AUTHORS NOTE

So, again, sorry to all who weren't comfortable with reading the last chapter. This one is going to be somewhat shorter, more of a segway into what's to come. Also, with thanksgiving, I won't be releasing a chapter next Sunday. But rest assured the following Wednesday will get an update. ENJOY!

Youre only running from the life you left behind. You won't be able to keep her safe forever. When you slip, I will be there. And your little friend will die by our hands.

"That's where youre wrong. Were a team. And we always have each other's backs. I didn't run. I was taken.I'm going to find out why, one way or another. And I'm going to kill you before you can hurt her."

Good luck, Boy.

Marco woke up in a surprisingly comfortable bed, that was surprisingly messy. He took a moment to breathe and regauge his surroundings when he noticed that Star was draped over him like a dead seal. Any remaining sleep roared away from him when he noticed that he and Star were sharing a bed and that they were both undressed no less. His eyes flew open and he drew in a deep breath, but before he could say a word, a small, groggy voice croaked from the blonde, womanly figure that was laid over him.

"If you so much as whisper about being here with me, I'm going to kill you." Marco held his large breath and eyed her figure before letting the air hiss out of his teeth. Memories of the prior night came flooding back to him as his blood came flooding up to his cheeks. "Did we actually-" "Yes, Diaz. It's not that hard to imagine. Youre a big boy so you can put two and two together." Star grumbled her words like any breath that wasn't used on sleeping was a waste. Marco pulled the covers over them out of modesty and wrapped his arms around her.

"Youll have to forgive me, Star. I'm still not used to that yet." She looked up at him and smiled a toothy grin before kissing his cheek. "Well don't worry too much. We're going home today so you can go back to enjoying your usual chivalrous ways." There was a tinge of distaste in the way she said it, but he knew it wasn't directed at him. He remembered their talk last night and ran his fingers through her hair. "Don't count on it. If I'm your boyfriend then you've got some less than chivalrous things coming your way, Butterfly."

She blushed at the thought and grinned at him. "Like what, Safe kid? You gonna leave your toothbrush on the counter?" He frowned at her retort and pinched her backside causing her to yelp out and bury her red face into his chest. "You know how unsanitary that is, Star. But no. I'm not treating you any different when we get back. We've matured a lot. Aside from doing the more, provocative things, I think we can enjoy some of what we have here no problem." Star smiled at him and kissed him deeply before rubbing her nose against his.

"It makes me really happy to hear you say that. I can't wait, Marco." He adjusted himself to get out of bed and begin preparing for the journey home when Star squeezed him closer, pressing her face into his large chest. "Nooooooo. Not yeeeeeet. Five more minutes." Marco groaned and resituated himself against the bed before putting his arms around her and kissing her head. "Fine, princess. But not a second longer."

Three hours later, Marco and Star began dressing in their usual gear and placing their momentos and belongings into their duffel bags. Marco had explained to Star that whatever they wore here, would shrink to fit them in their world, as well as their bodies reverting to their original age. She found that perplexing but decided it was best to roll with it since Marco knew plenty about prolonged stays in other dimensions. His knowledge was of course attributed to his experience on the matter, and Star was quite relieved to hear how his last venture went.

She shrunk down their belongings and when they were ready to leave, Marco stepped out of the tent, gingerly holding her hand. The sunlight blazed into their eyes as the day had already begun for hundreds of troops around the camp. Troops ran about preparing for various missions and altercations along the countries borders as the two strolled to the entrance of the camp. There they found General Grenor waiting for them. "Goodmorning you two. I trust you slept well?"

Star and Marco exchanged glances and both blushed profusely before Star immediately changing the subject. "Yup. We're about to head back home now. We're sorry we have to leave so suddenly but we don't really have a choice." Marco rubbed the back of his head and looked around nervously. "We're really gonna miss this place. We won't be back for a very long time, if ever. So please take care of yourselves." Grenor smiled and shook both their hands. "I've actually informed the kingdom of what you've done for this world. Many rulers have agreed to keep records of your victory so you won't be forgotten."

Marco shot Star an ecstatic look which she returned in kind. She beamed at grenor and spoke with joy. "That's, amazing news! We hope to come back soon and continue to help as many people as possible." Marco readied his blades and stepped back before cutting a deep blue rift a few yards from Grenor. The old General spoke with kindness, but also sorrow. Like he was sending away his kin. "We won't forget what you've done here for us. Youre both true heroes and you've saved countless lives. Thank you."

The two smiled and politely bowed to Grenor before returning his thanks and waving goodbye. Star spoke up as Marco stepped through the portal. "And thank you, Grenor. Leave some descendants for us to visit okay?" Grenor blushed and rubbed the back of his head before waving her off. "Got plenty of those already, Miss Butterfly. They'll be waiting for you when you get back." And with that, She stepped through the portal and was deposited next to Marco in her bedroom.

