Chapter 51: Bittersweet
"Honey I think you better think more carefully about this one. I'm not gon' tell you who to pick but I think both you and I know that Gumball needs you right now". Cake explained to Fionna as she walked side by side with her human girl. Fionna looked to her feline pal uncertain.
"I don't know Cake. After what you told me last night about the whole Nightosphere and the war thing, how do I know that he's not really using me as some messed up baby factory".
"Hold up girl there's something you got to know", Cake said as she stopped the girl in her tracks, grabbing onto her wrist. Fionna turned around to her surprised by her sudden grasp.
Cake's eyes widened and looked from side to side to make sure no one was spying on them.
"Look I'm really not supposed to tell you this but Gumball had to make an arrangement with that weird water heffa so he could get good reinforcements for the war. I hate to say it but without those water hittas we wouldn't have won. So the agreement in exchange was that Aqua and Gumball would marry immediately ONLY if you declined him after your first week of recovery. The wedding must happen soon or else PG is going to lose to kingdom to this earwax king that Jake says is a total looney tune". Cake explained.
Fionna released herself from Cake and sighed. Jerking her body away she came to one of the arched windows of the castle. Pulling back the purple velvet curtains she looked out to the kingdom. Cake watched her sadly as her friend folded her arms, staring out into the open air.
"So what you are saying is that I have two days to decide if I want to marry him or not and if I don't then he has to marry that water princess"?
"Sounds like enough to make me want to run out those graham cracker doors and never look back".
A boy's voice commented. Fionna turned around quickly to see her twin smiling to her with a kind and understanding look on his face.
"I don't know what to do man".
"Do you want to be queen"? He asked scratching his head.
Fionna looked out to the kingdom again for a long moment. The summer air blew back strands of her hair as she looked out at all the happy citizens, finally free from the chaos of war and suffering. Fionna could only question how long it could remain like this. Especially with her as Queen.
"I'm not sure I'm right for the job".
Finn stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked away for a moment. He huffed a sigh as he thought for a brief moment.
"Do you love his people"? The human asked.
Fionna looked over her shoulder and at him for a moment.
"I can't marry him only for the love I feel for this people that I've been protecting for years".
"Ok yea that makes sense, but did you agree to this whole thing because you loved them or do you love actually love him in return"? Finn asked.
Fionna mounted her hands on the window sill and bowed her head.
"I need to see him I need to", before another word could escape her lips a creak of the door to the court room opened, startling Fionna.
"I'm envisioning that we paint over the walls of this hallway maybe do a nice mustard yellow, what do you think, Toronto"?
The dog looked around scratching his chin.
"Yea, but maybe some orange too to bring out the brightness in the yellow".
"Aha excellent idea as always my good man". The waxy figure applauded.
Fionna and Cake stared at the pair strangely. Never before had they seen such strange creatures in Aaa.
Finn crossed his arms meeting the waxy citizen's gaze.
"Ah Finn the human it of course isn't a pleasure to meet your acquaintance again".
"Fo sho, you glob of gunk".
The king of Ooo shook his head, tisking at the boy.
"Come now Finn, surely we can put the past behind us". He said with a smirk. Finn felt his cheeks heat up at the thought.
"Are you freakin kidding you nearly destroyed Ooo, brought the kingdom into anarchy, impeached bubblegum and were completely useless when the unleash of the ancient vampires attacked Marceline and tried to destroy us all. I've seen lady bugs have more common sense than you"! Finn exclaimed.
The king smirked out of the corner of his mouth.
"Such a feisty attitude this morning, I thought that was a monthly female trait". Toronto let out a chuckle holding up his palm to the king, facing the ceiling.
"Sniped". Torronto added as the King high fived him.
"Hey bro, I don't even know you but nobody talks to my buds like that". Fionna interrupted, clenching her fist.
"Oh, oh…this is the chick that's handing you over the kingdom, KOO". Toronto explained to the yellow character.
The King stared at her up and down as she glared at him. He looked from her to Finn a couple times until it finally hit him.
"Ah yes, the Finn Doppleganger, oh boy….I'm so thrilled there's another". King of Ooo commented sarcastically as the two of them laughed in unison.
"Hey now, you honeys best respect us we are the guardians of this kingdom, ain't nobody going to come up in here and take us over with me and Fi here" Cake said holding out her palm to Fi.
