"What do you want mortal?" Marshal's mom asked in an irritated tone.
"uh.." Fionna was having trouble talking to her, considering the last time they met; Fionna had stabbed her and sent her back to the Nightosphere. "I have something to ask you."
Marshal's mom crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. "Like what, exactly?"
Fionna gestured into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Marshal's mother did the same. "I'm not really sure how to, well, phrase this but…"
"Just say it and stop wasting my time." Marshal's mother spat.
"I'm worried about Marshal!" Fionna suddenly exclaimed. Her words echoed in the house, and she felt herself blush. "He… He hasn't been himself lately and I'm wondering if you can tell me about something that might have happened to him." She added.
Marshal's mother just looked at her, for what felt like eternity. Finally, she answered to Fionna, "You care a lot about him don't you?"
Fionna was taken aback by the question. "W-what? I mean yes, I do because he's my friend but-"
"I don't like humans getting too close to me or Marshal, especially Marshal, so leave him be."
"Don't you care that Marshal's upset?" Fionna asked in a astonished tone. "He is your son."
"I never said I didn't care. Marshal's old enough to take care of himself and he doesn't need a futile human to help him."
"Me being a human has nothing to do with it! Is that why you hate me, because I'm human?!" Fionna shouted as she shot up out of her chair.
"Humans cause nothing but trouble and they never should have existed." Marshal's mother stood up out of her seat and began to walk back to the door that lead to the Nightosphere. "I better be going."
"Wait! I still have another thing to ask!" Fionna cried out in desperation, but Marshal's mom kept walking. Fionna bit her lip. "If you hate humans, then why did you fall in love with one!?" She shouted at Marshal's mom.
Marshal's mother stopped in mid step. "What did you just say?" she demanded without turning around.
"I know that your husband was human, and that Marshal was once a human too…" Fionna said it so quietly she wasn't sure Marshal's mother heard her. "I would like to know what happened, so I can help Marsh-"
"HOW DID YOU KNOW?!" Marshal's mother screeched as she whirled around and seized Fionna's shoulders.
"I-I came here to see why Marshal was leaving again when he just got back and I found this." Fionna reached into her pack an pulled out the scrapbook. "I saw the pictures of you guys… together."
The frown on Marshal's mother slowly disappeared as she simply stared at it. Finally, she carefully grasped it and held it to her chest. "I haven't seen this since Marshal moved out after I ate his fries." She opened it and put her hand gently onto the picture.
"Can I ask what happened?" Fionna asked carefully.
"I hate mortals because it was me loving one that got everything messed up, so I stay away from anything that isn't immortal like me or Marshal." She took a wavering breath and continued. "During my youth, I met Luke, Marshal's father, completely on accident. My father was the ruler of the Nightosphere before me, and he was completely merciless. The other humans knew that I was his daughter, so they attacked me if they ever got the chance. I never wanted to hurt them, so I always avoided them. But one day, I got wounded horribly. I was beaten, and an arrow was shot into my arm. It was too hard for me to remove it, and the tribe of humans were still following me. I saw an old abandoned cabin and ran inside. I was going to leave as soon I was sure they were gone, but I ended up falling asleep. When I woke up, my arm was bandaged up and I was tucked into a warm bed. Luke was sitting next to me with a bow and arrow ready to defend. He stirred and slowly opened his eyes. He told me he saw me asleep and tended to my wounds and guarded me from the others. At first I didn't believe him, as any other person would, but I felt like he was genuinely being nice. I thanked him and was about to leave when he asked me to stay until I was feeling better. Finally agreed and… I guess we just got closer."
"What happened then?" Fionna asked quietly.
"As you can imagine, we had to keep our relationship undiscovered. We always met in secret, where no one could find us. But, then Luke proposed to me. He said he knew he was a human, but he loved me too much. I gladly said yes, and we eloped away from the humans. Unfortunately, that was the same time the control of the Nightosphere was passed onto me. My father disappeared. I agreed to become the ruler, but I didn't really do anything. Several months after our marriage, Marshal was born, with humanoid blood. I was happy, regardless… but I knew the High Council of the Nightosphere would not be pleased. It is the law for the current ruler to have an heir that is immortal, but if they aren't, they will be killed. I also knew they would kill Luke, for tainting Marshal's blood, so I kept them hidden. Luke said he would never blame me for whatever happened to him… he told me that until he was murdered at the hands of the High Council. I was able to save Marshal, but not Luke… I never got close to any other mortal."
When Marshal's mother finished her story, she and Fionna just sat in silence, for what felt like an eternity. Fionna was finally able to gain courage and asked "but why is Marshal so upset? Is it because he misses him? And how did he become a vampire with your help? Ans what about-"
"Those questions," said Marshal's mom, cutting off Fionna, "are for Marshal to answer."
"I don't know where he is…" Fionna said glumly.
