"How do I look?" Marshall asked, turning himself in the mirror to get a better view.

"Regal." A crew member stated.

"Incredible." Another suggested.

"Handsome." Yet another added.

The rest nodded in agreement.

Marshall nodded. "At least I don't look like an idiot in this monkey suit. Who has the invitation?"

Someone passed it to him, and he nodded, satisfied. "After all, it's not like Mom is actually going to be there, and we need a representative..." He smirked, but one crew member raised his hand.

"Um, sir? Don't you think this is kind of a bad idea?"

Everyone glared at him, willing him to be silent.

Marshall frowned. "Explain."

"It's just... she voluntarily left you. Isn't showing up like this kind of... invading her personal space? Crossing the boundaries she set? No matter what happens tonight, she's still probably going to marry him... unless you convince her to run off with you. And then what, sir?"

"I... hm."

The glares intensified, and the crew member shrunk in fear.

Marshall considered this. "She left because of her people, not because of her own feelings. So this will be a better goodbye, if nothing else. Plus it's a chance to see each other again when we thought that would never happen. Even if nothing happens, even if she stays with him... it doesn't matter. Because at least I will get to see her again, and know if she forgives me, and know if she still..."

He trailed off, deep in thought, before nodding. "Alright, let's go."

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

"I look alright, right?" Prince Gumball asked Lord Monochromicorn.

'You look as good as you're going to.' His friend responded.

"It's just... this is the first time I'm meeting her. I need to make a good impression." Prince Gumball explained, adjusting his cravat.

'As I recall, you and Marshall Lee had a lot more time.'

"Yes, but we weren't immediately threatened with war. And that was two years ago."

'Fine, but I feel like you're rushing this.'

Gumball shot his friend a look. "Explain."

'You're worried that she'll run just like he did, and you're taking precautions to make sure that she can't. Ensnaring her like this isn't going to help anything, Gumball. You know that. That's why you pushed for more time with Marshall two years ago when Honoria was pushing for less.'

"Maybe I should have listened to her." Prince Gumball muttered. "And I am not ensnaring Princess Fionna! She agreed to everything that is going on!"

'Right, because it's for her people.'

"Exactly. We already share a common goal— that's more than Marshall and I ever did. I'm sure the princess and I will get along wonderfully." Prince Gumball sounded as if he was trying to convince himself.

Lord Monochromicorn tapped his next speech out thoughtfully. 'And what if you don't? That'd be even worse than the Marshall Lee situation, because at least you both decided you were incompatible.'

"I doubt it. From the reports, she's nothing like him. And again, if nothing else, we can fall back on politics. No one ever said that we were living in a fairy-tale."

'You were right.'

"Oh? When?"

'When you said that you've gotten more cynical. She's just eighteen, Gumball. Don't shut her out. It could lead to disaster.'

Gumball shot his friend another look, before nodding. "Fine, fine. Shall we?"

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

"You look beautiful." Cake said gleefully, squeezing Fionna's shoulder.

"I look like one of the ladies at court." Fionna replied, unconvinced.

"So? They're beautiful."

"Sure, but they're not me."

"Oh, hush." Cake said, pinning Fionna's hair up. "Don't knock it until you try it."

"I guess." Fionna replied. "By the way, do you know where the reports for the Royal Pride and the Silver Sword are? I couldn't find them all day."

"Uh huh. You can have them after the ball."

"Cake..."

"Look, it's just for one night. And besides, you're meeting Prince Gumball tonight. Focus on that instead of the ships."

"Oh, right. What if I hate him?"

"Don't put yourself in that mindset. What if you fall madly in love?"

"That's just setting myself up for disappointment." Fionna replied.

"Fine, fine. Just remember, it's all for Duine."

"I know, I know... wouldn't it be easier to stop a war if I married Marshall Lee, though? That's the easiest way to stop a war— form an alliance between the potential enemy and yourself."

"First of all, when we proposed the issue, he was still floating around being a pirate. Second, I'm sure your father was trying to be kind to you. Who knows what he's like?"

"I do."

"Well, now you do. Anyway, third, Dulce is richer than Duine and the Unknown Lands, but it's also a lot smaller, with a small military. It needs Duine steel to get anywhere— and if Duine and the Unknown Lands allied, it would come crashing down on Dulce like a tidal wave. Remember, soon you're going to be responsible for the citizens of Dulce as well as those of Duine. Do you want to let them down?"

"No." Fionna admitted softly. "But the problem is, if I ever saw Marshall again, I'd probably run away with him, regardless of the consequences for Duine or Dulce."

"In the unlikely event of that happening, repeat after me, 'My willpower is stronger than anything.'"

"'My willpower is stronger than anything.'"

"There, you see? Nothing to it. If you ever are faced with that kind of temptation again, just repeat it over and over until you believe it. And besides, you likely wouldn't be alone with him. I'll support you, okay?"

"Okay. Are we done here?"

"Yeah, we're good to go."

"Alright, then. Let's head down to the ball."

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

The king of Duine lay on his deathbed, his breath rattling.

"He won't last through the night." One of his advisors clucked.

"Where's the princess?" Another asked.

"On Middleground Island, about to be married to the prince of Dulce." Yet another answered.

"Well, get her back here as soon as possible! We need her to lead us, he's got only minutes left and we're on the brink of war!" The first snapped.

"What about her honeymoon?" The second asked.

"What about her husband?" The third amended.

"The honeymoon can be cut immediately, and the husband is slightly problematic... what if he wants to rule from Dulce?" The first asked.

The fourth and final advisor finally piped up. "Then clearly they live in separation. What are you all doing, sitting around here, making senseless noise? Go send the fastest message that you can! Send it by bird, if possible!"

The three advisors filed out, leaving the fourth with the dying king.

"Olivia..." He croaked.

She leaned closer to hear what he said. "Guide her."

"I wasn't really planning on going on a lifelong journey to find myself, so okay."

"Protect her."

"I don't think she really needs protection... but okay."

"As long as she won't be mortally injured after the result, nudge her after happiness. If she's here, Duine won't fall." The king continued, ignoring her.

"Oh, you know about the fact that they have to end up together for a satisfactory story ending too? Awesome."

"And above all..." The king whispered. "Put Duine first if the other requirements are fulfilled—" With a last cough, he died.

Olivia watched him for a minute, before sitting back. "What did you even die of?" She asked no one in particular, before getting up and sighing. "I guess I have to go to Middleground Island now... that'll take a good chunk of my 'protect the other three from idiocy' contingency plan time out of my schedule."