AUTHORS NOTE
Hey all. So, I did some thinking and I think I'm gonna go ahead with the story as planned. I've been kind of conflicted with how I should handle Star and Marcos relationship mostly because It's my first Fic and I'm not sure what exactly even I want yet. All I know is, I wanted to make a story that I could enjoy as well as everyone reading it. I'm sorry if some of you aren't happy with how it goes, I really do value your opinion. But I'm going to let it bloom how I like. Sorry for spoilers, hopefully, not too many people mind how I handle it, but I'm pretty happy with how this turned out. Have a great day and ENJOY! :D
A long time ago, when the kingdoms of this land were young, a wrathful force manifested itself into a being hellbent on obtaining a power of catastrophic levels. Once this being obtains a wealth of knowledge and magic, it will set out to destroy all who oppose it. It will hunger for death and chaos until no creature is left outside of its rule. However, this creature was sought out by a powerful wizard, who sealed him away in the mountains beyond even the Great Plains of Plenty. The beasts name, is Machinor. There he has lain dormant, until a power that rivals his own makes itself heard. He will stop at nothing to steal it away for himself, and begin his rampage once more.
Marco rushed across the field of tall grass, his eyes never leaving Star. He had to get to her if they had even a hope of beating this thing. He had heard stories but dismissed them as folklore or drunk men's legends. Something of this caliber wasn't going to go down easy, if at all. He continued running and saw that she hadn't moved from her spot, much like many of the soldiers around her. They were all too busy watching the mountain come apart as Machinor thundered out of the cliffs. Rocks the size of cars fell from his shoulders and a cloud of dust built at his feet.
Machinor looked for the most part, expressionless, albeit beside one of pure anger. Marco had to avert his eyes to focus on getting to Star. Though he silently kicked himself for not realizing he had dimensional scissors. He cut a rift and was immediately deposited next to her. She looked at him with a worried look and grabbed his shoulders, her eyes wide as she spoke. "Marco what the hell is that thing?! Where did it even come from?! It's like the mountain just came alive and that THING just walked out!"
Marco took a deep breath and held her hands as he sent darting glances towards the creature. "Star, that thing is pure evil manifested into a monster. I've heard about it but I thought it was just a legend. The troops all need to form up and we need to hit it with everything we've got to have a chance." Star took a deep breath and locked eyes with Marco before speaking quickly, her words shaking but her body standing firm. "Okay, Marco. We can do this. Ill hit it hard from the front, you organize the troops and if you can get reinforcements, get them here NOW."
She gave him a peck on the cheek and hugged him tightly, which he returned in kind. With that, she blasted the ground in front of her, forming a pink cloud about the size of a very large pillow. It opened its two eyes and smiled warmly at Star. "Hey Cloudy! You ready to take down a mountain?" The cloud seemed puzzled by this question but blissfully continued smiling. "Sure am Star! Let's go kill a mountain!" She wasn't sure if that was a serious answer but she brushed it off. She hopped on top of the cloud and floated up as Marco ran through a portal.
Star accended far faster than she had hoped. In a mere three seconds, she was at eye level with Machinor himself. She looked around the battlefield and saw the remaining soldiers organizing into groups to charge the enemy, but nothing they did would be able to stop him. Star glanced around at her surroundings and started planning her next move. If I hit him hard enough and fly to the mountains, he might follow me and leave the troops alone. But if he ignores me, it will leave them wide open. She thought for a moment and heard a familiar voice in her head, sounding eerily similar to hers. "hit it low, distract it from up high, and don't get hit."
She mulled over whether or not that was her own idea when she felt eyes on her. She looked up from the battlefield and noticed Machinor was looking directly at her. His fiery red eyes didn't have pupils, but she could tell they were locked onto her. He spoke loudly, and surprisingly coherent for such a large beast.
"SURRENDER YOUR POWER TO ME. AND I SHALL LET YOU LIVE. REFUSE MY WILL, AND YOUR ARMY WILL BURN."
