This story takes place in its own little SVTFOE AU. I hope you enjoy it.
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Holiday Treats
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In a Butterfly Castle bedroom, seventeen-year-old Marco Diaz used a mirror that once belonged to his bestie Star to adjust his tie. Meanwhile Janna lay on his bed nonchalantly tapping away on her phone. Unsatisfied, the young man undid his knot before starting over.
"For the record, I think this is a bad idea."
Janna didn't bother looking up. "I know it's a little weird but trust me Diaz, you need this."
The former knight studied his reflection. He was pretty sure that he was getting closer to his Neverzone size. "What if things aren't the same?"
"Dude, she's from a completely different world. Of course things aren't going to be the same."
There was a slight pause in the conversation while Marco focused on his tie length for the hundredth time. "So w-what if she ends up not liking me?"
"You need to chill. Plus how much fun would a blind date be if you knew how it was going to turn out?"
Marco's thoughts were interrupted by a few brief yells from the courtyard, likely an argument between two of the workers assigned to rebuild the remaining damaged towers. "Hey, what if I'm needed here? She'd understand if I couldn't go, right?"
The raven haired teen showed off her serious face. "So you are aware Hekapoo, Tom, and I put in a ton of work getting this setup. Do you have any idea how hard it was just to scry a place where it's physically possible for you two to exist? Please, listen to your inner Janna and embrace the chaos for once."
Marco dwelled on her words before returning to his preparations. Once he was somewhat satisfied with his look, Marco took a deep breath before adjusting his tie one last time. "Don't you think it's too soon? It's only been a year-and-a-half."
"Dude, you know Star would want this. I'm also sick of seeing that dorky-mope-face you keep making. You have it everywhere you go."
Getting up, the trouble maker from Echo Creek gave her unattainable crush a once over before pulling a piece of paper out of her pocket. "Here, I know it's been awhile so I made a conversation checklist for you. I also know how much you love filling in boxes."
He gave a thankful smile, until he read the first few lines of what was handed to him. "...are you into dorks? ...have you smelled me?"
Getting close enough to catch his cologne Janna couldn't hold back her trademark smirk. "That list is guaranteed to get you a make-out session."
"Yeah, not happening."
"You never know. I haven't seen pictures but based on her writing she seems pretty sweet. Hey, make sure you call me when you get back tonight. Tom and I have a few wagers going."
With both scissors and nacho supplies in hand, Marco opened a portal. He then gave an I-can't-believe-you-talked-me-into-this look before silently stepping through.
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After two additional dimensional hops and a lecture from Hekapoo on the risks of leaving the landing area, or worse missing the return ride home, the 'high school dance' ready young man traveled using a brilliantly white portal. Emerging, he found himself inside a small cottage that had impossibly nestled itself between universes. The small rooms were well furnished, but what grabbed his attention was the vast array of ghosts drifting just beyond its windows. Each was a spirit trapped between worlds, never able to find their promised afterlife. However, even with this depressing display there was one feeling he couldn't shake.
"Don't be nervous. Don't be nervous. Don't be-"
The sound of a rip in space-time followed by a familiar voice was enough to shake the young man out of his worried state.
"M-Marco?"
In his mind this situation was impossible. Across the room was the cheerful bestie who's grave he still cried over. Although not exactly his bestie, or even a person he'd met before. He knew she was going to look like his Star but rationally he shouldn't get excited. Logic told him that they were total strangers. Yet in the back of his mind he thought that maybe they could become...wait, is her head made out of a donut?
"Hi, I'm Princess Star Butterfly."
There was a long awkward pause as the young man tried to wrap his brain around what exactly was in front of him.
"Y-you're Marco right? Sorry I have to ask, it's just...well, you don't exactly look like my little cinnamon roll."
In a small wooden home, in-between nowhere and forever, a flesh and blood Marco Diaz was staring into the eyes of a five foot three inch walking, talking, conglomeration of baked goods. Was that strawberry frosting on her face? Were those red and blue sprinkles some form of makeup? How can her eyes be so far apart? Why was her mouth so tiny and cute?
Gazing lower, Marco saw shortbread arms attached to snickerdoodle shoulders. Over her torso hung a simple peach shirt that flowed gracefully down into a bright purple skirt. Would every part of her have a different flavor?
"W..o..w."
"Ah...Marco, eyes are up here." She let out a giggle. "I've always wanted to say that!"
"S-sorry. I just wasn't expecting-" She interrupted his rambling with a wide smile. "Hi, I'm Marco Diaz. It's really nice to meet you."
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After awkward introductions, a quick battle with an octopus monster that tried coming in through the front door, and then a ten minute talk about extra-universal weather, Marco struggled to heat up nachos in the alien device he assumed was an oven. Meanwhile Star was finally comfortable enough to start telling her life story.
