M
"Ha ha! Six! That puts me four spaces ahead, AND I get to take...THE STAAAIIIRS!" Marco exclaimed. He ran forward over five multicolored squares and bolted up a short flight of purple stairs to the next highest level pathway. "And that, my dear, is how winners do it. Take some notes, Star." He punctuated this with a quick dance to further rub his accelerated journey in. Star, standing a level below him on another multicolored square, simply shook her head in annoyance.
"Sorry, Marco, but I dont take notes when I'm studying, a loosah. I have plenty of knowledge on my own winning streaks, thank you," she quipped. A massive die fell from the sky and boomed mere feet from where she stood. It continued to topple thunderously for a few more seconds before coming to a stop with a solid four on top. "Case in point Marco," Star chided with a smug demeanor practically radiating from her face. She began hopping from square to square, counting her steps alloud for her boyfriend as she continued.
"A-one, a-two, a-three, a-f-f-f-foooouuuuurrr!" She held her pose mid-hop as she stared, salivating at the next, fifth space in front of her. A purple square, bearing a pleasant yellow star on it, with the beginning of a wild slide overhanging on the side of the pathway. She looked around coyly before slowly beginning to move towards the next space. "Ah ah ah, Star. You know the rules. You have to stop at four," Marco said matter-of-factly.
Star eyed him with dark mischieve before standing firm and gesturing towards the space. "Well, maybe I wanna go five spaces. Those slides are calling my name, and you know Star Butterfly always answers!" A massive hand loomed above her, eliciting a high five from the now smug Star. The real Star nodded and gestured to the two inch tall miniature on the game board. "Uh-huh. Das right, Diaz. 'Lil Star knows how we roll."
The mini-Marco shook his head as the real Marco mirrored him almost exactly. He pointed to the massive die and wore a disapproving face. "How do you roll again, Star? 'Cuz it looks like you rolled less than me." The two miniatures, and the originals, eyed each other with glaring intent before both sets of teens broke out into laughter.
"Oh Marco, you're just jealous because I won the last two games."
"I have no Idea how, considering you keep taking the slides to the bottom when we're trying to get to the top."
Star snickered at him before tossing a die into the air. It fell rather anticlimactically to the board from their perspective, but Mini-Marco had to dive to the side to avoid being crushed. "Hey! Careful where you toss that thing!" He shouted. 'Lil-Star giggled and stepped onto the slide square, eying him with daring intent. He stood up and stared right back as he spoke. "You know you can't roll twice to go down the slide, Star."
She let her playful demeanor falter for a moment as her smile slowly changed to a questioning frown.
"WITHOUT ME!" Mini-Marco shouted. He barrelled down the short flight of stairs as Stars smile nearly edged off the sides of her face. "Adda boy, MM. Show her how it's done!" Marco roared, pumping his fists in the air. 'Lil-Star shrieked in excitement, jumping up and down in quick bursts as her Marco somersaulted over the edge and down the slide.
With a massive grin plastered on her face, she blasted a diving board onto the space next to her in a cloud of pink glitter. After climbing to the top, she jumped hard from the end and sailed through the air and down the slide after her Micro-boyfriend.
Star conjured up two microphones and handed one to Marco, imitating what she thought was one of those announcers from a horse race. "Aaaaaaaaaand they're off! Ladies and gentlemen its gonna be a close call! Mini-Marco is leading this race with serious style points!"
Marco joined in with his own 20's radio voice while he scooched closer to Star. "Ho boy ladies and gents, I dont know about this! 'Lil-Star is approaching fast with tremendous speed! That boost was well worth the lost time! Its anyone's race here!"
'Lil-Star zoomed down the slide, fast approaching the red blip further down. She grinned wickedly as he turned back to gloat, only to witness her roaring closer with incredible speed. "You think you can catch up to...Señior Rapido?! Not a chance, Miss Tuffet!" He tucked his arms and legs in, reducing the amount of friction caused by his body, allowing him to pick up speed as the slide careened left and right in wicked loops. She squinted at him and mimicked his movements as the larger versions of themselves cheered madly for their respective miniature.
