•Marceline•

"Eat my dust, you weird undead things!" Dominick hisses right after he claws at one of them and flies away, leaving it to chase after him.

After since Flame Prince and Ashley unleashed their undead creatures on us, we've been doing the best we can to keep them back. While Fionna, Bonnibel, and Ash fought them with what they had to defend themselves, Dominick, Marshall, and I turned into bats and began attacking the creatures from above.

We can't do much, but we can certainly do that. We weren't even sure we'd make it to this point alive, though Marshall had a good chance at living seeing as Ashley's still unhealthily obsessed with him. Still, I'm concerned for his safety; Ashley may like him, but Flame Prince sure as hell doesn't, and Ashley's a major psycho, anyway—God knows what they'd do to my brother if given the chance.

So, after Marshall and I had been kidnapped and he had been taken away for the same interrogation they gave me, I spent hours worrying and waiting for him to be sent back to his cell. I was trying my best to prepare myself in case what they did to him was worse than what they did to me. I mean, as previously stated, Flame Prince hates Marshall and no doubt will jump at any chance to inflict any sort of pain on my brother.

Finally, he was eventually returned to his cell, and luckily looked no worse than I did. Still, I want to kick Flame Prince's ass into the next century for hurting Marshall like that, Ashley's as well. She totally could've hurt him too!

So, here we are, kicking ass (or trying our best to) all the while trying to save the world and everyone in it. When Flame Prince and Ashley shared their little plan with us, I'd nearly fainted from shock. They said they wanted revenge for what my friends and I did to them and that the world would suffer for our wrongdoings. I don't know what the hell we did to get Flame Prince and Ashley this pissed off, but I seriously think destroying the world is a bit of an overreaction, but that's just me.

Because of all that, we're currently fighting tooth and nail to save everyone, which is exactly as horrifying as it sounds. Sure, I've been on a few adventures with Finn, Fionna, Cake, and Jake from time to time, but they were nothing like trying to save the world. I'm completely out of my element! Then again, I doubt any of us have ever had to try to save the world before, so I guess I'm not alone.

"Shit!"

I stop attacking and return to my regular form before I whip my head around towards the direction where someone had cursed. It's Fionna, who barely is able to jump out of the way of a creature before she shoots an arrow through it. It takes a few seconds before it convulses and dies like the many others we've killed.

"Fionna!" I call out to her in concern. "Are you okay?"

Fionna nods as she continues to fight. "I'm fine," she replies, giving me a serious look. "Just stick to the plan!"

The plan. We had discussed "the plan" only moments earlier. Fionna had been phoned by Finn and Gumball and told what their plan is. Afterwards she told Bonnibel and the information just spread from there.

When I first heard, I nearly lost it. I mean, it sounds crazy—no, it's definitely crazy!

But, unfortunately, it's all we've got.

Fionna shouts again over the noise. "You guys keep fighting! I'll distract Flame Prince!"

Bonnibel eyes Fionna suspiciously as we all keep fighting. "What are you going to do?" she questions.

Fionna looks straight ahead at something, not meeting my girlfriend's eyes. "I'm going to get the Enchiridion. It's the source of Flame Prince's power, and if I get it from him, he'll be more concerned with getting it back from me than he'll be with trying to destroy the world," she explains before she finally looks at Bonnibel. "That's what I'm going to do."

"Fionna—" Dominick has turned back to his regular form as well before he starts to say something and ducks, narrowly avoiding a creature that goes flying over his head. He begins speaking again. "Fionna, that's crazy and very dangerous. I mean, are you looking at Flame Prince? He's a complete psychopath right now!"

"He's right," I agree with Dominick, worrying for my best friend. "You could be hurt, or even killed. Flame Prince has changed, Fi, he's crazy—crazier than usual."

"The power's gone to his head," Bonnibel puts in, "and he'll do anything to keep it—maybe even hurt you."

"That's definitely a possibility," Ash agrees also as he does his best to keep the creatures back with his magic.

