Do you remember when you first woke up?
I don't mean in a sleeping sense, although you could probably think of it that way. What I meant to say was, do you remember when you first became aware of your surroundings? Realized you could think and walk around - understood that you were alive and breathing? Sometimes we don't think about that, because we are so focused on the fact that there has always been times like these. Only, nobody remembers the day they were first born.
The earliest memory I have of me is when I was three, stumbling into my kitchen and breathing heavy in that way only children could manage. I was smiling, wearing a stupid striped shirt and red overalls; I loved those darn overalls. I hadn't entered the kitchen yet, just stood in the doorway for a while, watching my aunt who sat at our kitchen table smoke a cigarette. I was mesmerized by her hair: bushy brown and glowing orange in the sunlight pouring in from our large double windows. The shutters were a light blue. Our kitchen overlooked the skyline of one of Aaa's old cities, now lost to the map.
My aunt must have heard my breathing, because she turned to face me, a smile slowly gracing her features. She said my name I think, but smoke poured out of her mouth, and I started crying; I thought there was fire in her, and she was burning up from the inside.
Later she would pass away, because all of those cigarettes caused her lungs to turn black.
Funny, how in my innocent youthful stupor, I somehow knew.
I think there is nothing more powerful than the mind of a child.
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Fionna dreamed of the prophecy.
She saw Gumball running toward the figure of Marshall's mother, her blue skin shining brightly from the moonlight above and wisps of her stark black hair billowing around her like great snakes, as if she were medusa herself. His arm was stretching outward from his body, straining to reach her. "Take it!" he cried desperately, and his voice echoed throughout Fionna's mind.
"No!" the adventuress yelled. "Gumball, stop!"
But dream Gumball didn't listen; he kept running. His face was contorted in pain, getting so close to his target that their hands almost brushed each other, that they were a mere breath away, that the amulet was almost falling into wrong hands, and Fionna - Fionna couldn't.
Her body began to tingle. A strange wave of heat curled within her gut. All of a sudden her body transformed. Her peachy skin pebbled into great tufts of feathers, spreading throughout her body and leaving no flesh uncovered. Her face twisted, until she felt her nose and mouth connecting as if to form a beak. Her arms were now wings.
She was no longer human.
Like a great hawk, Fionna swooped down to the figure of Gumball and using her talons, snatched the amulet out of his hand. She was liberating the Night-O-Sphere, and she would be getting rid of this amulet once and for all.
Or so she had thought.
When she looked down at her feet, expecting to see a glowing pink object brimming with warmth and power, she was greatly disappointed, for instead she saw Gumball's arm, dislodged and bleeding. Red liquid trickled down to the ground below them, thick and steaming. The amulet was nowhere to be seen.
"No!" Fionna screamed. "Why can't I do anything right?"
She woke up with a start. Her back was cold and sticky with sweat, clinging to the fabric of her soiled white dress. She blinked blearily, her eyes adjusting themselves to her surroundings, while her mind computed the fact that she had just experienced a rather trippy dream. Fionna sighed. "Great, now where am I?"
She appeared to be in someone's living room, laying on an old dusty chair that bore red fabric and minimal stainage (not counting the drool she managed to leave behind). There was also a checkered blanket laid over her legs, and in front of her, an old fireplace which had a fresh set of logs burning comfortably. As for the rest of the room, well, there wasn't much else. The floors were made of wood, there were a few doors in various sides of the house, and there was a small coffee table where a lantern sat unlit.
Fionna was so caught up in staring at the room that she almost forgot how much pain she was in. Her body felt like it was burning. Her chest hurt, her arm hurt, and judging by her clogged nose and constricted throat, she was sick as heck. All she wanted was some rest.
She couldn't afford to rest though. Not when she had a mission (not when Marshall was counting on her).
"How did I get here?" Fionna wondered aloud. She remembered seeing a pair of sandals before she blacked out, but not much else. Had she been taken somewhere?
