-Chapter 1-

The house belonged to a young man named Marco Diaz, who lived with his parents while attending his senior year of high school, and was shared with foreign exchange student Star Butterfly. She had very different ways of thinking—much including logic—and a very different culture. She had yet to completely grasp the ways and slang of Earth, but that was to be expected from a princess hailing from another dimension.

Having arrived when they were both fourteen, Marco and Star had grown used to, and over time fond of, each other. This was both a blessing and a curse, because as Star approached her eighteenth birthday, she would have to return to her home dimension in preparations for an arranged marriage. That was the day she would be leaving Marco and Earth forever. It was a day Marco had no clue about, a day she never planned to tell him about. Earth had no magic, so he couldn't follow her. She could easily promise to visit him, but would be unable to do so, and therefore had already decided it was best to never make such a promise.

Because, as she'd learned through many movies, TV shows, and books, Earth's tradition and views on marriage were not that of Mewni's or her parents'. On Earth, it seemed, people married those they loved. They were allowed to choose their mates and get married when they were ready, not on a set date with someone they'd never met.

On the other hand, if she didn't do this, her family would have to disown her according to the traditions and culture of Mewni. Her mother was past her prime and could no longer bear children. Mewni would be thrown into a state of extreme chaos once the king and queen died, and a selection period would arise. Wars would be declared, territories invaded, innocent people caught in the crossfire and murdered in masses. And if she was disowned, she wouldn't be a member of the royal family anymore. She would only be able to stand back, watch, and hope she wouldn't be slaughtered.

So in the long run, it would be for the best. The only problem was what to tell Marco when she suddenly had to leave and he asked if she would come back to visit sometime. On top of that he probably had a party planned for her birthday. Mewni didn't really celebrate birthdays but on Earth, the whole birthday thing was a big deal.

In fact, Earth was so different from Mewni that she didn't really want to go back. Mewni wasn't as appealing to her as it once had been. Every time she compared it to Earth, Earth won by a landslide.

Especially since Marco was on Earth. He was born and raised here and clearly didn't take preference to dimensional travel. He wouldn't be too thrilled to consider coming to Mewni with her once she turned eighteen. That said, she had no plans to try to convince him to. Everything he knew and loved was right here on Earth; who was she to take that from him?

Her farewell to him and his family would be written out as a note, simply explaining that her parents told her to come back and that she had to go without having the time to say a proper goodbye—nothing beyond that. But at least it was a goodbye at all; better than leaving without notice and possibly worrying them.

But thankfully she had about four months left here on Earth. The rest could be dealt with later, when it was time.

A/N

There's going to be a little time skip here. The chapters won't be this short, promise. Consider this a prologue. There WILL be an epilogue at the end, and maybe if I'm feeling up to the challenge, a sequel. But for now, just enjoy the story. Um, read, review, all that stuff.

Oh! And Marco is 18, Star is 17 going on 18 (as you can see). I guess I'll just make her birthday in the summer or something, not entirely sure when her real birthday is.