~Content of this chapter are completely made up (Besides the characters of course)~
Fell For Her Song
Chapter 8: The Start of Something Bad (Gumball won)
Swinging his blade at light speed, Gumball led Marceline into moving into a trap. Using his brain, Gumball managed to get Marceline exactly where he wanted her. Though Marceline believed she was dodging Gumball's seemingly random swings at her, Gumball continued to push her back. Finally, Gumball came at her with full force and knocked her down because she tripped over a small mound in the fake grass that made up the flooring of the Training Room.
He pointed his sword right at the bite marks on Marceline's neck. ''I. Win.'' Gumball managed to say, panting. Marceline glared at him from where she lay on the ground. She smacked the sword away from her so she could roll away from him.
"Beginner's luck!'' Marceline shrieked in anger. She turned to pick up her axe bass. ''Best nine of ten! Come on!'' Marceline panted roughly as she thrust forward.
''Now, now, Marceline! I thought you would stick true to your word!" Gumball exclaimed as he ran away.
"Argh! Fine!" Marcrline screamed in defeat. She threw her bass to the ground. "But I won't like a single bit of it..." She grumbled at the end.
Excitedly, Gumball smiled and grabbed Marceline by the hand and began to make his way to the exit across the court. Suddenly, an ear-splitting, "GUUMMMBAWLLL!" Shook the entire castle. Marceline could hear servants screaming from the hallway that connected the court to the castle. Gumball released her hand and ran to Fionna for protection, who withdrew her sword and got into battle form.
"What is it-" Marceline called unheard. Wind blasted through the huge hole in the wall that Marceline created earlier. The drapes flew wildly before finally ripping off of their metal hooks and blew away. The sky was filled with dark, spiraling clouds and no sunlight could shine through.
"Ice Queen!" Fionna roared as snow continued to pelt her skin from the broken window. A woman with long white hair and a blue dress appeared and repeated, "GUMBALL!"
Marceline was intrigued, and flew up to meet the strange lady that was like Simon. The snow lightened up a bit now that Ice Queen was distracted by Marceline who continued to examine her.
"Who are you?" Ice Queen asked.
"Who are you?" Marceline asked back.
"I asked first."
"I'm Marceline, the Vampire Queen," Marceline hissed and showed her demon eyes, but returned to normal, "Now, who are you?"
"I'm," Shoots Fionna's feet with ice, "the," shoots the boy who looks like Fionna, "ICE QUEEN! BAHAHAHAA!" The Ice Queen sent a wave of cold wind and snow from her hands and pushed Marceline against the far wall. She caught herself before she hit the ground and watched the Ice Queen laugh hysterically. The Ice Queen flew in circles as she released beams of ice from her hands, making it rain even harder. Everything the beams touched instantly froze. Marceline flew up and grabbed a handful of the Ice Queen's hair, and flipped her over her back, which sent the Ice Queen tumbling to the ground.
"Marceline!" Fionna cried whilst she continued to chip away at the ice at her feet, "Her tiara! Take her tiara!" Marceline darted straight for the Ice Queen's crown, that had fallen off, and picked it up off the ground. "Ice Queen!" Marceline yelled from across the court, "What are you doing here!?"
"I'm here for my fiance, Prince Gumball!"
"He would never marry you!" Fionna interjected.
"Ugh... She's just like Simon..." Marceline muttered.
"Who's Simon?" Ice Queen yelled, now standing right under Marceline.
"...He's, uh, a king! Yeah! Better than any prince! He's the Ice King!" Finn shouted from across the courts.
"There's an Ice King!" Ice Queen screamed.
"Yeah, and he's totally single!" Finn added, "He's actually looking for a lady right now!"
"Ooh..." Ice Queen replied.
"Yeah, you wanna meet him?" Marceline asked, waving the tiara above her head, she didn't dare put it on. The Ice Queen took a glance at Gumball, then at her crown, and then at the sharp, plastic grass at her bare feet. "Sure, why not? Now give me back my crown!" Marceline hissed and tossed the tiara back to the Ice Queen. "He lives in a big ice mountain back in Ooo." Marceline instructed.