She looked down at her wand and tightened her grip on it. Her response was simple and short: She raised it and aimed it at him, a little over a quarter mile away. "Mega Supercharged Rainbow Blast!" she yelled, as her wand glowed white hot. It shot forth a beam of every color straight for Machinor chest. Without even blinking, he held up his hand to block the attack, clearly expecting it to falter at his touch. But the moment it struck his palm, it exploded into a ball of fire that burned every color. A shockwave roared out and every troop stopped to look at its brilliance. The force of the blast sent him recoiling back into the cliff and shook the very mountain itself. With his hand still smoking in the palm, he looked up slowly and stood to face Star.
"VERY WELL THEN, MAGIC USER. THEIR LIVES WILL BE THE PRICE FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!"
He took in a deep breath of air and as he did so, the ball of fire between his horns grew and spread into a ring. He let out a mighty roar and the ring suddenly snapped back to a ball, shooting forward like a bullet at the men below. Star acted quickly and shouted above the roar echoing through the fields. "Reflective Shield!" Before the ball could reach the ground, a round metal shield the size of a small house formed above the men about to be hit. The ball sparked angrily off its surface and shot out across the fields, setting fire to the ground as it flew by. With a flash of light and the feeling of heat in her face, Star witnessed a fireball that rivaled even hers at St Olga's.
A shockwave boomed across the mountains and winds blew through the grass and washed over the soldiers. Star turned to face Machinor but was surprised to see his attention no longer on her. He was facing out over the fields he had just scorched and raised his fist. Before she could react, he brought it down hard, driving it deep into the ground at his feet. The rock underneath cracked and buckled as it rose and fell like waves in the ocean. Huge ravines formed and snaked wider and wider before stopping just at the edge of the fields.
Machinor stood again and glared at Star. "DO YOU STILL BELIEVE YOU CAN VANQUISH MY DESTRUCTIVE POWER?! YOU ARE WEAK, AND YOU WILL FALL LIKE-" Before he could finish, a rock the size of his fist hurtled through the air, slamming hard against the side of his face. It crumbled to pebbles as chunks fell down his chest, but not before sending him stumbling back, trying to keep his balance. Star turned around and saw several large, scarlet red portals in the fields. Large wooden structures resembling catapults rolled through them, flanked by teams of men pouring through.
As machinor struggled to right himself against the mountainside, Star whizzed through the air and scanned the grassy ground for a man caped with red. Her eyes found their Marc, and she zoomed down to find him struggling to keep so many large portals open. He strained hard with the air in front of him, clearly concentrating, so Star took up a protective stance in front of him. Though he was struggling, he turned his head to look at Star and spoke through heavy breaths. "Did I..miss..anything?"
She smiled and gripped her wand before looking back at him. " Nothing too crazy. Hes pretty powerful but hes hungry for magic. We have a chance if we can keep him busy and hit him till he drops." Marco nodded and when the last man stepped through, he let the portals close. Dropping to his hands and knees, he breathed hard for a moment, staring at the massive red force that stood before them. He slowly got back to his feet and readied his blades. "You remember drop shot. This time, make something bigger and we can go from there."
He cut a portal through the air, this time much smaller, and stood back. The booming footsteps of the giant shook the ground as he approached the army. Star gripped her wand and her cheeks began to glow with power as she grabbed hold of the raw magical energy forming behind her wand. Her hair began to whip around in the new winds as Marco watched in awe. She pulled back on the sparkling pink force until it reached her chest, and exhaled deeply. She closed her eyes and spoke softly to her wand. "Shimmering Whirlwind Arrow."
The moment she released the magic, it snapped back to the wand and shot out as a bolt of pure, radiant magic. It glowed every color as it flew through the air right through the portal. Both of them looked up and right at that moment, a speck of shining light shot from a small portal next to Machinors head. With a flash of rainbow-colored light, it burst into a force that shook the ground and brought him to his knees. The ground cracked where he fell and a smoldering mass of flesh could be seen on his left temple.
Marco beamed and readied another portal for Star as the giant tried to stand. "Keep it up Star!" "Dazzling Fist of Fury!" She spun around, swinging her wand out in front of her as a mass of red energy formed. She swung her wand towards the portal, now over twenty feet tall, as the red mass continued through, growing with each second. Once it passed through, it grew into a sizable fist and slammed upwards into Machinors jaw, sending him stumbling back into the cliffs. Dust and rocks fell as his back collided with the mountainside.
