Disclaimer: I unfortunately do not own Adventure Time.
Prince Gumball nervously fiddled his coat for probably the thousandth time that morning ruining the neat folds of the pink fabric.
"Do you think this is right, Peppermint?" The prince turned to his butler. He worried how his parents would take him courting a commoner.
"I think you care for her. That is all that matters." Gumball nodded.
"Thank you, Peppermint. I can always count on you."
"You are welcome, your highness."
"I think I will do this on my own. You may go." Peppermint smiled and shook his head as he left for the carriage nearby. Gumball gathered his courage and raised his hand to knock on the cottage door.
Finn sighed as he sat inside the empty cottage. He worried for Jake. His brother had yet to return from his journey and as of today he would have been gone for two weeks.
"Perhaps he is still at the docks." Finn murmured to himself. He looked up as he heard a knock at the door. Thinking it was Jake the teen hurriedly ran to the door, smiling brightly. Instead he found Prince Gumball standing there and his smile fell.
"Prince Gumball, what a pleasant... surprise." Gumball frowned at the disappointment on Fionna's face.
"Were you expecting another?" Finn sighed and rubbed at his face. He really was in no mood to deal with the man.
"My brother, he has gone on a trip to the coast. I had thought he had returned." Gumball nodded thoughtfully.
"May I come in?" It was more of a command than a question and the man had already entered the home before Finn could respond. Gumball sat at the small table in the cottage. Finn daintily sat down in the chair across from Gumball.
"Was there something you needed, your highness?" Gumball grinned predatorily at Finn. The boy shivered and looked away from the prince's hungry eyes.
"I was wondering if you would accompany me on a trip to the palace." Finn's eyes widened. Was he serious? Finn was, in his eyes, a lowly peasant girl. Why would he want to bring him to the palace?
"I'm sorry, I do not understand." Gumball smiled and stood, moving next to Finn.
"I want you to come to the palace with me. I want you to be my bride." The man leaned down to brush his lips against Finn's. Finn blushed and turned his head away from the prince.
"I don't think I should. I am of no noble blood." He had hoped this would have been enough to deter the prince but it seemed he was wrong.
"Nonsense Fionna. My parents won't care when they see your beauty. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." Finn smiled bitterly. If the prince knew what he really was the boy would have been executed at once.
"I don't know what to say." Gumball knelt before the boy. He placed a gentle hand over Finn's and looked up at the boy.
"Say you'll marry me." Finn bit his lip. He found the prince's offer enticing, he wouldn't lie, but it would only end in suffering. If the prince found out what he was the man would be disgusted and Finn didn't want the man to hate him. As insufferable as he was the prince had his moments of kindness. Finn breathed in deeply, steeling himself to say no to the man. He knew the prince would not take the news kindly.
"I'm very sorry, your highness, but I just can't. I don't deserve you." Finn stood and moved out of the man's grasp. Gumball stood and grabbed Finn. He looked desperately into the younger's eyes.
"Please Fionna, your beauty is like no other!" Finn huffed and wretched his arm away from the prince.
"Do you care only for my beauty? What of me? Do you care for me?" Gumball looked at the boy as he had grown another head.
"Does it matter?" Finn laughed, though there was no mirth behind it.
"If you cannot love me then you do not deserve me." Gumball growled and grabbed the boy by his neck. He slammed the smaller frame against the wall and Finn cried out in shock.
"I will have you as mine no matter what." At this the man pressed his lips to Finn's. The boy squirmed in the prince's hold, trying to free himself. Gumball forced his tongue into the other's mouth. He moaned as Finn struggled against him. He pulled back for a breath of air and attacked the boy's neck. Finn screamed as the man bit down hard on his overly sensitive skin.
"Please s-stop, your highness. Please... no more..." Finn trailed off into pained whimpers as the man held his hips in a vice-like grip. He hazily realized the man was close to finding his secret. Finn gaged when the prince pressed himself closer to Finn and the boy could feel the man's arousal.
"You're so beautiful. I can't let anyone else touch you like this. You are mine, Fionna. Mine! And if I can't have you I'll make sure no one else will!" Finn let out a loud sob. This man was going to find out his secret and kill him. Or rape him then kill him. Finn cried out in relief when the door to the cottage opened. The two looked over to see Peppermint stick his head into the house. The man's blood red eyes widened in surprise as he took in the scene before him. Gumball stood and straightened his coat. He cast Finn a warning glance and Finn scrambled away from the man.
