Chapter 1: Sweet Sacrifice

Marceline couldn't remember being outside for weeks.

She had gotten into the habit of remaining locked inside of her house, secure in the dark damp cave walls surrounding her. Marceline kicked off from the ground and hovered, floating just above her couch that she never used. She remembered the last time it was used; Finn and Jake had arrived for a visit a few weeks back.

That was also the last time she had ever gone outside.

Finn and Jake were long gone now, off doing who-knows-what. Marceline the Vampire Queen propped her Axe-bass on her lap and started to play. Her fingers were familiar with the chords and she hardly had to look at the strings to know that she was playing them correctly.

Her eyes wandered around the room while her mind traveled elsewhere. There were so many reasons why Marceline hadn't been outside.

Marceline remembered back to that fateful day, three weeks ago.

Finn was smiling when the Vampire Queen opened the door and she wondered if he was always this happy.

Jake trotted in behind Finn, making sure to avoid Marceline's gaze; he had never really approved of the vampire. Both Finn and Jake sat upon the couch and Finn's smile faded.

"Marceline," he said, solemnly, "It's Princess Bubblegum. I don't know what's wrong but she wants to speak to you."

The raven-haired girl straightened and she stared around the room. What did the Perfect Princess need her for? She had fought multiple times with the Candy Kingdom ruler. Their recent fight had been the worst, with much name-calling and backstabbing quotes.

So why did she need the Imperfect Vampire Queen?

Marceline was just too hurt to even think about the Pink Wonder.

Finn gave her a sympathetic look and stood, heading for the door. He huffed and looked back at her one last time, knowing that Marceline wasn't going to respond.

"It sounded important," Finn said, as Jake passed him and left through the door, "She just… sounded upset and worried about something. I just thought you weren't that heartless. I thought you cared."

And with that, he was gone. Marceline hadn't seen him since.

She was staring at her fingers on the frets when she snapped back to reality. She didn't even remember telling them to stop playing, but she was glad. She was left in silence for a few minutes, as she remembered the look on Finn's disappointed face when he left her alone.

The Vampire took in a deep breath of unneeded oxygen and placed her bass on its black holster. She hovered just above the ground and headed to the kitchen. When she opened the fridge, she noticed a white plastic bag folded over itself on the bottom shelf.

Pulling it out, she placed it on the counter and slowly opened it. She let out a pained puff of air, grimacing at what she found.

She still remembered when she had gotten it.

Right after the door had closed behind Finn three whole weeks ago, she had reopened the door, wanting, perhaps, to apologize or tell him to come back. But as she stepped out to trail after him, she tripped over a package that was left on the front doorstep. It was the white plastic bag, tied tightly and folded in half.

She brought it inside, examining the way it was tied. It was tied in a very precise and even knot. Then, she noticed the white slip of paper sticking out of the side of the wrapping.

On the front it read, "From PB."

On the back, she saw Finn's handwriting and read aloud, "Peebs wanted me to give this to you. She thought it would make you feel better after she told you." With a sigh, Marceline opened the package.

She had to stare at it for a long time before she realized what it was. It was a fist-sized ball of bright pink gum. She seemed to stare at it even longer once she recognized it.

She had vowed to keep it with her, not wanting anyone to find out that she had kept it, and there it sat – for almost a month – in the bottom of her fridge.

Marceline knew she was going to regret it, but she lifted the ball of pink and kneaded it between her fingers for a few moments, until it was soft again.

Then, holding it tightly against her chest, she flew to the bedroom. The sun had started to rise outside of her little cave, and she yawned, stifling it with her arm.

She was lost in her thoughts as she hovered above her bed, holding the piece of Bubblegum against her. And then she slept better than she had in days.