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Description
Marshall Lee lay on the couch staring up at the ceiling fan, the gentle hum lulling him into a listless half-sleep. He reached over & grabbed a framed photo off the coffee table. Marshall stared sadly at the image, one of the last pictures he had of him & Fionna together. It had been almost 2 months since their breakup, but to Marshall, it felt like it was only yesterday. In his mind, the clock rewound, the tables of time were turned back, & Marshall stepped back to what he considered the worst day of his life.
Marshall lay sprawled out on the bed, listening to the muffled sound of water hitting the tile tray of the shower. Marshall picked up his guitar & strummed a few notes. He realized he'd unconciously played the first few notes of one of his favorite songs. He remembered listening to it on an old record player Simone had found. Marshall paused. How long had it been since he'd called Ice Queen "Simone"?
Marshall's thoughts were interrupted by the creak of the showerhead shutting off the flow of water. Fionna stepped out of the bathroom, a towel draped around her midsection & her long golden hair cascading down her shoulders. "You ready to go, babe?" Marshall asked. "Sure", she replied, "Just give me a minute to get dressed." As Fionna stepped into the adjoining room, she said, "Are you sure that this is a good idea? I haven't been to the Nightosphere since the incident with the amulet. I'm pretty sure your mom is still kinda mad at me for slicing her open when she came to Aaa." "I'm telling you, Fionna, she's over it", he said confidently, "We're going for lunch, that's it." Fionna stepped out of the room, dressed in her usual light blue shirt, dark blue short-shorts, and white bunny-ears hat. "All right, I'm ready", Fionna said, pulling the bug milk out of her pack, "Let's form the portal."
Quickly, Marshall pulled out a marker & drew a smiling face on the wall behind him. Fionna chucked the bug milk at the face. The carton split open, dousing the face with bug milk. The candles in the room began to grow brighter as Marshall chanted, "Meloso yobis et come spiritum!" With a ground breaking crack, the wall split open, revealing the Nightosphere. Taking Fionna's hand, Marshall said, "Let's go." Stepping through the crack, Marshall & Fionna walked towards the palace, passing all kinds of demons & ghouls on the way. Each one of the greeted them with a "Hey, Marshall!", or a "Greetings, Your Nastiness". "The people of the Nightosphere seem so much more friendly when you're around." Fionna observed. "Well, of course. I'm the son of Hunsina Abadeer, ruler of the Nightosphere", Marshall replied, "If people want to get in good with my mom, all they have to do is be nice to me." "Rad." Fionna said.
"Marshall, my boy! Come on in!" Hunsina said, throwing the door wide open. Marshall saw Fionna move to follow him, but Hunsina eyed her curiously & said, "Marshall, who's this mortal you've brought to our realm?" Marshall groaned & said, "Mom, this is Fionna. You told me to bring her, remember?" "Oh, yes, now I remember", she said, eyes flashing with recognition, "Come on inside, darling. I'm terribly sorry." He watched Fionna cautiously follow him inside. Marshall took a seat near the far end of a large table. Fionna sat down beside him, & Hunsina took a seat at the front of the table. "So what's for lunch, Mom?" Marshall asked. "A little something I like to call...human blood."
Suddenly, two sets of chains dropped from the ceiling, the restraints attaching themselves to Marshall & Fionna's wrist. "Oh, how long I've waited for this moment", Hunsina cackled. Several batlike creatures swooped down from the rafters, swarming Fionna. Marshall attempted to pull free from his restraints, but they wouldn't budge. "Mom, what are you doing?" he shouted. "What's it look like I'm doing?" she shrieked. "I'm providing lunch. Care to dig in?" Marshall pulled his axe guitar off his back & swung, shattering the chains. He flew towards Fionna & swung again, burying his guitar deep into the back of a creature. It shrieked & screamed as it struggled to pull the axe out of its back, then fell dead. Marshall pulled the axe out of the creatures back & waved it menacingly, dripping green blood all over the table. "Anyone else want some?!" he shouted, a crazed look in his eyes. The remaining 2 creatures took a quick look at each other, then took off out a hole in the roof, dropping Fionna. Marshall slashed her chains off, then turned to Hunsina, eyes burning with fury. "Mom, is it too much to ask for one afternoon where you don't try to trick me & kill one of my friends?!" he hissed. Hunsina, ashamed, said, "Oh Marshall, son, I'm sorry. The thought of tasting human blood again, I lost control." He scowled & said, "Too late for apologies, Mom. We're going." Marshall took out his marker, drew a smily face, & poured out a new carton of bug milk on it. "Meloso yobis et come spiritum." he said gravely, then took Fionna's hand & stepped through the crack.
Marshall floated up to the door of Fionna's treehouse. After 3 knocks, Fionna answered. "Listen, Fionna", Marshall said, "I'm sorry for what happened at lunch today. I had no idea my mom was planning something like that." "It's ok, Marshall", she replied, "But I think we need to talk about this relationship." "What's wrong?" he asked. "Marshall...I care very deeply about you, but we can't keep doing this. I don't know why, but it seems like trouble follows both of us everywhere we go." Fionna said somberly. "What are you saying?" Marshall asked fearfully. "I'm saying I don't think we should see each other for a while", she said sadly, "I'm so sorry. Goodbye, Marshall." Fionna gently closed the door, leaving Marshall, shocked & confused, alone in the cold night.
Marshall opened his eyes & clutched the picture tightly to his chest. Sadly, he kissed Fionna's face & set the picture back on the coffee table. He floated lazily into the kitchen & flicked the light off. He started up the stairs when a knock, timid & quaint, came from the door. Who could that be? Marshall wondered. Especially at this hour... Marshall flung open the door to reveal Fionna. Her eyes were red & raw from crying, her face puffy & swollen, her chest heaving with great shuddering sobs. "Fionna?" Marshall ventured cautiously. She looked up & said, "Hi, Marshall. Can I come in?" "Something wrong?" he asked. "...Cake's dead." she sobbed. Fionna let out a wailing sob & ran forward, grabbing Marshall & hugging him tightly. They stood there like that for a moment, Marshall cradling Fionna in his arms, & then the words from the song he played 2 months ago waiting for Fionna came back to him. "You gotta keep your head up, ohh,oh, and you can let your hair down, heyy-ey..." Marshall found himself surprised that he was singing the lyrics out loud. He looked down at Fionna. She had stopped crying & now stood pressed firmly against his chest. "I know it's hard...I know it's hard, to remember sometimes", Marshall sang, "But you gotta keep your head up, ohh, oh, & you can let your hair down, heyy-ey-ey-ey-ey." Marshall put a hnad beneath Fionna's chin & lifted her head to meet his gaze. "Keep your head up, Fionna. No matter what", he said softly, "And remember that no matter what, rain or shine, I will always be here for you." Fionna, smiling, blinked away the beginnings of a tear & nodded. Marshall wrapped his arm around Fionna's waist & drew her close, leaning forward until their lips touched & their bodies locked together in a passionate kiss.

The End