Night in the Candy Kingdom always struck Jal as quite the contrast. During the day the streets were overflowing with creatures of all shapes and forms made of sickeningly sweet sugar. They would chatter to one another mindless drivel, hocking tacky wares, and otherwise needlessly consume valuable resources, such as air. The kingdom was so picturesque that it was nauseating. Everyone was happy, the atmosphere carefree, the people safe. Not a care in their stupid soft heads.
But Jal knew better. Every demon did. It was an idiot facade designed to fool idiots. The ugly truth that none of these simpletons would ever admit was that a monster lurked among them. It skulked the streets in broad daylight, unacknowledged. It spoke their language. It exchanged pleasantries. At the same time, it also had the ability and desire to cause untold suffering, should such a thing strike its fancy. Powerful indeed, but it was hard to conceive it in the day.
At night things changed. With the streets devoid of sapient life it was easier to pick out the inconsistencies in the kingdom's idyllic life. The monster no longer meandered the streets, invisible.
Now it slept in a tower. The tallest tower in the tallest castle in the biggest kingdom.
Even a demon like Jal knew about the monster. Everyone in Ooo did. It disguised itself as a benevolent princess, beloved by her people, friend and ally to all like-minded kingdoms. During the day it was beautiful. It would host charity drives, kiss newborn babies - or however these creatures reproduce -, draft treaties, and otherwise play the perfect role as the perfect ruler.
Oh yes, Jal knew better, because the true Princess Bubblegum only emerged at night. It was then that she would shed her facade like a second skin and show the (now empty) world who she truly was. Bubblegum was, a bad person, the greatest open secret in all the land. She claimed complete dominion not only of her land, but the subjects within. After all, she created them, quite literally, in her labyrinth of a laboratory. They were built to her exact specifications, both outside and within.
She relished in her power, sewing life into being using biological materials harvested from her own subjects. Experimenting on them like the pawns they are, mutating and scarring her citizens to fulfill whatever fancy passed her at the time. Terminating any undesirable result, whether or not it lived or felt pain. But the worst part of all to Jal - and he was not alone in this sentiment - was how mindlessly in love with the princess the candy people were. How could they not be? She created them to love her. To serve her. They literal fell over one another to satisfy her sadism, believing her justification that their sacrifices were necessary to better "science". To better them.
The pink monarch had no talons, no claws, no wings, no armor, but she didn't need them, now did she? She was frightfully intelligent, and her skills in manipulation were unrivaled. She could create life itself and bend it to her will in one fell swoop. While other monarchs had to balance delicate economies and ecosystems the candy citizens of the Candy Kingdom would always love their royal. No one within the kingdom or without could possibly hope to change that, and Jal had to admit; as much as he hated the woman she was impressive.
But he had a job to do. A very important, powerful, and wealthy client had tasked to murder her, as brutally and painfully as possible (whether they meant it should be painful for her, him, or both, he was unclear). He was to enter the Kingdom, infiltrate the sugary fortress, locate the princess, and end her. To the uninitiated this would seem easy.
He was not the first to be given this task. The princess had no shortage of enemies, and there was no shortage of rewards offered for her pretty pink head. Still, few took the offer up, because something else lurked in the Kingdom under cover of night. An oppressive, suffocating force that could rend souls in twain and turn bodies inside out. No one could quite agree what it was, but one thing was held as unquestionably true: no demon who entered the Candy Kingdom left the same, if they left at all.
Jal was cautious. He had to be. He was small. So very, very small, perhaps the size of a cat. An actual cat, mind you. Not a candy one. A small, blue, unremarkable humanoid demon. Two black eyes, one flat nose, one plus-shaped mouth, curled, convex yellow and black horns, and a dozen claws, perfect for scaling walls. And towers. But Jal was not alone in this mission. As loathed as he was to share in the bounty he very much desired to go home that morning, and so he had brought two allies, a crew that had successfully worked together maybe a hundred times before.
The first was Mik, a very large, muscular, yellow demon. His four black eyes seemed to reflect light. Unlike Jal, Mik was not nude, for he was dressed in the shell armor of a past consort of Turtle Princess, the spoils from a job well done. His arms terminated in shovel-like claws, used for burrowing below obstacles, while his legs were absurdly squat to provide the front with driving force. It would be these claws that would allow the group access to the kingdom.
The final member of their entourage was Richo, who clutched a beige leather bag containing trinkets for bribing less savory guards. The youngest of the three, Richo was not yet used to invading entire kingdoms with little more than a couple of misfits. He looked quite similar to Jal, though his blue was closer to purple, and was nude as well. This was to accommodate his "wings", which were in actuality little more than a thin membrane that traveled the length of his sides, beginning at the wrist and ending just above the knee. To fly he needed to extend himself to his full length and width, and though he looked quite silly he was also the only one of the group with the ability to fly.
