Flowers and Stars 1

The Peace They Earned

A/N: Here's the official Chapter One of 'Flowers and Stars'. I hope you enjoy.

Today was like everyday for Marco Diaz of Earth. Get up early and do some light training by himself. Then when the time came head down to the Royal Laundry to meet Sir Lavabo. The knight had kindly offered to continue to train Marco in many things since he came to Mewni in return for his aid in the early hours. Marco was sure his help only sped things up a little bit and was certain that Sir Lavabo had only accepted his aid as a way of not offending the boy. Regardless, Marco enjoyed the exercise. He got battle practice, smelt great and trained beside a respected, if not odd, knight. It was win win.

Once Marco had finished his training he gave a respectful bow before heading off to go meet up with Star. He timed his day perfectly so that he arrived just before her alarm. He waited and heard it go off only to be quickly turned off. This was also routine for the boy. He knew Star couldn't help but want "A few more minutes" as she liked to say. However with the light knock on the door he heard her rise and the sound of a blast in the room before stepping out of a cloud of sparkles and glitter was his best friend with a bright smile on her face. She grabbed his hand and began to run through the castle.

He apologised to everyone she almost trampled although, thanks to him, most of the castle's staff knew to avoid the shortest route from Star's room and the dining room around this time. She kicked open the door before running to the table. Marco freed himself of her grip in time to grab a vase that had been knocked over in the action. He placed it gently back before bowing his head in respect to the rooms guard and heading over to the table. He pulled Star's seat out for her allowing her to sit down gently as she jumped back into the chair before saying good morning to the King and Queen and taking his seat.

"Marco m'boy you are turning out to be one of the finest squires i have ever seen!" Exclaimed River through a mouthful of meat he had tore off the bone.

"I never thought anyone could handle my little bumpkin but look at you go! I dare say, in the recent times the number of casualties and damaged from Star's breakfast dash have dwindled to near zero! Plus I happened to chance upon Sir Lavabo when i required my meat blanket the other morrow and he delightfully told me of all the aid you've been providing him!" He cheerfully yelled across the table. Moon leaned over and using his meat blanket she wiped the juices off of her husbands face.

"What I think River was trying to say was thank you Marco. The palace is running so much smoother with the staff feeling more relaxed. I was worried at first when you proposed the breakfast plan but it's turned out remarkably well and as for Sir Lavabo, i hear that today he finally finished all of the backdated laundry from all the times we have had to evacuate the castle. Meaning that for the first time in many years he has actually got the chance to take a vacation and it's all thanks to you". She watched proudly as the boy blushed from all the praise he'd been receiving from both of them. It felt good for him to have his hard work recognised.

During the fight with Meteora he had tried to hold her off enough to help Star but he had failed. He couldn't do it and only ended up as useless as everyone else. He had tried so hard to make up for this especially when they had finally rescued Moon from the Magical Realm. Star perked up from her corn to look at the interaction.

"What about me? I know Marco's doing amazingly" She turned to Marco quickly. "You really are doing great I can hardly believe you weren't born to be a Knight." Turning back to her parents. "But what about me? I'm doing my best too?" She pouted at her parents as they both smiled and looked at each other quickly.

"Yes Star, of course you are. It hardly needs to be said that it's all thanks to you that I'm even here. You managed to save the kingdom and save our people. Since then you've worked so hard to be the best you can and it's showing. I use to worry that when the time came you wouldn't be ready.. Now I think this crown is just waiting for you". Moon answered with a wide grin on her face. She saw the shock in her daughters face and chuckled.

"Moonpie is right m'dear. You have made us both so proud both as a Princess of Mewni and a Warrior in your own right. Nothing more can be asked of you sweetie." He watched her hearts grow bright and her face redder till she matched the same shade as the boy next to her. "Mental Portrait Secured: Starco blushes" River thought to himself.

"Ermm.. thanks.." Was all Star could muster before once again grabbing Marco and running off. This time when she slammed the door the guard caught it before rising to see his King and Queen laughing together. Mewni was at peace.

Star glided down the halls of the castle before leaping from a window. She ran on the roof top before sliding down. She let herself fall before Marco quickly flew to his feet below her and catching her Princess style. He didn't have time to respond before she grabbed him and carried on running. This was his everyday and he loved it. He smiled as he let himself be dragged by Star off on another grand adventure with all their friends.

But this was not everyday.

Glossaryck watched the two friends run out of the kingdom and off into who knows where. He flew into the castle and straight to the throne room. He flew in front of the thrones before bowing.

"King River, Queen Moon. It's lovely to see you again."

"Likewise Glossaryck" Replied the Queen.

"Has there been any changes to them?" He asked concerned.

"None.. as far as i can tell everything is perfect. Star is happy and focused on doing everything right. I gave her today off of training since she has been working to hard and Marco has been doing everything in his power to be the Knight my daughter needs by her side. I don't see how anything you've told us can be true?" Moon sighed explaining to the genie.

