Before you ask, I'm gonna tell you that in the last chapter, the forces of evil took control of my brain functions and THAT came up
Luckily, I just regained control… a little
Sit tight, relax, point your weapons at me, and enjoy this chapter!
Marco Diaz opened his eyes at the sound of a female voice. Standing right in front of him was Eclipsa, the Queen of Darkness. She helped him to get up and asked, with concern evident in her voice:
- Are you okay, little one?
- I'm… Where I am? – The boy from Earth asked –
- Oh – Eclipsa said, patting his shoulder – I could ask you the same question
- You…
- I barely recognize this place, after so many years
- You… You killed me! – Marco said, snapping out of his confusion –
- Oh, the puddle thing? No dear boy, that was just practice!
- Practice?
- Yes. I've been trapped in there more than 500 years; I had to practice my magic, make sure my powers were fully back, and there's no better way to do that than with a simple transmogrification spell!
- But why on me?
- Why not on you? – Eclipsa argued, taking a few steps closer to Marco and smelling him – Oh, I'm sensing my family's essence in you, boy. Are you my descendant?
- No, I'm a human. Star, my… friend. She's your descendant
- Is that so?
- Yes, and… she needs our help. She… means the world to me, your majesty – Marco muttered – She needs us. And I need her.
- Her name's Star, you said? – Eclipsa repeated, apparently ignoring Marco's words -
- Correct – Glossaryck interrupted – She's your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter. And she's in danger, just as the rest of Mewni, possibly the Universe
Eclipsa stood in silence, seemingly analyzing the situation
- You – she ordered, pointing at Glossaryck – are going to tell me what the heck is going on. And you – she added, looking at Marco – are going to make up your mind!
- My mind? What do you mean?
- You think I didn't listen to you? You're obviously having feelings for Star. Not even you are sure of exactly what kind of feelings, but you have them
- I…
- Enough talking! – Eclipsa shouted, as a violet gleam surrounded her hands – This spell will only last for ten minutes, after that, I'll need you back on my side, so I hope you make good use of it, understood?
Unsure of what the Queen of Darkness had in store for him, Marco simply stammered:
- Y... Yes, your majesty
- Astral conjunction, loving connection! – Eclipsa enchanted, as Marco disappeared from her side –
- Are you sure that was a good idea, your Majesty? – Glossaryck questioned –
She looked above their heads, at the green and black portal, but no response came out of her mouth
- Come on, attack once and for all – Star Butterfly shouted into darkness – Who cares about monsters anyway? I'm defenseless, defeated, broken! Everything is over for me!
More monsters growled at her. They were getting closer.
- Oh, just finish it all! What difference does it make? Evil has won, and it's my fault!
They were lurking in the shadows. Star could sense them; she heard their footsteps, their breathing, and their desire to tear her apart.
- Seriously? – She snapped again – Five of you? There are just five of you out there? I'd told you, just finish me off, I have nothing left to fight, not anymore, just end this!
She didn't even make a sound when the monsters revealed themselves. She recognized as some of Ludo's former minions: Bearicorn, Deer Beard, Spikeballs, Man Arm, and that mushroom monster, what was his name?
Star didn't really care. She raised her arms and let her wand fell to the ground. The princess stared at her enemies' eyes and said, coldly:
- You know what's the question that you really should ask yourselves before attacking me?
The five of them denied with their heads
- Who's gonna take the credit for my capture?
- Who says we are here to capture you? – Bearicorn questioned, slamming his fists against each other –
- Whatever…
- Wait, you're really not going to fight? – One of the monsters inquired –
No response
- Very well
And as they jumped at her, Star closed her eyes
- Aaaargggghhhhhhh!
Star stood up. A big, blurry thing assaulted the monsters, punching, screaming, and kicking. Soon, her five attackers were on the ground, unconscious. She didn't have any idea what that thing was, until it spoke to her in a very characteristic Russian accent:
- If Star not fights, Buff Frog fights for Star
- Why?
- Star took care of Buff Frog's reasons to live
- Your babies?
Buff Frog smiled and nodded
- That's… really sweet of you, Buff Frog, but I can't fight. Not anymore.
- And why is that? – A voice behind her asked –
Star Butterfly turned around, and in a matter of seconds, felt her entire body pressed against something. No, not something. Someone. Someone was hugging her!
- It… It can't be you… - She said, sobbing –
- It´s me, Star
- I… can't believe you. I won't. I felt it, you were gone, and I…
He let go of her, while Star closed her eyes
- Star… look at me
She wasn't willing to
- Look at me!
