Marco's mouth went dry. His heart stopped then began hammering in his chest.
Star was missing.
Twice now he had said regretful things to her and she was gone before he could fix it.
God why did this keep happening?!
Anxiously, he chewed his lip as he observes River and Moon, it seems as though they're getting the story from Saturn.
Marco gulps as they turn to look at him. He's only met Star's dad once. But her mother he's only heard/seen.
And she terrifies him, especially now,as she her cold glare settles on him.
Taking a deep breath he makes his way through the crowd, daring to approach them.
This was it.
She was finally doing this.
Star quietly entered the cornfield, it would be easier to cut straight through then to go around.
Slowly she made her way, brushing cornstalks away, the rustling ocean-like noise filling her ears.
It went on like this.
A few hours maybe.
Finally, finally she reached the end.
Taking a deep breath and adjusting her backpack she steps through the hole in the force field.
Beyond her lay the forest. After that the barren wastelands.
Without a second thought Star marched forward, eyes focused ahead.
"You got this Star." Her grip on her wand tightened as trees loomed above her.
She could barely make out the branches against the dark purple sky. Once she was in the woods absolutely no starlight would filter through.
And she couldn't very well use her wand, people would be looking for her.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward into the tunnel of trees, anticipating what was before her.
"Why would Star run away?" Moon asked for the hundredth time, wringing her hands.
At this point the ballroom had been emptied save for her, the King, Tom, Janna, Marco, and...
Saturn.
Marco was growing rather tired of his face, and the way he glared at him.
Marco glared back.
"Perhaps Her Highness was upset by the presence of a certain guest." Saturn suggested.
"Perhaps Star had an actual reason for leaving." Marco muttered.
"Is she gonna be alright?" Janna asked nervously. Tom held her tightly.
"Star's tough. I'm sure she'll be ok." He said, trying to sound reassuring.
"That's right! Our little Star has always been a fighter, love." River said, taking his anxious wife's hand.
"Your Majesties?" A maid approached.
"Yes Calliope?" Moon answered. Calliope hesitantly approached.
"I- I found a note in Sta-The Princess's room."
Moon snatched it from the pink haired girl.
"Moon dear what is it?"
"Star, she. She's going to get Glossaryk back. The spell book. She's confronting Ludo." Moon looked ready to faint.
"Your Majesty. I could go after her? I suspect she'd heading toward the Northern fields. There's been suspicious activity there the past few years."
"That would be excellent." River commended him, "Saturn we'll have the best supplies gathered for you,"
"If he goes I would like to go." Marco spoke up, "I know her best."
"You haven't even spoke to her in three years." Saturn muttered.
"That's an excellent idea! The both of you can find her."
An hour later...
Marco and Saturn made their way through the cornfield, a tense silence hanging around them thicker than the corn itself.
"We don't know how far Star actually is. We may have to make a camp." Saturn finally spoke up.
"We've literally only been walking an hour. Star has at least a 4 hour head start. I am NOT making camp." Marco responded tersely, pushing aside stalks.
"Listen Gomez-"
"Diaz."
"Yeah whatever. Listen Diaz. I know Mewni. I know its weather. I know how dangerous it is, particularly the woods. I also know Star. I know a lot more than you Earth Boy so I suggest you follow my suggestions." Marco stopped short.
"What is your problem?Acting like you're so much better than me. How well do you actually know Star? Do you even care about her?"
Saturn whirled around to face him, nearly being hit in the face by a cornstalk.
" What about you? You come here after having abandoning her for 3 years, do you know what you did to her?!"
"Abandon?! She left Earth! She left me! How do you even know any of this?!"
"I'm a lot closer to Star then you think! Not only have I known her for a long time I became her best friend after you abandoned her!"
"You love her. Don't you?" Marco asked suddenly.
"Wha-what?" Saturn stuttered, "No! I'm sworn to protect her, I was her best friend. My sister is her best friend. I care about her deeply."
"Was?"
"What?"
"You said was. Like past tense."
"It doesn't matter. It's none of your business anyway Gomez." Saturn had turned around and had continued on plowing through the field.
"Diaz." Marco muttered. He had no choice but to follow after the soldier.
More tense silence passed between them when Saturn stopped short, holding out his arm so Marco knew to stop as well.
"This is it. Th edge of the field, the hole in the force field. After this the forest."
"Well what are you waiting for? Go on."
"You don't understand Earth Boy. This isn't some measly earth forest. This is a Mewman forest. The Forest of Monsters."
Marco rolled his eyes.
"Look Tie-Dye head I've fought monsters before with Star. Now stop being so dramatic and step through that hole before I shove you and keep going with or without you."
"Excuse me? How you dare talk to me like that! I am the Captain of the Guard! And you may have fought monsters but I doubt they were like the ones in here." He gestured to the forest.
Marcos response was to shove him.
Saturn stumbled a bit but nonetheless kept his balance. He shot a glare to Marco who was stepping through the hole.
"Listen oh mighty captain are you coming or no?"
"Fine. But I have to lead."
"Then lead away but get yourself over here."
Saturn grumbled a bit as he stepped through the hole. He paused for a moment and fished something out of the knapsack the King had given him.
"Here. Light your torch. You're gonna want a light."
Marco searched his own pack finding his own torch and lighting it.
"Alright. Let's go find the Princess."
