The young Firemage had been careful on his return to the Fire kingdom carrying the supposed evidence of Princess Bubblegum's guilt a recording from a radio program full of mysteries and conspiracies..one of which went in detail about rumors of dreams being monitored possibly manipulated to keep Candy citizens in line.. And after Rag Wizard explained how it wouldn't be much harder to implant ideas..or tell people to do something When falling Victim to such a device, it was like he saw the world of color for the first time.. His King must hear this for herself.. for the good of Ooo before the Golem used the young hero to do something even worse than she'd already made him do.. he just hoped that she would act before whatever next plan was too far along to be stopped..
Fire King Phoebe listened to the plea..and the evidence..and Just as she was going to have him seized for a liar..something on the recording struck a chord..mention of the cosmic owl being implanted falsely in dreams..she hesitated and asked him to elaborate.. and she was guided to the conclusion.. much as the Firemage had been himself..
she began to feel a sinking feeling in her gut.. She had been so mad at Finn assuming he was lying and using her feelings..but if this was true..If he was an unknowing victim just as much as she was..Then she may of ruined something irreplaceably precious to her.. and played Right into Bonnibel's hands at the same time! She felt both nauseus with guilt and blindingly furious at the same time..Was anything out of bounds by the proven manipulative ruler of the Candy Kingdom? IT even sounded like something Bubblegum would do if it served her purposes..
The longer she thought about it the angrier she became..the angrier she became the more certain she became that this was the truth and that Bubblegum Would pay dearly "Someone should of Taught you long ago if you play with Fire you get burned.." she uttered to herself as she called for her advisors.
Unaware of the coming strife Marceline queen of the Vampires thoughts were entirely upon one thing, getting to Finn before the sun rose reaching the Tree fort just as its warning for her kind of pink on the eastern horizon began to appear. as she shot across its trunk to the window in his room.. smiling sweetly noticing it was partly open practically an invitation as she shifted into her bat form and crawled through quickly draping the windows to shield the sun's rays..watching him sleep so peacefully wishing she could just crawl in and join him in the cramped bed.. wishing they didn't have to get so much done before she had to summon her dad..or she might of succumbed to that temptation.. she just wanted to pull him aside a few moments tell him how she really felt.. but there was time for it later.. right now what she really needed was for him to wake up..
"Finn..wakey wakey hands off snakey" she whispered in his ear.
"huh.." he mumbled a little surprised rubbing the sleep out of his eyes starting to roll out of bed before he realized he wasn't in his usual pj's just a pair of underwear and his bear hat it had been hot the night before.. quickly rolling back over in his covers his face beet red.
"Wow..Finny Guess you are happy to see me this morning" trying to diffuse the situation with a little teasing.. trying to look away from his morning dilemma "umm yeah I'm gonna go fix some breakfast..and let you take care of That..unless you need a hand..just kidding maybe.." as she stepped out of the room to give him a bit of time to situate himself..
thunking herself in the forehead.. "I Know it's been awhile but your not helping!" looking down at her body as she climbed down the ladder venting to herself making her way to the kitchen searching through what they had available calling up "french Toast alright?"
"umm Sure" climbing down dressed normally watching her cook..
humming a tune flicking her wrist to flip the pieces before plating them up "hope it's enough for ya..don't need you passing out from hunger we got a lot to do today Finn."
Biting into the French toast before starting to shovel it in "Wow Marcy this is awesome..So what all we gotta do anyways."
"Well move some of your stuff I mean has to look like you live there and not just a mooch like you know who.. might have a little talk about something that's been on my mind lately..umm maybe if get a chance could practice a bit.. umm seem to be really getting the hang of it Finn.." rubbing her arm for a moment both seem to be slightly embarassed..you could cut the tension with a knife.. before she changed the subject.. "that reminds me got any rings in your horde of loot..mean Dad might wanna see it..The ring I mean.."
"umm got a couple cursed, enchanted, and just sparkly.."
"umm think Sparkly would work just fine..mean you can have it back anyways once Dad's gone.."
