Starco vs Parenthood Introduction - These chapters can be read separately but they are all connected. It's always the same Star & Marco, same kids, same world.
I decided to enter the r/StarVStheForcesofEvil April 2021 Writing Contest. The subject for this contest is Euphoria. This story builds off of the Mewnipause chapter so you might want to read that if you haven't, but who am I to tell you what to do?
Favs, reviews, and constructive feedback are all really helpful. Thanks! (They often fill me with euphoria.)
This story takes place Season 1 during the Freeze Day episode. It begins right before Father Time restarts the Wheel of Progress. In case you've forgotten, this is right after the 'Blood Moon Ball' but before 'St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses'.
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Chapter 18 - Future-Do-Over
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As Father Time sits atop his new hamster-drawn carriage he gives our two teenagers a warm smile. "Thanks guys, I owe you. Please help yourself to any of my mud, even the nice stuff."
The teenage boy smiled as he replied. "We're good."
"How about a future-do-over then? I bet you'd like that."
"Future-do-over?" Star gave her best friend a playful elbow to the ribs. "Sounds like something Marco is going to get all worried about."
"Maybe, but it shouldn't hurt or anything. For a future-do-over I send you on a little trip into your futures. After you see where it goes you get to decide if you like it. If you don't, I'll give you a do-over."
"Wait, if you show Star and I our futures doesn't that mean we can change everything ourselves?"
The young princess nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I mean if I know what we're having for school lunch and it's something gross, what's to stop me from not getting it the second time around? Isn't that going to make a time loop where my head explodes?"
"No, nothing like that is going to happen. When you come back here you'll forget everything. You just tell me first if you want the future changed. If you do, we'll move a little mud around and then everything should turn out differently. What do you say kids?"
"Sounds dangerous, I like it!"
"Star, what if the future is really good for one of us and bad for the other!?"
"Marco, it'll be fine! Think of it as watching a movie about us and we get to see the good parts. I'm totally in." She turned back to Father Time with a serious expression. "We get to see the good parts, right?"
Not wanting to disappoint his friend, the young man tried his best to find the positive in the situation. "I have been wondering if I'll be able to grow a beard when I get older. I feel like I've been trying forever."
"Here you go kids. Just turn this hourglass over. Each grain of sand is an important point in time for both of you. Once the sand is flowing it should get stuck on some of the bigger pieces. When that happens you'll be able to see what is going on in your lives. I'll then catch up with you on the other end of time to make sure you get back here. We'll keep it to only the next twenty or thirty years so things don't get too weird. Going too far can really mess with your brain. How does all that sound?"
Star's face wore her usual warm innocent grin. "I like it. Ready Marco? Let's see who has the most fun when we're old folks!"
"You know, I'm going to be upset if I grow up and everyone is still calling me Safe-Kid."
The young woman responded by placing an arm on her bestie's shoulder. "If everyone does, who's fault is that going to be?"
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Holding Marco with one hand and turning the hourglass over with the other Star eyes grow large as the pair is enveloped by darkness.
"This is so exciting! I wonder WHEN we're going to stop. Get it, WHEN not WHERE! I hope we'll be happy. We'll be happy right? Wait, what if I'm queen? Arrgh, there's no way I'll end up happy if I'm queen."
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I hope we're happy too, but with my luck we'll end up stopping when I'm in the bathroom or something weird like that."
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Colorful lights slowly appear around them. As images form, Star and Marco find themselves seated high in the air surrounded by the sounds and smells of the Echo Creek Pier.
"Oh, I love being on the merry-go-round! Hmm...looks like a nice summer evening on Earth. I bet future Marco is having an awesome day."
Marco searched the crowd below. "Do you see us anywhere?"
"No. Wait, look! There you are with...with...Jackie!?"
"Whoa, she just hugged me a-and pulled a cape out from under my hoodie?" The young man almost jumped out of his seat with excitement. "Star, I'm hanging with Jackie! Jackie-Jackie! I'm not just nodding! She hugged me!"
"Marco, I think you're on a date. Hmm...I need to hear this." With her source of magical power in hand, Star cast a spell. "Wand-reverse-mega-phone!"
"Reverse megaphone? Wouldn't that make noises softer?"
"Shh! Instead of making noises go far away this spell brings them to me. Trust the one with the wand maybe? Now I want to hear this. My bestie is spending time with his -crush- and I need to know what's happening."
