Floating above the red coach situated in his living room, Marshall Lee the Vampire King strummed a series of chords on his bass guitar. He flicked his hair out of his eyes and smirked. "So she didn't show," he muttered, thoughts going to that insufferable human girl, Fionna…

She was pretty, for a mere mortal, with more to her than the noodle shaped arms and legs that many of the inhabitants of Aaa were known to have. Small, curvaceous, brave for sure…

Marshall shook his head. No, thinking of her won't help anyone. Strumming a deeper, minor chord he leaned back to lose himself in music when three sharp raps sounded from the door.

"Who in the name of Glob could that be?" he strode to the door, thinking it would be Fionna coming to hang out. Finally he thought.

"Well, hello there, Fi- Oh" Instead of the blond, bunny hooded human, it was Prince Gumball, the royal pain himself. Marshall slumped against the door frame, a motion full of angst. "What do you want ball breath?" Gumball straightened his shoulders. He liked this just as much as Marshall, but it had to be done.

"I'm inviting you to my Annual Gumball Ball." He stuck out a pink envelope with the royal seal at him. Marshall took it, eyebrows rising slightly.

"I know you're into pink and all, but isn't this a little far?" This was the flamboyant script that swirled ridiculously, it was impossible to read.

Gumball glared at him, clenching his fists. "Yes, Marshall, it was necessary. It's not mandatory that you should come. I was only doing my royal duty to invite everyone. Even you." Gumball looked like he was about to depart on Lord Monochomacorn, when Marshall spoke up.

"Everyone?" Gumball turned back to him. Marshall hadn't changed his position, but there was something different about the way he slumped. Maybe it was that glint in his eyes, or that his left hand tapped anxiously on his thigh.

"Yes," Gumball nodded, "I'm asking Fionna this afternoon actually. Everyone in the Candy Kingdom and surrounding territories... Except for the Ice Queen of course." Both young men shuddered instinctively.

"Make sure you dress like a royal. Good day Marshall." He bowed and waited for a polite response, but the Prince was not to receive one this day. With a quick unslump and a finger flick in Gumball's direction, Marshall strode back into his living room.

Gumball growled under his breath. "Ingrate,"

Marshall blew the hair out of his eyes. "Fruit,"

Once making sure Gumball was well away, Marshall pumped his fist in the air. "Woo! Fionna will be there and we'll ditch Prince Prune and go ride some wolves and junk." He grinned, sharp incisors glinting. The thought of Fionna suddenly took his breath and he fell to the floor. Should he? Would he dare? He closed his eyes against the pressing questions.

He had known Fionna for a while now. She was funny, and even though she thought he was a cocky jerk (which he was), he couldn't help feel a strange flutter in his abdomen. One that he hadn't felt since he first saw Ashley. But Fionna…Fionna was different. She was loyal, pretty, and brave, she knew how to have a good time as well. Maybe it was time to face the music and admit his…sincere admiration for the girl.

Marshall floated back up to a standing position. He would do it. He would finally tell this stupid mortal, who had so cleverly stolen into his cold, silent chest and poked and prodded his heart to life, that he felt feelings for her.

"I'll need a gift…" casting his eyes around the room, he came up with nothing. "Rrgh, I'll have to go the market in the Night-o-Sphere." Grabbing his bass, Marshall marked the runes and spoke the incantation to create a portal to the dark world of his birth.

The stench of brimstone and flesh invaded his nasal orifices as Marshall floated into the portal and into the Night-o-Sphere. Several of its inhabitants watched him warily while making quick bows. Everyone knew who he was and knew who his mother was as well.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty…"

"It's so lovely to see you again, sire…"

"Might I interest you in some lovely curses, my Lord?"

These and other entreaties hissed from the watching fiends, but Marshall ignored them and floated lazily until he reached his destination.

"Why, my Lord, how wonderful to see you," The mud serpent coiled around in his large ceramic pot to face Marshall.

He was a shady character, similar to the Demon Cat, his night job was at the center of the Labyrinth, guarding the Orb of Wishes. But, because of the stupidity of the individuals who complete the maze, their wishes often result in their deaths. Something that Aquandrius took great joy in.

Marshall nodded and stepped closer. "Good to see you as well. How's business in the Land of the Living?"