Fionna suddenly heard footsteps. From within the threshold of the neighboring wall beside Fionna, the head of a woman peeked through its lit entrance. The woman was (Fionna couldn't help but pick up on this fact) old. When she stepped into the maw of the room, Fionna was afraid she would crumble to dust.
The woman's hair was mostly fallen out, save for a little tuft at the top of her noggin which was so white it almost appeared translucent. Her beady little eyes tucked themselves within a pair of sunken eye sockets that bore a million wrinkles against her pallid, almost anemic face. Her skin was grey and wizened, splattered with numerous moles and various splotches that Fionna didn't know what to call, and her lips were so thin they almost appeared missing. The woman's back was hunched, supported by a cane which she carried in her left hand, and she clutched it shakily with the tops of her hot pink fingernails; it was almost funny to see this on such a character - Fionna was definitely intrigued. Finally, Fionna assessed the fact that the woman was wearing a dark purple, almost black cloak and on her feet were those same sandals she had seen before blacking out.
The woman looked at Fionna steadily.
Gulping, Fionna readied her voice. "Excuse me," she began, "but who the math are you?"
The old woman smiled, showing rows of yellow teeth. "I am Xala," she wheezed. (Fionna could have sworn dust came out of her mouth, maybe a moth too).
"Okay Xala, um, it's nice to meet you." Fionna scratched her head. "My name is Fionna. While I appreciate the visit, I'm just a little curious to why I'm here."
Xala laughed, but it came out more like a cough. "You humans are very funny."
Fionna smiled wearily in response.
"Isn't it obvious child?" Xala asked. "You're here because the darkness has taken hold of you." She cracked a smile. "But a blackened heart, you have not. This is why we must work fast."
"I don't understand," Fionna said, at a loss. "What are you talking about?" In a few strides, Xala reached Fionna's side and lifted her cane off of the ground. She tapped the wood against Fionna's chest, right where her heart sat buried underneath her ribcage - where it beat and thrummed in unison with the spirit of adventure. Xala nodded.
"There, child," the old woman explained, "is where the darkness of this realm has began to invade." She never took the cane off Fionna's chest, but she did take her wrinkled hand and placed it against the adventuress's head. Xala hummed in confirmation. "I sense your aura: it is so very bright. Powerful. It is brimming with absolute good. You my dear are a selfless creature." Xala's eyes seemed to water. "It seems as if someone is here to finally save us." Hope poured out of the old woman's mouth, pooling at Fionna's feet.
Fionna's heart swelled. "Wh-what do you mean?"
"You my dear, are destined to deliver this Sphere away from our demons. But in your current state, I am afraid that is next to impossible."
"Why? Please Xala, I want to help!" Fionna grasped the old woman's hands. She looked through her beady eyes. "Are you referring to my sickness?"
"Yes," Xala wheezed. "It stems from your body's rejection of this realm's darkness. Your body is not used to our air: smoke ridden and full of blackened goop. You must be purified! You need," Xala let out a cough, "...you need a barrier. Something to block out the evil."
"And how do I get that?" Fionna practically yelled. Xala banged Fionna on the head with her cane. "Hey!"
"From me of course!" Xala snapped. "I'm a witch after all."
Fionna's heart sped up. "A witch!?"
"Yes. What? Do you not like witches?"
"Of course I do! In fact, I'm curious." Fionna's eyes danced with excitement. "Where wizards are not to be trusted, a witch always keeps her word. Your kind is crafty though, I'll give you that."
Xala grinned. "Do they teach you flattery on the surface?"
"Cake says there's no greater magic than our words," Fionna answered.
"Wise words from a baked good."
"She's a cat, actually."
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Marshall's hands were clammy after his call with Gumball.
Maybe it was the fact that he had just spoken to his former rival and very close friend - Gumball hadn't changed a bit, and Marshall was actually pleased about that fact. However, a smarter part of Marshall Lee's brain told him that, no…he was nervous for another reason entirely.
He needed to contact his mother.
