Chapter Ten: The Escape

"Where do we go?" Marshall was frantically flying away from the Ice Kingdom. His first thought was to go to his house, but the Ice Queen would expect that. Fionna was in Marshall's tight grip, looking back awkwardly to see if the Ice Queen was following them.

To Fionna's disappointment, the Ice Queen was at least fifty yards away, "You can't keep running forever!"

Her grip on Marshall tightened, "I don't care, just not your house or mine." Marshall heard the maniacal threats behind them and sped up, flying through some clouds.

"Maybe we'll lose her through here," his speed ever increasing as he spoke. They were moving so fast that the water particles in the cloud were hitting Fionna's face like bullets; she buried her face in Marshall's chest. The adrenaline was running so strong through both of them that they didn't even realize their closeness. Marshall looked down at her, "Sorry, Fi. Maybe we will be in the clear soon." He adjusted her hat so it helped shield her face. They flew for what seemed like hours, the Ice Queen's voice gradually fading away.

Fionna looked up when she no longer felt the water bullets on her skin. Everything she saw was pink. "The Candy Kingdom?"

Marshall just shrugged, his speed slowing enough to actually see more than just colors around them, "I didn't know where else to go." He flew them to the west most edge of the pink kingdom, hoping to avoid attention. They collapsed at the base of a tree; they flew out far enough that there were a few brown and green trees scattered among the pink and white candy trees. Marshall let Fionna go and leaned against the brown trunk, "Well, that was exhausting."

Fionna plopped herself on the ground and buried her face in her knees, "I just sent an innocent little penguin to the Nightosphere. I'm a monster! Why am I so stupid?"

"You're not stupid, and you're certainly not a monster." He wanted to wrap her in his arms, but he didn't know if that was the right thing to do. It was driving him crazy; he wanted to comfort her, but how? "Maybe I can go get him."

Fionna's head shot up, "You can get him back?"

"Well, there's a chance. When someone is sent to the Nightosphere, they randomly land in any location. He could be anywhere, but I could try to find him."

"I want to go with you."

"I don't know about that," there were some pretty messed up creatures in the Nightosphere. He didn't want to put Fionna in any more danger than she already was. He knew she could handle herself; she was awesome like that. But he knew the Ice Queen was really nothing Fionna couldn't take care of; who knows how she'd fair in his realm.

"No, I am going with you. Let's go." She stood up just as Marshall heard the Ice Queen's mumbling not too far away.

He shot up and snatched Fionna, hiding behind a nearby bush. He lay on the ground, Fionna beside him.

"I know you two are somewhere. Taking my Gunther away from me, who do you think you are? I will get him back, and you. Just you wait." The Ice Queen was mumbling to herself, looking all around, especially up in the trees.

Good thing I didn't go up there...That was honestly Marshall's first thought, but it would've made too much noise.

The Ice Queen was a few trees away from their bush, inching closer and closer. Marshall cautiously turned his head toward Fionna and whispered in her ear, "Do not move or make a noise, okay?"

She replied with a small nod. He turned back toward the bush; he could monitor their threat through the branches. Fionna could hear the mumbling get louder and louder; she felt around for Marshall's hand and laced her fingers with his, trying to reassure him. He didn't chance moving his head, but he squeezed her hand in response.

Fionna was kind of laughing in her head. She went on adventures all the time, and, right now, Marshall was the one trying to protect her. She had to admit, though, she would've probably been in a frozen block of ice back at the Ice Kingdom if it hadn't been for Marshall's quick escape. And who knew what the Ice Queen would do now? For all Fionna knew, she might be impaled with a shard of ice if she was caught. She thought it best in the end to just let Marshall lead this situation.

"But how to get revenge on the two of you..."

A blue dress eventually colored the scenery in front of the bush; Marshall and Fionna seemed to both be holding their breathe. The queen gasped, Marshall tensed to take action. "Oh, that is evil!" She flew off, cackling. Marshall and Fionna instantly relaxed.

"Well, she's gone for now, but apparently she thinks she knows a way to have revenge on me," Fionna sat up, stretching the anxiety of the past few minutes away.

Marshall sat up with her, laughing, "Man, that was the craziest adrenaline rush."

"Yeah, that usually happens when you go on adventures. This time was a little different, though. The Ice Queen isn't usually that mean. Yeah, she tries to steal PG and stuff, but she's never out for blood!"

Marshall internally laughed at the irony. Fionna was freaked because she thought that the Ice Queen was out for "blood". Does she not understand that she's hanging out with a vampire? But I don't really go out for blood... "Yeah, you're right. But...you did send one of her pets to the Nightosphere..."

Fionna sighed and lay back on the ground. "Glob, I am a monster."

Marshall lay beside her, their arms resting next to one another. Looking at her, he said sternly, "Fionna. You're not a monster. Remember? I can go and try to find the little guy and everything will be better. Chill out, everything will be okay. Okay?"

He couldn't tell if he was doing well at this comforting thing. Fionna put her arms over her face, covering her eyes. "Right. But I am going with you. I am responsible for all of this – I will be the one to get him. I just feel so awful. I knew I should've been more careful! I am so childish!"

Marshall rolled his eyes, "Fionna, you are such a drama queen." Fionna removed her arms from her face and glared at him. "He's probably fine. The worst thing that can happen is...well, he's probably fine."

Fionna put her arms at her side and said, "Nice pep talk. Whatevs, let's just go get him."

"Wait, I think we should leave in the morning. It will be safer." He didn't think that was necessarily true, but he wanted Fionna to relax and get some sleep; she looked very tired with the bags under her eyes and the sluggish way she moved.

She sighed; she wanted to go now. Gunther needed to come back and be out of that place! But she knew she was tired and wouldn't be able to accomplish much in her current state. "Okay," she sat up, "can you take me to my tree house?"

Marshall remained on the ground, "Well, my house is closer, and you did say that you wanted to come hang at my house when we were leaving the Ice Kingdom."

Cake would definitely be worried, Fionna thought. She looked at Marshall, who was closing his eyes, lying back on his arms. It would make sense to stay at his house and leave early in the morning...She gave in. "Okay, fine. Let's go."

Marshall got up, "Jeez, you don't have to sound so mad about it. I thought you enjoyed my company?" He held out a hand to help her up.

Refusing the gesture, she got up herself and said, "I do, very much so. I'm just stressed out about everything."

"Okay," he didn't know what else to say. He began to rise next to Fionna and reached down to lift her up.

"No, I want to walk. I'm sick of you always carrying me around; I have legs you know."

Marshall laughed and planted his feet on the ground, "Alright, but my way is faster. Perk of being the son of a demon." Fionna rolled her eyes and started heading off. He was always bringing up that he is the "son of a demon". He isn't as bad as he thinks he is. He just tried to protect me from the Ice Queen for Glob's sake. "Fionna? My house is this way," he pointed to the opposite direction.

Fionna sighed and turned around. Marshall fell into step beside her. He could feel her fresh anxiety radiating off of her; he reached for her hand. She looked up at him; being with him right now was actually calming her down. She no longer felt butterflies when she was near him. She just felt right.

She slowed her pace until both of them were standing still. Marshall didn't know what was the matter, "What's wrong Fi—" He was cut off by Fionna's lips softly landing on his. Marshalls' eyes widened in shock, but it didn't last long. They kissed for what seemed like forever and then finally broke away. Their hands remained together as they continued on their way.