"Thank you, Marceline!" Ice Queen smiled as she straightened her tiara on her head. On her way up to the broken window, she stopped as she was passing Marceline to put a hand on her shoulder, "Sorry about all the fighting... We cool?...No pun intended..."
"Um... sure. You seem chill," Marceline smirked, "No pun intended." The Ice Queen smiled back and flew out the window and the clouds spread out again. The sunlight instantly hit Marceline and she hissed. She flew to the exit of the Training Courts and sat by the door in the dark. Finn burst through the door, followed by Gumball and then Fionna.
"Marceline, are you okay?" Finn asked concerned for his friend.
"Yeah, just give it a second..." Marceline replied, spreading out her burnt arms. Her wounds faded away quickly. "See, I'm all nice now." Marceline gave a sarcastic smile and patted Finn on the cheek. "Are you sure?" Finn asked.
"Finn, there's something you should know by now, and that's that I don't like to be babied. So lay off," Marceline gave Finn a gentle push and Finn chuckled. "Alright," Finn said, "Come on, Fionna. We didn't finish our battle!" Finn extended his arm in the air and waved around his sword, running back into the Training Courts and Fionna followed.
"Come, Marceline! I will show you 'things' now!" Gumball declared in joy. Despite the workout, and the sweat, and fighting, Gumball sprinted to the kitchen. Marceline rolled her eyes and lazily floated, with hunched shoulders, towards the kitchen after him.
She found him buzzing on about cookie dough and chocolate chips. She sat in a chair in the corner and crossed her arms.
"Oh, come on, Marceline! This will be fun!" Gumball said, trying to lighten up Marceline's dark mood.
"This is lame! You bake all the time, why is it such a big deal if I'm here?" Marceline snapped.
"Because, dear Marceline, I love to have company with me! Plus, I want to teach you how I make these cookies. Now," Gumball straightened up all the tools and ingredients behind his mixing bowl before he spun around to glare at Marceline, "drop that instrument and come help me!"
Marceline chuckled and hovered over to him and put her hair up in a bun. "Good," Gumball grinned, "you know to put your hair up." He patted Marceline's head in praise. "Now let's start." Marceline rolled her eyes again.
"First! Make the dough!" Gumball yelled excitedly. He clapped his hands together, but forgot he had flour all over them. As he clapped, flour exploded from his hands and covered the two in a cloud of white dust. Just as the flour cleared out, another came at him from where Marceline stood.
"Marceline!" Gumball scolded as Marceline laughed at his flour-covered apron. "You asked for it!" Gumball grabbed a handful of flour and jumped on Marceline who was flying away. He took his hands and dumped it all in her hair.
"GUMBALL!" Marceline shrieked in fury. Gumball laughed hysterically as he ran from her. He saw an egg land next to him as he zoomed passed it. Suddenly he was tripped and he fell to the floor. Marceline pinned him down on his stomach, but he continued flair his arms and legs under her, still laughing. Marceline raised her arms far above her head and came crashing down, making four eggs explode on Gumball's head. The yolk dripped down his face as he stopped laughing.
"Oh... you didn't..." Gumball reached behind him and flung Marceline off his back, he ran back to the kitchen and stashed a sack of flour in his shirt. He turned around and cautiously walked out of the kitchen with two eggs in each hand. He slowly took each step farther away from the kitchen when he was tapped on the shoulder. He turned around quickly, and was hit with a pillow to the chest, causing the flour to shoot everywhere out of his shirt. He growled at Marceline even though he couldn't see her through the flour.
Even if he did see her, he wouldn't be able to because she was invisible at the moment. She dropped the pillow and fanned the dust away from her face with her hand.
This motion allowed Gumball to see the dust moving in a strange away in a certain spot. He squinted and grinned knowing it was Marceline. He opened his shirt and flour poured out. He knelt down to pick a pile of flour up before running and tackling Marceline down with a mixture of flour and broken eggs. Marceline turned visible long enough for Gumball to see the rage in her eyes and he quickly sprinted away.
"Gumbutt... You... YOU'LL PAY!" Marceline rolled over and picked up a pile of flour from the ground in one motion. She spit in it so it would become sticky. She rolled the flour around until it became a ball and she chased after Gumball. She noticed that Gumball had stopped running mid-step, but she didn't care. She was getting revenge.
