Flint liked lots of things about Fionna. She was strong, kind, adorably cute, and above all determined. She accepted people for who they were (even if they didn't deserve it) and she stood by her friends and loved ones no matter what. He really tried hard to ignore that her two best friends were guys, and that they didn't approve of him, he really really did. But it starts to get annoying when your girlfriend keeps shushing you because her demon-spawn monster of a best friend is crashing on her couch.

"Really Fifi, you should have just told him to go home." He said, brow furrowed in annoyance.

"Ok, and I'll just tell you to go walk through a lake! Seriously being a little quieter isn't that big of a deal." His flame was growing a bit brighter and he tried to subdue his anger. He really did try.

"Fine, if your vampire boyfriend is more important to you than me I'll just leave!" He stood up from their place on the ground and began to stalk away from her. She grabbed his arm, burning herself in the process, and turned him around forcibly.

"Why are you being such a butt? It's just Marshall and he's only sleeping." She was nursing her burnt hand and holding back the tears.

"Your stupid friend," he spat the word, "is a monster. He shouldn't be allowed near you! Don't you know what he's done? What he's capable of?" His flames grew larger and brighter with every angry word. "He could suck you dry in less than a second!" She slapped him across the face, tears flowing freely now, though Flint was unsure whether they were from emotion or pain.

"Leave."

"Fionna, I-"

"Leave." He reached out towards her and she looked away. He clenched his fist and stared hard at the ground.

"Fine. Whatever." He turned on his heel and took off, speeding through the grass lands leaving a trail of fire behind him. Fi's shoulders shook with silent sobs and she hung her head allowing her hair to flop into her face. A cool hand snaked itself around her waist and pulled her into a cool chest. She buried her face in his shirt and cried quietly. He patted her back comfortingly and generally felt awkward and uncomfortable. Marshall Lee wasn't the type to comfort people. But then again Fionna wasn't one to cry, so maybe he'd let it happen just this once.

"Hey, c'mon Fi. It's alright. Ya wanna go inside?"

She nodded into his chest and mumbled something, her words lost in the fabric of his shirt.

"Psh, I've been called worse." He began dragging the girl back to her house then he stopped and rubbed the top of her head in a way where, without her hat, he'd be ruffling her hair. "I can't get in, girly. There's some junk in the way." She pulled her tear stained face away from the boys chest and looked. She blinked twice and laughed weakly, he had papered over the door again.

"You're so stupid Marshy" she said slumping against him. She was emotionally exhausted. Emotions were stupid. She sighed heavily. "No more boys."

"Is that so?" He replied amused and he lifted her up by the waist and carried her inside.

"Mmf" she mumbled against his chest, eyes half closed. He assumed it was an affirmative and sat them both on the couch, allowing her to slump against him and fall asleep.

Gumball made a few calls and eventually reached the Fire Queen. He informed Her Royal Highness that her son was in the grasslands, for which she was so very grateful and assured Gumball that should she go to war, his Kingdom would surely be left alone. That was a relief though he was not aware of whatever war the queen thought was brewing. He figured he'd just leave it alone. After business was done, the fire royal said her goodbyes and hung up. Gumball was amused that even though she was evil, the Flame Queen had better manners than either of his friends.

When Fi woke up, she was still slumped against a sleeping Marshall. Did he seriously sleep all night with her? She was embarrassed. Partially for crying ("cuz crying is for babies") and partially because she cried on Marshall and he'd probably never let her hear the end of it. She sat up and stretched all her kinks out and Marshall groaned. He sat up and looked at her rolling his shoulders and neck.

"You feeling better?"

"Yeah, I think I'm gunna go talk to him." she fiddled with her hands. Marshall gave her a soft smile. He knew too well the feelings of post-fight regret, wanting to see the other person and make everything better. And maybe Flame Prince wasn't his first choice for her but he couldn't deny her what she so obviously wanted.

"I think you should." He said, but it felt like a lie. And he was conflicted. And it made no sense. He ignored the feeling. "If it's alright, I'ma just crash here again today"

"Yeah sure" she went down the ladder from the main level to the door, sliding down the outside of it rather than climb each rung. Marshall waited before floating off.

"You know this prank is getting lamer every time?" She called up to him and she just walked through it, not bothering to rip it all down. He had her! Now it was time to spring the trap.

"MARSHALL LEE!" She burst into the tree house through the papered doorway in a panicked frenzy. She could hear the angry, discordant twang of a dropped guitar from somewhere deep in her house. "They took him!" She continued, within an instant of her initial scream her best friend was by her side.

"Who took him?" He ask calmly.

"It had to be the Fire Kingdom! There was a crater where his house was and scorch marks all over and- Marshall I think it was a fight." She finished, a deadly seriousness laced with fear and sadness washed over her. "Marshall what if they kill him?" Her fingers curled into his shirt and held on for dear life.

He gently took her wrists in his hands and pulled them away from his shirt.

"Calm down girly, they won't hurt him" much "he's their prince."

"But the crater-"

"He probably did that himself. He's got quite the temper."

"I've got to save him!" She said desperately, forcing herself to keep it together, trying to push or pull her way out of Marshall's grip. It's not like the last thing she said to him was simply "leave". Oh. Wait.

Her arms ceased their fighting against Marshall's and she went limp. How was she supposed to fix things now? She took a few deep breaths, trying to figure this out and her only conclusion was that she couldn't. Normally this would fire her up but now it made her feel helpless. Stupid. Useless. Her legs quivered and gave out, her wrists still in Marshall's steady hands. She gave a short laugh, refusing to cry in front of him twice in one day.

"I have to save him." She said again. Marsh shrugged. He'd reached his comforting quota for the next century and was starting to become annoyed. The Flame brat allowed himself to be taken, why was it her responsibility to get him back? He dropped his grip on her arms and floated away.

"Then go do it." and she was left alone. She looked around, looking for anything really to galvanize her to action. Her eyes fell on her weapons and she began to gear up. Who needed Marshall's help? Not her! She'd do this on her own! How she always did things, with lots of force and determination. Strapping two swords to her back and one to each hip, she searched for her daggers. If she was going to take on a whole kingdom she had to be prepared. She stuck four daggers into her belt and strapped two more to one thigh. That should do it. Now how to combat the whole burning thing... To the Candy Kingdom! PG would have an answer!