Heart Set Ablaze

By: ~LoveJove

"Don't stare at me for too long, Hot stuff, else you'd be charmed," Marshall Lee, the Vampire king, spoke, with a smirk tugged on the corner of his lips and a hint of playful flirtation in his tone. His slanted smile flashed his sharp and deadly pointed fangs as his two feet was rooted to the ground. He was completely blue in color from the spell put on him to remain unscathed from the embers of the kingdom, but the heat of his surroundings continued to intensify as if his very presence imposed a threat. Which technically isn't far off the truth; everything about his being is a threat, even if the ball is in Flame Prince's court. Marshall smile was sly; he was very aware of the hostile atmosphere he stirred and one can figure that he was enjoying every bit of it.

"Nice place you got here." He commented, doing a clear whistle as he slowly walked into the room.

"Thanks," Flame prince responded, softly noting the lack of sarcasm in his tone despite the mischievous smile growing on his face. Flame Prince eyed Marshall carefully. It has been a rare occurrence for him to have royal guests. So, to have the very Vampire king drop by his office was strange, to say the least. Whether he had visited in peace or declare war was yet to be determined, and to that Flame Prince politely addressed to clarify his intention.

"What brings you here today?"

"—you know, I thought the Fire Kingdom was like my second home," Marshall started with a sickly sweet tone, suavely straying from the question with an expression that followed with feign despair. He knew perfectly well that Flame Prince had noticed his red herring, but in turn Marshall proceeded with delight. Shaking his head at a thought that occurred just then. The Vampire king pursed his lips. "It just sucks to see it become less chaotic than was back in the day—"

"It's better now that it isn't," Flame prince followed with a tone filled with pride. After his coronation, Flame prince had developed the high tolerance to humour with Marshall's response. He was proud of the empire he built from what his father left off. Marshall, on the other hand, thought otherwise.

"Really? Better?" Marshall raised a brow, his borderline sarcastic tone ceased and transitioned into a very amused one. One that was almost interpreted as quite mockingly. "You know I have an eye for great things…"

Flame prince felt a bad feeling surface in his gut as he processed what Marshall is implying.

"Maybe I'm wrong," Marshall shrugged with a grin. "You speak quite highly of your kingdom for such a new king."

…

"I'd very much love to take the kingdom off your hands."

!

Feeling instantly alarmed, Flame prince's immediate course of action was to dispel him and reduce him into ashes before Marshall could act and possibly do just that. Marshall lee was very capable of taking him on, especially now when he was cornered in his headquarters. However, he had a feeling that following his defensive reflexes wouldn't be a wise decision. However, the whole tower still rumbled and the molten rock surrounding the Vampire King's feet still sizzled in response. Fortunately, the spell kept him completely unharmed.

Marshall Lee smirked, for Flame prince's hesitation.

The surrounding fire grew mild as Flame prince remained dumbstruck, purely because of Marshall's superb confidence in his own safety. Flame prince came to realization that the infamous Vampire King's arrival to the kingdom was more than him just testing his reflexes. Marshall Lee came here for something else and with someone else. He had finally taken notice of Flambo glancing at the door frequently, and before he could question, as if on cue, the door slammed open to reveal another member of Aaa royalty; Prince Gumball.

Normally, Gumball's presence would give out an air of utter sophistication. He was always prim and proper, the complete counterpart to Marshall Lee's character, but today he wasn't all that. Today, he stumbled through the door, almost falling face first which was very uncharacteristically clumsy of him. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, his hair was ruffled in all sorts of directions and he had looked like he ran a marathon; wheezing trying to catch his breath.

"Sorry about that!" Gumball apologized almost out of breath, and completely oblivious to his Marshall's almost death by barbecue.

"Took you forever," Marshall floated to be by his side to pester him with his presence. Gumball, who was recovering bent over with his hands on his side, instantly stood up straight to send the Vampire king a death glare that could kill.

"You! You kicked me out of the elevator!"

"It was full."

"It was just Flambo and you!"

Marshall snorted. "Yeah, but if you joined we'd already exceed the weight limit."

"You could've flown up and still made me run up a 20 storey tower! You really should be grateful they even let you enter the kingdom, let alone the elevator!"

"Well, they did let me enter, just not without an escort," Marshall rolled his eyes to glare at Flambo who was been silently witnessing the whole ordeal.

"It's alright," Flame prince took this as a cue to stop them from bickering any further. "He's a guest, Flambo. You may be dismissed."

"Yes, Sire." Flambo bowed to his king before eyeing the Vampire king in distrust. Flambo proceeded to leave silently, shutting the door behind him. Gumball waited a moment until he was sure Flambo was far from the door. He collected himself before turning his attention to the young Flame king, and with a solemn tone, he spoke.

"All irrelevant matters aside. We need to talk."

A small smile formed on the young ruler's lip. He was expecting him to say just that. Feeling oddly refreshed and curious to what they had to say, he beckoned them. "Very well, please, have a seat."

Flame prince gestured to the comfy chairs across his desk and his royal guests gazed at them skeptically. Flame prince raised a brow, wondering if he could guess what the two were thinking.

"…This room is soundproof." He attempted to assure them.

"Aight!" Marshall was the first to make himself right at home, lounging on one of them, while Gumball took his seat on the other. Gumball sat with perfect posture, but he appeared unusually warier and stiff. His shade of pink eyes tells Flame prince to expect a royal crisis.

"Something really important came up and we need your help." Gumball began, his eyes fixed on Flame prince's.

"I kind of figured, if you two arrive together, you'd know it's serious," Flame prince joked lightly. Marshall showed slight embarrassment and Gumball just rolled his eyes.

"Well, this is important."

"Please, proceed to enlighten me." The young ruler urged in all seriousness.

"All of the outside kingdoms are in disarray lately," Gumball sighed sadly. "There has been trouble everywhere and the rest of Aaa is in utter chaos."

"Odd," Flame prince commented in pure surprise. "It's pretty calm here."

"You're a good leader, Flame King, and this kingdom is dependent on you." Gumball spoke genuinely proud of the baby he had once saved years ago. "But when is the last time you went out of your own?"

His lips pressed into a line as he acknowledges his lack of public relations outside the kingdom. Instead of answering he inquired the candy king. "…How bad is it out there?"

"The place starting to feel like home to me," Marshall shrugged.

"Ok, that's pretty bad." FP shook his head instantly.

"There's something else…"

"Hmm?"

"It's the very reason why we're here in the first place." Marshall adjusted himself properly.

"…And what is that?"

"It's Fionna. She is missing."

A/N: CLIFFHANGER ALERT!

Shorter chapter this time but it is finally here! Don't forget to drop a REVIEW!

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