I apologize for any mistakes in the last few chapters, I wrote them at 2:00 AM on the brink of exhaustion lol. Thanks for all the reviews! I love getting them, they're like little presents! And I love hearing your guys thoughts and opinions! Keep em coming!:) Also I know its canon that they're the same age but my headcanon is that Star is a year younger than Marco. I also have headcanon's for the others ages. More on that later
3 years later
"Your Majesty?" a soldier addressed the figure out on the balcony, bowing as he did.
"What is it Saturn?" came the brisk reply.
"There's more suspicious activity going on the in the Northern fields, and trouble on our Eastern borders, also weakness in the South."
"And what do you plan to do as Captain of the guard?"
"Your Majesty I think I should send at least a dozen men to the North and triple that to the East."
"Excellent call. You may do that and feel free to acquire any resources you may need. Arm our men well for the Eastern attacks and send your strongest to reinforce the South."
"Thank you, Your Majesty" another bow.
"Was that all?"
"Yes."
"Then you're dismissed."
"Thank you again, Oh and Happy Birthday Your Majesty."
White gloves curled into the balcony.
"Thank you Saturn. You're dismissed." She turned, tendrils of blonde hair blowing in the slight breeze that picked up.
19 year old Marco Diaz yawned before downing his cup of coffee.
"Easy there buddy, you're going to give yourself heart palpitations, that's what- you're third black coffee?" The barista said with an easy smile.
"Sorry Jackie. Didn't sleep well."
Jackie Lynn Thomas nodded sympathetically, her turquoise bun bobbing.
"More bad dreams?"
"Yea. Plus its Star's birthday today." He stared into his empty coffee cup. Whenever this date came he was a mess. He grew even more withdrawn, his insomnia came back, and again and again he'd have nightmares about Star getting sucked into that black hole.
"The worst part is, we never even got to apologize to each other. Or rather I never got to apologize to her."
Jackie patted his hand.
"You wanna join us all for a movie tonight?" "Us" consisted of Jackie, her boyfriend Tony, Ferguson, his girlfriend Chantal(surprise,surprise), and Alfonzo who was home on a break from college.
"Thanks but I think I'll pass."
"You sure? It's that new Mackie Hand remake." She sing-songed.
"Thanks, but I promised Tom I'd swing by." He gave her a sad smile.
"Ok, but, text me later? So I know you're ok?"
"Of course." With that he hugged her and exited the coffee shop, dwelling on all that happened in his life since that fateful day Star had left.
...
2 years prior,
It had been a year since Star's departure and today was her 16th birthday. Marco wished more than anything he could be celebrating with her right now.
Instead he made the choice to visit Tom.
"Hey buddy! Hows it going?" He exclaimed once had entered Tom's lair.
"Hey dude, you ok?" Tom barely looked up from his video game.
"Sure am! Why?"
"Then why do you have such a creepy look on your face?"
Marco let his fake smile drop.
"I'm not fine, it's Star's birthday,it's been a year since she's left and I miss her more than ever." He groaned and dropped into a beanbag.
Tom finally looked up.
"I know man. I haven't seen her in awhile either. The kingdom had a party yesterday and she made an appearance for like a minute before disappearing for the rest of the night."
"Really?"
"She's changed man."
...
Present
That had been 2 years ago. Marco wondered if she was still changed.
Sighing he pulled out his phone and sent Jackie a quick text.
Made it to my apt. Probably in for the night. And yes I'm fine :P
He hit send and got a reply almost instantly.
Good, let me know if you need anything k? And you're srsly welcome for the movie. We might go to arcade so keep that in mind.
He smiled, glad she was still his friend after their breakup. And second breakup...
The night him and Jackie broke up...
"I'm sorry" he said, Jackie sagged against him.
"It's ok" she had whispered.
"I'll take you home."
So had taken her home. he walked her to the door, made sure she got in safe.
No kiss, no hug. No second glance.
He drove home.
It hadn't hit until the wee hours of the morning when he started crying.
He had lost his best friend earlier on.
And now he had lost his dreamgirl.
He was so confused.
It had been weeks before he had reached out to Jackie, asking to be friends.
Jackie had agreed and they been somewhat awkward friends for awhile.
Then Jackie suggested she had been hasty and that they should try again.
At that point Star had been gone for a year and a half, he had put aside her letter, he thought he knew what he wanted.
So he agreed.
And that was a mistake.
They fought, they had zero communication, he mistakenly called her Star about 80% of the time, in a bout of frustration Jackie screamed at him.
They broke up again.
Immediately he texted her an apology.
They met the next day, talked and agreed to be friends.
A week later she introduced Marco to Tony.
He was so happy for her.
But that bitter jealousy came back.
Present.
