A Secret Wish
Chapter 5

Lesson Number One

Disclaimer: I do not own Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake. No Copyright Intended. I do own the story/plot line because I made that all up with me, myself and I. Enjoy :)

It's been weeks since that night with Marshall, and as amazing that night flying in the night sky with him, my heart is beating for another. I must say that Prince Gumball has grown on me, he fascinates me with how smart he is. I've been finding myself hanging on every word he says, even when it's just a lecture about some scientific finding. We've been courting for some time now, it's the longest any man has stuck around, all the other pompous asses that father sends I tend to drive away with my attitude, but him, Bartleby, he's different. I think I might be falling in love with him, that or it's just a huge crush, either way I don't care. Every time he's near my breath gets caught in my throat and I feel like I'm going to get sick with the amount of butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.

Right now I am in the alchemy rooms with Gumball, he's agreed to help me with my science studies and well at this point any excuse to spend more time with him is fine by me. I'm sitting in a chair with my arm up supporting my cheek and the other arm is resting on the table as I listen to Gumball trying to explain how alchemy is a like science and can oftentimes be tied into magic. His voice is so gentle but firm, I like the glimmer in his eyes when he talks about science and how there's this little crease at his eyes when he smiles, the way his smooth lips look carrying out his words. I wonder what it would be like to kiss those lips?

"Fionna? Fionna!"

"Huh, what?"

Gumball chuckled a bit, "You need to pay attention, you daydream too much."

I sighed and gave a small smile, "Sorry Gumball."

He sighed, "It's alright. If this doesn't interest you, what would you like to do?"

"How do you feel about going riding?" I asked, a little too excitedly.

He smiled at me, "I say that sounds like a wonderful idea."

I grab his hand and lead him down the halls towards the stables, running all the way and laughing. His laughter is deep and joyful, I love it. Some time later we both are on saddled horses and walking out to pasture.

"Follow me, I want to show you something." I told Gumball.

He only grinned, "Lead the way, Fionna."

And so I did, I took off running on my horse, Raven. She is an all black horse with a white diamond on her forehead and has four white socks. Gumball is following me on Finn's horse. I took us through the woods to an opening meadow with a waterfall and the sounds of living animals all around us, this is the place where my mother and I used to come to a lot, it was our place. I don't really know why I'm choosing to share this place with Gumball, but in the first time in a long time, I feel comfortable enough around someone else to share with them my special place.

"Wow, this is amazing. How ever did you find it?" He asked me amazed as he dismounted his horse.

"I didn't find it. My mother did, this was our spot."

The look that Gumball gave me was one of gentleness and understanding, "It's beautiful."

I smiled back at him and got off Raven, I tied the horses up on a near tree as Gumball and I sat on the cool grass, basking in the gorgeous surroundings. We got lost in conversation to where it grew dark before realizing that Gumball had to go home.

"It's evening already, oh no, I must go back. My father will be expecting me home by nightfall." He said a little sheepish and a little panicked at the thought of being late.

I laughed at him as I brought the horses about, "Well then let's go back."

We smiled at each other and raced one another on the way back to the stables, we laughed the whole way there. I walked him to his carriage, he took my hands in his. The butterflies went wild, and my heartbeat quickened.

"Fionna, I just want to say thank you for showing me the meadow. I know it was a special place, for you. Thank you for sharing a part of you with me, I had a wonderful time. Until we meet again." He kissed my hand and got in the carriage.

Before it took off I rested my hands on his window, "Wait, there is one thing I wanted to ask you,"

"Yes?"

I sighed and took a breath, "Would you accompany me to my birthday ball in a few weeks?"

He smiled a genuine warm smile at me, "I would be honored, your highness."

I smiled back, "Great. Um, goodnight Gumball."

"Goodnight Fionna,"

*The Next Day*

"Ah!" I yell as Finn swings at me.

"Again Fionna, I told you not to lose your guard and to dodge incoming blows."

"You're going to fast, Finn!" I defended.

"Barely, what's gonna happen when you have an opponent that is 10x as fast? Are you just going to stand there and take the hit or are you going to dodge and use it to your advantage?"

I sighed and bent down like my sword weighs a ton. "Alright, alright."

"I know you can fight better than this, I know you can. So quit daydreaming and pay attention to what's happening. Lesson # 1, pay attention. Think you can do better this time? Again!"

I took a deep breath and began to spar with him again, this time improving my stealth and reaction time. I got to the point where I knocked Finn's sword out of his hand and where my blade was at his chest with him on the ground in surrender. We hear clapping in the background, I look up to see Sir Michael looking down at us from the training room door.

"Sir Michael, you're here early. I wasn't expecting you until later this afternoon." Finn says getting to his feet.

Michael laughed loud and deep, "Well, I decided to come early to do some warm ups. I come to find you sparing with the young princess-"

I cut him off, "- Please don't tell dad." I plead.

