Author's Notes: AWW YEAH! SVTFOE SEASON 2 STARTS JULY 11, 2016! GET HYPE!
Comments and constructive criticism are always welcomed.
Starfall by GolfAlphaMike
Epilogue 7: Choice
He woke up and reached out for her only to find empty air. He sat up in the bed and looked over to her side. She wasn't there.
Awake for only ten seconds and he already missed her.
It was still early, so he laid back down to wait for her to come back to bed. He let his thoughts wander and reminisced about the path his life had taken to her.
"Sister? We need to talk. I'm turning down Lady Laraline's proposal of marriage."
"Another one, Kevin? What was the issue this time?"
"She was a shallow and transparent opportunist. She had eyes only for my royal title."
"You have courted women using your royal title before!"
"For casual company! Not for a serious relationship!"
"Our kingdom needs an heir! This was our agreement! I accept the burden of the crown until an heir is ready! Your heir!"
"Did you really want me to marry a parasite like her?!"
"I would like to turn the kingdom over to an adult! At this rate, I will be an old woman before an heir is ready!"
"You could always get married yourself, Skye!"
She shot her brother a hard look.
"What? Everyone needs to sacrifice for the kingdom." Kevin said smiling.
Skye humphed.
"How are things with your royal companion?" Kevin asked.
"Very well, actually. Her sister will be coming for a visit soon. Ishtar framed her for a crime in order to secure Mimi's service. She is actually a lovely person. She might have made a good match for you. It is a shame that she is not a noble."
"Neither is Mimi."
"It is of little consequence since we can not marry."
"I've been told that in some regions of Earth, it's allowed for those of the same gender to marry." Kevin told her.
"Interesting."
"This is a good time to tell you that I've decided to leave this dimension for Earth for a while. I've done research and already made preparations." Kevin said.
"Are you planning to marry someone of the same gender? I had no idea." Skye joked.
"Haha. You're a funny queen."
She smiled.
"Did you know that I made the list of the 100 most eligible bachelors in MMM?"
"Well, Mewni Monarchy Magazine is not exactly known for quality journalism."
"The point being!… I'm known here. But on Earth I wouldn't be. My royal title wouldn't factor into any Earth woman's feelings."
"This seems a rather extreme response to a tabloid."
"Do you think I should approach this like father did?"
Skye laughed. "Please, Kevin. As if you would find another woman as selfless as mother."
"Which one?" Kevin asked.
"Either."
"You suuuure you don't want to stay here Prince Kevin? My brother's room is available while he's in Mewni." Mabel said with hearts in her eyes.
"I appreciate the offer, Mabel, but I must politely decline. Any dimensional travellers must pass through Gravity Falls and I'm trying to be discreet."
"So where will you go?" Soos asked.
"Thank you for your help. I'm sure we'll meet again soon."
"Take care, Prince Kevin." Mabel said.
"So long, Kevin Dude." Soos said.
Kevin smiled and waved as he boarded the bus.
As the bus departed, he looked out the window at Mabel.
"It's too bad. She's cute." he thought to himself.
He had asked her to just call him 'Kevin' a few times. But Mabel just couldn't avoid including his title. He wondered whether or not she would be so interested if she didn't already know he was royalty.
"Oh, well. I knew this wouldn't be so simple."
"This will be your room, Kevin. This was Marco's old bedroom. "
"Thank you, Mrs Diaz."
"Please, call me Angie."
"Are you sure that it's alright? My cousin still calls you Mrs Diaz."
"I've been trying to get her to call me Angie since she came back into our lives. But 'Mrs Diaz' is too ingrained. So I'm starting early with you."
"And here are your bags." Rafael said.
"Thank you. You didn't have to do that for me."
"It was no trouble! You brought only a few things."
"Yes. I'm immersing myself in Earth life. No one should know I'm royalty. Which means no royal comforts. Not even money. Which also means that I need to find a job to pay rent."
"Oh, Kevin! We are family! You don't need to pay rent."
"Oh, but I insist. Besides, a job will force me to go out and meet people. It's part of my whole Earth-style living plan."
"Kevin! Order up!"
Kevin retrieved the plates of food from the window and brought them to the customer's table. He had gained a new appreciation for the castle servants back home. Especially during banquets. This job can be strenuous.
Another server, Erica, approached and quickly said, "Hey Kevin my boyfriend is here I need to go on my break can you watch my section? 'Kay thanks bye!"
Before Kevin could protest or agree she was gone.
He groaned in annoyance and approached a table with three women seated at it.
"Hello. Welcome. I'm Kevin. I'll be your server today. Can I start anyone with a bevera…?"
Kevin looked at the women seated at the table. It was the blonde that caught his attention.
"Mimi?! What are you doing here?!"
The woman looked confused.
"Who?" she asked.
Kevin could not find even a trace of recognition. Impossible, even for a mimic.
It wasn't Mimi.
He looked more closely. She looked exactly like his sister's royal companion. Well, not exactly. This woman seated in front of him appeared a bit older.
"Hey, you okay?" asked one of the brunettes at the table.
"Huh? Oh, sorry! It's just that your friend looks exactly like one of my sister's friends. What are your names?"
"I'm Leah. This is Hope…"
"Hello." Hope said with a smile.
"...And this is Jackie."
"Hey." Jackie said.
"Hi." Kevin said.
"Hey, Kevin. Those girls in my section were talking about you. The blonde one thinks you were hitting on her." Erica said.
"No, no. It was just a misunderstanding."
"Really? 'You look like my sister's friend' sure sounds like a pickup line." a voice sounded from behind Kevin.
He turned around to see Mimi, er... Jackie there. She slipped a piece of paper into his hand.
"You're cute. Call me."
Kevin stood in front of the house phone and dialed.
It rang briefly before a voice picked up.
"Hello?"
"Uh, hi, Jackie. This is Kevin. From the restaurant. Yesterday."
"Oh, hi! Um… Why are you calling from the Diaz's?"
She knows the Diazes.
