A/N: This is the sequel to my previous story The Broken Queen. It's pretty necessary to read that one before you read this! Please feel free to leave any reviews or constructive criticism!
Marceline Abadeer stood on a green hillside, looking down at rows and rows of graves before her. She had braved the harsh sun, with the help of a large hat and long gloves, to attend the funerals of the five Special Security Agents who had died protecting her from her ex-boyfriend, and the father of her child, Ash. Finn stood next to her, his remaining arm wrapped around her waist protectively. He had been by her side nearly constantly in the week since they returned from Princess Bubblegum's cabin in south Ooo.
Marceline turned her attention away from the formalities of the military funeral and glanced at her friends around her. Jake the Dog was paralyzed after being hit with one of Ash's spells; the doctors said he would walk again, but only if he completed painful physical therapy every day. Simon had a shattered femur, internal injuries, and numerous cuts from being thrown through a glass window. Finn had lost his right arm. And Princess Bubblegum was a different woman since her encounter with Ash; she hadn't told anyone what he had done to her, but Marceline, who had laid underneath him, tears streaming down her face, feeling dirty and worthless and sick more times than she could count, knew. The queen couldn't help but feel that everything that had happened was all her fault.
The sound of Ooo's anthem brought Marceline out of her reverie and she turned her attention back to the ceremony. Five identical, flag draped coffins were being lowered into the ground as nearly all of the Candy Kingdom looked on. The somber silence was broken by a young Gumdrop woman wearing a black veil. Her stomach was more swollen than Marceline's and the Vampire recognized her as one of the SSA's wife. They'd been married just over a year, and her wail twisted the undead woman's heart.
After the ceremony, Finn and Marceline walked hand-in-hand to the Candy Castle where they had been staying since their return to Ooo. The queen nearly cried out in surprise when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned around, and the Gumdrop woman she had noticed before slapped her hard across her face. Marceline fell to the ground, her hat tumbling from her head and the sun blistering her sensitive skin.
"My husband died for you and your worthless bastard," the Gumdrop woman said, "and you have the nerve to show up here?"
The woman spat at Marceline and the liquid sizzled against her skin. Princess Bubblegum shaded the queen while Finn helped her to her feet and placed the hat back on her head. The trio watched as a man, the Gumdrop woman's brother-in-law, led her away.
"Are you hurt, Marceline?" Princess Bubblegum asked.
"I'm fine," she replied. "I just need to get inside."
Together, Finn and Princess Bubblegum helped Marceline into the castle and into the princess' office, where she sunk into a plush chair.
"I can have her arrested, you know," Princess Bubblegum said after a moment of awkward silence.
"No, I'm fine. I just want to lie down for a while," the queen said, weakly trying to stand up.
"Let me carry you," Finn said, stooping down.
"I can walk," Marceline snapped. She saw a look of hurt on Finn's face and forced herself to smile. "I mean, I need the exercise. It's good for the baby."
Finn nodded and helped her to her feet. She had taken no more than three steps, when she heard a sharp knock on the door. Princess Bubblegum opened it and looked up at the tall, intimidating demon standing before her.
"Hello, Hunson," she said. Although she was grateful that the Demon King had killed Ash and saved their lives, she couldn't help but be wary of his presence after his numerous attempts to suck out the souls of the Candy people.
"Hello, Bonnibel," he replied. "Would you happen to know where my daughter is?"
"She's right here, but it's been a long day and she needs her rest, so-"
Hunson pushed past the princess and looked at Marceline, shocked by how much her baby had grown since he had last seen her.
"Oh, honey," he said, his voice suddenly soft. "You…you remind me so much of your mother."
"What are you doing here, Daddy?" Marceline asked, flustered by his rare compliment.
Hunson's face hardened and he returned to his stern self.
"I was sent here by Malum," he replied. "He wanted me to speak with you about some details of running the kingdom."
"Who's Malum?" Finn asked.
