not much to say yet but there's an author note about who is Star's ex at the bottom.

Marco rubbed his hands together in an effort to stay warm from the snowy night.

Normally he would take a deep calming breath to keep himself warm but when the air itself seemed frozen still in mid-air from the cold, Marco kept his breathing to a minimum.

It was almost 9 o'clock in the evening. Marco could feel his nerves on edge and fingers twitching against his best efforts to keep still. He knew he would be nervous, it was expected given what he was about to do though it was one thing to be expect nervousness, it was another to feel it coursing through your body.

Marco felt a warm gloved hand gingerly touch his shoulder and turned to his fellow freezing friend who was waiting with him through the winter night.

Scratch that, not friend, girlfriend.

It had been 2 weeks since Marco Diaz asked Star Butterfly to be his girlfriend. It hadn't been easy at first. Star was energetic and extremely reckless and it seemed they were too opposite ends of the spectrum to convincingly be dating. But as seconds turned to minutes, minutes into hours and hours into days, Marco started to become fascinated by Star.

She was a dreamer, head so far up in the clouds it was amazing she did not float away. She was highly creative and adventurous, dragging Marco out of his stuffy dorm room to see the sights had to offer, many of which Marco had no idea existed. She loved randomly hugging him. And recently, whenever they held hands, she would skip forward, tugging him around with a grin on her face as they raced to wherever they were heading.

It was hard to not to be infected with her lively energy and even harder to believe that this girl was tormented by her exes. Everyone she met loved her and she loved everyone in equal measure. Who could possible want to ruin Star's life?

Marco turned to Star, worry in her eyes and a fake confident smile on her face. When her first ex contacted her about facing her new boyfriend, she practically boasted that Marco could easily defeat him. Of course, that was a week when the day seemed so far away. But as she began spending time with Marco, seeing peeks and glimpses of a fun loving, caring, adventure craving if slightly cynical soul hidden under his nonchalant, jaded exterior, she began worrying for her fake boyfriend.

It was unfair of her to ask him to risk so much for a relationship that wasn't going to go anywhere. She constantly asked him if he was sure he wanted to go through with this, if he understood the risks. As long as he walked away from her and the first fight, the exes could not challenge him whenever they wished. She would've put more effort into dissuading him from this insane task, but each time he would stare at her with those chocolate brown eyes brimming with a confidence she only saw whenever she was projecting her fear and comforted her.

Star briefly wondered how come Marco did not have a girlfriend. He was a good looking guy, apparently incredibly strong and loyal, good looking, and smart. Did no one else see what Star saw or maybe Marco was the one unable to see?

She shook her head as she stared at her phone, the minutes slowly counting down to the showdown from where there was no return. While she couldn't tear her eyes away from the phone which had quickly become the most despised thing she ever owned, she still could see out of the corner of them.

Marco was wearing something he called a karate gi. When Marco had discovered her ex was also a black belt in karate, he insisted on wearing it when the two faced off. It was considered honorable or something like that. Star had to admit when she first sawMarco in his white karate gi, she had thought he had mixed it up with pajamas. But Marco replied in a defensive, and rather adorable squeak, that no the gi was not his "Jam Jams" Star couldn't help but giggling at both his face and dorkyness. Serious, how did Marco not see how amazing he was?

Somewhere, far in the distance, a bell rang once. Twice. Five. Nine times. Right at the ninth ring, the wind shifted and swirled around violently as if someone's presence had disturbed the peace. Marco could make out the silhouette of a man slowly approaching the pair, a knack sack slung over his broad shoulders.

"That must be him" Star muttered fearfully. Marco turned to her and let a small smile grace his face despite the serious situation he was about to partake in. Star was bundled up in his red hoodie, hood pulled over her blonde hair and her hands covered in a matching pair of red mittens she currently had buried deep in the hoodie's pockets. She hadn't believed him when he said it was going to be cold to night but he was relived she decided to wear jeans and thick snow boots.

"I'll be back in a flash." he told her gently, gripping her shoulders tightly and comforting. Before he could turn around to face Star's ex, Star leaned forward, kissing him on the cheek.

"Good luck" she said with a smile, her face bright red, probably from the cold. Marco nodded, attempting to ignore the effect the cold had on his own cheeks and how soft Star's lips were.

