Sorry for the extraordinary delay on this one, school was very much in the way. I won't have to worry about it anymore though because graduation! But I really am sorry. I know what it's like to be reading a story that never updates and it sucks and I'm sorry (again) but I'll try to change that. This is part 1 of a 3 part adventure. Mostly fluff stuff in the first chapter, but enjoy anyways ;)
UGLY
"This is ridiculous, Cake."
"Hold still girl, or I'll stab you with my needle!"
Fionna looked down at her friend in shock. Cake clicked her tongue and winked.
"Or I'll stab you with my needle, by accident."
Fionna rolled her eyes but heeded Cake's warning/threat and stood as still as she could while her cat made the final adjustments to the dress.
"Mmm, you are going to look so gorgeous in this!"
Fionna scowled in response.
"I told you I'm not wearing it anywhere, I'm only doing this to help you finish it." She placed her fist on her heart and closed her eyes dramatically.
"The ultimate best friend sacrifice."
Cake grinned slyly.
"Well if you don't wear this, what do you plan to wear to Gumball's birthday party?"
Fionna frowned, blushing in spite of herself.
"I was just going to wear what I normally do…"
Cake shook her head in disapproval.
"Girl, if you want to get you some Gumball, you need to look oh so spice!"
Fionna blushed harder and puffed out her cheeks to hide her embarrassment.
"Are you done yet? There are monsters to slay and villains to nosh… with justice!"
Before Cake could answer, they heard a knock echo downstairs. Cake stretched her face to the window to check who it was. She hissed and flattened her ears, turning to Fionna.
"Did YOU invite vampire guy over here?!"
Fionna stepped over to the window and looked out, confused.
"No. I wonder why he's using the front door. He usually just breaks a hole in the roof."
Ignoring Cake's protests, Fionna hurried down the ladder. It was only after she opened the door and saw Marshall's bored expression turn into shock did she realize she was still wearing the dress. His cheeks inflated as he struggled to contain his laughter.
"Uh- you look…uhm…"
Her face turned bright red and she slammed the door in his face before he could sneak in another word and ran back to her room while his guffaws echoed behind her.
Slamming the door loudly behind her, she yanked the soft pink fabric over her head and tossed it aside. She pulled on her regular blue skirt and shirt combo and slipped her bunny hood over her head. She checked the small mirror hanging by her bedside and groaned at the sight of her flushed cheeks and tousled hair.
"Alright, calm down, I'm sorry I laughed at you," Marshall said as he stuck his head through a hole in the ceiling where he had broken in a few days ago. Fionna ignored him and snatched her backpack off the floor. He floated down as she paced around the room, picking up various items and sticking them purposefully into her bag. Marshall rolled his eyes.
"I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing at dress. You looked fine, it's just…how do I put this…" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Fionna swallowed, a feeling of nervousness cascading over her. He grinned sheepishly at her.
"So don't take this the wrong way, but pink isn't your best color."
Fionna scowled at him and he held up his hands in response.
"Hey, I'm just being honest."
He picked up the discarded dress and held it up for closer examination.
"The entire thing is one big frill… Why were you wearing it anyways?"
Fionna groaned again, folding her arms.
"Cake wanted me to wear it to Gumball's Birthday Ball."
"It's his birthday? How old is he turning?"
Fionna opened her mouth to answer but was cut off by a loud hiss erupting from the doorway.
"Did you bust a hole in the ceiling again vampire boy?!"
Marshall shrugged and, successfully ignoring Cake, turned to Fionna. She felt her face turning red again as he inspected her, his face seemed to be filled with intense thought.
"Wh-what are you doing?" She asked, flustered, as he held his thumb up as if to measure her.
"Yeah, that could work…" Marshall shook his head and grinned playfully. "Okay Fionna, you're officially being kidnapped. I'm going to make you the perfect dress for the dumb party thing." He grabbed her wrist and before she could protest pulled her into the air. "We have a date with FASHION!" He yelled dramatically as he floated back through the decimated ceiling. Cake hissed angrily and began to stretch her arms to grab them, but she hesitated when she heard Fionna laugh. She couldn't help but smile at the sound and shook her head, retreating her arms.
