*A gong rings out over a mist clad mountain. On top of the mountain is a grove of cherry trees with the WH standing on one leg in a pose of meditaion.*
WH: Let the essence of the world around you flow, get not in its path but flow with it and let its strength become your own. *A bug walks up to his leg and pushes him over* Let the- wa whoa, WHOA! *gets up brushing himself off* Well that didn't work as well as I thought it would. Take number 24. Enjoy the episode folks while I deal with this BUG! *Attempts to step on it with the bug engaging me in a martial art style battle.*
Marco crawled up the tunnel following the green light panting with the effort until he finally breached the exit, again wondering how he had gotten here. He looked around really quickly taking in what appeared to be a ruined version of his school with an eerie green light encasing it. He saw what looked like Star in one corner chewing on something rubbery with her eyes a cat-pupiled red-veined yellow indicating she was in ptsd fight or flight mode. She glanced up at him hissing in fear and ran through a wall leaving a hole which Marco quickly moved towards calling for her to stop. As he reached the hole however it suddenly just wasn't there and most of the school had disappeared as well leaving only his locker. Marco blinked in confusion for a second and suddenly panicked as he didn't remember his combo even though he thought he had it memorized by heart. He tried working the lock for a second only for it to shudder and fall to pieces on its own. Marco took a step back in fear as the locker opened spilling out a large pile of purple, black, and green hearts like Star produced when she went through Mewberty. He looked back in double taking at what he saw speaking up.
"It's… it's me. And I'm… wearing a suit?" The Marco in the locker was in fact wearing a suit and looking to be asleep standing straight up. "Wait how is that scary?" The figure then opened its eyes showing they were the same color as the tentacle arm's with its skin suddenly going the purplish slimy color the arm had. "Gahhh, that's how you make it scary." It then smiled showing needle-like teeth and spoke up.
"We could have been so great together Marco. What plans do you have now to survive in the world you're embarking on without me?" Marco blinked in confusion as red light bathed down on them making him look up as a voice called down to him.
"We're moving on with our lives Marco, are you?" Marco took in Jackie's words as the other kids from school, including his friends, floated up into the air holding onto balloons and snickering at him in pity. They were also floating up to what seemed to be a large blood red moon that was bathing him in its light.
"But my balloon isn't ready yet." Marco looked at the red balloon he suddenly was holding with it floating limply in the air. "I just need more time." He sighed in sadness before a shadow covered his face prompting him to look up and smile. "My Black Belt! Yes do you know how long I've waited for you?" He reached out to the black belt which nimbly avoided his grasp and began slithering up to the moon. "Hey wait, come back!" Marco reached out to it as clucks of annoyance came from the side with a voice following it.
"My dear Marco, and you had such potential." He looked over to see Moon and Toffee looking at him with disappointment all over their faces as Toffee continued. "Can't even accomplish your own childhood goals when it was so easy for you to do so. Perhaps we need someone else to take care of Star don't you think so dear?" Toffee turned towards Moon who nodded looking at Marco sadly.
"It's a shame really; you were such a nice boy." Marco began trying to reach out to them as they began walking away screaming to them.
"No wait, I just need some time. I'm only 14 years old and not even an adult yet; just give me some ti…" He was suddenly knocked down to the side and straddled by a ptsd fueled Star who shrieked at him before screaming.
"Wake up Marco, don't you see it's not right. Wake up, wake up now Marco; just WAKE UP ALREADY!"
Marco opened his eyes and screamed in a pansy like manner as he flailed with his arms fending off the attacker that had him pinned. As he flailed something caught his arms and pinned him down with Iron like strength. As he got ready to break those grips he suddenly noticed Star was over him again but her eyes were a worried blueish-green as she seemed to be border line panicking. He then realized it had all been a dream and he was where he was supposed to be, in Star's bed acting as her comfort and heat pillow. As he calmed down from his nightmare Star let go him and sat up speaking to him soothingly.
"Wow, you must have had a really bad one given the way you were thrashing and mumbling in your sleep…" Star was stopped however when Marco grabbed her in a tight hug and began sobbing with Star hugging him back in reflex.
"I'm just 14 Star, I can be as good as I need to be; just give me some time please and I'll show your parents they don't need to find someone else! Please I'll try harder, I promise." Star's eyes went back to normal as she rubbed Marco's back and hair speaking to him soothingly.
"It's ok, I'm not going anywhere. Just let it all out Marco because I'll be here for you, always." Star smiled and Marco cried on her shoulder for several minutes before they pulled apart with their eyes locking. "Do you want to talk about the nightmare or is it too bad to remember?" Marco sighed and told Star what he remembered of the dream making Star frown slightly. "Is dad being too hard on you again? I need to get mom to stop that guy before he…" Marco held his hand up speaking quickly.