"I just recently moved into town. I'm renting a room from them. How do you know them?"
"I went to highschool with their son and daughter-in-law. They're friends of mine."
Oh, dung. It all makes sense now. Star and Marco know Jackie. That's why Mimi and Jackie look alike.
Kevin mentally berated himself for allowing such an obvious conclusion to escape him.
"So how do you know the Diazes?" Jackie asked.
Kevin knew he was treading on dangerously thin ice. If Jackie found out that he was Star's cousin, his non-royalty cover would be blown.
"I…" Kevin looked at the wall of pictures. "...I'm an old exchange student of theirs."
"Really? I thought I knew all of them from when they came to school."
"...It was during a summer. Has Marco never mentioned me? That scamp."
"Well, I'm glad you called. Do you have any plans tonight?"
Kevin's brain advised him, "Say you're busy say you're busy say you're busy say you're busy say you're busy…"
"I'm free."
"D'oh!" went his brain.
Kevin fidgeted nervously while he waited.
"No need to feel weird just because she looks like the queen's royal companion." he told himself.
He took a deep breath.
"She looks like your sister's lesbian lover." his brain teased.
A hand touched his shoulder.
"Kevin?"
He turned to find Jackie there. She had dressed up and looked very attractive.
"Hey. Did you wait long?" she asked.
"Hi, Jackie. No. Not too long at all." he stammered.
"Oh, no! She's hot!" his brain shouted.
"I have a sister. But she was older and had more responsibilities. What about you?"
"I'm an only child. I just had close friends. I even went away to college with one."
"I didn't go to a proper school."
"I find that hard to believe."
"Well, my sister and I had private tutors. But that's not the same as going to school."
"Until you stayed with the Diazes."
"I've led a rather sheltered life."
"Is that why you left home?"
"I wanted to make new friends."
"Where are you from?"
"...France."
"Fantastique! Je veux améliorer mon niveau de français!"
"...But we moved to Iowa when I was very young. Yup. Iowa. The land of corn."
"I thought it was 'The Hawkeye State'?"
Kevin prayed that she had never visited Des Moines.
Kevin walked Jackie home.
"Is this your house?" he asked.
"It's my parent's house. I used to share an apartment with a friend, but she had to leave for a once in a lifetime opportunity."
"This is actually rather close to the Diazes."
"Which would make it convenient if you wanted to see me again." Jackie said.
Kevin smiled.
"I had a nice time tonight."
"I did too."
"Good night."
"Good night."
"Your parents seemed very nice when they answered the door." Kevin said.
"Thanks. You haven't mentioned your parents."
"My father… he was big in politics back home."
"Is that why you and your sister were home schooled?"
"That, and there were no good schools there."
"What about your mother?"
"My mother passed away when I was three."
"Oh. How sad."
"My father never remarried, but has a long time girlfriend. She does her best to be like a mother to me."
"And your sister?"
"It took a while for my sister to warm up to her."
"Hey Kevin what are you doing tomorrow night?" Erica asked.
"I have a date. Why?"
"With that Jenny girl you met here?"
"Jackie. Yes, actually."
"She your girlfriend?"
"I… I'm not sure. We've been seeing a lot of each other. But I'm not sure."
"So that's a no then?"
"...I guess… not."
"So it would be okay if you took me out sometime!"
"Don't you have a boyfriend, Erica?"
"Oh I stopped seeing him Tuesday."
"It's only Thursday."
"The point is that I'm free to date who I want just like you. Just like Jenny."
"Jackie? We've been seeing each other for a little while now."
"Uh-huh." She said as she held his hand as they walked to her door.
"I need to ask you something."
"Sure, Kevin."
"Are you seeing anyone else? I'm not trying to be possessive, but I just need to ask."
"What? No. Have I done something to make you think that?"
"No. I'm asking because something happened recently. I was asked out on a date by someone at work."
"Do you want to go out with this someone?"
Kevin shook his head. "I turned her down, for a number of reasons. But mainly because I don't want to date anyone but you."
Then he looked Jackie in the eyes. "But I can't just assume that's what you want."
She locked eyes with his. "Well, that is what I want."
Kevin smiled.
"You're way too gentlemanly. Looks like I need to take the lead here." Jackie said.
She stood close, reached up, and pulled his face to hers.
Their lips met.
Time seemed to stop.
"Good night, Kevin." she said with a giggle.
Still stunned by the experience, he just said, "...Good night, Jackie."
She smiled as she closed the door.
"Are you alright?" Mr Diaz asked upon finding Kevin sitting in the living room looking very anxious.
"Oh, Rafael. I think I may have messed up quite royally."
"What is the matter?"
"I didn't think my plan all the way through."
"What is there to think through? Just vive la Tierra vida."
"I didn't tell you or Angie this, but I actually came here because I was looking for love."
"¿Amor? Why did you not tell us? We know the perfect girl for you! Jackie Lynn Thomas! She is Marco and Star's amiga! I am sure they would introduce… Kevin?"
Kevin held his face in his hands.
They were on the beach and Jackie was teaching Kevin how to surf.
"Now do a push up on the board like this." Jackie said as she demonstrated.
Kevin watched and copied her.
"You're still learning so I'll show you the easier but slower way. Bring your knee forward and put your foot between your hands."
"Like this?"
"Good. Now stand up. Keep your knees bent."
Kevin repeated the steps a few times.
"You're a fast learner. I think it's time for us to get wet."
"Do you think I'm ready?"
"This is nice. Us just sitting out here on the water like this." Jackie said sitting atop her board.
"You're very at ease out here. Almost like this is your natural habitat." Kevin said.
"I've been accused of being a mermaid. Thanks for sharing this with me."
"Thanks for teaching me."
Jackie smiled and leaned in to give him a kiss.
"And this wave's yours! Paddle!" Jackie shouted laughing.
Kevin almost stood up before he was flipped upside down.
"Wooo!" Jackie cheered as he surfaced.
Kevin just laughed.
"Mr and Mrs Diaz?" Star said as she entered the front door with Marco.
