Welcome back! This chapter took forever because I essentially rewrote it from the ground up. This truly is the best version of this chapter. Enjoy!
Night had fallen over the treacherous Forest of Certain Death—the most dangerous place in Mewni outside of the Underworld. Trees, weighed down by massive canopies, drooped to form a nearly impenetrable ceiling over much of the forest, blocking out much of the moon and stars. Brambles and thick foliage caged the ground under them, and the depths of the shadows hid a million deadly secrets. At any point, a wild beast or flesh-eating plant could ambush anyone foolish enough to enter the dark world. It is said there are exactly a thousand ways to die in the Forest of Certain Death, but Marco didn't care tonight. Perhaps life would be better off if a wild manticore pounced on him. He was just a stupid common boy who thought being in love with a magical princess would be some kind of fairytale.
For a few months, it did seem like one. Dating Star had been the highlight of his life. Everything she said or did was adorable like wiggly laser puppies. Light danced in her eyes like fire in the sky. Her voice sang with energy and enthusiasm at the sound of adventure. When they were alone, her natural exuberance tempered into a warm passion—transmitted by hugs, kisses, and gentle caresses. Star Butterfly had to be as close to perfection any natural being could achieve, and it was that perfection Marco wanted to protect at all costs. Even if it meant keeping his distance. Their love, no matter how beautiful, was bound to end in tragedy. Maybe Marco should thank Dave for the perverse warning.
Sorrowful eyes sought out the moon, and he saw that it was white instead of red. Star? He tried to reach out with the Blood Moon bond in panic but heard nothing. The last tendrils of it had uncoiled. Marco was truly alone. Pain seized his heart in a vice, and the former prince sat down on a log and cried. If he made the right decision, why did it hurt so much? He had experienced a breakup before, but Jackie dumping him had been relatively painless. She simply skated off into the night, and by the next day, the blues were gone. Leaving Star felt like leaving part of his soul. It felt like dying. Not even optimistic thoughts of her forging a new life made him happy. Tom would certainly try his best to be a better prince, but the idea of him sharing tender kisses and moments like Marco had made him ill.
Stop thinking about it, Diaz, he uncurled himself from his ball. Moping around wouldn't undo anything. He needed to figure out what to do and where to go. Echo Creek sounded like a good idea, but he could not bear to break the news to his parents—at least not yet. The Butterfly castle was no longer his home either. Marco was trapped between two worlds, so he figured the Forest of Certain Death was a good compromise. He could find a way to survive out here—he was practically a Mewman after all. I'm going to need food, water, and shelter, he fell back on survival wisdom.
Marco's quest took him deeper into the forbidden woods and deeper into the night. Until his eyes adjusted, the journey was full of tripping and stumbling, and even his human night vision wasn't much more helpful. The worst part, however, were the memories of Star in his mind. They haunted him like ghosts because the fear and loneliness made him crave her. She made the worst of times better. During the battle against Toffee, just the mere idea of seeing her gave Marco the courage to survive the rat invasion and being held in a dungeon. She really was like a guiding star in his life, promising a way out of the night. Tears rolled down his cheek. Stop thinking about her, he willed himself to focus on the forest.
The wall of trees opened, revealing a small divide where a stream split the thick wilderness. The sound of water tumbling against rocks was rather soothing, and Marco decided the place would make a good camp. Since it was a mild night, he set his next focus on making a fire to sanitize the water and to keep predators at bay. Then he realized something…he didn't have an ax or pot. I can make some with magic, but he suddenly realized he could not use it without his link to Star. Defeated, he sat on the ground. I didn't think this through. What was he doing out here?
Suddenly, Marco knew he was in immediate danger. His human senses might be duller than a Mewman's, but he instinctively knew a not-so-friendly beast stalked him in the shadows. The boy stood up with cellphone flashlight in one hand and a big stick in another. "Who's there?" He barked.
Rustling of limbs filled the air and out stepped a blackish-gray blob. At first, the weak light picked up eyes—dozens of pairs of them in odd places. Next were gleaming black noses, rounded ears, and rows of yellowed teeth. A multi-bear. Marco had read about them a few times and knew there was hardly a fiercer beast, especially when surprised during its midnight snack. Berry juice stained its mouths, but human flesh had to be more appetizing.
Marco knew he had to do something and fast. I need fire! All beasts feared flame, but there wasn't time to build one now. He had to fight for his life, unarmed. The multi-bear bellowed an angry, berry-scented roar and charged. The boy rolled out of the way and smacked one of its passing faces with the stick, causing the bear to grunt. But he did not celebrate. A blunt hit to the nose would not be enough to win the fight. The multi-bear shook his injured face but rallied for another attack. This time he lashed out with his claws and scratched Marco's thigh, sending pain through his leg. Falling to the ground, he cursed in Mewman—his official first word in the language. Did I really just say "fuck" in Mewnian? His lips tingled. Swearing wasn't his thing, but Star had the habit of doing it a lot when upset. Losing at videogames tended to bring a whole lot of unsavory words out of her, but Marco was also the cause of them. If he kissed her just right and in just the right places….
A blow sent Marco flying into the air and skidding against the ground. Memory lane was over. Slowly, he got up and mounted a bluff charge, hoping that seeing its prey fight back might spook the bear. It worked; the animal scrambled backward instead of forward. I'm not letting you win! Marco unleashed all of the pent up energy stored in his body. Mewni was supposed to be his new home. It was supposed to be his fairytale ending. Instead, it took his friends, girlfriend, and happiness. Marco lashed out with the stick like a sword, managing a few good blows to the different faces of the animal. I'm going to show everyone that I'm not a weak human!
He endured a series of attacks from the bear, thanks to a rush of adrenaline and sheer determination. The summer heat crackled into a storm, but the battle went on. Neither the bear nor Marco yielded as the rain poured into the forest and turned the ground to mud. The boy slipped in the goo, lamenting that his nice clothes were ruined. Sir Lavabo is going to be upset, he thought but realized that he would never see his friend again. He couldn't go back to the castle. The bear brought a heavy paw down on Marco, stunning him. I'm going to die, the impact left him conscious enough to know that this was the end. He was going to die alone in the Forest of Certain Death, far from his friends and family. Maybe they would never know what happened to him. Star…he closed his eyes. Star, I know you can't hear me, but I love you.
An explosive bang split the air, and a shockwave sent Marco flying a few feet. Ow! He held his pounding head but saw that the universe had sent him a miracle. Lightning had struck a nearby tree and created fire. Emboldened by hope, he raced to a burning branch and waved it in front of the bear. "Get back!" He snarled. "I am Marco Diaz, and I'm not going to let you win!"