Star jumped into the air and smiled wide at Marco."Yeah! We got him on the ropes! A few more of those bad boys and he'll be finished!" Star began to prepare for another spell but Machinor bellowed in rage. She brought her hands to her ears as his voice shook the mountains themselves. "I WILL NOT BE BEATEN DOWN BY A PUNY HUMAN! YOU WILL BURN BY MY HAND!" He took in a large breath and bellowed hot fire at the army before him. Flames rolled every direction along the grass setting fire to countless soldiers. Their lives cut short in an instant.
Star and Marco watch in horror as a wall of fire rolled over squads of men. Star cast spell after spell to keep as many men safe as possible, but it wasn't enough. Their cries rang through the mountains, as the scorched earth sizzled and cracked under Machinors breath. She grit her teeth as her cheek marks turned a deep shade of cool blue. Her wand glowed the same color with ferocity as she began to hover a few inches above the ground.
Machinor silenced himself and stared intently at Star. He breathed deeply and readied himself against the shattered and the scorched ground beneath him. "FINALLY. TRUE POWER." Star held her deep blue wand in front of her and began speaking in two voices, making it glow brighter.
"FEEL THE DARKNESS BEGIN TO SETTLE, AND SEE MY STRENGTH ALONG MY METAL. DECAY AND CRUMBLE, BEFORE MY-"
Before she could finish, Machinor inhaled sharply causing the ball of flame atop his head to stretch into a ring. Marco saw the giant readying an attack as his eyes went wide. "No..STAR MOVE!" She was in the middle of reciting the next line of her spell when Machinor roared loudly, jolting her from her trance-like state. She watched, in nearly slow motion as the giant bellowed, sending a bolt of red and yellow energy her way. It sailed through the air with such ferocity, she didn't notice her ally coming to her aid.
Before the bolt of hot and destructive power could reach her, Marco slid in front of her, holding out both blades in an attempt to cut open a portal. He began slicing down on the air but preceding any rift, the attack reached his blades, held before him in a defensive stance to protect his lover.
Star had no time to react as a wave of hot air blasted in every direction, a wall of force sending her back a few dozen feet. A low rumble shuddered across the fields as she slowly looked up. The ground in front of her rippled with heat and force, cracking every direction. Marco stood strong in the same spot, unmoved atop the scorched ground at his feet. He held both blades timidly, as though they might hurt him, and slowly turned to Star. His scissors now rolled with blue fire along their edges, and their once polished metal surface now shone a magnificent blue tint. She looked higher to his face and saw that his eyes curled as well with blue flames that licked harmlessly to the sides like a mask.
"Are you alright, my queen?" He spoke softly, in a deeper voice, as Star nodded slowly, pure shock riddling her face. Marcos armor curled with tendrils of blue fire along its edges and he smiled warmly at her. "Take her to safety. I will destroy the one who threatens her." She looked at him with a puzzled expression as two hands grabbed her from behind. Grenor helped her up and pulled her back, away from her guide, her partner, her choice. "No! I have to help him! Marco can't do it alone!"
No sooner them the words had escaped her mouth, Marco raised one flaming sword in his right hand, and seemingly cleaved the air. Where his blade swung, an arc of rolling blue fire shot forward at Machinor. It grew as it sliced through the wind at incredible speed, closing the distance in a second. Machinors already hateful face turned to one of anger as the rolling line of fire approached and made contact across his chest. The searing blue arc didn't dissipate or explode but merely kept moving. It pushed him back as it burned and cut at his chest, sending buckets of deep red blood from the wound.
The arc of blue flame dispersed around Machinor, now pushed back against the cliffs behind him, the long deep gash on his chest bleeding profusely. "YOU ALSO POSSES POWER TO BE COVETED. I WILL TAKE IT FROM YOU AND LAY WASTE TO YOUR LANDS!" Machinor took in a mighty breath and stretched his arms before bringing his hands together in a thunderous clap. A wave or fiery air shot forward towards Marco and the army before him, tearing grass and rock from the ground as it reverberated closer.
