Till Death Do Us Part

Sorting Things Out

Glossarack's eyes were blinded momentarily until he was eye-to-eye with his student and friend, Princess Star Butterfly. "Hello, Star.", he said, holding up his fingers, each with it's tip covered in a brightly-colored liquid substance. "I was just doing some finger-painting. Care to join me?"

"Forget finger-painting!", Star snapped, her eyes wide and frantic. "I have a serious crisis on my hands, Glossarack!" "I see.", said mystical being replied, wiping the paint from his hands. "What seems to be the problem?" "Well, apparently, Toffee's son has taken over the monster army,", Star explained. "And he's going to start another war between the monsters and the Mewnians unless I agree to marry him!" "Oh, my.", Glossarack said, stroking his white beard. "That does put you in quite a pickle."

"What do I do?!", Star cried, pacing back and forth in her bedroom. "If I don't marry him, then I'll be responsible for another monster war! But if I do marry him, I'll be miserable for the rest of my life, I just know it! No matter which one I pick, I can't win!" "Yes, yes, it is a very difficult choice.", Glossarack said. "I wish I could help you, but I can't. This is a decision that you and you alone must make for yourself."

"No!  Wait!", Star cried as Glossarack closed the spellbook over himself.  "Don't go!  I need your help!"  She knocked on the leather cover.  "Glossarack!  Come on out!  I need you!"  When he didn't answer, she groaned loudly and fell back onto her bed, staring intently at the ceiling.  "What do I do now?"  One of the laser puppies jumped onto the bed next to her and licked at her face, but it did little to give her comfort.

Suddenly, Star heard the front door of the house open and shut.  She shot up in bed and looked at the clock.  She was surprised to see that it was 11:34 PM—an hour and seventeen minutes since she had come home.  To Star, it had only felt as if she had lying in bed for two minutes at the most.  She got on her feet and hurried down the stairs towards the Diaz family living room.

Just as she'd hoped, Marco was there, putting his house keys back on the hook.  She smiled at him.  "Marco!"  He looked up to see her reach the bottom of the stairs.  "Hey, Star.  Sorry I missed the party."  She rubbed her arm nervously.  "Its cool."  Her eyes darted back and forth.  "Hey, Marco, can I get your help with something?"  Marco walked into the kitchen to make a late-night snack for them.  "Sure.  What's the problem?"

Star followed him in, trying to find the right words.  "Well, there was this girl at the party, who asked for my help on something, but I couldn't come up with anything for her.  So I told her I'd ask for your advice and call her back."  "What's her name?", Marco asked, getting some ingredients for cheese dip.  Star chewed on her lower lip.  "I don't wanna give her away.  Its kinda private.  She was lucky she got up enough nerve to tell even me."  Marco began mixing the cheese dip in a bowl, then looked at Star.  "Go on.", he said, nodding at her to continue.

Star cleared her throat.  "Here's the deal.  This girl, she's gotta make a choice in two weeks, but she's conflicted.  They're both awful choices, and no matter what she chooses, it will result in total misery for her, so she feels kinda trapped.  If that wasn't bad enough, she's only got two weeks to make a final decision!  So, I'm asking you, what should I—"  She caught herself in time.  "I mean she, do?"

Marco pondered over the predicament as he put the bowl of dip in the microwave to heat it up.  "Hmmm...that's a tough one.", he said, pulling out a bag of nacho chips.  "I think...she should list off the pros and cons."  Star looked at him confused.  "Pros and cons?"  Marco explained as he poured the chips into another bowl.  "Make two columns for each choice.  In one column, list all the good things that will happen if you make the first choice, and in the other, list the downsides of making the same choice.  Than you do the same with the second choice.  It will help you see your options a little bit clearer."

Star nodded slowly, absorbing all the information she was being given.  "That's a great idea, Marco!", she cried.  "I knew I could count on you to solve the puzzle.  I'm gonna go to my room and, uh, call that girl right now."  "Why don't you call her right here while enjoying some nachos?", he asked, just as the microwave time went off with a ding!  Star started to nervously back away.  "Uh...my room has better cell reception!  Bye!"  And she raced back upstairs before he could say another word.

Marco watched her go, confused.  That was some strange behavior, even for Star.  Maybe she's just tired., he thought.  It is pretty late.  Besides, if I know Star, I know she was the life of the graduation party.  Shrugging it off, he took the bowl of melted cheese out of the microwave and began pouring it all over the nachos.
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As soon as she got back to her room, Star grabbed her notebook of spells and favorite fluffy purple pen and collapsed onto her bed.  She immediately turned to a blank page in the book and began writing furiously.

Pros & Cons

Marry Coffee
•Peace with monsters
•Save lives
•Prove myself to the people of Mewni
•Doing royal duty
•Become a hero to Mewnians and monsters

Okay, so there are all the good things that will come out of marrying Coffee., Star thought, tapping the fluffy end of her pen against her cheek.  Now, onto the choice of not marrying him.  She thought and she thought and she thought,  but her mind was drawing a big fat blank.  C'mon...think, Star, think!  What do you stand to really lose by marrying the son of Toffee?

Finally, a thought entered Star's head.  Something she would no doubt lose forever if she went through with the marriage.  Something very important to her.  It was the only thing she could think of, but it was a big one.  Without a second thought, she jotted it down in her notebook.

Go to War
•Marco

Star released a heavy sigh.  On paper, it would seem like the obvious choice would be to suck it up and marry Coffee.  But while her head understood that clearly, her heart still needed convincing.  But what if Marco didn't really need her around anymore?  After all, he had Jackie now.  He'd finally gotten the girl he'd always wanted.  Why would he care if Star left to marry someone else?

Mom did say I had two weeks to decide., she thought.  I'm just have to put Marco through a little test.  Then we'll see whether or not Marco still needs—or even wants—me in his life.