AN: The song Marshall Lee sang in the last chapter is by Radiohead, called Creep. I do not own any rights to the song; they have full credit for it. The song in this chapter is based off the song Broken, and I do not own any rights to that song either. (Side note: there's going to be plenty of music in this story as well. This is not a short story!) Thank you!
That's when he smells it. White chocolate and strawberries.
"Fi, I know you're there. You shouldn't be going around watching people like that. It's my thing." He says trying to play off the seriousness of his mood. "Fi?"
Fionna didn't move or respond. She crouched there. Marshall jumped to the ground. He landed right in front of her face. Fionna stood up and looked at Marshall. Staring at him for a couple seconds with a face Marshall couldn't read. 'Hurt…?'
Fionna then turns and storms away, saying nothing. It takes everything he has to not follow her.
'It's better if I just let her go.' "I really am a creep." He sighs to himself watching her go.
Fionna left the Candy Kingdom in a hurry. 'Prince Gumball had acted a little off, and Marshall… I don't know. He seemed sincere.'
His face flashed into her head with the image of him kissing her. It had shocked her, but she liked it. To be honest; deep down she had always had a little crush on that vampire. But, in her view he would never like her that way. She always buried it as soon as it tried to surface.
"A good visit to the good ol' forest, dude! That should help clear my head!" she tells herself cheerfully with a fist pump.
Slowing down when she reaches the forest she unsheathes her sword. 'There might be some creatures I can fight.' Fionna catches a familiar sound coming from the forest. It's Marshall Lee's axe bass.
"Maybe I can sneak in and catch a glimpse at him. To make sure he's okay.." she quietly enters the forest to find him.
His dark figure was easy to spot in the tree. The rain made it easier for her to not be heard, too. She crouched under a bush, and he was already singing. His voice is soft and sad. Listening to the words, she watches him. He looks as if in pain as he sings. Fionna had never heard him like that before. So open. Fionna's heart stops as she listens to his words.
'He doesn't belong here? He's singing about someone else? But I thought… No…' Fionna thought feeling betrayed and hurt. 'He had toyed with me like that? Made my heart guts throb! And he wants to leave!?'
Fionna looks up at Marshall. A tear was running down his cheek. Fionna steps forward with the intention to wipe the tear forgetting she was hiding. A twig snaps under her foot.
'GLOB! He's going to see me and tease me about letting him kiss me!'
"Fi, I know you're there. You shouldn't be going around watching people like that. It's my thing." Fionna doesn't respond. "Fi?"
He jumps down in front of her face, and she stands to face him.
Fionna's POV
'I can't face him! Not now! I gotta get away!'
I contemplate slapping him, but instead I turn and storm away. Marshall doesn't follow, but I can feel him watching me. It is raining harder. Once I cleared the last few feet of the forest trees I can barely see. I run and run with no sense of direction. The ground is squishy, full of puddles and mud. I trip on something and face plant right into the ground. I hear light groan. A body like silhouette is on the ground beside me. I immediately recognize who it is.
"Flame Prince! Hold on, I got ya!"
I pick him up and lay him over one shoulder. I spin around to try to spot some where I can take him to get out of the rain. I see a bridge and head for it. I reach it just as lightning strikes, and I see there's a monster guarding it.
"You dare approach my bridge?!" the monster yells. His voice sounds as loud as thunder.
I gently lay Flame Prince down on the ground, and draw my sword ready for battle. I grit my teeth viciously glaring at the monster.
"Your bridge, huh? We will just see about that ya yucko slime creep!" I holler.
Fionna's eyes adjusted to the new light being able to decently see. The monster was huge, towering over her by at least 10 feet. It has six legs that are spider like. It has one Cyclopes like eye, glowing yellow. The head and body like a wolf, with razor sharp teeth. But instead of hair is had slimy green like skin. It was ugly.
The monster attacked Fionna, snapping fiercely. Fionna dodged the attack, making a quick swipe with her sword. Her sword made contact cutting off one of the monster's legs. He screeched in pain, orange blood gushing from the dismemberment. He turned and attacked again. This time he stretched out his neck to snap at her, and Fionna jumped forward beside it. She made another swipe with her sword. It proved deadly; decapitating the monster's head. The monster's body landed on the ground in a mighty heap of mess. The decapitation didn't bleed. It smoked. Soon the whole body evaporated leaving only the leg behind.
Fionna re sheathed her sword and ran to Flame Prince's side. His usually bright orange skin was a pale orange, and he laid there not moving. Fionna knew she had to do something fast or the Flame Prince would die. Taking her back pack off her back she got the water proof matches out. Lighting one she put it on FP's chest.
'Maybe if I put the match on his chest it will jump start his heart..'
Flame Prince made a small groan.
"It's working!" Fionna whispered to herself. She got up to find what she could dry enough to make a fire for him to warm up more. There wasn't much she could find, but she managed to find enough for a small fire. Fionna got the fire going in no time, and put Flame Prince in a fetal position next to it. She then found more stuff to burn and placed the items next to the fire to dry for later. Once things settled down and got quiet Fionna's mind was able to wonder a bit. Questions bombarded her mind.