Marshal's mother opened the scrapbook and opened it to the firs picture of them as a family. She gingerly pulled the photo out of the black corners that kept it in place and underneath it was an old piece of paper folded up in a square. "Here," she said as she handed the paper to Fionna. "This is a map that of where Marshal is."
Fionna unfolded it and saw it was tattered map with a red circle at the top of a hill called "Star Hill". She raised her eyebrows from confusion and asked "What's there that drove Marshal there?"
Marshal's mother put the scrapbook onto the table and slowly stood up and looked at Fionna and answered "Go there and you will see. I'm still wondering why I am letting you know about our past, but I feel like you are the only one who can actually help him." she began to walk back to the gateway to the Nightosphere and stopped before going through. Turning around, she looked at Fionna strait into her eyes and said "I know you want to help him, but don't be surprised when Marshal rejects your assistance. And with that final statement, she stepped through into her domain and the gate closed behind her, leaving Fionna alone with the map, scrapbook, and her many unanswered questions.
Fionna sat at the table, concern swirling in her mind. She stood up and put the scrapbook into her pack. She picked up the map and looked at the marked spot. It was far from Marshal's caves, but it passed by a large tree. "Isn't that our tree house?" Fionna questioned. "Guess there's only one way to find out." She gently tucked the map into her shirt pocket and dashed for the door. She swung it open ran full speed, but didn't even make three feet from the house because she tripped over something blocking her way. "Ow!" Fionna cried as she landed on the hard rocks. Angry, she turned to see what had tripped her, but to her surprise, she saw Cake rubbing her head from their collision.
"What's with the rush girl?" Cake asked as she started helping Fionna to her feet.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. Fionna distinctly remembered telling Cake that she had to talk to Marshal ALONE.
"You were taking a long time and I got worried he did something to you… by the way, where is he?"
"That's what I'm going to find out." Fionna began to run when Cake jumped in front of her, blocking her way.
"Hey hey HEY! Slow down! I'm coming with you this time!"
"Cake, I need to do this ALONE." Fionna tried reasoning.
"I really don't know what's going on, but I will go with you. I'll just be there to back you up and when you need privacy, I'll give it to you, ok?"
Fionna sighed knowing she couldn't persuade her to go and finally agreed. She told Cake about a place called "Star Hill and that was where they needed to go. Cake stretched into a massive form and Fionna jumped onto her back. Fionna gripped Cake's fur and with determination, shouted "Let's go!!" With that, Cake began running towards the direction of Star Hill for their search for Marshal.
"uh.." Fionna was having trouble talking to her, considering the last time they met; Fionna had stabbed her and sent her back to the Nightosphere. "I have something to ask you."
Marshal's mom crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. "Like what, exactly?"
Fionna gestured into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Marshal's mother did the same. "I'm not really sure how to, well, phrase this but…"
"Just say it and stop wasting my time." Marshal's mother spat.
"I'm worried about Marshal!" Fionna suddenly exclaimed. Her words echoed in the house, and she felt herself blush. "He… He hasn't been himself lately and I'm wondering if you can tell me about something that might have happened to him." She added.
Marshal's mother just looked at her, for what felt like eternity. Finally, she answered to Fionna, "You care a lot about him don't you?"
Fionna was taken aback by the question. "W-what? I mean yes, I do because he's my friend but-"
"I don't like humans getting too close to me or Marshal, especially Marshal, so leave him be."
"Don't you care that Marshal's upset?" Fionna asked in a astonished tone. "He is your son."
"I never said I didn't care. Marshal's old enough to take care of himself and he doesn't need a futile human to help him."
"Me being a human has nothing to do with it! Is that why you hate me, because I'm human?!" Fionna shouted as she shot up out of her chair.
"Humans cause nothing but trouble and they never should have existed." Marshal's mother stood up out of her seat and began to walk back to the door that lead to the Nightosphere. "I better be going."
"Wait! I still have another thing to ask!" Fionna cried out in desperation, but Marshal's mom kept walking. Fionna bit her lip. "If you hate humans, then why did you fall in love with one!?" She shouted at Marshal's mom.
Marshal's mother stopped in mid step. "What did you just say?" she demanded without turning around.
"I know that your husband was human, and that Marshal was once a human too…" Fionna said it so quietly she wasn't sure Marshal's mother heard her. "I would like to know what happened, so I can help Marsh-"
"HOW DID YOU KNOW?!" Marshal's mother screeched as she whirled around and seized Fionna's shoulders.
"I-I came here to see why Marshal was leaving again when he just got back and I found this." Fionna reached into her pack an pulled out the scrapbook. "I saw the pictures of you guys… together."
The frown on Marshal's mother slowly disappeared as she simply stared at it. Finally, she carefully grasped it and held it to her chest. "I haven't seen this since Marshal moved out after I ate his fries." She opened it and put her hand gently onto the picture.
"Can I ask what happened?" Fionna asked carefully.
