Hoshi no Kirifuda
Episode 05 - Chapter 01

Disclaimer:
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this written work are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. These written works are not-for-profit, and are protected under Fair Use laws. I do not own these characters, all credit and rights belongs to Disney, Daron Nefcy, and Toei.

Content is only suitable for mature adults. May contain explicit language and adult themes.

Author's Notes:

Sorry I'm a couple days late on this. I had trouble with chapter two of this episode. I'm still working out how I'm doing choreography in action scenes.

Reviewer's Responses:

zeldex72

Hey, thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying the series. I'll keep writing until I'm done with it, so expect updates.

Please keep the reviews coming, especially if it is constructive.

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"And to our left, you will see our last stop, Echo Creek Academy," nasally spoke Marco as he pulled up to the bike racks with Star as the rear passenger.

Star scoffed, "I know where we are Marco. You don't have to give me a tour of everything every time." She climbed off the back end of her squire's magical transportation.

"What street are we on again?"

"Uh…" Star dazed at the loss of information.

"And that's what I thought," Marco smirked at the blonde. He tried not to make it so obvious that he took a glance at Star. She had on a teal sleeveless short dress, with four different colored stripes on the chest, he noted going top down: maroon, orange, peach orange, and violet. At the bottom of the dress were white frills that led one's eyes to her light sea green and pale green striped leggings. Her footwear were pink boots with white rabbit faces that rested on the toes. In her hair, was the red horned headband he had given her.

It had been the day after they had both recovered from their traumatic night. They had both been able to get some things off their chests and both their fevers had died down. Though neither had been able to get an actual response from Glossaryck, even with Star's suggestion of bribing the small wise man with pudding. 'He must've been told not to tell us anything. Glossaryck didn't even give a riddle, he just refused to cooperate. I really wish there was someone a bit more reliable on information.'

Star waved her hand in front of Marco. "Marco you okay? You've been staring into your locker for a while now… Did you forget your homework?" She said with a slight grin on her face.

"No, Star. I was just thinking. About everything."

"Oh… I'm sorry."

"Again, you don't have to be. Let's just get the school day done. Maybe Glossaryck will talk this time around?" he tried to reassure Star.

"Yeah."

Both of them squeezed through the crowded hallways to get to their class before the bell rang.

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The class was rambunctious as usual before homeroom. Each teen student were divided amongst their cliques and friends. At the front of the class, sat Star and Marco, along with Janna who leaned on Marco's desk. The three friends were discussing about the home world of Star. She told stories of her hunting warnicorns, journeying through the Forest of Certain Death, and other miscellaneous stories. Marco found it a bit hard to believe, but gave it a pass with everything that had been happening recently. He knew Star was telling the truth, but it was still hard to believe in the notion of real magic. Janna on the other hand loved hearing the stories, but there was something that was bugging her.

"Star, sorry to interrupt, I love your made-up stories, but I've got to know, did something happen between you and Marco yesterday? It couldn't have been a coincidence that both of you were out right?" smirked Janna.

Star threw her arms into the air. "Made-up? Everything I've said is true!"

"Uh. Huh. Answer my question Star," Janna slightly rolled her eyes, she had noticed Marco feigning ignorance. She probably could've gotten an answer out of the boy instead, but it was so much more fun to ask Star and put him on the spot.

"Not much. We just got sick. Watched this thing you all call tell-leh-vision."

"Uh-huh." the inquisitive girl didn't fully believe it. If it were just that, Marco wouldn't have been avoiding her eye contact on the subject.

The door to the classroom slowly opened. In walked Mr. Skeeves with a tall skinny man. Everyone quickly got to their seats as the Principal coughed to get the student's attention.

"Quickly now children, I don't have all day." the Principal of the school impatiently waited for everyone to take a seat. "I am here to inform you that Ms. Skullnick is currently out on vacation. Something about winning the lottery and a cruise. Blah, blah, blah. So, I'm here with your substitute for the next month or so."