"I know," Fionna says, a determined look on her face. "I know that, guys, but it doesn't matter; I've got no choice, this has to happen. The fate of the entire world literally depends on it. You all know that as well as I do, and so do Finn and Gumball, which is exactly why we're going though with their crazy-ass plan."

I nod along with the others, albeit very reluctantly. Fionna is my best friend, always has been, and always will be. Ever since Marshall and I met her and Finn the very first time, I immediately knew there was something special there, and I was right. Now, years later, we're as close as ever. Marshall and I have been on adventures with them. We've bonded and shared our secrets and even our insecurities with them as they did the same with us. We're fighting a war with them. We're trying to save the world with them. Fionna, as previously mentioned, is my best friend, and the very thought of her getting hurt in any way, shape, or form, makes me terrified, and she could get herself hurt right now or even worse. My life wouldn't be half as amazing as it is right now without her in it. She's my BFF. My person.

She's the first person I told about my feelings for Bonnibel. She's the first person I came out to when I was absolutely terrified to do so. She helped get Bonnibel and me together and encouraged us to get back together after we broke up. She didn't ever judge me when I told her I'm bisexual and in love with a girl. She supported me and taught me to embrace my feelings rather than be scared of them.

She's one of the most important people in my life, and she could very well die right now.

Just as Fionna turns to go, her bow and arrows ready, I grab her sleeve at the last second.

"Fionna, you can't," I say, my voice cracking and wobbling slightly, showing just how scared I am. "You can't. You could... you could..." God, I can't even finish that horrible sentence.

Fionna stops and grabs my hand. I clasp her hand tightly, afraid to let go. "Marce, you know I have to. I know you know. This has to be done, and someone has to do it. I'm a hero, so why not me? It only makes sense. I mean, everyone knows the hero always does the dirty work. Plus, I'm kind of selfish and I want all the credit to go to me when we pull this whole thing off. Just me, only me." I chuckle a little and she smiles.

She's right; I know she has to do this. She's a hero, and her morals and pride won't allow her not to. That's just how she is. I've known Fionna Mertens long enough to know how she works.

"Please," I say to her, my hand still gripping hers as I stare seriously into her eyes. "Just please be careful. Promise me you'll be careful, Mertens."

Fionna keep smiling. "I promise," she says before she gives my hand a gentle squeeze, and I do the same before she lets go, giving me one final smile, and leaves.

She's gone. That could've been the last time I'll ever talk to or see her. The LAST time.

No! Don't think like that! That WASN'T the last time! It couldn't have been! Besides, I can't afford to be thinking like that right now, especially at a time like this.

As we fight to defend ourselves, I watch Fionna set her sights on Flame Prince who watches us fight for our lives like the sicko he is. Fionna crouches down low and begins moving towards him slowly but surely. Her gaze locks on the knapsack he's had practically glued to his side. I bet the Enchiridion is in it, I bet everything I've got. It has to be, because Fionna wouldn't be eyeing it like that if it wasn't.

Suddenly, as I continue to nervously watch my friend, I feel something whiz past my ear, just millimeters from contacting my face. I turn to see Ash had blasted a creature away, killing it. If he hadn't, it probably would have ripped my face off.

I am about to say something to thank him when Bonnibel belts out, "Fall back! We need to fall back! They're closing in on us!"

At the serious and panicky sound of her order, we obey, backing up as the creatures begin to close in, cornering us like predators cornering their prey, preparing for the long-awaited kill.

Finn... Gumball... if you can hear me, PLEASE HURRY...!

I am suddenly pushed behind Bonnibel and Ash who continues to fight off the evil beasts.

According to Fionna, if Finn and Gumball's plan works, the supposed link between Flame Prince and the spell would be severed and he would lose all his power. If that happens, then Fionna would be able to easily get ahold of the Enchiridion and find a way to destroy it, hopefully for real this time.

My eyes find Fionna again, who's closer to Flame Prince now. He still hasn't noticed her, too busy watching the battle before him.

