It's Been a While

It was a warm night and seventeen-year-old Marco Diaz was enjoying his walk. He was relaxing after another week of school and already planning out his weekend, considering getting with Star Butterfly… If she wasn't too busy, that is. It's been lonely since she went back to Mewni, but he understood that she had to prepare to become the queen, and he still had to stay here and finish high school. But at least it wouldn't be much longer until he was eighteen and then a little after that he would graduate. And then maybe he'll have more free time to visit his friend.

His thoughts cast around to his other friends, and lingered on another member of royalty: Tom. A confident demon who had once struggled with anger issues, but now had a handle on them and was composed and likable nearly every time they spoke. Marco was fond of him, they both enjoyed cheesy pop songs, had similar tastes in food, and got into boyish shenanigans together, and when Tom had gotten his first tattoo, it had been Marco who stood at his side and watched. Marco had also offered to hold his hand, to which Tom had cheerfully offered to break his fingers. They were great friends.

Tom had even returned the favor, encouraging Marco when he entertained the idea of getting an ear pierced, and then going with him when he finally decided to do it. It had been the right one and Tom had really hyped it up, telling him how much it would hurt, how he would laugh if he screamed, that it would bleed a lot, and so on… and then Marco actually got the piercing, and it had been as simple as laying down and getting a needle swiftly poked through the lobe and that was that. It had barely even hurt and the blood, if there was any, was mopped up in seconds and his chosen earring snapped on. Marco still wore that small ruby stud. It matched his favorite hoodie.

Marco had declined getting any more, and had punched Tom in the arm for trying to make him nervous about it. Tom had just laughed innocently and complimented his new fashion.

It's been a while since they could hang out though. Tom was going to be crowned king of the Underworld very soon and his parents kept him very busy with classes and training and preparations. Marco sometimes got a quick call from him, and he would talk about what was going on, but then he would have to go again.

Marco was happy that his friends were moving on with their lives and getting ready to take on such huge responsibilities, and he hoped they still had time for hanging out and having fun once they were in charge of their respective kingdoms. He didn't want to lose great friends like them.

After a few moments, Marco realized that the ground was rumbling slightly. Not exactly unusual, this area got mild earthquakes all the time. But this was different. It was a higher intensity, and he could actually hear rocks shifting. Flames erupted from the street without warning, and the skeleton of a horse clambered out, with a mane and tail made of flame. It pulled an elegant black carriage, and the flames died down. There was no damage whatsoever to the road.

Marco was already heading for the carriage when the door opened, a familiar face smiling at him.

"Hey, Marco. Long time, no see," Tom greeted him.

"Hey! Wow, I was just thinking that we haven't hung out in a while."

"Yeah, things have been real busy. But I managed to score some free time so I decided to come back up here and see what you were up to."

"Ah, well…" Marco gestured. "I was just walking around before bed, it's Friday so… Yeah."

"Cool. Wanna stargaze?"

"Absolutely." Marco climbed into the carriage, which through some magical means was a lot bigger on the inside. Tom gave an order to the skeleton horse, and it began to walk.

Marco gladly sprawled onto the couch, and Tom stood there for a moment before chuckling and sitting on the end. "Comfortable?"

"Very." Marco lifted his head, looking Tom over. His horns had grown wider since he last saw him in person. The marks around his eyes were longer. And he simply looked more mature, his chin sharper and body stockier. And he was definitely taller.

But his eyes were as gentle as always, and he fixed them on Marco. "Is school going well?"

"Well enough. It's almost over and basically all my classes this semester are electives, since I've already passed all the ones I actually needed to graduate. I shouldn't even have any final tests." Marco stretched, yawning. "Can't wait to be done."

"Got any plans for after?"

"I'm still thinking about it but I've thought about attending college for psychology. I kinda want to go into the mental health field."

"That would be really interesting." Tom scooted closer, and Marco sat up so he could sit more comfortably. "The medical field is such a diverse but fascinating one. You've gotta tell me all about your classes."

"I'm sure I will," Marco laughed. "I like talking about that stuff."