He waves a hand in dismissal, "You have nothing to worry about, your highness. I won't tell a soul." he did the zipped lips motion with his hand as he walked over to us.

"But between you and me, I think you get the better of your older brother here. Boy, you better watch it, she could kick ya square in the ass."

I joined in the laughter as Finn got all butt hurt about it.

"How about I train you with Finn today, what do you say to that Fionna?"

I smiled so much and nodded, "That would be awesome!"

*Time Skip: Later in the Evening, Fionna is out waiting for Marshall Lee in the town square*

I sit on the bench by the big fountain in the middle of the town's square waiting for a certain vampire, I stretch my limbs. The training today from Finn and Michael put a toll on my body, I'm sore all over but I'll deal with it. Hands close gently around my eyes, I smile and take in the familiar scent of the night and pine.

"Marshall."

"Dang it, Anya. I was hoping to scare you,"

I giggled, "Yeah okay, not gonna happen."

"So what do you want to do? Ladies choice tonight," He said mock bowing to me a little.

I giggled, "How about a moonlight walk by the shores?"

He raised an eyebrow at me, "That is such a girly response."

I play punched his arm, "Hey, it's beautiful, the way the moon hits the oceans waters."

He rolled his eyes at me and held out an arm, "After you, my lady."

I giggled at his antics as we walked towards the beach.

"So how's your music coming along?" I asked him.

"Great as ever. I'm actually working on something new, it's a bit unusual for my fans tastes but I like it."

I shrugged, "Should it matter? As long as you are the one that likes it and it brings you joy to create it then other's opinions shouldn't matter. Besides if they are your real fans, they will like anything you come up with."

"Wise words, Anya."

I smiled back at him, as his went into a smirk. We got to the beach and over to the cliffs edge, I sat on a boulder as the night wind picked up speed and made my hair go everywhere, loosening my ribbon from it's hold.

"Ah! Why does it have to be so windy tonight?" I asked giggling, with my hair whipping all over the place looking like a sheet of gold.

"That's a lot of hair, Anya." He said chuckling.

I sighed and rolled my eyes, "Yes, I know."

He gathered some locks of my hair in his hands, feeling it's softness. "It is beautiful though,"

"Oh, thank you, My mother always loved my hair, sometimes I just want to cut it all off because it gets in my way a lot. But father would be furious if I ever did and I would regret it as soon as I did it. With it long like this, in a way I feel as though she is still with me sometimes. I don't know, that sounds crazy doesn't it?"

He looked at me so earnestly, "No, it doesn't, Anya. I'm really sorry for your loss, I can see it how her loss affects you."

I sigh, "It's alright, I've learned how to live with it. Besides, some things can't last forever."

I grabbed my hair and tried to gather it all back up so I can put it back in a ponytail. Once I got my hair back under control, I sat back down once again and took in the horizon as the wind died down to a breeze.

"When are you going to tell me exactly who you really are?" Marshall blurts out unexpectedly.

"Why do you really want to know?"

"I don't know, you make me curious about you,"

I raise an eyebrow, "Yeah how so?"

He looked down and chuckled a bit, "Well, mysterious girl that I've never seen before suddenly shows up one night, I meet her and find her interesting and well full of life. One can't help but be curious," He explains.

I giggle, "Gee thanks, and I'm not the only one who's all mysterious. I meet a vampire singer in a famous rock band who knows more about me than I do about him. So tell me Marshall Lee, tell me about yourself. Now I am the one who's curious about you, who really are you?"

He chuckles, "Alright you got me there miss reverse psychology."

I giggle as he smirks. "What do you want to know about me?"

"Everything." I say smiling.

"Hmm… where to begin. Like you I have daddy issues-"

I play punch his arm, "I do not."

"Mmmhmm. Anyways, it seems like nothing I do, no matter how much I apply myself academically or otherwise seems to ever please that man. My mother and sister are the only ones that support my music, it's because of their support in me that I've made it this far. My father on the other hand, well he just thinks this is a waste of my time."

"Oh, I'm sorry. If it counts for anything, I don't think it's a waste of time. I think your music is amazing, the way you capture the audience and have them move with you, it's mesmerizing. You really have a gift."

He looked at me a little taken aback by my words, I blushed a bit as his smile grew into a smirk.

"Your too cute when you blush, Anya."

I roll my eyes giggling at him, "I am not, Marshall."

We spend the rest of the night talking and enjoying the scenery, I lean on Marshall's shoulder as he puts an arm around me so my head rests on his chest. I yawn a little as I watch the night.

"Someone's getting tired. Do you want me to fly you home?"

"Huh? On no, no that's alright. I can walk by myself, I'm a big girl. I know how to stand my ground." I told him smiling.

"Never said that you couldn't, c'mon. I'll fly you back to the square."

I nodded and let him swoop me up in his arms and carry me away. I fought to keep myself awake but it was futile as my vision grew dark as I fell into sleep.