"No! I mean your dad is doing it for the right reasons Star, I just need time to get myself going." He then looked down speaking meekly. "And the support needed to keep going." Marco heard a switch be turned off and looked up when Star spoke with a thick Mewman accent to her voice.
"Marco, no need to push too hard; come here." Star pulled him into another hug pushing his head into her chest and began singing to him.
Pan's Labyrinth Lullaby ( watch?v=19bBGxf5k6k) (0:05)
As she did so she rubbed his back in a soothing manner and rubbed his hair smelling it deeply before kissing him on the forehead. Marco felt a nice softness as his face went into Star's chest that normally would have him blushing and backing away while apologizing, but now it just felt comforting. He hugged Star back burying his face in her chest smiling and letting out a breath he did not know he was holding in. In the process her beautiful voice sang him into a calmed state despite the fact he only understood one word in three, Mewni was a surprisingly hard language to learn. As they stayed in this position Marco felt himself drift off to sleep again but this time it was a deep dreamless sleep that only provided rejuvenation and comfort.
(end music)
In his room Marco moved in all of his familiar moves as he practiced his fighting style taught by his Sensei at the dojo. As he practiced however he switched up the style to his own personal type that incorporated Ballet and various moves he had picked up ever since he met Star. As he completed this elaborate 'dance of death' as he called it Star spoke up from the doorway.
"Hey Marco, whatcha doing in your karate robes?" Marco turned towards Star seeing she was wearing a light blue sleeveless top-skirt with blue leggings and puffy blue boots with a small purple cloud purse of sorts. He smiled as he answered her question.
"Star, today is the day I am going to get my Black Belt and finish my goal of becoming a ninja once and for all." Star blinked in concern at his heroic pose and spoke up.
"But you said multiple times it was going to be a while before you were ready for this? Are you… rushing things? Does it have something to do with last night's nightmare?" Marco sighed and turned to Star looking at her seriously before speaking.
"Yes… maybe I am. But after the hunt your dad and I had together I think it's time I attempted this final trail to see if I am ready for this honor." Star's concerned look turned into suspicion. "Well partially it may have to do with me being worried about the future, but the thing is Star I need to focus on my future in life. And the best way to get started doing that is to finish up my training so I can focus on other goals." Star stepped forward putting her hands on his shoulders and speaking softly.
"Marco, you don't need to do this for me just because you're worried about never being good enough." Marco put his hands around Star's waist and spoke.
"I'm not doing this just for you; I'm doing this for me as well. If I'm going to get anywhere in life I need to get started now and the best to do that is finish one of my goals." One of Star's hands shifted up to his cheek rubbing it softly as she replied.
"Ok Marco, just remember to not push yourself too hard; I'm always gonna be there for you." Star leaned in pulling Marco in and kissed him softly bringing on that familiar warm comforting feeling that occurred whenever they kissed. As they parted Star's eyes had gone their beautiful purplish-green that Marco loved so much. "He he, it almost feels like the princess is saying good bye to her knight as he embarks on a perilous quest for the king." Marco chuckled and replied.
"Yeah, it is a little bit like that." They smiled at each other for a second before Marco pulled away and got going. "See you later Star." He was stopped however when Star called out.
"Wait." She pulled out a piece of fabric. "Take this for good luck, the 'princess's blessing' as many call it." Marco took the cloth and smiled as he replied.
"Man all the way with the cliché; thank you StaAAAAAH!" He dropped the piece of clothing with Star blinking in concern.
"What's wrong?" Marco gibbered a second before responding.
"I thought you were giving me a handkerchief, that's a… a…" He pointed to the panty lying on the floor unable to bring himself to say it as Star replied.
"But I don't have handkerchiefs, and Janna said boys loved those things."
'Of course she said that.' Marco thought to himself as he rolled his eyes. He noticed Star looking at him in a worried manner before he sighed and decided to just go with it if Star wasn't embarrassed.
"Well… if you are ok with it… I'll… take the 'blessing'." Marco picked up the panty gingerly with Star seemingly sighing in relief. "I should get going, see you later." He tucked the panty away with Star waving him off.
"Fair thee well Marco." She stood there for a second after he had gone before talking to herself. "Now, time to get started on Shogun 2 Total War, supposedly the best of the Total War games." She ripped off her clothes and ran to her room in only her white underwear.
Marco stepped into the dojo seeing Sensei meditating in a corner of the room at a small shrine that had been built into the corner. Marco walked up with the smell of incense thick on the air and waited for Sensei to face him knowing Sensei had sensed him coming in. After a few minutes waiting Sensei rose up silently and with grace turned towards Marco speaking up.