"Nah it's fine I mean me and Jake ain't exactly ring dudes..but sometimes they're in the prize so whatevs more loot.. So if you like it keep it."
kneeling down on one knee and searching through the pile of sparkly's when he came across one with a rose diamond in it.. "I know Red's your favorite color..umm this ones Pink..that's low grade red..that close enough?"
holding out the rose diamond Ring out to her in his finger tips.. right when the door burst open..
"Yo Finn I'm home..man had one mondo awkward talk with T.V this morning..so gonna give us some seperation ti.." staring as he came through the door.."Wow how long this been going on? I mean I know I been spending more time at ladies lately so I'm kinda out of the loop.. but..didn't even know you guys been.. I mean I wanna give you kids some privacy..but also wanna hear what she'll say too..I mean why didn't you tell me nothing Bro?.."
noticing the situation herself Marcy's face flushed in embarassment as she realized what Jake saw.. "it's not like that..Well ARGH we'll explain later okay Jake.." snatching up the ring in annoyance from Finn's hand and stuffing it in her jean pocket.. before she turned into a bat and flew up to the bedroom "I'm gonna get started packing up here with your clothes.. "
"What pack your clothes?..Where you going Finn?"
"just staying at Marcy's for awhile..um long story.." taking his que from Marceline not to get into it just yet.. since they did have to get stuff situated..
"Aww come on Finn I know I been spending more time with Lady with the pups out of the house..well other than T.V. but don't think he'll ever leave..starting to think he's a momma's boy like Jermaine.. but that's besides the point you guys don't gotta leave I know what goes on.. so can have the bedroom and I'll just move my dresser to one of the spare way you guys can have your privacy.."
"Don't worry Jake it's not like that.. I'll Be back..few days Tops if you want can help us that way can get it done faster.." Finn liked that idea..Faster his stuff was moved..more time he could practice with Marceline.
"YEah.. see your point I mean would be a pain doing it all yourself least till the sun went down.. Wait could do it all in one trip! just grab me that hammock from the attic and some roaps and blankets and that big basket we found We'll get you there lickety split and keep Marcy from getting all crispy at the same time!"
"Sounds like a plan man..Will go fill her in." leaping onto the ladder and starting to climb up two rungs at a time.
calling out to Finn Jake said "No getting carried away now Gonna need that extra energy once we get there to unpack Finn!"
perking his head through as he reached his Room MArceline having clothes laid out on the bed.. explaining Jakes plan.. Marceline smiled calling down "Jake if I didn't think it'd make Finny Jealous I could kiss you right now! I was wondering how we were gonna pull that off!"
"yeah I'm gonna go grab the hammock From the Attic..unless need a hand?"
"Think I got it..Want your shirts that have the pocket too While I'm at it?"
"Sure don't wear em that often but sometimes they're handy."
"alright..well with Jake's help should be ahead of schedule..so how about after you grab that We have that talk okay?.."
"umm Sounds good.." he said curious what was so important with a little enginuity and patience he hooked the hammock into a make shift basket While Jake stretched and shifted to the biggest he could and making it a temporary harness and the basket positioned protectively below his belly and they began to load some of Finn's most important items on Jakes back and secured them..
"you ready Big guy? I'll be right back see if Marcy is ready to ship off and we can get going." climbing up he found Marceline sitting on his bed deep in thought..
"Finn I think we need that talk.."
Sitting down at the edge of the bed sensing to give her some space.. "Sure Marcy you know can tell me whatevs your like one of my best buds like Jake cept lot prettier to look at.."
"That's kind of the meat and potatoes of the Conversation Finn I don't Want to be your bud..or friend..not anymore.." when he looked hurt she sighed.. covering his lips with her finger to shush him.. "Let me finish..I need to get this off my chest..I promise it's not as bad as it sounds.." steeling her nerve.. "I want more! your like Family to me you make me feel safe secure, I know deep down all I have to do is ask and you'll be by my side watching my back. And that's why it's so hard.. Neither of us has the best track record with this sort of thing..I don't want to think about a life if this went bad and I don't have that net of security to fall back on..it's too scary to go back to that.." close to tears at the idea feeling more vulnerable than she'd let anyone see her in a long time..