"Your highness?" Gumball's gaze returned to the butler. Peppermint's fists were clenched tightly. He was well aware of what the prince had been doing no matter how much the man was trying to hide it. His eyes flickered to Finn's small form huddled against the far wall and he was reminded of his daughter back home. He growled inaudibly and turned back to the prince.
"A messenger has just come from the kingdom. Your father requests your presence at once." The lie easily slipped past the man's lips. He knew the prince would not risk disobeying an order from his father. Gumball's eyes widened and the man nearly ran out of the small home. Peppermint wasted no time in rushing toward Finn's shaking frame. He gently placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and winced when he felt him flinch. Finn looked up into the man's crimson eyes before lowering them in shame. The blonde felt tears well in his eyes and hurriedly wiped them away.
"I apologize, sir, for-" Finn was immediately shushed by the man.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. You've done no wrong." Finn nodded. Peppermint opened his small satchel and pulled out a bag of coins. "Here take this. I cannot keep the prince away from this town forever and when he does return he will return for you."
Finn frantically shook his head.
"I could never repay you for this. I can't accept it." Peppermint gave a small smirk.
"You won't have to repay me. Take it." He placed the money in Finn's hands. The man smiled softly and brushed a stray lock of hair out of Finn's face. "You remind me so much of my daughter."
Finn smiled.
"Thank you, good sir." The two heard Prince Gumball call out for Peppermint. The man stood and cast Finn one last glance before exiting the cottage. Finn heard the prince's carriage roll away and sighed in relief.
"I need- I need to pack." Finn nodded to himself. He rushed to his room gathering everything he could. His eyes landed on the golden crown sitting on his bed. The teen stared down at the crown and smiled. He gently picked up the object and held it close to him. The crown pulsed, questioning the teen.
"We have to leave. The prince... he..." Finn trailed off. He set the crown down and put away his few possessions. The teen moved to Jake's room and gathered the few things that his brother hadn't taken on his trip. The blonde surveyed his work and smiled. He gathered the few bags and made his way out of the home.
Finn huffed as he pushed his way through the forest. He was sure the crown was leading him in circles. The blonde groaned as he passed the same tree for the fourth time.
"I don't even know where I'm going!" Finn slumped down into the snow, frowning. He felt the crown call out from within his bag and pulled it out. The golden object shimmered slightly, seeming to hum with joy. "At least you're having fun."
The crown hummed again and Finn smiled softly. After a few seconds of rest he stood.
"We'd better get going." Finn carefully placed the crown back into his pack. He started off again, trudging through thick snow. He grumbled slightly when his boot almost stuck to a large puddle of cold water. The boy walked further into the forest, snow falling lightly. The crown called out every now and then, directing the boy. Finally the boy reached a large frost covered gate. Finn placed a gloved hand on the front of the gate, pushing it open.
"What is this place?" The crown hummed in joy as Finn moved further through the courtyard. Finn smiled and made his way to the large ornate door. The blonde knocked softly, finding the door was unlocked. He peaked his head into the castle, looking around cautiously.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" A door slammed somewhere near the boy and Finn jumped. "Jake? Are you here?"
Finn looked back to his bag, the crown being oddly silent. The boy sighed and made his way up the grand staircase.
Tree Trunks placed her hand into the tub, testing its warmth. She shooed away a few water nymphs before lifting BMO into the tub. The boy giggled and splashed the water looking up at his mother.
"Momma, there's a girl in the castle!" Tree Trunks scoffed and gently scrubbed the boy's skin.
"I won't have you making up such wild stories, young man. Remember when you told me you were a detective investigating a murder?" BMO blushed. He knew he sometimes he told tales but this time he was telling the truth.
"But really Momma, I saw her!" Tree Trunks shook her head.
"Not another word." A woman with bright pink hair and fair pink skin rushed into the room excited.
"A girl! I saw a girl in the castle!" BMO looked at his mother smiling.
"See, I told ya!
A/N: I'm so sorry for this extremely late update. I've been sick for a while and finally had the time to work on this story.