"What are we saying? My plan must have finally worked! I wonder if I added more steps?"
With the wand to her ear, the young mewman focused on what she was hearing. "Blab-blab-blah. We need to talk. You say you can take off the cape anytime you want. She sighs because you TOTALLY sound like you're lying. She said today was awesome. She says you're forcing yourself to stay in Echo Creek-"
Karate-boy's brow wrinkled. "Where else would I go?"
"-oh...oh...Marco. I'm SO SORRY! S-she's breaking up with you. Something about you both being miserable."
"We...we...we...went out?"
"Marco, you just told Jackie that she's your best friend!"
"She is!? Why would I do that, you're my best friend." Looking at Star's face, he could see her disappointment.
"I don't know Marco, but she said you're lying. And now I hear you crying."
"W-o-w."
The young woman let out a long sigh. "Why would you say that to her Marco? I thought-"
"Star, you're totally my best friend. This doesn't make any sense, I must be lying about it. You should still be my best friend. Are we sure this is our future? And why am I wearing a weird cape?"
"That's not a cape Marco, that's my dad's meat blanket. I can't believe you'd stop being my best friend or at least lied about it. NOT COOL."
"Star, if I'm wearing your dad's meat cape-"
"Meat blanket!"
"-meat blanket, then I must still be friends with you. Maybe you gave it to me?"
Star pondered his words for a moment. "Yeah. I mean maybe I went back to Mewni and we had to stop being friends. That's...that's really sad for both of us. I wonder why we couldn't be friends anymore?"
"Also, should I be happy that I dated Jackie if I know it's not going to work out? I mean, I look REALLY sad down there."
"I have to say Marco, this future kinda sucks. I'm glad you got what you wanted but who knows what happened to me. She said staying in Echo Creek was going to make you miserable. I think that means you didn't have to stay in Echo Creek, you decided to be here. It sort of implies that you'd be happier somewhere else."
"If I'm wearing your dad's blanket like a cape, maybe I WAS with you but left to go back to Earth. Now I feel like I should say sorry for something I haven't done yet."
Star let out another sigh. "It's not like you ever promised to be my bestie forever. Weird, I kinda always thought you would be."
"Maybe she's saying I would be happier in some other dimension." Looking over, Marco could clearly see the sadness overtaking his friend. "Star? Are you upset?
"No, I just got some sand in my eye. I'll be fine."
"Sorry Star. I don't know what happened, but I'm sure I didn't mean to hurt you."
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The world around them slowly faded to black.
"Well, it can't get much worse right? I'm sure I'm just busy dancing at the Bounce Lounge. Fighting Ludo's minions. You know, cool adventures without my bestie."
"Yeah. Well, if I did make the choice to stay on Earth I kind of wish I'd chosen being with you instead."
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Colors form around the teenagers. Once the world comes into focus the pair realizes they are again high in the air. This time flying over a residential section of Echo Creek.
"Whoooa...I've never been in a helicopter before."
Both teens stared out the windows.
"Wow, I can see your whole neighborhood from here. This is near your house right?"
"Star look! You're on my roof!" Marco pointed below them.
"Where? Oh yeah. HEY MISTER HELICOPTER GUY! CAN YOU TAKE US DOWN THERE?"
"HEY! HOW DID YOU KIDS GET BACK THERE?"
"Star! Fire column! Tom just showed up!"
"Ah! Wand-reverse-mega-phone! MISTER, I NEED TO GET CLOSER TO THAT HOUSE."
"CLOSER?"
"YEAH DOWN THERE!"
"Star, you have a picnic going on my roof. This is so weird, don't you hate him?" Marco next pointed at a spot two streets away. "There I am sitting on the sidewalk. Oh man, I look REALLY sad again."
"I don't get this! I can't stand Tom." Star held the wand to her ear intently. "Sounds like I made eggs for him. What the corn! I just hugged his arm! He said he's been doing some soul searching." The young mewman again called out to the pilot. "HEY MISTER, CLOSER!"
"OVER THERE, GO IT."
"CLOSER!"
"THIS WAY?"
"NO, BY THAT HOUSE!"
Suddenly a blast from the roof causes clear crystals to form around the police helicopter, holding it mid-air.
