Introductory Note: This is actually my first fan fiction piece ever. I have enjoyed watching Star Vs. The Forces of Evil and love just about everything it has to offer. I have a general sense of where this story could end up going but I'll be honest, my writing/storytelling will be a bit rusty. Needless to say, I have the benefit of advancing the story down a new path wherever it goes but rest assured, I will try my best to keep this story as close to the canon as possible. Please, as with any other fanfic, offer your genuine comments and constructive criticism. I am very open to ideas and suggestions. This first chapter I admit, is pretty slow with little dialogue, but this is only the beginning I promise! :)
DISCLAIMER: Star vs. The Forces of Evil is the intellectual property of the Walt Disney Company and Daron Nefcy. This is published under fair use for non-profit.
It had only been a week since the night of the Blood Moon Ball. Yet, ever since then, Marco could not help but think about what happened that fateful night. He wondered, what made that night so special? After all, this week, he and Star had their hands full with Chinese food, time traveling, and even an unexpected visit from Star's father.
Star, Marco thought, letting that name sink in a bit. There was a deep, nuanced feeling rooted deep inside him that seemed to squeeze him every time he heard that name. The very thought of Star herself too, brought up this feeling inside him.
What is it? he thought, frowning, struggling to make sense of it. It bothered him that these thoughts had been preoccupying him. He reassured himself, he definitely did not like Star in a romantic way. He could not, and would not accept that possibility.
Star was his best friend, his true friend, he would add, and their friendship transcended any bond that romance could offer. To find himself with unnecessary feelings for his best friend would seem to compromise their very friendship. In some sense, it even felt...forbidden.
I don't, he thought to himself. He said it again, this time aloud, to ensure that this message would go straight to his head.
But why not? Marco jolted, lurching straight up from his mattress. Sweat beads collected on his forehead and neck. He touched his neck and gently wiped his sweat off before peering at the clock. It was half past one and the home was dead silent.
That thought. It frightened him. Marco didn't know why it seemed so terrifying, but he knew that it wasn't just spontaneous. It wasn't his own doing either. It felt off.
Marco noticed that his window was left ajar and his curtains were drifting against the cool breeze from outside. He got out of bed, and carefully shut and locked the window before closing up the curtains.
Through the curtains' fabric, he saw the fuzzy outline of the shining moon. It was no longer a full moon. Now, the moon only revealed half of its face, with the other half in utter darkness and obscurity. Shifting his eyes below, he saw his entire neighborhood completely dark, save for the street lights.
He suddenly felt compelled to check up on Star, if only to see if she was having a good night's sleep. Before he turned around, Marco stopped himself, wondering if it would be worth it. What if he woke her up and how then would he explain himself being inside her room at this time? The very act of sneaking into her room to check on her sounded creepy too Marco realized.
I'll still go, Marco thought. This time, he wasn't sure if this one thought was truly him or not. It didn't really matter to him anyways as he made his way towards the door. Cautiously twisting the doorknob, he poked his head out into the hallway. To the left, at the very end, stood Star's door.
Marco left his room and began to creep silently through the hall, taking extra precaution as to not alarm his parents next door.
After making four painstakingly small steps, he stopped and listened for any stirring or evidence of someone being awake. Faintly, he heard the muffled snores of his father behind him and then continued down.
The floor board softly creaked with each step Marco took. No matter how hard he tried to lessen the severity of each creak, each seemed to amplify-mocking Marco's hapless attempt to visit Star discreetly and quietly.
Finally, he had enough. Figuring himself that no one at this hour could hear a few creaks, he began walking normally, ignoring each creak and whine, and within moments, found himself staring right at the doorway of Star's bedroom.
His heart was racing, and he breathed heavily, wondering why he gone through all the trouble of coming here. Marco looked back, and saw that his door was still open, with the moonlight shining straight into the hallway.
I could still turn back, he thought, but he shook his head. I'm doing it. He placed his hand on the gold-encrusted doorknob and clutched it.
Suddenly, Marco felt a rush of embarrassment. He somehow felt that, at that moment, he was in the presence of others and that they were delighting themselves in his ordeal. Worst of all, he feared of what could happen next if he entered the room. Cringing, he heaved, forcing himself to open the door.
