AN: Seriously, this idea won't let me rest. Apparently, this particular plot bunny is quite vicious and has decided that it is going to get written. Not that you guys are complaining, I'm sure, lol.
Disclaimer: Nope, I only own the ideas in my head.
Fionna wasn't really all that surprised when she couldn't get to sleep that night; annoyed sure, but not surprised. She and Marshall Lee had been shuffled out of the hospital wing and to a suite of rooms nearby. They were quickly assured that their clothes would be taken care of and someone would be in shortly to draw them both baths. The pair had stood around awkwardly for maybe three minutes when a few maids came waltzing in and all but shoved the blonde girl off towards one of the bathrooms. Now, almost two hours later, Fionna was lying in a huge, fluffy bed, squeaky clean and her normal clothes were hanging up to dry. And yet, she thought with a tired sigh, she just couldn't fall asleep.
"This really sucks," she grumbled to herself as she got out of bed. Someone had been nice enough to gather her things from the airship so at least she was relatively comfortable, and the bed was probably the best she'd ever sleep on, and yet the Sandman refused to come. "Two nights in a row is not cool."
The blonde haired adventurer wandered out into the connected living space and plopped onto the couch. She rested her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands, sighing once more as she stared off out the large bay window towards the glittering stars above.
"If you're not careful, people will start to think I've turned you into a vampire," Marshall Lee joked, taking a seat next to the girl and feeling a little put out that she didn't even twitch in surprise. "What, am I not even worthy of you being startled anymore?"
"Hey Marsh," Fionna responded, her voice slightly flat. "I kinda figured you'd be out here or you'd pop up sometime; you seem to have a knack for doing that."
"They'll be okay you know," Marshall Lee told her after a moment. His tone softened considerably and he placed a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder.
"It's just kind of weird I guess," Fionna answered with a shrug. "Three days ago I didn't know I even had a brother and now he's lying in a hospital bed and I can't help but freak out about it."
"He'll be fine," Marshall Lee repeated. "Marcy knows what she's doing?"
"But what is she doing?" Fionna pressed. "All I know is that they're both in a coma and no one has been able to wake them up." The blonde sighed again and dragged her knees up to her chin. "Life was so much easier when I only had to worry about myself."
Marshall Lee was silent for a few moments, eying the young girl beside him. Her arms were wrapped securely around her legs and her hands were gripping her arms so tight her knuckles were almost white. "All right, look," he finally began. "I'm not really supposed to tell you anything, but since you're Finn's little sister I think the rules bend in your favor."
"What are you talking about?" Fionna asked, lifting her head from its position on her knees.
"Vampires are, essentially, magical creature," Marshall Lee explained. "And magic pretty much exists everywhere in this world, right?"
"Yeah," Fionna answered around a frown. "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"I'm getting there," Marshall Lee smirked at her. "Be patient." His grin widened when the girl huffed, but finally uncurled herself from her ball and turned a bit to face him. "Do you also know there are some types of magic that are very, very personal? Only between you and another person?"
"No, I didn't," Fionna replied thoughtfully. "Magic wasn't something girls learned where I was, unless it was healing or you were a shifter. But..." she began, only to cut herself off when the vampire boy held up a hand.
"So do you remember that mark that Bonni pointed out? The red one on Finn's arm?" He paused and waited for the blonde to nod before continuing. "Marcy's got a mark exactly like his on her arm. It's a very rare form of magic called soul binding; and it's even rarer for a vampire to do it with a mortal."
"Soul binding?" Fionna questioned, her head tilting to the side.
"I don't know all the specifics myself," Marshall Lee shrugged in reply. "It's not something I ever seriously looked in to. But I do know that it ties their souls together for eternity. Finn is bound to Marceline and Marceline is bound to Finn. He'll live a lot longer, maybe as long as an elf, and he won't really age or something. Marcy lost her immortality, but she can walk around in the sun now." He paused for a second. "And I know that when one dies the other dies with them."
"So they're both dying right now?" Fionna demanded as she jumped to her feet.
"No, they'll be fine," Marshall Lee tried to reassure her. "I think what Marceline did was buy them some time. Finn was dying but because his soul is bound to Marceline's she can share her life force with him, keep him alive while the doctors patch him up."
