Fionna stepped out onto one of the balconies of Candy Castle. Prince Gumball meant well when he threw her twenty-first birthday party for her, but then he started up that whole 'You need to get married and settle down eventually your lifespan is short' thing and Fionna just needed to get away. It wasn't like she hadn't thought about it...she wasn't a kid anymore after all. She'd grown, matured, actually looked like a woman (though still chubby-cute), but most of all she had lost direction. Adventure wasn't as fun as it used to be and missions were turning into just jobs. All the big tough challenges were conquered, and Aaa was as safe as a padded room. She'd done her job, maybe too well, and there wasn't much left. Heck, the most exciting thing that happened in the last five years was when Gumball accidentally spilled some chemical concoction that created a giant cotton candy troll, and it melted in the sun before the fight even got exciting. She hadn't had a good fight in forever.
Fionna sighed. She wanted more...something was missing, something more than a good fight...
"Finally get bored of Gumwads dumb party?"
She jumped and looked up to find Marshall Lee, the Vampire King, hovering just beyond the banister.
"Marshall? Why are you here?"
"I can't come wish you happy birthday?"
"Let me guess. You're either party crashing, giving me a prank gift, or you came to eat all the color from the food like last year." She smirked at him knowingly.
Marshall laughed and floated around her, digging a box from his pocket. "Nah, I brought you a gift."
"A real gift? Not a jumping gummy spider or transformation powder? You know last time you did that I had real bunny ears and a tail for two months and everyone kept calling me Beonna. It was NOT a flattering nickname."
"Would you just open it?"
"Promise I won't immediately grab my sword and try to cut you in half?"
"Would I be hovering this close if I expected that?"
"I never know with you." Fionna took the box and examined it. The exterior felt like velvet and it made a small click when she opened it. Inside was a palm-sized pewter pendant in the shape of a sun dangling from a thick silver chain, and at its center was a vibrant ruby that seemed to glow in the dim light.
"M-Marshall I can't accept this-"
"Yes you can, and you have to promise me you'll never take it off."
"Huh? Why?"
"It's the nicest gift I've ever given you isn't it? The least you could do is wear it a lot. So promise me you'll never take it off."
"...Ok, I promise."
"Good. Here."
Marshall took the pendant from the box and fastened it around her neck. "Gumwads coming by the way" he said to her as he went past her again, dropping down and out of sight from the balcony.
Fionna tucked the necklace under her shirt just as Prince Gumball appeared in the doorway. "There you are Fionna! Everyone's been wondering where you went, come on!"
He looped an arm around hers and guided her back inside as she wondered why Marshall Lee seemed so...off...