"He's the leader of the Vampire High Council," Marceline answered. "With Acheron and Herros. They're ancient, even compared to me, and super powerful."
Finn nodded.
"You can use my office," Princess Bubblegum offered. "Finn and I will give you some privacy."
"Actually," Hunson said, "I'd prefer it if you two stayed. This involves you just as much as it involves Marceline."
Finn and Princess Bubblegum glanced at each other and sat down, along with Marceline and Hunson. The Demon King formed a tent with his hands and sighed.
"I'm not quite sure how to put this," he began, "but the Vampire Kingdom is in grave danger. Malum has tried his best to keep the media quiet about this, and he's done quite well, but we knew we had to tell you sooner or later."
"Tell me what?" Marceline asked, panic creeping into her voice.
"The Wizard Kingdom is preparing for war. They're taking Ash's death as an attack, and they've been mass-producing weapons by the thousands. Just today they passed a law allowing them to reopen the draft for all able-bodied men of a certain age. They want a fight, Marceline, and they're not going to stop until they get one."
"So what?" Marceline asked, biting her bottom lip. "If they want a fight they'll get one!"
"Honey, it's not that simple. As you must be aware, Malum and his council are…old-fashioned, to say the least. They don't approve of you having a child out of wedlock, and there has been talk of leaving the kingdom if your behavior doesn't change soon."
"So, what happens if they leave?" Finn asked. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he squeezed Marceline's hand tighter.
"If they leave, the kingdom falls," Marceline said. "They control everything: weapons production, the banks. Fuck, even the Vampires themselves."
"Exactly," Hunson continued. "They sent me here to tell you that they will stay if you meet a few conditions."
"What kind of conditions?" Princess Bubblegum asked, her voice wavering.
"They want you to get married, Marceline."
"No!" Finn yelled, slamming his fist against the princess' desk. "They can't make her do that!"
"Calm down, Finn," Marceline ordered softly. "You're right."
Hunson sighed. "Honey, I don't think you understand the seriousness of this situation. I think that you need to calm do-"
"No, she doesn't need to calm down!" Princess Bubblegum yelled. "She's lived her whole life being told what to do by one man or another and look at where it's gotten her!"
"If she doesn't comply with their wishes, people, her people, will die!" Hunson retorted.
"Let them die, then!" Finn yelled. "You can't just marry her off to some jerk who doesn't love her!"
Marceline covered her ears. "Stop it!"
The trio stopped their argument and looked at Marceline. Finn put his hand on her shoulder protectively, only to have her shrug it off. He looked down at his shoes, tears stinging his eyes.
"I don't need any of you fighting my battles for me," Marceline said firmly. She placed her hand over her stomach and continued, "Bonnibel, didn't you tell me that sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the greater good?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"This is a sacrifice I have to make." Marceline turned back to her father, tears in her eyes. "Have they chosen my groom?"
"No," Hunson said. "They are allowing you to make that choice, but if you don't have a preference, they have a list of eligible suitors."
"I'll do it!" Finn yelled, taking Marceline's hand. "I'll marry you!"
A smile spread across Princess Bubblegum's face, and Hunson looked relieved.
"Oh, why didn't I think of that?" The princess exclaimed. "That's perfect, Finn!"
"No," Marceline said, her voice barely audible.
"Huh?" Hunson asked.
"I said no. Tell the council to choose someone. I-I need to lie down."
Marceline walked out the door and broke into a clumsy run towards her room. Finn started to follow after her, but Princess Bubblegum shook her head.
"Let me go talk to her," she said.
Finn nodded, and futilely wiped away the tears from his eyes.
Princess Bubblegum went to Marceline's room and knocked softly on the door.
"Go away, Finn," the Vampire said, her voice muffled. "I need to be alone."
Princess Bubblegum opened the door and stepped inside. Marceline was lying on the bed on her side, her knees drawn to her chest and her hand on her stomach.
"It's me," she said, sitting down next to her friend and rubbing her back.
"Go away, Bonnibel."
