Marceline flew fast at a high altitude as she carried Phoebe in her arms. As the vampire got closer to the Fire Kingdom's general direction, she would notice the distant landscape below her bloom with a series of explosions. Tiny specks of light would disappear in clusters from a pair of red laser beams, while the drone fleet flew erratically like bats in the night. It was the first time for Marcy to see Princess Bubblegum alive since the former fell unconscious. And as the onslaught with the Fire Army continued, Marcy became more tempted to intervene not just out of personal vendetta but out of compassion. The fire elementals were in dire need of support as Bubblegum had air superiority that it was ultimately a one-sided battle.

"I have to help them," Marcy thought to herself. "It isn't fair for them to just sit there and die!" Her gaze then went to Phoebe and said, "I really hope this pays off in the end because I feel bad enough already. No one should have to go out like this."

The vampire continued her flight with a stoic expression. Although she still felt uneasy about the idea of leaving a helpless army behind, leaving Simon was much worse. It was conflicting as to decide which was the right moral choice, but then again Flame King gave Betty the idea that sending Marcy on this mission was all the help the elementals could need. There were no details based on how bringing Phoebe back to her homeland would help, but Marcy resolved to herself that everything would be under control until then. All she could do was blindly trust FK's plan in that moment and hope for the best. While it wasn't enough to clear her conscience, it still gave Marcy the incentive of helping Simon first. In the meantime, she had to focus on the task at hand and deliver Phoebe in one piece. The vampire made a quick adjustment with her grip on the unconscious elemental and then zoomed further towards the land of the Fire Kingdom.

Several watchtowers accompanied with surface to air missiles were stationed past the Fire Kingdom borders. Those who were on lookout had a set of binoculars, while the other guards manned a set of mounted machine gun turrets. Their gaze overall focused solely towards the west where the combat took place. They could overhear through the radio chatter about how the men were taking heavy losses and that the lines would break very soon. All this did however was stir anxiety for the defenders as they shifted nervously in place and gripped their hands on the weapons. Just when they thought they couldn't get anymore tense however, one observer spotted a speck in the distance that slowly increased in size as it got closer.

"Command," a guard radioed nervously. "I got a fast mover heading towards our location. Probably a scout drone from the looks of things. Permission to engage?"

"Hold fire," the superior radioed. "Wait until you have identified the target."

"Understood," the guard nodded.

"It's going to be within range soon," another guard advised.

"Steady!" The first guard warned. He looked back into his binoculars and blinked in surprise as he came to sudden discovery. Quickly, he went back to his comms and said, "Command, fast mover is identified as Marceline Abadeer. What are your orders?"

"Do you have confirmation of the high-value individual?"

After looking back for a few seconds the subordinate replied, "Yes, sir. The HVI is present."

"Let them through and resume your duties," the superior finalized. "Command out." He then switched frequencies and said, "Clear a landing zone for the front palace entrance immediately and have a medical team ready to stand by."

A siren blared as the palace guards escorted the bystanders to safety. Barricades were set up on the main streets and gates leading to the building and searchlights were lit up to spot the vampire. Flares were marked on the front lawn to signal the landing zone and the people waited anxiously for the next five minutes. Once it passed, the lights focused on one direction altogether and Marceline landed on both feet. She looked around quickly in confusion to find the one person in charge until one elemental ordered the lights be shut off. Once Marcy got her vision back, she saw Flame King standing in the center on top of the steps with Prince Furnius standing beside him.

"Well done," Flame King smirked with his hands clasped behind him. "You and Betty have done as requested against the odds."

"I really don't mean to sound rude," Marcy replied. "But are we good now?" She asked as she laid Phoebe onto the gurney provided by the medical staff.

"Yes, definitely," FK nodded in satisfaction as Phoebe was taken inside the palace. "You have given us the key to winning this war and for that we are truly grateful." Noticing that she was already leaving, he quickly asked, "And you're not going to ask how this will all work?"

She glanced back at him irritably and said, "I'm giving myself the benefit of the doubt. And besides," she paused to look at him fully, "I'll know anyway when the fighting stops altogether."

"Smart girl," FK complimented as he pointed at her. He then went back to a serious expression and said, "Go now, we'll take it from here. I'm sure you have other business to attend to in the meantime."

Marcy shook her head at him disapprovingly before flying away at breakneck speed.

"Come, Furnius," FK motioned as he strode inside the palace with the guards. "There's no time to lose!"


