The Party

A few golden tendrils had managed to escape the messy bun on the top of my head. I blew the stray strands from my face. As I did, I accidentally blew out one of the eighteen blue candles that had been arranged on top of the frosted, white marvel of a cake on the table in front of me. Made up of three levels of chocolate sponge cake, it was coated in white frosting with blue spirals adorning the sides. My sister, Cake had spent the whole day making it for me.

Across the table, with camera in hand, she took a moment to narrow her eyes at me before rushing to get a box of matches from the kitchen. I heard her rummaging around in our drawers and cabinets for a moment before using her magic stretchy powers to hurry back, matches in hand. "Cake! Can I have a slice already?! It looks so good!" I grumbled as she struggled to get that one extinguished candle, lit. I saw her tail puff out a little.

"Stop blowing out the candles then!" She huffed. "I want a picture of you this time. I couldn't get one last year, remember?"

I heard a muffled chuckle from beside me. I turned to see Prince Gumball pressing his pink hand to his lips in hopes of smothering his laughter. The others around him didn't bother to hide their amusement, Cinnamon bun already bent over with tear streaks down her cinnamon frosting. I felt blood rush to my cheeks at the memory.

Cake had thought that it was a good idea to send me out of the house for the

whole day to keep me away from the surprise birthday dinner she had been planning. While I had been wondering around in the forest, I bumped into a cranky ogre that I had to defeat, by hand, because I didn't have my favourite green backpack which always held my sword. (I didn't have it because Cake had been in such a hurry to get rid of me that I didn't have a chance to grab it on the way out).

It took me half a day before I could actually knock that butt out. When I got to the dinner, which Cake had decided would be unneccessarily lavish and held at the Candy Kingdom castle, I was so hungry I could have eaten PG if he had been the first edible thing to come into my line of sight. Thankfully it had been the cake, though it hadn't been that much better. I had plunged both my hands into the top layer the moment I laid eyes on it and started stuffing my face, inhaling mouthful after mouthful in front of all the princes of Aaa and their dates. Lumpy Space Prince had the pictures to remind me of that day for years to come.

Gumball's laughter snapped me out of the memory. "I crack up at the pictures to this day!" He said, high-fiving LSP next to him before clutching his sides that no doubt ached from all the laughter pouring out of him. Cake hushed them both with a wave of a paw.

"Now everyone move in, before Fionna blows out another candle." Gumball scooted closer to me, placing an arm around my shoulders. I straightened the dark blue, baby-doll dress I had gotten especially for my birthday dinner and beamed brightly between him and Lollipop guy. We took a few pictures before Cake finally announced that it was time for me to make my birthday wish.

Afterwards, Cake cut us each a large slice of chocolate goodness and we continued the rest of our dinner in silence as we were all absorbed by the deliciousness of Cake's amazing cooking.

When we had all settled into the living room for present opening, Gumball came over to my side to make sure I got his present first. I excitedly tore into the wrapping and my hands closed around something hard and cold.

I pulled out a knife half the length of my forearm. The sheath was decorated with a gold pattern, dotted by little sapphire gems. The pattern stretched all the way up to the hilt of the knife itself. I gasped. "It's beautiful, Gumball! Thank you." I half-yelled, throwing my arms around his neck in a bone-crushing hug. I let him go when he began to turn purple.

"Ooh! I'm next!" Cake exclaimed, thrusting a huge box into my hands. It was easy to open, revealing a cloak of why-wolf fur and a matching blanket, no doubt to add to the collection on my bed. Gumball's eyes widened at the sight of Cake's present, struggling to keep a hold of his dinner.

I shot to my feet, pulling the cloak on. "Oh my Glob Cake! This is amazing!" The fur felt amazing on my back, like a show of strength and a warning to others who dared to face my blade. "Where did you get this?"

She shrugged, throwing a wink in for added casualness, although I knew she must have gone through some trouble to get these. "Let's just say the house people won't have to worry about anything but Donna for a while."

"Those were actual why-wolves?!" Gumball's eyes were the size of saucers, his face looking a little green.

"That's what she said Gumball! Geez, are you lumpin' slow or somethin'?!" LSP yelled from the kitcken, his head visible around the corner of the doorway.

Cake's hands flew to her waist, her fists resting on her hips. "LSP what are you doing in there?"

Chocoberry gasped beside me. "He's stealing cans of beans!"

I crossed my arms. "LSP get your lumpy butt over here! Leave our beans alone!"

He grumbled as he floated around the corner, tucking one of my favourite cans' of beans into one of his side lumps. I pretended like I didn't see that, keen on getting back to birthday stuff instead of getting into lumpy drama.

Once LSP settled down next to Ms. Cupcake, she pressed a kiss to his cheek in approval, obviously embarassed at his behaviour. At that, Cake and I relaxed. Ms. Cupcake handed me a badly wrapped gift with a smile. "For you Fionna, from me and LSP." I returned it with a grin of my own, eyeing the purple package with interest.

"Thanks LSP, Ms. Cupcake."

"No problem, it's just like the best lumpin' gift or whatever." LSP mumbled from beside her.

I just shook my head at that, unwrapping their gift. It turned out to be a purple mug with little messages scrawled all over it. It was one of the best gifts I had ever gotten, even if the writing was a little messy.

As I reached for another present in my pile of gifts, a gust of wind blew across the room. I turned to see the front door wide open. The person in the doorway wore black boots that stretched over their matching black, leather pants. The orange shirt he wore was partially hidden underneath his also black, leather jacket. My bright blue eyes locked with his pair of orange ones. They were clearly seen underneath the fiery locks of hair that burned brightly on top of his head.

"Flame prince? What the Glob are you doing here?"

LSP spit out all his soda. "Ooh! Drama bomb!" Ms. Cupcake slapped his arm for that comment.