Gumball looked down at the angry candy maid who glared back up at him. He only flinched when Marceline's flour ball hit him in the back of the head, but he still didn't move. When Marceline appeared next to Gumball, Peppermint Maid crossed her arms and began to tap her foot, glaring at both of them now. "Gumball... what. Have. You. DONE!?"
"Oh, Peppermint Maid... I am dearly sorry..." Gumball apologized.
"You and Miss Marceline Abadeer, will clean this all up now!" Peppermint Maid spun around and began to march off when Marceline stopped her. "Why should we?"
"Excuse me?" Peppermint Maid responded through gritted teeth.
"Why should we listen to you? You're the maid! We outrank you!" Marceline said slowly, and laughing at the end. "If anything, we should be the ones telling you to clean this up. Right, Gumbutt?"
"Marceline! Feel ashamed! Just because I am of royalty does not mean I am of more importance and have more 'value'," Gumball scolded. "Now, Peppermint Maid. Marceline and I will surely clean everything up. You go do something else! Alright?"
"Thank you, Sire," Peppermint Maid said with a soft look but glared daggers at Marceline before she left.
"Come, Marceline!" Gumball grabbed Marceline by her ankle and carried her to the supply closet as she floated along. When Marceline saw all of the cleaning supplies she jerked her foot out of Gumball's grasp and flew up to the high ceiling. "Whoa, there, Gum-balls! When did I ever say I was gonna clean this up?"
"Marceline, I volunteered you. Now, come down from there!" Gumball yelled.
"No."
"... Marceline you won't be able to get this bet over with until you help clean this up."
"Oh, what a shame. I guess we'll just have to finish later... Wow, how did we get flour all the way up here!" Marceline faked interest as she rubbed her fingers across the flour streaks near the ceiling.
"Miss Marceline, would you please come down from there and help me with this task that is all. Your. Fault..." Gumball muttered the last part.
"Excuse me!?" Marceline shrieked. She lowered herself so that she was closer to the ground but still out of Gumball's reach. "What did you just say?"
"I asked you-"
"This was not my fault! If you hadn't been so dumb, you wouldn't have smacked your hands together, and gotten flour all up in my face! This mess, is your fault!" Marceline shrieked, unintentionally getting closer with every word.
"Oh, please! That was an accident! This mess is your fault, if anything, because you threw flour back! I didn't purposely spray you with flour!"
"Well...! Aaargh! Why do you have to... You can't even... Uck!" Marceline was now just arm's length away above Gumball's head. "Alright, Marceline," Gumball said gently, "If I admit that I was the one to start up the feud, will you please help me with this huge mess? I need you! How am I supposed to get all the way up to those high flour particles up there?"
"Hmm," Marceline tapped her chin, "I guess you really do need me... Okay, apologize and admit that you were so dumb as to start this whole mess."
"Miss Marceline, I am so sorry that I did, in fact, start this mess."
"...And...?"
"I'm dumb."
"Good, now hand me a cleaning thingy." Gumball grinned and handed her a spray and a wash cloth. "Can you please clean the flour that got up there?" Gumball asked kindly whilst pointing to the ceiling.
When they finished cleaning, and both took showers, they returned to the kitchen to finish the cookies.
"Alright! While we were taking showers, I told my Banana Guards to go and get some new ingredients! Hey!" Gumball growled and snapped in front of Marceline's face, "Are you even paying attention?"
"Wha-? Yes! New ingredients! I am... Paying attention." Marceline faked enthusiasm and smiled mock-politely.
"Right, now..." Gumball started, when Marceline zoned out again.
blah blah blah cookies blah blah food coloring blah blah blah...
"MARCELINE!" She jumped at Gumball's sudden loudness. "You aren't paying attention! Focus!"
"No! Okay? This is boring! Why are we even doing this anyways?" Marceline yelled back.
"Look, I am scheduled to go to an orphanage later. Constance Cranberry already told all the children I will be coming to visit with a treat," Gumball explained. He didn't look at Marceline until he heard her silence. "What? You have a problem with orphans?"
"No... Not at all really," Marceline almost whispered.