As we are cornered even more, Fionna gets closer and closer to Flame Prince, who still seemingly hasn't noticed.

"YOU IMBECILES ARE NO MATCH FOR ME!" Flame Prince suddenly thunders, and I can practically feel the power he has coursing through his entire being. "I AM EVERYWHERE—THERE IS NO ESCAPE! RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!" His strong, terrifying voice echos throughout the entire throne room, causing goosebumps to erupt all over my skin. Still, Fionna fearlessly keeps going, closing the distance between her and Flame Prince's knapsack bit by bit.

As the rest of us continue to back up, Bonnibel is firing bullet after bullet at the creatures, the little and deadly pieces of metal whizzing past our heads and burying themselves in the bodies of several of them.

"Get behind us!" Ash shouts as he and Bonnibel fight the creatures, still desperately trying to keep them back and off us. We all do as they say, and I see Marshall turn back into his regular form before he presses close to me. He then tries his best to maneuver all of us as behind Ash and Bonnibel as we can possibly get while we continue to back up. Unfortunately, we're running out of space to back up into.

"We're running out of time!" I cry, absolutely terrified. "And space!"

"Marce is right; we can't do this for much longer!" Marshall shouts, growing more and more panicked.

And before I know it, my back hits the wall and I officially have nowhere left to go. Marshall's back hits the wall seconds after mine, and soon all of us are trapped.

Click. Click.

"Damn it!" Bonnibel curses, her gun now out of bullets. She throws it into the crowd of creatures still closing in. She backs up behind Ash, pressing herself against my side. I wind an arm around her waist, holding her close.

This might very well be the last time I'll ever hold her like this.

Tears prick the corners of my eyes at the very thought of never holding the love of my life ever again. Never seeing her beautiful smile or hearing her wonderful voice and laugh ever again. Never telling her that one day I'd marry her and start a family with her ever again. Never dreaming of spending our lives together ever again.

The growling and hissing of the beasts becomes louder and more defined as they close in.

I quickly grab Bonnibel's hand, getting her attention before I look into her beautiful eyes. "I love you, Bonnibel. I love you so much," I tell her, the tears threatening to escape my eyes.

Bonnibel's eyes widen as she seems to realize what I had. Her eyes begin to water as well before she squeezes my hand. "I love you too, Marceline," Her voice wobbles as she tries to keep it together. "I love you too so much."

I give her a forced smile before I look at the people around me.

I love you, Marshall. Dominick. Fionna.

My eyes land on Ash.

Well... I don't completely hate you right now.

Then I think of my other friends, the ones that aren't with me.

And I love you, Finn. Cake. Jake. Flame Princess. Gumball. Breakfast Princess.

I could never see any of you ever again.

"Stay back! EVERYONE, STAY BACK!" Ash's panicked voice jumps out at me as he continues to try and use his magic to defend us. However, anything he throws at the creatures, they recover from way too quickly and continue to close in. Ash can't defend us forever, in fact I'm sure he can't defend us for another minute. He's been using his magic for awhile now; he must be exhausted.

Now the creatures have us completely cornered, our bodies pressed up against the wall as far as they can possibly go. Any second now these awful monsters will go for the kill.

This is it. This is really it.

Tears now stream down my cheeks. I'm going to die. We're all going to die.

The creatures all growl and get into some sort of ready-position, preparing to pounce on us and destroy us just like that.

I grip my Bonnibel's hand extra tight and give the others one last look—a goodbye look.

Then, the creatures brace themselves...

And I close my eyes, not wanting to see some of my closest friends being ripped apart one by one...

They scream...

And I wait. Wait for death.

And wait.

And wait some more.

Then the screaming suddenly stops and I finally open my terrified and tear-filled eyes.

I watch, shell-shocked, as the creatures that were seconds away from killing us for sure had all of a sudden become frozen. And right then I feel a chill in the air—a feeling.

And with the way the others look, I can tell they feel it too.

Just as the feeling comes and goes, the now frozen creatures develops a glassy-looking texture and color to them. It starts out small, but quickly spreads and covers every inch of their bodies.

