The Wrinkle in a Memory

Summary: AU-ish Marshall Lee being immortal has a distorted notion of time. The Candy kingdom 100 years ago destroyed by war and the lively kingdom today 100 years later frequently visited by the last human but both he visits for a certain pink prince. GumLee

Author's note: this story is already done (written down in my notebook) but it might change a little depending on the reviews *hint hint* Oh and another thing the story isn't told chronologically, just sit back and enjoy the ride :)

Introduction: A Manifesto

"It was us once upon a time."

The prince and his people, his fragile innocence of an extremely small world.

The king of the vampires, the cynical, the undead and ever so human-never learning from the cruel lesson of mortality.

Then at some point, paths cross—few, far apart but there is something in the sideway glace at the annual meeting of royalty, the t-shirt treasured and not thrown away, a song that made a truth door sing and a door lord taking is most important.

The climax of any courtship, of any relationship is the first kiss—the confirmation of acceptance or rejection and everything is a downward slope from there.

100+ years ago: An odd conversation

-How long have you been watching me?

-Is it really a question of how long?

-Alright, what is the first thing you remember about me?

-The little boy and the train.

-(his heart almost stopped, he was deftly afraid of trains, of travel far away without the need to, -railroads were enough to freeze him in unexplainable fear)

-What about the train?

-The crash the lack of tracks at the end of a cliff—you unharmed.

-Because of you.

-Because of me?

-Safe. Because of you. (his parents died on that journey)

-Think what you must. (That tone, that bored tone used to speak in royal meetings, impersonal, distant, disdain)

-There are ghosts. Ghosts at night sometimes looking in from the dark places Marshall Lee. Ghosts of dead things.

-Would you like me to send them away?

-Are you in any place to do so?

-I can if I must. (This is not the Marshall Lee I know or is it the real man? The true vampire king?)

-You're not yourself Marshall Lee.

-And you're not like yourself for being so friendly with me (it feels like going back in time, before the war)

-Well, I've never known you more that your antics in the… kingdom (the last word sounded hollow, like a ghost. The ghost of dead things that watch him, no longer MY but THE)

-But that is me, the trickster, the scorned the feare—

-(skips the subject) What else do you remember about me?

-A not so little boy crying in the woods, the last of you I care to remember from days back then/

-(eyes slit and studies your face carefully for any sign of humor)

-They broke you! Broke your spirit till all you ever thought about was your little kingdom. They made you into a person who when given the choice to choose a path for themselves you will always choose the path they set for you.

-That's… not true.

-Prove it.

-How?

-Choose me.

-When you were a little boy, never, never once did you hesitate to take my hand even if it lead to the darkest places of Aaa. Now during the day, in public, at your parties—as long as it's among witness you drive me away yet welcome me with an open window every night. Even if it's only to read quietly beside you or play my bass on the window sill. You wear my shirt to bed when no one can see you and now you speak to me here in the darkness of these woods like a secret… even though you know no one can find you (the truth burned, the loss, the unmistakable emptiness)

-(the prince stares at the remains of what was once his kingdom)

-You can rebuild everything you know, like you've done with Goliad. You can bring them back from the dead so to speak, new candy people—not really the same but they will serve your purpose. But now the moment you confront reality at least now you know what immortality is, as you've asked me to describe it to you once upon a time, immortality is this unmistakable feeling of loss, persistent and as hollow as hunger. You will be happy, I guarantee it if you choose your kingdom. The little boy I know is dead and I will mourn him but if… IF you choose me there is no guarantee and more likely you'll regret instead that path not chosen, PRINCE Gumball.

(Marshall Lee hovers in the air, hand held out)

-No, not Prince Gumball. My name is Bubba (the offered hand is taken)

AN: how is it so far? Lol I'm promising more fanservice in the next chapters. It's ok if you're confused all the details will come later

EDIT: thanks to tigeruke for the input! Quotation marks (well – to make it easier) added