Crisis of the Infinite Marcos

Crisis of Infinite Marcos

Marco's last night's party had been a great success. Summer was right around the coner and the celebration at the Diaz's household for the end of the school year would be one of the highlights among the students of Echo Creek Academy during the following months.
Marco had spent a good time with his lovely girlfriend Jackie of tender, young love while also spending a good time with his friends and class mates. Yes, everything had gone according to plan.
Oh, except for one minuscle problem. Star's gone. Probably forever. And she's just admited she's got a crush on him. Yes, the party was a complete success.

Marco was demolished, sitting on his bed trying to collect his thoughts. The events after Star's depature were kind of hazy in his mind. He remembers Jackie was by his side while he was sitting on the couch in the living room, speechless and staring into the void. He must've looked like a fool, but he couldn't remember much about it. Eventually his classmates left his house, and so did Jackie later.
Maybe he walked slowly upstairs, or maybe his father carried him over to his room. That wasn't certan for him either. Right now it was good old Marco sitting in his room. Good, lonely, sad Marco.

While he was trying to mke up his mind and figure out what was going on, he slowly leaned backwards to rest his body on his bed. Not only Star was gone, she also mentioned that Toffee had returned somehow. Her words had being haunting his thoughts since she crossed the portal leading her to who knows where.
He's been used to see exchange students coming and going over the years, but none of them had departed in such a dramatic way. Only after her room had banished into thin air he realised he never had thought about the possbility of Star leaving. Their friendship started with some hardships, and things had been awkward lately, but none of that changed the fact that he already considered Star as part of his family.
But even if he knew these facts, he also knew there was nothing he could do about it. Star was a princess of another dimension, and there's no a single mean devised that could allow him to travel to Mewni. If only there was a way for him to cross dimensions...

Marco turned his head to his desk, when a small shinny object attracted his attention. "The scissors!", he thought to himself, "I still have Hekapoo's scissors!". Suddnely a glimmer of hope drowned all his negatives thoughs, for there was actually a way for him to find Star. He quichly stood up and walked towards his desk. There he found his scissors, a beautiful piece of craftmanship forged with a seemingly otherwordly alloy with his name engraved on them. He stretched his arm to grabd them, when suddenly a spark flashed inside his room.
Without any warning, his room was flooded by a flashing light. He was surprised and had to use both hands to cover his eyes since was partially blinded. He could hear some portal noises opening inside his room, and then some voices that sounded strangely familiar.

-No! Don't do it Marco!
-It's too dangerous! Remember that safety comes first!
-No matter what you do, Marco, don't grab those scissors!

More voices could be heard, as if a crowd were rambling about some nonsense about not grabbing the scissors. When he finally that his eyes could see again, he uncovered his face to see a very, very bizarre scenario: there were Marcos, left and right, each of them in a different outfit, each of them looking stranger than the previous Marco. Some of them weren't even human.
Marco stared at them for a second, then he grabbed the chair that was close to him and sat down. He took a deep breath and and screamed in horror, but quickly one of the Marcos slapped him across his face to shut him up.

- Listen, Marco. We don't have time for you to freak out. - the Marco that slapped him was dressed in a military suit, short hair and a frowned expression.
- Besides, you should be accustomed to this freakish hijinx by now. - said another Marco, in a suit and with a slick hairstyle.
- I be suspicious if we really shouldbe helpin' tis Marco. - said a Marco in a pirate suit.
- Yes! Down with the Marco! - exclaimed a Marco dressed in the fashion of princess Marco.

The Marcos in the room started gathering together to discuss and debate the current situation. Marco tried to grasp the situation, since his room was now crowded technically by himself. Also, for some reason, the room seemed to have expanded its size, since it could shelter the still increasing number of Marcos inside the room.

 - Gentlemen! I think we're missing the point of this ordeal. - said one of the Marcos who stood above the crowd, who was wearing glasses and an argyle sweater - May I need to remind you the situation we're facing. The safety of each reality must be preserved, and this Marco is no different from any of you here. It's all of us, or none of us.
- I be not convinced. Tis Marco don't have a proper gimmick! Argh! - replied pirate Marco.
- Yes! Look at him! With his red hoodie and black pants. I hate him already! - added a Marco that was dressed in a fancy mariachi night suit.
- Meow mewmeow mrreow meow.
- Oh, Mewco! You're completely right. - said a Marco in a mango suit - The greater picture is far more important than any of our doubts.
- B-but that's exactly what I said!! - he frustration could be easily perceived in the voice of marco in a sweater.
- Yes, but you're not as graceful with your speech. Or fluffiness.
- ... whatever.