"It's okay Marcy.." trying to pull her close "Have I let you down before? and even if we weren't tight anymore still be there first time you asked.." resting her forehead against his for a moment.. "alright..then but don't blame me if you get up over your head Finn trouble follows me like a lost puppy.."
chuckling to himself "yeah I noticed, but that's the most fun part.."
"you think that's fun..ooh Just wait Finn got things to teach you that will make murdering pixies seem like watching paint dry..Well..if it's decided then.. though no tongue rules still in effect..but that's always been for your own protection..wouldn't want to knick it on one of these now would you?" flashing her fangs smirking mischevously
"umm I guess so So means your my Girlfriend now right?"
"No Finn you proposed remember..got the ring right here" patting her pocket smirking teasingly just messing with him.. trying not to laugh when he gulped audibly.. "of course you Donk..don't worry we got ages to think about those kinda things,in the mean time let's have fun like we always have..you know Finn now that it's out in the open..Do you know how many times after a serious fight or hunt together I just wanted to throw you down on the ground and make you a man officially?"
"umm I don't know Marcy know I love you but think we're ready?..I mean what if..?" flushing red wanting so bad but trying to be a responsible person..
"oh Don't worry Finn..Highly unlikely not impossible I admit, But I seriously doubt that you'll slip one past the goal, I've never met any half Vamps with a Vampire mother. but I've heard rumors it's possible..and not to be crass but the plumbing still works after a thousand years.. so we'll still be careful..not that We will right away of course.."
sighing in relief.. "that's a load off my mind..and thought about it enough myself..actually..especially after one of our real intense fights" leaning in close only to have her press her hand to his chest stopping him..
"Woah now hero, got a lot to teach you before your ready to climb this mountain..after all has to be fun for me too you know?" smirking playfully her hands on her hips confidently as she stood up before climbing into his lap.. "So the sooner we're done moving you in, sooner we can send Jake home and get started on your lessons." she kissed his cheek sweetly and gave a conspiritorial wink.
"let's get a move on then..Jake We're coming down!.."
"bout time..so have fun love birds?" smirking knowingly "I remember when me and Lady were like that slipping off whenever we could to take a run up the tiers..Still like that sometimes though after getting Caught by T.V. last night..pretty sure gonna be awhile till I see past smoochin..speaking of which either of you know a good therapist?"
Both of them blushing terribly as they climbed into the makeshift basket Marceline tying her sun bonnet to her chin just to be safe.. "It's not like that just needed to talk for a few minutes.."
snaking his head down as he was talking to them still walking "Sure..I long as it's out of your system. don't talk yourselves out down there I'm gonna need a hand getting these ropes off when we get there." snaking his lips over to Finn's side trying to whisper"Dude Details later.." before Marceline grabbed the tube of flesh Jakes lips were attached to and squeezed and pulled hard as she coudl "eyes on the Road Jake!" letting go as they quickly snapped back to his mouth like a broken rubber band.
Meanwhile at PB's Palace.. Peppermint butler came running "News your highness.. the Fire kingdom seems to be organizing a display of strength on the outskirts of their territory!"
"probably just Phoebe posturing again because of some imagined slight..I'll just request Cinnabun to talk her down..if that doesn't work..We may have to send Finn or come do it myself if he's unavailable.." not even looking up from her experiment..
"I wouldn't do that your majesty.. this time seems serious Her brother is in command he's a powder keg who likes to see things burn!"
"he wouldn't dare my gumball guardians could extinguish a whole battalion with one stomp.. So it's fine Peppermint We'll get to the bottom of this and get peace back on track you'll see.., she may be hot blooded but she would never do such a silly thing like Actually declare War without a justified reason..after all the other Kingdoms would out number her ten to one if it came to that.."
End of chapter Four R&R