This feature was vital to the plan.
The first stage went off without a hitch. The Gumball Guardians stupidly blew bubbles into the night sky while the three ne'er-do-wells tunnelled beneath the city, Mik at the front digging, Jal consulting the map generously gifted to him by his employer (though how she got it remained a mystery for another day), and Richo at the rear. He had volunteered to "stand watch", but of course the real reason was that he could not use his wings in the small tunnel and felt quite vulnerable and out of place. Jal couldn't blame him; although they had been on many jobs together Richo almost never left the Nightosphere if he could help it, and the surface world was still strange and unnerving to him. But he was a confident assassin. They all were.
The trio breached under what appeared to be a large fruit stand, the sight of the bananas almost costing Richo his lunch. Jal forcefully pulled him away, glanced around to be certain they weren't seen, then leaned into Richo's comically oversized ears.
"You're up."
The younger demon nodded, spread his wings, and took to the sky while Mik and Jal proceeded towards the tower, slowly but confidently. It would be Richo's job to keep an eye on the party from above, because while the candy people themselves were weak simpletons it would be idiotic on their part to ignore the tales of the monster that supposedly made the darkened streets of the Candy Kingdom its home. Richo would keep Mik and Jal safe, alerting them to its presence before they suffered grievous injury. Or death.
That was the plan, anyway. What was that pre-War expression about the plans of mice and men?
The ground-dwelling demons didn't make it out of the market before they were suddenly and overwhelmingly filled with dread. Jal slowly scanned the immediate area, but could find no source. Nothing moved. There were no new sounds. Everything was as it was. Besides, Richo would have raised the alarm if the "monster" were anywhere near them. Meeting Mik's eye, he signalled for them to continue.
It was waiting for them when they cleared the last of the fruit stands.
Jal noticed four things simultaneously.
The first was that the creature really was a monster, even by demon standards. It was lanky, at least three times the height of any of them, and staring, still and silently.
The second was its color, which was less "black" and more "a void entirely without any light produced on a visible spectrum". No physical characteristics could be deduced; aside from the implicit understanding that he was looking at another demon Jal couldn't tell its gender, age, or even what kind it was. He could ascertain that it appeared bipedal, had frighteningly large claws with long, sharp claws. He could also venture that the large, thrashing shadows behind it were really large tendrils, but anything more was only a guess. He tried not to think about the implication of that.
The third thing he noticed was Richo, trapped in the monster's left claw. It was large enough to crush him whole, but its bulk was wrapped around his mouth and neck, silencing him.
The last thing he noticed were the only two contrasts to the void: Red eyes, pin prick in size, boring into Jal's mind. And long, white, needle-sharp teeth stretched into a terrifying grin.
The two stared at each, but Jal did not know for how long. He wanted to find Mik, but hypothesized that if he broke the beast's gaze something terrible would happen. Why he thought that he would never be sure, but it held him petrified. He began to sweat. His opponent remained stoic, still grinning that unsettling grin. Realizing that he was supposed to be the group's leader he took a deep breath, swallowed, then found his voice, trying and failing to keep it steady. Where there was once dread there was no terror unlike he had ever known, and he served under Hunson Abadeer.
"...Greetings, fellow demon. I am Jal. You hold my companion, Richo. We are joined by our friend Mik. I assume your quarrel with us is…"
He blinked, suddenly unsure as to why another demon would attack him in the Candy Kingdom of all places. Had he unwittingly invaded its lair? Brought it harm in a previous mission? Insulted its mother? He was saved by Mik, who he realized, with a jolt, had been standing next to him the entire time. Had he been that focused on the enemy?
"I'm afraid that we're not sure why you're so cross with us. We mean you no offense, and I'm sorry if we've trespassed."
At this the creature finally moved, tilting its head as its focused shifted to the yellow demon, still clutching Richo.
"We have one purpose. We've been hired to remove Princess Bonnibel Bubblegum from power. She is a sociopath and a tyrant, and Ooo would be better suited without her-"
"We'll leave!" It was a squeak at best, but an audible squeak. The void beast looked at its claw, loosening just enough to allow Richo air and speech. "I'm sorry we trespassed, we'll never do it again! Here! I have gold! Lots of really nice things! You can have them!" The winged demon was beginning to panic, thrashing in an attempt to reach his bag and offer every bribe he had. Jal's heart, as evil as any demon's, broke. His friend, going mad with desperation, trying to appeal to the better nature of an impassive beast, visibly delighting in its sadism, grin only widening as its teeth seemed to extend-
His scream was cut short by the void demon. Two elongated fangs pierced Richo's neck. Blood spilled out of the young demon, and with mounting horror Jal realized that the beast was putting enough pressure on his neck to slow the blood flow, but not stop it. It wanted Richo to bleed out slowly. To suffer for whatever transgression they were guilty of. Once again, red eyes met Jal's black ones, daring him to step in and be the leader he claimed he was. Unable to watch, Mik turned and vomited, for while he had seen some messed up stuff in the Nightosphere he had never seen anything like this. He couldn't watch as the monster ended its game by crushing the blue demon's throat with its fang, dropping him unceremoniously, almost without thought.