"Not until you tell me why you won't marry Finn," Princess Bubblegum replied. "I know it's fast, but these are extraordinary circumstances and he loves you more than anything."
"I know. I love him, too."
"What's the problem then, Marceline?" Princess Bubblegum was getting frustrated.
"Because I don't want to ruin his life, okay?" Marceline yelled. "I don't deserve someone as good as Finn. Even Ash was too good for me."
Princess Bubblegum sighed and stroked Marceline's hair.
"Oh, Marmalade, I wish you could see how wrong you are. You're wonderful and beautiful and…Half the people you meet fall head over heels in love with you! I-I know I did."
Marceline looked up at the princess, her eyes wide and ringed black with mascara and lost sleep. Princess Bubblegum pulled the Vampire into her lap, and she buried her face into the pink woman's neck, breathing in her sweet, soft smell. The princess lay her cheek against Marceline's raven hair and felt tears well up in her eyes.
"I can't let them marry them off to some man you don't even know," Princess Bubblegum said. "If you don't want to marry Finn, we can leave. We can go somewhere and no one will ever have to know who we are. Responsibilities be damned."
Marceline, forgetting how weak she still was, tried to float out of the princess' lap and fell to the floor. She quickly stood up and balled her hands into fists.
"You're saying that now?" She yelled. "Twenty years ago when I needed you, all you could think about was your 'royal responsibilities'! Did you expect me to wait all this time?"
"I'd rather give up everything than see you hurt again!" Princess Bubblegum retorted, her hands shaking. "I know that I can't even imagine what you went through with Ash, but I know that I went through hell having to watch it from the sidelines!" Her voice softened and she moved to embrace Marceline. "I can't stand seeing you hurt."
Marceline started to pull away, but she suddenly felt as if her energy was zapped from her body. She fell into the princess' arms and sobbed against her shoulder for a long time. Finally, she spoke.
"I'll do it," she whispered. "I'll marry Finn."
Princess Bubblegum nodded and held her friend closer.
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
"No," she replied. "But it's what I'm going to do."
They stood together for a long moment, before the princess broke their embrace.
"Let's go tell them the good news," she said, forcing herself to smile as she used the pad of her thumb to wipe away Marceline's tears.
The older woman nodded smoothed her hair. She swiped at her eyes using the sleeve of her dress and forced herself to take the first steps towards the princess' office, her pink-haired friend following closely behind her.
When Marceline opened the office door, both her father and Finn stood and looked at her expectantly.
"Finn? Is your offer still good?"
A grin broke out on his face and he ran to Marceline and picked her up with his remaining arm. He kissed her gently and returned her to her feet. She twisted her face into a forced smile and looked at the blond boy, and her heart jumped. All at once, she realized that she had made the right choice.
Huson cleared his throat and Marceline, Finn, and Princess Bubblegum turned to look at him.
"Honey, I've carried this with me for a long time and I guess now's the time to give it to you." He pulled a small, intricate ring from the pocket of his suit and held it out to Marceline. "It was your mother's."
Marceline held out her hand and Hunson slipped the ring onto her finger. The queen was surprised to see tears in her father's eyes. She threw her arms around his neck.
"Thank you, Daddy," she whispered.
Hunson cleared his throat again, this time nervously, and straightened his tie.
"I'll inform the High Council that you will be complying with their wishes. They'll set a date and we'll start our preparations soon." Hunson started to leave, then turned to Finn and shook his hand. "Welcome to the family, son."
"Yeah," Marceline said once her father was gone, a mischievous grin on her face. "Welcome to the family."
Finn smiled and hugged Marceline close to him. He kissed the top of her head and cuddled close to her.
"I love you, Marcy," he put his hand on her stomach. "I'm not ever going to let you guys down. I promise."
"I know, Finn. I know."
The hero hugged Marceline again, and she made eye contact with Princess Bubblegum over his shoulder. She tried to smile, but she couldn't help but feel that their happiness would be short-lived.