"We're coming Star. I won't let you do this alone."
Star plodded on though the forest, her eyes full adjusted to the darkness now.
A branch snapped and she held her breath as the bushes rustled.
Silence.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Nothing has attacked her yet, despite her seeing countless eyes glowing in the dark. At this rate she may make it through without having to use her wand.
Something tapped her shoulder. Hot breath in her ear.
"And who are you?" A withering tongue poked her cheek. Star whirled around to come eye to eye with one of the four armed snakemen that inhabited the forest.
"That's none of your business, I'm just passing through so I'll be on my way." She took a step back. The snake man darted in front of her.
"I'd say you look an awful lot like the Princess. Where are you passing through to?" He hissed.
"Again that's none of your business. Please I just want to get by peacefully."
He snorted.
"Right, a royal wanting peace."
"How do you know I'm the princess?"
A clawed finger reached out and traced the heart on her cheek.
"That's how. All of you disgusting Butterfly women bare these marks."
"We aren't disgusting!"
"Hmmm, well one of you wasn't. Perhaps the only one who truly loved us monsters."
"Eclipsa." Star breathed.
"Yesss, how do you know?"
"I know. We Butterflies are educated on our family history. At the moment I'm trying to reclaim a piece of that family history. Some of which relates to Eclipsa."
"Hmmmm. Wait how do I know you're not tricking me?"
Star straightened up.
"They use to call me the Rebel Princess. Something happened and I lost that. I aim to become the Rebel Princess once again. Perhaps even the Rebel Queen. Now let me through."
The snake rattled his tongue in thought.
"And you rebel how?"
"I have never molded myself to the normal standards of a princess. I fight monsters, I ride warnicorns. I lost my family history, I never use my wand like I'm supposed to. I ended up befriending some monsters, I understand them now. And I'm on my way to take what's mine."
"Ssslightly impressive. I'll let you go and I'll send a warning for the others to leave you alone. Promise me something first."
"Yes."
"Promise me the rest of Mewni give us monsters a chance."
"I promise." Star held out her hand the snake mans clawed one grasped it.
"Thank you for passage. By the way what's your name?" She asked as the snake man turned to go.
"Melvin."
"Well thank you Melvin. I will mention you to the King and Queen."
Melvin saluted her and in a flash he was gone.
Star smiled.
She turned and kept moving forward until the first light of dawn broke through the thinning trees. She was almost through with the forest. She decided now would be a good time to rest.
"Its dawn. We should rest." Saturn announced. Marco could see the forest was growing less dark.
"Alright." He set down his pack and commenced to setting up a small fire pit.
"How do you know how to do that?" Saturn asked, setting down his own pack.
"Earthens aren't totally useless." He said as he found a pile of twigs and piled them in the middle.
Once the fire had started and they were sitting on some logs Saturn had found Marco spoke up.
"Do you think she's ok?"
Saturn thought for a moment.
"I do. She's strong and she's tough. And smart. Plus she has her wand. She'll be fine."
Marci only felt slightly reassured. He sat there staring into the fire. His eyes had just started to close when Saturn spoke up.
"I do love her."
"Who? Star?"
"I mean I love her in the way you love a little sister. I've known her since she was 8. My sister was always her friend. And then I became a guard and at first I was the Queen's guard so I knew Star, she would always talk to me. But then I was assigned to be Star's shortly after she came one day she confided in me, I told her I would be there for her and we became friends. Maybe once I did love her as something more," He reflected on an incident a few years ago before continuing, "However now it's as my friend, my sister. And yes I'm deeply concerned for her."
Marco was silent.
"Wow." he finally said.
"Yup." Saturn responded.
A less tense silence this time and Marco drifted off to sleep.
Star was too keyed up to sleep. After poofing up a camp with her wand she sat in the early light of dawn, staring into the fire.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded, faded piece of paper.
Slowly she opened it, again studying how many times it had been folded and unfolded.
Taking a deep breath she read the words she had wrote three years ago.
Dear Marco,
I'm don't know what to say.
I guess I'll start with this: You're my roommate, my best friend.
I guess it was no surprise when I realized...I've fallen in love with you. I didn't notice it at first. I was so happy you were going to the dance with Jackie. It wasn't until I saw how you looked at her that I questioned my feelings.I guess maybe I always had feelings for you, way at the back of my mind, behind Oskar and Jackie and our friendship... but then later you wouldn't return my you two looked so happy. Now though it's time I start my training, especially since Glossaryk is gone. So I'm leaving. Tell Mom and Dad Diaz how much I love them.
And I love you, so much.
I'm sorry.
Star.
The letters blurred together.
I'm sorry Marco. She thought. Obviously her words meant nothing to him because again they had fought. But not before...
Before he almost kissed her.
Sniffing she wiped her eyes and let herself harden. These tears were a reminder of why she needed that book so bad. She couldn't deal with it anymore.
Somehow she fell in to an uneasy sleep for a few hours.
When she awoke it was nearly dusk. Time to get going again. She knew she was close to Ludo.
She could feel it.
Hello my dears! Im so sorry I abandoned you for so long my lovelies. I got caught up in personal stuff including this new show I found. Its called Twisted and I highly recommend it!:) Oh and I had to wait to watch the new episodes and just WOW! I have a couple of new one shot ideas. One based on the SVTFOE comics and one based on the new eps, look out for them!;)