Chapter 10: Ignition

Fionna sat on the floor wrapping her arms around her knees as she focused on the gigantic oven in front of her, heating her face. She remained in her blue dress which laid tattered, soiled and wrinkled around her. She exhaled a bit as she sadly watched her friend in Gumball's oven, hoping he'd reheat quickly and push open the glass door. Resting her chin on her knees for a second she closed her eyes for a the first time in the two hour time period she had been monitoring Flame Prince. Guilt pressed on her shoulders like a weighted barbell. What if this was the body of water that put out his flame for good? From behind her she could hear footsteps coming down the stairs to Gumball's laboratory. Fionna was not in the mood to battle anything at this time. She looked at her cut and bruised arms from the fight and sighed. Her sword was somewhere behind her, probably lying next to Flame Prince's fancy clothes. In the oven he laid in his boxers peacefully fueled with Flames.

"You know you'll hurt your eyesight if you stare into fire. It's a proven fact that can make humans blind". Gumball said gently as he stood above Fionna holding a tea cup.

Fionna didn't stir, she barely even blinked as she continued to stare at the lifeless looking fire lord. Gumball sighed as he then walked away to pull up a chair and park a seat next to his bodyguard.

"I brought you some hot chocolate. I figured you'd be here most of the night".

"I'll be here all night if I have to". Fionna muttered.

Gumball tapped his fingers against the porcelain pressing his lips together.

"I could take the first watch if you want and you could go rest. I think you need your sleep".

"You always think that you know what's best for me". Fionna murmured.

"Fionna I'm not against you. I have never been and never will be. Everything I have ever done was to secure protection for you". Fionna glared at him.

"Just because I taught you to fight doesn't mean you can protect me like you're still my boyfriend".

Her words echoed in PG's ears and clutched his heart like a cold iron fist.

"Damn it Fionna listen"! Prince Gumball yelled glaring deep into her eyes.

Fionna was taken aback for a moment, a little shocked at the words that just came out of her prim and proper monarch.

"Now perhaps, and I do mean PERHAPS that maybe my actions in the past weren't ideal, but in my mind they were germane to your safety". Fionna face flushed as she stood up.

"Oh and I suppose running tests on Flint was a good idea",

"Now maybe I",

"Or spying on him, almost destroying his kingdom's life source",

"Fionna, please".

"Or almost refusing to help him when his kingdom was almost taken over. You know, you even get real sour when I'm around Marshall even though YOU are the one that broke up with me"!

"Excuse me if I express concerns for you and your filthy habit of seducing anything dangerous"! Gumball yelled as he then felt his face forced sideways as felt a sting on his cheek.

He looked down and felt his blistered flesh. For years, Fionna had grown less lenient of Gumball's tone towards her. She was the protector of the kingdom and she made sure after a few years of employment to the kingdom that she would not let him talk down to her. Out of respect for her as her friend, ex and boss, he knew better than to not vocalize specific accusations that he knew would upset her. After four years, both parties knew one another well enough to know what would and could hurt them. Fionna was motionless, bowing her head in silence.

"Fi, I didn't mean it". Gumball said remorseful".

Turning her back to the Prince, she ignored his effort to reconcile with her for his terrible statement.

"Fionna…please..forgive me I,". Gumball begged, his tone barely

"There's nothing to forgive….. you're right". Fionna stated.

PG stood in silence..with only the sound of the fire flickering in the oven bringing sounds of life to the room.

"Everyone's always getting hurt because of me". Fionna continued, breaking the silence after a few moments.

PG stood behind Fionna silently, listening intently to her.

"Marshall could've died, Flame Prince may be permanently extinguished", Fionna listed solemnly as she continued to watch Flame Prince.

A silent tear formed at her eye lid as the pressing feeling of responsibility sat on her chest.

"Don't say that", Prince Gumball cooed resting a gentle hand on Fionna's shoulder as a chill ran up her spine despite her secret desire to be comforted.

"I'm the one who's the dangerous one….I can't even keep my best friends safe". Fionna said lowly as she turned to face Gumball.

The Prince came closer to her, tenderly offering to her a handkerchief for the single glistening tear of remorse that glowed against Fionna's skin from the bright fires of the oven. Fionna rolled her eyes and snatched the tear away from her eye. Gumball watched her take the handkerchief and wipe the makeup running from her eye. With a bit of frustrated she wiped her face clean until the light pink cloth was covered in eye makeup. As she held the handkerchief in her hand she huffed a sigh of disappointment and looked to Gumball shaking her head.

"I'm sorry…that….this is who I am….". Fionna apologized, her cheeks a little stained with pink from harshly wiping makeup off her.

In her mind, she accused herself of causing constant trauma to the kingdom. Not for a single day had she had a moment of peace in four years of working for Gumball. She couldn't be a lady of the court like he had hoped for when they were still together. Her audacious and often rough behavior wouldn't ever allow it. It was impossible to even attend one of his balls without making a fool of herself in an out of place situation and or fighting an enemy that forced her to jump back into her body guard mode. Fionna dreaded going to Gumball's parties because it seemed that no matter where she went, danger followed her and destroyed every bit of peace around her.

PG smiled and chuckled to himself a little. Fionna bowed her head and looked away. She didn't blame him for treating her like a joke.

"I don't think you know how safe you've kept this place". Prince Gumball said with a smile.