"Then what?" Gumball asked frustrated. Marceline turned to him with a forced smile, "'Cause I didn't expect such a snooty pink prince to care about that stuff!" Marceline said a little too cheery.
"Marceline! I am appalled! Astonished even! 'Snooty pink prince' my butt! That is absurd! Again, just because I am of royalty, does not mean I am of more 'value'," Gumball finished glancing at Marceline before making a sound of annoyance. Marceline used her hand as a puppet to imitate Gumball as he talked. Gumball growled, "Marceline!"
"Okay, NO! I'm done with this!"
"We haven't even started!"
"Well I just can't. Be. Around you!" Marceline yelled. She almost flew away when Gumball caught her before she could... Again. He pulled her down gently and firmly placed his arms on her shoulders. He took in a deep breath with his eyes closed before sighing heavily.
"Marceline, what's wrong?" Gumball asked ever-so gently. He felt Marceline relax a little, a little, under his fingertips.
"It's just... You... Because... You don't... You're just so-"
"Perfect? Are you angry about this again?"
"Yes! I am! And I can't stand it!"
"Marceline, I'm not perfect! Not even close!"
"Uh-Yea you are!"
"Fine. Just tell me some things that make me so "perfect" and I'll tell you how wrong that is." Marceline squinted at him.
"Though I don't like to admit it, you beat me in combat. And I'm the best! So now, you're the best..." Marceline crossed her arms over her chest in a pout.
"Oh, Marceline. I am the prince! I'm supposed to be taught how to use a sword. And, I have had over one thousand years time to master it! Also... if your strategy was to kiss me so I would freeze for a half second, it was pretty easy to beat you."
"Ch... Pretty easy to beat me...Okay... You're... Smart."
"Well, I didn't learn all of it in a day. I am like, again, really old Marceline! But! I am only book smart, and you're street smart. So in a way, you're probably smarter than me!" Gumball chuckled in a low voice, causing Marceline to get a chill up her spine and into her scalp like water pouring over her.
Marceline looked down. She couldn't focus. Gumball didn't even know what his fucking laugh did to her. He had no idea the effect he had on her. She couldn't focus and blushed intensely. She stared down at Gumball's purplish shoes. She could feel Gumball's gaze on her. Her mind went blank and she couldn't remember her own name. The closeness between the two just didn't feel close enough.
Marceline felt Gumball's hands slide down her bare arms before flopping down to his sides, relieving her, faintly, of her frozen state. She swallowed and remembered how nice he always is.
"Y-You're always so polite."
"Again, Marceline. I'm a prince. I'm raised, taught, to be polite... all the time. But I can stop if you want..." Gumball gave out a low chuckle that dumped t.v. static and butterflies into Marceline's body. "I just did it again, didn't I? I'll have to work on that." Gumball took a hold of Marceline's hand and turned around to lead her back to the kitchen. He was stopped and spun around. He gasped when he saw Marceline's face so close to his. He stood staring back at Marceline's dark and wide eyes. "Stop being a prince." Marceline then let her lips come crashing down onto Gumball's. After a moment, Marceline realized what she's done and pulled away quickly. She stared, shocked at Gumball's face, where his eyes were still closed and his mouth just closing. He opened his eyes just a crack before he gave a tiny grin.
"After the orphans."
Gumball winked and let go of Marceline's hands. He went back into the kitchen, leaving Marceline behind. "Well, are you coming or not?" Marceline heard Gumball call from behind the double doors of the kitchen. Marceline shook her head and snapped out of it and walked into the kitchen to start on the cookies.
After all the cookies were baked, two trays full of them, the two headed toward the orphanage. It was a run down place with peeling paint, faded colors, and bricks that looked like they were just about to fall out of the compound. The door didn't look like it was even on its hinges, just standing against the walls for support. The windows were covered in layers of dust and smeared old soap. The flowers in the windowsill, gray, lifeless. Probably just dead. Any metal that could be spotted was covered in layers of rust. You could hear an old t.v. inside.
Marceline took off her hat hesitantly and looked at Gumball who was carrying the two trays of cookies. He smiled gleefully and tilted his head towards the doorbell. Marceline pushed the button, not knowing what to expect, but instantly they both heard excited gasps from inside.