"Give me some sugar girl". Cake said facing her palm out as Fionna slapped it in response.
King of Ooo shrugged with a coy smile on his face.
"Well as future king, there is most likely going to be a change in staff. I'm not sure how I feel about females protecting my kingdom".
"SAY WHAT NOW HEFFA"! Cake yelled, springing off the floor. Fionna grabbed her just in time before her claws violently began scratching up the face of KOO. He reacted in fear stepped back.
"Control your dog, girlie. We wouldn't want any sort of arrest once I take the throne". He mocked as he and Toronto turned their backs to the crew and started to walk down the hall.
Finn and Fionna glared at them as they walked away. The girl held tight onto a rabid looking Cake. Her eyes filled with fire at the insult of being called a dog.
"I'll see your ass in hell, bitch before we let you come in here and take the throne"! Cake screamed struggling in Fionna's arms as the girl held on.
"Cake cool it, there's no way we are letting that wax ball take over". Fionna assured as she began to stop struggling.
"I hate to break it to you Fi but, you got other competition". Finn said as he pressed his ear to the door from which KOO and Toronto came from. Fionna let go of Cake and followed Finn's lead, taking her ear to the door.
"I can't hear anything". Fionna said as he tried to make out the murmuring voices.
"Hang on baby, I got an idea". Within a few moments Cake's body transformed into a glass, pressing the rim of her morphed body to the door, sound carried into the cut, allowing Finn and Fionna to hear much better.
"Ben, you have two days before your kingdom is over taken by that freakin monster. I know you love her but you need to think of your people too or else they are going to suffer". Finn recognized the voice immediately.
"Bubblegum's in there". He whispered as they continued to listen, his ear and Fionna's ear pressed against Cake.
"We had a deal, Ben. Before you gave into whatever eye-opening romance between you and that tomboy, we were to be married".
"Ew, she looks like a walking drenched salad", Fionna whispered as she studied the water princess' soaked dark green attire.
Finn and Cake hushed her as the trio continued to listen.
"Aqua, I'm very grateful that you've been so patient with me but a deal is a deal and part of it was that it comes down to Fionna's decision, that was my only request".
"You're a fool, Prince Gumball. What does that dirty, irrational, and obnoxious human have over me"? The water princess exclaimed.
There was silence after that statement. Fionna looked down to the floor a bit downcast and wondered to herself, what was so great about her. Why was Gumball risking his kingdom for her? Finn noticed the look on Fionna's face and comforted her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Personality". Fionna looked up from this dialogue, pressing her hear harder against the source of sound.
"What did you just say to me"? Aqua asked in a low tone, irritated beyond belief.
"I said…..personality….if you still don't understand what that means then look it up….maybe you'll find one along with the meaning". He said curtly.
"Nice Gumball, he got em". Finn commented as Fionna chuckled.
There was silence again filling the room on the other side of the door as Aqua looked at him shocked by this statement. Bubblegum looked away trying to conceal her laughter. Her body jerked around to hear the sound of the Princess' heels as she began to storm away.
"Yo, everyone back it up"! Cake said as she morphed back, pushing the crew backwards as the hollow doors opened up to reveal to the Fionna, the water princess.
She wore a pissed off expression, hideous, but not quite as horrendous as what she was wearing which looked like straight up seaweed to Fionna.
"Sheshh girl you fall in a lake or something"? Fionna commented under her breath. Aqua's face grew as red as it could as she stepped closer to Fi.
"Whoa, who back it up you Lock-Mess Monster". Cake warned as Fionna came face to face with Aqua.
"I cannot wait until you decline him and don't pretend like you won't because I know you are just stringing him along and really love Marshall Lee".
"Ok um first off, girl, hi nice to meet you I'm Fionna and secondly you are totally whack. You know nothing about me so I suggest you get out of my face before I turn you and your swamp ass into seaweed salad". She threatened clenching her fist in front of the element.
"Why you have some nerve you pale little tramp, when I'm queen I'll make sure your kind goes back to being extinct"!
"Like I haven't heard that one before you walking piece of pond scum". Fionna murmured, clenching her first harder as she clutched her necklace to activate her sword.