"Bow to your Sensei." Marco bowed and righted himself. "Today is not a class day Diaz or the time of the day for free sparing, why have you come?" Marco spoke calmly fixing Sensei with his gaze.
"I think it is time I take the trial and get my black belt." At those words Sensei laughed out loud and replied with humor in his voice.
"Oh Diaz you jest so. You are not ready, come back in several years when you have truly deemed yourself worthy of the honor of the black belt." Sensei went to turn around but Marco spoke up at that.
"No I am ready. Jeremy Birnbaum has one already and I know I have done far more than he ever has. It IS time for me Sensei, and I will not leave until I have it." Sensei paused before turning back to Marco.
"Diaz, you do realize once you've started there is no going back right?" Marco nodded and replied.
"I can't turn away from this; it is time for me to move forward." Sensei nodded with a strange mixture of respect and worry in his eyes before they hardened and he spoke up again.
"Alright then we start NOW!" Sensei flipped through the air putting his foot directly in front of Marco's face "Clip the toenail!" He wiggled his toes and gave Marco a nail clipper to clip it. Marco stared at it a second before doing so with it being flung into his eye and Marco scrabbling desperately to get it out. "Plunge the toilet!" Marco plunged the toilet with water sloshing out on occasion with some of it getting in his eyes. "Take the deductions." Marco stood on one foot on top of a small pole as he worked receipts through an old style typer. As he did this a fly landed in his eye almost making Diaz fall until he was able to push it out. "Is your moment of failure already at hand Diaz?" Marco was rubbing his eyes at the abuse they had been put through and growled in determination shaking his head no.
SN: One parody of a martial arts training montage later.
"That's right Mr. Diaz, use the squeegee." Marco was standing atop a ladder as he squeegeed windows at his sensei's house. "Remember preparation is key and never just fall into a pattern as doing so will lead to sloth both physically and spiritually. You must always be ready for a new challenge to rise up in life at any moment." At that a car horn was honked prompting Marco to look around and see a car had pulled up in front of Sensei's house with a small woman coming out and speaking up.
"Oh hello dear." As he took her in Sensei seemed to get somewhat nervous as he spoke up.
"Oh hello mom, nice to see you again." Marco blinked in confusion as the 'mom' spoke up again.
"Oh so nice to see you getting to those windows with your busy schedule. And you have a little friend helping you to." She smiled at Marco who had come down off the ladder in confusion. "I'm gonna fix you a nice snack." She walked into the house with Marco speaking up suspicious.
"Your mom seems nice, does she come over frequently?" Sensei waved his hands at Marco.
"Yes but not too frequently. She does have her own home you know." Marco got a suspicious look on his face and spoke up again.
"Interesting that you make that distinction…" He was interrupted by Sensei's mom bringing out a snack for the two and speaking up.
"Here you go boys, if you need me I'll be in my room taking my mid-day nap." She walked back into the house with Marco munching and looking at Sensei suspiciously.
"Ok, I'm gonna need a little explanation." Sensei looked around nervously and sighed before speaking up.
"Come with me Diaz."
"Wait, is this your room, looks a lot like mine." Marco looked around Sensei's room with Sensei sighing.
"Marco, I have confessions to make. First off yes these things I have been making you do were supposed to be tests of your devotion but you have more than payed your due there. In truth I was making you do my chores after a while." Marco blinked in shock speaking up.
"Wait, why?" Sensei got teary eyed before breaking down in front of him.
"Because of my greatest shame Diaz, I'm only a red belt myself!" Marco's jaws dropped as Sensei elaborated. "I didn't know what I should do with my life so I rented a dojo and got instructional tapes teaching me what I needed to do to learn each belt." He pulled out a small case from under his bed showing Marco a large set of tapes of all the colors and stripes Marco had earned over the years. "After I completed a tape the grand master of the strip mall dojo society would come and initiate me to that level. It was going pretty well for the most part until I hit the final cassette." Marco blinked in confusion speaking up.
"Wait, why'd you stop at the very end?" Sensei pointed behind him.
"Because the cassette got stuck in the machine, now it just holds up the short leg of my computer table." Marco blinked in confusion speaking up.
"Wait, why didn't you just get it unstuck?" Sensei sighed before replying.
"I tried getting it out but the VHS instruction for that got stuck in another machine." Marco spoke up at that.
"Wait, then how did Jeremy get his black belt?" Sensei sobbed for a second before replying.
"Because he got another Sensei to come in and give him the black belt behind my back." He turned towards Marco with sadness and shame all over his face. "What kind of Sensei can't even work a VCR?" Marco inhaled deeply and stood up speaking to Sensei calmly.