The vampire's stomach felt sick. Now that Fionna had, in principle, pledged her allegiance to him, he would need to notify his mother in order to set their plan into action and begin war with the Candy Kingdom. This included, of course, having to introduce Fionna to his mother, and that was something Marshall really didn't want to do. Never mind the fact that she would most likely embarrass him, his mother would also be judging his choice of general. In other words, she would be judging Fionna. While Marshall had faith in Fionna's abilities, his mother had always set high standards, and she may not be too pleased with Fionna's...unconventional way of doing things. Marshall was worried, because if his mother did not approve, there would be repercussions - usually in the form of verbal abuse. Unfortunately for Marshall, he had yet to desensitize himself to her criticisms.
He had gone through it his entire life.
You're too weak, she would assert. Stop crying, it's not becoming of a boy, or the future ruler of this kingdom. Her words were engraved into his mind: a record on repeat.
You think that you're worth anything? It's no wonder Ashly left you! Why the hell are you spending so much time with this Gumball character anyway? He's too soft. It's rubbing off on you! And what is with this inane hobby of yours? Music? Do something useful with your life, Marshall Lee!
He had always been a victim of his mother's anger, and she had taken it out on his personality, trying to mold him into a son worth presenting, but Marshall had never fit into this mold. He was misunderstood - an angsty brooding kid who didn't want to hear himself be discouraged. His self esteem became damaged beyond repair.
And now...having to present his first choice of a general to his mother - having to introduce Fionna to her - Marshall was terrified. More than that, he didn't want Fionna to have to go through the same thing.
So could you blame him for not wanting to call his mother?
Marshall sighed. He knew he had no choice, especially if he wanted the plan to work. That meant he had to put aside his fears, however serious they were. It was going to be hard, but he was running out of options.
With that, Marshall wearily clutched the communicator crystal within his palm and reluctantly spoke into it, "Night-O-Sphere. Hana Abadeer."
The face of his mother burned into the sky above. She smiled triumphantly.
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Fionna eased herself into the bubble bath Xala had set for her; it was brimming with yellow colored water and lighter spheres of soap that rose up around her and clung to her more delicate parts. Fionna was amazed at the fact that the bubbles covered enough of her that she was able to feel at ease. After all, Xala was busying herself in the corner of the small bathroom, preparing a remedy for Fionna's sickness and Fionna really didn't want to put her body on view, even if Xala was nothing more than an old witch.
The bathroom was oddly charming, with brown wooden floorboards and a small window that housed a purple plant on its modest sill. There was a white sink in the corner of the room with a cabinet underneath. The bathtub was also white, with intricately designed feet in the shape of dragon claws that gleamed gold when caught in the light; it leaned against the back wall of the room where, connected to the wall, sat a confusing faucet system (the witch must have jinxed it to adhere to her needs. It looked way too confusing in Fionna's eyes).
The adventuress settled herself against the tub, closing her eyes. The bath was hot, steam rising from its waters and fogging the mirror above the sink, rendering Fionna's normally pale skin a soft rosy color. She had to admit, after weeks of adventure and nonstop stress, it felt amazing to wash off all of her filth and grime - cathartic almost. The wounds across her chest and arm stung at first, sure, but glob they felt so much better now.
"Is everything alright?" questioned Xala. The witch poured the clear liquid she was working on into the bath; it smelled of peaches. Fionna hummed in response: a sleepy yes. Xala grunted in approval. "Good. Your body needs to relax in order to deal with the sickness."
Fionna couldn't help but ask, "Why is the water yellow?"
Xala, for all of her patience, sighed in annoyance. "Honestly, do you humans know anything?"
"..."
"It's one of my potions," Xala explained. "The faucet against the wall dispenses them. Don't you have this contraption where you live? You know, above?"
"Not that I've seen."
"Well, you should think of investing in one of them! Now, wash behind your ears." Xala hurried over to the faucet and turned it to the left: rushing green water came pouring out, transforming the yellow into a light green. Bubbles escaped into the air giddily.