He didn't just mean that to the bear but to all of Mewni too. If they wanted to make his life a living hell, then so be it. Marco was going to claw and fight his way to the top. Nothing would get in his way! Not even King Lucitor! Whimpering, the bear limped away, and the warrior collapsed to the ground. Healing rain cooled his body, and he fell asleep.
"Marco? Marco, wake up?"
Something poked his sore body the next morning, and he opened his eyes to light. "Star? Is it you?" He reached out a hand. He wanted to feel her soft skin or her slick blonde hair but did not. Despite being unable to see momentarily, he knew the arm he touched wasn't Star's.
Sight returned to his eyes, and he saw Kelly crouched over him. Although not his bright and shining warrior princess, a friendly face was always a good thing. The green-haired girl studied him and said, "You look like a mess. What happened to you? Where's your girlfriend?"
Marco could only imagine what she saw—likely a boy in wet, muddy clothes and covered in bruises. He sighed, "What didn't happen. As for Star…we broke up."
Kelly's eyes grew wide in an expression he couldn't read. "Well then," she pulled him up. "Let's get you cleaned up first, okay?"
She practically carried him back to her dimension since he was too exhausted to walk. So, this is where she lives, Marco glanced around in surprise. He always assumed she lived in a minor kingdom on Mewni, but Kelly's world was a desert. Sand collected into low-lying dunes under a purple sky, and surrounding them were giant clumps of…hair. Multicolored, billowing shelters that he soon discovered were actually members of Kelly's species. They waved at the warrior girl as she passed through the empty streets until she came to a giant pink mound.
"Hi, Mom," she greeted. "Mind if I bring a friend over?"
Marco involuntarily shrieked when a pair of eyes and a mouth appeared on what was supposed to be Kelly's house. "Absolutely sweetie. Don't forget to clean your room later."
"Whatever," Kelly smirked and brought Marco inside. I have so many questions, but he decided that washing up was a higher priority than studying Kelly's species.
The inside was structured like a cross between a house and a tent. Everything was made out of hair: the carpet, the furniture, the appliances. Giant combs and bottles of conditioner were commonplace, as well as vacuum cleaners. "There's a working shower upstairs," Kelly leaned him against the stair railing. "Just leave your clothes outside the door, and I'll wash them."
"Thanks," he went upstairs to the bathroom, deposited his soiled clothing outside the door, and took the longest shower of his life. Marco questioned how the shower worked since they were inside of a living being but decided not to dwell on it. The hot water stung his cuts but drove the sludge out of his hair. It also washed away the shame he felt. Why did I leave Star? Her screams filled his ears, and he wept bitterly. They loved each other dearly, and he ran away instead of fighting. What kind of lover and prince was he? A coward. Star didn't deserve someone like that.
"You okay in there?" Kelly knocked on the door. "You've been in there for an hour. Oh—your clothes are done. Just putting them by the door."
He wiped his nose on his wet arm, "I'm alright."
Shutting off the water he waited for Kelly to leave so he could grab his clothes. Putting his prince suit on again felt weird, but he had nothing else to wear. Although his jacket was clean, Marco swore he could still smell Star on it. Mmm…his mind purred. He inhaled deeply and moaned a little bit. He could drink in her scent forever.
Footsteps stopped outside of the door. "I was going to check on you, but you seem busy, so nevermind." Kelly hurried away.
I'm not doing that in here, he rolled his eyes. Marco went downstairs and discovered his friend was eating snacks and watching a wrestling bout on TV. He joined her on the couch, "Nice. Haven't seen wrestling in ages."
"I didn't know you like it," she replied.
"My dad likes watching Mexican lucha libre. It's like American wrestling in some ways, but the wrestlers wear these cool masks."
"Sounds cool," she smiled. "You should take me to a match one day."
"Yeah…Star would—" He stopped himself short of finishing the sentence. Star always wanted to go to a match and actually fight in it. They used to pretend they were luchadors and wrestle in his room. Star called herself La Mariposa Asesina or the Killer Butterfly. And that she was. Her headlocks were torture, and she always won. Marco was called El Rey del Sol or The Sun King. He didn't come up with it—Star did. For some reason, her Spanish was better than his.
Kelly prodded his shoulder, "Are you okay? You're crying."
Marco realized his cheeks were wet and wiped his face on his sleeves. "I'm fine," his voice cracked.
The girl eyed him, "You mentioned something about breaking up with Star earlier."
"Oh…yeah," he sniffled. "It was for the best, I think. I know I'm supposed to be her prince and future husband…but I can't. Our love is forbidden. Her extended family hates me, and King Lucitor trapped me in my own personal hell. You wanna know what I saw? The future. Star and our child are going to be killed because of me. She's better off with Tom…" But I don't want her with him, he buried his face in his hands. I want her with me.
"Dude," Kelly wrapped an arm around him. "You're a mess. If you think you made the right decision, then just try to move on. Wallowing over a relationship isn't healthy—trust me, I know how that feels."
"But I love everything about Star," he cried. "Her laugh, her smile, the way she says my name, the way she kisses me—"
"—That's a little gross, Marco."
"—You get what I mean. I just can't live without my Star."
Kelly rubbed his back as he whimpered for several moments. I need her, he longed for Star's arms to wrap around him and hold him tight to her body. The green-haired girl suddenly got up and tossed him a pinkish-red, body-length wig. "Here," she said. "Let's go on an adventure together to take your mind off of things. It'll be fun."
Doubtful, he stared at the wig but decided to go along with it. What more could he lose? He trudged out of the house behind his friend. Already, the giant wig-suit was hot and itchy, prickling his exposed skin. Was this what it felt like to be Kelly? It reminded Marco of the time Star used magic on him to help him grow a beard. She said it looked cute on me, her words made the boy long for her. Since then, he had been secretly trying to grow facial hair for her but figured he was still a few years away from having real peach fuzz. What does it matter? He shook his head. We broke up. It would be best to just focus on his adventure with Kelly.
The sun had risen higher above the hairy world, and the town had woken and filled the streets. They were an odd bunch, hidden under long, colorful hair. Their vehicles, pets, and accessories were made of hair too. Interesting, Marco noted. Also, apparently only females had the ability to stash things in their hair. Kelly explained that once women married and had a child, they ballooned into a giant mobile house for their family to live in.
"Why?" He asked when they boarded a dog-bus. It was an odd creature, and Marco hesitated to get on for a moment. Riding inside of an animal was too strange to think about, although the dog-bug seemed friendly. The inside looked like a generic city bus but cleaner. Workers and other passengers crowded the best seats, leaving a single bench in the back to sit on. Once settled, the creature rolled ahead and deeper into the town.
