Chapter 7 Wars

"Um... I guess that'd be alright," said Fionna blushing. "I mean, yeah, sounds cool." Marshall Lee's blood boiled, Gumball stole her, just as he thought would happen. It's why he came down here, to stop him from doing the very same thing, but he was a little late for that. Fionna had actually said yes to him. He hated himself for not getting to her first, out of all the people Gumball asked her out before he got the chance.

"Cool, so there's this really cool restaurant in the Candy Kingdom, we could go there," said Gumball trying to keep his cool. This would be their first real first date. The first real chance he'd have with her, as long as Cake could keep Marshall Lee out of their way. Fionna and Marshall Lee leave the room, although not as soon as Marshall Lee would have liked. Once their finally far enough away from Gumball Marshall Lee stops, looking Fionna in the eyes.

"What made you say yes?" asked Marshall Lee curiously. He put his hands on her shoulders desperately. "Do you honestly want to go through this?" Fionna smiled, nodding. Honestly, she wanted to do this.

"Why not?" asked Fionna. "I'm going to go tell, Cake." She removed his hands and started walking to find Cake. Marshall Lee desperately fallowed. She was going through with this. Every bone in Marshall Lee's body wanted to stop her in some way, but he fought it. He hated Gumball even more for this, but then he tried to stay positive. Maybe the date wouldn't go well. Maybe. The thought ran through her mind. Maybe messing with them would work. Although, if he was going to do this he needed to be careful not to be seen. As he formulated a plan in his mind he lost Fionna, and was in a far wing of the castle, alone.

"No way, Gumball asked you out on a date?" asked Cake just learning the news. "And you actually said yes?" Fionna laughed at her over enthusiasm. She nods, smiling with Cake.

"Marshall Lee doesn't see very happy," said Fionna sighing. "He kind of ditched me when coming to see you... Why does the guy even care? I don't think he even really likes me. Do you think it's because of Gumball, Cake?" Cake smiles, she was so stupid when it came to love. The most obvious signs she was oblivious to.

"I don't think so, Baby," said Cake smiling. "I think it's you. But what do I know? I don't understand the blood sucker very well." Fionna laughs, but listens to Cake. He hadn't said he really liked her, but maybe Cake was right. Marshall Lee did seem a little protective over her sometimes. She looked at it recently like an older brother. It was just how she treated her, which sort of got her down at first. "Where's Gumball taking you?"

"To some kind of Candy Restaurant," said Fionna trying to think. "He didn't say exactly. Although I bet it'll be super fancy." Cake nods in agreement.

"So what did Marshall Lee say?" asked Cake. "How mad was he?"

"He like, freaked on me when we left. I went to go find you, and he took me by the shoulders asking me if I wanted to go or something like that," said Fionna. "I don't think he was mad as he was jealous, but I think it was towards Gumball, Cake."

"Obviously it was towards Gumball!" said Cake laughing. "Never mind, let's go clean that dress. Find something to get off all my cat hair." Peppermint Maid provides them with the tools they needed to get the cat hair off Fionna. Slowly, over time, they got most of it off, but kept the tools close by just in case. Bored and with nothing to do they finally decided to go around looking for Marshall Lee, wanting to know where he had wandered off to.

While he was wondering around aimlessly, trying to get away from everyone, trying to think some. He stayed in the older part of the castle, it wasn't in very good shape. Ceiling tiles were falling out and the wallpaper was starting to come ripping down to see bits and pieces of the wall. You couldn't tell you were in Gumball's perfect castle. It looked like something you'd see in the Nightosphere, actually. The pink had dulled into a grey, Marshall Lee actually kind of liked it. He'd never seen this part of the castle before, and he's explored it a lot.

"Marshy, where are you?" called Fionna going through the castle. "If you're playing games with me it's not funny! Come on, where'd you go off to?" Fionna was starting to worry, he had just floated off without saying anything to her. "Please don't be mad, Marshall Lee! Please, where are you?"

"Baby I don't think he can hear you," said Cake. "This castle is pretty big. We could go ask the Castle staff for help if you want to find him that bad, okay?" Fionna nodded, giving up the search for Marshall Lee. They had no leads on where he could have gone and were blindly going around the castle. Fionna was starting to get sick of it, really. They found their way back to the dining room, where Peppermint Maid was cleaning up.

"Oh, Miss Fionna and Miss Cake, what can I do for the two of you?" asked Peppermint Maid happily.

"Marshall Lee wandered off," said Cake. "Do you think you could have the castle staff look for him? He's starting to worry Fionna." Peppermint Maid nodded, going off to do alert the castle staff. "See, Fionna? She's on top of it. He'll be found, no worries."

"What if he left, Cake? Because of me?" asked Fionna starting to feel bad. "Do you think he left?"

"It's still bright out, Fi, if he wanted to leave he'd have to wait until later," said Cake. Fionna nodded, she was right. The sun would destroy him if he went to leave. Although it didn't make her feel any better about him leaving her alone. "Why don't we go find Gumball okay, Baby?" Again, Fionna nodded, having Cake drag her to Gumball's lab.