- It is not you! It's a trick! Another one of Toffee's devious deceptions!
- It is him, Star – Buff Frog assured – It is karate boy
She took a step back, eyes fixed on Marco's figure, and she quickly pulled out her wand and pointed it directly at him
- Give me one good reason to why I shouldn't blast you into nothingness right now, you impostor!
Marco only thought for a second before answering:
- Because you'd never do that to me, so, por favor, Mi Estrella, believe me
She fell to the ground, her kneels wobbling and trembling. Marco and Buff Frog ran up to her, the boy quickly took out his signature red hoodie and put it on her shoulders.
- Better? – He asked, smiling –
She was silent, Marco approached to Buff Frog and asked:
- Could you leave us for a moment?
- Okay. But karate boy needs to promise to take care of Star, she's only hope against darkness
- I know. You need to promise me that you'll take care of her once I'm gone
The monster nodded and left, hiding in some bushes not far away
- So… are you going to left me? – Star asked –
- It's a long story…
- I felt you… - the princess responded – You were gone…
- I guess… I sort of die?
- WHAT? – She screamed –
Marco kneeled and embraced her with force
- But I'm here now… At least for a few minutes
- How?
- You really want to know that? – He answered, cupping her cheeks – Don't you prefer to say… something else to me? Something more important, mi Estrella?
- Stop calling me that!
- Why?
- Because I'm not your Star – she answered, sobbing again – I'm not anyone's Star, I'm not anyone's hope, I can't stop the forces of evil
- You're not going to give up that easily, aren't you?
- I already gave up, Marco
- You know what? – He asked, kissing her forehead softly and making her blush – I don't believe that. I can't believe that the person I care about the most in this entire, crazy universe is giving up hope. I don't believe your words, Star
He let go of her, noticed that she was still crying, he added:
- But I believe in you, as a princess, as a warrior, as a lovely force of good.
She noticed how close they were, separated just by a few inches, Star put a hand on his crush's shoulder and approached to him carefully, closing her eyes. Suddenly, she felt a finger against her lips. He looked at Marco. He was frowning
- No – He simply said –
- No? – Star questioned, her heart breaking once again –
- Not like this – Marco said, helping her to get up and doing the same – Not with you crying. I can't stand see you crying, Star Butterfly
- I need to cry, Marco. Everything is crumbling, falling apart around me and I…
- I'm not falling apart, Star. I'm still here. I'm always with you.
A small smile made its way along Star's face
- That's better, but still not enough – Marco commented, hugging her again –
After almost a minute, both teenagers separated and the boy said:
- Now that is a smile
He came closer to her, but it was Star's turn to stop the kiss:
- What about Jackie?
- We'll see when we are back on Earth, okay?
- No. Not okay, what about Jackie now Marco, you know… what do you feel right now for her?
- All I know is that… - Marco doubted for a second – Since Song Day, I've been avoiding you, and that's because I was really confused about your feelings, and I guess… I was confused about my feelings too. And I said I wanted things to go back to normal, but the truth is, things can't be normal, they just can't
- Why not?
- I miss the way things used to be, Star… But…
There was a moment of silence and all that Star Butterfly felt after that was a pair of lips against hers, dazed by the feeling, she grabbed to Marco tightly, she didn't wanted to let him go. She wasn't going to let anyone to make him go.
All the doubts that Marco Diaz had until that moment simply vanished, he knew that (assuming they would survive whatever was ahead of them) they would have to give a lot of explanations back on Earth. But for a moment, none of that mattered. Everything that he needed was Star. And Star was with him.
- But I also want things between us to be different…
Star simply nodded
- So… What do you said? – Marco needed a confirmation – Do you wan…
She kissed him again; this time was short, but with more meaning
- Yes Marco, I also want things to be different
They leaned for another kiss, when a portal opened behind him. Buff Frog came out of the shadows, standing in front of them
- Isn't young love something beautiful? – Eclipsa said, looking at the couple –
- Well, I guess that's my cue – Marco complained, getting up –
- Is that… Eclipsa? – Star questioned –
- The Queen of Darkness, the one and only! – she presented herself – Now chop chop darlings, we have work to do!
- I thought you told me… - Marco said –
- I did tell you that I needed you back on my side, young Marco, I never tell you that my granddaughter and his handsome bodyguard couldn't come with us. Now hop, I can't keep this thing open forever!
- Wherever Star Butterfly goes, Buff Frog goes – The monster said, jumping first -
Marco and Star looked at each other and held hands, smiling and disappearing into the portal
Well, that's all for now.
I hope you liked it guys, and I'll see you tomorrow! ;)