"Hello? Mom? Dad? We just wanted to make a surprise visit!"
Kevin popped up and looked at them over the back of the sofa. He looked disheveled.
"Hey! Kevin! So how's living-"
"Marco! Hi! Living with your parents has been just as good as I remember!"
Marco looked confused.
"Hi, Kevin! I-"
"And you must be Star! Marco's parents told me he got married! Come here! Let me give you a proper hello!"
Kevin quickly came from around the couch and wrapped Marco and Star in a hug.
"Please just play along. I'll explain later." he whispered.
There was an awkward pause.
"...It's so... nice to meet you… Kevin, was it?" Star patted his back as she acted.
Slowly Jackie rose into view from lying on the sofa while adjusting her shirt.
"Hi, guys." she said sheepishly while blushing.
"Whoa, Jackie!" Star exclaimed.
"Jackie? What are you?… So, I see you've met Kevin." Marco said.
"We've met, yeah."
"Your parents aren't here. They went on an overnight trip for an art festival." Kevin said.
"Marco, I thought the exchange students that stayed with your family all went to our school. I didn't know one stayed during the summer." Jackie said.
"...Yeah. That was before we started really hanging out. Did I not tell you about Kevin? My bad."
"Where's his picture on the wall?" Jackie asked.
"Fire!" Star shouted. "Uh, yeah. There was a fire that burned his picture. That was my fault."
Kevin came back from walking Jackie home to find the sofa turned around to face the front door. Star and Marco were sitting with their arms crossed. Kevin felt like a child that had been caught misbehaving.
"Hi, gu-"
"Why doesn't she know you're my cousin? Or from Mewni? Or even a prince?" Star asked.
"Is it because you think she'll only want to be with you because you're royalty?" Marco asked.
"I'm afraid that she will want to be with me because of it, and at the same time I'm afraid that she won't want to be with me because of it."
"You messed up. Your title wouldn't have mattered to her." Star said.
"How do you see this playing out? We can't keep lying to her too. She's going to find out the truth eventually. It would be best if she heard it from you." Marco said.
"Is this just a game for you? Jackie's our friend. We don't want to see her get hurt again." Star said.
"No, Star. I really care about her. I don't want to hurt her."
"Then you need to tell her the truth. And the sooner the better." Marco said.
"Yeah! And before you-" Star leapt off the sofa onto her feet.
"Were you doing it with her?!" she said accusingly while pointing to the sofa.
Marco jumped to his feet.
"No! We haven't gotten to that point in our relationship. That's why I took her home. We never spend the night together. You just interrupted us kissing… vigorously."
"Don't even think about third base until she knows the truth! You should still be on first!"
"I know. But she gave me the signal to steal second."
"That was a wonderful dinner Mrs Thomas."
"Thank you, Kevin."
"Jackie tells us that you're managing the restaurant now." Jackie's father said.
"Yes, sir. It was a bit of a surprise. The previous manager quit suddenly."
"Is that what you want to do for a living?"
"As a career? No, sir. The restaurant is a job. I took it so that I could live here."
"What would you want to do as a career?"
"Dad. You're interrogating him."
"It's alright, Jackie."
"Yes, I just want to know if Kevin has ambition. Not like that Blake fella."
"DAD!"
"Hush, dear. She was young when they dated." said Jackie's mother.
She then turned to Kevin. "If you and Jackie get married, where would you want to live? Here or Iowa?"
"OH MY GOSH! MOM!"
At the end of the evening, Jackie and Kevin were outside sitting on the front porch swing together.
"I can't believe my mom listed all the guys I ever brought home to meet them. I wanted to die of embarrassment." Jackie complained.
"You don't have to be embarrassed. Everyone has a history."
"Not everyone. Marco didn't. Star was his first girlfriend. Even Star had a boyfriend before him."
"Did that ever seem bother him?"
"Yes and no. There was a whole ugly thing involving her ex."
Jackie seemed to change the subject.
"Have you ever been engaged, Kevin?"
"I turned down a few proposals because the marriage wouldn't have been about love."
"A few?"
"Does that bother you, Jackie?"
"No. I turned down someone too."
"Why?"
"Because being seen with me was more important than being with me. I was a trophy to him. He wasn't the first guy to make me feel that way. Seems like a lot of people think I'm just a pretty thing and not much else."
"That's appalling. You're a person and not just an object for others to covet. You love the outdoors and animals. You like ham but hate bacon. You speak French. You enjoy sports that involve a board. You're outgoing and intelligent. You're thoughtful of others. You're-"
Kevin stopped when he saw that Jackie was beginning to blush.
"If all they cared about is what you looked like, then they're all fools. You're more than just beautiful to me. But I can only ask you to believe that."
"I believe you." She said as she held his hand.
She believed him. The moment the words left her lips, he felt an enormous pang of guilt. Even though he was telling her the truth about how he feels now, she shouldn't believe anything he says. He was a liar.
Jackie looked into his face to see a look of sadness and regret. "What's wrong?"
Kevin looked away. "I need to tell you something, and it's going to change the way you feel about me. But you deserve to know the truth."
Jackie waited for him to continue.
"I… I'm a prince."
"You are? Why would you hide that?"
"Because that title is the first thing people see about me. Usually it's the only thing they see. The only thing they care about."
"Well, that doesn't matter to me."
"There's more... I'm Star's cousin. I'm not from this dimension."
"You're *that* Kevin? But you can't be Star's cousin. You don't look anything like her"
"No. That's a lie too. Probably the biggest lie of them all. But I'll tell you everything, Jackie. The whole truth."
Kevin took a deep breath. He had to do this.
"Jackie. What I'm about to tell you is known by only a few people. My kingdom has long been told that Daisy, Star's grandaunt, is my mother. But that's not the truth..."
"...This is probably Xix's most closely guarded secret. And now you know it too."
Jackie said nothing.
"I'm sorry, Jackie. I understand if you hate me now."
Jackie was quiet for a long while.