"She's gaining on him!" Star cheered. "Twenty feet! Ten feet! Two feet!"
'Lil-Star reached out and grabbed Mini-Marcos legs, pulling herself up to horizontal eye level with him as the slide loop-de-looped over a lower edge of the towering board game. He beamed at her and squeezed the two of them together as the slide took a steep left into a massive spiral. "Ha ha! You've fallen right into my trap, Butterfly! Now, the best you'll get out of me is a tie!"
"That's alright-WOAH!!" She yelled, just above a shout as the slide shot them into the air only to land on another careening segment. "I'll take a tie for a Micro-Hug from mah boyfriend any day!"
She kissed his nose, albeit with some difficulty, as the slide sloped down to a large bowl full of marshmallows. The two shot down the slide like a bobsled team and crashed into a massive pile of fluffy sugar confectionaries made for this one exact purpose.
Both larger teens roared with excitement at the amazing finale to the race of ages. "It's a tie! Ladies and gentlemen show our contestants what they've won!" Marco shouted, mocking a tv hosts accent perfectly.
Star fished the two hugging miniatures out of the marshmallow bowl and placed them in an aquarium filled with sand, warm water, a miniaturized replica of a beach house, and plenty of palm trees to boot. She gestured at the tank and beamed wildly with gleaming eyes. "They've won an all expense paid trip to Micro-Sonesta beach resort!"
The two minis frantically began jumping up and down before hurridly running off to explore the meticulously made beach house, leaving Star and Marco laughing hysterically at the transition from board game to game show. Marco wiped a tear from his eye as Star rolled around on the floor maniacally.
Although she did seem significantly crazier at that moment, he took a moment to dwell on just how perfect she was. How she turned any situation into a fun-filled adventure, how she always had time to enjoy with him, and of course, how she saw past his insecurities and brought out the best of him. She was always there for him when things got rough, and she knew how to have all the fun in the world when they needed it.
Star laid flat on her back and was about to suggest giving the small pair some peace and quiet, when Marco leaned over her and kissed her softly on the lips. He cradled her cheek and pressed his forehead to hers as she looked up at him with starstruck eyes.
"Hey Star?"
"Yeah?"
"You've got something on your nose."
She crossed her eyes and stared at her small button nose curiously, only to find nothing there. Before she could comment, however, Marco booped it softly with his and kissed her again, this time a bit more deeply.
When he pulled back, she smiled up at him and poked his cheek, never losing eye contact. "I think I got it...Señior Rapido."
"That's never going away is it?" He asked in a mock glum voice. She beamed a smile at him and sat upright, poofing each of their upper lips with long and luxurious handlebar moostaches. Eying him with enticing confidence as she stroked hers, she spoke in a deeper, Hispanic voice. "Noo, not any time soon mi amigo."
"Yeah, I didn't think so."
Just then, a pair of dark dimensional scissors cut a deep green portal through the air. Star and Marco both sat quietly, each too shocked to move as a large, muscular frog humanoid stepped through. He wore a dark green tunic, and quite contrasting to his brooding look, was pushing a baby stroller.
"Star, Karate boy, I- Oh. You are not the two I am looking for. Where can I find the Butterfly girl and the Karate boy?"
Star and Marco exchanged glances and nodded in silent affirmation before the two stood quickly and began eying Buffrog. "I am Señorita Estrella," Star began while excessively stroking her mustache and doing her best to impersonate a Mexican saloon girl she had seen in a movie. "I do not know who this 'Star' you speak of is, but I may be of assistance if you need it."
Marco too began stroking his massive handlebar of hair as he squinted at seemingly nothing and spoke the way he does when he impersonates his father. "Ah, jes mi amigo. You can count on us if you need assistance, my large mucousy friend."
