AN:

I didn't have time to proofread this, so I hope it's not a mess! Enjoy

Prince Gumball's POV:

I must say, I'd had the strangest few hours. I had been baking a cinnamon-bubblegum pie when this strange vampire lady, Marceline, materialized right about my stove and carried me off (as if Marshall Lee wasn't enough trouble on his own.) Oh, Glob, my pie… I abandoned my pie… It would be ruined by the time I got back to Aaa! With any luck it wouldn't come to life and eat my subjects before my return.

I was quite fascinated by Princess Bubblegum's discovery of the inter-dimensional rift. While I had always been more interested in making my candy people more delicious than ever, I did also love the science that gave them life. It was a shame that I didn't have more time to devote to science, what with my passion for baking and all, so I was glad to find that my alternate-dimension form was more learned such things.

After Marshall Lee so rudely locked himself in the dungeons, Bubblegum invited me to morning tea for a diplomatic meeting of sorts. I was glad that the annoying vampire queen who had kidnapped me was not invited.

"So, Bubblegum, tell me," I began when we were comfortably seated. "Why did you go looking for Aaa?" I could see Fionna out the window, examining the sunrise and looking uninterested. Beautiful and uninterested. It was really too bad she wasn't older. Maybe we could meet up sometime in a few years. She would make a good queen for the Candy People once she was more refined, and that would likely come with age.

"Well, as I know you are familiar with the Ice Queen, in Ooo we have the Ice King. He is a real bore, but he has this pathetic need to kidnap princesses. When last he took me, I was forced to listen to his horrible stories about Aaa, hear him pine for his book characters, for two whole days! I began to realize that he was obsessed enough that he may have actually thought you guys into existence. When Finn and Jake finally managed to rescue me, I decided that I would not rest until I found you." She took a deep breath. "Prince Gumball, I feel like I need to okay my plan with you before I continue."

"What plan?" I asked, mildly concerned. What could the pink princess be up to that would have to do with me and my people? Aside from pulling us across the dimensions, of course.

"My plan to stop the Ice King. I know things are somewhat different in Aaa than they are here, but if you truly are the other side to my coin, so to speak, then you will not like what I have in mind for Fionna."

"Fionna?" I sat up, back straight as a board. What was she planning for my Fionna? My mild concern flaring into wild fright.

"Yes, I knew you wouldn't like it," she frowned. "I wouldn't either, if our roles were reversed." She breathed a heavy sigh and continued. "I plan to keep her here, to marry the Ice King. It's the only way to stop him from kidnapping princesses! Surely, you understand."

"Understand?" I shouted. This was an outrage. She had no right. "You cannot do that to Fionna!" My gaze shot out the window, grateful that it was closed. The heroine in question was playing with some musical bugs, completely oblivious to the politics being discussed just a few dozen feet away, deciding her fate. I must protect her. She was always saving me, so now I must repay the favor.

"I can and I will. I was hoping to work out some type of diplomatic exchange, but I will go through with this whether you agree or not."

"Diplomatic exchange? Are you saying you would let me take your hero, Finn, and sacrifice him the Ice Queen?"

That angered the candy princess. "This has nothing to do with Finn," she growled.

"I don't see how it doesn't."

"It doesn't. Exchange means you can visit her every few years, not take my warrior to that wicked woman."

"Visit? Miss Bubblegum, I cannot agree to your preposterous terms."

"You don't have to!" She stood sharply and strode to the door. "The girl will remain in Ooo." With that she left the room. Her Peppermint Buttler leered at me as he shut the door behind her. He looked like he was going to say something, but then seemed to decide against it and left in the wake of his mistress.

Frustrated and feel depressed, and went to the window and opened it. I jumped the five or so feet the ground and walked over to Fionna. She was on her knees, leaning over the little bugs who were dancing to a little ragtime tune one of them was playing.

"Oh, hey, Gumball." She brushed her bangs out of her face and stood. "Are you okay? You look kinda shaken up. What did the princess want?"

"It's nothing you need to worry about." I attempted a smile to reassure her, but I was fairly certain she would see past it. She looked like she wanted to comment, but we were distracted by loud shouting and screams. Screams that I knew too well.

"Vampires," I muttered. "Why is it always vampires?" Fionna took my hand and pulled me after her as she ran for the front of the castle. Bubblegum was there with Finn and Jake when we arrived in the main hall. Before we could ask what was going on, my least favorite person entered from the other end of the room.

"Marshall!" Fionna dropped my hand and ran at the vampire, hugging him tightly. My jaw clenched, but she released him after a moment and stammered, "Um, we could hear you and Marceline fighting. After you ran off last night, I thought…"

"What, that I'd left? What does it matter to you?" he very rudely snapped at her. He stalked past me without a glance, looking as murderous as I felt. How dare he treat her like that? Even more reason for her not to hang around him. You'll just end up hurt, I always told her, and here he was with the audacity to prove me right!

Even so, she called after him. "Marshall, wait! Where are you going?" I could hear her choking up, but he didn't turn as he responded.

"I don't know. Later, Fionna." With that, he was gone. I walked over to my heroine and hugged her. She clutched my vest and buried her face in my chest.

"Such a drama queen," came a sneer from above us. I looked up to see Marceline, looking vicious as ever. "I told said you weren't good for him. Why won't he just listen, already?" She sighed as floated away. Fionna just stood there in my arms, gaping indignantly and confused after the she-demon.

AN:

Marcie next!

Dawn