"I brought the macaroons!" Gumball entered the room, a tray of crimson red macaroons piled high on the crisp white plate. His pink apron was tied firmly around his waist and he seemed to be in a good mood.

Marshall eyed the macaroons from where he floated up ahead, strumming his axe-bass. "Take a pass, but thanks though." He glanced at Gumball, raising an eyebrow at the starched pink apron.

"They're rose flavored," Gumball gushed, excitedly.

LSPrince snickered. "I'm sure they'll be delicious… Gum."

"Gum?" Gumball questioned, looking puzzled.

"Because you're like, totally missing the balls," LSP laughed, tossing a macaroon in his mouth.

"I don't understand. I haven't thrown any balls recently…" Gumball knit his brows.

Marshall patted his shoulder. "Don't think too hard, GB." He snatched one of the macaroons, draining it with a single fang. "Not bad," he tossed the rest at a trash can. Out of nowhere, Muscle Prince dove past, catching the now-white macaroon in his mouth and eating it.

Gumball set the tray down. "I see… Well, thank you, Marshall," he straightened up.

"I brought tea for everyone!" Peppermint Maid showed up with a tray of tea. "It's my most delicious spearmint tea, assembled carefully by me from my own garden herbs. Please enjoy."

"Spearmint tea? Peps, you know I prefer the Earl Candy Corn tea," Gumball looked over at her.

"Of course, Prince Gumball. For you, I've brought a cup of Earl Candy Corn," Peppermint Maid handed the cup to him. Gumball was keenly aware of snickering from LSP and Turtle Prince but he chose to ignore it.

"Oh. Well… thank you." He took his seat at the table and sipped at the tea.

"Man this party is kind of on the lame side," Marshall looked around at all the pink streamers and balloons. "Think I'm gonna liven it up a bit." He lowered himself down onto a chair and started jamming. Gumball looked up at Marshall thoughtfully as he played. The other guests got more enthusiastic and the party seemed to liven up rather quickly.

Once the party was over, Gumball sat down in the same chair he'd sat in earlier and tucked his legs up, wrinkling his eyebrows, deep in thought. Peppermint Maid came in, carrying a cup of tea. "For you, my lord," she announced.

"Peps, I have a question," Gumball took the cup, still frowning. "Do you think that I'm not manly enough?"

"Wh-what would make you say that, Prince? Who did you hear this from?" her eyes flashed red a moment.

"No one. I was just wondering your opinion." Gumball studied her.

"Oh. Well… um, Prince, I believe that you are fine just as you are," she said, gracefully.

"Hmm… Very well. Thank you, Peppermint Maid. I appreciate it." Gumball leaned back, his cup of candy corn tea in his hand.

Once he finished his tea, he went back into the kitchen. He picked up his apron, and hesitantly put it on. What am I so hesitant about? He stepped over to the refrigerator, pulling ingredients out. He reached for his spoon and held it in his hand. Suddenly, he was filled with a crushing doubt so he put the spoon and all the ingredients up again.

He untied his apron and gave it a long hard look, before tossing it in the trash. He left the kitchen and headed up to his room.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I've invited you here today," Gumball announced, his arms crossed across his lap.

"Yup. Dying of curiosity," Marshall strummed his bass a moment or two.

"The answer is this. I'm tired of being made fun of because people like Lumpy Space Prince do not think that I'm manly enough to be considered a man," Gumball looked heated. "So I want you to help me."

Marshall gave him a weird look, but he paused his strumming. "What? You want me to help you? Help you do what… exactly?"

"I would like for you to help me become more of a man." Gumball crossed his arms.

Marshall laughed at that. "That's HILARIOUS. You want me to help you become more manly? Why me? What am I, your ideal of manliness?" Marshall laughed. He lost the humor in the situation when Gumball's only reply was to look away. "Alright alright. Geez. Fine. I'll… help."

"Thank you, Marshall Lee. I really appreciate your help," Gumball brightened. "Come, I will bake some cookies in celebration."

"Uh-uh!" Marshall rose off the couch. "Step one, Gumball. No more baking. Baking is a chick thing, so stop doing it."

"What? But baking is science for hungry people!" Gumball looked surprised.

"No more baking," Marshall frowned. "Do you think you would EVER see me baking anything?"

"…" Gumball wrinkled his brows and scrunched his nose. "… N-no… I suppose not."

"Exactly." Marshall settled back against the chair again, his bass in his lap.

"So… what should I do? Play the piano?" Gumball made a face. "That's about all you do…"

"Piano? Keyboard. Men play keyboards."

Gumball sighed. "I feel like there will be more to this than I may have expected."

"I'm not even sure why you're doing it…" Marshall raised an eyebrow. "You're fine like this."

"I'm determined to no longer be a laughingstock! And if that means giving up baking and the piano, then that is what I must do," Gumball nodded.

Gumball headed toward the door, but Marshall planted himself between Gumball and the door. "Nope! Intercepted."

Gumball looked puzzled. "Excuse me."

"Nope." Marshall crossed his arms.

Gumball grew annoyed. "Why are you doing this? Please move."

"Men don't say please OR excuse me." Marshall didn't move.

"Well, what DO they say?" Gumball sighed.

"This is going to take a lot of work," Marshall sighed back, slumping over.

"When someone is stopping you from something you want, what do you do?"

"I take it!" Gumball nodded.

"When someone gets in your way?"

"I tell them to move." Gumball was excited, realizing he was getting the hang of it.

"What do men like to do?"

"Whatever they want!" Gumball frowned. "Except baking."

"Exactly. Except chick stuff. I think you're ready," Marshall was nodding his head.

"Good. I was getting tired of listening to you anyway," Gumball got to his feet. He'd changed into a more gender neutral red, and he was carrying himself a bit differently than usual.

Marshall was a little proud of the work he'd done. "Good commitment to character, GB. Better call the guys in for boys' night."

"Oh I'll call them," Gumball went to leave. Marshall decided to test him. He landed between Gumball and the door. He was surprise when, instead of Gumball saying anything, he punched Marshall in the face, sending him flying back and hitting the wall. "Don't GET in my way."

Marshall rubbed his face, confused, as Gumball continued heading out the door and down the hallway without a second thought. I think this little exercise might have worked a little TOO well. He just tried to knock me out. … Well, this was the intention anyway. It's no big deal. It's what we wanted to happen! Just a little more… strongly than I expected.