Fionna grumbled, but complied. She tucked her matted dark blonde hair behind her ear and reached for the soap. It was a light blue bar that Xala charmed so that it would not slip out of her hands. Fionna began to scrub. Her pink skin gleamed with a watery sheen.
"So," Xala began, breaking the silence, "tell me. The reason you are here in this realm is to save it from darkness, no?"
Fionna swallowed nervously and busied herself with the soap so she wouldn't have to look in Xala's eyes. "I think so… I mean of course, but how did you know that?"
"I can feel it; can read it on your face. I also know of the prophecy."
Fionna's eyes widened. "How?"
"Nothing goes unlooked from my line of sight. I've been down that cellar. Used to go there to think. Then I stepped on the skull." Xala took time to measure the effect of her words. She gave a hearty cough. "When I saw you in that field above, well, I just knew it was you who was going to save us."
Fionna began scrubbing her legs. "I'm going to do my best," she vowed.
"I believe you."
"But if I'm the one destined to deliver this realm from darkness then...why is my body so weak here?"
"Weak?"
"Well, yeah...I mean that's the reason I got so sick."
Xala tutted in disapproval. "You my child, are anything but weak - and you are not sick! Illness is nonexistent in this realm. You're infected. Your goody-two-shoes heart is being invaded by darkness." The witch smiled with her yellow grin. "That's why I'm here to purge you, or rather give you a form of protection."
Fionna sunk down further into the bath, blowing more bubbles with her nose. The truth was, she was nervous. She had been through so much in the Night-O-Sphere, encountering various creatures who had only set out to hurt her. Xala was a witch, and despite her friendly countenance, Fionna found it very hard to trust her. But witches always kept their word, and if she said she was going to purge Fionna of this darkness, then Fionna knew she would honor that.
But at what price?
"If you don't mind me asking," Xala suddenly spoke, "how did you get that nasty wound across your chest?" Fionna looked down at the once scabbed over laceration, the one that once screamed an angry red. Underneath the layer of bubbles, it was pink like the rest of Fionna's skin.
"I don't remember," Fionna replied truthfully. She swallowed. "Marshall told me he gave it to me."
Xala spluttered, "Marshall? As in Marshall Lee?"
"Uh, yes?"
"The current King of this realm!?"
"Yes…" Fionna blushed. Why was Xala freaking out so much? "We fought in a battle and-"
"You fought him!? Did you want a death wish? He's working with Hana Abadeer - his mother! They're royalty. Glob, how could you even think of fighting him!? And what do you mean you don't remember?" Xala clutched her chest.
"I- I don't know! He was the one who brought me here and showed me the prophecy. He asked me to help save the sphere."
Xala's face paled considerably. Fionna really didn't want to upset her heart any more than she already was, especially with how old she was. If Xala had a heart attack, Fionna would faint.
"B-but...Marshall Lee is our king," Xala stumbled, "no one in this realm has ever had the guts to confront such a demon...his mother as well. What exactly are you two planning?"
Fionna's throat tightened. Could she really trust Xala? She looked at the old woman who was visibly shaking. Her beady little eyes looked terrified.
It was the most human thing Fionna had seen since coming to this realm.
So she told her.
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"The Night-O-Sphere and The Candy Kingdom are going to war," Xala repeated, "because Hana is going to betray this sphere...just like the prophecy told. Only, Marshall and you plan on stopping this." The witch was amazed. "So Marshall is a good guy?"
Fionna laughed. "I wouldn't exactly say that," she giggled. Currently, Fionna was drying off with a rather large towel. The potion bath had made Fionna strangely light-headed, but in a good way. She felt so at ease. Xala told her she needed to be numbed to the outside world for the purging to take place; she needed to be calm and happy.
"Wow, I never would have guessed it. Marshall has come here from time to time in need of potions, but he was always so intimidating. Everything about him screamed hostility. Maybe I was just scared because of his attitude; it was as if he wanted to suck my blood!"
Fionna thought this was extremely hilarious. Actually, everything seemed funny. "Marshall just likes to play around. Everything's a big joke to him." Fionna smiled big and dopey. "Silly vampire."
