A/N: I guess I'm going to update this sooner than I thought. I got some motivation after reading some fanfics today and several things will be revealed in this chapter that hopefully give the story and characters depth. Hope you enjoy this review, and to the person who gave my story a shot, thank you.
Disclaimer: I do not claim the right to Star vs. the Forces of Evil or any of the characters in the show. They belong to Disney and the show's creator, Daron Nefcy. I do, however, claim the right ot the plot as well as any original characters that may appear in this fic. - Sky
*Chapter 2*
The carriage ride was held in silence for a good while, which allowed me to close my eyes and relax. Just before I could succumb to my tired mind after the events that took place, Star decided that now was a good time to have a conversation. What a thoughtful person.
"So Marco, tell me about yourself. I want to confirm the information I've gathered on you," she said with signature smile. "Let's start with your childhood, since all I've been able to gather is little to nothing tangible." She crossed her legs and rested her chin on one hand, while holding a glass of what she called 'Corn Mead' on the other, "you have my undivided attention."
I had two options here: One, I could lie about myself and my background or, two, I could come clean. I decided to go with the safer option and tell her the truth, since there wasn't anything of any real importance to say about myself, except one.
"Well, Star, I am or at least was an orphan who was found near the brink of death near the Forest of Certain Death. It's funny now that I think of it, and was found by Kelly and a few of the guild members while they were on a quest by the Johansen Kingdom, roughly around ten years ago. As to my memories of before that incident, I cannot say since I don't remember anything. It all comes back to me as a blur or blank. In those ten years, I have been in the guilds care and was assigned to the position of blacksmith since I had a knack for it and, before I knew it, I was well known for my work among the guilds. I don't see why since I think my work is above average at best."
Star laughed at my bluntness and sat up, "Clearly you jest, because I've seen swords made by you cut through rock without a scratch on the blade. It makes me wonder what you can do when you're serious," she looked towards my lower body, "among other things."
"Star, can I please finish my story?" She sighed and waved her hand, signaling for me to continue.
"Thank you. Besides the whole blacksmith stuff, I became a part of the guild as a permanent member which wasn't easy since I had to craft a sword made of dragon bone for Kelly's mom, and that wasn't a fun time, but it passed. I've been in the guild ever since, doing my job and keeping out of trouble, until now."
Star began to laugh and accidentally dropped her glass on the carpet floor of the carriage, she didn't seem to notice or care. " Oh Marco, you're a riot, I assure you that you're not in any trouble, for now."
Great.
"So what about your friends? That shrub girl, Kelly I believe, certainly is very attracted to you. Mind filling me on the details?"
Why was she interested in Kelly? Should I lie about my relationship with Kelly? After all, I don't know Star very well. Hopefully the basics suffice.
"Kelly has been my friend ever since she found me in the forest. She can be a little possessive at times, but she isn't a bad person at all. She was the first to treat me as family since day one. I respect and value her very much."
Star raised her eyebrows at my statement and before I could react, a dagger was raised at my throat.
"Now Marco, don't lie to me. I hate liars more than I do monsters so, for your sake, tell the truth."
Why must every woman that I meet be violent? Why?
In a quick and fluid motion, I took the dagger from her hand. Before she could react to my actions, I placed the hilt on her stomach, "I'm not lying. Kelly and I are best friends, and nothing more. The only thing I failed to mention is that she is older than me by a year, she's 17." This seemed to satisfy her enough, and sat back down. I handed her the dagger back, which she placed under her dress. Interesting.
"So she's younger than me, good. I have an advantage then." Before I could ask on what she meant, she flicked my nose.
"That's for threatening your queen," she leaned in and pecked me on the lips, "and that's for telling the truth."
I didn't react to the kiss, which made her look displeased.
"Why don't you react to my advances? Am I not attractive enough for you?"
I scoffed, "That's not the issue Star," this seemed to brighten her mood, "but enough of that. Now it's your turn to introduce yourself since, not to be rude, I don't know much about you or Mewni."