The class cheered at the disappearance of their usual teacher, all but Star and Marco. The two teens couldn't put their finger on it, but the substitute teacher looked out of place. The substitute teacher had a peachy tone of skin with auburn hair. His two turquoise eyes seemed to oversee the whole class, but were very much focused on Star.

Principal Skeeves coughed again, shutting up the class. "Let me introduce the man, Mr. Lucitor."

Mr. Lucitor gave a beaming grin as he pulled and straightened out his burgundy slim-lapelled four button jacket which had pockets like a safari suit. "Good day children." His voice was smooth and baritone; it gave both Star and Marco shivers down their spines. "I am happy to be your teacher for the next month. I do hope that we can both learn from this experience." He took a step forward, revealing a pair of black slacks and burgundy matching cowboy boots.

Star almost leapt out of her seat with the step Mr. Lucitor took. Instead, she just looked at the man, knowing full well what he was, another Undead.

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Class had gone fairly normal with the presence of the substitute teacher. Mr. Lucitor took time to take his first day of class slow. He wanted to know and understand where each student were in their studies. He especially wanted to know more about Star Butterfly and Marco Diaz. The last bell of the day rang as the students rushed to leave the class, both Star and Marco were stopped by Mr. Lucitor.

"Excuse me for a moment children. May we discuss something?"

Both teenagers nodded at each other before nodding at the teacher.

"Could you two have a seat, this may take a moment."

"If you would excuse us Mr. Lucitor, but I think we'd rather stand," Marco said with apprehension. "We've been sitting down most of the day, stretching our legs seems like a good idea."

"I see." Mr. Lucitor walked over to the door in the classroom and shut it with a sharp click.

Instantly, Star took a defensive stance. Her hands raised in front of her ready to fight. "Undead chol DeSDu' jIH (Come at me Undead.)"

The teacher in red just laughed as he walked over to his desk and took a seat. "yIjotchoH. wej naDev jIH botlhDaq. 'ej Sung jat chagh, qup 'ang (Calm down. I did not come here to fight. And drop the native tongue, it is less conspicuous.)"

"Wait. I understood that. Star?" Marco looked over to the blonde, her eyes were sharp and ready to go onto the attack. He put his hand on her shoulder. "Let's calm down, he hasn't done anything… yet."

It wasn't just the Undead teacher that had Star on edge. She had known what he was all day, and she was worried if they had gotten into a fight would she be able to control herself. However, Marco's comforting hand managed to calm the princess down.

"Sorry Marco." She took in a deep breath and dropped her stance, but she kept a watchful eye on the teacher who was enjoying her outburst.

"Please you two, I understand the hostility. I am indeed what you suspect me to be." He just grinned at the two. "But, like I said, I am not here to fight you. Honestly, I would like to believe that it was coincidence that I would be assigned as your substitute teacher. My meeting with you two was supposed to wait until later."

Marco, took in a deep sigh. 'Was this going to be a common occurrence? Meeting random Undead?' He and Star may have had a day to recover, but they still weren't ready for this.

"What do you want?" seethed Star. She knew that not every Undead wanted to fight, but it was her instinct to do so. Just being near the teacher made it difficult for her to think straight. Battle rage slowly took its hold; if not for Marco's presence she may had already done something she would regret.

Mr. Lucitor pushed away his enjoyment, the young Butterfly did remind him of a certain Queen. "I bring no harm. Yet. If you two will take a seat to listen to me for a moment."

"-sigh- Sure." Marco guessed that it wasn't going to get anywhere without humoring the teacher. "Star, let's sit down and listen to what he has to say. Okay?"

"Oh-okay."

Both teens took their respective seats. Though Marco was patient to listen to what the Undead had to say, Star was still on edge. She twiddled her thumbs in desperation to loosen her battle rage.

Mr. Lucitor popped open the top button of his white collar. "Ahh. That's much better. Still a bit too anxious to fight me little Butterfly? Please, if we can avoid it, I would love to. I was never for one to get into a scuffle." He gave both a wide smile and continued, "So, let's start from the beginning. I. Am. Dave Lucitor, Lord of the Underworld, a member of the Original Quartet, the King of Clubs. I have been recently awoken from my slumber, and I just want one thing... I want to be a teacher."

