Chapter 36: The Monarchy's Servant
"Ah, hello old friend". Hannah said getting up from her desk with her arms wide open.
As Peppermint Maid came closer to her, the business woman crouched, then embracing her well acquainted candy friend. The Lich King watched this embrace break apart before stepping forward.
"If I am to understand correctly, you have completed your mission"?
"Of course, my lord. I have come baring proof as well". The peppermint answered, pulling a small purple book from behind her back.
"Prince Gumball was always very careless about where he would leave his journal". She recalled as The Lich took hold of it, looking at it puzzled.
"But, um….it's a diary". He corrected. Peppermint maid chuckled lowly.
"It's been recently updated with military tactics as well as a list of allies that would potentially destroy our forces. Before I escaped my execution and possessed Gumball to merely banish me, I found out from him that the fire kingdom was willing to join the candy kingdom as well as the Nightosphere of Ooo against us".
"Is that so, hmm. Well in that case, we must double our forces". The Lich grinned evilly turning his head slowly to then face the enchiridion sitting on a pedestal.
He made his way slowly to it, across the room in Hannah's office.
"How can you possibly summon more of an army with the limitation"? Hannah questioned.
After the human transformation of Marshall, the lich had banished the gang from the Nightosphere in order to start the preparation for war. Contrary to what Hannah assumed after awakening the Lich King, he had a proposed that she would regain her immortality after the war had been won. In the past he had been defeated alone but with the help of other dark forces, physically converged to him, he would be unstoppable. Although Hannah didn't like the idea of having to hold off on regaining her lost immortality from the comet, Lich's plan made sense. Her state couldn't be improved and had to be equal to the other factors of this conjoined power force which also included Fionna. If one member of the conversion held more power than the others, it could cause a backwards reaction, destroying them in the process.
"I don't believe it is wise, Lich. The battle is exactly 22 hours from now. We must conserve what we have". Hannah reminded.
The Lich sighed, bowing his head.
"How I hate when you are right, Abadeer".
"That's how she always was in college. Our professors at the dark arts academy we went to, despised for always correcting them".
An idea came to the lord's mind. Immediately he turned around to stare at the candy citizen.
"You studied the dark arts"?
"Yes"? "So you know how to cast spells from this book"?
"Yes, sir". He chuckled at this reveal.
"My dear peppermint maid, I'll need you to do one more task for me. If you do, then I will make you my prime minister and grant you rule over the newly restored candy kingdom that I plan on building from the ashes up".
The maid smirked at this idea. For years she had served Gumball as his loyal servant, just to be close to the taste of power. If ever the prince had vanquished, she would've been in command. With her power of the dark arts she would have wiped the memories of all the citizens of the kingdom hypnotized them into believing that she was the real ruler. Unfortunately thanks to that human girl and her pet, she could never succeed, even when she plotted with Ice Queen to get him out of the way. When she heard word of Ashley, she immediately contacted the demon immediately and set Fionna to Ooo. By retrieving the crew from the other candy kingdom, there would be no ally available to stop the Lich King after this war was won. "I live to serve". Peppermint maid said curtsying, her eyes darkened to black with white orbs in the center. The maid come forward and as she did the Lich snapped his fingers allowing a chair to slide parallel to the stand. Gratefully, Peppermint Maid stepped up onto the chair, opening the book. A chill danced through the air as the book began to glow with green neon light as Peppermint maid flipped through the page.
"I suggest, we use the element of weakness against our enemies. I took the liberty of reading ALL of the prince's entries to find out very interesting things about the group".
Peppermint maid lifted her palms above the book, murmuring a spell as he eyes glowed green. Hannah and the Lich watched as the appearance of an insect hologram formed floating in the air.
"Finn, Jake, Fionna and Cake are terrified of spiders. I suggest to strike fear in the opponents, we unleash at least a dozen of these guys". Peppermint Maid Explained as the hologram move with speed during attack, showing off its frightful looking teeth and quick legs.
"Not only will they eat candy, but they will also extract a venom that will stick the victims to the ground before they are consumed alive". Hannah chuckled at this reveal.
"Oh peppermint, your devious mind has yet to change".
"Perhaps if it pleases you both, after using Fionna, we could take Gumball captured alive and allow him to witness his greatest fear while she dies by hers". She suggested, curling her lips to a smirk.
As much as she would've like to have Fionna and cake's flesh in her very hands, seeing Gumball suffer was what she craved more. All those years of his ignorance and cowardice in which he ruled the kingdom with had to be paid for. He was unfit to rule the throne, just as his parents suspected of him before passing.
Hannah pulled out the amulet that allowed her to control Fionna
"As entertaining as that sounds, I personally have a need for the girl". She said, closing her eyes and clutching the amulet.
A knock sounded at the door. With the flick of her wrist, Hannah opened the doors to reveal the grey skinned, blonde girl. Her eyes had remained emotionless, attentive and unchanged throughout the entire time she had sold her soul.
"Yes, Madam Abadeer"? Fionna obediently responded.
Hannah smiled signaling for her to come watch the excitement. The girl came forward dress in a long, slim fitting sleeveless black dress similar to the one Ashley had worn when the group first entered the Nightosphere. Peppermint maid glared at the girl and then ignored her continuing her work.
"Since we have the flame kingdoms against us, I suggest we created tidal wave creatures. A couple of waves will take care of that army". Peppermint Maid announces as she put together the holographic model of water demon, with the ability to transform into a tsunami, engulfing all those gullible victims that would try to go through it.
Hannah smiled to Fionna, patting her hand softly.
"Have you fed at all, my dear"?
"I had a couple souls for dinner". Fionna responded.
"Excellent, just remember you need double the strength of me and the Lich before we fight". This reveal, caused the dark lord to turn around and stare at Fionna. Her normal human self would jump at the sight of his creepy skeletal face and green bright tiny pupils. He came towards her at his own pace, his hands behind his back as he studied her. Soon the only sound in the office were his footsteps coming closer and closer to her.
"Is there a particular reason that we are allowing her to double her strength? Hannah, you know the consequences very well if we allow that". The Lich reminded.
Hannah nodded and looked to Fionna motherly.
"If what you hypothesize is true, your army will wipe out the opponent's, including my son. I agree to this only if we allow Fionna to extra feed, after all", Hannah paused scanning Fionna from her face to her stomach.
"The Abadeer line depends on her to continue to rule the Nightosphere if I am to perish also". Hannah said.
The Lich thought for a moment looking into Fionna's bright green, possessed eyes.
"Very well". He murmured under his breath. Fionna placed her hand over her toned stomach gently, staring into the eyes of the Lich.