"Children! Turn off the television! Straighten yourselves! Stand in a straight line, and don't forget to bow and be polite to the prince!" Cried an elderly voice from inside.
The door in front of the two screeched open and a tall, old, and wrinkly gelatin lady opened the door.
"I'll be in my headquarters if you need me. The kids know where it is so ask them. You have thirty minutes. Go nuts." The woman then slithered away beyond a corridor like a giant slug and the children came into view. They stood in a straight line and bowed or curtsied to Prince Gumball and Marceline. The children looked to be four to seven years old, all either gumdrops or lollipop kids.
Gumball put the trays of cookies on a nearby table and sat in a chair so that they may all get to introduce themselves and sit in his lap and become friends. Marceline sat alone on a couch and watched. She watched how Gumball made each and every child feel special. Not like how Old Constance Cranberry obviously treated them. She was a slimy glob of old gunk that probably hated children.
"Who's that?" Marceline heard a yellow lollipop boy ask. She looked up and brushed the hair out of her face. Marceline waved while a little gumdrop girl plopped herself in Marceline's lap. Confused, Marceline looked up to Gumball for help but he was too busy throwing the lollipop boy up into the air and making him laugh.
"Uh-Uhm... Hi..." Marceline's voice wavered.
"What's your name? My name is Ella!" The now identified little girl looked up at Marceline expectantly with big innocent eyes.
"I-I'm Marceline..." She didn't know what else to say.
"Are you a princess?" Ella asked loudly. Suddenly all of the girl orphans surrounded Marceline with wide eyes. She put the gumdrop girl on her head and knelt down, still taller than all of the little girls.
"No. But I'm a queen." Marceline smiled as all the little girls' faces lit up in awe.
"What are you the queen of?" One of the girls ask.
Without thinking, and out of habit, Marceline blurted, "Vampires!" And all the girls gasped, suddenly less interested, and less in love with this queen.
"Vampires are scary!" Marceline heard.
"Am I scary? I'm a vampire," Marceline asked, out of character. She supposed to love being feared, but she couldn't bring herself to scare these innocent orphans. She was an orphan once. For a short time.
"A little bit..." Marceline heard the same girl say. With Ella still on her head, Marceline knelt down to the other gumdrop girl and asked, "Are you afraid of flying?"
"...No..." And before Gumball could tell Marceline no, Marceline lifted up the little girl and put the gumdrop on her stomach. "It's fun to fly."
The little gumdrop girl opened her eyes and saw she was flying above all the children. "Hey! I want a turn!"
"Me, too!"
Soon enough, Marceline gave everyone a turn to fly, even threw some rebellious kids, and they were all eating the cookies now. Marceline and Gumball sat together on the couch. Marceline was laying down and her feet were on Gumball's lap.
"Hey, you're really good with kids," Gumball complimented.
"Thanks," Marceline replied.
"What? I'm not gonna get a 'so are you'?"
"Hah! Nope!" Marceline stuffed her sock-covered foot into Gumball's cheek and laughed. Gumball grabbed her feet and ripped her socks off and started to tickle her.
"Stop it! Stop it! HAHAHAHA!" Marceline was too busy laughing to break free from Gumball.
"I'll save you! Benny to the rescue! YAAARGGHH!" A little lollipop boy jumped on Gumball punched him lightly in the shoulder, which Gumball overreacted to, and hugged Marceline. "There you're safe now!"
"I might be safe... but ARE YOU!?" Marceline pulled the little boy off and flipped them over so she was hovering over him. She tickled his skinny sides and he laughed uncontrollably. Suddenly, all of the little boys tackled Marceline while she playfully, and gently, fought back.
Unfortunately, their thirty minutes were up and Constance Cranberry gave out a stinky yawn. "Alright your highness. Your thirty minutes are up. Take your trays and return to your throne or whatever you have to do."
"Awweee," Marceline said, along with all the other children. Just as Gumball and Marceline were about to leave, the children tackled her with a hug. "We'll miss you! We had fun!" Marceline heard among the eleven kids who were hugging her.
"I had fun, too." And with that Marceline and Gumball left the orphanage with two empty trays.
"Alright, Gumwad! Show me what you're really like without your prince side!" Marceline called from Gumball's bed.
