Description: My longest story on this site so far, the one that will grow further and further, since I have numerous ideas for numerous plots. Mostly Bubbeline, with many characters from the show encountered along the way, as the two try to fulfill their little quest. I know the story is pretty long and it may start kind off slow for some, still, I hope you'll give it a chance and I hope that you'll have a good time while at it!

Prologue

Vivid dreams without much worries. Colorful memories that bare a scent of happiness. Those were the thoughts the princess enjoyed the most. And it would seem she slowly drifted into one of them, as her head got heavier and heavier, eventually falling right on the desk she worked at. As the visions started to pour in, she saw almost everyone she knew, at least those somewhat close to her heart. They playfully waved towards her pink frame.

"You are the best!" Said Finn, looking at her in awe, blushing a bit while at it.

"Better than everything burrito!" Jake chuckled as his hands lengthened and clumsily shaped like a heart. "Just a tiny bit, but you know, that still means a lot!"

"BMO thinks you're amazing!" The little screen seemed to shine.

"Sa-lang Hae Yo!" Said Lady Rainicorn, tangling her long body around her pink friend.

"Oh you guys..." Princess giggled. "Stop it, or you'll make me blush."

And just as she started to enjoy their company, as the numerous compliments bolstered her ego, they vanished, one by one. As she found herself in a different place,she walked by the beams of numerous bright lights that sprouted from somewhere above. And as she admired every single second of their presence, echoing chords of music reached out to her pink ears, attempting to grab her attention no doubt. She smiled and rushed towards it only to see that pale, black haired girl she adored so much. The one she strive to be near, yet never had the courage to admit it.

"Haven't seen you in a while." Bubblegum curiously walked by. "Thought you'd forgot about me."

"You rarely drop by, braindlord." Marceline shrugged. "Your own fault if you ask me. But you won't admit that, huh? Too proud for that, pink face."

"How is that my fault? When was the last time you invited me to your house?"

"And when was the last time you even spoke to me?" She shrugged, as her slick fingers still pulled the strings of her guitar. "I know time is meaningless for me, still..."

"Fair point." Bubblegum nodded slightly. "Noted and taken."

"Ha, see?" The vampire chuckled. "You are not as smart as you think."

"Still smarter than you however." She leaned down on her and poked on the forehead.

"Now that's just rude."

"It's my head, I can do what I want, don't you think?" Bubblegum snapped her finger. "Just like that."

The place they lingered in changed rapidly, as they found themselves inside the thick palace walls, right in the royal bedroom to be precised. As they sat on the corners of her wide, comfortable bed, as they grabbed each others hand, they chuckled. Their mouths met, in a steamy, long and passionate kiss. She forgot how good it was, to feel that long, fiendish tongue raveling around her own. She forgot how much she missed the feel of her cold body, pressing hard onto her pink frame. Finally, she forgot how much she missed her scent, the very same that always drove her crazy.

"So, that's better?" As their mouth detached, she looked at the princess with her two black, blazing eyes.

"Much better, I have to say."

"This room brings back many memories..." Marceline sighted.

"Good ones or bad?"

"Mostly good." She smiled vaguely. "So, what would you say for a little... Chat?"

"Well. Can't say I dislike... Conversations."

"That is good, I..."

Just as they meant to reach one another, the vampire disappeared within the black mists. Before the princess could even try to chase her down, cold, bone hands clutched around her pink head. Hard nails poked her in her forehead, leaving thin, chilling marks everywhere they went. That clearly wasn't the touch she wanted. Nor from the one she desired to be close to.

"Such a curious mind you have." Hoarse voice echoed through her mind. "Show me more Bubblegum. Show me what's inside..."

"What are you?" She asked, as she felt that her body gets more and more numb.

"Matters not. Not for now." The one behind her placed his despicable, slim finger over her lips. "Hush child, hush..."

"Do not try to silence me fiend!" She pushed the bone hand aside with all the strength she had. "Answer me!"

"Questions, questions. You like to ask them child." He placed his claws back on her head, raveling her hair around. "Such beauty. Such shame. Such pity."

"Wait..." Her pupils widened. "I know that voice. Why are you here?!"

He remained silent however, breathing heavily behind her, as the gusts of wind flew by her ear. And with his every gasp, she could almost sense the decay that devoured him from the inside. The scent of a corpse, long forgotten and buried out from the very soil. It was quite disgusting. Eventually out of no where, with a swift, silent move he drove his fingernails into her skin.

"Stop that!" She twitched around, struggling to get out of his grasp.

"Why should I? Reasons, child." He began to laugh and proceed to mock her. "Don't you give them anymore? They told me you are made of science. So calculate me, how much pain do you feel? Calculate me that, Bonnibel Bubblegum!"

"Enough of that, you jerk!"

"It hurts you? Does it hurt? Much? Or maybe this is worse?" He drove his claws deeper and deeper, any second now and he would simply impale her head inside out.

"Enough!" The princess screamed, as she grabbed his hands in vague attempt to pull his fingers out.

"Don't you enjoy a game or two?" He clicked with his teeth. "Don't you enjoy it? Royal parties, royal guests. Royal adoration no doubt. Isn't this grand, Bubblegum? Isn't this grand."

"Just... let... go!"

"My oh my, and my again. Such vigor. One could envy you that much... Life." The sound he made behind her indicated that he just spat on the ground with disgust. "What if someone would strip you away from it... What if someone would smother you."

"Enough I said!"

"Step by step, piece by piece. Slowly removing flesh from flesh, bone from bone. Sweetness becomes bitter." He made a long breath, further spewing out the scent of rot. "But that would not hurt you all that much, yes? No. Breaking you would require breaking more than your fragile vessel. Pain bothers you not... Curious one you are, curious..."

"Let me go!"

"But we're such a great match together, you and me. Almost like if we're meant to be... together."

He leaned closer, whispering to her ear with a deep yet hoarse voice, spewing maggots and all kinds of nasty things through his mouth.

"Curious, that you thought you can just get rid of me in a simplest of ways." He finally let go of her head. "My roots linger. Linger beyond your petty mind." He smudged her cheek with his pointy finger, circling around almost flirtatiously before finally fading away. "And now. I am you and you are me. How does that feel, Bonnibel Bubblegum? It would made my heart chuckle. Had I had any."

"Get out!" She screamed towards the void.

"Or maybe, maybe I should rip your friends first. The fiend, she would be the queen of screams once more! Does that thrill you?" He began to laugh. "My hands over her neck. Clutched. I wonder, if her body can still feel the cold. Or the boy, he's so innocent. Innocence can be lost so fast..."

"Get out I said!"

She woke up, gasping for air. Drips of sweat dropped from her forehead. She measured her breaths, trying to calm down and think rationally. That was no mere dream, that she was sure of. And things like that should never be overlooked. When she touched her head, the pain was still present, exactly in the spots where his hard, cold nails pierced her delicate pink skin.

"Lich..."

The princess said to herself, as she stroked her chin. She began to ponder, lighting up all the lamps in her room, searching for answers in her head. There were non given there however. So she did what she's best at – started to search her books in hope to receive some answers. With each finished lecture, with each line she read, all she could come up with was that hope, if any, was far away. Finally however, she found some spark of hope. A tome, perhaps as old Enchiridion gave her the information she searched for. 'Those who linger in the world, those who walk forevermore, only one thing that they fear, reaper's gaze, when he's near.' It took her a while to grasp the full meaning of those words, but when she finally she happily clapped her hands.

"Death... of course!"