With a thrust, the door flung open and Marco dizzily spun into the room before he regained balance by stomping on the floor. The door slammed against the wall and the noise echoed through Star's tower room.
Marco clenched his teeth and stood still tensely, anticipating for Star to start screaming at him. After a few seconds had passed by, he heard soft breathing ahead. Marco loosened up, and took a good look at Star in the darkness.
Star was lying on her bed, facing Marco, and wrapped around a pillow. Her mouth wide open, she seemed peaceful in her sleep.
Relieved that he managed to somehow not wake up Star or his parents, Marco took one last look at Star before leaving. There was something comforting in seeing Star like this.
When she was awake, Star was always bouncing with energy and full of uncontrollable zeal. Here, she was more at rest, and placid. She looked like another normal girl. But Marco knew that wasn't the case. She was a princess-the heiress apparent to a kingdom of another dimension-one that wielded great power from her wand.
The wand, Marco thought. He frowned, pondering why this had suddenly come to his mind. Next to Star's bed, on top of the drawers lied Star's wand. It rested atop Star's Magic Instruction Book, a book filled with spells and information pertaining to the wand.
Marco knew what power the wand was capable of unleashing. It could summon virtually anything from large narwhals to laser-shooting puppies. Anything from the mundane to the...more sinister. Whoever held control of the wand, the wand would manifest itself in the form best suited to its master.
He knew one particular individual who yearned so desperately for that wand and would do anything in his power to obtain it: Ludo. Yet, to Marco's knowledge, no one like Ludo had ever held or wielded the power of the wand aside from the Butterfly royal family.
Well. There's Lobster Claws, Marco thought, remembering Ludo's rather dimwitted crustacean minion.
Lobster Claws was able to hold the wand after he grabbed it from Star during a staged fight between him and her. Marco remembered seeing what the wand became when it was in Lobster Claws'...claws. The wand turned into a demonic form with a piercing eye in lieu of the star at the crest and the wand's angel wings turned into thorny ones.
Luckily, the crisis was averted when Marco took action, and kicked the wand out of Lobster Claws' claws, thus returning the wand back to its rightful owner, Star Butterfly.
Marco stared at the wand. He imagined that it would start glowing and burst into power. It didn't.
I should take a closer look, he thought. Yet again, he restrained himself from moving as he reconsidered his thoughts. Maybe I should just go back.
No. I'm just gonna look at it.
Marco felt conflicted, and he was unsure why he was feeling this right now, at this moment. He glanced at Star, still sleeping. She looks cu-
What! Stop! He scrunched his hair, trying to get ahold of himself. Frustrated, Marco decided to take the initiative as he did when he was at Star's door, and approached the wand. Standing less than a meter away from both the wand and Star, he couldn't help but look at Star.
Her breathing was still composed and graceful as ever, and her body was still tucked around the pillow. Marco felt the urge to touch her but resisted, turning his attention toward the wand.
There it was, in all its splendor and majesty. The wand whose possession was only worthy to its master sound asleep in bed. Just as he felt the urge to touch Star, he felt the perverse desire to hold the wand. A dark feeling engulfed Marco and he began trembling.
This is wrong. This is wrong.
Take it! Just for a second.
Marco grimaced and remembered the demonic entity that manifested itself in him when Star accidentally casted him a tentacle arm. Was that what was feeding him these corrupting thoughts?
I won't. Never! Leave me alone!
He turned around, clenching his fists, and rushed towards the door, fleeing from the temptation that lured him to the wand and hoping he wouldn't succumb.
Before he took a step into the hallway, a voice called his name. This time, it wasn't in his thoughts. It was Star.
"Marco?" she asked inquisitively, yawning. Marco had dreaded this moment and now, he had to face her without an answer or an explanation for why exactly he showed up in her room.
"What are you doing?" Star said, this time sterner, now fully awake.
Author's Post-Chapter Note: I hope to release the next chapter soon but in the meantime, please leave behind your suggestions or comments. I am going to make the events that took place during Blood Moon (a specific one in mind) a central part of this story and there'll be plenty of dialogue in the next chapter-that's for sure ;) Bear with me!