"If i can't find happiness then no one will!"
Marilyn paused, gesturing first to the Jokkuma before giving Martin an exasperated glare. "She broke up with her boyfriend Martin," she exclaimed. "Let me talk with the girl. It's not like I haven't done this before." Martin fidgeted in place, running a hand through his thick, straw colored hair. When their daughters were growing up, he had tried his best to keep them happy and safe, but, when it came to relationships he was completely out of his element. Marilyn had always been the one to comfort the girls after a break up. She would talk to them, sometimes for hours, lifting their spirits and helping them move forward. "Okay," he sighed. "But if she tries to kill you I'm coming in there."
Marilyn scoffed, waving off her husband as she approached this monstrous teenage girl. "Hey," she said softly, raising her hands to show she wasn't a threat. "I'm not here to hurt you I just want to talk." The Jokkuma looked enraged, it's monstrous features snarling at the approaching Solar Guardian. "Talk," it bellowed. "You can't be serious!? Look at you, you're what fifteen? Sixteen? What could you possibly know about love?"
Marilyn glanced at her youthful form, shrugging. The Jokkuma maybe a creature of negative emotion but it wasn't stupid. "Well right now I do," she said. "But, I'll tell you a secret. Can I tell you a secret?" This seemed to catch the Jokkuma's attention, a Solar Guardian revealing secrets was too good to pass up. Nodding the creature now quieted, Marilyn now stepping closer. "See that skinny guy over there," she said gesturing to Martin. "What if I told you we'd been married for over 53 years."
"You're lying!"
"I'm a Solar Guardian I don't lie," Marilyn scoffed. "Or at least I can't when I look like this. It's kind of confusing but it's true. I've been married to the Solar Sentinel since 1970." The Jokkuma raised a shadowy eyebrow as Marilyn now stood before it, telling her not only her history with Martin but of becoming a Solar Guardian as well.
Quickly the other Guardians now rushed to Solar Mars aid. Part of being a Solar Guardian was sensing when another Guardian was in trouble. That was the case here as Solar Sun, Mercury, Venus, and even Pluto now rushed to her aid. "When did we get another one," Pluto asked. "Its a long story," Sun sighed. Miranda was still trying to wrap her mind around Stephanie's grandparents becoming the latest Solar Guardians. After Stephanie's aunts arrived, she had gone out with her friends to clear her mind. Everything seemed okay, until a sense of anxiety began to rise in her. Something was wrong with one of the Guardians. Assembling the others proved to be a chore as Jenna, Missy, and Lilith were not only in different places but in Lilith ls case, a different timeline.
It was an agonizing 10 minutes before the group was on its way. As they entered the park, they paused in confusion. "Who's the skinny guy dressed like a squire," Jenna asked. "The Solar Sentinel," Miranda stated. "He's kinda cute in a geeky way," Missy commented.
"He's married," Miranda replied, quickly explaining the Sentinel and Solar Mars to the confused Guardians. "Wait so their like old people," Lilith exclaimed. Missy furrowed her brow, her eyesight now trained on the Guardians familiar Pokoyo. "When did we start recruiting from retirement homes!?"
"Also what is she doing," Jenna asked, curiously watching Mars as she sat side by side with the Jokkuma. "Talking I think," Lilith shrugged, the teen confused by the scene. "Wait aren't we supposed to like destroy those things?"
"Thats what I did the first time I fought one of those ugly fuckers," Missy shrugged. Wanting answers, she now approached the teenage boy who was spectating, needing to know who he was and what was going on. "Hey you," she called. "Who are you?"
"Solar Sentinel," Martine replied. "But you can call me Martin. Who are you?" Missy now turned, pointing out the other Guardians. "Thats Mercury, Sun, Pluto, and you can call me Venus," she said, a coy smile on her face. Martin was cute in a geeky kind of way. "So do you go to West? Maybe we have a few classes together."
"Hey I can see you flirting with my husband you know," Marilyn yelled, the red haired teen glowering at the pretty teenage girl. "I don't see a ring on his finger," Missy called back. Marilyn seemed to turn red with anger, about to charge at Missy before the Jokkuma of all people talked her down. Whatever Marilyn was saying to the creature appeared to be working.
"Venus give it a rest," Miranda sighed, her eyes now resting on an obviously flummoxed Martin. "Sorry about her, she's kind of a flirt." Martin thanked her, offering the teenage girl a nervous smile before turning back to watch his wife. "So what's happening," Miranda asked. "They're just talking," Martin replied. "Is it working," Miranda asked.
Martin nodded, explaining everything he had seen since Marilyn decided to talk to the Jokkuma. Over the course of the last 10 minutes, he had watched the shadowy creature gradually grow smaller, the inky darkness of the creature gradually begin to fade away, making it appear more translucent. "I think it's working," he replied. "And I think it's almost over."
The Guardians now watched as the Jokkuma and Marilyn seemed to smile, the creature surprisingly reaching over to hug the red-haired teen. As Marilyn gave the girl a hug, the other Guardians watched as the shadowy creature seemed to fade to nothingness, leaving only a teenage girl around their age. This girl now offered Marilyn a warm goodbye before leaving, as Marilyn now approached the other Guardians.
"Wait is it over," Pluto asked, glancing at the pink familiar. "Pokoyo did she just talk that thing down?"
"She most certainly has Guardian Pluto kyu," he said. "In all my time as protector of the Solar Guardians I can honestly say I have never witnessed a guardian talk down a Jokkuma."
Marilyn smiled, approaching her husband before standing on tip tie and giving him a small kiss. "So is everything okay now dear," he asked. "She'll be fine," Marilyn smiled. "Her and her ex boyfriend are a bit mismatched is all. She's going to talk with him but, if it doesn't work out she knows she can move forward and find someone who will love her for her, not what clothes she wears."
"Wow I didn't think you could pull it off," Missy said in shock. "Nice job. "
"Thanks," Marilyn smiled. "Just one thing. Martin is mine and if I catch you flirting with him again I'm throwing a fireball at you. Got it?"
Missy was dumbstruck, staring at the stern teenage girl. As she now stammered a response, Jenna, Miranda, and Lilith looked at one another. Things were certainly not going to be boring with Mars and the Solar Sentinel around.