A Secret Wish
Chapter 6

Heartbreak

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

I stretch out as I wake and feel soft and silky sheets underneath me. It takes me a moment to get out of my groggy state of awakening, I flutter my eyes open and realize that I am not in my room. I look down and these sheets are red silk, they are not mine. Across the bed I see a double door that leads out to a balcony, looking around I notice that this is not my room. Where am I? My shoes are scattered on the floor, I get up and grab them, getting out of the room into the living room and the kitchen adjacent, seeing someone with no shirt on and only pajama pants cooking eggs. I know that head of hair anywhere. I'm in his apartment in the city.

"Marshall?" I say a little groggy.

He turns around, "Awe, I was hoping to make you breakfast in bed. Nice bed head by the way."

I touch my hair and find it all knotted and over the place, "Um, what time is it?"

"10 am."

"Are you kidding me? That late? Oh my gosh, my father is going to kill me! I've gotta go home." I said in a panic as I quickly try getting my boots on standing, I almost fall over but a pair of arms catch me.

"Hey, watch yourself clutz." he said chuckling a little

"I'm sure it'll be fine. You should eat something first before going anywhere."

I smiled at him, "No, it's okay. I really need to go. Thank you though."

I got my boots on and headed for the door, "Hey, let me fly you back to the square. Save on some time."

I looked back at him and sighed a bit knowing he is probably right. I nodded my head, "Alright, but we have to go now."

"Okay."

He then went to grab a shirt and put on shoes sloppily as he and I walked out of the building and once we got outside he picked me up and flew me to the square.

"You could have woke me last night you know." I said.

He shrugged, "Eh, I didn't want to wake you. You looked so peaceful."

"Oh, well thank you, Marshall. You know, for letting me stay."

"No problem."

I rested my head on his chest as we flew, I found myself watching him in a way. His crimson gaze determined on getting me to the square and his piercings in his ears, the little shadow of grey to his skin that makes him look inhuman but beautiful at the same time. There's a sort of dark beauty to vampires, it captivates me in a way that I didn't know before. I also admire, Marshall, for all that he is and all he is capable of. I admire that he goes after what he wants in life but I envy how much freedom he has. If father ever found out that I've been sneaking out, he'd probably lock me away so I couldn't leave. I know he means well but I wish that he didn't treat me so much like a child, I am all grown up now, I just wish he saw it. I'm not the same little girl that I once was.

"Anya. You okay? You look lost in thought. Either that or you are just enjoying the view." he said with a smirk.

I blushed and play hit his arm, "Haha very funny, Marshall Lee."

"If you say so, we're here by the way."

He set me down and I sighed then straighten out my clothes. "Thank you."

"Your welcome, Anya. See ya around." he said giving a small wave then took off in the air.

I took a deep breath then fast walked until I reached the forest path, from there I took off in a run. I made sure no one saw me as I snuck back into my room, as soon as I got there I collapsed on my bed.

"Where were you, Fionna?" A voice says from behind me, startled I jumped hearing it.

I put a hand over my erratic heart, "Oh, Finn, you scared me."

"I had to cover for you, you've missed planning your ball. Lucky I know you enough to know what you'd want. When you didn't come to breakfast or riding lessons, I knew something was up. You never pass up food let alone getting a chance to ride Rain. So where the were you?" He said carefully and firm.

"Um, I ah, went exploring."

He raises an eyebrow, I sigh. "Okay fine, I met someone in the village. He's a friend and he let me crash at his place last night."

"Fionna! Are you insane?! You can't be with a commoner, you are to marry Prince Gumball if father so chooses it, I know you fancy him. Going off with someone else is not the way a princess should act!"

"Woah, since when did you start bossing me around?! I decide my own future, not you and certainly not father!"

"He is the King, Fionna! What he says goes. Do you not know how dangerous that is? If the wrong person knew who you were out there, you could have been taken prisoner or worse. You are still so naive, Fionna. You have a duty to the throne, you can't keep trying to escape it. It is your birthright!"