"I see what's going on here." She put on her angry face again and yelled up to them, "YOU HAVE HER AT GUMBALL'S PARTY AT TEN, YOU HEAR ME FLYING FREAK?"
She saw Marshall turn his head slightly and their eyes met. He winked and stuck his tongue out, reaching for Fionna's other hand as he did. Cake waved, unable to stop the smile from forming on her lips.
"Have fun baby-girl."
"WHERE ARE WE GOING?"
Fionna watched as they passed over the entrance to Marshall's cave. He glanced around as if just realizing where they were.
"We're hittin up the Ice Kingdom first. I'll need some materials you can only get from the Ice Queen herself. She owes me a solid so she has to help us out, whether she wants to or not."
"No way!" Fionna protested, "I don't want any help from that hag!"
Marshall raised his eyebrows, looking down at her.
"Language, language Fionna. She's not that bad once you get to know her. And once she stops hitting on you..."
"I didn't know you guys hung out… What do you want from her anyways?" grumbled Fionna, kicking the air sullenly.
Marshall grinned slyly.
"Can't say. I'm bound by an unbreakable vow. She'll tell you herself when we get there."
The two remained silent for a while after that. Fionna sensed that Marshall was now lost in his own thoughts, so she contented herself with watching the blur of trees spin away below them. The air began to grow cold as they entered the Ice Kingdom. Marshall snapped back to the present as he felt Fionna's hands trembling against his. He peered down at her and cursed under his breath. She was shivering violently. The only thing keeping her teeth from chattering was the fact that her jaw was clenched so tightly. Marshall yanked her upwards, ignoring her yelp of surprise, and slipped one hand around her back and another under her legs. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed herself against him. He tried his best to ignore how sweet her hair smelled. He spotted the large, crystalline castle on the horizon just as a flake of snow rested gently on his nose. He glanced up at the gray cloud hovering over them, surprised he hadn't noticed it sooner. The snow fell heavier as they flew, and he had to stop himself from staring too long as it gathered in Fionna's golden hair, making it shine brighter than usual. He thought he heard her mumble something so he leaned in closer to hear.
"It's too cold for this nonsense…"
He smiled.
"It's all in the name of fashion. Haven't you ever heard beauty is pain? Or something like that.."
She scowled up and him and snapped, "Fashion's a load of candy glump, I'm cold. Can't you fly any faster?"
"Well if you're going to be rude I could just drop you again…"
She yelped and clung tighter to him.
"Okay, okay! Sorry… But seriously, how much longer till we get there?"
Marshall jerked his head to the side, rolling his eyes. Fionna turned her head in the direction he indicated and gasped in surprise. The dark castle was only a few meters away, and it loomed over them, casting its cold shadow across the snow-covered ground. Marshall landed gracefully on a nearby balcony and gently set Fionna down. He winked at her and stuck his head inside the castle.
"Yo Queen!"
There was a muffled shriek and a crash followed by a chorus of penguin quacks, which seemed to be coming from a doorway across the room. Fionna and Marshall glanced at each other uncertainly.
"Uh, is this a bad time? We can come back later if you-"
Suddenly, the door flew open and the Ice Queen appeared in an explosion of feathers and white hair.
"DING GLOBBIT I ALREADY TOLD YOU I DON'T WANT A SUBSCRIPTION I-"
She stopped short as she recognized the two people standing in front of her.
"Marshall! What have I told you about bringing the enemy into my castle? You can't just escort her up in my pad, now I have to freeze her and keep her prisoner here, now you see all this trouble I have to go through because of you?"
She rubbed her hands and held them up towards Fionna who drew her sword, her mouth set in a determined line.
"No, no, no, no one's getting frozen," said Marshall, stepping in between them, "I'm using that solid you owe me."
"Oh! Well as long as you didn't bring her here to kill me."
The Ice Queen's hair began to flap like a pair of great wings and she rose to the ceiling humming cheerfully.
"Oh, let me get you too some PB&B sandwiches. Or, uh… P double B! Yes that sounds swell!" Marshall grinned sheepishly at Fionna as the two followed the flying mad woman into what they assumed to be the kitchen.
