Marshall Lee kissed the top of his pink lover's head, then allowed himself to transform back into his large monstrous bat form. Bubba extended his hand and touched his arm, then climbed on up into his hand for the ride home. He stared at the necklace's beautiful stone, unsure of the future. Unsure of himself. As soon as the spell was broken, he feared they would be right back to trying to kill each other.
The ride home was a little over an hour, and it had started to rain. Upon arriving to the tree house, Marshall set Bubba on his feet and shrunk back down to his human self. It was eerily yet peacefully quiet, and Marshall seemed happy and eager to find out the truth. Finally, they could get to the bottom of all the ridiculous commotion.
"Cake?!" The pale vampire hit on the door, suddenly angered. He remembered that it was her fault that he was in such a mess. She gave them the stones to get them to stop fighting. She cursed the two of them without hesitation. The beautiful feline answered the door, smiling bright.
"Marshall! Gumball! You're alright!" She stretched up and hugged them both, earning a hiss of disapproval from the displeased vampire.
"Why, Cake!? Why did you put a love spell on us!? I mean, come on, did you seriously think we wouldn't be able to figure it out?" He began, fussing at her. Gumball didn't speak a word, but instead dropped Marshall's hand. The anger was understandable, but that didn't mean it was necessary.
"It was either that or you killed another in a vicious battle to the death. Marshall, you're a great friend of mine- I was terrified of the thought of you dying. And Prince Gumball is the man whom is the best friend of my… my lover. I didn't want him to be hurt. So I made you stop by making you love another instead of hate. It worked, didn't it?"
"A little too well, Cake. We- We had sex, and now we're in this deep love that obviously isn't our choice. I love Prince Gumball an unhealthy amount, but we both know it isn't a true love. Can you just lift the curse for us and let us be?" Marshall inquired while pinching the bridge of his nose, agitated. Bubba opened his mouth to voice his opinion, but shut it. No one would listen to him anyways. Cake sighed loudly, clearing just as agitated right back at him. She didn't appreciate his ungratefulness for something very kind that she did.
"Alright, so long as you promise to not fight another or wage war. Write it down on a piece of paper and sign it. I never want your kingdoms to fight. Never again, hear me?"
"Alright, Cake. We understand." Bubba spoke softly, urging the process along. If this is what Marshall wanted, Bubba wanted it too. Anything to make him happy. The pair wrote out a peace agreement and both signed their names on it. She then nodded, finally satisfied, and reversed the curse by uttering a few words in a foreign, fantastical language. The stones stopped glowing their beautiful light, then crumbled off of the necklace and fell to pieces on the floor.
The curse had finally been lifted. All the powerful love, intense feelings, and deep emotions the boys had previously had for another was gone. Marshall looked around, seemingly confused for a moment. When he looked at Bubba he felt nothing. The world seemed blank, as if they had no memories. No emotions. A few seconds passed, and all these clouded blurry feelings eventually started filling up his mind. The last few days erased from his mind. All he knew was that he hated, despised, and even detested Bubba with everything he was.
"You-! YOU! I HATE you!" Marshall choked out, face red hot with anger and fury. "You arrogant little-"
Gumball held completely still as the vampire's words ripped him to pieces and droned on and on and on. The air felt thin, like he could hardly breathe. For some reason, he didn't hate Marshall. He still longed for his loving affection. He couldn't cry because he was in too much shock. He couldn't run because there was nowhere to go. He felt anger, love, forgiveness, and frustration all at the same time for Marshall.
"Why aren't you dead yet!? I thought we were going to finish this!" He marched towards the prince, and Bubba sucked in a breath, waiting to feel the sting of a fist on his jaw. Cake intervened by grabbing the back of Marshall's shirt and pulling him away from Gumball, then tossing him into the couch. The younger prince nodded at Cake quietly, thanking her for protecting him.
"I'll be on my way Cake. I'll keep the promise to not attack Marshall or his kingdom so long as he leaves me and my kingdom alone, and keeps his hands to his damn self. I shall not stand for any more deaths of my people by the hands of yours. Good day Cake. Marshall." He tried to keep himself from crying, but was simply unable to not. Tears flowed down his face but he never showed weakness. It was apparent he was confused and that his head was foggy. All Bubba wanted to do was sit, think, and sort out what was going on in his mind. He was brave and remained strong, facing them both with a royal poise; that is, until he left for home and broke apart into sobs.