She sat back down, "Well, alright. My name is Star Butterfly and I am the current queen of Mewni since … my parents were killed in the war a few years ago. As for my age, I'm eighteen years old. I'm painfully aware of how young I look despite my age, but don't let that bother you too much. My personality, well, I rather you discover that on your own," she gave me seductive grin, "My bust size is-"
"Whoa there, your highness, let's drop the jokes and get to the real matter at hand," I leaned into the seats. Wow these are really comfortable. "Why do you want me? I'm not very interesting besides being a blacksmith, so tell me the reasons why. The real reasons."
Star's posture changed, and now wore a serious look on her face.
"You're very insightful Marco, I like that, but you're right. I do have ulterior motives as to the sudden changes to our deal. I'm sure you may be aware of this but, just in case you're not, I'll tell you," she sighed. "My kingdom is losing the war Marco and I can't afford to lose. Too many lives have been lost and the reason why I need you is because of your skill as a blacksmith, as well as your insight. Oh don't look at me like that Marco, I told you I did my research, and what I found was rather amusing. You're not only the guild's blacksmith, but also their strategist. Considering how famous your guild has gotten over the past few years, I'd say you're a pretty darn good one at that."
"Can't say that I'm surprised Star, but only Kelly's mom knew that information. Not even my friends know, which I would like to keep that way, so how did you find out?"
Star smirked, "A girl has her ways," she laughed, "I'm joking, Kelly's mom spilled out your secret when we were discussing our deal over a few drinks of my specialized mead. She can't hold her alcohol to well."
I should have known. Kelly's mom is a loose cannon when she is drunk, something Kelly inherited from her. Those memories were not pleasant.
"Okay, that makes sense, but what about the betrothed business? What's the reason behind that?" She immediately tensed at my question, which I found odd considering her personality so far.
"I was hoping you wouldn't ask that, but you're right, once again. The reason for that is to keep the nobles, well, people in general, off my back regarding marriage proposals. I once had someone that I considered for marriage but … we had a falling out. People have been more annoying on the matter because of my age due to Mewni customs and the few battles we have recently lost near the Mewni River. This has only edged them even further on pestering me. Also, everyone in my cabinet are idiots, and have provided little help on actually winning the war. Some have even suggested that I try to negotiate with the enemy, but they fail to realize how that turned out for my parents. Toffee is no fool, and has made it very clear that he plans to win the war through bloodshed, rather than diplomacy. I plan to make that lizard and his armies pay for what they've done to my kingdom and me."
It all started to make sense now.
"So the whole 'sultry' act was a front to … make people believe that you're interested in the idea of courting, to say the least," she nodded, "and you sprung the question to me since it killed two birds with one stone, correct?"
She laughed nervously, "sorry about that Marco, I promise to make it up to you. So, what do you say? Will you help me?" she gave me a pleading look. Well she definitely knew what buttons she had to push.
I sighed, "I'll help, but there's something you should know about me which you may not like." She gave me a curious look, "Star, I don't like violence."
Her shocked expression told me everything I needed to know.
"B-But ... you're clearly a warrior Marco! I just witnessed it a few seconds ago!" She was starting to become a little hysterical, which was out of character for her.
"Relax Star, I don't like violence BUT I will defend myself if need be, even against a member of the opposite gender. So I can help you strategize as much as my ability will allow but, when it comes to the actual fighting, I don't want to be involved."
She seemed to have relaxed a bit.
"Sorry you had to see that Marco," I waved her off, "and I'll take any help I can get." She looked outside of the carriage window, "we should be near the castle now, oh, there it is."
I followed her gaze and noticed the tallest structure I had ever seen peaking over the cornfields. The towers seemed endless, even managing to surpass the clouds. The castle glistened in a beautiful array of colors, no doubt from the precious stones that decorated the walls and towers, from the softest yellow to the clearest blue.
