There is a kingdom and it sits far off.
Her father is uninterested in it. Naturally he lacks taste for anything that isn't bittersweet. But Marceline, sitting with her axe strapped to her back and boot buckles that glow in contrast against the moonlight, feels drawn to its smell. It reminds her of her late mother's cookies in the oven. It reminds her of sitting in the kitchen with feet kicking. Hambo tight in her clutches. It reminds her running in sunshine and licking her fingertips. And it reminds her of toothaches and a long forgotten mortality. And for fifty long years she simply watches with her nose to the wind. Until watching isn't enough and hastily the vampire kicks off from her windowsill and makes towards it.
She arrives in the shelter of night, but makes no move to disguise her approach. Still the guards do not notice her, and still they do not stop her. And still she sneaks into one of the orchards, grabs one of the big red apples in her calloused palms. Then sets a tooth to the edges and takes a breath. It's a second later that the apple falls to the ground gray and colorless, and Marceline licks her lips and makes for another. Two piles later she's satisfied but still curious. So she dabbles further. And further just until she's hidden in the shadow of the main castle. It's ridiculously easy then to sneak past every guard until she's at the top floor. She taps a finger on a golden knob, elegantly twisting and fading and then she creaks inside and stands at the edge of the bed.
There is a sleeping monarch inside. A little girl pink faded hair and a big wonky grin. She's got a book snuggled close to her chest and if the vampire squints she can read the title crystal clear. "Folklore and mythology, huh kid?" She says quietly landing on the ridden floorboards with a quiet – creeeaakk.
She freezes as the little girl shuffles. Watches without taking a breath as she moves small fingers to her eyes to rub tiredly. "Mister Peppy,'' she says quietly. Yawns. "Im sorry, I fell asleep while reading –" But she stops. Pausing as she catches wind of the monster at the edge of the bed. But by the time the sleep is rubbed from her eyes Marceline is out of the window and straining bat wings into the night's sky.
Unknowingly, the next day the little candy kingdom monarch acts out a strange dream. And skips forward in her book to the chapter about vampires.
It's years later,
And the candy kingdom princess likes to think she doesn't believe in fairy tales anymore.
But she still believes in vampires.