"I am not! I knew what I was doing and I know how to handle my own. You know that better than anyone. My duty to this kingdom has nothing to do with it, Finn. I am not some fragile little doll!"

"I'm not saying you are."

"Then stop treating me like one!"

"I am not a little girl anymore, Finn. I'm growing up. Gosh, you are so like father. You see me the same way he does, a fragile little princess, a porcelain doll that needs constant tending to. Well, I don't, I can take care of myself. Now get out of my room please, I want to bathe and get ready for my dance lessons with Madame Vitrova."

He sighed deeply then just walked out, I called out to my ladies to draw me a hot bath with rose oil. They helped me undress as I walked into my bathroom to bathe, stepping in the bath was a nice steamy relief, my muscles relaxed from tension. A few tears escape my eyes as I replay Finn's words in my mind. I really thought he was the only one who understood me, why does he side with father? Why can't anyone see that I'm a woman now, I've grown up. Oh how I wish mother was here, she'd know what to do. Reminds me of a similar time when Finn and I fought, mother was the only one that could have us make up.

*Flashback*

My knees are curled up to my chest, my lilac purple dress dirty from the mud outside. My white stockings have a tear in it and my shoes are missing, my arms rest on my knees as I bury my face in to hide the tears. I'm 7 years old as mother finds me under a willow tree away from Finn and his friends.

"Oh my bunny. What's the matter, baby?" She asks as she picks me up in her arms not caring that she'll get dirty as well.

"Finn is being mean to me mommy."

"Yeah? What did he do now?" She said in that mom voice, like he's gonna get punishment.

"He and his friends were making fun of me when I wanted to join their game of tag. They said girls weren't allowed. They kept calling me a little baby and Finn didn't do anything about it. I started to cry and they made fun of that too, so I ran away but I slipped in the mud and they laughed at me." I explained in between tears.

Mom hugged me tight. "My poor bunny. C'mon let's go scold your brother." She said with a smile.

I giggled at that as we walked toward the boys with mom still carrying me at her hip.

"Finn, get over here please. Now." Mom said firmly.

Finn sighed and ran over to us, mom put me down and faced Finn.

"Yes mother." He says annoyed.

"Fionna told me you and the other boys were picking on her. Is that true?"

He looked down and kicked the ground.

"Look at me when I am talking to you, young man. Did you pick on your sister and let others join in?"

He nodded.

"What? I can't hear you. Yes or no, Finn. Speak up."

"Yes."

"Why?"

He shrugged, " I don't know. The others were doing it so I thought it was okay."

"No, Finn it is never okay to bully your sister. What happens if a bad man comes to hurt her, are you just going to let them?"

"No."

"What about if people are saying hurtful things about her, are you going to join them?"

"No mother."

"Really, son? Because that is exactly what you did. Never under any circumstances are you to harm or let others harm Fionna, you are her big brother. Who's going to be there to protect her when I can't?"

Finn started to tear up, "I'm sorry mom."

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to. C'mon now, both of you make amends."

Finn walks over to me and looks me in the eye, "I'm sorry Fionna. I won't let it happen again."

I nodded and we hugged.

*End of Flashback*

I sigh, mother is not here anymore though. We have to make up on our own terms now, but for now I am just going to focus on my ballet lesson as I get dressed in my uniform and my hair is up in a bun. I enter the dance studio, Madame is already there awaiting me. Madame Diana Vitrova, she is a short, slim Russian woman in her late 40's, she used to be a huge star in the Russian Ballet, performed in Swan Lake and many other classic tales. She had gotten into a car accident 20 years ago and her career was ruined, she could never dance the same way again after that. She may come off as course and strict but she means well.

"Nice of you to come today, Fionna."

I smiled back at her. "You know I almost never miss a dance lesson, Madame."

"Indeed dear. Start with some warm ups and then into a piece from the Red Shoes."