Kevin stood up and said, "I will leave Earth tonight. You will never have to see me again. Goodbye, Jackie."
Jackie reached out for his hand and looked up at him from the swing. Her expression wasn't one of anger. Instead she had a look of concern.
"Please, don't go."
She stood and wrapped her arms around him. He returned her embrace.
"I'm sorry I lied to you. I don't deserve to be with you."
"You've been forced to live a lie your entire life."
"What do you mean?"
"Would you be a prince if your kingdom knew who your mother really was?"
"No. The law says that my sister and I are illegitimate. Bastards. We would be exiled along with our birth mother."
"You aren't just afraid that someone would want you only because of your title. You're also afraid that no one would want you without it."
The truth of her words hit him like a battering ram. Tears began to form in his eyes.
She looked him in the eyes and said, "This doesn't change my feelings. But it's up to you to believe me when I tell you that... I love you, Kevin."
"I love you too, Jackie."
"We wanted to tell you sooner, but Kevin dug the hole. He needed to be the one to fill it back in." Marco said.
"We were gonna tell you if he took too long." Star said.
Jackie humphed pretending to be offended but held Kevin's hand and smiled.
"Thanks everyone for coming to welcome us back! Since you're all here together, we have an important announcement!" Dipper said.
"We're getting married!" Janna blurted out.
"Hey! We were supposed to say that together!"
"Sorry! I got excited!"
Amid the applause and cheering, they shared a kiss.
An overweight tattooed cherub at the back of the crowd shouted, "AW, YEAH! LOVE RULES!"
"Hey." Kevin said as he wrapped his arm around Jackie's waist.
"Hi." Jackie said in response.
"What's wrong? You sound sad."
"Janna found someone who loves her. Just like me."
"That doesn't sound like something to be sad about."
"It's not. I'm so happy for her."
"Buuut?…" Kevin prompted.
"But we both started down these new paths without each other. Before I met you, I thought Janna was going to come home after a year and ask to move in with each other and we would carry on like we always did. But before she left, she wasn't really happy. She had a job she hated and a few failed relationships. Why would she want to come back to that? Now she doesn't have to."
"She found a guy who loves her for who she is. She's probably got all kinds of witchy things she learned. She's getting married. She's going to be a mom. She's moving here to Oregon."
"And you feel like you're going to grow apart."
Jackie nodded.
Kevin said, "I think she probably feels the same way. The life Janna left behind a year ago wasn't still waiting for her whether she wanted to move back or not. You two were close. I met you while she was gone. A new boyfriend was always the sort of news you shared."
"But you've done this before. You let someone go because it was for the better. I know you're sad now, but in time you'll feel good about this too."
"What do you mean?"
"I know about the triangle that existed between Star, Marco, and you."
Jackie laughed.
"Not exactly something I was going to tell my boyfriend."
Kevin laughed.
"You did more than just take a step back. Even though you still had feelings for him, you helped them when they needed help. You can't deny that they're happier for it."
"All of us are. Marco, Star, … me. But, it's times like this that I'm jealous."
Jackie suddenly looked apologetic. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean that you… I…"
"It's okay, Jackie. I know what you meant. They married their best friends. They never have to let go. Not even a little."
Jackie looked towards Dipper and Janna.
"She seems so happy. She always had a soft spot for the bookish type."
"My mother always believed that some people were destined to meet for a purpose greater than themselves."
"I wish I could have met your mother."
Kevin smiled.
"By the way, Jackie? Who is Akeem?"
"I don't know an Akeem."
"Janna called me that for some reason."
"Nana Gem? Father? We're here."
"Kevin! You're back. It's been too long." said Gem as she embraced him.
"And who is this lovely creature who looks like but is clearly not my daughter's royal companion?" Brad asked.
"I wanted you both to meet my girlfriend, Jackie Lynn Thomas from Earth."
Kevin helped Jackie with her mount.
"Are you all set, Jackie?" Nana Gem asked.
"I think so. My family used to take me riding when I was young. This feels familiar. We'll see you tonight!"
Jackie kicked her mount and headed off.
"Yeehaw!"
"You had best pursue her." Brad said to Kevin.
He climbed atop his mount and chased after her.
"It had been ten years since they were together. No calls. No letters. None could be risked. But they still loved each other."
Jackie held Kevin's arm and leaned on him as they sat on the blanket beside his mother's grave.
"'Lay me to rest where I met him.' That was her last request. Her way of saying that even until her last day she longed to be with him. Before he passed away he told his family his wish to be laid to rest next to her. I wonder if he knew his time was short."
"Does it bother you that your parents had a marriage of convenience?"
"My parents were proof that men and women can be friends without romantic feelings arising. No one ever saw that kind of affection between them. As I grew older I began to understand that their hearts lay elsewhere. This is sadly all too common among the nobility."
Jackie was silent.
"It's very pretty here." she said.
They both looked around. The area was covered in colorful flowers all the way up to the edge of the road.
"This only happened recently. They're considered a blessing. They're royal flowers."
Jackie looked at them and smiled. "They sound like the color blue."
"But, these flowers aren't blue. How can something sound like a color anyway?" Kevin wondered. He only heard the breeze and the songs of a few jayhawks.
One landed on top of the newest marker.
"Has anyone else solved the puzzle?" Jackie asked.
"Not yet. But his marker hasn't been here very long and this is a detour from the main road. Not very many travellers pass by here. Also, these are servant's markers. It's difficult to tell that these graves are significant from the road."
Kevin suddenly realized something.
"Wait a minute… did you just say 'anyone *else*'?"
"Uh-huh." Jackie said smiling while indicating a notebook page filled with pencil scratches. The bottom of the page was folded over hiding the writing there.
"How'd you do that?"
"I saw that all of the numbers were divisible by 19 and make a plus and minus pattern. Once you get the quotients, then the difference between all adjacent numbers is 26 or less. That's a simple number to letter code."
"I got that far too. But I couldn't figure out the rest."
"The next step of the solution uses the number 19 again. It's printed on the stone." Jackie said pointing to the word 'XIX' surrounded by laurel wreaths.