"What on earth were you thinking, Marshall Lee Abadeer!? What on earth were you thinking…!? Honestly, Marshall, do you have no filter?" Cake growled at him, staring deep into his eyes. She gave him the type of glare that makes one feel really really crummy about what they've done. Much like a mother scolding her misbehaving child who should definitely know better. He rubs the back of his neck and just stares at her in shock. Honestly, he was just as confused as Gumball.
"He's my enemy Cake-! Do you expect me to be nice!? He doesn't like me either! We were just about to… to… battle- right?" Slowly, the memories of the last few days began to settle in. He blushed, eyes scanning the floor as the pictures played by like a slide show.
"After everything you've been through I'm at least expecting you to be decent to him! He hasn't done anything wrong to you, and you very well know that! You've been the one instigating every single fight and waging war on his country. It's absolutely ridiculous, and you know it. It's your fault I had to resort to such a thing to save you. It's your fault there's such a mess. It's your fault you didn't punish your people when they murdered then ate his! All of this is your fault, and you've just crushed him to smithereens. You have no respect and that sickens me! After all you've been through- And you treat him like that!"
After the initial anger and frustration left him, all of the more recent memories filled Marshall's mind. He realized exactly what had happened from the time in between them falling in love to them falling out of love. They had become partners and the closest of friends. He turned red and started to realize just what had gone on. He just attacked the very man he loved so much- or used to love- with anger and malice. He felt so horrible. "The- the love wasn't real Cake, it just wasn't. You can't be so angry with me, alright…?"
"I- I know that Marshall. I know." She moved to him. "I think you should talk to him and at least apologize… I just need you to let him know won't wage war on him anymore. I could tell the curse never left him."
"What did you mean…? Of course the damn curse left him. It left me, didn't it?"
"Well… technically, the curse did leave him. He no longer feels the affects, just like you. Marshall- Gumball loves you still, just as he had when the curse was present inside him. You really got into his head, and heart. He loves you and doesn't want to live without you. Personally, I think…" Cake continued on her opinion, but Marshall wasn't listening anymore. He couldn't be blamed though. He had just hurt a man who cared so much about him. A slow realization spread across his face, guilt in his eyes.
"How come it didn't work on me? Why don't I still… love him?" He rubbed his arm, remembering their few passionate, intimate sessions. They had been dense with love, and that had been certain. Now though- now it felt a bit like it had been forced. Against their will. The curse controlled them, made them needy, made them love another, and made them have sex. It wasn't anyone's fault in particular as to what happened.
"I don't know. I think he must have had some sort of crush or admiration for you prior to the event. Have you ever met before your kingdoms raged war?" She sighed and lied down, curling up on a cushion. Marshall Lee stared blankly at a corner for a while, his facial features showing exhaustion and concern. The king nodded softly.
"Yeah," he mentioned, "We first met when he was very young. I was, obviously, this old in appearance. He was only 13. When I spoke to him he turned red and seemed sheepish. He was sweet and kind. I think he may have had a crush- but I don't know! That was when I was still stuck with my mother in the Nightosphere! Then I made my kingdom not far from his, and this hellish catastrophe of a winter brought famine, everyone began to suffer! My demons eat his fluffy people, and then it's full on battle to the end. He was harder, not innocent anymore. Nastier." Marshall rubbed his temples. "It was sad. He made me angry, I made him angry… We waged war, we killed so many citizens…" His eyes went dark.
"So you don't really hate him, do you?" She looked up, her whiskers twitching softly.
"No- I don't really hate him. I never have. Power- being a king, having people to please- that made me hate him. The pressure to do right for my kingdom…" His eyelids slowly closed and he started to cry. He brought a hand up to cover his eyes. "And then that curse happened, and at first it was a blurred need to have sex. It's all I could think about. Gumball. Gumball Gumball Gumball. I absolutely HAD to get to Gumball, have sex with Gumball.
"Those amulets possessed the power to do that… I- I didn't want you to die. I didn't want Mochro's best friend to die… It was my only hope to save you. You're too proud to admit to your wrong doings, and he's to head-strong to forgive. You're both stupid, stupid ignorant men! Just-!" She began to cry, cracking. She didn't want this to happen, but messing with love and magic never turns out. "I'm very sorry Marshall Lee. I hope you can forgive me…" The vampire knelt beside her and rubbed her fur softly, forgiving. He knew she had made the right decision in saving their lives.
"It's alright Cakie. Thank you for saving us from our stupid selves." He ran out and chased after Gumball, going to right things with him.