"We live in a desert," Kelly answered. "Being able to pick up town and move around to find more resources is an important adaptation."
"Oh." He nodded. "So, where are we going?"
"To the library to return a book on ancient fighting forms," she handed him the text. It was full of pages explaining Woolett—the name of her species—forms and fighting theory. Apparently, there was a way for two Wooletts to combine their bodies to form the ultimate combat machine. I wonder if Star and I can do something like that with the Blood Moon bond, he wondered until he remembered that the bond was cleaved during the breakup. The bitter memory produced a couple of wayward tears, but he tried to remain strong in public. He thumbed through the pages and set himself to learn more about the moves.
Kelly noticed his fascination and jabbed his ribs, "Pretty cool, huh?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "Wish I knew about this when fighting that multibear."
"So, that's why you were hurt and muddy."
"It was a tough night," he sighed. Kelly placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. A few Wooletts noticed the gesture and whispered among one another in another language. The warrior girl glared at them and uttered what sounded like a sharp rebuke, causing them to look away. "What was that all about?" Marco asked.
"Nothing," she muttered. "Just try to keep yourself together. Your sadness is attracting attention."
That's ominous, Marco blinked, "Why?"
"There's something you should know about us Wooletts," she leaned against the seat and let a couple of seconds pass. "We're a warrior society. Showing weakness is a good way to get killed."
"But crying is good for you."
"No, it's not!" Kelly and Marco gasped when an old Woolett eavesdropped on their conversation and answered in English. Two spectacled eyes searched the boy's soul as she walked towards them. "There's no use for crying. What happens happened, and a proper warrior learns to forget about it and move on."
"But I don't wanna forget about Star," Marco blurted his feelings, then slapped a hand over his mouth. Great, he watched the Wooletts whisper to one another. He just handed these hostile bus riders a weapon to destroy him. They watched the boy like prey, leering angrily.
The old Woolett spoke again, "You're the one dating that Mewman princess. Quit now; you're out of your league."
"No, I'm not,"
"Then show us!" She challenged. The wounds on Marco's limbs began to sting in phantom pain, dissuading him from taking up the challenge. Why did he have to fight so hard for everything? Before the combatants closed in on him, Kelly yanked Marco off the dog-bus and to the safety of the library.
"Thanks," he let out a breath.
The girl nodded, "Not in the mood either. Plus, we're here."
She pointed to an old Woolett creature made of dark gray hair. Above a sign that read "Woolandia Library" a friendly face wearing a white powdered wig read from a giant book. She smiled at the youngsters when they entered, which creeped Marco out. I can't get used to this place. Even the dimension of cats with human faces was more normal. Bookshelves full of a great number of books occupied most of the wall space with cute inspirational posters hung around them. They said things like: "read" and "smile." Across from the door, a pink Woolett sat at a furry receptionist desk, filing books away for later. She looked like any librarian on Earth—minus the hair—and Marco prayed the warrior spirit was too loud for a simple library. They were supposed to be places of quiet learning.
"Let me handle this," Kelly said to Marco before turning to the receptionist. "Remember what I said about crying and trying to move on."
Right, he nodded. Spending an entire day weeping over an ex-girlfriend wasn't healthy anyway. Libraries did not inspire fond memories of Star. She largely hated books, partly due to her lack of patience to read them and her difficulty with reading English. She took to speaking and writing the language much better. Marco read their reading assignments from class to her, and most of the time, she fell asleep against his chest. Friends weren't supposed to think their friend snoring against their chest was cute, but Marco did. I just wanted things to be like that forever, melancholy filled his heart.
"Hey!" The librarian snatched the book out of Kelly's hand. "Is your friend crying?"
I told you not to, she stared at him, then turned to the other Woolett, "He's just got something in his eyes."
The librarian slithered from behind the desk and studied Marco intently, "Those are tears. You know the penalty for crying in public…either I shave your hair, or we fight to the death! Warriors live in the present, not the past."
Kelly retreated to stand next to Marco, and the boy found the courage to meet the gaze of the librarian. "You know what?" He said firmly. "A true warrior embraces his feelings and lets them out. Crying isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of good mental health!"
His friend marveled at his newfound bravery, smiling warmly. "Yeah," she pulled a pair of dueling swords out of her hair. "Marco's right! We're gonna take you down and express our feelings!"
She tossed him a Woolett shortsword. It was shorter than a longsword or rapier but heavier somehow. The grip was tiny and very wide, allowing space only for one hand to awkwardly hold. There's a first time for everything, Marco tested the blade. He and Kelly stood shoulder to shoulder and launched their attack. They lashed out with fury, driven by deep emotions swirling under the surface. The librarian pulled out her own dueling blades to defend. Clashes of metal produced muted echoes in the hairy building as they fought.
Kelly blocked both of the opponent's swords and signaled for Marco to go around for a sneak attack. On it! He rushed behind and swept her off her feet with a kick. The move allowed his warrior-friend to bat away her weapons and dig her blades into the enemy's chest. "Give up, fiend," Kelly bragged. "The Power of Friendship has taken you down!"
"Never!" The Woolett hissed. "Feelings are evil!"
As if on cue, smaller male minions raced out of hidden spots in the library's hair with swords and shields to aid their master. You gotta be kidding me, Marco groaned. When his courage began to fade, Kelly took his hand and flashed him a we-can-do-this smile. And they could—together. "Well, old friend," he smirked. "I think it's time we danced."
"Absolutely," her cheeks turned slightly pink. "Wanna try Combination Stance Number Three?"
Marco's eyes grew wide at the prospect of practicing the moves in the book. Could it work? Only warriors with true spirit and compatibility could pull a combination stance off. It's worth the try, he climbed on top of Kelly's hair, combining their red and green bodies together as one. They leapt into the air and spun around with their weapons into a whirling tornado. Wooletts were flung around and slashed by a fury of swords from the fighting machine. Marco lost himself in the moment, merging fully with Kelly and the will of the warrior spirit. It was incredible. He hadn't felt this free in ages. This is how I should feel.
The moment was broken when a dictionary knocked Marco off of Kelly's shoulders. He slid across the floor and his wig-suit disintegrated into clumps of hair. The Wooletts gasped at the sight of the boy in his prince suit. "What are you?" The librarian studied him. "You look like a Mewman, but I know you aren't one."
Marco stood up, ready to take the warriors on his own. "I'm Marco Diaz, Prince of the Mewmans!" He roared. "And I'm finishing this fight!" He exhaled and closed his eyes until he felt a surge of ice-cold in his veins. It was chilling yet familiar. He could feel her again albeit faintly. Her smile, her love, her bright exuberance. My Star, he let the magic build up until it burst. Marco opened his glowing eyes and felt his cheekmarks blaze into his flesh. The sight made Kelly and the other Wooletts stare in awe.
