Chapter One—The Beauty

The day had started like any other for Cake and Fionna, retrieving the Enchiridion, beating up some bad guys, and chilling with Prince Gumball and Lord Monochromicorn. Fionna and Cake headed back to their tree house to play with BMO and eat some of Cake's famous Everything Burritos. Cake was mixing the meat together when she realized she was out of her secret spice which made the Everything Burritos so great.

"Oh, sweet babies! Fi, I need to go out for a bit!" Cake grabbed her bag and ran out of the house before Fionna could inquire about what exactly she was going out for, but she didn't think much of it.

Cake walked through the forest, picking special herbs that would help enhance the flavor in her burritos. A butterfly landed on her nose, causing Cake's tail to frizz out. Her pupils dilated and Cake went on a hunting frenzy for the evasive butterfly. She then jumped head-first into cast-iron gates. The indents were evidence enough that Cake had failed to catch her prey, so she climbed over the gates and ran after it, trying to keep her prey in sight. It flew into an opening between two giant doors, which, as Cake looked up, led into an old castle.

"Oh, Glob, this place is creepy." she drawled. But she needed to catch her prey still, and since the castle seemed to be abandoned, she didn't think much of going inside. Sure enough, there was the butterfly, sitting peacefully on a lamp. Cake caught it easily, and stuffed it into her folds. "You stay there, honey bunch. I'll save you for later." Cake smiled, but then heard some whispering. Being superstitious, she instantly thought it was the voice of a ghost, a prince or princess long dead. Although, she was pretty sure this was not Ghost Prince's castle.

"Hello?" Cake called, her voice echoing off the stone walls. The whispering intensified, and now it seemed there were two voices. "I just need some bug milk, and—" she picked a carton out of her bag. "Look, I found it! So I'll just be on my way…" she started frizzing more, and she turned to go out, but the doors slammed, locking her in. She ran into the door, trying to claw her way out, but it was no use. She turned around and saw two figures walking toward her, but it was too dark to see, even for her cat eyes. Something was wrong here. A lot of things were wrong. "Please! I just wanted a snack! I'm so sorry!" she started begging.

"She needs a place to stay…" one of the figures whispered.

"Of course… Why not forever…?" the other hissed. Cake screamed and tried her hardest to get out, but could not.

"Stop," a voice ordered. The two figures bowed, addressing a third. A tall and slender figure came to the puffed-up Cake, a figure with dark eyes, pale skin, and fangs. "Why are you trespassing on my land?" the figure hissed. "Who gave you permission?!" it yelled at the cowering cat.

"I was just chasin' a butterfly! It mocks me!"

"Well, you'll just have to stay in the dungeon for that, then," the figure smiled and picked Cake up by the scruff of her neck, and even though she swatted and clawed at it, it didn't let her go. She was led downstairs, past cells with bars over the doors, and thrown into a cell that was locked behind her.

"You'll learn your lesson, cat." it hissed.

Night fell, and Cake still wasn't back. Fionna became worried for her beloved friend, and decided to go out looking for her. She got her backpack, her sword, and plenty of cat treats, since Cake would probably be hungry by the time she was found.

"Watch the house, BMO; I don't know how long I'll be." Fionna set out into the night for Cake. She asked Sheldon, who currently lived outside the forest where Cake went. He pointed out that he saw Cake go deep into the forest, chasing a butterfly. Fionna thanked him and went into the dark forest, mumbling while she went, "Glob, Cake, can't you live without butterflies?"