Marco made his way over to the only area of the park that wasn't frozen solid with ice: the basketball court. As the ex approached closer, he could began seeing his physical features.

He was shorter than expected, 5'9 or so. Marco might've been an inch or two taller. He had jet black medium length hair caked with falling snow. There was a red headband with bright red sparring gloves. His gi arm sleeves were ripped off and Marco had admired the man's bravery for walking barefoot through the snow. His black belt somehow seem to hang proudly from his waist and each step he took closer, Marco could see the mass of muscles that this man was composed of.

The man stopped just a few feet from Marco, bowing respectfully as he placed his belongings to the side. Marco returned the bow as the stranger approached.

"You are Marco Diaz yes?"

Marco nodded "are you Ryu?"

The stranger nodded "I apologize for this. Star is a wonderful girl and if I were allowed, I would've simply let her be. But Tom rules the league and I must obey his rules."

Marco frowned slightly as a thought came to his head "Then you don't you forfeit? Let me win so you don't have to have a hand in this?"

Ryu shook his head "I am still a warrior. I am the weakest of the exes. I will be the only one that wishes Star's happiness but I still must test you. I must see if you have the strength to free Star from Tom's grasp."

Marco nodded in understanding "I will free Star."

Ryu crouched into a fighting stance "Then prove it. Words mean nothing on the field of battle! Only the strength of your body and the strength of your spirit will give your claims substance"

Marco bowed respectfully once more before taking his own stance. He vowed not to go easy on Ryu despite how much he was liking the warrior.

There was a moment of serenity, as the wind blew softly across the two fighters.

Ryu lunged forward, jabbing straight for Marco. Marco raised his arm to defend himself. Marco winced in pain when Ryu's attack connected with Marco's forearm. It felt like Ryu's arm was dipped in molten lead and Marco could feel tears building from the impact.

Marco shoved Ryu's arm away before striking at his chest with an open palm. Ryu bit his lip in pain but was already counterattacking, coming at Marco with his elbow. Marco blocked with his shoulder, jabbing with his free hand at Ryu. Ryu pulled back, twisting in a circle as his leg struck Marco in the jaw. Marco stumbled for a bit and narrowly missed being struck by Ryu's other leg. Marco gripped Ryu's leg that missed and flipped him to the floor.

Ryu hit the floor with a thud but spun into a kneeling position before uppercutting upwards like a rocket, shouting at the top of his lungs "Shoryuken!" Marco could feel the force of Ryu's fist, missing him by a mere inch but still staggering the boy. Ryu rose to an incredible height before gently falling to the ground into Marco's waiting foot. Ryu stumbled backwards but Marco lunged at his dizzy opponent with a flying kick. Ryu backed away causing Marco to completely miss him. Ryu swung his leg at Marco's head but Marco fell to the floor, his leg rising up to catch Ryu's chin.

Marco got to his feet and whirled around, striking Ryu's waiting bicep. Ryu's leaned back with the force of Marco's as he arched his hand backwards. Ryu's punch caught Marco square in the shoulder but Marco refused to acknowledge the pain. Marco grabbed onto Ryu's arm, pulling him forward as Marco dove his knee into his opponent's stomach. Ryu's face burst out in a shocked expression but Marco wasn't done yet

Lifting his knee as high as possible, Marco placed his foot onto Ryu's chest, kicking him as far back as he could. Ryu tumbled across the icy court before grinding to a halt, his body in a sprinter's position, heels dug firmly into the ground. Ryu dashed directly at Marco weaving left and right as Marco focused on where his attack was coming from.

Ryu flew at Marco, leg extended. Marco took a step back but quickly realized that was the wrong move as Ryu flew past him, landing onto the floor and using the momentum from his leg to spiral around in a circle before launching in the air with a "Tatsumaki Senpukyaku"

Ryu whirled around in mid-air like a tornado, a single leg sticking out, striking the defending Marco repeatedly before sending him flying with a harsh thud. Marco got his feet, Ryu landing calmly

"A worthy opponent. You may be able to defeat the league. But first, the final test."

Marco took deep breaths but his eyes shone in determination "I'm ready"

Ryu nodded in agreement before putting his hands together behind his back. Suddenly the air was thick with unknown power. The wind blew directly in Ryu's direction as his hands held a small, blusih flame that grew bigger and bigger with each passing moment.

