A/N: This is my submission for the July Reddit short story contest. I wanted to put something light and fluffy out after writing some darker stuff for my long-form fics. Hope you enjoy it!
That's All
"Don't sweat it bro, that suit is killing it right now! You'll be fine," reassured Tom as he checked over Marco's suit one last time in the mirror. "Besides, isn't this like your 100th royal function since you and Star got together? Why are you so nervous looking?"
"That's mostly Star, Tom…" answered Marco, plucking off a spot of lint that was besmirching the deep red tie he was wearing. "She's the ambassador for Eclipsa, I'm mostly just there for emotional support and the free canapes."
"So that's even easier!" shrugged Tom, Stepping in front of his best buddy to give his own white suit a final once over. "This is just a meet and greet for the new mayor. C'mon, you can hang with me all night and we'll try to spend as little time as possible in the spotlight."
"Wish I could bud, but duty calls… Besides, considering the new mayor is Janna, shouldn't you be there as well?" Marco smirked when he saw the pale blush that appeared on his friend's cheeks at the mention of his own girlfriend.
"I… It's just…" Tom paused as if thinking very quickly, "she's a lot better at this kind of stuff than me…" he finished rather meekly.
"You mean politics?" Marco shook his head in exasperation before changing the subject. "I still can't believe this town elected her of all people…" To his surprise though, he saw his friend grimace at the thought.
"Heyyyyy, so just a heads up in case anyone askes…" Tom scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly before plunging ahead quickly, "I don't have any knowledge or comment about any scheme that may or may not have occurred to intimidate or persuade the current mayor to not seek reelection. Now c'mon let's get moving, they're meeting us at Monster temple in 10 minutes." Turning before Marco could say anything he practically speed-walked out of the apartment.
"Tom? TOM? You wanna run that by me one more time!" shouted Marco as he hurried after his friend into the waiting carriage.
Fifteen minutes later, a thoroughly regretful Marco stepped from the carriage and said goodbye to Tom who had to hurry off and meet with Janna before the event started. He hadn't walked more than fifty feet into the grand entrance of the Monster Temple before he felt a slim arm slip around his and the soft bump of a shoulder into his side.
"Hey Gorgeous," he said, turning and smiling at a grinning Star as they both paused to steal a quick kiss.
"Hey there yourself, handsome…" she giggled back, once they'd broken from their discrete peck. "Ready for another action-packed political function as the beau of Ambassador Star Butterfly?" Back was the grin, though this time it was accompanied by an over-the-top eye roll.
"You were the one who agreed to act as the Butterfly Kingdom's ambassador to the United States, Star, I thought you'd had enough of politics after what we went through on Mewni, but here we are, nine years later…" teased Marco as he let her steer the both of them out of the grand entrance hall and into a still, in his opinion, ghoulishly decorated ballroom. Soft music was wafting out of a piano in the corner where Ruberiot was looking bored and everywhere he looked, bunting and streamers of green and purple hung; the royal colors of Eclipsa's reign.
"What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment," she answered, giving his arm an affectionate squeeze as they queued in line to enter. "Besides, she was desperate! Nobody else had experience with Earth and you know how much help she needed after Earth and Mewnii cleaved together! I just couldn't let her down…"
"I'm just teasing, Star, I know you'd never leave her hanging."
"Now announcing Ambassador Star Butterfly and Sir Marco Diaz!" called Archibald from overhead, and Marco had to fight not to blush as the crowd turned and polite clapping, along with several loud whoops rang out. He would never get used to being announced at social gatherings, and despite quitting from his life-long post, Eclipsa wouldn't hear of it. So instead, she had assigned him as Star's companion and protector, a decision he would find himself hard-pressed to decline for he certainly hoped to hold those positions for the rest of his life himself.
Waving to the people, Marco let his eyes sweep over the guests at the party. He saw Ferguson and Alfonzo holding court around the snacks and refreshment table; various monsters listening to Ferguson explain the finer points of single-handedly rescuing some elven princess in last week's D&D game. A short ways away from them, he saw his parents talking with Star's; each of them sipping a flute of champagne. And over by the throne, Jackie, Janna, and Eclipsa in serious conversation, while an awkward-looking Tom made small talk with Globgor. Finally, he spotted who he was looking for: Buff Frog. The giant anthropomorphic frog was inconspicuously conspicuous in a horrifically clashing green suit that didn't quite fit his large bulk as he stood half-hidden by a massive column of veined dark marble.