"I think I might have over did it with the bubble bath…"
Fionna simply laughed.
"So I take it you've done the formal pledge then?" Xala asked.
Fionna's face scrunched up in confusion. She blurted, "Whazzat?"
Xala face palmed. "You humans never cease to impress me. You know, your official pledge of allegiance! There is a kind of ritual the two of you must perform - it's very ceremonial here."
"Sounds stupid," Fionna said. She felt very woozy now. The room was spinning. The sight of Xala's hair suddenly made Fionna burst into laughter. It bubbled out of her throat.
"I forgot to take into account the fact that your kind isn't used to hard potions like the rest of us. Oh well, shouldn't make much of a difference."
"You know what else is stupid?" Fionna giggled. "Marshall. He's going to be upset when he finds me missing!" The adventuress laughed hysterically at this. She twirled around the room with the towel draped over her shoulders like a cape. Xala sighed and quickly cast a clothing spell on the girl. Fionna's skin was suddenly covered with a blue skirt and long sleeve shirt. The adventuress' eyes went wide.
"Would you quit acting like a child? Honestly. Now let's do something about your hair," Xala scolded.
Fionna's hand trailed through her blonde locks; it tumbled down to her waist in a blonde tsunami. The adventuress shifted her weight. "Um...what about it?" she mumbled.
"Aren't you going to brush it? Tie it back? Do something?"
Fionna twirled in a circle."I usually just put it in my hat."
Xala closed her eyes, clearly appalled. "Fine. But don't come crying to me when you have knots the size of Aaa in the back of your head."
In the end, Xala ended up brushing it for Fionna, much to the girl's chagrin. As Fionna sat against a wooden stool, leaning into Xala's comforting ministrations, she was reminded of her mother. Then she thought of Cake, and felt like crying. The potion wouldn't let her though; it made her tears stop, and instead Fionna began to hiccup.
Xala, who knew very much about the effects of her potions and what hiccuping meant, did not say anything. She simply kept brushing.
Honestly, Fionna was grateful.
After a while, Fionna's body did become numb. The potions had finally set in and they were ready for the purging. Xala lit various candles around the room and positioned them in a diamond pattern. She placed flour along the ground in order to connect the candles.
"Are you ready?" the witch asked Fionna steadily.
"Yes," Fionna confirmed. The adventuress grinned broadly.
"Then let's begin." Xala started speaking in strange incantations and spells, making the flour on the ground glow a strange lurid purple. Fionna's stomach felt sick.
And then she was hit with searing pain straight in her heart. Fionna screamed.
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"Oh Marshall," his mother crooned, "we've missed you so much here at the castle." Marshall Lee sat against the Night-O-Sphere's rugged earth, watching his mother peer through the pink window of light cast by the communicator crystal. Her voice resonated loud and clear. "Ever since you ran off, the guards have been so lonely." She smiled wickedly. "I've been lonely."
Marshall Lee eyed her steadily, a growl stuck in his throat. "Sorry for the inconvenience," he replied.
"Now, tell me again why you decided to run off without so much of a goodbye?"
His mother was toying with him. She knew perfectly well why he ran off - his loyal guards most likely ratted him out. Besides, Hana knew everything. She just wanted to see Marshall sweat, but he would not give her or the triumphant smile she wore the satisfaction. "You remember the general I was telling you about," he reined in the conversation. His mother's eyes gleamed. "Let's just say she's finally come around."
"Good boy," Hana praised. Marshall grinned. "Except," she paused, letting his satisfaction fade, "you know that she still has to go through me, right? I am your partner after all." Her smile reeked of poison.
Marshall clenched his jaw. "Of course, mom."
"So you've gone through the initiation then?"
The vampire's heart dropped. His eyes darted to the left, to the right - anywhere but on his mother's eyes. "Well…"
"Marshall Lee."
"Okay," he relented, "the trust initiation hasn't exactly taken place yet…"
Hana's smile dropped. She pursed her lips, narrowing her demon eyes. "What do you mean it hasn't taken place?"
