Had a very simple story idea. Decided to see if I could write a super-short story and post it in one sitting. Here it is. Takes place post-Cleaved. Like...I don't know...six months afterwards?
Star Butterfly felt like she'd been trampled by a pack of rouge pig-goats. An extremely rough and frustrating day had left her both physically and mentally drained. Despite several months having past since Earth and Mewni had merged, the new world was still experiencing growing pains. Rerouting displaced roadways without disturbing existing structures and property lines, figuring out how to prevent vicious Mewni-native wildlife from decimating the Earth squirrel and toad populations, and, most difficult of all, peacefully integrating humans, Mewmans, and Monsters. It was a seemingly never-ending battle for herself, her mother, Eclipsa and Globgor to solve everybody's problems, and it seemed like every day there was a new challenge to solve. Star longed for the simplicity of the good old days when shooting narwhals from her wand was the quick and easy solution to nearly every issue. Now most of her days were spent in stuffy Echo Creek City Hall trying to appease angry citizens and waging war with paperwork.
To make matters even worse, Marco, usually by her side through thick and thin, had not been with her all day. Echo Creek Community College had recently reopened, and Mrs. Diaz was going back to work. She had asked Marco to stay home and watch baby Mariposa until she could find a more permanent sitter.
Trudging up the front walk of 4815 Avocado Terrace on weary legs in the rays of the setting sun, Star looked up at the house. She'd always thought the Diaz's home was nice, but to her tired eyes it was the most beautiful sight in the world. With the last remaining strength in her aching limbs, she set her sights on the front door and aimed straight ahead. After dealing with so many people all day, there was only one person in the whole dimension she was interested in seeing at that moment.
Marco had just put Mariposa down for her nap upstairs in the nursery and sat down on the living room couch to relax and await the arrival of his girlfriend. He was looking at his phone, chuckling to himself at something Tom had shared on social media when the front door flew open. There stood Star, her blonde hair disheveled, a stain of blue ink on her dress from an exploded ballpoint pen. She slouched as she stood motionless in the doorway, her shoulders drooping.
"Star?" Marco was not used to seeing her in such a state. "Are you okay?"
She said nothing. She stumbled across the living room from the front door, kicking off her boots as she walked and tossing her headband onto the coffee table before slumping down on the couch beside Marco.
"C'mere, you," she groaned. She threw her arms around him, drawing him to her and hugging him tightly as she buried her face into his side.
Marco smiled sympathetically. "Rough day, huh?"
"Shhhhhhhhh..." Star hushed, pulling her legs up onto the couch. "Shut your cute, stupid face. Cuddle time now."
"That bad, huh?"
Star nodded against his hoodie.
"Are you hungry? Do you want me to make some nachos or-?"
"Marco. Shut up."
Star turning down snacks? That was a very, very rare occurrence indeed.
"Oh, okay." This was no ordinary level of dejection, and as such, it required unordinary levels cuddling. Marco smoothed Star's hair a bit and draped his arms around her, reciprocating her tight hold on him. If Star needed cuddles, then she would get the best cuddles he could possibly provide.
SERIOUS CUDDLES.