Buffrog grew increasingly distressed by the two strangers in front of him, wearing Star and Marcos clothes, in Star and Marcos house. But he swallowed his discomfort and looked around. "Perhaps they are in another house that looks similar to this one. I will be going now. Do svidanya"
Just before he could turn to leave, however, Star noticed the carriage full of wide-eyed tadpole eggs staring at the room around them. She inhaled sharply and ripped the adhesive 'stache from her face before flinging her arms out in front of her at them.
"BABIES!!!!!!"
Buffrog did a double take at her, amazed how she could seamlessly replace the mustached woman he had just seen. "Star? How did you get here so quickly? Where did that other girl go?" Marco peeled off his mustache as well and deadpanned at Buffrog.
"Dude, it's just us."
Karate boy! Youre here too?! What is happening?!"
_~_
Star sat aweing and cooing at the cluster of tadpoles that filled the baby stroller, while Marco pawed through the detailed binder of how to care for tadpoles. Every now and again he'd nod affirmatively and stroke his chin with a simple 'Mhmm'. After Buffrog completed a very secretive phone call about his activities for the day, he walked back into the foyer of Stars bedroom and eyed the two.
"Well, I am trusting that you two will take care of babies. I shall be back by six, so please do not being rowdy with them, and take good care." Buffrog stared at the two teens, waiting for a response. Marco nodded once more while staring at the binder, as Star simply continued being herself. Buffrog sighed and cut himself portal before disappearing inside.
Marco looked up from the binder and looked around before directing his gaze at Star. She looked up and locked eyes with him before nodding in more silent agreement.
"Okay, babies!" Marco shouted as he slammed the binder shut and jumped up from the couch. "Are you ready for the amazing experience of Casa De Diaz?!" The tadpoles merely stared back at him without a word, given that they couldn't talk, but their eyes spoke volumes of their full and undivided attention. "Right, still babies. I guess we can move on."
"Movie time?" Star chided excitedly. Marco nodded as he began placing the babies in the proper way they preferred to rest, while Star began selecting a G rated Movie.
"Indianapolis Jones?"
"No that ones a bit too wild for them."
"How about 'The Gigantic'?"
"Nah that one's too sad. And graphic."
"An Insects Life?"
Marco held his chin for a moment before nodding. "Perfect. Dinsey movies are always kid-friendly." Star thought about that for a moment and just as she was about to speak, Marco looked up with sudden realization. "Except for Mambi!" he shouted. Marco wiped a single tear from his eye as Star stepped forward to hug him. "Shshshshshhh its alright Marco. He got a girlfriend and toootally kicked that hunters boootaaay!"
"I dont really remember that last part.." "Yeah, but I like to think that's where it would have gone. No one messes with Mambi." The two held a sharp grimace and eyed the floor before Marco snickered quietly. Star followed suit and the two broke out into hysterics as the movie about ants began playing.
Much to their surprise, the babies stayed awake for almost an hour before drifting off into a nap. Star cooed at the adorable sight before Marco nudged her and pointed to the time. The two left the movie to play for the tadpoles as a sort of white noise, while they snuck off to prepare lunch. Marco stepped into the kitchen and placed the binder on the table while Star collected and prepared the loaned bottles.
"Okay, so," Star began, trying hard to recollect. " Last time, I think we tried feeding them...cookies? And it backfired horribly?" Marco shook his head and tsked quietly. "You mean YOU tried feeding them CAKE. And yes, it made a huge mess. Buut, I think you were onto something." He pawed through the binder as Star strolled over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, lovingly whispering into his ear. "And how's that, Supernanny?
After looking over various recipes, Marco leaned back and enjoyed the warmth of Stars hug. " The food I made them did look pretty gross. And it smelled worse than it looked. Soo, maybe we can make them something with a bit more...us." Star released him and began gathering the basic necessities for the baby food as she spoke. "Like what? Flies and algae mixed with a bit of cupcake and applesauce?"