Fionna only nodded and flopped back onto the couch, her eyes focused on nothing. "So, they'll be okay?"
"As soon as Finn's been detoxed and patched up, yeah," Marshall Lee answered, smiling at the younger girl.
"I almost forgot how stressful it is to have other people to worry about," Fionna admitted softly, sighing once as she let her head fall against the back of the couch.
"I thought you said you were raised by a family of cat shifters," Marshall Lee said, poking at the blonde's side and smirking when she jumped.
"I was," Fionna frowned. "And will you stop that?" she hissed, swatting his hand away.
"Ticklish are we?" Marshall Lee asked with a wicked grin stretching across his pale lips. "Good to know," he added with a chuckle. "So what happened to them? If you're out here on your own it must have been bad."
"Not really," Fionna shrugged, though she kept a careful eye on the vampire boy, specifically his hands. "My adoptive parents died when I was eleven so it was my sister and me for a while. Then she got married and I left."
"Why?" the vampire questioned.
"Just didn't feel like staying I guess," Fionna replied with another shrug. "There really wasn't a reason for me to be there anymore."
"None at all?" Marshall Lee pressed. "No boyfriend or anyone you liked?"
"No," Fionna shot back, her frown darkening for a moment. "No one I'd really miss anyway. Why do you care?"
"Just curious," Marshall Lee answered with a shrug, propping his feet up on the table in front of him and leaning back into the couch with his hands behind his head. "You're pretty tight lipped about your life before all this so I figured I'd pump you for information as long as you were answering."
Fionna snorted in a very unladylike manner before curling back into a ball, her chin tucked on her knees. She stared off towards the far wall through the dim light of the moon. Her shoulders weren't nearly as tense as they had been just a few minutes prior, but she still held herself tightly and her head was turned slightly away from the boy next to her.
"You're an odd one, you know that?" Marshall Lee sighed as he reached over and tugged the blonde to him. "It's okay to cry in front of other people you know."
"I haven't cried for years," Fionna protested, though her voice had taken on a watery edge and she sniffed deeply a few times.
"All the more reason then," Marshall Lee returned as he tightened his hold on the younger girl in his arms. "You're long overdue."
"I'll get your shirt all wet and snotty," the blonde said as she weakly tried to squirm away.
"I've got plenty of others," the vampire boy dismissed.
Fionna hesitated for only a moment before her body went lax and her arms tightened around the undead boy as she buried her face against his cool chest. For the first time since her parents had died, she cried. All the pain, all the rage, all the confusion came spilling out of her eyes and into the waiting arms of someone she'd only known for a couple of days. Sometimes she babbled and others she sobbed incoherently, every once in a while exclaiming "It's not fair!"
For his part, Marshall Lee hugged the crying girl tightly to him, gently running a hand up and down her back. He didn't say a word as she finally released all the bottled up emotions that had been slowly eroding her away. What was there he could say anyway? He didn't know her story; hell he barely knew her outside of two late night half-conversations and some innocent teasing. Yet something had tugged him towards this girl when he saw her stare brokenly at the wall and it sparked angrily for all the people that had left her alone for too long. Hadn't anyone been able to see she was on the verge of breaking?
"Better?" he questioned softly when the blonde in his arms took a couple deep, ragged breaths.
"I guess," Fionna mumbled back. "Thanks."
"You needed it," Marshall Lee replied.
"Still, you didn't have to, so thanks," Fionna insisted as she untangled herself from Marshall Lee's arms and moved to sit against the opposite arm of the couch.
"Just don't tell anyone and we'll call it even," Marshall Lee grinned at her. "I have a reputation to uphold you know."
"I can just see it now," Fionna smirked back. "Big, bad Marshall Lee the Vampire King done in because he's really a big softie that knows how to comfort crying little girls. Your reputation will die, just roll over and die."
"You wouldn't dare," Marshall Lee hissed lowly, fighting the smile on his own face.
"Wouldn't I?" Fionna laughed. "Obviously you don't know me that well."
"There's that smile," the vampire boy said as his own smile spread across his face. He reached over and gently pinched a blushing cheek.
"You're not such a bad guy you know," Fionna returned as she swatted the pale hand away from her face.
