A Secret Wish
Chapter 1

Meeting Prince Bartleby Gumball

Disclaimer: I do not own Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake. I do own the story because I made that all up using my wonderful creative brain. Enjoy :)

I smile as the warm summer breeze tickles my face. I'm lying down in a meadow that I found in the forest behind the palace, with my companion, Cake, who is a cat, she is tan and white. She's sleeping on my stomach and purring as I pet her. A barking dog ruins the silence and Cake meows in annoyance, I laugh. The dog comes wagging it's tail and gets in my face to cover me with wet dog kisses, I'm laughing and trying to push him away at the same time. Cake hissed and batted his snout, he sneezed on her so she meowed annoyed and ran off to get some peace and quiet for a catnap.

"Whoa, there Jake, stop making my sister all slobbery." My brother said picking up Jake, Jake is a golden retriever.

"H-Hi, Finn." I said in between giggles.

"Hello, Fionna." he said sitting down next to me. I sat up on my knees.

"Father has asked for you." he said, one leg lying flat the other propped up with his right arm draping over it.

I sigh, "Another suitor." I said disappointed.

"That and you missed out on morning lessons. Marcus, was not pleased. I had to listen to him rant 'That girl is late to everything or she doesn't come at all! You have to set that girl straight, Adam! That girl out of control and needs to be set on a strict path. She's is not fit to be a princess, she is too wild. Too much like her mother.' he's an old fart and likes to complain besides I'm sure he's just mad you ran off... again." Finn said. As we both broke out in laughter as he mimicked our tutor, waving finger and everything. .

Marcus was an old friend of father's and is mine and Finn's tutor, he's like 60-something. He teaches us history, math, language, and science. We have lessons with him every morning at 8 o'clock, I ditched to come out here. I figured my morning would be better in the sunshine rather than contemplating fractions and I was right.

"He's always complaining to father about me sometimes I swear father almost falls asleep during one of his long speeches of how 'unfit' I am. But I'm glad he said I'm too much like mom, I'll take that as a complement." I said smiling.

"Yes, believe me I know. But it's only one suitor for this week so at least father has minimized it." Finn said.

"Yes but I hate courting, it's boring. All the princes ever do is brag about themselves, they never talk to me, they talk at me. There is a huge difference." I said.

"Well, someone needs to take care of you and handle all your stubbornness that is you." he said smiling teasing me. I giggle.

"I remember Fran, the nanny when I was 6, trying to catch me, I just didn't want to take a bath, I was running around the whole palace in only my undies. That is until father caught me." I said smiling at the memory.

"Oh and the time you ran away from a math lesson because you were overwhelmed by the equation." Finn said laughing.

I frown slightly because that happened just last week. "Yeah well, I can take care of myself. I don't need some husband to order me around." I grumbled.

"I have no doubt in my mind, Fionna. You are stubborn and strong-willed, but father is the King and you must understand that he only wants to make sure you are alright when he leaves this world." he said.

I sigh. I hate it when he's right. He's like my own little voice of reason.

"But why do I even have to get married? You're going to take the throne first anyway, you are the eldest after all." I argued.

Finn is 20 years old, and I am 17, my birthday is coming up soon. A few months to be exact, it's March now, I'll be 18 May 20th, father is already planning my birthday ball.

He laughed a little, "Only by 2 years. And yes believe it or not but father is making me court too. Like I said he just wants to take care of our futures to know we will be taken care of, so that you don't end up an alone bitter old lady." Finn said half-joking.

I sighed, "But that's the thing about the future, you don't know what will happen. I might be the Greatest Queen all of Aaa has ever known, all without a husband. I understand father's concerns but doesn't he know that I'll be fine with finding love on my own?" I asked, looking at him in wonder.

"You and I both know it's not that easy. Our parents were one of the lucky ones." Finn said sighing.

I smile, "I love their story." I said.

He nodded, "So do I." then he sighed.

He got up and held out a hand for me to take, "Come on Fionna, wouldn't want to keep father waiting." he said, I smiled and took his hand.

He whistled for Jake and he came running, I picked up Cake from her spot under a shade tree, I pet her between the ears and she purrs of delight. I giggle at her. We get on Finn's horse, Spirit, who is a buckskin stallion, and ride to the palace. We stop at the stables, I put Cake down and she immediately found a spot on one of the hay bails. A servant tends to Spirit, Finn and I race each other to father's study. I almost made it to the door knob when Finn picked me up and set me down and entered the study.

"Hey, no fair, Finn!" I yelled glaring at him as I came in.

He suppressed a laugh but I know it's dying to come out. "Finn, Fionna come in." Father called in a delighted voice.

We enter presentably, "Hello father." Finn says.

"What did you need me for, Papa?" I ask, he smiles.

"You are courting Prince Bartleby Gumball of the Candy Kingdom in an hour, you need to get ready." he informed me.

I sigh another Prince. "Must I?" I mutter under my breath.

"Certainly you must, we must find you a suitable husband before your 18th birthday and that's only 2 months away, hardly enough time to find someone suitable enough for my little girl." he said smiling, I smile back.

I guess Finn's right, he's just afraid I'll live alone.