"I hate mortals because it was me loving one that got everything messed up, so I stay away from anything that isn't immortal like me or Marshal." She took a wavering breath and continued. "During my youth, I met Luke, Marshal's father, completely on accident. My father was the ruler of the Nightosphere before me, and he was completely merciless. The other humans knew that I was his daughter, so they attacked me if they ever got the chance. I never wanted to hurt them, so I always avoided them. But one day, I got wounded horribly. I was beaten, and an arrow was shot into my arm. It was too hard for me to remove it, and the tribe of humans were still following me. I saw an old abandoned cabin and ran inside. I was going to leave as soon I was sure they were gone, but I ended up falling asleep. When I woke up, my arm was bandaged up and I was tucked into a warm bed. Luke was sitting next to me with a bow and arrow ready to defend. He stirred and slowly opened his eyes. He told me he saw me asleep and tended to my wounds and guarded me from the others. At first I didn't believe him, as any other person would, but I felt like he was genuinely being nice. I thanked him and was about to leave when he asked me to stay until I was feeling better. Finally agreed and… I guess we just got closer."
"What happened then?" Fionna asked quietly.
"As you can imagine, we had to keep our relationship undiscovered. We always met in secret, where no one could find us. But, then Luke proposed to me. He said he knew he was a human, but he loved me too much. I gladly said yes, and we eloped away from the humans. Unfortunately, that was the same time the control of the Nightosphere was passed onto me. My father disappeared. I agreed to become the ruler, but I didn't really do anything. Several months after our marriage, Marshal was born, with humanoid blood. I was happy, regardless… but I knew the High Council of the Nightosphere would not be pleased. It is the law for the current ruler to have an heir that is immortal, but if they aren't, they will be killed. I also knew they would kill Luke, for tainting Marshal's blood, so I kept them hidden. Luke said he would never blame me for whatever happened to him… he told me that until he was murdered at the hands of the High Council. I was able to save Marshal, but not Luke… I never got close to any other mortal."
When Marshal's mother finished her story, she and Fionna just sat in silence, for what felt like an eternity. Fionna was finally able to gain courage and asked "but why is Marshal so upset? Is it because he misses him? And how did he become a vampire with your help? Ans what about-"
"Those questions," said Marshal's mom, cutting off Fionna, "are for Marshal to answer."
"I don't know where he is…" Fionna said glumly.
Marshal's mother opened the scrapbook and opened it to the firs picture of them as a family. She gingerly pulled the photo out of the black corners that kept it in place and underneath it was an old piece of paper folded up in a square. "Here," she said as she handed the paper to Fionna. "This is a map that of where Marshal is."
Fionna unfolded it and saw it was tattered map with a red circle at the top of a hill called "Star Hill". She raised her eyebrows from confusion and asked "What's there that drove Marshal there?"
Marshal's mother put the scrapbook onto the table and slowly stood up and looked at Fionna and answered "Go there and you will see. I'm still wondering why I am letting you know about our past, but I feel like you are the only one who can actually help him." she began to walk back to the gateway to the Nightosphere and stopped before going through. Turning around, she looked at Fionna strait into her eyes and said "I know you want to help him, but don't be surprised when Marshal rejects your assistance. And with that final statement, she stepped through into her domain and the gate closed behind her, leaving Fionna alone with the map, scrapbook, and her many unanswered questions.
Fionna sat at the table, concern swirling in her mind. She stood up and put the scrapbook into her pack. She picked up the map and looked at the marked spot. It was far from Marshal's caves, but it passed by a large tree. "Isn't that our tree house?" Fionna questioned. "Guess there's only one way to find out." She gently tucked the map into her shirt pocket and dashed for the door. She swung it open ran full speed, but didn't even make three feet from the house because she tripped over something blocking her way. "Ow!" Fionna cried as she landed on the hard rocks. Angry, she turned to see what had tripped her, but to her surprise, she saw Cake rubbing her head from their collision.
"What's with the rush girl?" Cake asked as she started helping Fionna to her feet.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. Fionna distinctly remembered telling Cake that she had to talk to Marshal ALONE.
"You were taking a long time and I got worried he did something to you… by the way, where is he?"
"That's what I'm going to find out." Fionna began to run when Cake jumped in front of her, blocking her way.
"Hey hey HEY! Slow down! I'm coming with you this time!"
"Cake, I need to do this ALONE." Fionna tried reasoning.
"I really don't know what's going on, but I will go with you. I'll just be there to back you up and when you need privacy, I'll give it to you, ok?"
Fionna sighed knowing she couldn't persuade her to go and finally agreed. She told Cake about a place called "Star Hill and that was where they needed to go. Cake stretched into a massive form and Fionna jumped onto her back. Fionna gripped Cake's fur and with determination, shouted "Let's go!!" With that, Cake began running towards the direction of Star Hill for their search for Marshal.