Fionna asked anyone she could if they had seen Cake, but only a few had. Finally, one had said they saw her go into the old castle on top of the hill. Fionna broke out into a run trying to get to her cat before something bad happened. She reached the cast-iron gates the stood a good twenty feet tall, and were covered with rust and vines. The pushed open easily, and she closed them gently. She shivered involuntarily from the castle's looming presence. She knocked on the door, and it opened slowly, creaking while it did. Fionna stuck her head in, and called out, "Hello?" she walked into the foyer, and wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm looking for my cat? Cake?" she heard the echoes and it made her feel claustrophobic. She decided to yell out, "CAKE?! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

From far away, there was a voice. "Fi?" It came from downstairs, and Fionna stumbled down those stairs, trying to find her cat. She called out again and again until she heard Cake's voice. "In here!" Fionna reached a dungeon cell that was locked, but she stuck her face against the bars, trying to look inside. "Cake?" she said, and she saw the white and beige colored fur ball in an instant. Cake grabbed her face through the bars.

"Fi! Fionna, you need to get out of here, you hear me? There's a mon—" but Cake didn't finish what she was saying, because Fionna was struck and flew away from her friend. She drew out her sword, looking for her attacker. The tall figure looked down at her, looming like the castle it lived in.

"You jerk! Show yourself!" Fionna snarled. Her sword glowed, casting shadows on the wall, and she could barely see her enemy's face. It was a guy, only a couple of years older than her. She swung her sword at him, but he reciprocated with a dark sword that clashed into hers. The fight was evenly matched, for he no longer had the element of surprise. "Cake, why can't you shrink and get out of there?!" she yelled while she and her enemy fought.

"It's magically bound! I can't do anything!" Cake called out over the sound of clashing swords.

"Great," Fionna grumbled. She gave out one last battle cry and swung at the man, but at the last second, he floated out of the way, and her sword clashed with the ground. He floated up above her, looking—and more than likely, feeling—superior. "What do you want?" Fionna asked, irritated.

"Your cat trespassed on my land, and she needs to learn her lesson." his voice was deep and, Fionna couldn't help but notice, charming.

"She didn't know better, just let her go."

"And what are you going to do if I don't, little girl?" he teased as he floated in front of her face. Fionna could feel herself blush. She didn't have an answer. "Exactly," he scoffed. "You are inferior, and weak."

"Let her go." Fionna said, anger rising. "I would do anything, just let her go."

The monster smiled, revealing fangs. "Anything?" Fionna's blush spread farther across her face, and she nodded.

"FI, DON'T!" Cake yelled. The monster snapped his fingers and the door to Cake's cell flew open. She clung to Fionna, not believing what her best friend's loyalty had just done. Fionna looked at her dear friend.

"Thanks for the adventures, Cake." Fionna tried to smile.

"The young lady will be staying with me in the castle. But her cat cannot." Two ghostly figures came, pulled Cake off of Fionna and pulled her away, and out of the castle. Fionna heard Cake yelling at them until the voice withered into nothing.

"Welcome to Night Castle, Fionna," the monster teased again. Fionna regarded him with resent. "I'm Marshall Lee, the prince here."

"I've never heard of you before." Fionna muttered.

"I am prince of the Nightosphere. The only thing keeping me from becoming king…" he stroked her cheek. "Is a lack of a princess." Fionna swatted Marshall away, ready to punch him in the face if need be.

"Fiery," he smiled again, brimming with arrogance and confidence. "And such a cute hat." Fionna pulled the bunny ears down, and looked away. "Well, let's show you your room, I guess." Fionna thought she would be staying in the dungeons, but she wasn't about to object. She was led upstairs, to the second floor, and eventually to a grand room with an ornate stained glass window. The prince snapped his fingers once again and the candles and torches inside the room ignited, providing a flickering light.

Not wanting to cross Marshall, Fionna thanked him, and he nodded. He closed the door and floated down the hall a little bit when his two favorite servants appeared to him.

"Sir, now is your chance! You can break the curse!" the first said, beaming.

"No, I can't. She hates me, because I imprisoned her."

"Two prisoners can easily fall in love, yes?" the other smiled, insinuating what Marshall had been thinking since he first laid eyes on her. That's what he was, a prisoner.

"I doubt it, I took away her best friend and made her stay in this place. Besides…" Marshall looked out a stained glass window. "Who could ever love a monster?"