"RUN!" It took Jal too long to realize that had been him shouting, and by then Mik had already made a break for it. Jal didn't hear the monster move. He didn't try to. He didn't want to focus on it. He didn't want to remember Richo's lifeless corpse, discarded like trash. He didn't want to imagine what would be in store for him if it caught him. "Come on, Jal," he told himself, "Just run. You have to make it out. You have to tell everyone what it is. You know what it is. You have to tell them. Just run. Runrunrunrunrun-"
Mik's body fell out of the air, landing in front of him with a dull 'thud', forcing Jal to come to a dead stop. His hand covered his mouth as he struggled, and failed, to process the sight before him. His turtle armor was missing, and instead lacerations decorated the yellow demon. His feet had been ripped off, only to be shoved into his mouth. His friend's body twitched twice before falling still. He dropped to his knees as the void horror silently landed behind him, dark black bat-like wings folding behind its back. Even without facing it red eyes pierced into his core. He stood, trembling.
"...Why? Why would you do this?"
The monster tilted its head again, slowly turning its gaze to the tallest tower in the tallest castle in the biggest kingdom before returning to him. He felt his heart drop.
"You're… protecting her? Like her pet or something? You're-"
Jal knew only death.
"PRINCESS! PRINCESS!"
Princess Bubblegum sighed, closing her book to place it delicately on her night stand. The sun was barely up and she had hoped to have a few minutes of peace and quiet before she even considered subjecting herself to today's duties and trivialities. Her previous day's trip to Turtle Princess's library had yielded a truly algebraic haul, but evidently that would need to wait because Finn had chosen this moment to come screaming into her private chambers.
"What the flip, Finn?!"
Jake wasn't far behind and answered for his brother as Finn tried to catch his breath. "It's messed up, Princess! There's a demon! And it's like-"
"You have to come see! Someone- a demon's body- outside the gate"
The princess narrowed her eyes. "Show me." Giving Finn barely enough time to avert his gaze she ripped off the royal night gown (though not literally, she was rather fond of it), dressing in her most royal of pink dresses. A classic outfit to be sure, but it seemed appropriate given that this may constitute a threat against her kingdom. After slipping her crown on she allowed Jake to pick her up, grab Finn, and stretch them clear across the kingdom and outside of the gate. What she saw made her pale. Her voice lowered to a whisper. "Finn, go get Marceline." Fortunately for the human, he had the vampire's number on speed dial. Her cave was quite a ways away, after all.
It took almost an hour for the undead woman to make her appearance, dressed in grey shoes, torn blue jeans, and a black and grey striped shirt. She was shielded from the sun by her sunhat and black parasoul and did nothing to mask her yawn, frowning when she saw the other monarch, landing at her side. "What the dip, Bonnie? It's way past my bedtime!" Before she could respond Jake tugged her sleeve, pointing at the spectacle that drew them.
There was Jal, or at least what was left of him. His eyes were missing - gouged or clawed out, neither Finn nor Jake wanted to know. His right arm had been ripped clean off and delicately placed at the exhibition's base, his left attached only by sinew. A horn seemed to be ripped out. At first it seemed his legs had been left undamaged before Bubblegum realized that they were not only switched, but seemed to be sewed back on. He was propped up by a piece of wood, no doubt from a nearby elm. Marceline seemed almost impressed.
"Sorry to wake you up Marcy, but I figured if demons are involved you're the most qualified to provide insight into the situation."
The vampire nodded absently, floating around the body curiously. When she got to its backside she didn't bother to hold in her laugh, covering her hand with her mouth. "Dudes! This wood plank is shoved up straight up this guy's-"
"MARCELINE!" Finn's shout was so high and desperate it squeaked. "You can't say stuff like that with a lady around!" He not-so-subtly motioned to Bubblegum. With a smirk, Marceline landed, giving an exaggerated bow before the apparent gentle dame. "Have I and my distasteful ways offended m'lady's sensibilities?" The princess shot her look, pointedly ignoring her as she resumed the task at hand in examining the body. "Is it anyone you know?" Marceline straightened and shrugged, "Could be a Nightosphere demon? I know some of them have trying their hands at being bounty hunters. Daddy really needs to stop letting them see surface-world movies. Gives 'em ideas."