Marco held up a finger to retort her usual suggestions, but couldn't form the words. "That's...actually...a great idea? Oh god...what the heck does that mean?!" She stuck out her tongue and grinned slyly, jabbing at him with her looks alone. "Means that Star is one heck of a good mom. Maybe it'll come in handy for us in the future." Marco eyes widened at the insinuation as his and Stars cheeks both lit up a shade of pink. "Hah, I mean, ya know. If we uhm. Have to babysit again! Obviously!" She continued.
Marco chuckled and began mixing the frog components of the meal, stealing glances at Star every once in a while. "Well, miss Super-Duper-Nanny, here's hoping they like it." Star smiled curtly at him as she prepared cupcake batter magically and added a small amount to each of the bottles. "What can I say, no one can resist my cupcakes."
Marco stifled a laugh and tried to regain his composure. While mixing the four basic food groups (dare he dream) he stole a glance at Star and muttered something under his breath. "What was that?" Star demanded, hamming up her expression of daring anger.
"Ooh, nothing. Just thinking about your...ahem...cupcakes." Marco stared back at her with an equally daring smirk before she flung a dollop of cupcake batter at his nose. He dropped his stare for a more puzzled and shocked expression as his eyes darted down, then back up, several times. While maintaining his steadfast stare, he reached up carefully with one finger and wiped his nose free of batter. After giving it a taste, he let a smile creep wider before grabbing a spoonful of algae and inching closer to Star.
"DONT YOU DARE!"
"OH HO HO IM DARIN! WHATCHYA GONNA DO?!"
"I WILL END YOU, DIAZ!"
"THEN THIS SHALL BE MY FINAL ATTEMPT AT PEACE!"
"NOOOOOOO! We need to feed the babies, Marco!"
He stopped for just a moment before placing the spoon back in the bowl. His eyes never left hers, as he continued preparing the tadpole lunch. Star breathed a shaky breath before giggling to herself. She missed this. She missed being carefree and happy. With Marco. Things had gotten so serious, and so dangerous for them. It was nice to have time to themselves to just enjoy each others company.
As Marco prepared the bottles and sealed their lids, she watched him carefully. He seemed different from only weeks ago. Besides his obvious physical differences in physique and a couple of scars, he seemed to have a new shine to his eyes. Like he truly wasnt worried about what horrible thing might happen next. For now, the two could just enjoy the little things, the quiet moments together, and of course, one another.
"Star? Did you hear me?" he asked, casually. She shook her head as if to clear the fog from around it before focusing on him. "No, sorry, what did you say?" Marco picked up the platter of bottles, now full of a green and pastel mix that was sure to please, and motioned towards the stairs. "I said we should get them their food. Buffrog should be home in about an hour."
"That was fast. What do you think he's doing?" Star asked as the two made their way back to the movie club. Marco thought about it for a moment, trying to remember. It wasn't like Buffrog had told them what he was up to, but he could infer it had something to do with spying. "I think he's probably just keeping an eye on Ludo. Which is fine by me. The less we have to worry about, the better."
The two made their way into Stars bedroom, which was now an active movie theatre, and set the tray down on the couch. Star booped each of the tadpoles awake as Marco placed each bottle tip gentle through the egg membranes. After a tense minute, the babies began eating with gusto, draining each bottle in a matter of minutes. Star beamed at their concoctions success as she picked up Katrina and oggled her cuteness.
"So what's next? More naps?"
"Well, the book says if they've napped prior to eating, then its playtime."
Star let loose an almost inaudible squeal as the eggs began jumping up and down, some knocking each other from the sofa. Marco tried to keep them at bay but he was no match for the sheer amount of babies rolling in every direction. "Star! I think we might have given them a bit too much sugar! Help me catch them before Buffrog gets back!" he yelled while trying to corner Dimitri.