"Well that's why i brought the wand with me. Because even I had my doubts as to what is to happen." His eyes moved to look at the broken pieces of the Butterfly Wand as it lay on a cushion between them.

"Tell me again! What happens to them!" River demanded.

"I've said it many times but fine." Glossaryck pinched the bridges of his nose. He had already tried explaining it many times to them but they wanted answers. As did He.

"1 week ago as I was minding my own buisness eating my pudding a rift opened in front of me-"

"A rift? not a portal?" River questioned.

"No River, a rift. A portal is to travel to another dimension but this.. this rift was to travel through time. And out of the portal stepped... me?" Glossaryck brushed his beard with his hand recalling the confusing moment.

"The other me claimed to be from my future which confused me as i can always see multiple futures and i never saw him coming. Naturally i doubted him. I tested it with magic but no he was me. 1 Year from now. He said that he had come back to change the past, he knew the rules and didn't care. He had watched the world he cared about be robbed of it's light and he demanded I do something this time to stop that."

"The future you really broke the rules?"

"Yep but lets not think of this as a little break. He broke one of the biggest and oldest rules that have ever existed."

"For..-"

"-For Marco yes. I was confused with this as I mean, I like the boy and i think Mewni has found a great King candidate but for me to break the rules so much to save 1 human life. I was shocked."

"Yes... we remember your face when you came here to tell us. No riddles, No jokes.. No half-assed answers just the truth. We knew something big had happened for it to end as that."

"Exactly. Future me didn't go into a lot of detail as not to make his crimes even worse but before he was dragged back by the future Heckapoo he did tell me to do everything to save Marco and to do that... we needed to find 'him'" Glossaryck said confused.

"Him?"

"Him"

"Who is 'him'?" River quizzed.

"I have absolutely no idea my King. Not the smallest clue. I mean the look on Heckapoo's face was one of pure anger and sadness. She told Future Me he had gone to far and had betrayed the boys wishes. Why? Why would me of all people go against not just the rules but what the boy wants to save him? What happens to Marco that leaves him in this situation." The three looked down at a small crystal and stared at the small recording it contained. It was the final moments of Marco Diaz of the Future as he fell to his demise with a smile on his face.

"Is that Mewni? It looks exactly like our kingdom but why would it be like that?"

"I'm not sure of that either. At first I thought it was clearly the kingdom under siege but after watching this interaction between Myself, the boy and the Princess I think that maybe it's not 'Our' Mewni"

"What does that even mean?" Moon demanded. She had tried so hard to keep up her composure in front of Star and Marco during the morning while deep inside all that she had was worries and stress. She had taken to Marco more after he had been the one to reach into the portal and pull her out. For some reason he could resist the powers of distraction that existed in the Magical Realm. He had fought for their kingdom twice and brought Star time. She had no trouble with him being the person to marry her daughter but she could not forget Tom. As much trouble as he had been in the early days he had turned out to be a stunning Prince. Even with the truth in front of him he hadn't questioned Star and Marco, hadn't lost himself in rage and even protected their Kingdom and help restore it. He was waiting, for Star's heart to decide who she wanted. Not what he wanted. She respected the boy, both the boys and she didn't want the fate foreseen to become reality.

"I'm not sure but it's possible that this is another version of Mewni castle... I don't know how or why but it's possible. However this could still be Mewni and the Butterfly Kingdom in shambles in front of us at the hands of the very boy we have decided to protect."

"Marco would never do that! Not him! He is a proud and righteous warrior and will lead Starco into it's new dawn!" River stated loudly and proudly.

Ignoring the last comment Glossaryck replied. "I think so too, which is why we need to discover what happens to him and how to stop it."

"Do we have any clues?" Moon asked hopefully.

"One. The same time as the rift appeared in front of me i felt one more open and someone come through. They used the timing of Future Me perfectly to hide from Heckapoo and they knew what they were doing. My bet is that someone else has also come from the future and is still with us."

"Are they here to help?"

"I can only hope so." The three turned their attention back to the crystal as the final moment had began to loop. Marco Falls and Darkness follows.

Mewni had some really great sights if you could be bothered and were tough enough to find them. Such a place was it's Hidden Lake of Dancing Souls. The lake was surrounded by a mysterious fog and was rumoured to move around following the will of the dancing lights that were scattered across it's surface. Once every few hundred years a stray mewmen, monster or other type of individual would stumble upon this beautiful sight. They would be lost in the lights and eventually fall asleep. Waking up just where they needed to be unsure if what they witnessed was magical or a dream. The rumours of the lake would start again and over time a legend was born.

Only the Lake had a guest who was enjoying the view. He sat watching the dancing lights spellbound by their beauty. By now the Lake would have left this man to his own devices where his destiny was requiring him to be but this man was different. He wasn't meant to be here. To even exist in this time and place. The lake had no choice but to allow him to stay and for that it put on a show. The lights danced more wildly at each passing second forming together than scattering apart flying high causing light to bounce of the surface of the water. The stranger enjoyed the show and thanked the lake for it's blessing before taking a step back and falling from the sky. He looked down at the ground below realising that he was several tens of miles above the ground. He waved a hand in front of him and a portal appeared to which he fell through and was shot across the ground before rolling to a stop at the bottom of a tree. As far as graceful landings go this had not been his best. But not his worst either.