"Silly girl, I'm the Vampire King, of course I'm evil," Marshall Lee chuckled darkly. "I'm a heartless, twisted monster and I corrupt everything I touch."
"Is that why the princess doesn't seem to like you?" Fionna questioned.
"Picked up on that, did you?" Marshall Lee smirked at her. "You're more observant than I gave you credit for Blondie. It's nothing to worry about though."
"I'm not worried about it," Fionna said as she turned to sit sideways on the couch, giving Marshall Lee her full attention. "I'm just curious," she echoed with a grin. "I told you a bit about me, now you get to share a story."
"You're not going to let it go until I tell you, are you?" the undead boy sighed good naturedly.
"Nope," Fionna replied, her grin growing larger.
"All right, all right, I guess I can play this story time game," Marshall Lee chuckled. "There's not much to say though. Bubblegum and Marce got into a fight, obviously I took Marcy's side and the rest is pretty much history."
"What was the fight about?" Fionna pressed. "And why would it matter that you took Marceline's side? You're her brother; that's pretty much expected, isn't it?"
"You're just full of questions, aren't you?" Marshall Lee laughed. "It was over your brother actually. Bubblegum didn't think it was a great idea for them to start dating and told them as much, repeatedly. She even tried to break them apart a couple of times. After the last time she tried I got involved. Let's just say that no one messes with my sister if I have anything to say about it," he added darkly. "And it's not at all pretty when I get involved."
"Why would Bubblegum care?" Fionna asked, her eyebrows scrunched over her nose and her head tilted slightly to the side. Marshall Lee had to fight off another laugh when his brain supplied the mental image of a curious puppy in place of the blonde beside him. "Does she like Finn or something?"
"Not like that," the vampire answered. "They're friends sure, but that's it. Bonni just isn't fond of losing what she thinks is hers. See, before he left with us, Finn had the honorary title of Princess' Knight. When he and Marce got together and we decided to leave this place and travel around our dear princess took that as wanting to leave her behind as well. She didn't take it very well."
"Oh, I see," Fionna replied thoughtfully. "But Finn is a living being, not a toy. What he does is entirely up to him."
"Yeah, try telling that to anyone who's been told since birth that the world is theirs for the taking," Marshall Lee laughed. "The higher up you go in society the more you find that people begin to think that those below them belong to them."
"That's bunck man," Fionna huffed.
"Tell me about it," Marshall Lee agreed. The pair lapsed into a friendly silence before he abruptly floated away from the couch. "Oh, hey, before I forget, I've got something for you." He floated over to the wall and grabbed a pack that had been carelessly tossed against it. He shuffled around in it for a moment before he exclaimed softly and pulled something out. "Catch," he called as he tossed something towards the blonde.
Fionna reached up and snagged it out of the air as the object came sailing towards her. When she brought it back down to eye level she froze for a moment. "How did you get this?" she whispered, gently stroking the opalescent pink crystal she had thought lost. "I saw Finn and Marceline selling it to Grendall."
"They couldn't sell it to her actually," Marshall Lee answered as he floated back towards the couch. "They tried but she said she couldn't take it because it was already bound to someone. So what is it? You said it was yours."
"A gift," Fionna answered softly, hugging the gem to her chest.
"I thought you said no one would miss you," Marshall Lee returned. "Someone must if they were willing to give you something like that."
"She won't miss me," Fionna replied sadly. "In fact, she probably doesn't even remember me by this point."
"Who was she?" Marshall Lee asked.
"She's this crazy old ice witch," Fionna replied as a small smile tugged at her lips. "She lived up in the mountains outside of Aaa's main kingdom. She's pretty much harmless, but everyone stayed away cause she is pretty nuts. Mostly though, she was just lonely so I'd go up there and keep her company when I wasn't out adventuring with my sister. When I told her I was leaving she gave me this. She said it'd keep me safe. But she doesn't remember things for long so she's probably forgotten I exist by now."
"So what is it then? Cause I really don't see how a fist sized piece of rock is gonna do much for you," Marshall Lee said as he floated over and poked at the crystal. "Unless you chuck it at someone, but that's kind of a one-time thing."
Fionna didn't say a thing as she squeezed the stone slightly. Marshall Lee jumped back and shouted out once when it grew into a long, delicately shaped blade made of the same stone. "I think it will protect me just fine," she said with a smirk towards the undead boy.
