Fell For Her Song

Chapter 11

Rescue from Hell

Bubblegum fell silent.

"Gumball's in the Nightosphere?" Bubblegum repeated in disbelief. Marceline swallowed and stopped herself from clawing out her hair. She let her hands fall to her sides from their tight grip in her hair and nodded. She collapsed and pulled her knees to her chest. Marceline held herself tight on the ground. "...and it's all my fault." She whispered. Her breathing hitched as hot tears came rushing down her cheeks.

Bubblegum sat with Marceline as she cried, patting her shoulder. Bubblegum looked at the destroyed Gumball's destroyed kingdom. Candy people emerged from the dust, injured and trembling in fear. The dragon did a lot of damage in the short time it had to attack them. She felt an aching in her heart for the candy people as they called out for their missing friends and family.

"C'mon, Marceline," Bonnibel said, standing and outstretching a hand to her friend. Marceline wiped her eyes with her forearm and looked at Bonnibel. Taking her hand, Bubblegum pulled Marceline up. "We need to make sure everyone's alright before we go in after Gumball."

"So we're looking for him after we look for everyone else? No, Bonni. We have to go now."

"Marceline, you're not thinking logically. We could go in there to save Gumball with a stronger army if we gathered everyone else first," Bubblegum explained. Marceline took a few steps back away from Bubblegum, shaking her head. "He could be dead by now, Bubblegum. Don't you see that?" Marceline felt a stab to her heart as she imagined her father torturing her vulnerable prince. "You and me. We can do this! We have to save him now!" Marcelline cried, pulling at Bubblegum's wrist.

"M-Marceline! I can't! The people! It will be sunrise soon and they'll need help gathering themselves... I can't leave them..." Bubblegum said, staring at the lost candy people. Finn and Jake made their way towards them. Bubblegum could see Marshall, FP, Fionna, and Cake emerging from the dust and FP illuminated the darkness around them. Lord Monochromicorn looked around for Gumball. "But I do agree with you. It would be wise to leave right away... Take Finn and Jake with you instead then. I have to stay."

Marceline nodded. She told Finn and Jake the plan and they agreed to help. Marshall retrieved the bug milk they needed to go into the Nightosphere. Marceline nodded to Finn as she spoke the words she needed to, then Finn hurled the milk onto the ground. The portal opened, and flames were close enough to burn them. Nonetheless, Marceline was on a mission and she jumped in, cringing at the heat. Finn and Jake followed quickly and they started the search.

"Guys! He's close by!" Jake exclaimed a little too loudly. Marceline hissed and tackled him. "Shut up Jake! Do you want to be found?" She whispered after she clasped her hand to his mouth. He shook his head vigorously. "Good, so shut it!" Marceline released his mouth and he swallowed nervously. Finn glared at him silently before turning and looking over the corner.

"...I can smell him, too, though..." Marceline said, pulling Finn back.

"He's behind the door over there, but it's guarded," Finn said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. Marceline silently looked over the corner as well and saw Gumball's bright pink hair behind the barred window in the heavy wooden door. She felt a growl erupt from her throat, but she tried to stifle it. There were four tall demons guarding the door. She turned back and pushed her back against the wall. She took a deep breath as she tried to calm herself down. "You think you can take we can take 'em, Finn?" Marceline asked with a smirk. He gripped his sword and nodded. "Good. Jake, shrink down and get to Gumball."

"Now?" Jake asked nervously. Marceline nodded and pushed him a little. He shrank down, unnoticed by the guards, and flew into a small opening.

"Ready?" Marceline asked Finn.

"Let's do this!" Finn exclaimed, jumping into the guards' view. They howled before two charged at him. Marceline soared passed them and headed straight to the other two.

"He's in shackles!" Marceline heard Jake call.

"Then unlock them!" Marceline hissed back as she blocked the guard's sword with her bass. She sliced off its head and it fell to the before exploding into red smoke and dissipating.

"It needs a key!" Jake replied. Marceline looked around as she fought her second guard. One of the guards Finn was fighting had a key ring. Distracted, she was hit in the gut by her foe. She was pushed back and dropped her bass.

"Ohhh," she groaned in pain.

"Marceline!" Finn cried. "HIYA!" Finn kicked both of the guards in the neck before jumping in front of Marceline to protect her.

"My bass!" Marceline cried as she watched one of the guards step on it, breaking it in two. She hissed, infuriated. "... Finn... step back..." Finn widened his eyes at her tone but obeyed as much as he could at the moment. He pressed his back against the wall and held his forearms in front of his face.

Marceline let a deep growl erupt from her chest as she felt her body morphing. In a flurry of dark fur, a giant bat-like demon arose and with a swipe of its claws took out all three guards at once. One dispersed into its dark smoke while the other two remained unconscious. The bat creature stalked over to them, crawling under the short ceiling. Finn watched in horror as he watched Marceline tear each guard limb from limb. He couldn't look away.

As the final guard was torn to pieces, their body parts did as well crumble and become smoke that retreated quickly. The key ring fell from the last guard's belt loop and Finn, snapping out of his terrorized state, tumbled to grab it before Marceline squashed them under her giant heavy claws.

