"Keep a look out," Marco ordered, kicking a limp hand off his foot. The four guards that Star arrived with dwindled to two once they reached the classroom. Marco thanked the heavens that creatures in other dimensions had similar pressure points to humans.
"Aye, aye, captain!" Ferguson exclaimed, raising a hand to give a salute. A seam down the side of his dress ripped. Alfonzo covered his mouth and laughed loudly. Marco rolled his eyes and pushed through the door into the 'classroom.'
The locks on Star's chair were unlocked. Marco noticed Star's eyes were droopy when he knelt down to pull the handcuffs apart. "Star," he said softly, freeing her other wrist. He took her face in his hands. Her eyes widened slightly as she met his gaze. "Star, are you okay?"
"Marco?" she whispered. "It's too dangerous, you need to get out."
"There's no way I'm leaving without you." He pulled her to her feet and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I can't," she said, refusing to move. She glanced around the dark room nervously and spoke loudly, in case anybody were around to hear, "It's against the rules to leave and a princess always follows the rules."
Marco looked at her. He grabbed her upper arms and paused when he felt something wet against the back of his hand. With a frown, he turned her arm around to reveal a puncture in her arm and lines of blood, both dry and fresh, running down her skin.
"Star, who did this?" he asked gently, looking back at her. She remained silent. Marco's eyes narrowed and he asked more firmly, "Who hurt you?"
With a small smile, Star explained in a soft voice, "I started a riot in the cafeteria." Something behind him made her freeze, though, and she added in a louder, monotone, "I deserved it. I acted up in lunch."
"What have they done to you? You've never given up so easily."
"Simple," a voice he remembered all too well said behind him. Still holding her firmly in place, he looked over his shoulder to see Miss Heinous. She smirked proudly. "I broke her. I, Miss Heinous, successfully stole the infamous Star Butterfly's individuality. That deserves some kind of reward, does it not?"
Marco grid his teethed. "You'll pay for this," he growled.
"Not me, boy. You. And your friends. I swore I'd annihilate the rebels who destroyed my school the last time and that's exactly what I'm going to do." She snapped her fingers and two guards walked into the room with Ferguson and Alfonzo.
"Star, listen to me," Marco said desperately. "You have to fight back! This isn't you!"
Miss Heinous smirked. "She can't hear you anymore. She's mine now." She pointed at Marco and ordered, "Get him. And take Star to her new room. She's earned the princess suite."
"No!" Marco yelled as two guards advanced toward them. He held his arms out protectively and glared at each guard, daring them to step forward.
"Stop!" a man shouted, startling even Miss Heinous. Everybody turned to see King and Queen Butterfly standing in the doorway. "You will unhand those boys and stand down, now."
The guards backed off immediately. Miss Heinous scowled at the two, "With all do respect, what do you think you're doing, storming into my school and shouting orders?"
"We received a message from these young men that you kidnapped our daughter," Queen Butterfly explained, her voice low and dangerous.
"Kidnapped is such a strong word. Really, we simply just persuaded her to come with us."
"Hmm, well, we'll be taking them with us now."
"You can't! Your reckless daughter trashed my cafeteria and destroyed my school only just a few months ago!"
"Then I suppose it's our job to discuss her punishment, isn't it?" the queen asked, raising an eyebrow. "Let them go now or we'll shut this so called 'school' down in just three minutes."
"No! No," Miss Heinous cleared her throat. "Very well, they're free to go. I think you'll be impressed with how well your daughter acts now." The king ushered the kids out while the queen simply rolled her eyes.
"Thank you, Marco," Star whispered. Marco took her by the hand and led her out the door.
••••••••
Walking into Star's room was like walking into a giant pinball machine with the different colors, lights hung from corner to corner, and the multiple doors leading to who knows where. Marco would be lying if he said he was surprised, though. The room resembled exactly what he imagined her mind would be like. He turned in a circle slowly, taking in each detail.
"Love the room," Marco teased, grinning at her. She half smiled back and sat on her bed. His smile slipped away and he joined her.
"I was only in there for a day, and it felt like an eternity," she said numbly, running her fingers across her bed sheet.
"What did…" Marco paused, unsure of whether or not he should ask. Star looked at him expectantly, though. He continued, "What did Miss Heinous mean when she said you'd earned the princess suite?"
Star sighed. "I fought, Marco. I fought until I couldn't fight anymore. And even then, when I knew there was no hope of getting out, I still fought. When I first arrived, I took out three sets of security guards. I was warned after the first time what would happen if I continued to fight, but I didn't listen."
"So what happened?"
"They threw me in the dungeon with the meanest, scariest girls I've ever seen. My cellmate could eat me in one bite! I ended up making friends with her, but that's not the point. It was so dark down there, Marco. And cold. And I didn't think I'd ever see daylight again."
"Oh Star," he whispered, taking her hand. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. He found himself chuckling. "Maybe next time you won't wander off with strangers."
"But she had a life-sized gummy golden retriever! I couldn't just say no to those big, cute, adorable, yummy dog eyes!"
"You actually followed Miss Heinous herself out of the school because she had a gummy retriever?"
"Of course not!" She raised her head and looked at him. "I'm not that dumb, Marco! I followed Miss Heinous's assistant out of the school because she had a gummy retriever! I had no idea she worked for Miss Heinous, though."
Marco smiled. "Please tell me you'll never do that again."
"I don't know if I can make any promises if candy dogs are involved."
"Well, then I guess I can't make any promises about saving you if you're going to fall for a candy dog trick."
"Nooo," she whined. "You're my knight in shining armor, right? I can't have my knight quitting his day job."
He found himself smiling. "So I'm your knight, huh? Does that mean you're my damsel in distress?"
"I may be a damsel, but I'm never in distress."
"You're right. You're just in trouble a lot."
Star grinned. "But you save me a lot, so it's okay. Thank you, for saving me today. I really don't know what I would do without you." She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his cheek. He felt himself blushing and smiling uncontrollably. When she pulled back, she giggled at the red tint to his skin. She jumped to her feet and grabbed his hands. "C'mon, I'm starving and the kitchen makes the BEST pegasus milk ice cream!"
He chuckled and followed her down the stairs. He knew that, whatever she might've gone through at St. Olga's, she was okay. She was okay and back to her old self, and Marco couldn't wish for anything better.