Grenor and Star watched as a tidal wave of force echoed closer to Marco, burning the land beneath it, as he stood firm. "My power is a gift, and you will not take it. You will only feel my blades as they cut you down before her!" He took a single step forward and brought up both flaming blue blades to form an X. With one slash forward, two arcs of thin blue fire that matched the shape he made shot out. As both forces met, Machinors shockwave burst like a bubble, sending men and enemies alike flying through fierce winds. Marcos attack burned through the air and sliced the wave apart before bursting against Machinors chest.
The explosion reverberated like a tomahawk missile and send him, a towering beast, flying back into the cliffs. The mountains crumbled as rocks the size of houses fell. Marco cut a rift and disappeared into the deep blue portal before being deposited high above the mountains. Machinor spotted him falling from hundreds of feet in the air before firing volleys of red spheres of energy. They flew through the air towards Marco but were easily parried by the burning blades, causing them to burst behind him like bombs. As Marco drew near, he brought both blades down, sending two parallel arcs of fire down at Machinor. Both arcs hit their target, bursting against his chest and pummeling him deeper against the cliffside.
Star looked on in awe as Marco shook the ground with his strikes. She had never seen power like this besides her own at St Olga's. She didn't know what could possess the two with such force, but it seemed to only show in times of need. She was shaken from her thoughts by Grenors voice, over the destructive fury tearing apart the mountain. "What...are you?" She turned to face him and spoke loudly over the wind. "We are Star Butterfly and Marco Diaz. We're not from this planet. We came here five years ago to take a break from our own dimension."
Grenors eyes went wide and he dropped to his knees. "A-are you, G-Gods?" She smiled sweetly and helped him back to his feet before reassuring him. "Were not gods. We just come from a place far from here, with the intent of helping people I guess. You don't need to worry." He seemed to relax but another earthquake inducing explosion shook him from the thought. "You will be compensated well, but I don't think its a good idea to bring him back to camp like that. Is he, under his own will?" She looked up towards Marco, sending wave after wave of explosive force at Machinor and her smile faltered. "I...dont know."
Marco drove his blade forward, poised at Machinor, now bleeding and battered but still very angry. As his arm extended, a beam of blue energy shot forward, rippling the air around it like a cannon. It struck Machinors shoulder and pierced his red skin in a fiery burst of energy. He bellowed in rage and clutched his wound as Marco strolled closer, blue flames rolling against the edges of armor. "Fall before my blade. You will be slain for the pain you've caused. And I will rid this world of your hate."
YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME, MORTAL. I WILL ALWAYS EXIST IN THIS WORLD, AND I WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL!
Machinor drove a fist into the ground, sending chunks of rock into the air. They hovered around him and he grinned as he jutted his massive hand forward. The massive stoned sailed through the air at incredible speeds, straight for Marco, but he didn't flinch. "Very well. I suppose its time I ended you and set this world free." He started running towards the massive rocks and readied his blades. With one quick motion, he sliced at the air in front of him, sending an arc towards the first stone. It shattered on impact in a cloud of dust and blue flame as Marco continued running. He slid on his knees and under the next stone, Using his blade to cut it clean in half. He jumped into the air and vaulted over the next stone, dragging the tip of his blade against it. A long blue crack formed against its surface as it was cleaved in half.
Marco landed softly and continued running as more stones hurtled towards him. He glanced back at his allies and was silently relieved to see Star, okay, using her magic to defend the remaining soldiers around her. He grinned a wicked smile and without looking, sliced at the air in front of him, destroying another stone as chunks whizzed by him. He used his blades to slice an X into the air, destroying the remaining stones as he continued running. Slamming his foot into the ground, he vaulted high into the air, spinning like a whirlwind of blue flames. Machinor grinned and inhaled sharply, causing the flame above his head to expand into a ring, his eyes never leaving the blue warrior before him.
Marco took one last look to Star, mid spin, before bellowing loudly as the whirlwind of fire shot out from him, straight for Machinor. The beast roared as the ring of flame above him snapped back into a ball and rocketed out towards Marco. Both forced screamed towards one another as every soldier watched in amazement.