"So like I said, growing up I fought a lot of monsters. Then I met my Marco on Earth, that was after I got the wand. He had this cute cinnamon head and these gorgeous chocolate brown eyes. That first night monsters attacked us and after a few hugs we became besties. Before we knew it we started going on all kinds of adventures."
"Were you fourteen? I'm asking because we have a lot of baked goods where I'm from but normally they go stale after a few days. Then again, they're not alive like you are."
"I'll turn seventeen on Stump Day but yeah, I was fourteen at the time. Other than having magic and being a princess I'm pretty normal for where I'm from. Every person in my universe is either a plant, a surfactant, or a confection-based creature. I've seen pictures of fleshy monsters in storybooks but I never thought I'd actually meet a meat-person in person." The donut-girl let slip the cutest giggle. "Sorry, I repeated a lot of words there. Anyway, I'm kinda surprised how well you move around for someone filled with liquids and guts. When you were using your karate kicks on those octopus arms I was totally thinking your insides would burst out."
"Actually, flesh and blood can be pretty tough. Just please don't poke me with a sword, you'll see a really big mess." Marco bent down in front of the open oven as it started making an ominous moan. "Tell me, do you have fungal or monera life where you're from?"
"Yes, on mushrooms but what the heck is a mon-er-who-a?"
"It's not important. What is important is getting these nachos to 375 degrees for ten minutes. Does a square or an infinity symbol mean hot between universes? It seems everything I try only makes the unit colder. And what temperature is the at sign?"
She responded by patting the sofa cushion next to her.
"Come over, I want to hear about you and your Star."
After trying one more set of knobs the frustrated young man put down his uncooked chip tray and walked over.
"Well, it sounds like you and I both went through a lot of the same experiences. My Star also traveled to Earth and we also became best friends. We fought Ludo a bunch of times and then there was Toffee. Hey, I bet Toffee is way more appropriate name in your universe then it is in mine. Everyone from where I'm from thinks it's the weirdest name ever."
While sitting on her end of the sofa donut-head-Star happily kicked her legs back and forth while listening to his story.
"Eventually she told me about her crush...but-"
"But she had already convinced you to date a pizza-roll named Jackie? Did it make everything super-super awkward between you two?"
"Pretty much. Later Star defeated Toffee, she brought back magic, and then she made me her squire when the Jackie thing didn't work out. Does your world have a Tom?"
"Devil's food cake with horns, I dated him...until the photo toaster disaster."
"Sounds like our photobooth. Lucitor still gives me a hard time about that. Wait, did Tom break up with you at that point?"
She gave a nod. "Tom sorta-kinda, you know...caught us."
Marco wrinkled his brow. "Caught you? I'm thinking this is where our timelines become different."
"In my universe Tom thought I was trapped in a photo toaster and when he came to rescue me...m-m-my Marco and I were rubbing our icing all over each other."
Star's embarrassment was clearly visible. Flesh-Marco even noticed her cheeks become a darker shade of pink. Wait, isn't that normally caused by a change in blood flow? Could it be that she has some sort of jelly flowing within her veins?
"Tom freaked out and went back to the Underworld. Shortly after my cinnamon bun and I officially started dating. Oh, if you ever meet my parents don't mention that icing part. It's not like we did anything that would put a bun in my oven but my dad would totally lose his lemon filling if he found out."
"Wow. So that means when your Marco went to slow down Meteora-" Marco pondered for a moment. "Then Tom wasn't there to save him."
Confectionary-Star closed her eyes while slumping her shoulders. It was obvious that this is when she lost her Marco even before the gumdrop tears started falling.
The blood filled boy touched her hand. Surprisingly her outer layer wasn't as flaky as he expected. "I'm really sorry that happened. W-would a hug help?"
Immediately her arms flew around him. He was happy to provide some comfort, but being that close was distracting. He could smell her now, it was the same vanilla-strawberry scent his bestie wore. He did note that her grip wasn't as bone crushing as his Star's. Maybe being made out of pastries impacts your strength?
What the hug did do was make him feel safe. Safe enough to finally open up.
"My Star died trying to protect the monsters. S-she had this whole plan for destroying magic but Eclipsa and Moon tricked her into attacking Mina head-on. I saw all three of them fall. It...it was awful."
In each other's arms donut-Star and flesh-bag-Marco gave themselves permission to let out their feelings. It was a strange mix of regret, loneliness, and a longing for what could have been. What they didn't realize until later, they were finally holding someone who completely understood what the other was going through.
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Some time after the tears settled the two teens snacked on the dry Sugar Seeds Star had brought as they reminisced over their favorite parallel moments. Both were amazed by how much was different and yet exactly the same.
"At Quest Buy did you tell your Star that you wanted your overcooked remains found with you both holding each other?"
