person approaching, holding a single coin in their hand, and inserting on the other slot, until the screen flashes with New Challenger Approaches! Blinking a bit, he turns to his side, seeing who entered the fray…
He couldn't see much, his shape covered by a dusty looking cloak, but the body definitely showed it being human...or human-like. He raises an eyebrow a bit, and the person giggles slightly...wait, that laugh is familiar…
He doesn't have time, as the game begins again, and he plays against them...he expected it to be an easy victory, considering his experience, but the individual is keeping up with him! His competitive drive sparked, he starts truly putting his all, the crowd behind them growing and growing, their eyes shining as the Titans clash, Marco putting up an actual sweat and his adversary struggling, raspy breathing coming from her…
After the game ends, the P1 Wins screen feels much more rewarding. He falters a bit, taking deep breaths with laughter intervals, and notices with some surprise and satisfaction that the same reaction came from his rival in Lance Lance. After they catch their breaths, they leave the game, to the disappointment of the crowd. The individual seems to be going on their way, Marco rushing to get caught up with them.
"H-hey, that was a great game! W-what's your name?"
Silence from the stranger...Marco keeps grinning for a moment, before looking away a bit of awkwardness.
"So...hmm...you're kind of like a wanderer? Cause I gotta say, you really look like it! Y'know...dusty cloak..silence...mysterious air...and…" he tries taking up small talk, grimacing a bit as the individual still doesn't reply…"Okay, I, hmm...will stop bothering-" He is cut off by the same feminine giggle, that erupts into a full blown laughter…
Wait...that laughter…?!
The girl takes off the top of the cloak, showing her medium-sized, slightly wavy platinum blonde hair with an unmistakable aqua streak, freckles and emerald eyes. Her face has some faded scars, and she's sure he sees a purple spot in one of her eyes, but her grin is wide, as she puts a hand on her hip, and the other hand extends, a sort of radar falling from her sleeves to her hand. She can't help but laugh at his stunned expression, before speaking.
"Hey Marco, it's been a while, huh?"
As in the past, Marco can't help but be wide-eyed as he sees Jackie, especially in a place out of Earth. Dozens of questions begin to be elaborated on his head, most of them variations of how, why, when and whose...but only one manages to escape, maybe with the help of the frustration with his another Earth friend.
"...why is everyone I know leaving Earth?" He finally asks after a while, rolling his eyes. Oh, he is surprised by Jackie being well...here at all, but considering Janna presence too, it feels way too much of a coincidence.
"Wait, she only went now?" She asks, genuinely surprised
"Well, I mean officially she was hanging out and delaying after Stump day, then one says she just said she would be sticking around."
"Ah. Well, to be honest, you really should have seen it coming." She mutters a little dismissive, but clear amusement in her tone, starting to walk again
"I did expect that coming from Janna, but you Jackie?" He scratches his head a bit, clearly confused "I-I mean, not that I'm happy, wait how did-" Jackie raises a pair of scissors to Marco's view, his eyes widening.
"Wait, that's Lu-"
"Yep."
"How did-"
"Remember that fight on the graveyard? He dropped those, they were like...still there. I guess they thought it was just normal scissors?" She twirls them a bit, oddly prideful of them, before snapping them shut with a click and pocketing them
Marco is left speechless for a while...Jackie expression grows sadder, albeit keeping the smile, looking to the side
"It's was...really bad back home, y'know. Without you, Star, Janna...not a whole lot of people that I could talk after meeting you guys. Not like...they would get it. After a while, I...guess I just had enough, decided to see for myself the stuff you and Star have seen for the past year. And have to say, I'm kinda mad at you for not inviting me before you know!" She turns to him, punching him in the shoulder playfully, and not noticing the wince he makes as she unknowingly punches the same shoulder Kelly bruised. "The stories have nothing on the real thing!" she says excitedly, turning to Marco that looks even more surprised.
"I didn't want you to get hurt, me and Star knew how to fight! You could get hurt, or..." He defends himself, Jackie humming understandably, raising a hand to cut him off.
"Yeah, you're right Marco. I mean…" She turns to him, deadpan "It's not like you would do a stupid decision like give up everything on Earth for adventure, right?" She replies, almost mean-spirited, but the half-closed eyes and small half-smile scream playfulness.
Marco starts to take air to reply...then lowers his finger, before cycling for quite a while. Jackie can't help but laugh again, and eventually, Marco joins, the two holding on each other for support…
"Also, it wasn't like, only for Adventure...I went to make sure Star was safe y'know? I'm her squire too now!"
Jackie stops a bit, and Marco weights his own words, covering his mouth and punching his head slightly. Yeah Marco, just remind her of that whole day, just rub the salt!
"Oh yeah, you and Star right?" She turns to him, her expression carefully neutral, but...Marco swears he can feel a chill, the air conditioner here is usually just right…"Are... you both dating now, right?" She finally asks, innocent curiosity in her expression...which comes to a realization as Marco looks uncomfortable, looking away.
"Hmm...she's-" Jackie pauses a bit, expression returning to neutrality...the lake and the monster party comes back to the front of his mind; his realization, the kisses just...he came here to leave that behind, not just relieve.
The cold gets really strong for a moment, making him gasp a bit and rubs his hoodie. "Woah where did that come from?" For some reason, Jackie does jump a bit for some reason, before giving a clearly forced laugh.