They did some catching up during the trip, trading stories, and Tom complained about all the stuff he had to learn, trying to blow off steam. His brain felt absolutely fried trying to remember all the customs and rules for the coronation, keeping track of the many royal demonic families that would be involved, the different species of demon he would be interacting with, and so on. His kind could be surprisingly formal and he was terrible at such things. So it was nice to rant about it to Marco, who gladly agreed with him and suggested that he show up in shorts and a t-shirt to his coronation. That made Tom laugh.

When they reached the outskirts of the city, they got out of the carriage and climbed up a hill, laying back to watch as the Sun finished setting and the stars came out. They weren't sure how long they laid there, just talking and pointing out constellations.

"It's so humbling to look at the stars and realize I'm not as important as my parents say I am," Tom said. "There are billions of worlds out there that get along just fine without me. I'm nearly insignificant. It's comforting in a way."

"Maybe, but you do matter to those who care about you. And I want you to do well in life. You're going to be a great king."

Tom chuckled. "I sure hope so. I hope that once I'm actually sworn in, I'll have more time for myself. I've missed you."

"I missed you too." Marco smiled at him, feeling strangely hopeful. But Tom just sat up, looking around at the stars one last time before standing. "I should probably be getting back, before my parents come after me…"

"Oh, okay." Marco got up too, brushing grass off himself.

"I'll give you a ride back."

However, they were only partway back to the carriage before a portal ripped open next to them and two tall demons stepped through, with sharp and somber faces and elegant bat-like wings.

"Thomas," one greeted him, but their voice was stern.

Tom visibly tensed, groaning. "Mom, it's just Tom. And I'm coming, geeze."

"Don't disrespect your mother," his father said. "You still have things you need to take care of before bed, especially since you just ran off in the middle of it. Which reflected rather poorly on your behavior, by the way."

"I really don't want to take care of that… one particular thing we were doing before I left," Tom commented.

"You need to. You need someone to rule alongside you. Now return at once and pick a suitor."

Tom kicked a rock, growling. "I don't like any of them."

"That's your problem, not ours. Come along." They stepped back through the fiery portal and it sealed behind them.

Tom stood there for a few moments, then let out a frustrated huff and kicked another rock, sending it flying. He was shaking as he led Marco back to the carriage. "Okay, I'm gonna take you straight home and then I have to go."

Marco could tell that Tom was growing angry, and he reached out to rub his back. He pressed in right at the arch, and Tom relaxed, shoulders slumping and a sigh leaving him.

"You wanna talk about anything?" Marco asked, stepping into the carriage with him.

Tom gave an order to the horse, and then sighed, glancing at Marco. "I don't think there's much more to say than I already have."

"You didn't mention anything about suitors."

"Well, no… That's because it's kinda an embarrassing topic. Basically my parents picked out all these demonesses for me to marry, so I can have a queen alongside me. Well… I don't care about any of them. I don't know them, I have no bond with any of them. And odds are they'll only want me for my power. I don't want a partner like that. If I'm going to rule the Underworld with someone, I want it to be with someone I love. Not someone I learned to like, like my parents did."

Marco rubbed his back, and Tom leaned against him with a sigh. "I understand. Star's dealing with something similar. It's really hard for her to convince her parents to let her marry a human. River is all for it but Moon is hesitant. It was hard enough for River to get popular, being from a family that wasn't at all royal. Star's fiancée isn't even Mewman so that's gonna be really difficult."

"Star wants to marry a human?"

"Oh man, you didn't know? Yeah she and Janna really hit it off right before she went home, it got pretty serious."

Tom laughed. "Wow. Well, I wish her luck."

"Yeah, and good luck to you too. Is there anyone you like enough to want to marry?"

"At the moment?" Tom thought it over, gazing at Marco. Then he said, "No, not really. But I'm sure I'll find someone. I can't force it."

"Yeah, understandable. Good luck, man."

"Thanks." Tom stood with him for a few moments, then pulled away. He seemed reluctant about it.

They were soon at Marco's house, and Tom waved goodbye to him as he got out.

"Call me!" Marco shouted as he walked toward the door.

"I'll try!" Tom yelled back. Then he was leaning forward and calling to his steed, and the carriage was consumed with flame, sinking into the ground.

Marco watched him go, then turned and went inside. He really hoped things would work out for his old friend.