"NARWHAL BLAST!" He used the sword to launch a flurry of blue whales at the opponents. In an instant, the fight was over. The warriors were vanquished, and peace reclaimed its place. Dipping down without the Blood Moon bond left Marco dizzy, making him fall into Kelly's arms.
"That was amazing!" She praised. "Nice fighting, Diaz."
He grinned, "Thanks. Took a lot out of me." She let him stand on his own, and they leaned against a pile of books stack near the entrance. "You know…I had a lot of fun today. I think the fight made me feel better."
"Good," Kelly said then fell silent. The sunset behind them, casting its pink rays upon the pair. Marco took in a lungful of air and felt his head clear. He noticed his friend watching him with thoughtful eyes and a gentle smile on her cheeks. "I've been thinking," she giggled and played with her toes. "You and I make a good team…"
"We do," he agreed.
"And you talked about how you should embrace your feelings..."
"I did," he scratched the back of his neck. "After today, I think I'm ready to move forward with these new feelings I feel." Kelly blushed when Marco took her hand, and he gazed directly into her eyes. "Thanks for the adventure," he said. "I'm ready to go back to Star."
"What?!" She squeaked, making a face he couldn't read. Her eyes drifted to the floor.
He nodded firmly, "I am. Kelly…I love Star more than anything. I want to marry her and father her children and be with her forever."
"But didn't you say your love is forbidden and that the royals are out to get you?" A hint of objection trickled into her voice.
Marco gathered his thoughts for a second and turned to face the setting sun. Wind rippled in his hair and shoulder tassels. "Our love is forbidden," he said in a low voice. "And the future looks horrifying, but we can face it as long as we're together. I realized that when fighting with you. Star and I are like a combination stance—unstoppable because we're so compatible."
The girl muttered something under her breath, then said, "But you broke up with her…what if she's moved on? What if she hates you?"
For a second, Marco worried, but he saw the moon turn red again in the sky. "She still loves me. I just feel it." The Blood Moon bond started to knit itself again between them. Although it was still faint, he knew Star was thinking about the meadow. I'll be there, he couldn't wait to be reunited with his beloved. "I know exactly where to meet her. Oh, you said something about embracing feelings, Kelly. What are you feeling?"
"Oh…nothing at all," she muttered.
"I'll see ya later then," Marco he cut open a portal and slipped into the meadow.
The portal closed after Marco, and Star sank to her knees, screaming his name until her throat went numb. Ash clung to her dress, and the hot wind evaporated the tears from her eyes. He left her. Marco left her here in the Underworld. Don't leave me! She desperately shouted in the bond but noticed it was gone forever. Her headspace was empty and devoid of the warmth Marco added to it. No! Her cheekmarks glowed from her deep anguish. No, come back! She needed him to hold her and tell her everything would be okay. She needed the confidence in his eyes to give her strength and his support to lift her spirits. Marco was the sun in her world—her light and warmth and comfort. With him, she flourished. Without him, she withered to dust.
Behind her, the fighting had picked up again with both sides continuing to hurl insults and furniture at each other. The dinner that was supposed to be in Marco's honor was in shambles like their ruined relationship. Star had experienced breakups twice before with Tom, but none of them felt this painful. She was absolutely broken as if part of her soul had departed her. Why did her cute idiot think leaving was the best course of action? They were stronger together and always had been. It was their ironclad friendship that brought them through bad times before. Who was Star Butterfly without her Marco Diaz? What was the day without the sun or the night without stars or moons?
Those stupid jerks had deprived Star of her universe, but she lacked the energy to get revenge. Her will to fight or even live was fading with each minute. This is my fault, she sniffled. She broke Marco by trying to make him a prince in this stuffy world. Maybe the breakup was for the best. He could go back to Earth, fall in love with a normal girl, and be free. But I don't want him to love anyone like me, jealousy choked her mind. His kisses and hugs belonged to her alone. Just thinking about him spending intimate moments with another made Star want to delete the entire universe. Better to have no reality than one like that. Plus, if Marco moved on, she would be forced to marry Tom. I don't want him like that either, the thoughts made her sick to the stomach. What was it like being forced to marry someone and bear their children? It seemed like a fate worse than death.
"Uh, Starship?" She turned to see the demon prince standing behind her. "Are you okay? Where's Marco?"
Hearing his name brought another wave of sorrow, and the princess wailed, "He…broke up with me because of that stupid vision."
Disbelief flashed in Tom's eyes, and he pulled Star into a hug. "It'll be okay, Star," he murmured, rubbing her back as she cried. "He'll be back."
No, he won't! She sobbed.
"Hey," Tom opened a portal to his room. "Let's go somewhere private. Just us two."
Normally, an invitation to be alone with her ex-boyfriend would have been met with immediate refusal, but Star needed a friend right now. She followed him to his room and tried not to dwell on the implications. Sitting on his bed felt strange, but she laid on her back and settled into its warmth. He hasn't changed this place at all, she smirked at the dark room. Tom still had his black-and-flame comforter—the one Star used to tease him about for being too edgy. There was also the collection of torture devices next to his closet in one corner of the room and his arcades in the opposite one. What a strange boy, she laughed to herself. Only Tom Lucitor could torture souls on one side of his room and play ping-pong in the other.
The prince pulled up a bean bag chair to sit on the ground, facing her. "Tell me what happened," concern filled his voice.
Star rolled on her stomach and sighed, "Marco claimed he saw a future where evil people killed me and our child. It freaked him out, and he said that being apart was the only way we could stay safe."
Tom muttered something in Demon she couldn't pick up on. He got up and rifled in his closet for a pair of swim trunks and beach accessories. When Star looked confused, he said, "I'm pissed off at what my father did. If I don't get far away from this place and let off so steam, people will die. I suggest you come with me, Star. Let's get away together."
Running away sounded like the perfect thing to do. If only she could do that with Marco. They had a whole universe of dimensions to hide it and start a new life. In fact, they didn't have to leave Mewni either. South of the Mewni River, wilderness stretched for thousands of miles, populated by isolated villages. They could forsake their royal duties and raise children and warnicorns in peace. A place where we can finally belong, just thinking about such a future made Star's heart hurt again. All she needed was Marco—everything else could rot.
Tom noticed her distress, "Are you okay?"
Star sighed and poofed up her pink sailor suit to change into and a few beach towels, "Let's get away." Until she could fulfill her fantasy, a trip with Tom sounded like fun.
"Great," he smiled. "Bathroom's down the hall and to the left."
"I know where it is. We dated before."
