Fionna awoke abruptly when someone knocked on the door. She tried to get up to answer it, but something ensnared her waist and pulled her back to a warm spot, up against someone...

Her eyes widened as she looked over her shoulder at the sleeping pirate next to her. On the Shadow, he had always kept a bit of a distance, but the bed was bigger then, and now...

The knocking grew more insistent, and Fionna struggled out of Marshall's grip, before throwing a blanket over him and answering the door.

Cake was on the other side. "Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Fionna said, before the weight of yesterday came crashing down on her. She held herself straight. "Any news?"

"Apparently, your father's advisors decided to declare war in your absence."

"What?! They can't do that." Fionna said, hurriedly dressing.

Cake followed her in, and shot the bed a look as Marshall began to stir. "Fionna, is someone else in here?"

"No." Fionna lied. "In any case, when will the Silver Sword be seaworthy?"

"A few weeks." Cake sighed. "We're set to return to Duine on the Caspian."

"What reason did they give for declaring war on the Unknown Lands? Surely they already knew about my kidnapping..."

"I'm guessing that they're pretending that's the reason, and are 'acting regents' for the time being, anyway. Word doesn't travel fast to the Unknown Lands from Duine, so we have no idea what they're saying." Cake sighed. "But our steel production is going into overdrive, and every ship that's seaworthy is being outfitted for war."

"Where does Dulce stand on this?" Fionna asked.

"We didn't ask him. Everyone's been fairly busy all morning— did you know that pirate is still on Middleground Island?"

"Really?" Fionna lied.

Cake glanced at the bed, then looked back at Fionna. "Right, I'm only going to ask this once, and I want the truth this time: did you do anything that involved anything lower than the neck?"

Fionna shook her head, and Cake nodded, satisfied. "Get him up, then. We're going to need a reaction from the Unknown Lands."

"Wait, wait. How do we know they declared war? We just found out yesterday that Dad..." Fionna couldn't quite say the words, and Cake patted her shoulder gently. "They sent two birds. The declaration of war landed a few hours after the... news regarding your new title." Cake chose her words carefully, trying not to upset her friend.

Fionna nodded, and Cake left, casting another glance back at her friend.

Fionna hurried over to Marshall, and shook him awake.

"Hmm? Where's the fire?" He asked drowsily.

"Duine has declared war without consulting me, we don't know what you all think, but we both are needed for a war council, at least." Fionna helped him up, and grabbed his hand, racing down the hall with him.

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"Obviously, Princess, we express our condolences, but I don't think Dulce will be involved directly in this... war of yours." Gumball glanced at Marshall here, who glared back.

"She's a Queen." He corrected.

"When was her coronation?" Gumball snapped back. "Until then, she is still a princess."

"My title doesn't matter right now. Marshall, do you think we'll go to war?" Fionna asked.

"Probably, if they pissed my mom off." He said nonchalantly.

"Thank goodness it's not a pressing issue." Gumball said scathingly.

Marshall shot him a look. "However, they can't go to war properly without my consent, and the Shadow. All our other ships are for trading."

"What would Duine gain from a war, anyway?" Gumball asked.

"Land, for one thing. With our steel and our navy, we'd be able to take over large parts of everything that opposed us." Fionna answered, gesturing to the map in front of them, and moving some of the ship pieces around. "Neither Dulce nor the Unknown Lands produce steel, and our navy is definitely the largest."

"The problem is that we're not going to roll over and cede anything to you. And we have an army that's nearly immortal." Marshall said. "That's what's kept Duine at bay, in any case."

Gumball was silent for a minute, before he said quietly, "War is expensive, Princess. How are you going to pay for all of this, without raising taxes?"

Fionna shifted in her chair. "Our coffers are full enough... and besides. With any luck, the war will be over before it even began."

"Princess, you and I both know that if your coffers were 'full enough', you and I wouldn't be here, and likely the demon wouldn't be either." Gumball continued in the same quiet tone. "I ask again, how will you pay for this without driving your country deep into debt?"

"Don't forget, Gumwad. Duine could easily overpower your tiny island." Marshall pointed out, disliking the turn the conversation had taken.

Gumball ignored him. "Princess, my coffers are full."

"But you already said that you wouldn't participate." Fionna pointed out.

"Correct. I refuse to bring my country into a war that we have no business in. But if the treaty continued..." Gumball trailed off meaningfully.

Marshall's eyes narrowed at him, and Fionna frowned. "The alliance is off the table for now."

"And what if they win?" Gumball asked. "Who will bail you out of debt then? He certainly won't."

"If we win, I'm fairly certain that the countries who attacked us might be made an example of." Marshall said quietly.

"Made an example of how?" Fionna asked.

"Well, for instance, the ruling heads of state would definitely be publicly executed." Marshall replied. "That's why we should put more effort into stopping this war than funding it, Gumwad!"

"I'm just saying, the entire reason we were going to be married in the first place was to intimidate your country into leaving us alone!"

"Which we were doing! We rely on Duine for stuff too, you know! Much more than we rely on you. Why are you still so focused on marrying her, anyway? That should not be so high on your list of priorities!"

"Fionna." Cake ran in. "We have to board the Caspian. It's time to go. If this accomplished nothing..."

"Fine. But make sure that no Duine boats leave Middleground Island without my consent. Do you two want to come to Duine to talk further about this?"

"No thank you." Prince Gumball said primly.

"Not on the Caspian. On the Shadow... I'll think about it. But I may be called home." Marshall explained.

"Understood. Marshall, if this is the last time I see you before all kinds of craziness happens... I love you."

He kissed her. "I love you too."

"Why are we even at war?" Cake muttered to Gumball, who was aghast at what was unfolding in front of him.