He brushed down his black trousers noticing that his shoes had come undone. He leant down and tied his black laces up. He checked the rest of his clothes. He wore a long over coat that matched most of his other clothes being black. The only white he wore was his shirt which was joined by a slim black tie. He tightened it all up before continuing his walk. His dark red hair was waving in the wind so he reached back and tied it into a bun. His looked down at his watch again realising that he'd broken it in the fall. He quickly waved his hand over it fixing it and watching as it caught up. Right on time. Walking with a bit of a sway now he continued on his way. He let his red coloured eyes scan the distance where he could see what looked like a group of small dots running from a giant beast. Perfect.

He began to run towards it laughing the whole time. He waved his arms and began to pick up speed again akin to the speed had had when falling. He was now watching the dots grow bigger and bigger till he could see the people.

A blonde girl ran in front with a big smile on her face followed closely by a boy in a red hoodie and a girl with aquamarine hair. They also wore big smiles on their face but clearly were a bit more tense than their bubbly leader. They all suddenly stopped and turned to fight the giant sandwich. It leapt at the boy who did a perfect back flip while kicking the creature sending it recoiling in pain. The two girls hadn't wasted the chance and had both made giant swords appear out of no where and attempted to end the beast. However it wasn't to be as the creature dodged the hits and sent the girls flying into the arms of the boy causing all three to blush. They turned again to face the creature ready for combat.

The stranger smiled, what better entrance could the universe had provided for him. He knew this was a good sign that lady luck was on his side and she wasn't being the fickle mistress she was known to be. Just as the creature lunged at the trio the stranger leapt forward kicking the beast at the extreme speed he'd been travelling. The force he kicked it with sent the beast flying back into the forest it came from leaving only the sandwiches that fell from its body to fall straight onto a plate the stranger made appear.

He turned to the three and offered them the plate with a smile.

"I believe these are yours" Marco was speechless he may not have been able to see the man coming but he recognised that kick anywhere. It was a karate kick and one the boy had loved to use many times only it never had that effect before. Kelly was shocked at how far the beast flew and was still trying to see if it had landed but Star on the other hand ran straight to the plate holding it high and yelling..

"..SUCCESS! We have aquired the perfect sandwiches for the perfect day off lunch!" Clearly overjoyed at the situation.

"Who are you?" Marco asked sternly surprised by the man he didn't recognise. He knew the well dressed individual was older but not by much he had a light stuble and the red features of his face including his red hair, eyes and a small cresent moon under his left eye made his question if this man was a demon.

"Oh little old me?" The man asked amused by the sterness of the boy.

"Yes you. The person who just flew in out of no where-"

"-and saved our butts! Thank you for that by the way but seriously dude. Who you be?" Star asked now getting into the man's face. He held his hands up as if to profess his innocence.

"Just a simple traveller journeying across the many dimensions, Was having a nap at the Lake of Dancing Lights and popped out only to find you kids, you looked like you could use a hand... or foot." He chuckled. All three watched the man closely. They were all attune to when people were lying or shady and even though they all looked for it it seemed this man was hiding nothing execpt...

"Your name?" Marco stated again. He didn't fully trust this man.

"Oh yeah sorry I forgot to say that haha" chuckled the stranger again.

"Well what is it?" Marco was loosing his patience.

"Name's Dox" Smiled the man.

"Dox who?"

"Dox A. Par, Weird name I know but the one i was born with so can't help that but just call me Dox. Nice to meet you... oddly suspicious kids?"

"Oh sorry about him he's just a bit of a worrier, My name is Princess Star Butterfly and i want to thank you for helping us with our lunch" She beamed at him. She had stopped screaming her name now at strangers and randomly hugging them. Her training to be a better Princess had led her to try to be more formal in every interaction ever so slightly.

"And the two beside me are Kelly and Marco, Marco's the one with the mole" She chuckled watching Marco blush quickly before turning to the man.

"Pleasure to meet you all and especially you my lady" He bowed towards Star respectfully before continuing. "Now I've just arrived in this fair dimension and i gotta tell you it's a long time I've been back to Mewni I was originally looking to head home for the first time in forever but my portal locked onto something here instead of my home dimension" He rubbed his chin confused.

"I've heard of that, if its a dimension usually travelled then sometimes portals will lock onto anything from that dimension if it's closer. What dimension were you trying to get into?" Kelly asked Dox.

"Earth" He replied to a group of confused faces.

A/N: And there it is :) Chapter 1. I hope you can see that the last chapter is what River, Moon and Glossaryck are watching in the crystal. The End of Marco Diaz? Thank you for reading and i hope you review and let me hear your thoughts. I'm sure you can all guess the clue within Dox's name and that will be made clearer soon. But who is this person who claimed to be from Earth and what does he have to do with Marco's future? I hope to release the next chapter soon :)