Star dressed and returned, seeing that they had an additional member in the room. Cerberus cowered next to her master's bed, shaking and whimpering. The dog's back scraped the high ceilings even as she crouched. "She wants to come too," the prince scratched one her heads. "She hates it when my father is angry."
"So, we're going to Lava Lake?" Star asked.
Tom summoned a fire portal, "Yep. I feel the lava calling me."
If Star wasn't so depressed and anxious to escape, she would have questioned Tom's motives. They used to go there a lot when they were together. Their first non-Silver Bell Ball date involved the beach, a pier, and melted cornshakes bought in vain. Yet the princess detected no ill-will in the demon's eyes. He sincerely wanted to forget this disaster dinner, and so did she. What if Marco tries to find me? The Blood Moon bond had faded between them because of the breakup. As if Tom could read her mind, he grabbed her hand gently, "Hey, don't worry. I have my phone on just in case Marco calls. I know it's weird that we're going to Lava Lake, but we both need to do something relaxing."
"You're right," she put on a brave face.
The two royals and Cerberus stepped onto the pristine sandy beaches of Lava Lake Beach. It was still night, and the crystals embedded in the roof of the Underworld reflected moonlight from the lands above it—called the Overworld. However, most of the light came from the waves of lava that lapped at the black shore. They created a gentle orange glow that provided ambient lighting, reminding Star of a romantic restaurant. Because of the atmosphere, the beach was populated by quite a few couples, the sight of which made Star long for Marco. She could easily imagine the two of them holding each other while the night turned to morning. His soft skin against hers. His musky boy-scent comforting her nose as she inhaled next to him. His kisses so sweet against her lips and jawline as he murmured his love for her in her ears…
"Starship?" Tom shook her gently. He saw the tears forming in the corner of her eyes and saw that the presence of couples bothered her. "Alright, we're gonna need a more secluded spot."
They went farther down the shoreline and arranged camp in the place with the least amount of lovey couples. Tom unfurled their beach towels and set up the cooler while Star opened the umbrella. Cerberus helped by lounging and looking cute. With the work over, they sat together and waited for the Brightening—the Underworld's version of a sunrise. In the silence of the night, Star's mind wandered to Marco. Memories haunted her with images of the two of them stargazing in their meadow and snuggling in the castle while watching movies. It made the breakup even worse. How could he leave her? Didn't those times mean anything? Why would I force him to stay? She leaned against Tom's shoulder. At first, the gesture shocked him, but he didn't move.
"Just let it all out, Star," he sighed. "Keeping emotions in isn't healthy." The words of wisdom sounded odd from Tom's mouth.
"Thanks for being a good friend," she said.
"In a way, we've always had each other," he said slowly. "Two royals from two fucked royal families who conspired to make us have children. We're the only ones who can understand the drama we've been through." When her tears wet his bare shoulder, he wrapped an arm around her. "I miss him too." Cerberus whined in agreement and rubbed her head against Star.
Daylight came to the Underworld at long last. At first, Star thought she would never see morning again without Marco. He was her sun, after all. But it came anyway, promising hope after the long night of misery. The princess realized she had fallen asleep on her beach towel and that Tom had gently draped something over her. Judging by the scent, she knew it was the Marco hoodie she had given him. Despite being in the Underworld and on her ex's body, she tasted her prince on it. Marco…she inhaled. I love you so much. She brought the fabric closer to her nose and moaned a bit.
Footsteps approached in the soft sand, and Star saw Tom with his lavaboard. "Missed some gnarly waves, but you needed the sleep. Uh…do you need a moment with the hoodie?"
She replied gently, "I'm fine. Just smells like him." Sorrow came rushing back as she remembered her dream had been of Marco laying with her in their meadow. It felt so real she swore she could touch him.
Tom sat next to her, and his body radiated heat from lava surfing. "I hate seeing you like this, Starship. I really do. Wanna do something to take our minds off of what happened?"
She didn't move at first. "Ah, c' mon," he nudged her. "It'll be fun."
She still didn't move until a volleyball nearly smacked her face. Rolling out of the way, she turned to see a group of demon teens standing menacingly around her and Tom. The leader of them stomped right up to the prince, "Why look here, fellas. Another cruddy couple camping on our spot."
"She's not my girlfriend," Tom hastily replied. "Plus, we were here first."
The teen ignored him and went straight to Star. She eased into a fighting stance—like the one Marco used—and glared harshly. Back off! I'm not in the mood, her eyes snarled. She had to deal with enough jerks in the past twelve hours.
The boy—who looked about seventeen—smirked, "I must say, punk, your girl's kinda cute. I like the feisty ones."
Before Star could smack him, Tom beat her to it by snorting smoke in his face, "I said she's not my girlfriend, and she had a tough night. You better back off, or I'll make you regret it."
His ferocity was touching, and Star shot him a grateful smile. The other bullies bunched around their leader like obedient hounds in a show of force. "Say," the leader eyed Tom. "You're a Lucitor—I can tell by your trident tattoo."
"Damn straight I am," he replied in a growl. "I'm Prince of the Underworld."
"I've heard about you, princey," the leader poked Tom's bare chest. "You're that lazy oaf who lives in the castle and got rejected by the Princess. I heard rumors she's running with a peasant human boy. What's his name again?"
"He's called Marco or something," sneered one of his henchmen.
"They oughta call him Prince of the Losers!" The teen was about to laugh when a blubbery narwhal nailed him in the chest.
All eyes turned to a smoking wand and a very angry princess standing next to Tom. Her display made her friend smile. That's my Starship, his eyes gleamed with pride. Star was tired of the world picking on her and her choice. Determination shook her bones, and she knew that she was going to relish defending Marco's honor. "If I were you, I wouldn't talk badly about my betrothed!" She hissed even though their relationship was technically over. "You want this spot back, then name your challenge. Tom and I are going to make you very sorry for ruining our morning."
The teens huddled around their leader and shared wordless glances with one another. Like stupid mutts groveling to their Alpha, Star shook her head. How pathetic since they seemed to have the nerve to trash talk a moment ago. Finally, they broke apart to address the two royals. "You're on," the leader of them spoke again. In a puff of smoke, he produced a volleyball and twirled it on his finger. "Hope you're good at volleyball, losers."
Tom and Star grinned devilishly at the challenge. They used to be the king and queen of the Lava Lake Beach volleyball courts when they dated. A thousand lesser pairs fell before them on the sands before the ultimate beach duo, and their streak was going to continue this day. "Ready to kick butt?" Tom grabbed her hand.
"Always," she squeezed it.
"Fair warning," Tom boasted. "Star and I are gonna send you guys running home to your mommies!"
"The hard way," she added.