"Wow, it's breathtaking Star." But, suddenly, I got a bad feeling.
She giggled, "I'm glad you like it Marco because-"
In a split second, I kicked her to the other corner of the carriage, a knife whizzed past my head and into her right shoulder.
Darn. I wasn't fast enough.
Star's pained screams rattled the vehicle, and the commotion outside didn't help, but I had to focus. We had been ambushed.
I leapt up from my seat and checked on Star. I pulled the knife out, much to her discomfort, and dressed the wound as best as I could, given the circumstance. I tried to lift Star up but found a knife stuck to the side of my ribs.
Huh. When was that there?
I pulled it out and winced at the pain, but remained focused on the task at hand: getting Star to safety.
As soon as I stepped outside with the queen leaning on my right shoulder, I had to move Star's head from an incoming arrow at the last second, hitting the carriage behind us. I quickly surveyed the area and noticed how grave the situation was. There were about twenty or so monsters fighting ten mewman knights. We were strategically outnumbered.
"Star! Wake up," I smacked her cheek a few times until she reacted, she has lost to much blood, "I need you to order your men to form a tortoise formation around us in the middle. I got a plan." It took her a few seconds in order for my words to sink in but she did as I asked.
Once we were somewhat safe inside the formation, I laid star on the rocky ground and looked at her shoulder. The knife must have pierced a major vein since she was losing blood, and fast.
"Are any of you medics of any sorts?"
One knight, covered from head to toe in steel armor, stepped into the formation.
"What's your name?"
The knight bent down to our level and looked at star, "It's Jackie Lynn Thomas."
"Well, Ms. Thomas, I need you to look after the queen while I deal with our friends outside the formation. Can you do that?," she nodded. "Good."
I got up, and walked up to the knights, "let me through, I need to settle this quickly since your queen doesn't appear to have the luxury of time."
"How dare you give orders to a royal knight peas-" he paused when he looked at my face and went silent.
"S-Sir i-it's dangerous-" another knight stuttered. I didn't have time for this. I grabbed him by the shoulders and moved him aside as if he was made of paper, and walked towards the waiting monsters.
"Cover up the gap and don't let anyone in! Do you all understand?!"
"S-Sir, yes sir," the knights yelled.
I scanned the monsters and noticed they were unscathed from the tussle with the knights, meaning that they were either skilled warriors, or the knights weren't as amazing as I've heard around the guild.
"May I speak with the one in charge?" The monsters gave each other odd looks, but seemed to understand what I said since they parted and, from the middle, walked out a serious-looking woman with a x-shaped scar on her chest.
That's just great. Another violent woman.
"You are either pretty stupid or rather brave to walk out of that defensive formation unarmed," she grinned menacingly, "and into a horde of monsters no less."
I took a few steps forward, "is there any way we could avoid all the violence? If you turn back right now, you won't get hurt," I said
Laughter erupted from the monsters, except for their leader who squinted her eyes at me and, after a few seconds, opened her eyes in shock.
"You're from that Lycan Guild aren't you," she began to laugh, "this must be my lucky day because not only will I, Ether, one of the generals of the monster armies, get to kill the queen of Mewni but a member of the oh so famous Lycan Guild too, in the name of Toffee."
"I guess that's a no on my offer," I pushed my hair back in annoyance, "can't say I didn't warn you." I started to walk towards them and was soon met with monsters charging towards me.
"I really hate fighting," I ducked under a bear looking monster's swing, jabbed his chest and jumped over an ogre`s attempt to grab me, jabbing his neck midair. As soon as I landed back on the ground they collapsed, "since it is very tedious."
"What did you do to my soldiers!" yelled Ether. The monsters stopped in their tracks and just watched me, cautiously.
"Pressure points. It works on anyone really," I continued my pace towards them with my hands in my red hoodie that now sported an even redder stain where the knife had hit me earlier.
