A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I try to take all of that into account and will try to keep things more cohesive in the future. It'll be a lot of work given my writing style, but I'm going to put in the effort anyway. That being said, I'm taking suggestions on how to separate Marco's dream sequences from reality. Anything helps, and again, thanks for reading. :)
Marco and Star stared blankly at the note left on a table out in the courtyard. It read 'Grab your weapons and meet me in the forest. - Johan' The Forest of Death? After that day in Mewni with Marco's parents, neither of them had ever planned to visit there again.
"Well, I guess if that's where Johan wants to train today, we don't really have a choice." Marco spoke with an annoyed tone.
"There are plenty of things to train on in there, though." Star seemed excited. "Plenty of things to light on fire..."
Marco face-palmed, grabbed his wife's hand, and started marching toward the forest. It was going to be a bit of a walk, considering the many levels of Mewni they were atop. They might as well take their time and talk about things. "So, uh... Star?" He started off awkwardly.
"What's up?" She shot him a confused look.
"It's just- Those nightmares are still bothering me. There are some details I just can't place." His words were muffled by a contemplative hand.
"Like what?" As much as she didn't want to focus their conversation on the nightmares, it would probably help him get over them.
"Like, oh I don't know. We seemed a lot older in the dream for one." Marco was so lost in thought at this point, he nearly tripped down a flight of stairs.
Star casually pulled Marco back before he could fall. "How much older? Like, three or four years?"
"Yeah. About that much, I guess." He trailed off, his focus fragmented on the dreams and watching his step.
"Are you sure you're not just worrying too much about the future?" Star seemed slightly annoyed at the persistence of topic. "I mean, I don't think anything like that would realistically happen."
"Maybe..." Marco wasn't convinced but felt like he should change the subject before Star got too annoyed. "Sorry, I just don't want things to go bad between us."
"Why would they?" Star was doing better at managing her frustration. Marco was obviously very worried about the future, otherwise he wouldn't be having these dreams. Hopefully her persistent assurance would solve that. "We have our differences, sure. It just means that whatever challenges come our way, we'll have to work through them together."
"I know. It's just that these dreams feel so real." Marco stopped for a moment to look at Star with a look that could only be read as, 'I hope I never lose you.'
"Everything will be fine, Marco." She hugged him and grabbed his hand before walking the last few feet to the entrance of the forest.
On the sign, there was another note written in Johan's handwriting. It read 'You'll find your trial by the hydra cave. - Johan P.s. You shouldn't need your weapons just yet, but keep them handy just in case.'
The two sighed and got back to their slow pace, carefully minding the footing. Star was disappointed that she wouldn't need to be using her claymore just yet, and Marco's thoughts were still too elsewhere to even care about his weaponry.
A short period of silence passed before Marco spoke up. "Star, I'm really glad you chose me." He smiled at her.
"I'm glad I chose you, too." She smiled back. "Now we'll be together forever, no matter what. I promise." Her mood immediately shifted from annoyance and frustration to happiness. After all, it sounded like Marco had decided to not worry about the future too much anymore.
Marco slowed his walking even more and pointed up with his free hand. "What's that?"
In the distance, there was a banner with 'congratulations' written in neon colors hung between a few trees. Johan sat on a small collapsible chair in front of a camp fire. Two other chairs were placed on the opposite side of the fire. Johan looked in their direction and beckoned them over.
"Care for some?" Johan asked, gesturing with an occupied skewer over the campfire.
Star stared blankly, then pointed at the skewer. "What... Is that?"
"Some mystery meat from another dimension." He answered, smirking. "Again, care for some?"
She immediately thought back to the school cafeteria mystery meat lunch and shuddered. "No thanks."
"Didn't your parents ever teach you not to waste food?" Johan asked indignantly. "It's good."
Marco stepped in. "It smells like deer jerky. I'd like some." His mouth was watering a bit.
"Deer jerky?" Star said questioningly. It sounded like something she'd had before. In fact, it sounded like one of those weirdly good snack foods Marco had made her try. "If that's what it is, then I'd like some."
"Jerky?" He asked, taking a bite. "I thought I hadn't really overcooked it. Tastes plenty moist to me."
Star looked like she was about to say something but Marco realized what was on the skewer, grabbed her hand and dragged her over by the fire. He picked up two loaded skewers from a small cooler on the way. "It's not jerky, it's venison."
"What's venison?" She asked as Marco handed her a skewer.
"It's like steak made from deer instead of cow." Marco replied, slowly turning his meat over the fire.
"That's already cooked you know, I did so ahead of time." Johan commented before resuming his chewing on the skewer in his hands.
"I know, I just like a little searing on my steaks." Marco commented back, examining his skewer. "Needs a little more." He lowered it back down to the flames.
Meanwhile, Star was busy chowing down on her venison. "This is really good!" She exclaimed.
Johan nodded in thanks and grabbed a second skewer. "So, how's the married life?" He asked between bites.
"It's been pretty good. Spending every night together with the love of your life is the greatest." Marco replied, finally content with the sear on his skewer.
"The se- I mean, dates are pretty nice, too." Star looked away to hide her embarrassment.
Marco near spit out the bite had just taken after hearing her slip up. "Yeah. That too." He chuckled awkwardly.