"Star, future you just froze us WITHOUT a wand!"
"Oh thank corn, now I can hear!"
"What are you and Tom saying?"
"I gave him the floor and...he...he thinks we should...break up!?"
Marco couldn't hold back his surprise, "YOU WERE DATING!?"
"W-why the corn was I dating Tom!?"
"Star, this future is awful!"
"Shh. I say I'm not the worst girlfriend...I got him a cat!?"
"A cat!? So you DO like Tom. This must be why I'm so sad."
"Shh! End of the day...blah-blah-blah...headed to different places. Wow."
Marco stared down at his rooftop bestie. "Future you is crying. I'm sorry Star."
"I said I want to stay friends but he said no. I...I don't get it."
"Star, I don't see your room-tower. There's just a hole in the wall where it used to be."
"Now he's saying we can meet in another life as Panda Cats. Tom, that is so cheesy!"
"That is kind of cheesy."
"HEY KIDS, ANY IDEA WHY WE'RE STUCK HERE?"
"He...he isn't leaving. Why isn't Tom leaving? JUST LEAVE TOM!" The young woman yelled down at the roof-bound couple as if they could hear her.
"He's a demon Star. Maybe it's some weird form of demonic dating torture." The boy from Earth sighed. "I can't believe you would go out with Tom again. How does this happen? And I must be okay with it since you're on my roof."
"This future freakin sucks Marco! Why the corn would I even want him as a friend!"
"Maybe he changes? Maybe we change?"
"And now he's going down the chimney."
"I guess our futures are just people breaking up with us. Listen Star, we must still be friends in the future if you're at my house. It's just weird because if we're friends I never would have been okay with you dating Tom."
Star rubbed her brow, "Well you were dating Jackie, if you can date who you want then I can date who I want."
"So you want to date Tom?"
"No!" With that Star leans her head against the glass window while taking a deep breath. "We're missing something here."
"This adventure is the worst. I just feel all weird and hurt inside."
"From having Jackie break up with you?"
"No, from thinking about you and Tom."
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Slowly the world around them faded to black. During the minute of darkness the two just look at their feet, both deep in thought.
"Sorry if this is my fault."
Star sighed. "Whatever. I-I'm sure I messed up too."
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Colors again begin to form around the pair. This time they find themselves next to each other in the middle aisle of a large passenger airplane.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboard Flight 4461 with service from Los Angeles to New York City. We are currently third in line for take-off and are expected to be in the air in approximately seven minutes time. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts at this time and secure all baggage underneath your seat or in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Thank you for flying with Earthni Air. Enjoy your flight."
"When this is all done we are totally-totally going to pick the do-ov-whoooa!"
"Star-Star, your checks!"
The young woman pointed at a person several rows in front of them. "M-a-r-c-o...over there...that's...you. Mole!"
The two teens peer over the seats to find a thirty-five-year-old Marco adjusting several overhead bags. Once he's sure that the door is closed he turns to the people directly behind him. After saying a few words and giving a 'I am not going to put up with any of your crap today' look he takes his seat.
Young Marco was astonished. "I-I'm so much taller."
"You look...amazing."
"Did you see the red zippy sweater I'm wearing? That's a good look for me. What is older me saying?"
"Ah! Wand-reverse-mega-phone." Star looked down at her unresponsive wand. "Weird. Wand-reverse-mega-phone. Huh...it's not working."
"Not working?"
"Stupid family relic, did it get turned off or something? I didn't think you could turn it off."
Marco's eyes began darting across the cabin. "Star, did you look around yet?"
"No, why?"
"Seriously, your cheek marks are gone and in the seats near us I see monsters sitting next to mewmans. Do you even have planes on Mewni? Wait, he said LA to New York. We must still be on Earth."
Star poked her cheeks. "How can my marks be gone? I've always had them."
"This is so weird. Monsters on an Earth airplane and no one is freaking out."
"Marco, I'm going to close my eyes and think about this for a minute. We must be really far in the future and everything is totally different. I can't imagine how any of this is possible but I'm glad to see that you're alive and looking great. If these are supposed to be important moments in our lives, and our other stops were breakups, I'm thinking we're about to witness a gorgeous adult you getting his heart broken. Again, all we've learned from this so far is that our future sucks."