"No problem, all we have to do is find it online." He pulled out his phone and did a quick search before his face fell. "Except we can't, it seems this is one of the rarest cassette tapes in existence." Marco inhaled and exhaled again putting his phone away. "Looks like we will have to find it IRL." Sensei looked at Marco in concern and spoke up.
"Uh uh, I owe those guys way to much in back taxes." Marco shook his head and turned to face Sensei.
"No not IRS, IRL. That means in real life from areas like thrift stores." Sensei nodded and inhaled in a manner similar to meditation before exhaling and speaking up.
"Alright then Diaz, let's do this quest together then. But if we are getting anywhere we are gonna need wheels."
The garage door opened to Sensei (his mother's) house with Sensei riding out on a bicycle with Marco hanging onto the back with both of them cheering. A dog tried following them from the house but they quickly lost it as they zipped downtown to look for the tape. Marco didn't waste any time and directed Sensei to a second hand store that might have what they were looking for. As they got off looking around Sensei spoke up.
"Are you sure this is a good place Marco?" Marco opened the door and stepped in shrugging and speaking.
"We need to search high and low in every single corner we can find to get that tape at this rate. Don't just give up because the going is gonna get tough." Sensei looked around the store as Marco made his way to the VHS section speaking up.
"Looks like a garage sale." Marco shrugged and kneeled down picking through the tapes looking through them. "Say you found it yet?" Marco looked up dead pan and spoke.
"You know it would go a lot faster if you joined me to look." Sensei sighed and nodded stooping down to take a look. "Now be careful as it's cover might have been compromised and it won't look like what we are looking for." Sensei nodded while groaning slightly as he looked through tapes speaking up after a few minutes.
"Marco it's useless, most of these tapes are just Disney films and direct to movie sequels." Marco stood up speaking to Sensei.
"We can't just give up like this, we need to keep looking."
"Marco, is that you?" Marco and Sensei turned to look at who had just spoken with a somewhat French accent.
They saw a woman who had light coffee colored skin with rich golden eyes and long brown hair looking at them in concern. She was wearing a red skirt with a pink t-shirt over a longer white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. To complement her clothes she also had red lipstick, small gold hoop earrings, and black high heels on as well. Sensei stood up immediately composing himself with Marco smiling and speaking up.
"Ms. Dimartino. Nice to see you again." He stepped over with the two hugging each other while Sensei stared for a second before Dimartino spoke up.
"It is so nice to see you again Marco, we rarely see each other anymore." They stepped apart with her smiling a mile wide with Marco speaking to Dimartino.
"Oh, this is Sensei, Sensei this is Ms. Dimartino." The two looked at each other a second before Sensei bowed to her with clasped hands speaking up.
"Yes I am Marco's Karate Sensei, out with Marco on a spirit quest to get Marco his Black Belt. If I may be so bold who are you and how do you fit in Marco's life?" Dimartino giggled a little before curtsying to him with her feet taking a ballet pose before speaking.
"I am Ms. Dimartino, Marco's former Ballet instructor." Sensei blinked in shock and turned towards Marco who nodded to confirm it. "He still comes on occasion to practice in the main studio but those times are infrequent. It is a shame really; he was one of my finest students." She turned to Marco standing back up and rubbing his head with Marco leaning into it before Sensei spoke up.
"Marco, you never told me you did ballet." Marco shrugged and replied nonchalantly.
"It never came up. Besides how else do you think I managed to get halfway up the scale of belts and stripes within my first month without proper physical training?" Sensei scratched his chin in thought as Dimartino stopped rubbing Marco's head and spoke to him.
"So how has life been going for you?" Marco smiled as he answered.
"Actually pretty great looking back on it; I've been through a lot recently but everything is lining up for me now. School let out about a week back so I have all summer to hang with my new girlfriend, a foreign exchange student named Star Butterfly." Dimartino giggled at that and replied.
"I thought you had a thing for Jackie?" Marco shrugged and leaned against the wall as he replied.
"It didn't work out that well; we are great friends but a bad couple, one of the bumps in the road not so long ago. So what are you doing out here at thrift shops?" Dimartino pulled out a reusable shopping bag as she spoke.
"I'm just looking through the stores for random items I find appealing, it saves a lot of money and you find things you never knew you needed. Say what are you doing out here when you are going for your Black Belt?" Marco sighed and replied to Dimartino's concerned voice.
"Sensei didn't fully learn how to teach the Black Belt and now we need to find the VHS for it so he can train me proper…" Marco looked over his shoulder to gesture at Sensei but found he wasn't there. "Um, did you see him leave?" Dimartino shrugged in confusion as Marco went for the front door. "Sensei."