I giggle, "Alright Papa, I'll be back in an hour I guess." I say.

"Fionna, we'll be waiting for you in the gardens." he said.

"Which one?" I ask smiling.

We have like 4 different gardens and one of them was my mother's garden.

"The one by the greenhouse, dear." he said.

"Alright, bye papa." I said, curtsied then left.

I walked to my room to fix my hair, I messed it up laying on the grass and my father will not be pleased if I am not dressed for the occasion.

"Meow." Cake says climbing up my balcony.

I run to the double glass doors that lead out to my balcony, that is only 8ft in length. My balcony has white marble flooring with black wrought iron gate around it that has vine designs all around it. I like to come out here at night, I have a perfect view of the stars. And surely I find Cake climbing the ivy that covers most of my balcony and wall. My ladies help me to change into my dress, it's a simple strapless light blue gown with my tiara in place as they put my hair up in an updo using a billion bobby pins to hold it in place. After they dress me and leave, I pick Cake up and she meows again.

"Oh, Cake what am I going to do with you." I say then nuzzle my nose in her soft fur, she purrs.

I pet her in between the ears and I walk to the garden. I walk along the maze of hedges and I come across rose bushes of all different colors, red, yellow, pink, white, purple, blue, etc. I smell them, I pick one and sit on a stone bench, Cake rests on my lap. I twirl the flower in my hand, it is said that yellow roses symbolize joy, they were mother's favorite.

*Flashback*

I'm 8 years old again, mother woke me in the middle of the night to show me something. I'm in her arms, we both in our nightgowns only mother has a dark blue velvet cloak with gold trimming. She took me to her garden.

"Alright, Bunny. Watch the flowers." she said and pointed to flowers that are closed.

I watched as I rubbed my eyes tiredly.

"Mama, I don't see anything." I whined.

"Be patient, Bunny."

She whispered to me as she set me down in her lap as she sat on the stone walkway. The grand clock struck and chimed signaling it's midnight. I watched the flowers narrowing my eyes making sure to watch and be patient. Then they started to open, I gasped, mother laughed. I looked back at her to see if it's okay to look, she nodded. I got up and walked to one, it opened fully at my touch. It's so beautiful, it looks like a tiger lily but it glows a bright golden yellow.

"It's said that these flowers are magical, they hold a power to make any wish you can think of come true. So, Bunny what do you wish for?" my mother said in a soothing voice kneeling down to me.

I wrapped my arms around her, "Mama, I know you're sick. I hear people talk, so I wish to always be with you. Don't ever leave me." I say as I started to cry.

She hugged me tight, "Oh, Bunny. I'll always be with you, as long as I stay in your heart, I'll never leave. Believe me, Bunny, I wish I wasn't sick either. But you can't change the way things are, no matter how much you wish them to be different." she said picking me up and holding me tight.

"How did you get so sick?" I asked.

She sighed, "Well, Bunny. Mommy was born with a weak heart, and now it's getting to be too much for me to do simple things like function properly. And soon enough I'll become paralyzed, meaning I won't be able to move at all. And then eventually my heart will just stop. Daddy can't do anything and doctors can't do anything to help, but that's alright, they did what they could." she explained to me.

"A-Aren't you scared of dying?" I asked.

She sighed, "At first I was. I wouldn't be able to see you and Finn grow up, I won't be there to help you into womanhood, a governess will take my place. I was so heartbroken of the never see's and never do's but then I realized, I'm not scared at all. Because I know I'll meet you all someday again in God's Kingdom." she said.

"Will you be watching over me?" I asked.

"Always." she said then kissed my forehead and set me down but stopped and couldn't get back up, she made a painful 'ah' sound as her knees buckled and she fell.

"Mama!" I yelled.

She's out of breath and slipping into unconsciousness.

"Help! Guards! Somebody! Anybody! Help! Help!" I yelled crying over my now unconscious mother.

There was a rumble of footsteps running. Father looked disheveled from sleep as he ran out with Finn who's 10. Father picked me up to get away from mom so the guards could carry her to her room. That was the last time she could walk.

*End of Flashback*

I hear a throat clear from behind me. I turned and found my father looking impatient with me, and to the left of him the most handsome guy I've ever seen, he just screams Prince Charming. Despite having a pink tint to his skin he is very attractive.

"Fionna, this is Prince Bartleby Gumball." My father introduced.

Prince Bartleby Gumball bowed to me and kissed my hand, I blushed.

"Pleasure to meet you, Princess." he said.

I laughed nervously, "Uh." was all I could say, but he seemed oblivious to what an idiot I'm making myself be. Father frowns displeased with my lack of manners.

"Oh." I said and curtsied.

"Pleasure to meet you as well, Prince Bartleby Gumball." I said.

He laughed lightly, "Please just call me, Gumball." he said smiling brightly.

"Then you can call me Fionna." I said, returning his smile.

"Deal." he said with his purple eyes twinkling with his dazzling smile.

I smiled back, he held out an arm "Shall we?" he asked.

I took his arm, "We shall." I said.

He started walking, I look back at father and he's motioning me to go, I smile at him and he smiles back.