The final installment! I hope you enjoy.
It was several weeks after Ice Queen had given her the rose. It still glowed, a dim, pulsing red light. When she held it, it beat in time with her heart, and she could lose herself staring at the intricate swirls dancing along the petals.
“Girl, are you coming or what?”
“Sorry Cake.”
“Are you staring at that rose again?”
Fionna paused for a second as she slid the sculpture back into her pack. “Umm, yes.” Cake laid a hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“Honey,” the cat said, “How often have I caught you looking at that thing the same way you used to look at Gumball?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Ten, twenty…”
“At least thirty.” To this Fionna only shrugged, so they continued their way back to the house. Over her shoulder, Fionna had slung yet another massive bag of treasure, which clinked as the bag gently bounced up and down. They had made a temporary camp by some trees, and had slid some more bags under a stone they used as a hiding spot for whatever spoils they couldn’t drag all the way back.
When they did make it to the house, it was almost noon. Cake made some lunch while upstairs Fionna changed into a cleaner outfit, identical to her former one. The day passed by, until soon the moon drew up into the night, and sleep beckoned. Cake settled into her drawer, covered in both a blanket and a very fuzzy sweater. Before Fionna could get into her bed, a knock by the open window turned her around.
Outside, in her magnificent blue gown, floated Ice Queen. Her cool face was warmed by a smile, her fingers nervously tapping on the window sill. Fionna smiled back, quite surprised to see the monarch. “Hello, Ice Queen.” It came out as a whisper, but even so Cake still turned in her sleep. Carefully walking across the floor, Fionna came closer to the Queen. “What are you doing here?”
Ice Queen tried to answer, but couldn’t say anything. Blushing, she produced a book, titled “How to Win Her Heart: Three Easy Steps”. Fionna opened it, and began to flip through the pages.
She looked the blushing Ice Queen in the face, then read the title of a chapter out loud. “Step 1: Gain her trust.” Ice Queen just nodded. “Step 2: Leave her flowers.” Another nod. “Step 3: Sing to her.” Another nod and a deeper blush, with the Queen’s voice coming out hesitantly.
“I can’t sing.” It was Fionna’s turn to blush; Ice Queen was trying to “Win Her Heart.” Ice Queen’s voice came out a bit stronger, whispering into her ear, “But I wrote you a poem.” From a pocket in one of the folds of her dress the Queen produced a roll of paper. It had words scribbled all over it, half of which had been crossed out. One paragraph, though, had been circled. Clearing her throat, the monarch began reading.
“My heart’s been adrift
A ship with no sail
Chill waters seeping in
Caged in a jail
But you are the key
To the lock on the door
You set me free
And I love you forever more”
Ice Queen glanced up at Fionna’s face, and seeing her reaction began to put the paper away. Her voice was low and a bit hurt. “It was bad, wasn’t it.” The girl’s face slowly moved from shock, and she grabed after the retreating Queen.
“No, no! It was lovely.” Fionna smiled up at the cold face. “I just didn’t know you could write like that.” Ice Queen dropped her head, trying to hide her face.
“Y-you really think that?”
“Yes!” Fionna put her hand under the monarch’s chin, not feeling her fingers go numb from the cold. “And I love you too.” And with that, Ice Queen leaned over, her kiss lightly brushing over Fionna’s cheek. She then left, flying back to her kingdom. And Fionna felt her lips still there long after she woke up the next day.