"I don't want to!" Gumball called back from inside his closet. "I feel so... naked..."
"Hah! You won't when I'm done with you!" Marceline smirked and ripped open Gumball's closet door. Marceline gasped in horror. "Vampire Kick!" She screamed. She heard Gumball shriek as she landed on the other side of him. Gumball's crown rolled next to her and she picked it up.
"Normal people don't wear crowns!" Marceline scolded as she walked past Gumball's shaking body. She put the crown in its glass case and turned around to really look at Gumball. She smirked and cocked an eyebrow. She circled around Gumball and observing his new clothes she (Gumball paid for them) bought for him. "You look good." Marceline complimented. Gumball's face grew redder.
He didn't like the way Marceline was looking at him. He felt a little too helpless.
"Actually, you look hot! Daayum, boy! Hah!" Marceline flew over Gumball's head and ruffled his hair playfully. "Now you don't look like such a loser!" Marceline dressed him in a black V-neck and dark denim skinny jeans. He wore dark high-edge black shoes with some red in them and, like, ten leather bracelets on each wrist.
"These clothes feel... tight..."
"Yeah..."
"And loose..."
"Well what do you expect? The finest cotton from some unknown country?"
"That's what I usually wear."
"Oh... Well not today!" Marceline snatched her hat, took a hold of Gumball's hand and sprinted to his balcony. She kicked open the door and pushed Gumball over the railing. She sped after him, laughing. She caught him at the last second and flew away from the Candy Kingdom.
"Where are you taking me?" Gumball yelled.
"Where tough guys go. Are you tough, Gumwad?"
"If you're saying that I am wimpy, then no! I mean yes! I mean... ugh... I'm tough!" Gumball yelled. Marceline laughed at him and continued to zoom to the unknown destination.
In the dark, Marceline dropped Gumball and disappeared somewhere to stash her gloves and hat. Gumball froze, on the ground, being unexpectedly dropped. He didn't move, he couldn't see a thing. Marceline had disarmed him of any gadgets he would have used in a time like this, even his pair of night vision contact lenses he usually stashed in his hair. He sighed, but held his breath when he heard someone, or something, sigh in response. He didn't dare to move a muscle. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but it seemed to be taking forever. His lungs were burning and he decided to let out his breath slowly, hoping he was imagining the weird sigh from nowhere. He swallowed silently and stood up. The area was pretty chilly and his new airy clothes didn't do much to protect him. He bit his lip, put his hands up and started walking forward.
After walking for a while, Gumball decided that nothing would appear in front of him and he lowered his arms. When he did, he saw a little green glow. Now there were two. They were blinking one at a time, and slowly, they grew larger as they bobbed up and down, side to side. They seemed to be getting closer, but were still far away. And the closer they got to him, the louder they were. The bobbing green orbs came with a loud breathing and a hiss and a gurgle. Then it repeated. And repeated. And repeated. With every repeat, Gumball's heart thumped louder, and harder. And his breathing became shallower. But in the midst of all this he remembered what Marceline said to him. This was a place for tough guys. This creature was trying to scare him! Gumball stopped walking, and swallowed. He closed his eyes and slowed down his heart beat. He opened his eyes again and the green orbs were staring right back at him, inches away from his face. He felt a cold breath sweep across his face as it breathed heavily, and hissed, and gurgled. Gumball cocked an eyebrow and simply walked around it, continuing his walk down this seemingly everlasting aisle of darkness.
Only a minute passed when a chilling breeze pushed Gumball forward and he fell. He caught himself on the way down. He spun around to see a star-like light far from him. Another blast of ice cold wind pushed Gumball down on his butt. He felt a boney hand land on his shoulder and he froze. He tried to look up and see who it was but the darkness consumed the owner of the hand.
"It's okay, man. I saw you you faced that flesh-eating demon. That was pretty tough," the hand's body said. Instantly, Gumball relaxed and he stood up to face the general direction of the voice.
"What do you mean by see? I can't see a thing!" Gumball replied.
"Ch, typical. You're worried about the darkness. Well I don't usually do this, but no one usually is able to scare that demon... Hold my hand," the voice instructed.