"A little warning would have been nice," he grumbled, glaring at the sword as it shrunk back down to its small crystal size. "Guess that's what Grendall meant when she said it was already bound to someone."
"Yeah," Fionna answered as a melancholy smile replaced the smirk. "Simmone said she made it specifically for me; no one else can use it."
"That's a pretty sweet gift," Marshall Lee said as he took up space next to the girl on the couch once more.
"Yeah, it's seen its uses since I left," Fionna agreed.
"How old were you?" the pale boy asked. "When you left I mean."
"It was about three weeks after my sixteenth birthday," the blonde replied. "About two years ago now actually."
"You've been alone for two years?" Marshall Lee pressed.
"You get used to it after a while," Fionna shrugged. "It was a huge change at first, but sometimes you've got to give things up to follow your dreams."
"And what dreams would those be?" the vampire asked with a grin.
"I want to fight, I want to be a warrior," the younger girl answered. "According to Finn, that's what I was born to be anyway. They wouldn't let me back in Aaa, so I left."
"They wouldn't let you?" Marshall Lee repeated, an eyebrow raised. "What kind of backward place is that? I admit, I've never really been to Aaa, but I figured they were on par with Ooo at least."
"Not really," Fionna admitted. "Aaa is pretty much peaceful and everyone figures that girls don't need to know how to fight if it's not necessary."
"That's lame," the undead boy proclaimed. "You're too good to be stuck baking cookies all day or something."
"Thanks," Fionna smiled. "I've never liked to sit still so I was always out running around and getting into fights as a kid." She paused to yawn loudly and shake her head.
"There's no need to keep me company you know," Marshall Lee smiled at the young girl. "I've spent a lot of nights by myself; a few more isn't going to kill me."
"It's not that," Fionna dismissed with a wave of her hand. "I just can't sleep, no matter how tired I am. I'm too worried I'll miss something I guess."
"Wait here," Marshall Lee commanded before he floated away towards a door on the left. "Seriously, don't even breathe," he teased.
Fionna rolled her eyes and took a dramatically over-exagerated breath, but smiled after the undead teen nonetheless. She shot a look back out the window and sighed at the beginnings of light peeking out over the distant horizon. She jumped slightly when she felt the couch dip considerably behind her and a loud thump greeted her ears. Turning around, she saw her vampire friend grinning impishly at her.
"Finally, I was starting to think that I'd lost my touch," he laughed.
"Jerk," Fionna shot back, punching the boy in the arm when he only continued to laugh at her.
"Hey, hey, watch where you're hitting," he said, turning slightly to protect something in his arms. Fionna looked over his shoulder to see him cradling an acoustic guitar.
"You know how to play?" she asked.
"Hell yeah I do!" Marshall Lee grinned. "I generally prefer electric, but acoustic has its own uses too; like putting you to sleep with a lullaby. No hush up and listen, cause I don't usually do this for other people."
The vampire teen began a soft, slow melody that instantly put Fionna at ease. He strummed the strings softly and with a skill born of centuries of practice. The light notes tugged at the blonde girl, lulling her into a peaceful blankness, but it was Marshall Lee's singing that finally did her in. His voice was pitched low, barely even there, and before she knew it, Fionna felt her eyelids drooping and then came the blissful darkness of slumber.
Marshall Lee kept playing for a few more minutes after the young girl's head dropped onto his shoulder. Half formed lyrics began to take shape in the back of his mind and he realized his playing had changed from well-rehearsed songs to something new, something softer, something just for the girl currently using him as a living pillow. He sighed as he strummed to a stop, forcing back the new ideas clamoring for attention before he gently swept the girl up into his arms and floated into her room. He deposited her on the bed and was amused when she immediately latched onto one of the many pillows to curl up with.
"Not a puppy then, a kitten," he chuckled quietly to himself, amending his earlier comparison of the young girl. He watched her for a few more seconds before floating back out the door and leaving the blonde to her slumber.
Fionna came awake to a soft knocking on the door and spent a bleary few moments trying to remember where she was. "Uh, come in," she said after having to clear her throat.
"Good morning Miss Fionna," Peppermint said with a slight bow.
"What time is it?" the teenager asked as she sleepily scrubbed at her eyes.
