Authors note: This is my first Star vs the forces of evil fanfic and it will entail an entirely different side to the show, aka it is au based. Marco Diaz is a teenager who lives next door to Jackie Lynn Thomas, aka girl of his dreams. Marco of course has difficulty saying anything to her and is often trapped in his own body. However Marco has a secret…he is part of a long line of hunters and thus once night strikes he goes out hunting the undead that have been plaguing the town of Echo Creek for what seems years. He has almost always been on his own…and now a mystery girl he meets will forever change his life. Will Marco get the girl? Just who is this mystery girl? And why is this author's note still going?

Star vs the forces of evil: Force of night

CH.1: Bring out the dead

Marco Diaz was the son of Rafael and Angie, or Marco's parents to his friends. He was a teenager who attended Echo Creek Academy and when he wasn't schooling he was looking out his window at the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on. Jackie Lynn Thomas…his next door neighbor for well…since he was born he imagined. She was stunning and amazing and…wow…this was really creepy. Still…anytime he was near her he found himself unable to say one word to her, or one sentence.

The two of them were friends, well, sort of…actually they walked together and texted so that had to account for something right? Marco had low self-esteem though he worked on it constantly hoping one day to tell her how he felt. Jackie stops brushing her hair and as she looks over she offers him a smile and a wave.

"Hey Marco!" Oh shoot she saw him…what did he do now? Marco felt his palms get sweaty and he waves back shyly.

Wait this is where he says something cool back, yeah, he could do this no sweat. "Oh hey…you too." Lame.

Jackie laughs a little and he laughs back. "Oh Marco, you really do know how to make a girl laugh. So did you finish your assignment for Mr. Art's class?"

Yes, that was his name, Mr. Art…short for Artie. He was their math teacher, a bit over the top at time for his love of math. "Uh…sure…did."

Jackie flashes a smile as she leans against her windowsill. She is wearing a rather short shirt over sweats as it was night and her parents usually let her stay up because of those monster movies she loved watching. Marco had not been over at her house in a while…not from lack of trying, just, well every time she invited him he had something up on his end. The girl of his dreams so close…yet so far away; yep, story of his life.

"Yeah, it was a bit much…I think I got most of them right. Anyway I need to turn in, no monster movie tonight but there should be one on tomorrow. I have my own collection but I like watching them on the t.v. and all. It was nice talking to you Marco…night."

"Sleep tight…" Marco face palmed himself as he found himself saying the most ridiculous things around Jackie. How could he ever be her boyfriend…er…friend who was a boy…if he could not manage a few proper sentences? Yes he wanted to be her boyfriend…just…it was kind of complicated even talking without putting his foot in his mouth. And he was her friend…and neighbor…just sometimes it was mostly her doing the talking.

Undressing he slips on his favorite red hoodie along with jeans and proceeds out of his room to where his parents are gathered in the living room with a bunch of other people. "Talking to Jackie again?" His father notes with a hint of teasing.

"No, what makes you think that…wait…you weren't eavesdropping were you?" Marco felt panic set in.

"Relax…that isn't my job, that would be your mother. You know her stealth skills are beyond supernatural. Anyway did you finish your homework?"

"I did…sort of…but I can finish it up in the morning." Marco reads the exchange between his parents, even non-verbal as it was it was clear they agreed he could go. The Diaz family was 'Protectors of Echo Creek' and they very much took it seriously. The coffee table was lined with everything from sawed off shotguns, handguns, and assemblage of crossbows. Steeped in their history was a line of family members who had lived and died by a certain code…no hunting till homework was finished.

"Let it go this time Raf…the boy needs to be part of this. He is the next line of Diaz men to take over when we decide to retire." This was from his Uncle Carlos, he was his father's brother and didn't treat him like he'd break or was too fragile for a job.

"Very well…however if things get dicey you head straight home and do your homework young man." His mother notes as she shoots him a look that he can't refuse.

"Fine. So what is it today? Vampires? Lycans? Ooh is it those creepy things that spew green liquid, if it is…I am not losing another red hoodie to them." Marco rubs his hands together.

"Well today we will be dealing with zombies…so…aim for the head to make it count. I know you haven't dealt with them in a bit so if you find yourself out of ammo fire a flare and one of us will come running. Seems these zombies are crossing over from another town nearby after some virus broke loose…suffice to say none survived the outrbreak and now it is up to us to try and keep them from overflowing the town."