While the princess spoke the aircraft's engines grew louder. "Ah...Star, can we talk about this later? I've never been on a plane before and I think we're about to take-off. I'm...I'm kind of scared. Remember Brittney's party bus?"
Wanting to help him stay calm, Star wrapped her fingers around his. "Just keep holding my hand. Crappy future or not, I'm here for you."
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An uneventful thirty minutes into the flight.
"Marco, it's like the wand isn't working at all. Nothing. Dead-dead-dead. I still don't get it." The young teen let out a disappointed sigh. "I guess without magic we'll have to move seats so we can see older you better."
"What if magic is gone? That would also explain your missing cheek marks."
"There is no way that could happen. Must be some weird curse. Maybe future airplanes are made of the anti-magic you find in pixie gem mines?"
"Yeah, you're probably right. So, are we still going to ask for a do-over?"
"Totally. What is there to look forward to in our futures? I find out my bestie might not be my bestie. I have all these weird feelings about you and Jackie. I have even weirder feelings knowing I date Tom again and on top of it all Tom dumps ME! Total corn-suck!"
As a stewardess with a drink cart reaches Star, the young princess looks up.
"Oh hi! Yes, I'd like a Ginger Ale and peanuts. Marco, anything for you?"
"No, all set here."
From the seat next to adult Marco, young Star and Marco hear a woman yell "AAAAHH-YEAAAAAH!" which is then followed by a loud "Shhhhh!"
"You hear that? Sounds like future you is flirting with some bimbo in the next seat! Maybe you'll end up happy in the future and that's your future loser wife."
"Star, that was your voice!"
"No, I don't sound like that. Wait, I sound like that?"
"You totally sound like that and I saw the top of her head when she leaned over, it was blonde."
"Seriously? So maybe we're still friends. Do you see any empty seats on the other side of the plane? We need to get closer."
"I thought planes have assigned seating."
"Come on wild-man, the most important thing for us to do right now is see our future selves."
Star and Marco become perfectly still as a kid with a familiar face stepped out from the seat behind adult Star and walked toward the bathroom. For a few seconds the ten-year-old locked eyes with our the teens and then ran down the aisle as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Star...do you have a younger brother or cousin who likes to wear black dresses?"
"Look!"
Young Star points to the front of the plane as older Mama Star pops into her son's now vacant seat.
"Meeeee?"
"You!"
"I look like my mom but with better hair and I don't lose my chin."
"Star, future you looks WAY better than your mom."
"Did you see any cheek marks?"
"No cheek marks, no wand."
Unable to wait anymore, the young princess reached out to a passing airline employee. "EXCUSE ME MISS! MY FRIEND HERE IS FEELING REALLY SICK. CAN WE MOVE TO ONE OF THOSE WINDOW SEATS RIGHT THERE? MAYBE WE CAN SWAP WITH...GREAT THANK YOU! Marco, let's go!"
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After the stewardess asks another passenger to move, the teenagers are led to seats on the opposite side of the plane from their adult selves. The middle aisle is slightly in the way but young Star and Marco still have an acceptable view of the older Marco and the empty seat next to him. Once the teens are settled in their new location, Mama Star returns to her original spot next to her grownup bestie.
"Wow-wow-wow."
"Look at us. How old are we? We have to be as old as our parents."
"Maybe. I do look mom-years-old."
"I know we're just sitting there but we look kind of happy."
"Marco, I might want to call off the do-over until we see how this plays out. M-maybe we do stay friends for...oh corn!"
As the teenagers watch, their older selves lean in for a long passionate kiss followed by the pair snuggling together sharing warm smiles, playful whispers, and finally one more deep kiss for good measure. Young Marco couldn't be sure from the angle but based on what Ferguson had told him, that last one might have been Polynesian.
Finally older Marco turns back to his tablet and Mama Star starts tapping on her phone. With content smiles laced across their faces they rest their heads against each other.
"Star...I...think...I think...Star...Star, are you crying?"
The princess sniffled slightly as she tried to hold in her joy. "Marco, look how happy we are! I'm gonna marry my best friend!"
"...I-I'm your best friend."
"You're going to be my king!" She sniffled again while wiping away a tear.
"...I-I'm going to be your...WHOOOA."
"Marco! That was our kid and I think there was an older one sitting behind them! We're going to...WOW! I am so happy right now I could scream!"
"Hold it in! I don't think we want us to know we're here."