I didn't have much time either, so I needed to step it up. I wouldn't want Kelly to find out that I died to monsters, don't want to be a reminder of what happened to her dad.
Ether noticed my injury and I saw her gain some of her confidence back. "Everyone charge him! NOW!" All the monsters, and Ether, rushed me with their axes, pikes, swords. Some even shot arrows at me.
Why can't I catch a break? Why?
I sighed and decided to get a bit serious. I was pressed for time after all. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths and reached what I liked to call my 'Zen' mode. A mode where I'm in a deep meditative state, and all my senses are immensely heightened. I now had all of their attention, just like I planned.
The first monster, a big chicken, tried to impale me with its beak but I easily side stepped him and moved into his center. I punched his stomach with so much force that he flew a few feet away, landing on a couple of monsters. The next monster that charged me looked like a combination of a dog and a bull, which tried the same tactic as the chicken. I jumped over him and landed on his shoulders. I used my legs to swing on his neck and managed to toss him onto the ground with the momentum, landing a punch on his face as I landed, rendering him unconscious.
I turned around to the knights, "Get the queen the safety! I can handle this so GO!" I yelled.
They stared at me wide-eyed but understood what I was trying to do. They backed away at a fast pace, never breaking formation, through the cornfields for cover. They were heading in the direction of the castle. Maybe they weren't idiots after all. Once I couldn't see them anymore, I turned back towards the mob of monsters.
Four down, sixteen to go.
"You idiots! Chase after the queen," yelled Ether, "I'll handle the boy."
The monsters tried to run towards the cornfields but I managed to get ahead of them. Startled by my speed, and probably what I did to their fellow comrades, some of the monsters retreated back to their commander, who did not look very pleased with them.
"Cowards," she said between gritted teeth, "must I do everything myself?!"
She began to approach me, and I readied myself since I could tell she wasn't as dumb as those she commanded, but my vision went blurry for a couple seconds. I had lost to much blood. I hoped Ether hadn't picked up on my predicament. When my vision refocused, I saw a smirk plastered on her face.
She noticed.
"Well would you look at that, seems the queen's bodyguard is out of juice, literally." She laughed. "Don't worry boy, I promise to make your death swift so you don't feel a thing. All you have to do is surrender. Deal?" The monsters caught on to what she meant and gained back the confidence I had robbed them of mere moments ago. Life can turn on it's head in a matter of seconds. Lucky me.
My vision was only getting blurrier with every breath I took, which was starting to sound labored. I had no other option. I had to flee the only way that I knew how, at the moment, and I didn't like it. However, once I compared the pros and cons of what I was about to do, I decided that the possibility of surviving this was the goal. My birthday was tomorrow after all.
"Hey lady, mind if I ask you a question?"
"Sure, you're going to die anyway so I'll humor you."
Perfect, she fell for the bait.
"How many seconds does it take for a person to disappear?"
They all looked at me as if I had lost my mind. "Wow you lost your marbles that fast in the face of death huh," she chuckled, "I'm going to say three seconds."
I smiled, "Ooh, close, but not quite. The answer is … zero."
And with that I was gone. I kind of wanted to stick around and see their reactions, but I decided to not risk it. Next thing I knew, I landed on the ground near the edge of the corn fields, which happen to be close to what appeared to be a village. I hoped it was in the vicinity of the castle since I began to fade in and out of consciousness so I couldn't make out my surroundings.
This scenario reminded me of what happened all those years ago, the day Kelly saved my life. I really should thank her again for doing that. As my final thought was of Kelly, I began to pass out for one last time.
"Well you look like shit," said a stranger, "guess I gotta help ya'."
A/N: Hopefully this chapter was a little more interesting. I like to leave things on cliffhangers for some reason, weird. As I said before, any support such as comments are deeply appreciated since I need to know if I'm doing something wrong. For example, the story is confusing or something doesn't make sense. Regardless of that, hope you enjoyed and until time.