"But that's not a number. It's the name of my kingdom."
"An old Earth civilization, the Romans, wrote their numbers that way. Also, the laurel wreath was worn by the Roman ruler. The Caesar."
"A caesar cipher just shifts the letters by a number of places. And we already used the number 19 as part of the solution. That can't be a coincidence."
"But it's still gibberish."
"The last step is the hardest. It's coded using a keyword."
"But how did you know the key?"
"Oh, Kevin. If you can't find the key here, you haven't been paying attention to your own story."
Kevin looked around him and smiled. He whispered something into Jackie's ear.
She giggled and said, "That's right."
Jackie unfolded the bottom of the paper and showed him the solution.
"I am very impressed. How did you learn to do that?"
"I used to pass coded messages in class with Janna when we were kids. She always used the name of her crush as the key."
"What did you use for your key?"
"It doesn't matter. You're my only key now."
One moment they were casually riding back to the farmhouse, and the next moment Kevin was in hot pursuit.
Jackie cried out for him as her mount left the road and raced into the woods.
He wasn't sure why her mount bolted, but it mattered little. It was nearing dark. It would be bad if he lost her. He drove his mount hard to catch up.
After a few minutes of chasing her, he managed to grab the reins of Jackie's mount and brought it to a stop in a meadow. His heart was racing as he dismounted and helped Jackie down from her mount.
"Are you alright, Jackie?!" he said as he held her against him.
She nodded as she squeezed him in return. "I'm okay. But that was scary. Can we stop here for a little while?"
"Of course."
Kevin took their mounts and tied them to a tree some distance away.
"It's a little chilly. Can you bring the blanket?"
It was actually a very warm evening.
They lay facing each other sharing tender kisses. She used his arm as a pillow as he stroked her curves with his other hand.
They needed to catch their breath.
After a while he looked down at his chest.
"What are you doing?"
"Wondering why I'm not marked. I love you so much. And what we just shared was... incredible."
Jackie smiled.
"But, no bond. Just thinking about what that means."
"Star told me the legend of the heart bound lovers."
"Did you know that she was bonded to Marco the night before they were separated? Their bond kept them together in their hearts. They needed it."
"Stan and Daisy. Brad and Crystal. Even the very first heart bond lovers. They all needed their bonds because they were going to be apart."
Kevin had not considered this before.
"Tom used to have a terrible anger problem. But his bond calmed it. He needed that bond. It made him a better person. Now he has to learn how to control his anger without it."
"And now Star and Marco are bonded again. After everything they went through, they need the extra reassurance that the bond gives."
"Bonded couples have always regarded it as a gift." Kevin said.
"And it is… for them. But other people would consider it a crutch. Or worse, a burden."
"And what do you think of it?" Kevin asked.
"We don't need it."
"Do you remember when you confessed to me that you were really a mewman prince? I felt your guilt about lying to me. I felt your fear that I would hate you."
"But I also felt your hope that I would forgive you. You loved me and you wanted to be able to tell me. I could feel it."
"We share our feelings with each other because we choose to. I love you. And I want you to know."
"A heart bond might mean that two people are meant to be together. But not having a heart bond doesn't mean the opposite. It means that two people have to decide for themselves."
Kevin gently held her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed her fingers.
"I love you, Jackie. Marry me."
Jackie gasped.
"I never want us to be apart. We might not have a heart bond, but we're meant to be. I choose to believe that. I feel it."
Tears began to form.
"Marry me, Jackie. Please be my wife. Give me the honor of being your husband. Let me spend my life trying to make you as happy as you make me."
Jackie squeaked out "Yes" as she began to cry.
"We should head back."
"Aww."
"Well, we could have had more time if you had just seduced me earlier."
"What? In front of your mother?"
They laughed as they dressed.
"Let me help you with your mount."
"Can I ride with you? I don't want to risk getting separated again."
Kevin smiled as he helped her onto his mount and climbed on behind her.
Jackie whistled sharply and her mount followed them obediently.
"Prince Kevin! Welcome home!"
"Thank you, Simon. Is there still time for a last minute visitor to open court?"
"Of course, Prince Kevin."
Simon opened the throne room door for him.
"Hi, sis." Kevin said as he entered.
The queen's cheek marks reappeared.
"Kevin! You've returned! Welcome back!"
Skye collected her composure and suppressed her marks.
"Ahem. This is unexpected. Have you been to visit father?"
"I just came from him. I hope you don't mind that I went to see him first."
"Of course not, brother. Did you find what you sought on Earth?
"I've actually returned as a petitioner."
"Oh?"
"I've come to ask for your blessing to marry."
"That is wonderful news! And who is the woman you have chosen to be your wife?"
Kevin signaled Simon to open the door to allow her in.
"Queen Skye of Xix, I am Jackie Lynn Thomas of Earth." she said as she curtsied.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The queen signaled the guards for privacy. They left quickly.
Skye straightened up in her throne. "Now, you can see how this might present a bit of a quandary don't you?"
"There will be gossip, of course. I'm sure you're not looking forward to the articles in MMM. But everything has an innocent explanation."
"And how would you explain the situation?"
"You took on your royal companion to vet her as a marriage prospect for your brother. You kept the true nature of your relationship with Mimi out of the public eye, and no one else is aware of Mimi's abilities."
"Simon knows."
"Simon! Do you know anything?" Kevin asked him.
"Me? I know less than nothing, Prince Kevin. I am completely unaware that Mimi the mimic is the most valuable source of information in this kingdom." Simon said.
Skye smirked and stood from the throne. She approached Kevin and Jackie.
"Well, she is lovely."
"Of course you would think so." Kevin jabbed. "But her true beauty is inside."
"Jackie Lynn Thomas. Do you care for the prince?"
"I love Kevin, your highness."
"And will you bear an heir who will lead this kingdom when my own rule ends?"
"We'll have children. But they'll be given the choice whether or not to accept the crown. We won't force them."