She eyed around her room, marveling at how everything was exactly the same as when they had left. There wasn't even a layer of dust on her things. Marco smiled warmly at her before exiting her room to allow her to get reacquainted with everything. He mentioned how things would seem alien at first, but she'd eventually start remembering more. It truly felt surreal. Like stepping back in time.

She caught her breath while unpacking. Is this how Marco felt when he went back to when he met me? Star felt a bit if selfish guilt. For him to be sent back almost as long as she'd been in another dimension, just for her to treat him like a stranger. She felt horrible for him. How alone he must have felt to be a stranger to your best friend. As she thought about that notion, the idea once again crept into her mind that maybe he really did have feelings for her in another timeline.

But she waved it off. She was happy. She had him all to herself. And she couldn't be happier with how much of a gentleman he was. How strong, handsome, and smart Marco had become. She stopped and her eyes went wide as she silently mouthed the word Became. She looked down at her body and the color drained from her face. She was now fourteen again. Her chest was flat and she was back to her skinny self, without any of the alluring curves she had meticulously worked for in the prior dimension. Star groaned in misery at being so young again.

Its gonna take forever to get back to that. And I have to wait that long for the eye candy known as Marco. She mulled over this and finished packing her new belongings when Marco knocked on her doorway and stepped inside. "Parents still aren't home, so we're definitely at the same time as before. Hows adjusting to your old life?" Star frowned nearly to her chin at him and her cheek marks seemed to break in half. "TERRRIBUUUUHUHUUUULLLL!!" Her eyes were wide and pleading as she gestured to the room around her. "This is the worst. I'm a kid again. How am I supposed to deal with my parents now that I'm a nineteen-year-old in a fourteen-year-olds body!?"

Marco held up his hands reassuringly and patted her back. "Don't worry, Star. It takes time but you get used to it. By now I'm about thirty-eight. So consider yourself lucky." She motioned at his chest and stomach and kept her frown. "But your abs are gone. Isnt that upsetting?" Marco lifted his shirt and Star had to fight to keep from drooling at the sight of his toned abdominal muscles showing more clearly than before, however not nearly as toned as in the other dimension. "When did you get those?!" Marco smiled and shrugged before strolling towards Stars bed and taking a seat.

"I've been working on them I guess. It takes time but boy does it pay off." No sooner than he had finished speaking, Stars book of spells fluttered open and a small blue robed elf creature floated out. Glossaryk had a clearly less than amused face on, but still had a smug air about him. Marco spoke up first and kept his cool, though he had about a million questions to ask. "Glossaryk. Just the man, of terms, we wanted to see." He eyed Star and continued. "We believe you might be able to help us with some questions about current events."

Glossaryk only smiled, as smug as ever, while sweeping some empty pudding cups out of his book. "I'm sorry my boy but I'm, not a newspaper. I only deal with things regarding Stars learning." Marco stepped forward but Star spoke up first, clearly not amused by Glossaryks usual antics. "We don't have time for your usual schtick, Glossaryk. We've been gone for five years, I've made like twenty new spells, and somethings happening to Marco and I. There's a strong blue light and I start floating and I'm super powerful and Marco catches on fire and hes super fast and his swordsdotooandwedontknowwhatitmeansandImreallyworried." She took a breath and Marco kept his eyes on Glossaryk while he spoke.

"We need answers. I want to know if you can tell me why I...why I'm repeating all of this. And why this didn't happen last time. And who Vartek is. He tried to kill Star during mewberty, and at the bounce lounge." Glossaryk mulled over this all before sighing. "I'm not at liberty to answer any of your questions. None of them are the right question. Perhaps you should consult your mother, Star." She pulled her wand from her pocket and before anyone could move, it exhumed a blue flame from its center that engulfed much of the room before puffing out into the warm smokeless air.

"Why can't you tell us what's going on with us. This is serious Glossaryk." But the small blue man only shrugged. "You both have certainly matured in your time gone, among other things, clearly. But that isnt the right question either, Star. I can't tell you anything without her permission.

The two teens' eyes lit up as Marco spoke with cool unfeeling intent. "Who is 'Her'?"

Glossaryk smiled a toothy grin and held his hands out, as a fierce red symbol of a crescent moon, flanked by two blue symbols to its sides appeared. One was a burning sun, and the other was a simple star. "Do you know what this is?" He said gleefully. Marco and Star both stared intently at it and nodded. "This, dear children, is Her. The goddess of the blood moon. Creator of the blood moon dance. My love and soul personified. And the reason why all of this is happening to you." Star and Marco both remained silent, though their faces showed clear shock and awe.

