EDIT: Author's Note: I've been struggling with this piece, as I am more inclined to write this story as a series of one-offs rather than a traditional straightforward narrative. I felt unsure as how to proceed, so began to write the first main chapter within a narrative structure and wanted to get this online. However, I don't feel this is the best approach on how I want this story to feel, and trying to follow a narrative is interfering with the flow of my writing. It feels forced, and I've realised this is because this particular story is best told through a series of memories, one-shots and drabbles as opposed to a planned out narrative. So I've rewritten the prologue and first chapter to fit the tenses and the style I want. This means it does not follow a traditional narrative structure that you might prefer, it leaves many things open to interpretation and creates a sense of ambiguity that you may or may not like. For those who enjoyed the style and structure of the first chapter, my apologies for this change in direction. I did not give the story the time to really unfold/work with it like I had wanted to in my excitement of writing and posting. This also means this will much more a series of drabble, one-shots that are loosely linked by a narrative as opposed to carefully structured and developed chapters.

I use British spellings as I currently reside in Australia and grew up in Canada. You will notice that all words that would normally have a z (such as feminized, analyzed etc) are spelt with an s (feminised, analysed etc). This also includes double ls for words such as travelling, ou for words like colour and honour, and re for words like centre and theatre. While Canada uses a mixture of British and American spellings, I have had to retrain my writing to be purely British to suit academic writing requirements for postgraduate study here in Australia.

As reposting chapters unfortunately results in the deletion of chapter-specific reviews, I've included those who have had left reviews on original chapters at the bottom of this note to serve as an acknowledgement and thank you of their support.

Author's Note (Original)

I am an FxML shipper (always have a thing for the bad boys), but I think the complexities of the relationships between Fionna, Flame Prince (FP), Marshall Lee (ML) and Prince Gumball (PGB) require exploration and development. Each 'pairing' is unique and offers different things. As someone who feels like love is both ever-changing, shifting and static, fixed and constant, I think the gender-bent version of adventure time allows for an interesting reflection on these ideas, the different ways to love and be loved romantically.

The gender-bent version is also interesting in the way it plays with what appears to be an essential criteria to the contemporary, female hero narrative. In many cases, Finn is presented as too young or has young relationships (Flame Princess, 13 year old Princess Bubblegum), while Fionna's age is a bit more ambiguous and therefore open to more interpretation. She does appear to be older, more developed and more readily available for romance than her male counterpart. Although sexual innuendos are present within Finn's storylines, I found that they are much more apparent in Fionna's. For Finn, they indirectly involve him, either through story telling by others ("Bad little Boy", the Ice King's suggestions at Prince Mulberry) or through the side-plots of Jake and Lady Rainicorn. Fionna; however, is directly impacted by sexual innuendo, i.e the suggestion of sex in "Fionna and Cake" and the sexual teasing in "Bad Little Boy."

While Finn has crushes and relationships, which provide humour but are not necessarily central to the story; Fionna is presented within a constant flux of suitors and men she *should* love (but in Fionna and Cake) decides that it is not yet time for her to explore those ideas (of course, this is ruined by the admiration for Ice King). This notion I think is quite revolutionary regarding the construct of female heroes, where they often become aligned with men instead of standing on their own. Men serve as the end to a female hero narrative, while women are a means to an end or an addition along the way regarding the male.

My interpretation of the pairings is my own, this does not mean this is the right interpretation or the only way to view these; this is just one of many.

I see the relationship between PGB and Fionna as an idealised, fairy-tale romance. Filled with charm, whimsy and idealised notions of love, I also see this as young, naïve and uncomplicated. But because of its lack of complication, it becomes complicated as Fionna grows to realise that the fairy-tale is not always what she thought it could be. It is material, shallow, lacking depth as it focuses on rules of courtship and ideological promises. It is innocent and quite fragile, uncorrupted. It is a love that is looked on nostalgically.

I view the relationship between ML and Fionna as sensual, passionate and charged with carnal desires, eroticism and sex. While many claim that ML & Fionna are just friends, there is a seductive and sensuous quality to the construct of their bantering and relationship. I see this as complicated, filled with instinctual lust, obsession and fixation. It is deep, but confusing and insecure as ML plays games and Fionna demands honesty. This is a love that never really ends, but remains deep within the soul. This is a love that seeps into the pores and can become toxic, but whether this intoxication is a good or bad thing remains to be seen.

I view the relationship between Fionna and FP as eternal. While PGB is a romantic fantasy and ML the erotic seducer, I see this love as much more tangible in both the physical and mental realms. This is a love that grows, changes, and endures hardships and complexities. This is everlasting, but lacks the deep lust that dominates MLxF and the innocence of FxPGB. This is a love that sometimes must compete with past memories and longings of those that came before it. This love is the most resilient.

Music Inspiration: This story is inspired by a particular set of songs, some of these are found on the 2013 Great Gatsby soundtrack, others are old favourites or new releases. I'm not really big Taylor Swift fan; I only like a couple of songs. However, I struggled to find the right music inspiration for FXPGB as I interpret it but feel that Swift has it down pat.

General Story: MAIN: Hearts a Mess (Goyte); Over the Love (Florence and the Machine);

SUB: Rolling the in the Deep,(Adele); Love save the empty, (Erin McCarley), Love Song, (Sarah Bareilles); Crystal, (Stevie Nicks); Space and Time, (the Pierces);

Pairings

FxFP- Main Song: Hey Now, (London Grammar);

Sub Songs: Into the Past, (Nero); Together, (XX); Young & Beautiful; (Lana Del Ray); Possession, (Sarah Mclaughlin

FxML-Main Song: Is this Real? (Lisa Hall)

Sub Songs: Closer, Into the Void, The Fragile, (NIN); Happy Together, (Filter), Fear, (Sarah McLaughlin); Harder to Breathe, Can't Stop, (Maroon 5), Closer, (Kings of Leon); Madness, (The Muse)

FxPGB: Main Song: Love Story, (Taylor Swift)

Sub Songs: White Horse, Fifteen, You Belong with Me, (Taylor Swift); Stupid, (Sarah Mclaughlin); If You Could Only See, Casual Affair; (Tonic), Everything You Want,( Vertical Horizon)

Reviews (from original chapters that were unfortunately deleted with the new reposts)

.1 6/23/13 . chapter 3

I must say I think you are a amazing writter. The way you took into such a deep complexity the hero/heroine in the first chapter. Plus you use a large assortment of very high quality. But I must say I don't understand why you spell color like colour. And I disagree with which romance would survive. I think MLxF is better because gumball is just always in his own world like a f #Π idiot and she would never be able to touch FP love can survive a lot but there needs to be some ACTION. Plus they would have kids.

TheBunnyAndTheBat 6/23/13 . chapter 3

I like it. I think you really captured their personalities so far.