"Oh, Fionna, you're back," said Gumball rather surprised. "Is Marshall Lee with you?"

"Nah, he ditched me," said Fionna. "Peppermint Maid's got the castle staff looking for him."

"Well that's too bad," said Gumball getting up, taking this opportunity with Fionna. "I'll get changed and we can go to dinner, okay? I don't think the restaurant we'll be going to will like it if I wore a lab coat, right?" Fionna smiles, Gumball had his large glasses on, his lab coat and his special gloves.

"Heh, yeah, where should I wait for you?" asked Fionna curiously.

"By the main door to the Candy Castle, I'll be there in ten minutes," he said going off to change.

"One after another huh, Cake?" asked Fionna laughing. Cake stuck her tongue out, leading Fionna back to the Castle doors, waiting for Gumball to return. "What do you think he'll be wearing?"

"I don't know, maybe his usual outfit..." said Cake. "Not like I pay much attention." Fionna shrugged, wondering herself what the pink prince would be wearing this time. He had always liked the one he wore to his Annual Gumball Ball and wore that an awful lot, but whenever not wearing that outfit his attire would always be different. Fionna wondered what he would be wearing. Maybe something oddly different like what Fionna was wearing, or if it would be his usual. She couldn't get the simple question out of her mind.

When Gumball came back he was wearing his usual clothes. His pink suit with the baby blue gems. Fionna smiles, her hand being taken.

"Be careful, Baby," said Cake smiling. "Come back soon, okay?" Fionna nodded, going out with Gumball, leaving Cake alone in the castle. Being alone she went around looking for Marshall Lee and or Peppermint Maid. Someone who would lead her to Marshall Lee. Sure enough Peppermint Maid had found Marshall Lee, who didn't seem happy to be shown around by Peppermint Maid.

"Where's Fionna?" asked Marshall Lee curiously.

"With Gumball, they left about ten minutes ago," said Cake. "You could have done something if you didn't leave her, you know. She was really worried." Marshall Lee stuck his hands in his pockets.

"I'm sorry," said Marshall Lee shamefully.

"Well you should be! You had the poor girl super worried as hell," said Cake. "She doesn't need to be worrying against anything else. Okay?" Marshall Lee nodded, feeling horrible. Not only did he make Fionna worry he let her slip through his fingers and into Gumball's.

"How could I be so stupid?" asked Marshall Lee hanging his head down. Cake smiled, putting her arm on his shoulder. She smiles stretching her legs to be at Marshall Lee's eye level.

"It's okay, Marshall," said Cake. "Nothing you can do about it now." None of this made Marshall Lee feel any better, if anything it was making him feel worse. Although he didn't object any of it. No matter what he did it was all true, and none of it could be changed. If only I had been quicker, thought Marshall Lee. If I could have found her instead of staying in that dead beat part of the castle.

"Where'd they go?" asked Marshall Lee.

"I don't know," said Cake. "And even if I did I wouldn't tell you. Let them enjoy their night, Marshall Lee. She deserves it."

"What time is it?" asked Marshall Lee.

"Around seven," said Cake.

"Good, I can leave," said Marshall Lee going to the castle doors. He needed to get away from the Candy Kingdom. He was sick of it for the day. He needed to get away and think things over. Things about Fionna, Gumball, her memory, thing like that. Everything's been so overwhelming. So hectic. He'd enjoy some personal times in the caves for once. Some time alone.

"Marshall, don't," said Cake. Marshall Lee opened the castle door, and a cold breeze soon fills the room. Marshall Lee couldn't feel it, but Cake sure did. "Marshall Lee!" He sighs, turning around, not truly paying attention to the cat, but she stopped yelling at him. "You can't leave. Fionna wanted to make sure you're okay. At least wait until she comes back from her date."

"Don't call it a date," hissed Marshall Lee. "Don't call it a globing date. Not with Bubba. Especially not with Bubba!" Cake smirks, the vampire king was jealous. He was very jealous. He had a tear or two going down his face, but other than that his facial expression was pure anger.

"Fine, when she comes back from her... outing... you can leave. Make sure she knows you're okay," said Cake. Marshall Lee sighed in frustration, closing the door. Cake smiled, clapping her hands a few times. She was victorious in getting him to stay just a little while longer. That in itself was hard. Marshall Lee was usually strong willed, and once his mind was set on something it was set. Cake had never been able to change his mind about something like this before.

X-X-X

"So, Fionna, are you enjoying your dinner?" asked Gumball curiously. "You seem distracted." Gumball had taken Fionna to the best restaurant in the Candy Kingdom. It was a bit high class for Fionna, but she didn't mind. It was actually a pretty nice place, although too formal for her taste.