Both Marco and Star gave each other an unbelievable look of confusion.

"What?! I just want to be a teacher. Is that so hard to believe?"

Both Star and Marco couldn't hold it in, an uproarious laughter broke the tension in the room. Star held onto her sides as Marco tried to cover his mouth, neither of them successful in dying down the laughter. Mr. Lucitor gave a blank stare at the two before joining them in their chortling, he was glad that Star had at least retained the humor the Butterfly family was known for.

After a while, Marco wiped a tear from his face. "Whoo. We're sorry Mr. Lucitor. Neither of us were prepared for that. Not that we're not taking you seriously, but after fighting one Undead and nearly getting our heads chopped off by Crescenta, we didn't really know what you'd do."

"Ah. So, you two have met Crescenta Butterfly. I had heard word that she had already been sealed. That must've been your two's doing. I do hope she didn't cause a ruckus. She can be too eager sometimes." Mr. Lucitor rested a palm under his chin as he examined the two children.

"Well, she did so willingly," Marco spoke up.

Star quickly attached, "Your highness." The tension in the room might've left, but Star felt that it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Please, don't do that. I may be a king, but I no longer have a kingdom. Leave the… formalities. Just refer to me as Mr. Lucitor. Treat me like your teacher."

"Sure, Mr. Lucitor. I know this maybe much to ask, but what exactly are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be… getting ready for… y'know? Your encounter?" Marco tried to skirt around the issue, he wasn't entirely sure how to treat the man in front of him yet. There was something different from him than when they had met Crescenta. She too was an Undead, but she wasn't so intimidating until she wanted to be. Mr. Lucitor on the other hand extruded danger, like it was the very air he breathed.

"Like I said, I wanted to be a teacher. I've been away for ten thousand years. I just wanted to do something before I had to go back."

"You mean get sealed again? But maybe you could win the tournament? And get your wish fulfilled. Sir." Star shyly questioned the king.

"Win? Me? Preposterous. How could I win, if I had already lost?"

Both teens looked in puzzlement. As far as either knew, this was a tournament and that every participant but Marco could win. What did the Undead king mean?

"Lost are you two? Seems like you two know nothing."

"Excuse us Mr. Lucitor, but we've just been given what I'm assuming to be the bare minimum from Glossaryck." piped Marco.

"Ah! Glossaryck! Is that how you got Eclipsa's belt? And is that why Star is here?" the king looked at his two students knowing full well that the tiny blue man had kept the truth from both of them. Though, he couldn't blame Glossaryck, he was just doing his job. "How about this? I'm your teacher correct? So, I'll continue like one. After all your daily classes are done, we'll have a remedial class. I will offer my knowledge on the Battle Royal and when the time is right, I'll give you your final exam. How about it?"

"Uhh…" Star didn't know how to respond; she desperately needed answers, but Glossaryck wasn't answering. However, she didn't know if she could trust the Undead king.

"Star, let's do it." Marco reassured Star with that brilliant smile of his. "I mean we've met Crescenta and she didn't do much except threaten us. And I get it, Mr. Lucitor gives me the willies, but he doesn't seem like a bad guy. Let's give it a try before we have to fight. If we can get this over with without hurting someone that'd be great. Well, practically speaking."

Her instincts told her to just fight and seal away the Undead right now. However, Marco was right, it would be more prudent to get much needed information. Plus, the teacher wasn't a bad person, he just felt dangerous.

"OH! I bet you get shivers around me. Sorry, I can't help it, just too much power." Mr. Lucitor gave the teens a grin as he waved his hands in front of himself. "I'm against fighting, but not against having power. I am one of the four oldest, but it's been so long that I forgot that not everyone can withstand my presence. So, please, just give me a chance. I want to teach, and if it doesn't work out, I guess you can always choose the old fashioned method."

"Sure, I guess what do we have to lose?" Star relented and pushed aside her instincts.