Oh look, Junior's back!

And he's carrying a chapter full of Starco, I mean, angst Starco, I mean, fluffy Starco, I mean…

Well, not even he is sure of what this is…


- Marco… - Star muttered –

- It's the fifth time you say my name, Star – He reminded her, a sad smile plastered on his face –

- I… I don't know what else to say – she muttered quietly –

- Why don't you let me do the talking, then – he commented, extending his hand and trying to reach to her –

From the other side of the portal, Star took a few steps towards his crush, Marco didn't pay attention to her movements and tried to push his arm through the All-Seeing Eye, but to no avail, he was stuck on his own side, unable to touch her

- It doesn't work that way, kid – Glossaryck commented, he noticed that Star was looking at him and simply added – I should let the two of you alone now. A pleasure to see you again, princess

That being said, he disappeared with a poof

However, Marco dismissed his advice and continued to push towards Star

- Glossaryck's right Marco

- I don't care, I know I can reach to you, I know I can

Marco let out a sigh, maybe it was the magic surrounding the spell, but he was truly exhausted, however, he continued, he wasn't going to surrender so easily

- You're gonna hurt yourself – Star's voice transformed into a plea – Please Marco, you…

- This pain can't be as bad as the pain I caused you Star, just let me…

Star closed her eyes and Marco stopped. She was crying. And then, quietly but surely, she started to laugh. She opened her blue, bright eyes of her and said:

- You really think you hurt me?

- I truly think so, Star

- After all the hugs? The joy and fun that you gave me? The patience you had with me after every one of my failures, of my mistakes?

- If you put it that way…

- I'm hurt Marco, I'm feeling a pain that I never felt before, and all I want to do is rip my heart out of my chest and stop having this… this…

- Crush on me? – Marco asked –

- Don't mock on me, please

Marco tried to break the barrier between him and Star again, and for both surprise, he managed to make his way to the other side, at least only his arm, which he used to gently touch Star's cheek

- Look at me, Star. Look at me and tell me whatever you're feeling right now, be honest with me. It's just you and me, so say it; do you have a crush on me? Do you hate me? Do you want to close this portal and destroy my body?

She looked at him, tears still falling from her face

- What do you really feel, Star Butterfly? – Marco repeated –

- I never met someone like you, Marco. I had my friends, my people all around me, but I never thought someone could really understand me like you did, you never blamed me for all the troubles I caused to you, you never been mad at me

- I've been – Marco admitted –

- For how long? – Star replied – Five minutes?

- Maybe six – He confessed, smiling –

- See? You never did anything to hurt me, or to make me feel bad, this crush on you, it's entirely my fault

- You can't control who you are or what you feel Star, but… Why? Why didn't you tell me this sooner?

- Because I really wanted you to be happy

- I am happy!

- With Jackie… - She completed, sobbing again –

The force of the portal increased in that instant, sending Marco backwards, he understood that it wasn't because of him that he reached the other side, but it was due to Star's emotions

- Why with her?

- Because it would be selfish to ask you to that dance and to expect that you would reject Jackie, because I waited for saying this, I waited until I was really sure, and then… The night you confessed your love for Jackie, I understood that you were hers, and only hers, you are just… my best friend, and I had to deal with that

- But you couldn't

Star shook her head, Marco continued:

- So… That night, when you said how a person's feelings can change, how emotions can be different from one moment to another, when that Cube detected that someone of us was lying about…

- Yes Marco, I was the one who lied, I already had a crush on you, and I was about to confess it, when you said Jackie's name, then I knew I had to be strong for my best friend, because the girl of his dreams was his girlfriend, so I just tried to deny my feelings for you, but that only led to separate us even more than what I would've wanted

- You don't have to worry about Jackie anymore, Star

- What… What does that mean?

- We broke up, I didn't use that word exactly, but I don't think she and I can be a couple, not after everything that happened

In that moment, Star butterfly lost control of her emotions once again, and the portal between the dimensions became smaller, until the point she could only see Marco's eye through it

- No! – She shouted into the hollow space – It wasn't supposed to end like this! You should be with her! I left Earth to protect you, both of you! So you could be happy with her! So you could begin your life again! Right before the point I came into it and made it a living disaster!

Marco focused on Star, on how much she loved him, and how much he cared about her, put his finger through the portal and pushed towards her

- Star… Grab it!