"I mean...Fionna and I haven't had the chance to perform it quite yet."
"Oh, so her name is Fionna is it?"
You idiot! Marshall scolded himself.
"Sounds cute," Hana teased. She examined her fingernails, feigning disinterest. She wanted to see her son squirm.
Marshall felt his face burn - anger and embarrassment rushing through his body. "She's more than cute. She's dangerous!"
"You admit she's cute then?" His mother laughed. "How exciting! I bet she keeps you on your toes. Good, I like a girl with a little backbone. Just as long as she understands who's really on top." Hana grinned slowly.
Fionna, Marshall knew, would never bow so easily to someone as spineless as his mother. He was afraid Fionna would say something to upset her, and then they'd really be in trouble. Ugh, Marshall thought, stupid human!
"So when do I get to meet the charming girl?" his mother pressed. Translation: bring her to me as soon as possible.
"As soon as the initiation is complete," promised Marshall. Translation: when I'm good and ready.
"Dinner. The three of us."
"It will be done."
And because his mother just couldn't help herself, she got one last jab at her son. "Don't be so afraid of the initiation, Marshall Lee. I know you don't deal well with pretty girls, but honestly, man up! You're a charming lad." She winked.
Marshall felt his stony exterior crack. Involuntarily, a blush crept up his neck. "M-mom!" he protested.
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Fionna's head felt awful.
There was a terrible pounding that echoed throughout her head, rattling her brain around like a game of pin-ball.
Ping!
Fionna groaned. She wearily tried focusing her eyes to her surroundings which, how lovely, were nothing more than an endless black void. Fionna noted it's lack of anything and the chilling breeze that followed. Again: how lovely.
"Hello?" Fionna called out. "Is anyone there? Marshall Lee?" She paused, and then realizing what had happened before she came to wherever this place was, groaned again. "Xala? You there?" Fionna faintly heard a muffled sound, it's pitch all fuzzy. Her heart leaped. "Xala?"
As if a giant wad of earwax was lifted out of Fionna's ears, the human girl suddenly heard the witch's voice, clear as day. "Fionna," she spoke, "it is hard for me to contact you here in your current position, but I'm trying my best."
"My current position?" Fionna looked around the darkened room. "And where might that be?"
"Well...your body is still at my home, but your mind on the other hand…"
"Don't tell me I'm inside my brain." Glob, as if this sphere couldn't get any weirder.
Xala gave a nervous laugh. "Actually you're inside your heart."
Just great.
Fionna sighed. It certainly wasn't the weirdest encounter she ever had, but it didn't change the fact that the adventuress really didn't want to play any more mind games. Xala had said she needed to be purged. How was traveling to her heart of all places going to help that?
"Fionna…" Xala addressed her with caution. "I need you to listen for a bit; you don't have much time. Your heart has been taken over by the darkness of this realm, which is why you were so sick. While you're here you need to combat it. Luckily for you, this is your body, and because of that fact, you get to play by its rules - in other words fight first and ask questions later."
"Wait, fight? But what-" And then, surprise surprise, Fionna was interrupted by the sound of snarling.
Now, Fionna had fought monsters before. Scratch that, she had encountered them before; not all monsters constituted fighting. The population of Aaa was at least 67% monster anyway. Let's just say that Fionna had fought many...creatures in her lifetime. Poisonous bats, lava-saurs, venus pie-traps, snow beasts crafted by the Ice Queen, business zombies, ogres, sprites, gargoyles, possessed kitchenware - you name it - entities like these were nothing compared to the power of Fionna's sword. The adventuress was no rookie when dealing with the likes of evil beings.
But these beings before her now...oh, they were no ordinary creatures; they were absolutely heinous.