"Marceline snap out of it!" Finn yelled, Marceline looked down at him, and he would be ashamed to say he was frightened. Her eyes were wild and her pupils were dilated. She was completely animalistic.

As if Marceline didn't understand Finn, she hissed at him, towering over him like a mountain.

Jake hurriedly try to wake up the unconscious prince as he witnessed the event about to take place.

"C'mon, princey, wake up!" Jake yelled as he slapped Gumball across the face one last time. Gumball groaned, blinking open his eyes. In triumph, Jake gave a weak smile and continued to pester him. "GUMBALL WAKE UP MARCELINE'S GONNA KILL FINN!" Jake yelled at the top of his lungs.

Gumball stared blankly at Jake before you could almost hear the gears in his head moving again. "Wha-What? Jake? Marceline!?" Gumball cried, widening his eyes as he figured out his situation. He pulled on his arms in vein as they were clamped down in shackles above his head. "What are you doing her-" Gumball began before Jake left his side to look out the small opening that was used as a makeshift window through the door. "Marceline! Gumball's awake!"

Marceline's pupils constricted, and Finn swallowed. He could tell Marceline was just about to pounce. Thank Glob for Jake. Marceline shook her head and took a step back from Finn, looking down at him in... fear? It quickly passed and she morphed back into her usual form. Finn ran over to the door to try the fifty different keys on the one lock.

"Hurry up, Finn!" Marceline shouted, shoving him to the side so that she could do it. Using her telekinesis, Marceline quickly continued to try every key on the key ring. After a minute, all of the keys were used up and the door was still locked.

"Dammit!" Marceline screamed as she swiped the keys from the lock and threw them across the room. "Known of them work!"

"Wait!" Finn shrieked, running over to the keys, "Maybe they unlock Gumball's shackles." He picked up the keys and walked back over to the door, handing them to Jake through the small opening.

"Shackles?" Marceline questioned, peeking through the small window. "Bubba!" Marceline cried, gripping the bars on the window.

"Marceline? How did you all get here?" Gumball asked as Jake continued to try every key on one lock.

Marceline opened her mouth to respond when she heard footsteps coming down from the next hallway. "Stay quiet, Jake!" Marceline hissed as she grabbed Finn by the arm and began dragging him to the doorway away from them. Marceline fell on her ass as she almost ran into a tall figure.

"Marceline. Thinking to leave so early?" The figure said. Marceline felt her newly formed hatred rising from the pits of her stomach for the familiar voice as she pulled her hair from her face to glare at her father.

"What's with the angry stare? Ohp, is it because you were looking for this?" Hunson teased, sticking out his pointer finger to reveal a large silver key hanging. "Y'know Marceline, you could've just came home with me. I only want what's best."

"Yeah? For me or for you?" Marceline hissed. She stood up, sticking out an arm so that Finn would stay behind her.

"Ooh, what a witty comeback," Hunson replied sarcastically, "I see you brought the human baby to help you. What help has he been so far?"

"Wha- Baby?" Finn asked, offended. Hunson raised a hand to silence him.

"Please don't talk, your voice is annoying," he said. "Since you've brought the boy, I'm assuming you brought the dog, too... Where is he?"

"We didn't bring him," Marceline replied, keeping a stern look on her face, Finn copied.

"Yeah, he's cleaning up that mess your stupid dragon left behind at the Candy Kingdom!" Finn added. Hunson smirked.

"You both are horrible liars," Hunson half-laughed before becoming serious and taking a step forward. Marceline retaliated by beginning to attack when her father froze her, and Finn, with a spell. "Please Marceline, I don't have time for this." Their bodies were captured in a sparkling purple mist that held them in place like strong arms. Marceline could move the little things like her fingers, toes, jaw, she could blink, and she could breath as did Finn. Hunson lifted them to levitate behind him as he made his way towards the door to Gumball's cell. He pushed the key into the lock and as he turned it, he looked to his right to see a small heap of red-painted wood, metal, and metal strings.

"I see you've managed to break the family axe, Marceline. That's disappointing," Hunson tsk'd as he opened the door. Marceline glared even harder at the back of her father's head. Hunson left Marceline and Finn behind at the entrance of the cell as he made his way towards Gumball. Marceline gasped as she could now see his body more clearly. Gumball was naked with a few rags that covered his waist down. He was bruised up on arms, legs, and had a black eye. He must have received a quick beating before he was put into the cell. He looked so helpless. "Gumball!" Marceline cried, feeling her tears gathering. He looked up in fear at Hunson. He pulled his knees together and pressed his back up even further into the wall.

"Prince Gumball..." Hunson said as he began to pace. "Do you mind telling me where that little orange dog, Jake, is?"

Gumball's eyes flickered to Finn and Marceline quickly before returning them to Hunson walking back and forth. He gathered his courage and looked square in the eye as he stopped pacing to look back at him.

"Jake isn't here," Gumball lied, rather convincingly. Hunson was taken aback by the confidence in his statement, though he already knew the truth.