They left Cerberus to guard their possession and followed the bullies to a nearby volleyball court. For the first time in several hours, Star felt slightly better. She still greatly missed Marco. He would have loved to watch the Brightening with her and challenge the demon teens, but having a fight to win gave the princess her strength back. She was going to beat the tar out of these jerks for her prince. I'm going to make you proud, she vowed to the emptiness between them.
After a short trek, they reached the sandy battlefield, which was adorned with a simple net and chalk lines to determine bounds. As the demons stretched and divided themselves into pairs to go against Tom and Star, the friends snickered to each other, totally unconcerned. "They have no idea what's coming," the prince smirked. "We used to rule this beach together! The King and Queen of the Underworld volleyball have returned, right Star?"
She gave him a playful jab, "Absolutely, my king. Let's do this!"
Their first set of victims approached the far side of the net, flexing their muscles in a display of intimidation. "How cute!" Star heckled them. "But it's going to take a lot more than abs to scare me." Especially your pathetic abs, she drooled thinking about Marco's. They were so amazing to touch and…
"Are you gonna serve the ball?" The teens yelled.
Fine…Star picked up the volleyball and spiked it over the net. It streaked like a meteor past the two hapless losers so quickly, they had no time at all to react before it hit the ground. Tom gave her a high-five in celebration. They had drawn first blood. "This is gonna be easy!"
"I know," she laughed.
Tom taunted the crestfallen demons, "Quit while you still can! Star and I love playing rough."
"Tom!" She yelped in shock.
"What?" He furled his brows. "We're just as passionate about volleyball as you and Marco are about videogames."
"Uh…" Star rubbed her arm sheepishly. "You see…"
"Don't tell me you weren't playing videogames…"
"Uh…"
The soft thud in the sand interrupted the conversation right before it went into truly awkward territory. A small crater formed at Tom's feet, containing a freshly served volleyball. Dammit, Star cursed inwardly. Her partner sighed, "Okay, head in the game." He hit the ball back over the net. "Get back to defend!" Tom warned when the ball came sailing on the return.
Star met the ball with her arms and answered the attack. Her keen Mewman ears heard the impact of the ball on flesh and bones. It's going to the lower left side, she noted with eyes narrowed in anticipation. The southwest wind was going to push it into Tom's side of the court. Come on, Tom, lower left! Her mind showed a mental picture of what she meant, but the demon prince stood rooted in place. Oh, duh! She remembered she had to use words. This is so much easier with Marco. If only he were here… "To the left, Tom!" she hollered.
His eyes followed the ball's movements, and he dove towards the corner of the court. It bounced off his arms for Star to bat over the net and past the teens. "Good save," she helped Tom on his feet.
"You called it, Starship—good eye," he smiled. The next few exchanges went by in a similar fashion with Tom and Star falling into a rhythm without a hitch. Tom provided fiery defense and serves, while Star bravely held the offensive line and called shots. The opposing teens never scored another point.
"Match point, chumps," Tom gloated before passing the ball to Star for the final serve. "Take us to victory, my queen."
Suddenly, the other four bullies rushed on the court behind their doomed comrades. The leader snapped his fingers, summoning the ball out of Star's hands and into his. "What gives?" She shouted in indignation.
He cackled wildly, "Since you guys are so good, I thought we would even things up."
"How is that even?!" Tom shook in anger, "You have a four-person advantage!"
"You're right, Prince Loser…let's make things more fun."
The teen snapped his fingers again and set the ball on fire. Why does everything in the Underworld involve souls and fire? Her thought made her laugh. Marco would have said something like that because he hated how things on Mewni were automatically more dangerous. Don't worry; I'll protect you, boo, she balled her hands into fists. It was time to get serious. She dropped into a quasi-fighting stance, keeping her weight light on the balls of her feet.
Tom shot a dark grin, "Do your worst!"
The leader lobbed the ball in the air and spiked it with a huge sonic boom of a smack. It shot through the air like a cannonball, leaving a trail of fire as it hit the back of the court. "Ha! Our point!" the bullies gloated and cheered.
The prince burst into flames, "I'm gonna pound you into the next Soulrise!"
"Wait," Star grabbed his arm. "We should strategize this. Play smarter not harder."
Tom exhaled slowly, extinguishing the flames on his body. "But I just wanna ground them to ashes," he muttered as he squeezed the ball between his hands.
"Just serve the ball," she commanded. "This time analyze what they're doing."
He lobbed the ball over the net before dropping back beside Star, shooting her a "this-better-work" glance. It will, she nodded then focused on her opponents' strategy. She immediately noticed that they passed the ball around in a zig-zag pattern to try to throw her off. I'm not that stupid, she tracked the ball as it flew into her court, and she hit it over the net. The ball flew to the other side only to be intercepted by one of the teens. Oh, come on! Star instinctively channeled magic to her fist and returned the ball with such a hard punch, it slammed loudly into the ground. Tom cocked an eyebrow and whistled a low note, "Wow, you must have learned a lot from Marco."
She noticed her fists were glowing red with Marco's magic. But how? She was curious but let the thought go. There was a game to win.
"I got it!" Tom charged into the ball with a flaming fist to defend the court.
"Let's copy their strategy," Star suggested. Nodding in agreement, Tom intercepted the ball but passed it back to his partner. They exchanged the ball a few times before Star sent it back with another red slap. They both groaned when the strategy failed, and the leader of the gang deftly sent the ball into the sand on their side. "Point two!" He shouted in triumph, "Sure you don't wanna quit?"
"Never!" Star picked up the ball, her blood surging with exhilaration. "I'm not letting anyone beat me."
The red magic intensified as memories of Marco rippled through her mind. His determination, his steadfastness, his bravery. Red Fist of Fury! She spiked the ball with all her might once the spell completed, and it streaked like a mighty meteor. It vaporized the ground into a deep crater and created shards of glass out of the sand that rained down. Smoke arose from the impact as if to signal victory.
"That was incredible," Tom laughed. "You really are the best volleyball partner ever."
"Except we aren't done yet!"
They turned to see the leader claw his way out of the crater. "Still…have one more point!"
The rest of the gang appeared beside him and began chanting a curse. Tom and Star watched in horror as they managed to combine their bodies into one seven-foot-tall monster with six arms.
"Really!" Tom spat, "You mean you weren't cheating enough before?!"
The creature laughed in a deep voice, "Welcome to my final form and to your demise."
There's no way we can defeat that, Star's shoulders slouched in defeat. Actually, she remembered something that could work. "Tom, we gotta unleash our secret weapon!" she called to him.
He scratched his head, "What secret—oh, that one! Uh…are you sure, because you're kinda dating someone else and—"
She shook her head to silence him, "No time to think about that right now. It's time for one last ride!"