"It is almost ten thirty," the butler replied crisply. "Breakfast has already been served, but I can call up something if you'd like."
"No, I'm good thanks," Fionna said, stretching her arms above her head and sighing contentedly when her back cracked. "Is anything new?"
"Well yes actually," Peppermint answered. "That is, of course, why I originally came her. Both Master Finn and Miss Marceline have awoken."
Fionna's eyes flew wide and she all but ripped the covers off of her as she bolted off the bed. "Why didn't you say so?" she demanded as she flew past the shorter man. "Marshall Lee!" she called as she tore down the hall. "Get your lazy butt out of bed!"
"What?" the vampire teen demanded irately around a large yawn. "You people do understand that I'm nocturnal, right? That means I sleep during the day."
"They're awake!" the blonde grinned at him.
Marshall Lee was silent for only a second before he flew forward, scooped the younger girl up and took off as fast as possible through the hallways. He didn't think to give her a chance to change out of her sweats and t-shirt or brush the sleep-caused snarls from her hair and Fionna didn't seem to care that much about her morning appearance either. "Meet you there, Peppermint," he called over his shoulder and the amused laughter of the blonde in his arms.
The vampire had barely flown through the doors before the younger girl was practically launching herself out of his arms and making a beeline for a head of almost identical blonde hair.
"Well hey Fi," Finn grinned when he saw his little sister tearing past the empty beds. She didn't even slow as she got closer and all but tackled him back onto the bed. "Oof," Finn complained good naturedly as Fionna squeezed him tightly.
"Don't do that again!" she demanded before pulling back and smacking him on his uninjured shoulder. "You had me worried, you jerk! What's the point of going through all that trouble and telling me you're my brother if you're just going to up and die three days later?"
"I'm not dead Fi," Finn laughed, grinning widely at his little sister. "I'm alive, in case you missed that," he added, opening his arms for a hug.
"Not the point!" Fionna pouted, slugged him on the shoulder again and crossed her arms over her chest. She glared at him for a few more seconds before sighing and reaching over and hugging him again. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Me too baby sis, me too," Finn replied as he hugged her tight for a minute. "I'm sorry I scared you."
"It's okay, you're fine now," Fionna told him as she released her brother and took a step back.
"No, I mean back at the cavern," Finn tried to clarify. "I mean, I'm sorry I got you worried about me dying too, but I'm also sorry for snapping at you back at the cavern when you tried to stop me from going after Marcy."
"Oh, that," Fionna shrugged. "No worries, Marshall filled me in a bit on what's going on between you two so I get it."
"He did, did he?" Marceline asked from her bed next to Finn. She shot her twin a look, one eyebrow raised.
"She was upset," Marshall Lee defended himself. "Besides, she's Finn's little sister so she has a right to know at least the gist of it."
"We would have told her anyway Marcy," Finn reminded the other girl, reaching over and squeezing her hand affectionately.
"True," the vampire girl agreed.
"I'm glad you're okay too, Marceline," Fionna smiled at the other girl.
"Thanks," Marceline grinned in return. "It's nice to be awake and moving again."
"So, anyone else wondering what the hell that thing was?" Marshall Lee asked as he floated lazily on his back with his arms crossed behind his head.
"I may be able to shed some light on that," Princess Bonnibelle said as she walked in. "Finn, Marceline, it is good to see you both awake and healing well."
"Thanks to Marcy, you and the doc," Finn grinned back. "So what do you know about that big snake thing we were fighting?"
"Very little I'm afraid, but it may be a starting point at least," Bonnibelle replied. "I did some digging in the old texts when told me its name and found reference to it in a list of the Old Gods and Demons from before the Mushroom War over a thousand years ago."
"Old Gods?" Fionna questioned. "I thought they were just a myth."
"So does everyone else, and yet this creature you fought has the same name as one of the ancient demons," Bonnibelle answered. "It could just be coincidence though."
"I dunno," Marshall Lee said, a frown tugging at his lips. "That thing did say there would be others right before we killed it."
"Well, you and Marceline are from the Night O'Sphere," Bonnibelle shot back. "You've been surrounded by demons. Do you remember any references to the Old Gods?"
"None," Marceline said. "We've always assumed they were just myths and legends, just like everyone else."