The words of Mewco had calmed the mood of the room, but things hadn't turn any calmer for Marco. He was concerned about the sudden weird scenario he was facing, but he couldn't stand anymore to stay there sitting and watching the madness unfold before him.

Ahem! - Marco said to bring the other Marcos attention to him - E-excuse me, but w-would any of you explain what is going on here?!

Marco's plead for an answer was heard by military Marco. He did a sign which caused everyone in the room to go quiet. He walked towards Marco, hands behind his back and with a serious expression on his face. He stared Marco closely into his eyes for a second, and then turned around. He began talking.

- You are about to make a choice, Marco. A choice that could compromise the existance of every reality in every universe where a Marco exists. That's why we all gathered here, to prevent you from making a serious mistake. - military Marco turned around back to face Marco, but his expression had grown somber - If you grab those scissors, you're gonna regret it for the rest of your life.

- What? But I want to see Star. She's left too sudden so ... - Marco's reply was halted after the realisation of what military Marco ment - ... y-you don't say that I ... Star...
- It's simple. If you go to look for Star, you'll lose everything. - military Marco's statement was harsh, but his expression had changed to concern. - I've seen other Marcos like you. Reckless at heart, willing to go as far as needed and sacrifice as much as they could to help their friends... to help Star.
- No, y-you can't be serious. - Marco's  face showed some shades of sadness and  anxiety. He just couldn't believe the words of thos other Marco. Yet, it sounded plausible. Since he met Star, his life had changed completely. They had great times during their adventures, but they also faced dangerous foes and situations that almost got their heads. But he just couldn't leave Star behind and lead with his life as if the past months they had spent together had been nothing but a memory.

- Listen, Marco - said the Marco in a slick suit - we all were like you at some point. But we all matured and accepted that there're things we can't change.
- Besides, you've scored big time already - added mariachi Marco - It's not like you need any other girl besides Jackie.

Marco had remained silent while other Marcos were chatting around him, trying to convince him oto change his mind. But suddenly, he raised and faced the crowd around him.

- You know, so far your story sounds very believable.  I mean, you almost convinced me not to try and look for Star but there's something that's been bothering me for a while now.
- What is it? - asked military Marco
- You all ssay you've been through the same, but how did you know that exactly now I would go and look for Star?
- Uh...
- There're many chanches you could've arrived too late or too early. But you all arrived at the exact time in the very moment I was heading for my scissors.
- Uuuh... ...
- Besides, there're still more and mor Marcos arriving. And my room looks even wider than 5 minutes ago.
- UUUH...
- All these things don't add up. And besides ... - Marco did a gesture with his hand and revealed he already had the scissors in his hands - ... why you were explaining to me why I should go I could easily grab the scissors without any of you noticing. I mean, come on! I'm sorrounded by myself and none of you... or us... could notice any of that.

Military Marco walked towards Marco with form steps. Then, he smiled at him and reached for his to pat him. Then, he turned to the crowd and said: GET HIM!!
An avalanche of Marcos jumped over Marco and buried him, piling over him. Marco could barely or even breathe at all. He was losing councioussness slowly, as the weight of the Marcos was crushing him.

- You better surrender, kid! - Marco could hear military Marco yelling at him - You could easily give up and lead a normal life. You only need to surrender your scissors, and forget about Star.
- N-nev...
- What?! Speak louder, maggot!
- N-never...
- I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!
- NEVER!!!

Marco felt lighter, as if the crowd of Marcos weren't on top of him anymore. He opened his eyes and found out his room wasn't as crowded as before. There were some Marcos standing in front of him, but they looked as if they were banishing into thin air. They were all clapping at him.

- What... what is going on?
- Congratulations - said slick suit Marco.
- Uh... guys?
- Congratulations - said pirate Marco.
- Ok, you're giving me the creeps now.
- Congratulations - said mango suit Marco.
- Is this some kind of joke or...
- Mrreow - said Mewco.

Marco was confused at the strange scenario. Someone patted his back. It was military Marco. He had a glass of lemonade in his hand.

- Here, kid. You deserve this - said military Marco. Marco grabbed the glass, still skeptical about what was going on. Military Marco made a gesture that he had to drink the glass. He did.

Marco woke up the next day in his room. Everything looked normal. Was it a dream? was it an feverish hallucination? He then realised the scissors were in his hands. There was only one thing in his mind right now.