If anything, they resembled wet canines, only ones that had no fur and even more of a hunch. Their bodies were sacks of bones, the cartilage jutting out in awkward positions like a snapped branch, and somehow hinged together with black as night skin that sagged to the ground yet remained taut around their limbs. Along their backs were large moth-eaten wings that curled inward on themselves as if acting as shields. Fionna shuddered at the sight of their mouths: lips curled forever in a snarl, showing the copious amount of teeth sharpened to a fine point - just a prick of a finger would be enough for you to bleed out. The adventuress shivered. She didn't even want to look into their glowing red eyes, she knew those were just screaming evil.
There were many of them, all staring directly at Fionna and she knew, Grob she knew, that this would only end in bloodshed. Only, how was she supposed to fight without a sword?
Thankfully, Xala was there to clear that all up. "Fionna," the witch's voice barely came through, "remember, this is your body. You play by your rules. And don't forget, when all else fails listen to your heart."
"That isn't reassuring considering my heart is filled to the brim with these kinds of creatures," Fionna countered. She was being backed into a wall by the demons, specifically a much larger and uglier one that Fionna assumed was their leader. Fionna shuddered as she saw a thick line of drool escape from its mouth.
"Oh hush you-" Xala's voice was cut off. Fionna clenched her teeth; she was guessing that's all she would hear of Xala, at least till the fight was over.
Gathering up her strength, Fionna rolled her shoulders. "Alright ya filthy animals," she taunted, "bring it." In unison, all of the creatures bared their teeth: they were not pleased by her tone of voice. At least half of them took to the skies while the remaining ones on the ground began to charge. It took everything Fionna had to keep from screaming out - instead she readied her stance.
Play by your rules.
A bead of sweat rolled down Fionna's neck. She had merely seconds to think of what that old witch meant. Come on, Fionna thought frantically, think!
Then she remembered what her sister always taught her: when it comes to fighting, don't think - act.
So Fionna did just that.
When Fionna was younger, first learning how to fight, Cake always told her how much of a natural she was. Fighting seemed to come straight from her blood: an innate instinct that was pre-programmed into her very core. She knew how it worked, how to counter her opponents movements and use them against them, how to block and parry and jump out of harms way - how to defend herself while also keeping up an offensive. Fionna didn't need to be taught the art. While she never excelled much in school or academics, Fionna aced any form of physical exertion.
Because she didn't think: she acted. Fionna the human relied on instinct and instinct alone.
So when those creatures surrounded her from every side, opening their mouths for a quick bite and pouncing, Fionna let her body take over. Somewhere, a battle cry erupted out of her mouth. Fionna's heart began to sing.
From her right one of the creatures made a move to slash her side. Fionna quickly evaded, watching as the black blur of its body barely missed her; she took hold of its wings, and using them for leverage, hoisted herself atop the creatures back. It screetched an unholy sound. As it tried to buck her off it entered a clumsy awkward state and unthinkingly crashed into the creatures around them. Fionna wrapped her thighs around its neck and using all of her strength, squeezed. Within seconds the creature slumped to the ground.
Fionna scrambled to a fighting stance, but was quickly bombarded by a number of the creatures soaring over her head. The adventuress ducked down as one of them nearly cut her head off with its claws. "Crash," Fionna cursed. She took off running, attempting to evade any attacks from below while side stepping attacks from above. It was exhausting, but she had to keep going. There has to be another way, she thought desperately. One of the creatures managed to bite her arm while she wasn't paying attention and Fionna swore. Searing pain jerked through her body. Instinctively, Fionna cupped her arm.
This is your body.
Fionna was breathing heavily.
Play by its rules.
As if Fionna suddenly entered a state of knowing, the adventuress stopped dead in her tracks. This was her heart. She was the master here.
"Enough!" she roared, watching as somehow visible wavelengths of her voice appeared and sent the creatures flying back. Without thinking, Fionna's hand dug into the black ground below her.
Her hand seeped into something sticky. It was an atrocious feeling: cold and slimy, a wet liquid oozing against her skin. It seemed to be pulling on her hand, almost as if it wished to engulf her body whole. At last she felt something solid and with great strength, hoisted it up out of the ground. A long note filled the air in song; Fionna had unsheathed a great sharp sword.
