Chapter 9:
Marshall slept for hours while Fionna stayed with him, occasionally checking to see if he was still alive. He was. It gave her time to think, and reconsider the events of the past couple of days. She did not understand the things that had happened to Marshall Lee, and she wasn't really cool with him wanting to off himself constantly. At this point she would outlive him. It was a horrible thought. To lose someone she had built such a strong attachment to, but then again… that had always been the situation with Marshall. Why had he even let himself feel anything for her, knowing that she would die so much sooner than him? There were definite issues there. But his father was human after all, so maybe he didn't find it so strange…
His family had a weird thing for humans, Fionna concluded. Why would a race of demons prone to chaos be attracted to humanity? It made little sense to her. But then again, she did not understand the things her own predecessors had done. So, perhaps it made a little bit of sense, after all.
The sword, after doing its damage had been tossed in the darkness and not recovered. Fionna dreaded having to go recover it. She felt spite towards the blade after feeling its urge to stab Marshall through. Maybe she should bring it back to that psychic, perhaps they could enlighten her… but even the psychic had been fearful of it.
Marshall took in a deep breath, and was happy to feel that Fionna was in his arms. He squeezed her sleepily to him as he slowly emerged from sleep. He had wanted to wake up slowly, soaking in the feeling of being with Fionna, but the muddled recollection of the night before jolted his mind into operation. Ah. Things made more sense, now. He had never had any control over himself. He had never had any control over that chaos, Fionna had simply bottled it up inside of that weird sword.
It made him feel a sinking shame. He was a pathetic demon, and a smudge on the family name. There was no way that he could rule the Nightosphere. No. Way. But he had to find a way to balance himself. Regain his life, at least. He thought of the gaping holes in the walls of his old home.
Step number 1: Go home.
He squeezed Fionna to him and buried his face in her hair. Marshall was still in small shock that she was here. With him. Now that he understood better the situation, and that some of the chaos had been buried in the sword, Marshall could truly feel the weight off of his shoulders. He had hope. He could be himself again. He could.
"Fionna, wanna do some stuff with me today?" He began.
"Yeah, sure. But I was also thinking I have some important junk to do too." She said pensively.
"Uh oh." He said, looking at her. "Wanna do the important junk alone or together?" He asked, kind of hoping that he could tag along.
"Definitely together." She said, dreading the visit to the psychic. Marshall was eager to leave. Daylight or not, he had had enough of this life. It was time to move on. He kissed Fionna on the cheek, thanking glob softly for having her in his life, then began packing stuff in his house.
"What are you doing?" Asked Fionna.
"We're- I mean, I'm moving… but you can come with." He said, swinging his ax guitar over his shoulder.
"Where's my sword?" Fionna asked. Marshall shivered as he spotted it in the corner by the bed. He was horrified that she even claimed ownership over it. He pulled her arms to touch the metal blade and immediately backed away.
"You're taking that thing with you?" He questioned, watching her sheath it.
"It's the important junk I have to see about…" She whispered. "It-it can't be a coincidence… my life was in danger that one time and it just appeared in my hand. It was weird, and it happened last night too. I have to go see that psychic…"
"The one who told you to seek me out?"
"Yeah, they also analyzed the sword. They were afraid of it. Didn't want to touch it." She said enticingly. Marshall slanted his eyes. Something did seem suspicious.
"I don't want to touch it either…" He groaned. "Not after last night…"
They had to play rock paper scissors to see where they would go first, and Marshall won, not because he actually beat her in rock paper scissors but because he moaned about carrying his stuff all around Aaa.
When they arrived at the lakehouse, Marshall did not feel the pang of guilt or shame that he had felt in the past. This time he felt retribution. He was going to get his life back, dammit. As if claiming a stake, he unloaded his ax guitar on the sofa, despite the destruction around the house, and went upstairs to check the essentials. Water, electricity etc.
The water worked, but the heater was kaput. He would have to ask flambo for some help later on… Ugh he hated construction. Such tedious crap. Fionna, on the other hand, was already elbows deep in the electronics in the kitchen. She had found wire strippers somewhere and played with rewiring the outlets to create a working ceiling light. Where had this girl learned this stuff?
"Tadah!" She said proudly, flicking the light switch on and off. Marshall smiled. Fionna was so smart.
When they had done all that they had patience for, or rather, all that Marshall had patience for… (Fionna had begun swinging hammers and Marshall had nearly fainted at the sight), they finally set off to the market where Fionna had encountered the strange psychic.
Marshall was wrapped up in a summer hat and cloak, looking like a magician who enjoyed gardening. But it was the things he had to do to keep himself safe from the brutal sunlight.
Fionna asked around for the palm reader to the local shop keepers, and they told her in alliteration, prose, and limericks that there was no such person. Marshall watched from afar, watching her get progressively more aggravated.
Then, Marshall felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around, only to see a bowed head covered in a red cap.
"My king…" Spoke the voice. Marshall froze. It was a citizen of Nightosphere. Worst still it was the Hand to the Queen. He recognized that hoity toity garb anywhere.
"You- You have me confused…"
"Don't pull that shit on me you ungrateful punk!" Said the Hand, shaking a fist at him. Oh yeah, definitely a citizen of the Nightosphere. Then suddenly the Hand was in dramatic tears. "After your mother's horrible death, you would think a son would be more doting towards the kingdom she had left him. Don't you have any concern about the mess and destruction that is happening in the Nightosphere right now?" They asked, shaking Marshall. Fionna turned to see what the screaming was all about.
"Oh hey!" She said coming toward them, and recognizing the personage in the red cap. "There you are… Do you know each other?"
"The Nightosphere is in chaos, huh? Then I guess all is well. Hooray." Marshall said flatly.
"You must come and rule over your kingdom you, slimy bag of waste!" Groaned the Hand.