"What?" Gumball almost yelled.
"Hey! I know it sounds weird, and totally not tough, but just do it!" Gumball made a face that showed his embarrassment, but no one could see, and stuck his hand out into the darkness. The bony hand quickly took a hold of it and tugged Gumball through tunnels and tight spaces, while strangely never letting go, until he finally stopped jogging.
Gumball could hear the voice's heavy panting when honestly that jog wasn't much of a workout. "Alright," the voice said still panting, "these glasses," the voice placed the glasses in Gumball's hand, "will let you see through the dark's curse." He finally explained through his panting. When Gumball put on his glasses, Gumball saw a skeleton with hipster glasses on. Behind the skeleton, were other skeletons all wearing hipster glasses and they consisted of different sizes. They sat on log and rusty metal barrels around a bon-fire. How had he not seen the fire?
A nearby door swung open and Marceline was seen walking out, sucking the red out of a tomato and adjusting her glasses. When she saw Gumball she smirked and whispered into a skeleton's skull.
"The queen says that she is surprised that you made it, Bubba. She says that she expected you to die!" The skeleton proclaimed. "What!?" Gumball shrieked, taking a step back. Marceline laughed and whispered to a skeleton with a tattered dress. "The queen also says that you have no need worry, though, she would have retrieved you!" The skeleton said.
"That is because our queen is wonderful and gracious!" One of the smaller skeletons said to another. Marceline walked over to the small skeleton that spoke and pushed him down and all of his bones cracked, "Oh." And then he turned into a pile of dust.
"No one talks without my permission!" Marceline declared and all of the skeletons nodded vigorously in fear. She then hovered over to Gumball and said. "Follow me."
Marceline led Gumball behind an odorless, and gigantic, pile of trash that was much taller than both of them. "You have permission to talk to me," Marceline said, smirking. "What's going on? Why is everyone a skeleton!" Gumball whisper-screamed.
"Well, Bubba," Marceline put a hand on her hip and a finger to Gumball's nose before he smacked her hand away, "if you were paying any attention to Steve-"
"Steve?"
"He's the guy that saved you from the demon's lair."
"Oh."
"As I was saying, if you were paying any attention to Steve, he said you scared off the 'flesh-eating demon.' Meaning he didn't eat your flesh," Marceline explained.
"Oh... so that means that all of those skeleton people didn't... make it..." Gumball muttered.
"Ya, it's pretty sad." Marceline rolled her eyes and leaned on one leg while floating.
"Okay... why are they calling you 'queen?' I thought you didn't use your title."
"Oh, Gumball. Obviously you don't hang around my brother because he seems like the type of guy that would bring people up from the dead. Right, uhm, I'm a vampire. Vampires are alive, but we're dead, and since I'm the queen of vampires, the dead are gonna want to serve me happily, in some weird dream that I'll give them back their life or something like that. I don't know for sure, I'm not dead," Marceline explained. Gumball looked down at his hands, realizing he was in Marceline's territory right now.
Marceline tilted her head and came closer to Gumball to lift his head up by his chin. "What's wrong?" Marceline asked.
"I feel so bad for these people Marceline," Gumball replied. He leaned his forehead against Marceline's and pulled her closer to rest his hands on her hips, "You can't bring these people's lives back, can you?" Marceline closed her eyes and slithered her hands up Gumball's chest and put her hands on his shoulders. "No, Gumball. I can't. But you know I would if I could, right?" The two heard hurried footsteps somewhere in the background but ignored it. Gumball released Marceline and pulled away from her warm body. "I don't know," Gumball replied. Marceline furrowed her brow.
"Oh, what does that mean?" She asked. Gumball immediately replied with a nervous chuckle, but quickly quieted himself. He turned towards Marceline and half a grin. "It means that I don't understand you. Marceline, you're so unpredictable, I don't know what to think!" Gumball took a glance before returning to stare at his shoes. "Alright, I'll give you that... Anymore questions?" Marceline asked.
"Well, I would like to ask those skeleton people how they wound up in this place."
"Okay. We can leave when your done."
"Oh-Marceline! Do you have a pen, or a pencil? And some paper?"