Aqua saw this action and remembered the girls retractable sword. Her aquatic powers had worn off and there was no way she could fight the human girl without revealing her true identity as Ice Queen.
"Very well, I'll be off….I'll see you at my wedding, tomboy". The seaweed princess murmured as she turned her back to Fionna and carried on.
"Glob, I hate that girl. I don't know whose worse, that ear wax freak or this sea-bitch". Fionna commented, letting go of her necklace.
Finn shook her head watching her go down the hall. He himself didn't know who would be worse for the kingdom despite his bias against KOO.
"I think they are both pretty glob awful, Prince Gumball is literally so stressed out. I feel bad for the poor guy". A female voice replied, coming out of the room.
Fionna sighed and looked away. Essentially this was all her fault. Had she not made that arrangement with Ashley, the war wouldn't have happened.
"I guess he's not in the mood for any more company then". Fionna said kicking her foot forward. PB twisted her mouth thinking and turning do the door.
"I think he could use a little bit of cheering up". Fionna looked up at this comment.
"Go ahead in. He'll be happy to see you". Bubblegum commented as she moved out of the way and came next to Finn.
Fionna smiled looked at her and her male doppelganger. Finn took the pink princess' hand smiling to her and nodded to Fionna to go in. Fionna turned her back to them as Princess Bubblegum rested her head on Finn's shoulder hooking her arm through his. Fionna opened the door, letting a creak fill the large hallway as she went through the doors, closing them behind her.
The sound of the door closing behind her didn't seem to disturb a stressed out Gumball. He sat at the large oval table of the court room, his head in his hands.
"Butterscotch Butler can you please",
"Hey", Fionna said, cutting off the Prince.
Gumball looked up from his hands to see the human girl standing across the room from him.
"Fionna". He said a little taken aback as he stood up and started to come her way.
"Hey dude, are you doing ok"? She asked shyly, guilty from listening in on his meeting.
Gumball smiled to her as he got closer. He reached out his hand to her.
"Much better now that you're here. How are you feeling"? Gumball asked as he took her small pale hand and kissed it as he was chest to chest with her.
Fionna blushed at his peck on her hand and lost her train of thought for a moment.
"Oh, I'm fine now. It's like nothing ever happened". She commented as Gumball twisted his mouth almost in protest.
"I wish I could say the same, I've been under so much stress". He looked away, feeling Fionna's gaze looking to him sadly.
Shaking his head, mortified in protest for even saying something he turned back to her.
"But don't let me both you with my problems how can I be of assistance to you"? He asked sweetly, holding his hands behind his back and looking to her kindly.
Fionna grabbed the back of her neck looking away.
"Well see, I thought maybe we could go somewhere alone and talk a couple things out. I mean this whole thing is kinda my problem too so I thought maybe we could work it out together. It's been a while since you actually had time together just you and me".
Gumball looked to her with a warm sincere smile.
"I'd like that very much. I've missed our time together more than you can imagine, even when we were training in my gym and I was constantly complaining". He said with a laugh as Fionna joined in.
"Are you sure you aren't too busy"? She asked.
Gumball opened his mouth to protest when the sound of a creak from the door opened up.
"Your majesty, various lads and lassies acquire your attention for complaints". Butterscotch butler intruded.
Gumball looked from her to Fionna, noticing a bit of disappointment in her eyes. Turning back to his servant, he hardened his glare.
"Tell Princess Bubblegum she is to be in charge this night. Tell her that I highly request it". Gumball replied as he took Fionna's hand gently, caressing it with his thumb.
She looked up to Gumball as he gave this order and waited for a response.
"Very well, Sire". The butler said as she bowed and closed the door behind her.
Gumball moved his hand up Fionna's arm and pulled her into him, his arms wrapped around her, allowing heat to radiate off her face as she buried her face into his sweet smelling chest.
"What's this for"? Fionna asked looked up to Gumball as she remained in his embrace. He smiled down at her and brushed the blonde hair sticking out of her hat over her ear.
"I just need this for a moment". He whispered as he rested his forehead ontop of her head, rocking her in his arms.
It had seemed like forever since he last held her so intimately. As his darkest thoughts seemed to fade as he held her body against his. Fionna smiled into his chest, hugging him back intimately. She had felt safe and secure as if Aaa wasn't her kingdom anymore, and instead he was.