I nodded and went over to the bar to do some warm up stretches, spins and plies. With instruction from Madame I started to dance a piece from the famous ballet the Red Shoes. My movements are swift and precise, it feels like I am walking across the water.

"Young man this is a private lesson, you need to leave." Madame announces which makes my steps falter.

I look to see whom she is referring to and I find Prince Gumball there.

"Madame it's alright." I said resting a hand on her aged arm.

"Prince Bartleby." I curtsy

"What brings you here?" I asked.

"I don't mean to interrupt Princess, but would I have a word with you?" He asks.

I looked to Madame for permission, she sighed. "Very well Fionna but I expect double the practice time in tomorrow's lesson."

With that she took her leave as I left with Gumball, he took me by the hand it was next to impossible to keep the butterflies from fluttering around in my belly.

"I have to say, you dance quite beautifully, Fionna."

I blush a little and smile. "Oh, thank you."

He nods a 'your welcome' back to me.

"So, what is that you needed to speak to me about?" I asked him.

He clears his throat, turns to face me and sighs. It seems like whatever it is he needs to talk to me about he is having a hard time saying it.

"This is really difficult to try to explain."

I look at him confused. "What do you mean?"

He sighed, "Well, I had just come from speaking with your father and we reached an agreement. To put it bluntly, I will no longer be courting you."

I start to frown by how taken aback I am about this news.

"My parents have made a betrothal to a Princess Ella from the Cotton Candy Kingdom, the marriage is a week from today so that means that I will no longer be escorting you to your birthday ball, but I will still be attending with my new bride at my side. I am truly sorry, I have quite enjoyed our time together, I hope in the future we may remain good friends."

I stand there speechless as he holds out his hand to mine, I let him take it as he kisses my fingers then makes his departure leaving me there in the middle of the hallway, dazed. I don't know what to do, what to think, I am so confused and hurt that I don't know where to go. Is this what it feels like? Heartbreak. I feel so numb, I know that I start walking away, somewhere outside in the courtyard but I have no real destination. All I feel right now is this unending pain. I really don't know what else I could have possibly expected from a courtship. I am to only court eligible suitors until I come of age, which will sadly be sooner than I would like, to wed. I am to marry a man my father approves and sets me up with, mostly to join alliances between nations or some other political agreement. Whatever my father decides, I must abide by.

But this one was different, it was in Finn's confidence and my father's that Prince Bartleby Gumball would be the one I would marry after my birthday ball. So I had started to develop feelings for the Prince, I suppose that was my first mistake. My second was believing even for a second that I would live happily ever after with him. That was fantasy, this is real life and sometimes things don't happen the way we wish them too.

"Fionna?"

"Fionna, what's wrong? You are still in your ballet uniform." A voice I know like my very own.

I look up through the tears that escaped my eyes up at my brother, "Sorry."

My voice is so quiet and cracked I don't even want to speak. He kneels down next to me and pulls me into his arms so I could cry on his chest. He undoes my bun which is a mess anyways and starts to run his fingers through it as he knows thats a way to calm me down once I am upset.

He sighed, "Oh Fionna, I know it hurts now but it will get better. I promise. This reminds me of when I was courting Princess Anna of the Wildberry Kingdom. You remember that right?"

I sniff and nodd, I was about 10 years old at the time when finn was 14.

"Well like you, I had developed a crush on her as we had been courting and well another proposition came up in her Kingdom and I could no longer court her. Oh I was crushed, much like you are now. And I'm telling you my dear sister, it does get better. You see everyone has to go through a few heartbreaks every now and then to get to meet their true and only love and well that only happens once in a lifetime. It will happen to you, you just have to be patient."

I sighed. "Yes, you are right. Thanks Finn, so I take it you aren't mad at me anymore?"

"I was never mad at you Fi, I was just afraid for you. It's a dangerous place out there, I only intend to protect you, like mother had wished."

I smile a little, "Awe how sweet. I love you too Finny Bear." I say giggling.

"Don't call me that." he said laughing. Last time I called him that was when we were young.

I stuck my tongue out, "Too bad."