"Yeah, hold on. Minion! Retrieve Bubba some paper and a pen!" The skeleton person bowed and ran off for a few seconds before returning with the items. Gumball started around the campfire circle. There was teen-aged boy who was sent in here on a dare, a motorcycler who's breaks broke, a mother who saved her child, two girls who were looking for their dog, their dog who chased a cat in here, a cat who was running away from the dog, an actor who explored haunted places, and the actor's cameraman. After their stories were told, Marceline put her daytime gear on and lifted Gumball to the exit of the cursed darkness. Gumball looked out to the horizon and gasped. He was going to be late LSP's party!
"Marceline! We must head to the forest!"
"Why?"
"Lumpy Space Prince is throwing a party at sunset and I don't want to be late!"
"A party, eh?"
"Yes!"
"Wow, it seems like you boys throw a party every other day!" Marceline laughed as she darted to the forest. She gently set Gumball down. She watched as Marshall Lee also came to the party. As he descended, LSP cried out, "OMG guys! Now it's a real party! Marshall Lee is here!" And all of the party-goers cheered.
"That prick! No!" Marceline said. She left Gumball behind and flew to the stage. Marshall grabbed the microphone, but Marceline took it from him, "Marshall, let me show you how big sis does it." Skeleton people emerged from the trees behind the stage with instruments on their backs. They dropped the instruments on the stage and they began to play. One skeleton person gave Marceline her axe bass and that's when shit got real. Marceline played the song she wrote that would distract her feelings for Gumball.
And he had no idea the song was for him. After Marceline's encore, Marshall took over and tried to out-stage her amazing performance. By the time Marshall Lee was playing his second song, Finn, Fionna, Cake, Jake, Lady, Lord M, and Bonni had all made it to the party and were dancing to his song. Marceline pulled Gumball aside to the snack table where Marceline drank the red, and Gumball drank the rest. Marshall Lee saw this and smirked.
"Alright, I guess it's time to slow things down, a little. I nominate BUBBA AND MY SISTER MARCEY! TAKE THE FIRST DANCE!" Marshall yelled into the microphone. The audience cheered immediately as he said it and Gumball blushed. Marceline smirked and grabbed his wrist like he did on their first dance together. "Come on!" Marceline said.
"...Okay..." Gumball replied, still blushing. With all eyes on them, they got into position and Marshall started the music. They slowly swayed to the rhythm and soon enough Cake insisted that Lord M join her in a dance. And then Jake and Lady, and then everyone else... except Finn and Fionna. They joined Marshall Lee on stage. When the music sped up again, Gumball pulled Marceline into the forest. "Alright, Marceline. I'm done with your games. Can you please tell me your honest opinion on me-"
He was interrupted with Marceline's hand. She smirked and leaned in closer, floating so that she was at eye level with him. "My honest opinion on you is..." Marceline let her eyes wander over Gumball's body, "you're cute..." Gumball blushed, making Marceline chuckle. She came in closer and bit his neck, gently so she wouldn't hurt him, "Mm, your pretty sweet," Gumball's face became redder and Marceline gave him a wicked smile, "And I can't stand to be your friend." Marceline released his mouth and crossed her arms with a smirk on her lips. "So what's your opinion on me?" She played. Gumball raised an eyebrow and smiled at the ground. He looked back up and crossed his arms as well.
"Let's see. Well you certainly are a tease..." Marceline raised both her eyebrows. "And I kinda want to kiss you, right now." Gumball took both of Marceline's hands in his and pulled her floating body closer to his. He placed his hands on her neck gently and leaned in to her. Finally, Marceline was letting him kiss her, and he felt like he could fly, just like her. When Gumball finally pulled away, Marceline was on the ground. She let out a small chuckle before embracing him. "I hope I don't regret this..."
"Hah... me neither..." Gumball whispered back. Marceline looked up, but not at Gumball, at the trees. They seemed darker than usual... The sky seems grayer, and no stars twinkled.
"Is something wrong?" Gumball asked as Marceline pulled away.
"Yes... Something..." Marceline sniffed the air, "Something evil..."
A crow screeched and scared both of them. The entire party heard it over Marshall Lee's song.
"BLEGH!" Marceline yelled back. The crow screeched once more and it flew into a dark hole in the ground.