"Grunta! Three P double B sandwiches please! And this time leave the fish out, you know mommy doesn't like fish." She turned to her guests smiling awkwardly. "I tell her every time but she never remembers, I don't think it's a difficult concept, just don't put the fish on it!" She laughed a little too loudly and sighed, suddenly very downtrodden, "Oh I'm so lonely…"
Fionna coughed awkwardly. Marshall cleared his throat uncertainly.
"So, uh, remember that thing? That thing that I'm bound by vampire law not to tell anyone about? That thing you do sometimes…"
The Ice queen's blank expression quickly melted into that of embarrassment.
"Oh I've no idea what you're talking about." She glanced around nervously and snatched a sandwich out of her penguin's flippers and shoved it into Marshall's mouth.
"Here, eat up, you're a growing boy you need your nourishment or whatever that is…" Laughing timidly, she turned to Fionna as Marshall hacked up the sandwich and whispered, "That kid's got a few lights off upstairs if you know what I mean." She raised her eyebrows expectantly while Fionna half grimaced, half smiled in response.
"Look Simone, I really need your help and you owe me that solid but I can't use it until you tell Fionna."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Screeched the old woman, sinking to her knees, "HOW COULD YOU? NOW SHE KNOWS THAT MY NAME IS SIMONE." The Ice Queen began to sob violently and Fionna awkwardly patted her back.
"Uh, it's okay, it's a really pretty name. You shouldn't be embarrassed about it."
The Ice Queen sniffed and peered up at her.
"You really think so?"
Fionna shrugged uncomfortably.
"Yeah, sure…"
Marshall hissed impatiently.
"Alright, hurry up and tell her, I've got a few more stops to make and my deadline's ten o' clock".
The Ice Queen nodded, slowly rising to her feet.
"Very well then, Fionna the human. You have to promise not to ever tell anyone about this. I couldn't bear it if people knew how lonely I was; so lonely that I would resort to such a disgusting act."
Fionna stared blankly back at the Ice Queen.
"Wait, you don't mean you-"
"Yes!" the Ice Queen exclaimed, cutting her off, "It's exactly what you're thinking!"
Fionna recoiled in disgust.
"EW dude, that's so gross!" She turned to Marshall, flustered.
"That's what you brought me here to do?! What the math is wrong with you guys, that's just-"
Marshall shook his head sheepishly, "No! It's not THAT, Glob no. Simone, tell her."
"ALRIGHT! YOU GOT ME! I AM A SEAMSTRESS!"
The old woman broke down into sobs on the kitchen floor. Fionna breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"Oooh, okay, that's cool bro."
"It's not cool!" Hissed the Ice Queen, "It's an old person hobby, I don't want all those yummy princes to think I've gone senile or some junk like that."
"Well, Marshall Lee makes dresses. And he's supposed to be king of the Nightosphere."
Marshall shrugged and tucked his hands in his pockets.
"I do how I do."
"See?" said Fionna, "Don't worry about other people thinking your hobbies are lame, just do how you do, and if dudes don't dig what you do, then don't date those doodoo headed dudes, dude."
The Ice Queen stared at Fionna, mouth slightly agape.
"That was the most stupidest thing I've ever heard. Wait here stupid, I'll get you some fabric. That is what you came here for right? My world renown ice fabric?"
Fionna huffed and folded her arms angrily as the Ice Queen floated into one of the numerous caves.
"What's her deal? I was just trying to be nice…"
Marshall sniggered.
"She's crazy and evil Fionna. She only really responds to negativity."
"That's glomp. What's so special about her stupid fabric anyways?"
"I'm glad you asked."
The Queen glided back in and tossed a clump of blue material at Marshall.
"My fabric is as light as a snowflake, as hard as ice, and as soft as a blanket of snow."
She stroked her own dress lovingly.
"Plus it keeps your pits cool when you're getting really freaky at parties, ha hA!" She cackled loudly and drifted back through the tunnel.
"Thanks!" Marshall yelled out. He slipped his hand around Fionna's waist, making her gasp in surprise, and flew out an open window.
"That took way longer than I thought. We still need to go to Lumpy Space and Hotdog Princess's pad."
Fionna glanced skeptically up at him.
"You sure this is a dress you're making?"
He shrugged nonchalantly
"More or less."