"WHAT?!" The queen turned to the prince. "This was not our arrangement! What will happen to Xix if your child chooses not to rule?!"
"I'm sure that our cousin will have more than one child. You can ask one of them if they would like to rule Xix."
"What if I forbid this union?!" Skye shouted.
"We're not asking for your permission! We're asking for your blessing! And if the queen won't give us her blessing, then we'll just marry without it!" Kevin shouted in return.
Skye and Kevin were locked in a stare off.
A duplicate of Jackie appeared from the private royal entrance. She approached and gently placed her hand on the queen's shoulder.
"Skye, there's no need to worry. I'm sure everything will work out in due time."
Skye's hard expression softened.
"Wow. I guess Kevin wasn't hitting on me after all. I really do look just like his sister's friend." Jackie said in amazement.
"Did he tell you what happened when we first met? He hit on me, and I shot him down."
"Well, of course. Have you seen us?"
They laughed and spent a moment mirroring each other's movements with amusement.
"But what do you really look like, Mimi? The real you." Jackie asked.
Mimi's hair turned white, her skin grey, and her eyes red as her form shifted to its natural shape.
"Very pretty. Exotic. Why don't you just keep this appearance?"
"Sadly, I would not be accepted. People think mimics are monsters. We are not trusted because of our abilities. But the queen accepts me. That is enough. Besides, I would be less able to serve her if my nature were known."
"Mimi, dear. We've talked about this. You help me, but you don't serve me."
The queen sighed and turned to Jackie. "Well, this is awkward. I was quite fond of Mimi's borrowed visage. If I were to give my blessing to your union, she would have to choose a new appearance."
"I have already selected a new one, Skye. Would you like to see it now?"
"Oh, yes, please."
Mimi's hair shortened and turned brown as she changed.
"Chantelle?!" Jackie said.
"Queen Star provided a book with many choices on the off chance that I would need to change my appearance."
"My, my, my! Very attractive. I quite like it." Skye said.
"May I make a small suggestion, Mimi?" Jackie said.
"Yes?" Mimi said.
"Chantelle was only eighteen when her pictures were taken for the yearbook. You will be happier with her appearance now. Her butt wasn't anything special then. But today it has become a very nice badonkadonk."
"I do enjoy a large booty. I must admit. My brother will confirm this." Skye said.
Everyone in the throne room burst into laughter.
"There is one other form I was using. Though Prince Kevin was rather neutral on it."
"I don't remember judging anything."
Mimi's form changed again.
"Are you certain?" she asked.
"Erica?!" Kevin said in complete surprise.
"Rafael, Angie, thank you for allowing me to stay in your home. But now that Jackie and I are getting married, we will be sharing a home of our own."
"How wonderful! Congratulations!" Angie said.
"We are happy for you! When is the wedding?" Rafael asked.
"We're going to wait until after Janna has her baby." Jackie said.
Jackie and Kevin elected to have their wedding on Earth, at the church in Echo Creek. All of their friends and family were in attendance. Marco served as best man. Janna was the matron of honor.
"Having pledged your commitment to each other before God and these witnesses, I now pronounce that you are husband and wife. You may now-"
The bride and groom were already in the middle of the first kiss of their marriage to the accompaniment of applause and cheers.
"-oh, go ahead."
The reception was a simple affair but was all they wanted and needed.
Before too long, the bride and groom were sent off in a manticore drawn carriage to the Galafamor dimension for their honeymoon.
Eventually they returned to Earth to live their wedded life together.
"I thought we could stay in tonight and watch a movie. It's relevant." Jackie said.
They cuddled together on their sofa as the movie played.
"But when I marry, I want the woman to love me for who I am, not because of what I am."
"And who are you?"
"I am a man who has never tied his own shoes before!"
"Wrong. You are a PRINCE who has never tied his shoes. Believe me. I tied my own shoes once. It is an overrated experience."
How long had he been daydreaming about Jackie? She should be here in bed with him for real.
Kevin threw on a pair of pajama bottoms as he got out of bed to find his wife. He went to the kitchen. Although she wasn't there, the coffee maker had been turned on.
She didn't have work today and she would have told him if she was going out. She had to still be here.
He went back down the hall and stopped at the bathroom door.
"Jackie? Are you in there?" He said as he knocked.
There was no answer. Something was wrong.
He looked down and saw red. It was coming out from under the door. Fear gripped his heart.
"JACKIE!"
Without thinking, he bashed the door open with his shoulder. The sight of a large red pod inside the bathroom greeted him.
Fear was replaced with confusion.
Kevin looked around to see the room covered in red flakes. He picked up a handful and examined them. They were delicate like flower petals.
He turned his attention back to the pod. Red vines crept along the floor and walls. He took a closer look and touched the surface of the pod. It was translucent, like frosted glass. He was surprised by a hand as it pressed against the inside the shell. Suddenly five more hands did the same. Two glowing eyes opened.
Kevin backed away into the hall.
The shell crackled loudly before it split open. A winged, red creature that was inside stood up.
"JACKIE?!"
She smiled and then lunged at him.
He dodged her by diving down the hall towards the kitchen. He scrambled to his feet and made a break for the front door.
A sticky stream of red diamond shaped petals flew from the creature's hands sealing the front door shut.
Kevin knew that he would be cornered in the kitchen. He stood in front of the archway and dodged again as the creature charged. She missed him and passed into the kitchen. For some reason she stopped to focus on the coffee pot.
He took the opening and ran for the bedroom. He was almost at the door when he tumbled to the floor.
He rolled over and sat up to look. A sticky web of red hung between her hands and his legs. It hardened quickly.
The creature smirked. She had caught him.
He brought his fist down and shattered the red resin. He would have to thank Marco for showing him how to break wood and cement with his bare hands.
He dashed through the open bedroom door, closing and locking it behind him. But he knew that it wouldn't keep the creature out forever.
The knob jiggled.
He needed help. He turned to the mirror on the wall across from the door.
"Please be home."