They look like bizarre crosses between ice sculptures and glass statues.

Then we all watch, awestruck, as they stay in that form for only seconds before several cracks appear and spread all over. And before anyone can say anything, a shattering sound echos throughout the room as all the creatures that should've killed us just break like... well, like glass.

Cracked and shattered, breaking like fragile objects instead of fierce and murderous animals from a dangerous spell in an ancient book.

Seconds after they are completely destroyed, we slowly step away from the wall and just stare at the carnage of shatters now among us.

"Finn and Bubba did it," Bonnibel suddenly lets out in shock before a joyful smile spreads across her face. "They did it! Their plan worked!"

Oh my God, it worked.

A loud and painful groan sounds off, and we turn towards the origin of the sound to discover Flame Prince's eyes shut tightly, his face pinched up in pain, one of his hands pressed against his stomach as if he's about to upchuck something major.

My eyes focus on Fionna again, and just as Flame Prince groans, she quickly and expertly reaches over and snatches the knapsack from him.

Flame Prince doesn't seem to even notice as he keeps groaning in pain. "What is happening to me?!" he shrieks like someone completely baffled and horrified at the same time, which he is.

"What's happening to you is the link being severed," Fionna explains, now holding the Enchiridion with a satisfied smirk on her face. "You no longer have any power, and without that power, you... well, you lose, Flame Prince," Her smirk only grows as she slightly leaned towards Flame Prince. "You're a loser."

Then she does something that causes us all to stop in our tracks.

Fionna opens the Enchiridion and begins ripping several pages out.

Flame Prince's eyes grow crazed. "NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" he howls like a wild animal. "GIVE ME THE BOOK!"

Flame Prince tries to sound scary, but as Fionna keeps ripping the pages, anyone can plainly tell he's growing weaker, losing his power.

Then Flame Prince charges at Fionna.

This power—it's control over him—has changed him so much that he's prepared to attack the girl he's been claiming he loves for years now. And although he's weakening, he still has enough power to rip Fionna to shreds.

Unwaveringly, Marshall is about two seconds away from jumping Flame Prince and I am too, but we don't get the chance.

Ash, like an angry bull on steroids, charges at Flame Prince, tackling him before aggressively wrestling him to the ground. Flame Prince struggles like a pitiful worm before Ash is able to contain him with magical restraints that wrap around his wrists like handcuffs and attach there like superglue.

"It's over, Flame Head," Ash says, panting from restraining Flame Prince, now sitting on top of him to keep him down. "It's over, and as Fionna said, you lose. Oh, and if I was you, I'd get used to hearing that."

"Well, damn," Dominick muses as Ash stands with Flame Prince still restrained. "You could probably be on one of those badass cop shows, you know that? You know the ones where all the cops make clearly exaggerated yet awesome takedowns in slow-motion while rock music plays? Yeah, I'm talking about those."

Ash smiles, proud of himself as Marshall says, "I love those! I watch them all the time."

Yes, brother of mine, we know ALL ABOUT your weirdo addiction to cliched cop shows; you seriously need to get help. You're almost as unhealthy as Jake with his Mexican soap operas—ALMOST.

My eyes go over the whole throne room, noticing how destroyed it now is. Not only that, but I also notice something is missing.

Or, more accurately, someone.

"Wait," I speak up, my eyes wide. "Where's Ashley?!" I begin to panic. If Ashley goes free, God knows what she could do!

"Right here!"

We all turn to see Bonnibel holding Ashley harshly by one of her wrists. Around the other is an odd-looking bracelet I've never seen Ashley wear before. It's definitely not her taste, I know that.

Ashley growls and sputters in my girlfriend's hold like an angry ally cat. She struggles against Bonnibel in vain.

"I got her," Bonnibel says smugly as she approaches us with the witch. "I caught her trying to sneak away. I knew I couldn't let her leave, so the second I saw her I grabbed her and slapped this on her," She holds up Ashley's wrist with the bracelet on it. "No more magic for her."