Marco smiled. For awhile it had seemed like all he felt was bitter and sadness. Then every time he saw a couple it became bitter jealousy.
It felt like everyone was happy but him:
Jackie and Tony
Ferguson and Chantal(again that shocked him til this day)
And then finally came the day he meant Tom's girlfriend.
A year ago
"Hey buddy, ready for Mackie Hand night?" Tom jumped.
"Marco! Uh I forgot you were coming over."
"It's the second Friday of the month how did you forget?"
"Well my girlfriend is sort of over..." Tom trailed off.
Before Marco could respond a very familiar face walked into the room. Albeit clad in a pink shirt and jeans with longer hair and eating cereal from a box, Marco immediately knew the face.
"Hey babe, we're out of milk."
"JANNA?"
Janna dropped the cereal box.
"M-Marco? What are you doing here?!"
"Me? What are YOU doing here?!"
"Surprise? Marco, Janna is my girlfriend. Janna is my best friend." Tom sheepishly spoke up.
They both whirled to face him.
Present
Marco chuckled, despite his tiredness.
Maybe he'd go see Tom later.
After he tried to sleep for awhile.
Meanwhile
Throughout these years Star Butterfly had become a different person. Throwing herself into queen training and looking for Glossaryk.
And trying to stop her heartbreak.
For nights on end she would go to the library.
Research Star she thought.
Searching for a clue to where Ludo would be, studying on how to rule as a great queen, and finally her top priority-
Fixing her broken heart.
After about a year the suspicious activity began in the Northern corn fields. After doing more research and sending soldiers to study the activity it clicked.
After two years she knew exactly where Glossaryk was.
She gave herself a year to prepare.
Within that year she spent more time looking for a way to fix herself. That finally clicked too.
If she found Glossaryk she would find her spell book.
Eclipsa's page.
Tonight, after her party, she was prepared to leave.
Star took a deep breath.
Time for another decorum lesson.
After that she had to get ready for the ball.
After that, she would leave.
Marco awoke with a start to the ringing of his phone.
"H'lo?"He mumbled.
"Hi sweetie!"
"Hi Mom." He stifled a yawn, "How's your trip?"
"It's great honey, your dad's napping but we both miss you."
"I miss you guys too."
"Are you ok? Have you been sleeping well?"
Marco paused.
"I'm doing good. Might go out with some friends tonight." He lied.
"Oh that's great! I can't talk for long, I have to get ready for our plans tonight. Your father's taking me to an opera!"
"Sounds like fun Mom. I love you."
"Love you too honey. We'll call you later!"
"Bye Mom."
"Bye!"
Marco hung up and stared at his phone for a moment.
Hearing his mom's voice reminded him how lonely he was.
He stood up. Definitely he was going to see Tom.
Maybe he'd heard from Star.
Captain Saturn Ring Cosmel son of the famous General Mars Cosmel stood at attention outside Her Highness Princess Star Butterfly's chambers.
And tried to focus on his position as her guard.
Not on his position as her friend.
And most certainly not on the position he was in 2 years ago.
With laser focus he gazed ahead.
Just get through this moment in his rotation and then he'd be free to go see how his men in the North and East were fairing.
Funny, just as he was thinking about going to see Tom, Tom texted him.
URGENT was all it said.
With that Marco now strode into Tom's living room.
"Tom?"
"In here!"
"Uh should I come to you."
"I'll be out in a second."
Tom emerged from the hallway.
"Sorry, was zipping Janna up."
Marco's eyes widened.
"Whoa! Too much."
"No not like that! She's trying on a dress for tonight."
"What's tonight?" Marco plopped onto the couch.
"That's what was urgent. Tonight a ball is being held."
"How is that urgent?"
"Its for Star. For her birthday. And since she's 18 all sorts of princes, lords, and diplomats are being presented. As suitors. For Star."
"WHAT?!", Marco shot up from the couch, "She's supposed to find someone to marry?! Why are you going?! You're taken!" Tom held up his hands.
"Calm down! I'm telling you all this for a reason. Look not just royalty is coming. Diplomats from other planets and dimensions."
"So?"
"Dude! Diplomats! Someone to represent!"
"You're point?"
Tom slapped his forehead.
"You have a chance to see Star."
Marco swore his heart stopped.
"How?"
"We can get you to that ball."
Marco was speechless. Finally, a chance to see her. To tell her all his pent up feelings. To tell her he read her letter.
Finally.
He nodded.
"How do we do this?"
Okay so this is kind of a "filler chapter" I know, but I felt like it was important to show how Marco has been handling things. I think I managed to show his life these past few years. I was a little vague about Star. And hmmm what this about Saturn? (also wasn't sure which was higher a captain of the guard or a general. Soooo I went with a combo sort of lol.) Hope you enjoy!