"What do you need?" Betty asked.
"My daughter, Princess Phoebe has been rendered unconscious on the battlefield," Flame King replied. "I need someone to bring her back home to the Fire Kingdom where she can make a quick recovery."
"And I take it you want me to do it?" Betty assumed.
"No," FK said patiently as he held up a palm. "That would be unrealistic. I need someone who is both strong and fast enough to bypass the chaos that is currently ensuing before the Fireland. Someone who could particularly fly and turn invisible. Luckily for me, you may already be familiar with whom I'm referring to."
Betty's eyes widened in realization as she asked, "Marceline?!"
"Your reputations precede you both," FK explained. "Besides, from what I heard, you two along with Ice King are connected in some way that I have yet to comprehend. That being said, I'm sure you'll have a good chance at convincing her to come back and help with your situation."
"How is she?!" Betty asked in distress. "Is she alright?!"
"She too has been wounded in battle," FK answered. "But knowing her heritage from the Lord of Evil, she'll ultimately survive." He narrowed his eyes, "Her healing factor will not be fast enough on its own to help her recover however. In order to bring her back in a timely matter, you will need to give her a jumpstart with an energy source that all vampires thrive upon."
"Human blood," Betty gulped nervously.
"There's a reason why I've called you for this and not any other elemental," FK affirmed. "Getting her to consume shades of red will not be as effective given her critical condition."
"She's told me about how it makes her feral though," the human warned. "That she loses control and rational thought."
FK shrugged, "Then you'll just have to hope that you don't give her too much or that she'll call upon her strength to restrain herself altogether, whatever the case. The only that ultimately matters is getting her on board with the plan."
"I don't really like this idea," Betty said with skepticism.
"It's the only one," FK spoke with conviction. "All other forms of transportation have been directed to stop PB's advance. Even if High Command were to spare a vehicle with absolute priority, it will be intercepted long before reaching us here. Unless, your magic extends to that of teleportation."
She looked away as she contemplated.
"I heard what you said when you faced Bonnibel directly," FK recalled. "If you really want to fight on behalf of the Fire Kingdom, this is the chance to do it!"
Betty returned her gaze.
"You do this one job," the former king bargained. "And you will officially be square with the Fire Kingdom. That means neither you, Marceline, or Ice King will ever have to worry about showing your faces in our homeland. There will be no reason for hostilities or mistreatment unless we are provoked."
"Okay," Betty took a breath. "What's the plan?"
"A heavy fog has rolled into the Grasslands not too long ago," FK began. "You'll be relatively safe from being spotted from the drones that loom overhead. In addition, Bonnibel's giant has already made its way further down the Ice Kingdom, so you should be able to travel without having to sustain too much indirect fire."
"How can I find them?"
The officer who stood beside Betty produced two small round objects from his pocket, "Flame King had us construct compasses that are specially designed to pin point the bunkers Marceline and Phoebe are housed in. You will need to watch your step however as the terrain outside is rough with multiple craters, barbed wire, and bodies. We'll also cast a flame shield on you to decrease your heat signature in case if the drones have a blind chance at acquiring you through the fog. The men on the other side have already been informed about this mission, so they'll be expecting you without any complications."
"Time is of the essence," FK concluded. "The Fire Army as it stands can only stall the gumball guardian. Although its numbers are vast, they lack the proper firepower for a successful defense. Every second that is spent now is literally being bought by their lives and their lives alone. You will have only one chance to make this right for everyone, Betty that I don't need to explain myself further."
Betty nodded with a hardened expression and prepared to leave.
"Whatever happens out there," the officer spoke after her. "Keep your head down, your toes running, and you don't look back. You do so much as hesitate for a spit second and you'll be among the dead before you know it."
"Understood, I'll be on my way." She was about to turn and exit again until she paused mid step, "I expect Ice King to remain unharmed when I return. Can I count on you to make sure he stays that way until then?"
The ranked elemental held a fist to his heart, "You have my word."
Betty went back to the frozen Ice King one more time as she made her departure. Her hands began to glow a dim blue as she conjured her ice powers and she fired off a steady stream with her eyes narrowed in concentration. After a moment, she whispered, "That should be more than enough for me to return before it thaws out. I'll go find help just like you said earlier and soon we'll be back together again." She placed a hand on the capsule before shifting into a hardened expression, "I promise."
"Sir," the elemental officer spoke to Flame King after Betty had long left the bunker. "Even though we have our differences, let me be the first to say thanks."
"Do not confuse me giving support as a change of heart, Lieutenant Buren," FK argued with his voice raised. "I am still evil by nature and for all the things I have committed. The only reason why I have been so keen on helping is because I refuse to have my people as a race lose to sugary beings that should belong in children's stories!" He paused for a moment to calm down, "It's a matter of pride and dignity, nothing more. If we were to lose against anyone else in this situation, I would have cared less."
"You can't be that callous," Buren protested.
"When you lie, cheat, and murder your way onto the throne, nothing is beyond remorse," FK stated matter of fact. He then ran a hand over his face sighing, "Look, just watch over your men and make sure they honor their end of the agreement. We're finished here."
Just as the flames in the lantern began to subside, the lieutenant asked, "Do you think you'll be able to make the same argument with your daughter? She obviously sees something in you to not give up hope."
"She can believe whatever she wants," FK said dismissively as he threw a hand. "Besides, if she can even comprehend half the things I did to get to where I'm at today, she will know firsthand that there is no such thing for me." He narrowed his eyes and muttered darkly, "And that wouldn't bother me one bit."