Ash smiles. "Ah. The magic-neutralizing bracelet. You brought it with you, I see."

Magic-neutralizing bracelet?

Bonnibel smirks. "Yep. Just in case. I was looking for the right moment to get it on her, and unfortunately that didn't happen as soon as I would've liked. Oh well. I was able to do it, anyway," she answers him, seeming all too proud of herself.

She must noticed how curious I am about this bracelet, because she then smiles at me and says, "I'll explain it later." I just nod in response.

Then, remembering that my best friend was nearly mauled by Flame Prince, I rush over to her but am beaten there by Marshall.

"Fionna!" he cries, love and concern showing in his eyes. He grabs her into a gentle hug, burying his face in her many locks of hair. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He fires off questions at her rapidly until she pulls away from him, smiling.

Fionna slowly strokes the side of his face. "I'm okay, Marshy, I swear. I'm really glad you're okay," she tells him before she stops stroking and looks him over to be sure. "I don't know what I would've done if you..." Her voice trails off.

Marshall smiles back at her warmly. "Ditto, Fi," he replies, his obvious love for her shining in his eyes. Every time he looks at her, he has that same look—the look Bonnibel gives me and the look Finn gives Flame Princess and vice versa. It's the look of being completely and utterly in love.

I'm just glad Marshall is still able to give Fionna that look and Finn can still give it to Flame Princess, and I'm definitely, really glad Bonnibel can still give it to me and I can still give it to her.

I'm just REALLY glad we're all still ALIVE.

"Guys," Dominick suddenly speaks, his hand up in a hold it gesture. "We saved the world."

We saved the world.

I let that statement sink in.

We saved the world. Not many people can say that.

"Yeah, buddy," Marshall says, one arm around Fionna's shoulders as he claps his free hand on Dominick back, "yeah, we did."

"We did it," Fionna says in awe, looking at all the carnage around us. "It's over. We did it."

We all let out a collective sigh of major relief as we take in the scene before us.

Silence fills the air as we all think about everything that happened. It's a lot, we all know that, and it'll continue to be a lot for a long time and maybe for the rest of our lives.

My eyes continue to scan all the bodies and blood and guts.

DEFINITELY for the rest of our lives.

Suddenly, Fionna bends down and picks up the Enchiridion that now has several pages ripped out of it.

She looks at it thoughtfully and we look with her until she turns to Ash, who still has Flame Prince in his grip, and says, "Ash? Do you mind?"

Fionna then tosses the Enchiridion on the ground and nods at it.

Ash's eyes widen slightly as he gets the hint. "Are you sure?" he asks her.

Fionna sighs and nods. "Yeah, I'm sure. The truth is, this should've happened a long time ago."

Bonnibel is the next to sigh as she looks sadly at the Enchiridion. "I know, but...," Her voice trails off before she finds it again, clearing her throat. "I know. It's just... it would have made a great research topic... a really great one, and Bubba and I would've liked to keep studying and performing tests on it for science..."

Fionna gives her a sympathetic look. "But you know we have to destroy it," she says calmly, gently.

Bonnibel sighs again. "But I know we have to destroy it."

I put a comforting hand on my girlfriend's shoulder before Fionna nods and gives Ash the go-ahead.

Ash nods back before a green ball of fire appears in the palm of his free hand. He seems to take in the ancient book for a mere moment, seconds before he throws the green flame at it, setting it on fire.

We all silently watch as the magical flames lick at the book. Not even Flame Prince or Ashley protest; they just watch, seemingly in some sort of trace, as the Enchiridion burns right in front of us.

Within a few seconds, the book is nothing but a pile of ashes. You can't even tell it used to be a book, much less an incredibly ancient and powerful one.

"We saved the world," Dominick says again, and he sounds like he just realized it again.

I nod. "Yeah, we did..." I mumble in reply, not sure of what else to say.

A few more moments of silence pass before they are broken again.

Bonnibel sighs, now sounding satisfied. "Let's go home."