The king was enjoying some one on one playtime with his daughter. She gurgled happily as she stacked colorful wooden blocks on each other.
The king had personally sanded down the sharp corners and edges of the wooden blocks for safety.
The mirror rang, signaling an incoming call.
"Answer"
"Marco! Thank goodness someone answered!"
"Hey, Kevin! How are you?" Marco picked up his daughter and held her up to the mirror. "Say 'Hi, Uncle Kevin!'"
The baby just stuck her hand in her mouth.
"Marco! Something's happened to Jackie! She's been transformed into a monster!"
"What?!" Marco said looking at his right arm suspiciously while holding his daughter in his left. "What kind of monster?"
"The kind Ishtar transformed herself into during her battle against Star!"
"That's impossible!"
"Where is Star?! Maybe she can help!"
"She's not here! She's at a Society of Women Sovereigns meeting with your sister!"
A beating sound came from the bedroom door.
"Jackie will break through the door soon. I can't… I won't fight against her. So, Marco, this may be my farewell. It's important that Star know what has happened. Please help Jackie. Tell her that I love her, and… not to blame herself for what happened to me." Kevin said tearfully. He was trying to hide his fear.
With the sound of wood splintering a red arm and hand burst through a hole in the door. It clawed at at the edges of the hole making it bigger. Flakes fell like red leaves. A second crimson arm burst through. Then a third.
The red arms withdrew and a red face with glowing eyes appeared in the hole.
"Ke...viiiinnn...!" it sang.
Marco saw that it was definitely Jackie.
"Kevin. Kevin! Listen to me! Jackie's not going to hurt you." Marco said.
"But…!"
"You're going to be fine. Just like I was fine. Trust me."
"But what's happening?!"
"It would be better if Star explained this to you and Jackie. For now, don't be afraid. She might look different, and she's probably not much of a talker, but it's still Jackie."
Kevin was silent.
"Oh, and Congrats!" Marco added.
"What?!"
A loud crash was heard. The creature had ripped the bedroom door from the hinges and thrown it aside.
Marco turned his head to look away as Jackie tackled Kevin. He shielded his daughter's eyes with his hand.
A hiss could be heard for a moment before the mirror shut off due to the dropped call.
"You're gonna get a new playmate!"
Marco said to his daughter.
She just babbled and laughed in response.
Jackie was roused by the sound of knocking at the front door.
She was confused. Her memory was fuzzy. She had a strange dream. An erotic dream.
The knocking continued.
She groaned. "Kevin? Wake up, Babe. Someone's at the door."
Kevin groaned.
Jackie sat up and looked at her husband next to her in bed. He was a withered and desiccated husk.
Okay, it wasn't that bad, but he did look very tired. And naked.
The knocking grew louder.
Jackie got out of bed and realized that she was naked too. She looked around the room.
"What the heck?"
It was a disaster. Their bed was broken. The door had been torn from the frame. It lay in splinters in the hall. Their bedroom was covered knee deep in a red material. Jackie scooped up a handful of the material. They were paper thin red diamonds.
Jackie dug her robe out from under the debris and put it on. She carefully went into the hallway and stepped over the broken bedroom door.
She was taken aback by the huge cocoon in the bathroom. It was cracked open and empty. Vines spread out from the cocoon. More of the red diamonds were piled around it and covered the floor.
She had seen this before.
Red. The rash. She was in the kitchen when she saw as it began to cover her whole arm. She saw in the bathroom mirror that the rash had spread to her face. The cocoon. She remembered breaking out. She remembered what she had done next.
Whoever was knocking at the door would not stop.
"Whoo iiis iiit?" Jackie sang nervously. "Please be Star. Please be Star. Please be Star." she muttered.
"It's Star!"
"And Janna! We know you're in there, Jackie!"
"We know you're hiding something!"
Jackie rushed to the door in relief. She tore away at the sticky red material binding the door shut. When she was able, she pried the door open.
"Hi, Jackie! Hugs!" said as they gathered into a group hug.
"We're so happy for you!" Janna said.
"Happy?! Have you looked at this place?"
"Not that! We know you're pregnant!" Janna said.
"What?!"
"And you're having a girl!" Star said.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Um, you did know you were pregnant, right?" Star asked timidly.
"..."
"KEVIN!" Jackie called out as she ran to the bedroom.
Everyone was sitting at the kitchen table.
Kevin looked at the clock and asked, "How did you guys get here so fast?"
"And where are Marco and Dipper?" Jackie asked.
"Last minute airfare out of Portland with only two seats on the flight so the guys are back in Gravity Falls with the princess and Junior. But, never mind all that!" Janna answered.
"Star, so when you transformed into that flying purple… creature, it was biology, and not a magic wand accident like you told everyone?"
"Biology isn't the best word for it, but you get the idea." Star said.
"I recognized it as Ishtar's fighting form. I saw it myself."
Star said, "It's not a fighting form. I mean, it does increase your strength. And speed. And your stamina. And lets you fly. And you're more focused. And your reaction time is better. And your magic is more powerful. And-"
"So it *is* a fighting form!" Kevin pointed out.
"Eh. Potato, Po-tah-toe. We call it the royal transformation." Star shrugged.
"So, your wand, it's just a ruse?" Kevin said.
"The wand is special, but I don't really need it. The Butterfly royal magic is part of me. And now royal magic is a part of you, Jackie."
Jackie put her hand on her stomach.
"We're having a magic baby." she said.
"That's right. "The royal magic chose you." Star said.
"But, why us?"
Janna was flipping through a book with a gold foil pine tree and the number '8' on the front as she said, "The old legends about royal magic said that it had a will of its own."
"All the other royal magic families met tragic ends." Kevin pointed out.
"No. The magic lines didn't end at all until Ishtar died." Janna corrected him. "It's been a little while since Ishtar died, and now the royal magic wants to return. Your daughter is just the first."
"How do you know that this is how royal magic returns?" Kevin asked.
"Research. We had to get access to the deepest part of the library to piece together this information. Glossaryck was less than forthcoming until we found the legendary tapioca fountain."