It rang with praise.
One by one the creatures managed to regroup, lining up in some demonic formation. The large one snorted smoke out of its nostrils. Fionna looked it directly in the eyes and smirked. "Come and get me," she antagonized, loving the way fire danced in its eyes - she knew her's were the same.
And then, the two parties began to battle.
I wish I could put into words the beauty of this fight: behind the gore and murderous intent of Fionna's swordplay lied something graceful and beautiful. She moved with such skilled precision, her movements tactful - flowing like water and turning her opponent's attacks against them, her muscles rippling and flexing throughout her core. Like a dance, the two parties circled around each other, at times pulling apart only to fall back against one another, chest against chest - sword against skin. Fionna twirled and dodged, tumbled to the ground and sprang to life. She slashed her opponents and swiped at their heads, knocking back hoards in great numbers. She was small but fierce, grinding her teeth to dust as she held her own against the hell beasts invading her heart. This was her domain, and she would defend it or die trying.
Be all this true, Fionna would not come out unscathed. Though she was strong with her sword, the fact was there were too many of these foul beings. They were rabid, bent on destroying Fionna in any way possible. Their claws swiped against her skin, breaking the soft fleshy layer as if in search for the treasure underneath: blood and ligaments and bone. Their yellow sharpened teeth dug into the fatty bits of her skin, savoring the taste of girl and human - of a warrior through and through. They relished in her screams of pain and anger. More, they seemed to say, give us more! In great numbers they flocked around her figure, until there was nothing but a ball of darkness engulfing her frame.
Their leader, the biggest ugliest of them all, gave a final order.
Kill her.
And maybe they would have. Maybe light would have finally succumbed to darkness; if it were not Fionna they were fighting.
Fionna the human gave a shrill cry, "Get out of my heart!"
She didn't see. As Fionna was fighting, slashing her enemies to pieces and delivering decisive blows, she didn't see the black of her heart slowly bleed color.
Purple, that was what invaded her heart first. It glowed brightly, easing against Fionna's mind and somehow making her more sure of herself. It was a confidence booster - an echo of her sister Cake who told her that no matter what, Fionna could accomplish anything. She would win this fight. If her sister taught her anything, it was to never give up. She held this lesson close to her heart.
Another hue broke through, the color blue swirling alongside the first, calming Fionna's unravelling nerves and pulling them together. The feeling washed over her, reminding her of her ma and pa's undying affection and the way they accepted her into their family so effortlessly. That care she received would follow her to her grave. In this battle, it would remind her that there would always be people rooting for her.
Speaking of rooting, the color yellow seeped into her heart next. This was the color of the citizens of Aaa, all of those beautiful creatures Fionna vowed to protect and die for at a moment's notice. Everything she did was for them.
Next came the color pink. Oh, what a color it was: the same shade as Prince Gumball's hair. Part of her heart thrummed in appreciation - she always had a soft spot for Gumball after all. The color was a command, an order - an outright decree. A flash of warning echoed throughout Fionna's mind: DESTROY THESE BEASTS AND BRING PEACE. The knight in her would not dare disobey.
Finally, the last bit of darkness seemed to fade away, replaced with a brilliant red. With the advent of this came an imprint of Marshall Lee, and a sudden urge to protect not only Aaa's surface, but down below as well. Her heart thumped wildly, palpitating great enough that the ground below her began to wobble. However, instead of flailing around like most of the creatures before her, Fionna was somehow held up. It was as if some force was holding her steady - a guiding hand.
Kick some butt, human.
The darkness was no more. Fionna had wasted no time clearing them out of her domain, and around her heart, a casing of rainbow light began to fit itself in: a ring of protection.
Her sickness had been vanquished.
.
.
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Thanks once again everyone who has read my story. I appreciate all of the support that has been given to me.
Shout out to the lovely reviewers: An Amber Pen, Deathstarling556, and JuiceoftheORANGE. Your words were so uplifting :)
Have a wonderful week!