Earlier that day, Flame King opened his eyes as he stopped his meditation. He had recently sent a message to Betty to go rescue his daughter and then sent another one to the officers that watched over Marceline. Once that was done, he quickly sent another one to the bunker that secured his daughter to ensure Marcy would pick her up smoothly without any incidents. Everything was set beforehand to change the tide of the ongoing battle, and the only thing he could do was wait in the meantime. He wasn't fond of relying on hope or luck for things to go accordingly, but he had no other choice. During the time Betty set out for Marceline in the Grasslands, Flame King had explained his ultimate plan to Furnius, only to be met with a hostile argument. The two fought back and forth as the rescue was being conducted, which eventually stopped as Furnius decided to have some time to think for himself. The throne room had been empty ever since and the former king was left to his thoughts.

Suddenly before he knew what was happening, the lantern FK was imprisoned in began to lower on its own. He was puzzled at first, but then his demeanor changed when he saw his nephew waiting for him expectantly with his arms crossed and a bitter expression. Four guards with spears accompanied the prince and they also glared at their former king.

"Don't think for one second this will change anything," Furnius stated venomously. "You may be calling the shots now, but if you try to deviate from anything my cousin has stood for, the men will have you snuffed out at a moment's notice."

FK sighed knowingly, "I know my place. I'm just making sure our history doesn't die along with us. And besides-" He craned his neck a couple times with a few cracks, "I could use some time to stretch out anyway."

The glass lantern was lifted after that and the four guards readied their spears. "Don't get used to it," Furnius stated. "Once this is over, you're heading straight back to continue your sentence."

FK nodded and replied bitterly, "Good enough for me." The guards lowered their weapons slowly and FK asked, "Do we have any progress with the Vampire Queen?"

"Border patrol confirms she is making her approach with the princess," one guard answered.

"Very good, tell the others to signal for her to land at the palace. We will be joining her shortly."


"Um sir," one sentry asked Flame King as he followed him down the halls. "Isn't the medical bay the other direction?"

"I haven't forgotten," FK chided. "But it will take a lot more than conventional methods to bring my daughter back. Where we're going is a place that will restore her health virtually in minutes as opposed to weeks or months."

"Sounds like something above my pay grade," the guard muttered.

"Then consider this a raise," FK retorted. As they walked briskly through a few more doors and hallways, an elemental with a clipboard approached them from the front. "Tell me you have good news," FK stated as he continued walking.

"The Giant's modifications are still in testing," the subordinate replied as he walked beside him. "However, its primary base function is fully operational."

"What are its modifications?" FK frowned.

"Additional weapons and armor," the elemental scientist answered off-handedly. "The research and development teams thought it was in their best interests to have one high-end guardian than to have several with 'average' quality."

"They're sure making a large investment," FK remarked. "I hope for everyone's sake it won't be in vain."

The group arrived at an elevator moments later and the conversation dropped in silence. As the lights changed to indicate the floors they were passing, Furnius eyed his cousin on the stretcher with concern and prayed she would hold on a little longer. What caught him off guard however was that his uncle had spared a similar glance, only to quickly show indifference upon being discovered. Furnius was about to say something to put him on the spot until the elevator signaled and stopped at the last floor. The group exited onto the next hallway where the central magma core was nearby and the continued going straight until they encountered a set of blast doors to their left. Once they opened, everyone except for the royals and scientist made shocked expressions upon encountering the last Sleeping Fire Giant.

"So," Furnius began hesitantly. "You sure this is a good idea?" He asked Flame King before glancing back at Phoebe.

"If this works," FK stated in absolute. "She will be fully recovered and possess a power than any fire elemental has hoped to achieve. But if it doesn't-" FK made a crestfallen expression, "Her entire essence will be lost completely to the guardian and we will have to rely on its artificial intelligence to contend with Bubblegum. My dependence with others may be generous for now, but even I have my doubts with that especially."

"There just has to be another way-"

"Other elementals that have tried merging themselves into the guardian have failed," FK stated solemnly. "Which is why it is normally reserved as a last resort for our best warriors or to the members of the royal family. And unfortunately enough, we are short on time and ideal candidates."

Furnius bowed his head.

FK continued, "Suppose Phoebe was a hundred percent right now. It still leaves us back in the same predicament! Bubblegum could be storming the gates anytime and all our weapons would continue to fail in the process. Unless there's something else I haven't been informed of yet, I believe we are out of options." He then looked at one of the workers near the giant and ordered, "Clear the maintenance deck and scaffoldings! It is time!"