"What? Oh, um, it's nothing, don't worry about it," said Fionna shoving her fork into her meatloaf. She couldn't shake the thought of what was making Marshall Lee and Gumball act so strangely lately. Like they've been keeping even more from her. No matter what she did she couldn't help but think she wasn't told everything she should've been told.

"Come on, Fionna, tell me," said Gumball.

"I told you it's nothing," said Fionna smiling. "Just as bad as Cake." Gumball laughs a little, trying not to be too disruptive to the other people around them.

"I'm that bad, huh?" asked Gumball. Fionna nods, shoving more meatloaf into her mouth.

"It's okay, though, I don't mind."

"After this do you want to go to the movies or something?" asked Gumball curiously. "I don't know what is playing, but..."

"Actually, I'm kind of tired, would you mind too much if we went back to the castle?" asked Fionna feeling bad about cutting their date short. Gumball was sort of disappointed as well, but shook it off before Fionna could notice.

"We could watch a dvd there on Beemo, sound good?" asked Gumball. Fionna nodded, that sounded good. Some hot chocolate, a nice warm blanket, all four of them: Cake, Marshall Le, Gumball and Fionna. She had no idea what movie it would be, but she hoped it wasn't just another horror movie again.

After finishing their meals Gumball attempts to pay the place, but it wouldn't take money from their prince. Gumball sort of liked this, but felt guilty at the same time. None of the Candy People would take Gumball's money. Although whenever a castle staff member was to go out in town for him they'd eat it up. There were many up sides and down sides to being the prince. They walk back to the Candy Castle, it was still cold outside, but neither of them minded. Fionna liked it, the breeze whipped her bunny ears around, dancing in a way, while her dress refused to stay down. She had to keep both hands holding it down to assure her coverage. Gumball barely felt cold and heat since he was made out of candy. He never physically felt temperature change, unless it was taken to extremes, much like Marshall Lee. Fionna was the only one in their group who was fully exposed to the weather, hot or cold. Cake having her fur and Flame Prince being made out of fire was never cold nor hot, unless put out by water or lack of oxygen.

When they got back to the Candy Castle Fionna noticed Marshall Lee floating there strumming his axe bass. They exchanged looks for a minute or two. Fionna's eyes narrowed, and had a tint of sadness in them. She was angry at him, she ditched her. Made her run around with Cake searching for him. Almost made her cry. She was angry with him, but had already forgiven him, but she didn't want him to know. While Marshall Lee was just about emotionless, but shocked to see how angry Fionna looked. Sure, he's seen her angry at him plenty of times, but this was new. He didn't know what to do, or what to think for that matter. It seemed to go on forever in Marshall Lee's eyes. He hated it, and was relieved when Gumball took Fionna into the other room to get Beemo hooked up to some equipment.

He sat there, fighting himself. Rather to join them or to go home like he had planned. She seemed mad at him, he didn't want to leave with her mad at him, let he didn't want to fight with her. Not now. Not while Gumball was winning over her. Yet if he just left it would start a potential fight as well. It seemed no matter what path he took a fight was in the long run, so he decided to just go home. He walked out of the castle, admitting it felt good to leave, even if that did mean he had left Fionna alone with Gumball.

He floated home, staying was a waste of time, Fionna didn't even seem to want to see him. He wished he just went home in the first place. There was no need for him to stay with Cake. He regretted letting her talk him into staying. It didn't do Fionna nor Marshall Lee any good. When he got to his house he laid on his bed, strumming his bass, thinking of their song. Their original song. How could Fionna not have picked up that the song was about her? He dropped any hints he thought she would be able to pick up. Memory or no memory. A white fat cat jumped onto his bed, its face looking over Marshall Lee's. Schwabelle, his zombie cat. Its expression was blank as always, but she was growling for food this time. He fed her as a normal cat, but she almost never ate the cat food, gnawing on Marshall Lee when she got too hungry. Being a vampire zombie genetics couldn't affect him, but it always worried him that Fionna or Cake would get infected. He feeds it, going back to his solitude, sucking the red from some strawberries and an apple or two.

It was silent until he heard the phone ring. He takes it from his pocket, the small bug which also served as his cell phone. Caller I.D said it was Lumpy Space Prince, probably some gossip about stuff he didn't care about. He pressed ignore, starting to play his axe bass, only to be interrupted by the annoying phone again. This time he answered, but only to tell Lumpy Space Prince off.

"What do you-"

"Ohmyglobmarshallleeyouneedto gettothecandykingdom!It'sliketotallyonfireane-"

"CALM DOWN, LSP!" shouted Marshall Lee interrupting Lumpy Space Prince he could barely understand. He heard something about the Candy Kingdom, but Lumpy Space Prince was speaking too fast for him to pick up the rest. "Now say it again, slowly."

"The Candy Kingdom's on Fire!" shouted Lumpy Space Prince, hurting Marshall Lee's hearing a little. Only one thought crossed Marshall Lee's mind. Flame Prince.

(A:N Look at my fail at FionnaXGumball... Lol.)