"Would your father perhaps know something?" the princess pressed.
"Maybe," Marshall Lee replied. "Doesn't mean we're going to ask the old bastard though."
"We need to know what's going on!" Bonnibelle threw back, hands on her hips and a scowl on her lips. "You can't just shut down an avenue of information just because you don't like who has it!"
"I can and I will," the vampire boy snarled at the princess. "Need I remind you what happened the last time he was summoned here? You last half your kingdom's souls in a little over two hours."
"Well, yes, but..." Bonnibelle stuttered.
"And it took a lot to get him back into the hell pit he spawned from in the first place," Marshall Lee continued, steam rolling right over the pink haired girl.
"I know that!" Bonnibelle snapped. "I was not suggesting you summon him here! You can travel to the Night O'Sphere and back so you can go ask him."
"And then we'll all be stuck there instead," Marshall Lee casually tossed back. "Look, you hired us to come here and take care of this goblin army. They're scattered and their ring leader is dead. Job's done as far as I'm concerned so have a nice life and please hesitate to call in the future."
"So you're not even going to look into this?" the princess demanded. "You're just going to ignore all of this? I knew you were irresponsible but I didn't think you were so self-absorbed that you'd completely disregard something like this!"
"I never said that," Marshall Lee returned, flipping upright and glaring down the pink haired girl. "All I said is that we're no longer working for you and therefore you can't order us to do anything," he hissed, voice pitched low and spots of blood red color beginning to creep into his eyes. "And even if we were, we're all free people and therefore not bound to follow your word as law. As a matter of fact, Marceline and I seriously outrank you so I'd think twice before you take that tone with me again, are we clear?"
"Marsh," Fionna whispered softly, stepping up to him and placing a gentle hand on his arm. The vampire glanced her way and his shoulders immediately relaxed as his eyes reclaimed their usual black color.
"Keep that in mind," he growled at the princess before floating away from her.
"PB's right though," Finn piped up. "We do need to get information somehow. I'm not liking this, or what that snake told us about there being more."
"Me neither," Fionna agreed. "Something feels...wrong about this. Like something terribly dark is looming just out of sight."
"Kind of a morbid way to put it, but I agree with them," Marceline said. "Finn and I can go talk to dad; he's okay with him and I don't mind as much being there."
"It's not the 'being there' that has me reluctant to go back," Marshall Lee told his sister. "It's what that old man will try to do to get us to stay."
"That's why I'd bring Finn," Marceline replied. "He'll be less likely to pull something if he's there; dad seems almost reluctant to start a fight with Finn sometimes."
"Well, I did cut his face open the last time he was on this side of the portal," Finn chuckled. "That was pretty sweet."
"Regardless, I don't like it," the vampire boy frowned. "He's an ass and I wouldn't put anything past him when it comes to getting at least one of us to stay there."
"What other choice do we have?" Marceline asked. "We need answers. Besides, we won't be gone that long. Finn and I can leave now and be back before you know it."
"But, is Finn well enough to go?" Fionna questioned with a frown. "I mean, he was dying not even twenty-four hours ago."
"That's one of the great things about being bound to a vampire," Finn grinned widely. "As long as nothing is interfering, like poison, I heal a lot quicker. I'm good to go as soon as someone is willing to give me a shirt."
"Just be careful then," Marshall Lee grunted. "I do not want to have to go in after you, all right?"
"Yeah, yeah," Marceline smiled at him. "We'll get in and get out, promise."
Marshall Lee raised a skeptical eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest, but didn't say a word. He shook his head and sighed before he raised his shoulders in a resigned shrug. "Fi and I will be waiting on the ship then."
Within the hour Finn and Marceline had been checked out and released from the infirmary, had their stuff pulled together and were getting ready to disappear through a swirling, dark portal. Finn rubbed at his injured shoulder and stretched his arm out, making sure everything was working the way it should.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Fionna asked him, the corners of her mouth turned down.
"Yeah, I'm good," Finn smiled. "Besides, Hunson and I are cool so there's nothing to worry about."
"Then why are you taking that?" Fionna pressed, pointing to the blood red blade slung across her brother's back.
"Well, I am going into the Night O'Sphere Fi," the blond answered. "Just cause its ruler and I are on good terms doesn't mean it isn't still packed with demons and other nasties that like to tear apart fleshy mortals."