'What the heck was FP doing here? Why did he come back now after so long? When he wakes up and is better I'm gonna punch his boy guts out! But seeing him almost dying.. I had to save him. Even if he was a jerk and broke my heart he is still my friend.'
Fionna's attention was snatched from her thoughts when she heard Flame Prince move. She looked over at him. His skin was back to its normal fire orange, and flames were coming off his body. He smiled at Fionna, and she couldn't help but give a small smile back.
"Hey." Flame Prince said sheepishly.
"Hi, Flame Prince." Fionna said in a plain tone. Flame Prince looked down. Fionna wasn't trying to be harsh in her voice, so that's why it ended up sounding plain. She felt kind of bad for it, but after the way he left things it was justified.
"I.. thank you for saving my life. Prince Gumball had me leave the castle so fast I couldn't talk with you. It's like he was trying to make sure you and I wouldn't have a chance to talk. Look, I wanted to tell you that I am sorry. The way I left things.."
Before he could continue Fionna cut him off. Her anger was ignited with the memories flowing back to her. His mention of Prince Gumball didn't help, either.
"You mean when you left without so much as a good bye! A lousy post it note.. A POST IT NOTE! With nothin' written on it other than "I am leaving- FP"…. No bye, no explanation, no I'm sorry, no.. no.. No NOTHING!" She lashed out clearly angry. "And after you said… what you said and did!" Fionna now started to tear up a little. She felt heaviness in her chest, and a little light headed. "You son of a bitch!" she yelled tears flowing down her cheeks.
Flame Prince's face fell down to his feet. Clearly he was in shame of how he had behaved. He thought to himself for a while. It seemed as though he was gathering his thoughts and trying to have the courage to say them.
"Fionna, I want to say that I am so sorry for hurting you." His voice was softening, and clearly being careful choosing his words. "Back then.. I couldn't control myself well, and I didn't know how to express myself. My feelings-" He was cut off again by Fionna.
"Dude, stop. Why didn't say good bye to my face?" Fionna demanded still angry but not yelling.
"I couldn't face you after what happened." He answered the shame in his voice.
"You're a coward." Fionna said slightly bitter.
"But, it was for the better. I am here now, and maybe we could-" Fionna interrupted again.
"No, no. We will never happen again. Maybe one day we can be good friends again, but I will never give you any of myself again. When you left…. I was… if it weren't for my friends and my sister… we just will never be together. That chapter is over." Fionna's voice was firm and her expression matched.
FP stood there speechless. He didn't know what to say, because he still had feelings for her. Fionna's words hurt, and he felt pain inside like he had never felt before. It wasn't like water or ice, but he still felt like he would die. While he wasn't paying attention while Fionna got her stuff together to leave. Flame Prince finally noticed when she put her back pack on.
"What are you doing?" he asked not wanting her to leave so quickly. Especially after their talk, if you can call it that.
"I'm gonna go FP. I don't wanna be here with you. Besides, it's getting late and Cake will worry."
"Will I see you around?" he asked hopeful.
"I live here, so I will be around." She replied dryly.
Fionna left without saying bye. She was ready to get home, and the rain died down to a light sprinkle. It's not like she wasn't wet already. She lost herself in her thoughts again. Her memory drifted back to when she and Flame Prince were dating. They would go exploring dungeons, and have picnics. Then she remembered how they would fight. He didn't like her being friends with guys and rescuing princes. It made him jealous she could touch them and not him. He would be mad when she wanted to adventure some by herself. Flame Prince didn't want her to have time with anyone else, and it always seemed like he wanted to be a little controlling.
"Flame Prince could be such an ass." She sighed to herself.
After the …. Incident with FP and he left Cake tried and tried to cheer her up; trying literally everything. Cake had called PG and Marshall to help. PG wanted to cheer her up by trying to include her in his science stuff, but the burners were constant reminders of Flame Prince. PG then tried baking, but the stove/oven was a reminder, too. PG's intentions were good, but weren't working for her.
But Marshall, he would come visit her. It didn't matter what time it was, he was there to talk or listen. Sometimes they didn't even have to talk. Marshall would just sit with her watching BMO, play his axe bass, or just let it be silent. When Fionna would feel like crying he would put his arm around her shoulders and let her lean on him. One night was especially bad for her, and Marshall sang her a little song. It played in her head and she sang along.
"Little girl don't be so blue, I know what you're goin' through
Don't let it beat you up and keep you down,
Know that getting scars only makes you who you are
Only makes you who you are
No matter how much your heart is aching
I will always be here for you.
When you're broken into a million little pieces
And you're tryin' but you can't hold on anymore
I will hold on for you
Every tear falls down for a season
Don't you stop believing in yourself when you're broken
Better days are gonna find you once again
I will make sure that they do
Every piece will find its place
And I will be here to help you find them
When you're broken, when you're broken."
Fionna smiled to herself. After Marshall had sang that song she felt better. She asked him to teach her how to read music and play guitar. Marshall of course said yes, and after that her days got better. Every afternoon at 3 on the dot he gave her lessons, switching from her house to his. About five months later she was basically back to herself.