Hunson clenched his teeth together and snarled. He lunged for Gumball's neck too quick for Gumball to dodge. As Hunson's clawed-hand grasped Gumball's throat, Gumball's head banged against the cinder-block walls, causing him to become dizzy. "You're LYING!" Hunson barked. Gumball's wrists struggled against their shackles as he tried to break free from Hunson's tight grip around his neck. I can't breath!

"Listen hear you puny, teeth-rotting, little boy. Don't make me take your soul in this painful way..." Hunson hissed into Gumball's ear. Gumball tried to swallow his fear, but it came back up as a sputtering cough. He opened his mouth to reply though nothing was able to come out. He tried to look at Marceline, but his vision was overtaken by giant white dots. Gumball could feel his body becoming weaker.

"Dad! Stop!" Marceline cried as she watched the horrible scene play out in front of her. Hunson, not letting go of Gumball's throat, turned only his head all the way around to look at Marceline slowly. Finn tried to close his eyes at Hunson's horrifying face. With demonic eyes and a up-split mouth, Hunson let out an ear-splitting scream.

"Hunson, this is madness!" Finn yelled back with his eyes closed.

"Did I ever say I wasn't mad?" Hunson replied with a noticeable smirk. He turned his head back towards Gumball, chuckling.

"Dad! Please! You're killing him!" Marceline cried, her tears were freely dripping from her chin.

Suddenly a miniature Jake came leaping from behind the door. Hopping from leg to leg he looked to Finn in fear and nervousness. 'Go!' Finn tried to mouth to him. Jake stared up at the giant Hunson, trembling.

"Please!" Marceline called to Jake, though it sounded like she was still begging her father.

"Marceline, this boy is no good for you. Y'know he created all of his candy people right? He probably isn't even royal blood. He created all of the candy people and all the candy buildings just so that they could worship him. He could have created some candy wife to fuck around with! He's better off dead anyways, Marceline!" Hunson cried, pressing harder. Though Gumball's movements were small, he continued to struggle against his attacker. "Hear that, gum boy? You're worthless! No one needs you! When you die your soul will just come and rejoin me to beat up anyways! 'Cause you know what this place is, boy? HELL!" Hunson laughed maniacally. "YOU'RE GONNA DIE IN HELL! How ironic..." Hunson chuckled to himself.

Finn raised his eyebrows trying to tell Jake to hurry it up, while Jake still indecisively bounced around on his two feet. He looked back at Finn trying to tell him to go and back at Marceline's devastated face. Looking at Marceline's tears, he knew what he had to do... though he knew he would hate everything about it.

Jake turned and, running towards Hunson, screamed at the top of his lungs. Like a giant net of orange meat, Jake stretched to capture Hunson with enough force to pull the claws away from Gumball's throat. It took Gumball a second to realize he could breath again. He gulped in air too quickly and started coughing uncontrollably, making it hurt worse than before.

Hunson was taken so off guard, the focus he had on Finn and Marceline's magical containment clouds was taken away and they fell to the ground.

"Finn unlock Gumball now!" Finn jumped to the key ring hidden behind the door and was lucky enough to find the right key for the shackles on the key ring.

"Finn! Hurry it up in- OW - there, he's really - OWHH! - scratchin' me up!" Jake cried as he continued to wrestle with Hunson inside his outstretched-Jake-body blanket.

"He's free!" Finn cried. Marceline swooped in and picked Gumball up gingerly and swiftly before heading out the door with Finn following instantly. Finn locked the cell door. "Jake c'mon!"

"Okay, I'm coming!" Jake cried back. He stretched his face to the window, moving most of his internal organs first before letting go of Hunson and snapping the rest of his outstretched skin back in place. Jake squeezed his shrunken down body through the body and picked Finn up so that he could ride on Jake's back.

"Let's go!" Marceline cried, flying with Gumball's limp body in her arms. With Marceline leading the way, the group made their way back to the portal they entered through and collapsed on the ground, Jake panting.

Swiftly, Bubblegum handed Marceline a giant umbrella and put a padlock through the grass that had to open to create the portal. "There, that should keep any portals from ever opening ever again," she said.

Marceline stared at the blood leaking from Gumball's neck and all the bruises on his naked body. She felt even more tears she couldn't hold back form in her eyes. This was all her fault and she knew it. Her father would want to return for vengeance. She tenderly caressed Gumball's scarred face and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm so so sorry," she whispered.

Bubblegum turned her head to look at her friends and gasped. "Oh my." She held her hands over he mouth. "He needs a hospital immediately!" She looked over at Jake's scratched up body. "You, too!" She pointed at Jake and Finn nodded.

Marceline watched as Fionna rode Lord Monochromicorn to pick up Gumball and Jake, deciding that it would be best that she just stay away from him. She might hurt him. Not that she hadn't done that already. Her lip quivered, even though no one was around to see, she wanted to keep her cries inside. She wasn't going to cry for someone who she had to forget all about. She couldn't handle being the cause for his pain anymore. She contemplated removing the umbrella to let the sunlight take her.

Yeah... this is a really dark chapter, and I would write more to add to this but you've been waiting long enough. I guess it's just laziness and procrastination that's been keeping me from posting. I was thinking about how to handle this chapter all week but didn't do anything. I'm really sorry!