Marco's eyes widen. What was going on?!

Ryu began shouting, the energy in his hand growing and growing more and more powerful "Metsu" Ryu's hands were forced further apart as a ball of swirling blue fire became bigger "Hadoken!"

Ryu lunged forward, launching the attack directly at Marco. The bright blue fireball turned into a purplish flame. It was larger than Marco's head, wrapped in swirling purple fire that seemed melted the snow all around the court. The very air began to heat up and turn into steam as the attack inched closer to him.

Marco wanted to dodge the attack but Ryu's words echoed at him. Ryu was the only honorable one among Star's exes. He alone wanted her to be happy but he was also the weakest among them. This was the final test. This was Ryu's greatest attack. If Marco wanted to truly be ready for the others, he must be able to withstand this blow.

Marco closed his eyes as he prepared for the incoming attack. He tried to hardest to ignore the unbearable heat approaching him, the near quiet sizzling as the flames evaporated the cold night air. Marco a deep breath just as the fireball exploded against his body.

Star screamed Marco's name, rushing toward where the flames had engulfed his entire body. She couldn't see anything amongst the thick smoke bellowing from where Marco once stood. She glanced all around the park to see that every inch of snow in a 4 foot radius had liquefied into water. Even the few nearby trees were set upon by tiny flames that slowly died in the cold air.

She began to sob quietly. She knew this was a horrible idea. Marco was such a nice guy. Why did she let him convince him he could defeat the league. It was hopeless. She was going to die alone and she couldn't live with the idea she had just murdered a completely innocent man.

"Marco!" She cried, tears wildly off her face as she fell to her knees, staring at the ground unable to see what remained of Marco "I'm so sorry!"

The crunching snow told her Ryu was approaching but she did not care how much he supposedly wanted her happy. He just murdered an amazing person.

A hand gripped her shoulder tightly but Star refused to look up at Marco's murderer. "Leave me alone Ryu! I...I...how could you?" Star screamed angrily.

"I have been defeated" Ryu's told her quietly, somewhere far to the left of her.

Star glanced upwards into the tired but smiling face of Marco. "MARCO!" Star shouted as she leapt to her feet, embracing him as tight as she could. She tried to ignore the fact his body slumped with fatigue or that he was incredibly warm to the touch. Marco was alive! That was the only thing that mattered.

Marco turned to Ryu who simply gave him a bow. "You are strong Marco Diaz. I believe you can defeat the league. But your battles will only become more difficult. Do not trust the others, especially Tom. They have no honor. Farewell and may you be successful on your journey for Star's heart."

Two weary fighters bowed to each other with the greatest respect they each could give. Ryu limped off into the darkness, swallowed by the night as if he had never been there.

Marco turned to see Star burying herself in his chest, nuzzling him gently while tiny, cold tears soaked into his gi. Marco wrapped around his arms around Star and embraced her tightly "Come on Star."

She pulled away in understanding and gripped his hand tightly. While she pulled in the direction of his dorm room, he pulled her in the direction of the middle of town.

"Marco, aren't you tired and sore and kinda like dying from that fight?" Star asked quizzically.

Marco shook his head "I'll be fine. I'm gonna be dead asleep tomorrow but right now I'm okay. Come on, don't you remember what I promised you?"

Star shook her head. Seeing someone engulfed in flames so hot that the snow itself turned to rain was a bit jarring and mind numbing.

Marco gave her a fake pout which brought a smile to her face "I can't believe my girlfriend forgot that I promised to take her to see a movie after I kicked her ex's ass."

Star wanted to say no, that Marco needed to rest after such a fierce battle but between his goofy grin and his puppy eyes, she found herself nodding "Yeah you did promise"

"So let's go!" Marco cried out cheerfully, walking at a nice pace, holding Star's hand snugly.

And if Star Butterfly squeezed his hand tightly, happy that he was still breathing with the spark of hoping beginning to burn brightly that Marco Diaz could set her free from her lonely prison, well couldn't blame her for giving Marco another peck on the cheek. Or two. Or five.

Ryu is considered main character in the street fighter video game series. Honorable and always seeking to better his skills at fighting, he is the example of the wandering warrior. he also likes to throw fire at people in the most spammed move in existence that isn't pikachu's thunder.