Fionna reached her tree house right as the rain stopped.
"Oh yea, now ya stop." Fionna mumbled to herself turning the door knob. She walks into the treehouse and takes her hat off and tosses it onto the coffee table. Cake was obviously home, because the lights were on and she could smell sausage cooking.
"Cake, I'm home! I'm soaked so I'm going to take a hot shower. BUT, when I get back down we are going to have a talk! She yells climbing the latter to the bed room they shared.
Once she got to her room she tplaced her backpack beside her bed. Fionna walked into the bathroom and turned the water on to the shower. Peeling the wet clothes off; she threw them to the corner and stepped into the shower.
"Mmmm, hot water…" Fionna says to herself in a cooing manner. She let the hot water soak in and warm her up. Her muscles relaxed and she felt stress decrease some. Wetting her hair down she washed it with her strawberry shampoo, giving it a heavy lather. Long thick hair is a mess to clean up, especially when there's mud and slime. Giving her hair a thorough rinse she used her white chocolate body wash. Satisfied with feeling clean she turned the water off. Fionna took the time to ring out her hair well, because otherwise Cake will insist blow drying her hair. Fionna wrinkled up her nose at the thought of the hair dryer. She hates the thing.
"Ain't nobody got time for that!" She said quietly to herself.
She grabbed a towel and rubbed her hair dryer and then wrapped it around herself. Fionna's stomach started growing, reminding her that she hadn't eaten for the most part of the day. She hurriedly got dressed and went down to the kitchen. Cake had finished dinner the same time she finished her shower. Sausage, beans, collards and cornbread were placed on the table.
"This looks delicious!" she exclaimed sitting down.
"Thanks honey." Cake replied. Guilt was in her voice about earlier.
Fionna and Cake ate the meal not speaking. Cake broke the silence first.
"I visited with Lord Monochromicorn today."
"Oh really? Was that before you broke Marshall's house, or after you left me at PG's?"
"I thought you were right behind me!"
"Cake, you left me! I was totally embarrassed! I had to face PG all by myself!"
"I didn't mean to baby cakes!"
"You didn't come back for me! What happened to stickin' together!?"
"You know I wouldn't do it on purpose!" Cake was waving her hands around.
Fionna softened up a little seeing her sister's eyes tear up a little. She sighed.
"Gumball was acting weird today." Fionna furrowed her brows thinking about how Prince Gumball had acted.
"Oh? How so?" Cake asked curiosity peeked.
"It's hard to explain, but something is up for sure." Fionna said remembering his distaste at her hanging out with Marshall Lee.
"He seemed upset I was hanging out with Marshall."
"I don't blame em'! That vampire is a prankster and unpredictable." Cake responded.
Cake's comment made Fionna mad.
"Marshall is not a bad person! In all the time I have hung out with him he has never turned on me! Yes he flirts, and yes he jokes around. Sometimes he can be kinda be a jerk, but he is my friend! He has always been there for me! Have you forgotten him hanging out with me when I was heapin' glob of mess? How many times does Marshall Lee has to show he's not gonna hurt me!?" by the end Fionna was shouting.
Cake's face was looking guilty and hurt at the same time. Fionna didn't like hurting her feelings, but she wanted to make her point.
"You right baby cakes. It's just so hard to not worry. You forgive me?" Cake said in her gentle accented voice.
"Yea, I forgive you. Just try to not act all cray cray like you did earlier, okay?"
"I promise I will try."
Cake and Fionna hugged and then started clearing the table. BMO who had stayed quietly present the whole time chimed in.
"Yay! Quarrel over!" clapping her hands enthusiastically.
Cake and Fionna laughed at their silly robotic friend.
"I got the dishes. Why don't you go ahead and go to bed?" Cake said in her mom like tone when she saw the time.
"Okay." Fionna replied. She knew she couldn't win this battle. Besides she was ready for bed, and she did not want to mention seeing Flame Prince right now. Better to save that for tomorrow, because today had been crazy enough. Cake going nanas about that would be too much.
Fionna climbed the stairs, brushed her teeth, and jumped into bed. All snug into her bed she tried to sleep. She just couldn't get her mind to stop. Cake eventually came into the room, and when Fionna heard her she pretended to sleep. Marshall Lee, Prince Gumball and Flame Prince bounced around in her head. She had mixed feelings about the three of them, because even when they upset her or made her mad they would always be her friends. At about 4 am Fionna finally fell asleep.
Marshall's POV
Marshall watched Fionna until she was out of sight. Quiet surrounded him and once again he is alone.
"I should be used to it by now, but I guess not. Alright, time to hunt."
Marshall allowed his senses open up, soaking up the scents and sounds of the rain forest. He hears steps and he hones in trailing it. Marshall loves the hunt. His demonic side relished in it. His eyes dilate showing nothing but blood red. The steps came closer rounding the tree hedge. Marshall pounces attacking allowing himself to be feral. This would temporarily make him forget his love. Fionna.