A Fiolee Fairytale

Chapter 13: Backstory...ish...

*Author's Note*

We need a backstory explanation for Marshall, and we need it NOW. So, in one of the first times I've ever done this, I present to you...

*Marshall's POV*

Fionna had fallen asleep by the time I went home. Well, duh. I wasn't just going to leave her there like that when she was an emotional wreck. Everyone else may think what she just did was wonderful, and great, and that she was extraordinarily pleased with herself, but I knew better. I knew that she was hating herself, and I was right. Taking a life is not great- even if it is someone evil. ...I don't know why we brought up Tobias, but it seemed to help. Tobias... he was a very cold, purely strategic leader.

When I was first brought in as an enemy spy for the demons, I could see him assessing me, the wheels turning in his head as he worked out how to use me. Finally, he said that they'd strike the Nightosphere at its heart- take away their heir, me. After I was turned, I quickly worked my way up from a prisoner, to Tobias' advisor. Brendan never trusted me, and for good reason. My scheme the entire time was to kill Tobias. What kept me going back then  was my plan of revenge.

One day, I just snapped when he mentioned a plan to attack the heart of the Nightosphere, where my mother was. I reached out, and snapped his neck. Just like that, my eyes turned red instead of the usual vampire stone gray or black. Everyone stared at me, and I stared down at Tobias.

"Sir?" I heard a soldier ask nervously, before they all kneeled before me, even Brendan, though his eyes showed his fury. Oh, no... I didn't want this, I just wanted to protect my mother, no matter what my childhood was like.

"...send an Ambassador to the Nightosphere. Let's end this awful war." I finally said, before walking away. I had felt sick, and was going to go into shock soon.   I didn't have anyone to be there for me, and I had to build up all the good points of Tobias' murder vs. the bad. After straightening out the vampire world, I headed up to Aaa. I couldn't stay there, where I was a renowned murderer.

I don't want Fi to leave Aaa, for my own selfish reasons if nothing else. That's why I need to get rid of Brendan, before he scares her off, and why I need to lie to her. I don't know anything about the Lich, but Fi doesn't need to know that. What she needs right now is emotional suport, even if it's lies. The less she knows about all this, by which I mean Tobias, the better, because what she doesn't know can't hurt her. And I need to worry more about Brendan hurting her instead of her leaving me and the country.      

She would, too. Tobias may have been a monster- but I don't want her to think I am a monster as well. Unfortunately, Brendan... well, speaking of Brendan, how can I get her out of the way so I can deal with him, one on one? Okay, I'm not stupid enough to phrase it like that with her, but that's what it is. If she got hurt because of me (or Brendan), I don't know what I'd do, but it most certainly wouldn't be good. In fact, I believe it might put the Lich to shame... if that's possible.

*Fionna's POV*

I lay there awake for a little while after Marshall left. Cake came in after awhile, and fell right asleep, believing I already was. Suddenly, not quite knowing what I was doing, I grabbed a bag and stuffed some clothes in it, as quietly as I could. I didn't know where I was going, or even what I was going to do, but I just thought... I knew I needed to get away from there.

I climbed up to the roof to get a last view of the land of Aaa.

"I knew you'd come up here eventually." I heard Marshall say softly.

"I thought you left."

"I did. I came back, because I thought about what I would do- and did- in your situation." He replied.

Then he noticed my bag. "Planning to run?"

"I don't know... it was just a crazy idea."

"Were you at least going to say goodbye? Tell us where you'd be if we needed you? If I needed you?" His suddenly harsh tone made me look up at him sharply. His fists were balled, and he was glaring at the ground.

"I don't know where I was going to go! In the end, I was probably just going to go spend the night with you."

He calmed down a little, and hugged me. "If you're going to run, at least let me go with you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." I sighed happily, leaning into him. Then the full weight of what I had done hit me again, and I pulled away.

"Fionna... there is nothing you could have done regarding the Lich."

I didn't look at him, and he turned me so that I was facing him and gripped my shoulders, before shaking me a little. "Fionna, look at me!"

"I could have done something, Marshall! I didn't have to kill her, it just seemed like the only option at the time! How can I claim to be a heroine, if I kill people?! It was different with you and Tobias!"

"Yeah- it was! I didn't have anyone, Fi, least of all anyone who understood! And the man had a family. It was ten times worse, Fionna, but that doesn't mean I don't know that it's practically eating you alive inside!"

I looked at him slowly. He was staring blankly into space, the haunted look in his eyes having returned.

"Marshall..." I said softly.

"Don't you dare leave me alone again, Fi. Don't you dare slip off in the night, when I need you here, with me." He growled, pulling me closer.

"I won't. I wouldn't do that to you." I told him.

"Good." He huffed. "I'm getting a little tired of the yelling, and I don't like to think about Tobias."

"That's the secret to it? Just... not thinking about it?"

"Yup. And finding a... distraction." He said, looking at me out of the corner of his eye and smirking.

I whacked him on the arm, before he laughed and picked me up bridal style. "Why not spend the night at my place?"

"I'd love to." I said, smiling softly. Thank Glob for Marshall.