Blue met red in the middle and what resulted was the loudest whine of energy that the world had ever known. The Blue flaming whirlwind pushed against the bolt of red and remarkably, it absorbed the flames into a brilliant purple vortex of power. The flames roared and shot out towards Machinor who for the first time in his existence, was horrified. He watched as his radiant, purple, impending doom shot at him like a bullet.
When it reached him, all that could be seen was a flash of purple light that shone brighter than the sun. Marco watched, expressionless as a shockwave of nuclear proportions roared closer. He stepped back into a deep blue portal and was deposited to Star, much further away. They all silently watched the mountainside come apart like a volcanic eruption as the blistered rock was hurled from the purple mushroom cloud of fire at the base of the mountain. A hot wind roared over the fields and washed over them as the fire began to die down. Machinor was gone. And all that was left of a scorched crater of rock, and the blackened fields around it.
Star looked nervously at Marco, who now stood contently, watching his work. The flames around his eyes died down and as he breathed a heavy breath, all watched as the blue tendrils of fire around him slowly dissipated. His blades returned to normal and he felt the wind die down around him. The group was silent for a moment before Star spoke softly. "M-marco? Are you...alright?" He turned to her with tired eyes and fell to his knees, kneeling before her as he breathed heavily.
"Im..fine. I just...need...a moment. Are you...okay?" She smiled at him and hugged him tightly. Tears fell from her eyes as their embrace was the only thing in her world at that moment. "I'm just fine Diaz. You did it. We're safe now." He hugged her back before the two stood. All eyes were on them, through terrified, shocked, and amazed faces. Grenor stepped forward and spoke with fervor to his army, and the two contractors now glued to one another.
"MEN! YOU FOUGHT BRAVELY IN THE FACE OF CERTAIN DEATH AND DUE TO YOUR STRENGTH, COMBINED WITH THE POWER OF OUR TWO GREATEST WARRIORS, WE HAVE PREVAILED!! MANY HAVE DIED TODAY. AND MANY WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THEIR HOMES. BUT REST ASSURED, WE. WILL NOT FORGET. THE DAY, WE, DEFEATED, MACHINOR!!!!"
The troops yelled and shouted in agreement as Star and Marco raised their hands in delight. The battle was over and they were still alive, largely unharmed. Soldiers came up and bowed to thank the two for saving countless lives. They offered gifts and praise and tales of the families that would live due to their efforts. As Grenor began directing a cleanup and medical effort, Star pulled Marco aside and walked among the tall grass with him.
The two stepped through the tall grass, their hands not leaving one another. Star spoke first and kept her eyes on the rolling hills in front of her. "Do you know anything about what we can do? What was that power that we have?" Marco thought for a moment but shook his head. "I don't know Star. We're past where I got sent back, though I've never seen anything like that." She mulled over his words and kept walking. "What should we do? I'm thrilled that we just defeated whats basically a god, but I'm kinda worried about what's going on with us."
Marco squeezed her hand and hugged her tightly. "I don't know what we should do. But I know as long as I'm with you, I'll brave any danger and dimension. I'm with you through anything, Star." She beamed a smile and pulled back to look at him. She spoke in a mockingly deep voice. "Are you alright my queen? That was too cute, Bad Boy." Marco blushed and rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know what that was all about. I kinda just said it I guess." He smiled at her and kissed her nose before blowing a raspberry against her cheek. "PPPLRPRPRPRPR!!! YOU KNOW YOU LOVE IT THOUGH!" He shouted before taking off in the opposite direction. She stood shocked for a moment before smiling and taking off after him "YOU GET BACK HERE, DIAZ!! IM NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET!!"
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AUTHORS NOTE
So this ends The journey arc. Up next, 'Love and home for answers'. I know this is kind of a side quest type sub arc but I hope yall liked it. Stay tuned for more and enjoy the rest of your day! Feel free to check the forum for questions and feel free as always to leave a review!! I'll PM you through the fanfic app with a really for any review. TOODLES!!!
~Mr. Ronald Reagan