"I want to dance Marco! Us being in love, THAT IS AWESOME! WAIT-WAIT, do you love me now!? Like right now-right now!?"
"Ah, I don't know Star. I mean I think about you all the time. I can't imagine not being your best friend a-and I do think you're adorable. You know, I did feel like I had to follow you to the Blood Moon Ball because...because I was maybe...a little...a little jealous..."
"You do love me right now!"
"I don't know. Is this what love is or how it starts? I thought I just cared about you a lot BUT maybe this is love. Does that mean you love me now too? I thought that you're totally into Oscar."
"Oscar is cute and I love that my mom would HATE him but I've never felt as connected to anyone else as I do to you. I admit, most of the time I've only thought about you as a friend-friend but the idea has popped in my head before. You know, I've thought about what it'd be like if we were together. I also can't imagine not being your best friend and you can dance. I was mad that you showed up at the ball but at the same time I'm REALLY glad that we got to spin. I didn't expect this but finding out that you date Jackie hurt inside. Maybe these feelings are how love starts for me? Either way, what I know right now is that I'm feeling REALLY happy that we're us in the future. Or is it us are a we?"
"Star, knowing we end up together makes me really happy too."
"If we have a wedding can we get married riding warnicorns? I've always dreamed I'd ride a warnicorn to my ceremony. We'll need matching engagement swords. We should get married right away! How about right after that weird Tom break up mess? Can we do that? We should have such a huge party! You up for fighting my dad? The Johanson's have some weird battle reenactments that they do at every wedding, we should totally do one of those! Marco, can we dance! I just want to spin you around and around! You must become king right? You would be an awesome king once you get the size of that older you! Marco, my brain is screaming inside again! This is AWESOME!"
"Star, I feel really weird asking this but...I've never on the lips and-and it looked like I date Jackie first...but ah...if we're going to be together...could you...would you...first kiss...ah...me?"
"Yes Marco! Yes!"
As the young couple awkwardly lean forward the darkness once again envelops them. When their lips meet, not only do they enjoy the sensation of the gentle touch, they find the taste to be a captivating mix of euphoria, naivety, and cotton candy lip-gloss.
When finally they pull away Star is still riding her emotion overload. Realizing now that no one else is around, she starts singing while swinging her bestie in a crazy dance of exuberance. With the warmth of the young woman's light fully penetrating him Marco loses himself in the moment. Only Star can see, but his expression is the joy you feel only when you're thoroughly and completely happy.
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When their final spin ends the colors of the Time Dimension come back into view. Knowing they're reaching their final destination Star and Marco wrap their arms around each other for what would be, to that point in their relationship, the bestest hug ever.
"Hey kids, how did it go? Are you thinking that you need that do-over? Seemed like you both went through some rough times during those first two stops."
"Father Time, I think Marco and I are in agreement. We might not understand what love is right now and I'm sure we're going to make a few mistakes as we learn, but we're ready to figure it out...together."
The young teens both blink a few times while dropping their arms and turning back toward Father Time.
"Oh, and maybe don't freeze time again. It's kind of fragile. You don't want to break it. Know what I mean? Well, so long!" The keeper of time lets out a laugh. "Time hamsters away! Yoo-hoo!"
"Wait. The wheel's moving."
"We've got to get back!"
"We've got to get back!"
On Earth, a clock moves one minute forward. Mrs. Diaz catches a pancake as it is being flipped, the laser puppies start moving again, and Mr. Diaz continues singing opera in the shower. Using their dimensional scissors, Star helps Marco reach his locker, and Jackie, just in time for the next phase of their futures to begin.
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That night as they're getting ready to brush their teeth, the young teens talk about their day.
"You think we should have taken up Father Time on his mud offer? Maybe it was magic mud?"
"No way was it magic. What I was hoping is that he would have shown us some of our future, that would have been way better."
Marco nodded as he replied. "Yeah, I wonder when I'll be able to grow a beard."
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I need to give credit to the SVTFOE crew again for the lines from Freeze Day, Sophomore Slump, and Sad Teen Hotline that I included. Thank you for giving us those gems. I know there are other fan stories that have different age Stars and Marcos meeting each other but I tried to make sure this story was different. Also, I finally included some magic. Go me.
I hope you enjoyed this. Thanks! - Olin