Tom's eyes twitched, "Language, Star…"
She jumped on his shoulders and grabbed his horns tightly. "Let's do this, Tom!" She yelled as he flew around the court with her on his back.
The monster served the ball, but with Star driving, Tom volleyed it back to the other side with ease. The monster missed the speedy attack and gave the royals a game plan. "We just gotta be a smidge faster!" The prince said in realization as they flew back for the next serve.
"Then gimme all you got," Star petted his hair. "I believe in you."
They met the next serve, and Tom sent it whizzing past them with a good hit. The bullies growled in frustration, "We aren't holding back anymore!"
"Just gotta get one more point!" Star announced, giving the horns a squeeze. "Let's make it special."
Tom nodded as they readied to end this match once and for all. The bullies hit the ball over the net, but the royal pair saved it from the ground. He bumped it up to Star, who used another of Marco's punching spells to connect a perfect blow. A shockwave rippled in across the beach, and the ball tore right through the monster's body. It exploded a flash of light and bullies rained from the sky. When the dust settled, Tom and Star looked down upon the six interlopers passed out cold and the ball still inbounds.
"We did it!" Star hugged Tom's head. "The King and Queen of the volleyball world hold their title once more!"
"We're an awesome team," he smiled. "Let's go celebrate our victory with junk food and soda!" Star sat on his shoulders as the prince kicked sand on the losers' faces and headed back to their umbrella.
The light began to wane as the sun sank in the Overworld, creating a curve of darkness on the eastern horizon. Unlike a normal sunset, which was gradual, the Darkening was sudden, swift, and stark. Stars twinkled on one side, while the other was still as bright as noon. Star, Tom, and Cerberus lounged right on the divide with a roaring fire on the dark side. Sticks containing sugary marshmallows leaned out of the sand and over the licking flames. Star and Tom watched them char and ate them when they were ready. The extra burnt ones were offered to Cerberus. Despite the victory, the princess and prince stayed rather silent, each watching the fire dance among the logs. The hypnotic effect of watching the cooled red embers fade into the sky reminded Star of the Blood Moon Ball and the temple, causing familiar pangs of loneliness to consume her heart. Twenty-four hours had passed since the dinner with the Lucitors, and Marco was still missing. I thought he'd come back by now, Star hugged her knees. All day, she hoped he would come to her, but what if he was gone forever?
She sniffled and noticed Tom eyeing her with concern. "Wanna talk?" He passed her a hot marshmallow. "You were so happy earlier."
With a sigh, she declined the snack, "I've really done it this time…he's never coming back."
"Who? Marco?" Tom let Star lean against him.
She continued, "We've never been away from each other this long since he came back to Mewni. I ruined his life, Tom. I should have known the royals would have mistreated him. We've been dealing with this crap since birth—what was I thinking?"
"You love him, Star," Tom replied. "You wanted to solidify your relationship—that's not evil." But what if that's not what's right for us, the princess remembered what her mother said about putting duty before self for the sake of the kingdom. She turned to her friend and watched the fire and starlight glint in his blood-red eyes. Can I make this choice again?
Wiping the tears on her arms, she took his hands and faced Tom, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Tom," she breathed. "Do you think we should have stayed together?"
The prince blinked in shock, "What?"
"We worked well, and I think we've both changed. The royals would be happy, the kingdoms would be happy, and we could be happy," Star almost added, "I think." While being married to Tom was not her ideal fairytale ending, she could make it work. Even if it killed her soul.
Tom silenced her by squeezing her hands as he leaned in closer. "Starship…" his breath tickled her lips. "That is, by far, the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say. Sorry not sorry."
Star giggled, prompting Tom to join her in a laughing fit that confused the Lucitor Guardian and a few couples camped nearby. Relief flooded the princess, I'm glad you think it's stupid too.
"Look, Star," he sighed, "Did we work well? Sometimes. Would the kingdoms and my parents be happy? Sure. But would we be happy? No. After our awkward raft fight, I've been thinking about us. We were never great lovers because we were never great friends. You and Marco work because you're best friends. I would love a relationship like that, you know. Like, what's my favorite color?"
"Uh…I don't know."
"Really, Star…"
"You only ever wear red and black and…oh."
"Okay," Tom sighed. "What's Marco's favorite color."
"Easy," Star waved her hand. "Hoodie red although he also really like plum and Prussian Blue. That's the color of his wallet we got from Quest Buy."
"See my point," Tom smugly crossed his arms. "You didn't even hesitate. I'm not done talking yet, so get comfy—I got a lot to say." Star grabbed a few marshmallows and settled back into the sand while the demon gathered his thoughts.
"Where to begin…" he rubbed his chin. "Ah! First, Star, you can't force yourself to like someone. You tried that with me and look where we are. Face it, your heart will always belong to Marco. You've always loved him and don't deny it. I've seen how you look at him—you were never just friends with him."
Star rubbed her arm and blushed, "You noticed that?"
"I'm not blind," he pointed to his face. "I have three eyes. Now, let's talk about our happiness again. We easily could waltz back to my father and announce our betrothal, but I can't do that to you. In fact, you could even say that I love you too much to let you marry me. It would never work out. Your kids would be his and not mine."
"I would never do that," she made a face.
"You say that Star, but I've read the old stories. You know what happens when a queen befriends a knight…? Marco would find his way to you first, and I swear the kid would come out with brown hair and a mole. Don't deny it." They both laughed, thinking about how much the tabloids would love to get their hands on a story like that.
"You think Marco would stay if we got married?" She asked Tom after he stopped laughing.
"Star, are you kidding me?!" He practically exclaimed. "Marco would never truly abandon you. He always finds a way to come crawling back to you. I bet he's doing that right now."
Star smiled to herself, "You're right, Tom."
"Of course," he gave her a playful jab.
"But what about our parents and the kingdoms and duty?"
Tom shrugged, "Why do you care, Starship? You're my rebel princess—you do what you want as long as it makes you happy. Embrace that fully. I remember a good friend of ours saying that you had to rule Mewni your way."
Star truly smiled for time since before the dinner. She didn't need family or tradition—she had her Marco. Her choice. No one was going to stop her as long as they had each other and their loyal friends like Tom. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied ruby light shine on the eastern horizon and turned to see a red moon rising out of the lake. Moons don't exist in the Underworld, she scowled in confusion until she realized this was no ordinary moon. The Blood Moon had returned!
Tom put a hand on her shoulder, "I told you he would be back. Now, go to him. Don't worry about what I'm going to do—I'll just chill here with Cebbie."
"Thanks, Tom," she hugged her friend. "For everything."
"That's what friends are for," he smiled into her shoulder. "Hurry; he's waiting." Even without the Blood Moon bond, Star instinctively knew where he would be.