Locking eyes, Marco nodded at the amphibian, only the barest hint of a jerk of his chin noticeable. He watched as the monster's eyes flicked to his girlfriend, only nodding back when Star had turned her head to greet another friend.
"Would you excuse me for just a second?" he asked, gently disentangling his hand from hers. "I'll, uh, meet you over by Eclipsa and Janna."
"Sure, babe."
Breaking off from her, he crossed the ballroom as quickly as he could without appearing to be in a rush. When he'd reached the column where he'd just seen Buff Frog, he paused in confusion not immediately seeing the large frog monster.
"I here, Marco."
Even though he was expecting him, the sudden voice from behind him made Marco jump slightly and he whirled to see Buff Frog behind a large tapestry, out of sight to everyone but himself.
"Sorry to frighten, Karate Boy. But in my business, it pays to be…unseen."
"Still loving your job as spymaster, I see." Marco flashed a nervous smile before leaning close fixing his friend with a serious face. "What did they say?"
"Everyone ready. Give signal and assets in place inside one minute."
Marco blew out a breath of relief. There were a lot of moving parts to this, and he hadn't been sure going into today that everything would be ready. Setting his jaw, he gave another curt nod and pulled up his suit sleeve to expose his watch. "Synchronize for one hour, Anddddd…" he stretched out the word as he and Buff Frog synced their watches. "Best of Luck," he added quickly before turning to rejoin Star.
"And to you," was the clipped answer as he hustled away.
An hour later, as the night was wearing on, Marco was talking with Jackie with Star when he felt the vibration of the alarm he'd set on his watch buzz. Silently he began to count off the seconds in his head as very slowly the lights in the ballroom began to dim, and a slew of servants discretely swept into the room, carrying several instruments and stools.
For her part, Star was oblivious to the changes in the room; at first. But it soon became increasingly obvious that the lights and torches were being lowered intentionally to a dim glow. Suddenly, a soft classical guitar began to strum a slow, melodic pattern. Lighting above the source of the sound soon ramped up, and she was shocked to see her mother and Eclipsa slowly plucking away on their acoustic guitars.
Simultaneously, more instruments joined in: Ruberiot playing along on his piano and strings from several of the castle musicians played softly under the guitar as behind her, a spotlight snapped on and she heard the familiar voice of Marco Diaz.
"I can only give you love that lasts forever. And a promise to be near each time you call. And the only heart I own for you, and you alone. That's all, that's all." he sang, as the spotlight silhouette him. Star felt the breath catch in her chest as she watched him, his eyes never leaving her as he swept into the second verse and the instruments swelled gently.
"I can only give you country walks in springtime. And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall. And a love whose burning light will warm the winter night. That's all, that's all."
Reaching out, Marco took Star's hand and pulled her closer to sing the next verse. "There are those I am sure who have told you. They would give you the world for a toy. All I have are these arms to enfold you. And a love time can never destroy." Together they turned, Star on her tiptoes as she let the man of her dreams serenade her.
"If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear," he crooned on, emboldened by the glittering love he saw in his girlfriend's eyes, "You'll be glad to know that my demands are small. Say it's me that you'll adore, for now and evermore. That's all, that's all." He pulled her to him and swept her around the floor as the strings and guitar ran on in an instrumental break, stopping only to step back and begin the next verse.
"If you're wondering what I'm asking for in return, dear. You'll be glad to know that my demands are small. Say that it's me that you'll adore, for now and evermore. That's all. That's allllll"
Trailing off as the music faded, Marco sank down to one knee as he reached into his pocket and clasped a small hinged box in his pocket. "Star Butterfly," he began, slipping the box from his pocket and meeting her sparkling blue eyes, "you are my best friend." He flipped the top of the box open, still cupping it in his hand, "You are the person who came crashing into my life like a rainbow meteor to destroy every preconception I had about what someone could mean to me. And in the last seven years, we've done things I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams. We've saved the multiverse. We cleaved two dimensions so we could be together. We've redefined what's possible so many times that I don't think there's anything I can't do as long as I have you by my side. But there's one thing we haven't done that I think we should…" He paused to steady his voice as he brought up the box to show to his girlfriend. Inside was a band of platinum studded with pink diamonds around a red ruby heart. "Star Butterfly, will you marry me?"
"Yes! YES! YESSS!" shouted Star, jumping in pure joy before sweeping in and pulling Marco to his feet to plant a long, loving kiss on his lips as all around, the crowd broke out in wild applause and cheers.