At this Aquandrius growled softly. "There was an adventurer who completed the maze with his magic stretchy dog and some of those moronic hot dog knights." Marshall nodded sympathetically as Aquandrius continued. "They were able to complete the maze without any major casualties and had wasted all their wishes," Marshall made as if to interrupt, but the serpent wasn't done. "Except for the boy; he wished for this, this weird, battle elephant and he commanded it to make a wish according to his desires. And they all escaped happily."

Marshall grunted. Adventurers, heroes in particular, were a nuisance at best. "Well, I am sorry about that unfortunate incident, but I was wondering if I could see your swords. It's a gift for a friend…"

He took a deep breath of fresh air as he exited the Night-o-Sphere. Holding the gift close, Marshall floated down the hall to his bedroom.

The unlit room didn't bother him. He reveled in the darkness, soaking it up. His subjects dwelt in darkness, so he felt equally comfortable.

He placed the package on the bed and went to his closet. "One must wear something presentable when one confesses one's feelings to another," he hissed softly. Pulling the doors open and flicking the light on, Marshall startled several booga bugs out of hiding and sneered as they scurried under him, screaming in terror.

"Hmm, let's see…" his thin fingers picked over his selection of clothes, which was to say meager. "Red plaid, red plaid, red plaid. Oh look! Red plaid." He growled in anger, flinging the shirt to the floor. Marshall glared at his clothes, willing them to change their hues. Finally, a puff of air blew past his lips as he yanked a red plaid shirt of the hanger and threw it on the bed.

Marshall floated down to the floor, pulling off his shirt as he did. He stretched his arms back, feeling the muscles in his chest and stomach flex tightly. He wasn't insanely buff, but he was the kind of muscular that made girls sigh from their toes. He flicked his hair out of his eyes and selected a pair of pants from the shelf in the closet as well. Kicking off his shoes and pants, Marshall shimmied a little to the left and right, humming a simple low tune.

"Like, oh my glob, Marshall. You would not believe what lumping happened." Lumpy Space Prince took a break to take a swig of his diet Koce, a delightfully fizzy drink, and continued in a nasally tone his recount of the drama that was occurring in Lumpy Space. Consequently, Marshall was not the avid audience LSP was hoping for. Instead, he devoted his dark gaze at the curtains hanging over the door, chest lurching every time they parted.

But each time he was met with crushing despair. Soon, he gave up hope that she was coming and floated away abruptly to get something to sup on. LSP yelled angrily and tried to follow but to no avail.

"That ballsy prat probably arranged… why would she come….Glob this was a waste of time…"These and other bitter words slipped out of the Vampire King's mouth as he sucked the color from his tomato juice moodily, floating idly on his back. He set the glass down and glided down to the door when LSP called his name again. Preparing himself for another long tedious discussion on what Hal wore to the prom committee, he glanced hopelessly to the door when his breath caught.

Was it? Oh yes. It was. Fionna. Finally after all this pointless waiting. He inhaled the image of her standing there, behind the curtain, a hesitant hand reaching out to part it further; a glorious white dress flowed down her torso into an enormous skirt that fluttered angelic like on the floor. A pink ribbon hugged her waist tightly then flowed out into two strands the shade of a sunset over the Desert of Doom. Her eyes sparkled with a sort of forbidden, nervous joy. She still wore that ridiculous bunny hat, but at the moment, he didn't really care. Her ever present shank of golden hair wafted down to cover her eye, the very shank that, with her other hand, she nervously brushed it from her face.

She's…beautiful… Marshall for once was at a loss for words. He felt his mouth hanging open in surprise and wonderment, but as she noticed his intent gaze, she raised a hand to wave.

This is not the place for wooing he chastised himself silently as he gave her the rock-on sign, an instinctual action. She grinned quickly, a dimple peeking out on her cheek. He went to approach, but her gaze was caught by another.

Gumball.

His insides lurched painfully as he watched Gumball glance in her direction and smile, a smile that was reflected by Fionna as she blushed and ducked back outside.

He watched as Gumball went outside, walking quickly. Staring at his back, Marshall noticed…something… A shred of blue fabric? Strange…

He shrugged it off. His night was over. For now.

There would be other days for seeing his human friend. But for now….. He had music to write