Rifts

Part 2~Janna

Grumbling, Marco blinked awake as he stretched out. He froze as he noticed Solar asleep and leaning against him. Smiling softly, Marco pulled Solar closer, hugging him to his chest.

"Ha, told you!" Moc grinned as they pointed at Marco, who snapped around.

"Moc?! What?!"

Moc was sitting on Star's bed, looking different. They were out of the old rags they had been wearing for years. Instead, they were sitting in a light brown beige shirt with lime green stripes that matched their hair. They had a dark brown leather jacket and skirt, and by the bed were matching boots they clearly rejected.

Star sat behind them, brushing their hair and doing their best to style it but was clearly struggling against the newly washed mess. "Hey, Marco! You were sleeping, so I decided to do something with your friend here!" Star gruntled as she pulled the comb through a tough knot, being thrown back as it finally went through.

Marco snickered, trying to lower his voice, but it was too late. Solar grumbled, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Five more minutes."

"Sorry sunshine, time to get up." Marco gently shook Solar as Solar glared at him, curling into a small ball in Marco's side.

"Five more minutes."

Marco rolled his eyes, picking Solar up as the boy squeaked in surprise. Marco carried Solar bridal style to Star's bed, taking place next to the princess and putting Solar down. "Let me try that." Marco gently took the comb, sectioning off parts of Moc's hair as he slowly combed through it with ease.

"B-but how?!" Star stared in shock as Solar snapped out his.

"Years of practice, Star. Many years of practice." Marco looked almost traumatised as he finished, making Moc clap their hands together.

"Next, we sort out the boys' outfits," they shouted as Solar glanced at his clothes.

"What's wrong with my outfit?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Marco threw a hand around Solar's shoulder, grinning lazily. "So, do we have a plan for the portal calamity?"

Star gulped as she nodded. "I do, actually." Star pulled out the map. "When I sleep portal, I hear this sound. It's like..." Star paused before she let out a high-pitched screeching sound, making the others hiss. She kept trying as Solar and Moc whined in pain, their heightened hearing being more of a curse at that moment.

Launching forward, Marco grabbed Star, stopping her. "We get it, Star. Can you just get to the point?" Marco glanced at Solar as he sighed in relief, uncovering his ears.

Star huffed, pushing the map into the circle. "I've been following this sound to the same location every night, but I never make it because I wake up. If someone could hypnotise me, I can stay asleep until I reach the destination."

Marco raised his eyebrow. "This is a horrible plan."

Growling, Star glared at him. "Well, I'd like to see you come up with a better plan?"

"Why don't we just tell your mother and the magical high commission. They would know what to do."

"No! No way. We are not doing that. It's either this or nothing." Star crossed her arms defiantly as Marco sighed.

"Fine." Marco stood up, swinging out his knives as he cut three portals. "Solar, Moc, I need you two to keep H-Po distracted. She cannot know what we're doing, and she cannot find out about the pattern, or she might try to kill Star."

Solar and Moc nodded. Solar whistled sharply, grinning as two dragon cycles flew through the portal. Nachos instantly went to Marco's side as the other nuzzled into Moc, who began talking in garbles and ruffling the dragon's scales. Marco closed the portal as Solar got on Nachos.