Janna opened the journal to a marked page. "The last time a royal was reborn was almost nine hundred years ago. The only magic wielding member of the Mayfly family had died of an illness."
Janna flipped to another part of the book. page as she read. "Just a few years later, a woman from a minor noble family in Elpon became a six armed, flying, teal colored creature."
Janna turned to another marked page. "That family claimed the magic bloodline name and ruled for another few centuries until the last Queen Mayfly and her family were killed in Pixtopia during a cave in."
"But Star, why isn't this also happening to you?" Jackie asked.
"It *did* happen to me. When I was pregnant with my magic heir."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Hey! I don't tell you guys *everything* that goes on in my bedroom."
Star pushed away from the table to stretch and rubbed her growing belly.
"But this time it won't. Baby number two doesn't have royal magic."
"And won't have to rule someday… My sister wants our child to rule Xix when she's old enough."
"That's years away. And I know you want to let her decide when the time comes." Star said.
"Nobody else knows about her magic power. Everyone in Xix will want her as queen if they did." Janna said.
Kevin held his wife's hand above the table. He could tell she was afraid.
"I don't know if I'm cut out to do this." Jackie said.
"Don't say that, Jackie. Of course you are." Kevin said.
"Star had her mother. But I'm not a magic queen. What can I do for her?"
"The same thing you would do for our daughter if she wasn't magic. Raise her to be a good person. Just like her mother."
Star held Jackie's other hand.
"And I'll help you with the magic." she said.
"We'll all be there for you, Jackie." Janna added.
"Thanks, guys."
Jackie saw everyone looking… staring at her.
"What's everyone looking at?"
"You have… something…" Kevin said pointing to his cheek.
Janna handed Jackie a compact mirror and Jackie saw the discoloration on her cheeks.
Red diamonds.
"What's happening?" Jackie said.
"You've got a magic baby in your belly. The magic is spreading through you. Humans don't normally have magic. But now you do." Janna said.
"Are they permanent?"
"Probably… not?" Star sounded unsure of her answer.
A red diamond appeared on Jackie's neck with an audible *pwip*.
"We'd better go." Janna said as she put the journal in her bag.
"Right." Star agreed as they got up and walked through the living room to the front door.
"Why the sudden rush?" Jackie asked following them out of the kitchen. Kevin was close behind.
"Believe me, I'd love to stick around and watch. But you're about to get reeeally possessive." Janna said.
"Call us later!" Star said as she and Janna left in a hurry.
Kevin and Jackie were now alone in their living room with their new state of being.
Jackie started to weep.
"Hey, hey. Don't cry." Kevin said as he embraced her.
Red diamonds began to appear rapidly on her skin.
"I'm sorry…" Jackie choked out.
"You haven't done anything to be sorry about. I should be the one apologizing to you. Parenthood is already a huge responsibility. To add the burden of royalty, and now on top of everything, magic? You weren't given a choice. If you had only married a human, then you wouldn't have had this thrust upon you. You must resent me."
"No. Kevin, no... I'm not sorry about our baby. We wanted her. We stopped using the protection spell and we were going to let nature take its course. I'm going to be a mom. I'm happy we're having a baby. And it's not the magic either. We're not alone. We'll have all the magical help we need."
"Then why are you sad?"
Jackie's tears flowed. "I attacked you. I'm a monster…"
"Oh, no! Jackie, no! You're not a monster! Please, don't cry."
"I forced you to-"
"You didn't force me to do anything. I admit that I was afraid at first. I had only ever seen a creature like that in battle."
Kevin held her face. Her tears made wet trails over the marks on her cheeks.
The red petals were starting to pile up around them..
"But it was you on the inside. And once I realized what it was that you wanted… It was actually… magical."
Jackie's tears began to slow.
"And the creature… while it was strange… it was also very beautiful. Like my wife."
He kissed her and held her to him to let her know that everything was going to be alright.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
Jackie wiped her tears on his shirt.
Suddenly she pushed him away.
Kevin was confused until he saw her smile at him.
With rapid *pwip* sounds, the red diamonds showered from her skin and soon buried her. They hardened and set into the shell of the cocoon with surprising speed.
The living room was covered with a deep layer of red vines and diamond petals.
It only took a short time before the metamorphosis was complete. Kevin was waiting for her when she emerged. This time he wasn't afraid.
They lay together in the soft piles of red petals. It felt like laying in satin and smelled like roses.
"Is this what it will be like until the baby is born?" Jackie asked.
"I could get used to it."
"Mm-hmm…" Jackie agreed.
He moved his hand to her belly and smiled.
"A daughter." he said.
Jackie put her hand over his.
Months passed until early one morning, before first light, a bright falling star appeared in the sky.
And with the day spread news that a girl had been born to the royal family of Xix.
"Jackie? Are you sure?" Kevin asked.
"Yes. I'm sure. She has to understand her choice. We can't keep her away from this place. This is her home as much as Earth is." Jackie said.
"She needs to know Earth too."
"We'll figure something out."
"So what shall we call her?" Kevin asked.
Jackie looked at their newborn daughter. The beautiful and magical girl in her arms.
"Dawn."
epilogo continuará
Author's Notes:
Jackie is admittedly kind of a Mary Sue in Starfall. Kind. Smart. Beautiful. Unselfish. Understanding. Etc. But she wasn't a central character so I thought I could get away with it. I subscribed to the idea that she was the #1 Starco shipper despite her own feelings. Her role in the main story was to act as a sort of catalyst for Star and Marco's relationship.
My original plan for Starfall did not include any sort of closure or happy ending for her. I was going to leave her future open ended. But as I wrote, I soon realized that would be a huge disservice to her.
Plus, I needed someone to give birth to a reborn magic line.
This chapter turned out to be the longest one since chapter 12. I thought I would just be doing a few short chapters as an epilogue. But, you know what? Screw it. This epilogue has already turned into a light sequel so the epilogue chapters can be as long as they need to be.
Thank you to everyone still reading.