Glossaryk could tell they still had millions of questions, so he continued speaking, illuminating the air in front of them like a holographic movie of sorts. "Its truly a very long story. She and I met long ago when I was mentoring another student of mine by the name of Celena, the shy. She had just attended the very same ball you both went to, and danced under her rays with her lover. I met the goddess of the blood moon soon after and won her over with my own divine nature. But that's ancient history. The blue fire, or as its better known, The Flames of Passion, is active while you are in danger. And they're only here because you've danced twice."

Marco began to speak but Star shushed him, eager to hear more as she giddily jumped in place, eying the moving pictures before her. "You see, the blood moon activates this blue defense mechanism when one of you is in mortal danger. And it aligns things so delicately to keep you both together." Marco spoke up, clearly confused by things. "So the blue fire is really just a temporary power to help us keep each other safe?" Glossaryk rolled his eyes and rubbed his temples. "Yes, Marco. I just said that. Please. Anywho. The reason you were sent back here Marco, is because of Vartek. You both danced under the blood moon so you both sorta pledged your souls to one another."

He opened another cup of pudding and began eating with fervor. "You she, Shtar. Vartek ish from the very far future. He came back here to kill you, but I'll explain why later. She, sent Marco back here to keep you safe from him. That's why the blood moon was blue for you. Because only once in a blue moon will anyone ever go through it twice. It happens so infrequently, it's nearly impossible."

Marco rubbed his head. "So, what then? Your goddess girlfriend sent me back here to keep Star safe from some time traveling nutcase?" Glossaryk frowned. "That time traveling nutcase wants to avenge his fallen bond mate." This shocked Marco. Star, who had remained silent, spoke up finally. "What happened to her? And what does that have to do with Marco and I"

Glossaryk floated to Star and for the first time in, well, ever, showed the face of guilt, and sorrow. "She, had her killed. His lover was planning on killing the future queen to take over the throne. So in a fit of rage, she erased her soul. He fell apart without her but was too blind to see why she had to go. He decided that the only way to hurt her back was to take away one of her best bondings. You two. He set out to kill Star and somehow made it back here. So the blood moon sent in Marco, to stop him."

Both teens now sat in silence. Their minds were full of information swirling to be sorted. Star spoke up first. "So what happens when Vartek is dead?" Glossaryk thought for a moment and answered softly. "Things continue as they are. You keep your strength, your knowledge, and your experience. Our mistake will be undone." He floated back to his book and sat down. "I'm sorry to have roped you both into this. But we had no choice."

Marco slammed his fist against Stars bedpost, sending a small tuft of blue fire curling around it from his fist. "She put Star in danger because she couldn't think of a better idea than killing some lady?! What kind of bitch just kills people because they step out of line?! She could have done literally anything else and Star wouldn't be in danger!!" At that moment, Marco stopped breathing. No, It wasn't that he stopped, he simply couldn't. Time had stopped and a voice momentarily crept into his mind

"Do not dare to question me, mortal. I have made my mistakes. Lest you forget yours."

Marcos mind was flooded with images hed never seen. Of Stars heartbroken tears after the love sentence concert, her jealous spying that crushed her spirit, how she almost died because he wasn't there to protect her.

"I am not the only one with a 'Future' to run from. I have given you a chance to fix yours, and in return, you will clean up after mine."

There was an ease in his head and the voice spoke softly.

"You have endured much, I know. But how much have you been rewarded since you returned? I'm so proud of how you two bloom under my light. Please. Do this for me and I will do something for you."

He felt the air return to his lungs as he collapsed to his knees. Star looked at him, terrified before she helped him to his feet. "Are you okay, Marco??" "She didn't like your sassy comment did she?" Glossaryk said with a smile. Both teens stared at him before Star gripped Marcos' hand. He held it tenderly and fearfully as if he was afraid to let go. "Just go about your lives and use your new strength to take him down. It's all we ask of you. Is that so difficult?"

Marco thought back to what the moon had told him. "No. No, it's not. We will help you. But no more secrets. Okay? And she mentioned doing something for us in return. " Glossaryk nodded and slowly floated down towards the book. "If she commands it, so it shall be. Be safe. And don't worry. Hes alone. I doubt he could do much against you two." The spellbook fluttered closed and both teens were left alone in Stars room, now wrought with tension, and anticipation.

_

AUTHORS NOTE

Well, that was a lot. Sorry for the short intermission chapter but hopefully yall are as mind blown as I'm imagining. If not, well, I dunno maybe youre super smart and guessed it already who knows. Leave a review with your thoughts and-

ɹəuuıp 'uɹoɔ ɟo ɯopɓuıʞ əɥʇ: ɹəʇdɐɥɔ ʇxəu

~Mr. Ronald Reagan