A/N: Hello, everyone! I finally came back with my fifth installment! It took a while to write this one, it is quite longer than the rest so...fun! Anyways, I want to thank anyone who is reading and anyone who is just joining us! I hope you enjoy the ride!

roxasduelwielder: Thank you for thinking so!

ADdude: Glad you like it so far! And thank you for the advice!

Angryboy13: Indeed he does. Nice pun, by the way.

Now, onto the story!

Marco idly surpressed an irritated groan as he groggily blinked away his ongoing exhaustion, rubbing his tired eyes with his little fists and pushing himself into a sitting position by the elbows, though it was rather hunched. He peered at his wooden door, across from his bed and angled his head to the side, having had thought to have heard a cautious knock on its outer surface. He held his sluggish gaze on it, paranoid, when the soft knock repeated itself, bouncing off his walls and shattering the peaceful silence like ice.

He jumped off his bed, wrapping an arm around his stuffed bunny and holding it tightly to his body as he propped the door open, it creaked as it did. Slight confusion bubbled through his features, disturbing and cutting into his previous tired expression. "Star? What're you doing?"

Star dipped her gaze whilst squeezing her pony to her chest, her eyes were watery. Marco's face instantly softened as he offered her a hand, guiding her inside and sitting her on his bed. They were silent for a moment, Star refused to meet his gaze, afraid of seeing annoyance flowing through his eyes.

"Did you have the Lars nightmare again?" He murmured, approaching the subject gingerly. Star spared him a numb nod, remaining quiet as a mouse. He bit into his lower lip, concern swimming through his features and squeezing at his heart.

Gently, he placed his bunny near Star and grinned at her, "Esteban will protect you from those dreams. Don't worry." He reassured, watching as Star grasped the bunny and embraced it alongside a ghost of a smile. Marco internally considered this a small victory and allowed his lips to curve upwards, he sat beside her and sighed.

Star's forehead creased in thought, she chewed on her pony's hoove without realizing the action. "Who...who's gonna protect me in real life, though? I...I thought I could do it myself but...I can't." Her shoulders sagged as she lowered her head into her hands, her golden bangs falling over them.

Marco frowned, he studied her upset stance and thought for a moment. "You're really strong, Star. But, Lars was just too big; don't beat yourself up for not being able to fight back." He softly patted her back as she glanced at him, her blue eyes sad.

He inhaled and rose his gaze up toward the popcorn ceeling before muttering, "Maybe...maybe we can convince mom and dad to sign us up for karate if you really want to learn how to defend yourself..." Star gasped and smiled, her gaze dripping in enthusiasm as she gripped Marco's hand into her own.

"Really? Marco, that'll be awesome! Those bullies won't mess with us anymore!" She took note of keeping her voice lowered, aware of the current time but remained excited. Marco grinned, her enthusiasm pouring into him then.

"Also, karate's pretty cool! I've seen a lot of Mackie Hand movies and they're epic! We're gonna be able to fight like that one day. Just imagine!" Star inexplicably made a face as if having eaten a lemon at the mention of Mackie Hand, not being a fan of him herself but eagerly nodded at Marco's ramble.

The two shared an excited look and grinned at one another.

Several Mornings Later.

Star and Marco stood accompanied with excellent posture as so did other children, a young man showered in a black karate-type uniform along a blood-red headband paced back and forth. Both his dark eyes were narrowed into considering slits, his expression rather unreadable.

"Karate," he spoke in a rough and booming voice, "is an art form to be respected! It's a beautiful passion to obtain and only those of great will may master it!" He did a series of complicated flips and finalized his showcase with a deep bow.

He folded his muscled arms over his barrel chest and exhaled, "Those of you that have entered my dojo today are of great will. You all are destined to become karate masters!" He shook one of his fists and closed his eyes, he peered at them all after a moment and somberly began to speak.

"To see where your inner warrior is at; I will see how you deal in a fight with your fellow pupils." Whilst some exchanged giddy looks, others knitted their brows in growing nervousness. He strode toward the middle of the dojo and took a clipboard into his hands, his eyes scanned the contents on it and he gave a nod.

Rising his gaze, he peered at them all and began to call out names. Their Sensei watched approvingly at some, checking out specific writing on his board.

Star grew anxious as Marco was called to fight, to which he completed rather well. She proudly high-fived him and spared him words of encouragement when her name boomed through the dojo, echoing.

"Star Diaz! Charlie Dollem! You're up!"

Star gulped, her prideful mood towards Marco melted and decayed as it replaced itself with fright. She saw Marco smile warmly at her and gesture her to go on, she gave an incline of her head and stepped forward. A taller boy of red hair and green eyes stood opposite her, the two faced each other.

She heard Sensei say, "On my count, you two are to begin. Ready? One, two...three! BEGIN!" Star remained glued to where she stood, Charlie charged at her and pinned her to the ground; her head bumped against the mats sprawled on the cold floor.

Her eyes trembled anxiously as she struggled under his hold, finally finding a way to slyther out of his grip. She shakily got to her feet. Charlie stood too and came at her, one big hand raised up into the air. Star felt panic rising and climbing up her throat, it burned like fire. She could hear her heartbeat thumping in her ears, her blood rushing as if it were a river.

The voices of all the kids were muffled to her, Marco's worried eyes were lost to her as she reached a hand out and grasped Charlie's arm; tightly. She thought she heard something crack sickeningly and finally let go after mere seconds. She had her eyes closed, the voices all around her became loud and clear. What she heard, however, made her eyes snap open.

They were...

...scared...

Star turned to observe all the kids surrounding Sensei's kneeling position. Star's brows bumped together as she stole a peek at who Sensei was attending to; her heart skipped a beat as she recognized Charlie's uncounsious form on the ground. His arm lay at an awkward and painful position, slight blood poured out of crescent-shaped holes on his forearm.

Star glanced down at her nails and tucked her arms away, stunned. "I...I..."

"You broke his arm!" One of the boys yelled, his expression frightened.

"Didn't you hear him scream? It sounded like he was dying!" Some of the kids agreed to this as Star began to take a step back. She looked at her hands and felt a tremble roar throughout her body; why was she so dangerously strong?

Someone tapped her shoulder, she whipped her head to stare into Marco's chocolate shaded orbs, "Hey, it's okay." He consoled, though he looked shaken like the others.

"I..." Star glanced at Sensei conversing on the phone, to Charlie's limp form and to everyone's respectively unnerved expressions. Star pushed away from Marco and sprinted toward the dressing room, murmuring how she didn't wish to take karate anymore.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Next chapter coming soon!