She looked at her best friend, trying to reach her at all cost

- Por favor, Mi Estrella, grab it! – Marco pleaded, his mind, more confused that ever, mixing Spanish with English –

- What did you say? – Star asked, grabbing Marco's finger and peeking at the now expanding portal –

- Por favor, Mi Estrella… - Marco murmured quietly – In Spanish, it means please, My Star…

- I know what it means, Marco… What I wonder is why you called me "my" Star.

- Because I've been waiting all my life for a Star like you

- What?

- I… always wanted to tell you this story, Star, but I never found the courage to do it

Now was the girl's turn to push herself through the portal, she managed to get her entire arm to the other side, embracing softly Marco's face

- Tell me, please…

- You promise you won't laugh?

- Why would I do that?

Marco sighed. Well, now was the time to reveal his deepest secret, one that he never told anyone, except for his parents, and one that not even Jackie knew, after that disastrous morning with the Naysaya.

- I remember it happened when I was 9 years old, I didn't have any friends in school at that time, and I was even more insecure than what I am now, so one night, when my parents were sleeping, I got up and looked at the starry night. Have you seen how beautiful are the nights here, Star?

Captivated by Marco's story, the princess took a moment to respond:

- Yes, they're full of stars. Many more than what can be seen in Mewni, that's another reason of why I love Earth

- I see… Anyway, that night, I saw a particular bright star, brighter than the rest, and even though it wasn't a shooting star, I made a wish to it

Then, Marco fell silent, and Star knew she had to force him to continue:

- What did you wish Marco?

Silence…

- Marco… What did you wish?

Marco Diaz never knew why, but that night, under the bright moon of the kingdom of Mewni, with her face showing a mix of sadness and joy, Star Butterfly looked prettier than ever. At the thought, Marco's cheeks turned into a soft pink. Her friend pretended to not notice it.

- I wished… for a life full of adventures, I wished for something to change, to stop being the safe kid, to have the courage to tell Jackie how I felt, I wished for all those things that night… And the night after that… And the night after that… And eventually, I forgot about the star, because my wish never came true

Star was silent, what she could say to make him feel better? What she could do to fix this disaster? The answer was clear:

Nothing.

For the first time in her life, the magical princess felt powerless, but Marco was far from finishing

- If only I knew that what I needed wasn't that star, it was… well, it was another Star

She remained silent, not wanting to believe her ears

- I needed you, Star. You came into my life and turned it upside down, you made me feel a hero, a fighter, a warrior, and you've been with me through thick and thin, to pull me out of the darkness of my monster arm…

- The one that I gave it to you – Star murmured quietly –

- So what? You've been with me when I needed you the most, and how I repaid you? You lost your spellbook; you lost Glossaryck and lost control of your own magic, and where I was then? Captured by the illusion of Jackie Lynn Thomas

- It wasn't an illusion, it was real Marco…

- Oh yeah? For how long? Let me repaid you right now Star, let me get to you, let me protect you, and let me make you feel like there's no danger around the corner…

The portal opened even more, Marco and Star stood up; facing each other, still, none of them had enough force to break the barrier between space and time, only their arms reaching the other side

- Let me… get to you – Marco implored –

- That's the only thing that I want now Marco – she responded – But I can't. My magic is not powerful enough to cross to the other side, and with all this Toffee craziness my family would never allow me to return to Earth

- In that case – Marco explained, grabbing her and not wanting to ever let go – I'm going to get you

- What?

- Just wait for me Star, Glossaryck and I are coming, it may take us a while, but we will get there, I promise

- It's too dangerous, Marco

- Just like my life when I met you

In that precise moment, the All Seeing Eye started to send sparks everywhere, changing forms uncontrollably, Marco could barely distinguish Star's face from the other side, worriedly, he asked:

- Is everything okay? Star? Star!

- I'm here Marco, but you'll need to let go, the spell is becoming unstable

- Star…

She looked at his friend and gently kissed his hand, before wrapping herself in his arm

- Huuuugs – She whispered sadly, as the portal finished closing and Marco finally let her go -

The last words she heard from Marco Diaz were:

- We'll meet again Star, and when we do, I'm going to…


Oh, look who's crying now…

Definitely not me! (Sobs)

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See you around!