Fionna frowned at him and placed her hands on her hips, ready to bring this trip back up for debate before Finn cut her off quickly. "Marceline will be with me too," he reminded his little sister. "We'll be fine, promise."
"You'd better be," Fionna huffed.
Finn just laughed and reached over to ruffle her hair. Fionna scowled up at him and ducked out of his range, flipping up the hood of her hoodie as she did so.
"See you in an hour tops," Marceline told them as she floated past and closer to the portal.
"I'd say have fun, but well," Marshall Lee said as he cut himself off with a shrug.
Marceline waved over her shoulder as she disappeared into the swirling depths and Finn turned around to give the two staying behind a mock salute and a grin before his face was swallowed up as well.
"So what's up with your dad?" Fionna asked after the portal had closed in on itself. She and Marshall Lee had gathered their packs and were making their way towards the ship.
"He's an asshat," Marshall Lee answered with a low growl. "He's been trying to get Marce or me to stay in the Night O'Sphere and take over as Lord of All Evil for years," he added with a roll of his eyes. "Of course it never works, but that doesn't stop him from trying."
"Will Finn and Marceline be okay then?" the blonde girl pressed.
"Yeah, they'll be good," the undead boy replied. "Finn wasn't kidding when he said our dad likes him. Shocked the hell out of all of us when he was actually happy Marce and Finn bound their souls together. That's really why it's safer for them to be going; he knows he can't separate them so he won't even try."
Fionna nodded thoughtfully as she dropped her bag and plopped into one of the chairs on the bridge. "How long do you think it will take then?"
"Who knows?" Marshall Lee shrugged in return. "Could be a few minutes, could be the whole hour. It depends on how long the old man feels like talking I guess. Of course, that's assuming he even knows something to begin with."
"Oh ye of little faith," Marceline piped up as the portal swirled open once more and the undead girl followed the blond boy out.
"That was fast," Marshall Lee commented. "Learn anything new?"
"Surprisingly yes," Finn answered. "Your dad was pretty chill about us being there."
"Though he kinda freaked when we told him what had happened," Marceline added as she floated over to a chair and flopped into it. "He told us that the Old Demons rising is a bad omen, though he didn't know for what exactly. He said it'd been over a thousand years since they'd last roamed the land. They were supposed to have been banished to another dimension, never to come back."
"So really, it was an interesting history lesson, but he didn't know anything useful," Marshall Lee replied with a sigh. "So we're pretty much at square one."
"Nah, he did tell us where to go to find more information," Finn answered. "Well, maybe find more information. It's kind of a long shot really, but better than nothing."
"So where to then?" Fionna asked.
"The Hidden Library," Marceline replied. "The secret tower where information lost with the Great Mushroom War is said to remain. Which would be great if anyone actually knew where it even was to begin with."
"You mean it's not just a myth?" the blonde girl questioned. "Cause no one I know even believes it exists anymore, if it ever did in the first place."
"Hence the problem," Finn nodded in agreement. "Hunson didn't exactly have an idea where it was either, but he did say it exists…somewhere."
"And we're sure he isn't just being a total dick and sending us on a wild goose chase?" Marshall Lee pressed. "Cause that's totally something he would do."
"He seemed pretty sincere about it all when we told him what happened and that thing called itself Mesethail," Finn shrugged back. "Besides, it's really the only thing we've got to go on right now anyway."
"It's not much of a lead though, is it," Fionna said, a small frown tugging at her lips. "Who would we even talk to that would know where the Hidden Library is?"
"No idea, but we can start with a broker in the City of Thieves," Marceline answered. "If they can't tell us where they might at least be able to point us in the right direction of someone who might."
"I'm still not convinced we'll even find anything," Marshall Lee snorted. "But it's a place to start I guess. So, back to the City of Thieves then?"
"Looks like it," Finn agreed as he started up the engines to their airship. There was a quiet hum as the machines came to life once more and then the group was off, back into the wide open sky and chasing down their next adventure.
AN2: So there's chapter four The plot is starting to take shape and we're learning a little bit more of the four main characters. I hope you all enjoyed and please don't forget to leave a review! I love to read what you guys think and what you have to say.