Marco figured that was easy enough. He picks up a sawed off shotgun and looks around the room. "What…I can handle this-."

"Better stick with the handguns for now Marco…perhaps when you are older such force might be more up your alley." His father gave him the dual handguns and a holster for them. Marco could see he didn't have any help in this…not even Uncle Carlos spoke up on his behalf.

"The time is slipping away from us…Marco, be sure to spare your ammo much as you can. And everyone…let us come back alive. You know what to do if one of us is bitten." Marco listened to his mother and this was something he had grown used to hearing. Even before he was old enough to hunt he remembered hanging out on the stairs and hearing his mother say this to everyone gathered.

The Diaz family was one of many hunter clans set up in Echo Creek, there were a few others involved as well and there was a pact that if somebody were bitten by a vampire, or a zombie, even a Lycan they were to be dealt with on the spot. There were cures…but…they had decided that it was partly their fault for letting it happen. Each one of them had been trained to the point where they could close their eyes and know what was needed of them.

Marco had not an ounce of fat on his body and if he ever gained any weight he was to work it off because fatigue in battle could be costly. His parents ensured he ate right and only time he could have junk food was when he was with his friends. Oh how he missed junk food…and yet if he was being honest he did love how he looked and he had plenty of energy about him. Still when in gym he felt a bit of stage fright and even around Jackie he flummoxed about like a fish on dry land.

Holstering his weapons he follows his family out the door and locks up before they make their way to the edge of town.

It was late in the night when they showed. They were lumbering along the road counting at least around 50 or so. There might be more…honestly it was hard to tell. In their group there were twenty of them, all headstrong hunters armed to the teeth. Marco shivers a bit even though his hoodie over his white short-sleeve shit should be protecting him. His mother walks over as she hugs him.

"Uh mom…what are you doing?" Marco can see everyone smiling at him or conversing with their partner.

"I still think of you as my baby boy Marco…and…I just want you to be safe is all. A mother will always look out for her little one…no matter how old or how far apart he becomes. Know you will always have the love of your family…and this hug is just a reminder of how much I love you."

"Right mom, right back at ya…oh, you wanted me to…yeah I love you too." He hugs her back and the two part as they get ready.

"Here they come!" Right after that it was a rush of combat and exchange of recoils and zombie groans. Marco witnesses his father and mother taking the lead as each of their shots send zombie brains about. His Uncle Carlos was armed with a crossbow launching around two arrows at time lodging in the eyes of a few zombies sending them keeling over. A lot of the zombies wind up walking over one another.

"Save your ammunition…do not get too close!" Rafael manages to say as he reloads. Marco removes one of his handguns as he lines up a shot and manages to get a zombie between the eyes. He falls over but his companion is coming upon him. Marco holds the gun in both hands and squeezes watching it hit the zombie in the shoulder. Crud.

"Marco…what are you doing?" Marco looks over to see his Uncle roll forward along the ground as two arrows fly, one at the shoulder the other through the mouth. Looking at his Uncle he notes the black hair and fire in his brown eyes. He is wearing a vest over a punk like shirt and raggy jeans.

"I-I froze up…just wasn't thinking…" Marco had never done that…well…not in a while that is. He hears someone cry out and his eyes go wide as one of the family friend goes down…the zombies on him in seconds. The sound of flesh tearing and the screaming…it seared his brain.

"Get out of here Marco…this is not your battle, not tonight. If we make it we'll be back at the house, just…go…" Marco hated disappointing his Uncle and it only took a shove from him to get going. He races out of there then wanting to stay and fight. He slows down though as he realizes he has made it to the cemetery…strange…what drew him here?

"Ha! Hiyah! You want a piece of me too? C'mon say something…ugh, guh, I don't speak zombie! Oh wait I just did, such fun, still you are all going to die!" Marco raises a brow as he walks past a few tombs and notices several zombies had surrounded what sounded to be a girl. He aims his weapon but heads and zombie guts spew about and as they hit the ground a blond stands there brandishing a sword, her back is to him and he finds himself too stunned to speak.

Whoa…she took them on…by herself? He is about to say something when she turns around, her brilliant sparkling blue eyes meet his brown and she flashes a smile. "Hi there…what did you think of the show?" Zombie entrails and the like cover her blond hair as it trickles down and Marco doesn't even know how to respond to that. Just who was this girl?

Authors note: Next chapter to pick up where this left off as Marco meets, well, I'm sure you know who which will begin the greatest bond of Marco's life.