Star nodded before gripping her wand and aiming it at the door. "Gingerbread House Lockdown!" she commanded, sending a lime green stream of magic that seemed to pour over the door and walls of her room. It spread like syrup over hot pancakes, leaving a solid armament of gingerbread plating and desert clad locks on every opening. After casually blowing her wand, she ran after Sergei, who began hopping madly up the stairs.
She bolted after him but unfortunately slipped on a small trail of swamp water. Skidding past Sergei, Star crashed into a towering pile of chests, mannequins, bean bag chairs, and weapons racks. All manner of mess toppled over the balcony, spreading out over the floor. She stood shakily and sprinted once more after the hyper tadpole in a high impact game of tag.
Marco grabbed Dimitri, but not before tripping over one of Stars many messes and nearly somersaulting over her bed. "Star! Why is your room so dirty? Dont you have a cleanup spell or something?" She stopped chasing Sergei and stared straight forward as if dumbfounded beyond words. Without answering, she slowly brought up her wand to eye level.
"Tidying up tidal wave!" she shouted, causing her wand to emit a wave of blue magic that enveloped the entire room. As it passed over everything, it cleanup up any mess, organized every one of Stars belongings and placed everyone in the room back on the couch. Marco and Star both sat with their mouths hanging open and their eyes wide open. A single poof of pink air that smelled like citrus dissipated from the center of the room as the tadpoles merely looked around in silent wonder.
As if on silent cue, a dark portal was cut through the air in front of them. "-finding him. Oh, hello Star, hello Karate boy." Buffrog said as he stepped through the portal.
"Its Marco."
"Yes yes is good name. I see you have taken care of babies for me. You have my gratitude!" Buffrog countered, pushing past Marcos statement. He stepped forward and knelt down in front of his children, smiling wide and patting the tops of their membranes. Star stood up and put her wand away silently before holding her hands behind her back. "Yup! They were THE best and we'd love to watch them any time!"
Buffrog cocked an eyebrow as he absentmindedly played with the tadpoles. "Oh really? Then is no problem to watch them tomorrow as well?" At this, Marco stood rather compulsively next to Star and began waving his hands in front of him. "Oh, nononono see we have this thing going on...tomorrow."
"Yeah super important. Can't miss it, big guy."
"Wish we could, but we just CAN NOT."
"It's like. suuuper serious and junk."
Buffrog smirked at them as was about to comment on their shifty nature when the tadpoles began shuddering. He watched them with wide eyes as one by one, they each sprouted a pair of froggy legs through the eggs barrier. Standing with great difficulty, the babies tried out their new legs by walking in small circles before noticing the large frog man kneeling in front of them. Slowly but surely, they each took tentative steps towards him and pressed up to his chest, as if giving him a hug. "Oh my goodness! My *sniff* my babies! They are walking!"
He wrapped his arms around them and pulled them all into a tight hug. Marco and Star stood smiling at the beautiful scene in front of them when everyone noticed that one tadpole was left on the couch.
Katrina, the youngest and smallest of them all, had not grown her legs yet. She sat staring at buffrog with wide, pleading eyes, as he stared back in slight shock. "Ohh...Katrina..." he whispered. Star reached out and put a hand on his shoulder as he leaned forward and picked up his youngest daughter. "Is okay, my sweet little angel. You are late bloomer, so not to worry!" he exclaimed as he hugged all of his children for dear life.
Just as he was about to begin his journey home, however, Katrina's egg began to shudder as well against his chest. He watched with eyes full of limitless excitement as two very muscular and fit legs spouted. Katrina flexed her newly formed legs and seemed to almost be smiling up at him. With fresh tears in his eyes, Buffrog almost couldn't form words. He turned and gave a quivering smile to the two babysitters, before laughing\sobbing out of pure joy.