"I...get it I guess. You don't need to talk about it if you don't want to, y'know dude." She sits on one of the benches in the arcade, patting the other seat, the scene very much familiar "Hmm...honestly I'm just curious how ya even got here, did you just came from Earth? You look really different…" He sits down, looking at her.
"Oh no, I've been around since before Christmas, really."
"Wait, that was months ago!" He gasps at her again, and Jackie giggles as once again she manages to surprise Diaz.
"Yeeeep!" She extends the p, flicking Marco's nose and giggling at his reaction...the teens keep silent for a while, looking around, and still processing the presence of the other.
"Wow...you're really different now. From...like, last time, on the pier." He began speaking, twiddling his thumb. "I-I'm sorry by the way. I...got blinded. I really, really acted like the croissant boy, to the end." He laughs a bit bitterly, and Jackie just pats his shoulder
"Yeah, you were always really stubborn." She sighs a bit. "Let me guess, she's dating someone else." Jackie replies, an...aggressiveness to her tone Marco can't help but find odd
"So...yeah I'm sorry." Marco finishes, and Jackie only releases a pent-up sigh.
"On both ends, huh…" She looks upward, Marco groaning in frustration. "I think we really should change the topic! It's a happy time, right?" She finishes with a clear grin, turning to Marco, who just looks more than glad to...and maybe a bit curious. Marco blinks a bit...but shrugs, secretly glad to change it.
"Alright, then how did you even got out here?"
"Hah, no cutting around the bush, right?" Laughing, she looks in the distance "Okay, remember that Museum place we went on the fieldtrip…?"
The Multiverse is incredibly dangerous, for its full grasp is limited only by imagination, and even then it's oddest corners can bring sight, feelings, and forms completely incomprehensible for mere mortals.
Dimensions made solely for the benefit of other dimensions, like Quest Buy, the largest distributor of magic-related merchandise in all of the multiverse, and that in no way haven't promoted itself to appear first.
QuestBuy™ - Now for the second millennia, the number one place to work in the Multiverse!
…
Getting back on track...
Other dimensions are positively death worlds, inhabited by only the toughest, strongest beings that thrive in a might makes right world, the fantasy of many young adventurers until they actually do get there and realize, hey, fighting for your life isn't all that cracked up to be!
Unless, of course, you're an adventurer, drunk on adrenaline, or very much purpose-driven; in which case, you'll most likely fit in just right.
Other realms, like Mewni and others relatively saner, are fairly similar to Earth, but the presence of Magic and other elements brings an element of mysticism and wonder, bringing undoubtful excitement for anyone's life, but by trade making sure the rate of people getting to old age is even lower than it should have any right to be; because why have a long and fulfilling life if your last words before a sudden and idiotic demise was to say that the very fast acting quicksand pit isn't as quick as people say it is!
And in between those extremes, you have infinity. Underworld, Cloud World, Ice World, Desert World, A DIMENSION THAT IS SOLELY AN ARCADE!
Arcades aren't even that popular anymore!
...
Suffice to say there's a place for each person on Earth's wildest dreams, but for the sake of their sanity and physical integrity, they're much safer in their dimension, the tamest of all, to wonder and imagine from a safe distance; the fact that 99.99% of them have absolutely no idea of the concept of the multiverse is a shining example of the saying: "Ignorance is Bliss"
Then why would people seek to leave this peaceful existence, for one of neverending thrill? Even on Earth, in its safety in regard to the Multiverse, has more than enough thrill to satisfy someone for a lifetime; why seek something so wild and unlike their entire life?
The answer for that is different for each one; For Marco, it was Star and for a spark of adventure he couldn't ignore.
For Janna, the allure of the unknown and of magic closer to her fingertips than it ever was before.
For Jackie Lynn Thomas, someone with little to no experience with the wilderness of the imagination? Whose experience with the multiverse began and ended with a visit to a museum, and her ex's stories?
With no preparation with combat, or knowledge of the multiverse, or noticeable magical aptitude, experience or weapons besides a stolen pair of scissors and a skate?
It was glorified stupid teenage decisions made in the heat of a moment.
This is the story of how Jackie Lynn Thomas learned to stand amongst her best friends on her own terms.
I do want to get some things clear, first and foremost. I consider Can't Catch Up as its own story, in the same sense as the ending was optimal, the story right here can be considered a sequel to it, but ultimately one is entirely free to disregard this fic, as, admittedly, it will be more in tune with the show's tune than Can't Catch Up was.
Second...well, this story exists because you people's reviews and reception of the story absolutely blew me away! I didn't know there was this much interest in a Jackie centric story here, so you can pat yourself on the back, for this story wouldn't exist without you people support!
Updates wise, The Refugee Princess will take priority. And much like that story, I don't have a set schedule for updating that one, and this applies here; I'll try for one chapter on Princess and one on here, but sometimes I might want to focus more on another, so don't take this as gospel or hard truth. I most likely won't disappear for months with absolutely no news, so don't worry about that either. I apologize for how short this chapter was, I just wanted to get it out of the way as quick as possible so you all would know.
It's also probably full of grammar mistakes because my beta ain't around. Woops. Anyway, I have no right to take this long on such a short story, so I'll be signing off!