"Nope. Won't do it. Worst, I can't. I can't handle the chaos. It will kill me, I'm sure of it. So, go find someone else." Marshall said, pushing them away. Fionna watched them with interest, then without warning she was embraced by the Hand.
"Ah! You wonderful girl! You did it! It's in there isn't it?" Xe said pointing to the sword. "Very good, very good!" Xe said patting her on the back.
"Wha-" She asked. Marshall narrowed his eyes.
"Fionna did this guy ask you to do something?"
"No! Just-" She began.
"No, no. I just sent her on a quest for 'love'. Humans are so easy, you just utter the word and they come undone." The Hand said chuckling. "Sorry."
Fionna blushed in embarrassment. So, it was all a trick? It had all been… chance, luck, or perhaps she was just self-fulfilling a prophecy… wishful thinking. Her big blue eyes shimmered as she looked at Marshall Lee. Was the feelings she had felt towards him unbased? Horrified, he saw her expression and understood it immediately.
"Listen, prick." Marshall said, losing his cool. "I don't know what your plan is, but I am NOT going to rule the Nightosphere!" He screamed.
"Oh, is that so?" Whispered the Hand. "Well, then. Don't. But then hand over the chaos that your dear mother gave you. Give me the sword, and you can live your pathetic human/vampire life."
"Hand over…?" Began Marshall.
"Your demon blood…" Said the Hand, with a shit-eating grin. "Unless you think you can control that chaos, there." They said, gesturing to the sword. Marshall watched him pensively, while Fionna held onto the sword protectively. Her heart was confused, her head was angry, and the sword vibrated warmly to her conflicted emotion.
"Fine…" Marshall said calmly, releasing the offending demon. "Go ahead. Take the sword. Fionna?" Marshall said turning back to her. She watched him. Was he crazy? Just handing over his demon blood like this? She shook her head. Marshall went to her and whispered something in her ear.
"Trust me." He said. She looked into his sunhat covered eyes, and nodded slowly. She unsheathed the sword and handed it by the blade to the Hand to the Queen.
"Be ready…" Whispered Marshall. "To take it back, and kill him."
"What?!" She hissed between her teeth. Marshall just smiled at her and winked.
"Just…" He nodded his head towards the sword. Greedily, the Hand pulled their sleeves up to reveal those slender beautiful hands that had 'read' her palm so many nights ago, and watched as they wrapped around the hilt.
The sword unleashed the chaos into the Hand, but it was a power too forceful for the being. Immediately the skin split from their fingertips, up xis hands and arms to crawl into their face.
Fionna gasped and the Hand screamed. The citizens of the market turned to watch the scene. Marshall laughed, and it shocked Fionna to see him take pleasure in something like this.
"Now, Fionna!" He said. "Take it back."
Fionna did what she was told, as all good heroines do, and pulled the sword back from the splintering fingers of the Hand. She looked at Marshall with pleading eyes. She couldn't bring herself to slaughter some stranger. Even for Marshall. Marshall blinked in surprise. Had she really thought he was serious when she had told him to kill the Hand?
"Just cut him, Fionna. You don't have to really kill him." He said. She sighed in relief, and didn't have to do much of an effort to cut the Hand across the palms to reclaim the demon blood back into the sword.
The moment the chaos was restored, the Hand fell over, sizzling but otherwise fine.
"Woo… what a rush…" They said, groaning in pain.
Marshall bent over them.
"Yeah, it's a lot isn't it." He said, offering them a hand to stand. They shakily took it. "I can't rule the Nightosphere right now." Marshall began. "And you can't have my demon blood. But if you can watch over the Kingdom, while I try to control the chaos from the bloodline, maybe we can work together, hm?"
The Hand watched him questioningly. "I don't 'agree' to do anything. I take orders from a King. Are you a King or not?"
"Fine. Then I am. Watch over the kingdom." Marshall said.
"Yes, my King." Said The Hand. "I'll call on you soon. Don't disappear again on me!" Xe warned before disappearing into a portal opening from the ground. Marshall visibly shuddered.
"Ugh. I hate being called that…" He groaned. Fionna watched him.
"Wow… King Marshall…" She teased.
"Shut up…" He said, poking her playfully in the ribs. "We found out nothing about this sword…"
"I think we've found out plenty." She said. "I think this sword belongs to you Marshall."
"No way! Keep that thing away from me!" He said.
"It's your demon blood… " She said.
"Hey… Can I go now?" Said a voice from behind them. They turned to see none other than the forest witch! She had been thrust back and forth from the sword to finally be freed at last by The Hand. Something was strange about her. She sat there, waiting patiently. As if by order. Eyes wide and servile towards Marshall.
"Yeah… I guess…" Marshall said.
"Great." Responded the witch before heading for the nearest trees. But why hadn't she just scrammed? In fact, now that Fionna thought about it. Why had the witch helped her in the first place the night before?
"We've gotta find out more about this sword…" Mumbled Fionna.
"Yeah but keep it away from me…" Groaned Marshall. "That thing is not a part of me."
It won't be with that attitude… Thought Fionna, as she watched Marshall turn away from the Market.
"Let's go home, Fionna." He said, sighing. He was not happy about their interaction with the Hand of the Queen… or now King. Gross. Now he was responsible for someone. What a drag.
Fionna, on the other hand, was chuffed at the way he associated home to be with her. Not that they hadn't been close since her childhood, but still. It spoke volumes about how far they had come in the small days since she had abandoned the tree house. Fionna caught up to him to grab him around the arm and kiss him on the cheek. The way she felt about him… how they had come together… it was not a coincidence. It had to have been fate. Fionna was sure, because it felt real.
"Fly me home." She said. Marshall turned his face towards hers and smiled, not missing the small implication in the words.