The next morning I was awakened by the smell of something delicious. I sat up in bed and stretched, then looked around the treehouse bedroom. I was alone, but I heard sounds from downstairs so I went down the ladder.

"Morning, Sholeh." Finn looked up from the game he was playing on BMO.

"Good morning Finn," I turned to the kitchen, "and Jake. That smells wonderful."

"Nothing special," The dog answered from the kitchen, "Just my usual flapjacks. Come take a seat, and dig in."

Finn saved his game. BMO's face replaced the game and he turned to the window as Finn followed me into the dinning room.

Jake explained that the items on the dish were pancakes, eggs, bacon and toast, with juice and coffee in the cups.

"They're all very nice, but the juice is a little cold."

"Ah, sorry your highness. I'll switch that to heated cider next time."

"Is this the first time you've had food?" Finn asked.

I turned to him and tried to explain the different thermodynamics of the flame-folk and the water-folk, but he was soon lost. So I offered another explanation. "Items such as these can not exist in the Fire Kingdom. They would burn up."

"Oh, yes. I get it now."

I felt a strange feeling. I rose and walked over to the south window, and looked towards my distant homeland. I could just see the tops of the tallest volcanoes from here.

"Sholeh, is something the matter?" Finn put his hand on my shoulder.

"No, it's nothing." I turned to him, then looked up at the sound of the wings of a large bird.

"It's Princess Bubblegum, and she's got packages." Jake looked out the west window and took off his apron.

"PB!" Finn raced down the ladder.

I stood there for a moment.

"After you, my lady." Jake gestured towards the ladder.

"Yes, of course." I glanced down at the thigh length shirt I wore. Entirely unfitting for royalty, but I wasn't that anymore. I walked outside and saw Bonnibel dismount from Morrow, who stood next to two boxes.

"Sholeh!" The princess of the Candy Kingdom ran up and hugged me. "It's so good to see that you are safe."

"As safe as I can be, Bonnibel. Given the current circumstances."

"Oh? Did Finn?"

"Finn has been a perfect gentleman, in his own way. I speak of the change in my nature."

"Yes, Marceline told me. I could hardly believe it, but here you are."

"How many others has she told?"

"She said she had just informed your father and then flew straight to me." Bonnibel leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Don't worry about it. Few have the courage to bother her and now she's sleeping in my bed." Then she leaned back and looked me over. "Finn's hand me downs really don't suit you. Let's get you dressed up as a proper princess. Boys, take my packages inside please."

"Sure thing, PB." Finn grabbed one of the boxes and Jake grabbed another.

"Take those up to Sholeh's room."

"Uh, she sleeps with me."

"Oh?" Bonnibel turned from Finn to myself, but remained silent until we reached the bedroom. "Boys, I've got some things for Sholeh to try on, so can we have some privacy please?"

"Sure thing, PB." Finn went down the ladder with Jake.

Bonnibel waited for the sound of the video game to start up and then turned to me, "Sholeh, there are certain propitiates that a princess must see to."

"I am no longer the princess of the Fire Kingdom. I'm no longer even a member of the fire-folk. I'm just an ordinary water-girl now."

"Sorry, but being a princess isn't something that you can ever give up. Now let's attire you in a more fitting manner."

I didn't resist as she lifted the shirt over my head.

Bonnibel looked like she wanted to laugh when she saw me in just Finn's underpants, but helped me out of those also. She walked around me. "I see that Marceline seems to have taken down your measurements correctly, but let's check the fit anyway."

She helped me dress in undergarments, dress and boots. I supposed I was going to have to get used to wearing such things, now that I could no longer create my garments at whim.

I sat as she brushed out my hair. Then she stood back for a moment and said, "Let's show this to the boys, shall we?"

We went downstairs and Finn dropped the game controller when he saw me. "Wow, you look like a real princess. I mean, I know you're really a princess and all, but."

"Now, can you please tell me how this all happened."

"Uh, sure thing, PB."

"Your highnesses, this might take a bit. So would you like some tea?"

"That sounds like an excellent idea, Jake." Bonnibel led me to the dinning room table.

Finn followed and sat next to me.

The boys told Bonnibel the story of what had happened to me since leaving the Fire Kingdom, with Jake pointedly leaving out one detail.

"So this cure, it's something alchemical?" Bonnibel asked.

"It's more like a curse!" I finally interrupted.

Finn jerked back from me at this and looked down at the table.

"Well, we've got so much more to try on. Please excuse us, boys." Bonnibel led the way up the ladder again.

She let me try removing the first set of clothes and putting the next set on myself, only helping with the zipper, which for some strange reason went up the middle of my back where I couldn't reach it.

"So, what are your plans?" She asked me.

"What does it matter? I'm an ordinary water-girl without my elemental powers. Maybe I should take up Marceline's offer and become her puppet. It's not like my life has any importance."

"Nonsense. Sholeh, you are now the one person at the center of everything on Ooo."

"The center of everything is how my Father described the one creature on Ooo he feared even more than the Lord of the Nightosphere, the dread Princess Bubblegum."

"Me, but I'm just an ordinary water-based girl with no great elemental powers."

"Touche."

"Finn seems quite smitten with you. What are your intentions towards him?"

"I'll just stay here with him. He owes me that much."

"I'm afraid that's not an acceptable course of action for a princess. You must either return home to the life of the Princess of the Fire Kingdom, or if you remain here it must be as the Princess of the Grasslands."

"I can't return home, I've burned down that bridge. So you want me to marry this great Prince of the Grasslands? Sure, whatever. Finn seems nice enough."

"An excellent choice. And as for Marceline's offer, well she made the same to me. I've found my own way instead. I've made some mistakes along the way, but these have been my mistakes. I hope that I'm stronger for them. Let's go show the boys this outfit, shall we?"

We went downstairs and Finn sprinted over to me.

"Wow, it's even better than the last one."

"It's a pity that she can't keep it."

"What? PB, are you taking the clothes back?"

"Well they'll just burn up if she returns to her homeland, and as a princess she must either return to her homeland or stay with the one she marries. Do you know of somebody she can marry, Finn?"

Finn went down on his knee and grabbed my hand. "Sholeh of the Fire Kingdom, will you marry me?"

I grabbed onto his hand, guided him to his feet, kissed him on the lips and stood there face to face, our arms wrapped around each other. "Finn the Human, Prince of the Grasslands, yes. Yes, I will."

"A royal wedding? We must prepare at once. Come along with me, Sholeh."

"Huh? Can't she stay with us?"

"I'm sorry, Finn, but there are too many details to arrange. And it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. If we start today we can have the invitations out and everything arranged for a wedding to be held in seven days time. Is that too soon?"

"Uh no, PB. That's great."

"I will see you in the Candy Kingdom in seven days time. I'll send somebody out to help you get prepared before then."

We all went outside and Bonnibel whistled for Morrow.

Finn looked so pensive standing there I stepped up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Then I turned and Bonnibel helped me mount the bird. She wrapped her arms around my waist to steady me as the great hawk leapt into the sky. We circled the treehouse once, then set off in the direction of the setting sun, towards the Candy Kingdom.