"Pretty much. I still think about how great that hug was and I'm amazed we made it out of there alive."
They both gave each other a warm smile.
"Marco, we should do this again."
"Yes, but we can't call it a date. If we do, my Janna is going to want photographic evidence and somehow she'll figure out a way to take videos. Wait, is your Janna made out of bananas?"
"Pink cupcake head, banana filling."
"I knew it! And is Glossaryck pudding based?"
"Most days, when he's teaching me magic and he thinks I'm not looking, I catch him eating himself."
"Oh man! That's so gross!"
They two shared another long laugh together.
"So for our next totally-not-a-date, we'll hang out and have snacks?"
"And watch movies?"
"Yes, movies! I'd totally-totally-totally-totally love to watch old movies again. And bring books about your world, especially ones that talk about what your MCU and Mina did. I need to know what to keep an eye out for."
"Definitely and you bring books on biology. I'm really interested in understanding how life works on your side of the multi-verse."
"Friendship Thursdays?" They both said at the same time before giggling. Right after an unreadable clock rang, a warning that their time was just about up. As if on queue two brilliant white portals opened, one on either end of the cottage.
"Marco, could you ah...well...please close your eyes."
He did as asked. His reward, a quick peck accompanied by the flavor of sweet strawberries on his lips. He considered looking back but then realized that he'd be looking through the whole in the center of her donut shaped head.
"KIDS, HURRY IT UP! Our universe is warping out of alignment way faster than expected!"
Looking over, Marco saw a crème brûlée head Hekapoo. She even had her trademark burning flame, right between her two cream horns.
"Wait, when is the next time it'll be aligned? Marco and I want to see each other again."
"This house is traveling way differently than expected so I'll have to redo my math. Best guess is that it'll be ten years. Now hurry up princess, I have baker's dozen clones helping me keep this portal open and they're all about to expire."
"TEN YEARS!?" Both teens yelled in unison.
There was one last brief hug before Star ran to her portal. A step away she turned back to her new friend.
"I-I-ah, I'll be thinking about you and I'll try to find a way to see you before then! Bye Marco, this was totally awesome! I-it was everything I've been missing!"
With a flash the girl was gone. Dessert-Hekapoo however lingered in her magical floating oval while giving the boy a deathly stare.
"Hey fleshwad, time to get your butt in gear and go to where you belong."
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Ten years later a teenage Mariposa flies down the stairs at dawn to see what Santa might have brought her. Christmas was her favorite holiday and as always the best way to start it off was to shake each gift with the hope of revealing what was inside.
'Hmm, clothes.' She picked up the next one. 'More clothes. They better not be trying to replace my last Marco hoody. I'm never giving that up.'
As the pre-teen reached for the next present she spotted something unusual atop the dining room table. Something rather epic. With a wrapped gift in hand, she walked over to investigate.
Before her stood a gingerbread castle heavily draped in multi-colored layers of frosting, candies, and sprinkles. White blankets of 'snow' covered the ground while at each gate stood a pair of sugar cookie warriors, candy cane spears held proudly in their little hands.
Mariposa circled the table as she studied the wondrous edible fortification. Once she returned to the point where she had started the girl spotted a royal family standing up on the highest baloney. A dark haired king with a red shirt and icing crown, a queen with a pink circular head and wings of crystallized sugar. Between the two were twin cookie children topped with gumdrop hair, and in the queen's arms was a tiny newborn baby snuggly swaddled in liquorish.
Best of all, they were delicious.
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Happy holidays! As you might guess, this has nothing to do with the SvP stories I normally write in. Hopefully you still enjoyed it.
If you're wondering what Donut Star looks like check out the multiverse crystals in S2 E17 'Mathmagic'. As for Marco, here he looks the same as he did in S2 E14 'Bon Bon the Birthday Clown', just a little older.
If you liked this short please leave a comment, fav, and/or check out my other stories. I also have a holiday gift for you, here is my Blueberry Cake recipe. It takes awhile to make but it's totally worth it. - Olin
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted butter)
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (if you use salted skip the salt above)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups blueberries (thawed, rinsed, and drained)
- 1/2 cup lemon juice (¼ c + ¼ c)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
1 - Preheat 350°F center rack
2 - Prep baking pan
3 - Mix flour with baking powder, salt, and cinnamon and set aside
4 - In a mixer on low to medium add...
- Butter 2 min+
- Sugar 5 min+
- Vanilla
- Egg 2 min+
- Egg 2 min+
- ¼ c lemon juice 2 min+
5 - In the mixer on low add...
- Flour mixture 10 min+
6 - Separate from everything else toss berries with flour and ¼ c lemon juice
7 - Add to the baking pan...
- Cake mix
- Tossed berries all over the top
8 - Cook 45 to 55 min
9 - Rest 10 min
10 - Dust with powdered sugar