His bright purple eyes gleaming down at Fionna as she looked to him with confusion.

"Fionna…for you to say to me that you think you are hazardous is ridiculous. This kingdom stands here today because of you…don't you understand that"? Gumball asked as he tenderly traced his pink fingers under Fionna's chin, lifting her jaw to look into his eyes.

Fionna's heart beat furiously against her chest for the contact as her pink stained cheeks colored more brightly as his expression began to change.

"You know, Sometimes I can't help to imagine that if something were to happen to me, you'd be a better ruler for this kingdom". He said sadly, dropping his hands from Fionna's face and lifted her hand to caress it gently.

She shook her head and looked at him sympathetically.

"You are the radest ruler. Nobody could top you. You have great policy".

"Yes but I have what Marshall would call a punchable face because of my lack of trust for people". Gumball reminded with a defeated roll of his eyes.

"You can't be everyone's friend and ruler". Fionna interjected as PG made his way slowly to the large oven, staring at the Flame Prince's body, lying peacefully inside.

"I suppose". He whispered with his hands behind his back as he stared at Flint's lifeless looking body, his own reflected that was colored with guilt haunted him from the corner of his eye that appeared on the glass of the over.

Gumball shook his head and straightened his voice.

"With that said, I hope you understand as guardian to this kingdom that any decision I make is for the well-being of this kingdom and I need you to respect my actions just like I respect yours when trauma strikes". PG said sternly and seriously.

Fionna nodded intently listening.

PG huffed a sigh and shut his eyes for a moment as he rotated his body to face Fionna. She stood still and patiently, noticing that there was more PG had to say. After rubbing the side of his eye, the prince's purple irises could be seen once again. With a loving smile he reached for Fionna's hand that appeared cut up and bandaged from the attack earlier. Fionna's face flushed as she watched the Pink gently smooth his thumb over the bandages and over small patches of skin. She met his eyes once again.

"Never doubt yourself again. Whether you are shuffling in a ball gown or covered in blood and dirt..you are still my kingdom's…..rock". PG said softly with a wink a he gave her hand a small delicate squeeze.

Gently he brushed the blonde bangs off her face, planting his lips on her forehead as Fionna's cheeks flared with blush. He gave her one last loving smile before turning his back to her towards the stairs.

"I'll have peppermint maid bring you down a foam cake mattress and some clean clothes". He said as he made his way to the main floor

Fionna felt her face grow hotter as she processed the kiss she was just given. His lips, so warm and soft could still be felt on her skin. She shut her eyes as her heart beat into her chest, wishing they fell on her lips instead like they used to. The crackle of the flames in the over shook Fionna from her daydream as she then realized that she had no definite opinion of PG. Their whole situation still confused her greatly. Her mind couldn't help but wander. Would he take her back? Or would he find another bride that had everything Fionna lacked.

"What are you doing Fionna"? She asked herself as she felt her head with confusion.

Gumball headed up to his room and sat down at his desk. Resting his chin on the palm of his hand he played with the velvet box he intended to give Fionna before the ball took a turn for the worst.

"Looks to me like you aren't booking a chapel any time soon". A low voice with a hint of mockery said as Gumball cringed.

With a groan he opened the tunic of his color, placing the ring inside of it.

"Don't you have somewhere else to be…or something else to do besides pestering me at this hour"? Gumball hissed, looking over his shoulder to see a floating Marshall Lee. The left side of his shirt was drapped just below his shoulder to reveal bandages with dark red blood soaking it from the attack.

Marshall punctured his lower lip with his fang and grasped at the bandage, ripping it off and tossing it carelessly to the floor, much to Gumball's dislike. His eyes watched the medical cloth float like the feather into the air and onto the floor, before darting a annoyed glance at the vampire.

"You know…you're right..gummy worm…I can think of someone else to pester right now". He thought to himself as he turned his levitating body towards the door while his eyes still met with the Prince's.

"Someone who is sulking by her lonesome in a pretty blue dress in your lab". Marshall continued, his smirk growing a little wider.

Gumball clutched his fist, sounding a crack from his joints.

"You can try whatever charade you want…but what Fionna and I have is true love and I will confirm that once I put this ring on her finger and make her my queen". Gumball announced as he stood up from his desk and reached into his tunic to reveal the velvet box.

Marshall scoffed at the motion and folded his arms, turning his body back around to face the candy prince.

"I think you mean…my queen". Marshall hissed, making Gumball's eyes grow dark.

"And you can shove that ring where the sun don't shine because Fionna is",

"Fionna is a grown woman….as you said". Gumball interrupted darkly, his eyes narrowing at Marshall.

The vampire folded his arms, raising an eye brow to his opponent.

"The three of us all want the same thing". Gumball reminded.

"Three you say"? Marshall questioned

"As if you believe that walking toaster oven is dead". Gumball said sarcastically with a slight bit of hope that the fire prince was gone.

Marshall rolled his eyes and looked away for a moment.

"In the end it's whoever she chooses". Gumball murmured.

Marshall pridefully met the prince's eyes.

"May the best prince or in my case, ….King win". Marshall said with a toothy smirk as Gumball pursed his lips, glaring to Marshall cruelly.

Hey Guys I know this chapter is a little short but fear not because new ideas are pouring out every day. I hope you all enjoy this story. This is a lot more drama to follow. Thanks for reading =)