She felt at home the second her flip-flops touched the soft grass of the meadow. The dew-covered blades tickled her feet and knees and cooled them after a long day of being on Lava Lake Beach. In the twilight, the shadow of Mewni started to overtake the sky, calling the real stars out one by one over the swaying black pine. Although the sun still grazed their tips, the Two Lovers already floated in the sky, casting their silvery light onto the solitary princess. Please protect me and Marco, she prayed to the constellation. They needed all the help in the universe to keep them together in the face of everything that conspired against them. Star reclined in the grass and watched more familiar shapes appear in the blackening sky. A few unicorns and Mewni red deer grazed nearby to keep her company in the mild night. Worry started to eat at her. What if the Blood Moon was wrong, and Marco didn't come?
A noise on the far side of the meadow made the deer raise their heads, and Star turned to see a figure in a white prince suit standing several yards away. For a few moments, they stared as if they expect the other to evaporate into the summer breeze like a figment of the imagination. "Marco?" Star questioned in disbelief.
Something opened in her mind and fuzzy words spoke to her, "It's me. I'm here."
"Marco!" She cried his name and started running. He came back. He really did!
They collided into each other with arms opened wide, and Star ended up on top of him. It really was her dork in the flesh underneath her. His touch and scent drove her insane as she savored being with Marco again. Joy seized her heart, and she covered his adorable cheeks in kisses until they tickled. The Blood Moon bond strengthened with every passing second, and Star soon felt what he did, which made her laugh. "That tickles!" Marco squirmed under her.
Gently, he cupped her cheeks and brought her in for a real kiss. They remained in a passionate embrace, letting their hands roam. The Blood Moon bond communicated their happiness and fear better than words could ever do. At last, they broke apart for air, and Star rolled off of him, snuggling close. "Star," Marco kissed her forehead. "I've missed you so much."
"And I've missed you too," she dabbed the tears out of his eyes. "What did you do all day?"
He replied, "Well, I fought a multibear in the Forest of Certain Death and helped Kelly defeat an evil librarian."
"Nice, I hate libraries."
"What did you do?"
"Oh, Tom and I went to Lava Lake Beach to play volleyball and talk about life."
"That sounds nice," Marco took her hand. They fell silent as night consumed the day and studded the sky with moons and stars. The couple simply basked in each other's presence, even though they knew there were things to discuss in light of the dinner. Marco broke the silence first. He set them up in the grass so they could face each other. Pale moonlight glinted in his earnest eyes. "I'm sorry for breaking up with you, Star," he said sincerely. "I was freaked out and scared, but I shouldn't have left you."
Star sighed, feeling the unpleasant memories rattle in her head. She squeezed his hands, "No, I'm sorry. I dragged you into this mess when you weren't ready. I should have waited and told you what you'd be up against. I know people do this slower on Earth."
"I'm fifteen, Star, I can handle marriage," he chuckled to lighten the mood. "In all honesty, time wouldn't have changed this. Even if we waited a hundred lifetimes, the outcome would have been the same. And, yeah, people my age don't get married and rule kingdoms, but I wouldn't have it any other way." His eyes smoldered with such confidence, it made Star swoon.
He's so amazing, the goofiest grin spread on her face.
"I can to Mewni for you," Marco said proudly. "Not to be a knight or anything like that. I can't live without you, Star."
"I thought you came because you liked corn," Star said half-jokingly, earning a kiss to the head.
"Oh Star, you're much sweeter than Mewni corn."
His corny remark made her blush. "I'm glad that actually worked," he laughed gently.
"I can't live without you either," Star confessed. "That being said, I'm not pressuring you to keep the Prince's Ball, but I know you will because you're Marco Diaz."
"You mean Diaz-Butterfly," he teasingly corrected her.
"Okay, darling husband," she playfully punched his arm, then continued seriously. "Anyways, it's hard to tell what the future will bring, but I think we can face it as long as we are together."
"I know we will," Marco nodded firmly. "We're a team, Star. I'm not letting them take you away from me."
"We'll run away before we let the royals divide us again."
Their solemn vow echoed in the bond, and the lovers pressed their heads together. Red light from the Blood Moon fell on their shoulders, reaffirming the connection between them. Star traced her finger on his lips lovingly, "You know, you look hot in your messed-up prince's outfit."
"And you look cute in that sailor suit," he purred. "Glad you're wearing it for me this time." He laid her in the grass and pinned her gently to the ground. She blushed at the thoughts he was thinking. "Aren't you tired from all that fighting?"
"I'm never too tired to be your Wild Man," he began to slowly kiss her neck. "And I want to show you how much you mean to me."
"Show me," she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, bringing him closer. They spent the rest of the night together in their meadow under the stars, living their life as it should always be. Together forever.
Author's Note & Review Roundup
I have some EXCITING news! I asked you guys if you would want a post-Cleaved project or a season 4 rewrite, and I am happy to announce that I will be collabing a post-Cleaved story with StarryEyedButterfly! There will be art involved too (oooh). If you haven't read her fanfics or seen her art (lol shame on you), then please do so, and get ready for a new story launching soon!
Star's Keyblade4114- Thanks for supporting the cause! I was one of the early signers of the petition. I am open to either a movie or another season, just anything really. I love your AU idea, and you should totally go for it!
Cure Orchid- Cleaved aftermath is one the way! Especially with how many plot threads are still open. Thanks! I would love if the show hired me as a writer, but I can't afford California. And don't worry, Marco ends up okay. He always lands on his feet.
Guest (Ch 8)- Already signed, but thanks for spreading the word. I think we'll see more Star in the future. My gut tells me that this isn't the last of this show. Yes, the Butterflys are stuffy traditionalists who want power over Star's happiness. The kids love Uncle Marco-I mean who wouldn't?
D4rk Sid3- If you've read the sequel, I wanted to bring the fight to a point where the great Higgs/Marco arc can really shine as it does in Dance. The core of this story won't change but there are things that will be added.
Luci96-Thank you! I will be doing a post-Cleaved story that will be super cool, and it's going to be a great collab.
Guest (Ch.9)- This Marco was trying not to cause too much of a fight since he has to live with the Kingsguard, but yes, I love badass Marco.
Aldal- Things will definitely be different in the conclusion of this arc and the next one. The main thing is adding more detail and scenes. The practice has made me a better writer for sure.
Nowaki- I won't leave you hanging for long! Imagine seeing what poor Marco did and living with the idea that maybe something bad will happen because you love someone. Poor kid. The conclusion to what will happen next is soon!
Julian- Thank you! Post-canon is coming, and I have plenty more stories to write. I'll be around for a while, trust me.