Marco flashed him an uneasy smile and gave him a thumbs up as Star merely began jumping up and down, clapping madly. She patted Katrina's head as Buffrog stood shakily and bit his lip. "Thank you both! I am forever grateful to you for watching over my babies for me!" Marco gave him a full smile this time and shrugged. "Dont worry about it, buddy. Any time you need a pair of super awesome sitters, let us know."
After collecting his supplies, Buffrog nodded warmly at the two before cutting a portal in the air. It radiated with a smell of thick swampy air, but it also smelled almost like home. "Do svidaniya, small friends. And be careful. I fear that many bad things are coming our way." Star and Marco exchanged glances before looking back to the elated father in front of them. On that note, he stepped through the portal, followed closely by the now walking tadpoles right behind him. The portal closed, leaving Star and Marco alone with a now pristine living space, and An Insects Life playing absently in the background.
The two flopped down on the couch, not really exhausted, but a little drained by all that had just transpired. From a very exciting game of tag to the magical moment of a tadpoles first steps, and finally to a foreboding warning from Buffrog. Marco laid his head back and sighed, ready to relax when a pair of arms wrapped around him. He looked down, surprised, to see Star resting soundly against his chest.
"Am I just a pillow to you?"
"Only when ah need one, Señior Rapido."
"So you always need a pillow then."
"Absotively."
"Star, is this really what we should be doing?"
Star opened her eyes, slightly surprised by the question, but easily understanding the meaning behind it. There were a lot of things going on, as Buffrog had brought back to their attention. And acting as if they knew nothing about it might not have been the best option.
She kissed his cheek and rested her head back against his chest as she breathed quiet words. "Are you not having fun?"
Marco looked up towards the ceiling and closed his eyes. In truth, he was having more fun than hed ever had in his life. But he also knew that there was a balance to their fun. To their adventures.
"Im having the time of my life, Star. But Im just scared is all."
"What else is *yawn*...new, Diaz?" Those words stung a little to hear, but he knew it was all in fun. He smiled down at her and pulled her into a tight hug. "I dont know, there's just a lot of things going on. Like some goddess saying we're supposed to get married, to Toffee corrupting you like the rock people in that crystal dimension. We dont even KNOW what Vartek is up to right now. He said something about delivering the wand, and then poof. Hes gone."
Star nodded absentmindedly as she cuddled closer to him on the couch. "Just focus on me for right now. I'm here for you, Marco. I always will be."
"Thanks, Star. But for the record, I totally won the last game."
Her eyes roared open as she stared blankly forward. "What," she asked. "Can you repeat that for me, Diaz? I couldn't understand you through all that losing you've been doing."
He leaned forward so his mouth was inches from her ear, speaking in a tone so hushed, only she could hear him. "I said, I completely destroyed you last time. And you have no chance."
Without a word, Star blasted the game board, and the two miniatures back onto the floor as she and Marco were both thrown unceremoniously next to it. He smiled, hoping to keep the fun alive and the problems to a minimum for the sake of his best friend, as he began shaking the dice.
"Get ready to lose, Señiorita Estrella!"
To be continued in: Game of Flags
AUTHORS NOTE
Hey all, so, a bit of an update from me.
1.) Sorry for leaving yall hanging but Im crazy busy lately with work being the way it is, and my family is a bit hectic right now. I explained the work portion of it in a review and the family biz is personal, but that's beside the point. Im gonna drop the whole schedule thing. Sorry, but its too much of a strain right now.
2). Let me know how you feel about any changes in writing style or characterization with our beautiful little couple here. If you think I've gotten something wrong or you just want to voice a concern, drop a review. Or if you just wanna say something about what you liked, same dif my dudes.
3.)New season of SVTFOE Confirmed to premier on March tenth for peeps in the united States! suoer excited. But that mid-season finale tho. Hoo boy. Its gonna hurt.
Anywho, sorry again, enjoy your day, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If not, well hey. Let me know and if you're not a guest, Ill reply as soon as I can!
Buh Byyyeee!!
~Mr. Ronald Reagan