Johan stared for a moment, then resumed eating. "Mmm, yes. Such lovely dates, having so much fun that the butlers complain for days about the... noise."
This time both Marco and Star spat out their food in shock and embarrassment. Had they really been that loud? They had waited until everyone was asleep, save for their honeymoon but even then, every wall in the castle was at least a foot thick.
"So what does this little get together have to do with our training?" Marco tried to change the subject. "You told us to bring the weapons and all, so what's up?"
"It's congratulations on achieving what I still haven't done to this day." Johan said, pointing his skewer at them. "'Gratz on the getting married thing." He finished before he returned to nibbling at his skewer.
"Okay. That still doesn't answer why you wanted us to bring our weapons, though." Star joined in the conversation more intently now that her skewer was gone.
"Oh, just for the fun of it." Johan said with slight bemusement. "Besides, we're in the 'Forest of Certain Death'."
"True." Star said with confirmation. "So, how long will this be? Marco and I have to go talk with the my parents later."
"Wait what!?" Marco interjected. "Talk about what?" He hoped it wasn't about the noise complaints. That would be too embarrassing and awkward to handle. He had to prevent himself from thinking about a 'yes, I have sex with your daughter' conversation.
"If I can get a word in here, we can be done whenever you need. I just wanted to tell you congrats on getting married." Johan interjected.
"Oh, in that case we should probably be going." Star said, standing up and grabbing another skewer and her husband's hand. "Come on Marco."
Marco shot Johan a distressed look as he got dragged along. He wasn't looking forward to the potential conversation that would take place with him and Star's parents.
"Have fun, see 'ya wouldn't wanna be 'ya." Johan said semi-sympathetically. "This doesn't excuse you from training tomorrow."
A sigh escaped Marco as he got dragged through the forest and back to the path leading to Mewni castle. This could either be death by embarrassment or a long lecture about some random royal BS. He sincerely hoped it was the latter.
After a long walk in mostly silence the future king and queen of Mewni stood before the doors to the royal bedchamber. Both were nervous about what might happen beyond those doors but before they could open them, the doors swung open.
"Oh, Star. Marco. I was just coming to get you." Queen Moon said, a bit surprised. "Come in, we have a lot to talk about."
"Okay." They said awkwardly in unison. The usual waiting chairs and small table were set up, waiting for them. King river was already occupying on chair.
"So what are we going to talk about?" Marco questioned as he sat down.
"Well," Moon started. "As you know, you two will become the king and queen of Mewni when you're ready, and after the threat of Toffee has been dealt with. We need to discuss some of the things you'll be dealing with when that time comes."
"Oh, okay." Star was a bit relieved at the topic. She had also been afraid that they were in trouble for being too loud.
"First off," River pulled out a book from his pocket. "Your duty when you become king and queen is primarily to the citizens of Mewni. You will distribute taxes and other funds toward the people and their betterment. It will also be your duty to protect the people. Secondly, you will need to produce an heir."
Moon cut in. "It might seem impossible, given that Marco is human but it is actually possible. Queen Eclipsa was half human. We know you two are young and want to enjoy each other, but please keep this in mind."
Star gasped and looked over at Marco with concern. "Ponyhead lied to me." She muttered.
Marco shared the concern. "How likely is this to happen?" He asked with a serious tone, knots forming in his throat.
"It's not very likely. Less than five percent, even." Moon replied. "Why? Have you not been using protection?"
The look on the young couple's faces said it all. No, they hadn't been using protection. They were under the impression that human-mewman babies were possible.
Both king and queen face-palmed and sighed. "You two really need to be more careful, and aware that we will answer any questions you may have about your future duties and... personal matters." Moon said with a motherly voice.
"We'll keep that in mind." Star replied with a half concerned half annoyed tone.
"We're being serious here, Star. We want to help you with whatever you may be concerned about." River chimed in.
"Does that count recurring nightmares?" Marco asked hesitantly. That thought had been on the back burner for most of the day, but it couldn't hurt to ask about it.
"Recurring nightmares? How vivid were they?" Moon started what would eventually be a train of questions.
"Very vivid. So much that sometimes it's hard to tell from reality." He answered.
"And what are they about?" Moon focused in like a sniper spotting his target.
"Well~ We defeat Toffee, but I am fatally wounded during the battle. I then turn into a monster and end up losing control over my body. Then Star and I fight and eventually my monster self wins. In the dream, it seems like everyone is several years older if that helps any." Marco summarized.
"How many times have you had this dream?"
"I've had it twice so far, but the first time was just of Star and I fighting." He stated.
"This is concerning. Please let us know if the dream keeps happening." Moon shot a look over to River and they nodded at each other. "That's enough for today, Please come talk to us again tomorrow after your training."
Star and Marco were ushered out of the royal bedchambers and were now standing awkwardly in the hall outside.
"You didn't tell me that your monster self wins the fight in your dreams." Star was upset.
"I didn't want to worry you... I'm sorry, Star." Marco apologized and hugged her. "That and I didn't want to tell you because that would make things seem more real."
He didn't know how true that statement was, and wouldn't for another few years. His fate was now forever cursed.
A/N: I hope this clears things up for some of you, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was written in an odd state of mind, *maniacal laughter* Things are going to get really juicy soon, so please leave reviews. P.S. Johan fans, please raise your hand. I need to count you for... reasons.