Finn scowled. "It's right outside the Kingdom! It's like they're trying to threaten you, PB. Show you their power and junk." As he spoke the princess approached the demon's body, examining it as best she could without touching it. After an almost full agonizing minute she pulled back, shaking her head. "I don't think so. Do you see the way it's oriented? The body is facing away from the castle, like a warning. Many pre-Mushroom War buildings would be decorated with statues of monsters facing away as a warning against creatures or people with evil intent."
While Finn and Jake seemed to consider this hypothesis Marceline made a show of loudly yawning, floating on her back as best she could while minding her parasoul. "That sounds very interesting Bonnie, but can I go back to bed now?" After receiving a resounding no, she groaned. "Why not?" The princess sighed, exasperated by the absurdity of the situation.
"Because you're going to help me move the body back to the castle-"
"I'm going to do what now?"
"-While Finn and Jake investigate this situation."
Finn puffed up his chest, smacking it twice with his fist. "We're on it, Peebles! Let's go, Jake!" No sooner had the boy jumped on the dog's back they bolted into the forest, driven by a new challenge that almost certainly had a new villain to slay. Once they were out of earshot Princess Bubblegum turned to the floating royal. "Before we move the body I was hoping to speak to you. I don't want to disturb this scene until we need to, or we risk destroying or losing vital evidence. You're the only demon I know, so I was hoping you would be able to assist." Marceline blinked, not prepared for that line of reasoning. "Uh.. sure, Bon. Your room?" Receiving a curt nod as her response she scooped Bubblegum up, one arm supporting her knees while the other supported her back. She didn't need to be told which room belonged to the candy princess. She knew. On her way she swung by the now-immaculate market, swiping an apple. The princess glared, but said nothing.
Once they reached Bubblegum's bed chamber and she was gently lowered to the ground she set to work soundproofing the room as much as possible. Marceline leisurely drained her apple as she watched her princess work. She had the most adorable look of focus mixed with frustration as she set to work closing all the doors and windows in her rooms. She was a woman on a mission: No one would witness or hear the conversation that was about to occur. Finished, she turned to her vampire, who locked her gaze as she carelessly discarded the now-grey apple on to the floor.
"Marceline, why did you do that?"
"I was done with it."
A frown. "I meant the demon, Marceline."
A smirk. "So did I, Bonnie."
Bonnibel sighed, feeling everyone of her over 800 years as she sat on her bed. Almost immediately she felt the weight of another shift the bed before a pair of strong - albeit cold- arms came from behind her, holding her against the vampire. She sighed again, but this time for a very different reason, relaxing in the embrace.'
"I had make a point, Bon. That's the second assassination I've stopped this month. Some people didn't take the whole Goliad thing well. You've got some obsessed enemies. I had to make sure they got the message."
"Did you have to be so distasteful?"
She could hear the smirk. "Aw, don't be like that. I needed to let the half-demon in me stretch its wings. It was… what was that word you called it? Cathy-tic?"
"Cathartic."
"Yeah, it was that."
The candy princess let her eyes closed as she turned to her side, cuddling against her lover. "And what message did you send them?"
"Oh, just a reminder that I may not act on it or even admit it publicly, but I'm still one of the most powerful beings in Ooo and I will not hesitate to murder literally every would-be hero and assassin in increasingly more creative and barbaric ways."
"Marceline, that's sick." The admonishment didn't reach her tone of voice, which had become more controlled and focused. She stood from the bed, crossing the room to her wardrobe before beginning to remove her dress. The vampire raised an eyebrow. "Not feeling the Most Royal Dress today?" Bonnibel shook her head. "Not feeling clothes today." Though she did slip the nightgown back on before returning to the bed. Seeing her confused expression she smirked. "Come to bed, Marcy. I can't imagine how tired you must be after last night."
Marceline was nothing if not obedient and began removing her shirt. "Three of 'em this time, Bon. You're pretty popular. Couldn't find out who hired them, though. Got a bit caught up in the moment." She let herself be pulled to the bed, barely having enough time to remove her shoes and pants.
Bonnibel almost purred. "I can think of a better moment to be caught up in." Marceline made a noise of sheer surprise when she was roughly pulled on top of her girlfriend. Once she recovered she didn't bother hiding her grin. "What, me brutally murdering my father's subjects makes you hot for me? That's not healthy, Bon." Her response was a scoff, followed by an all-too-gentle kiss. "No, Marcy. I missed my vampire. She goes away for days at a time and returns on a whim. It makes me sad and lonely." She took a strand of inky black hair, tucking it behind the demon's ear, delicately brushing the outer shell to elicit a slight shudder. "But… I know she's still out there, even if I don't see or hear her. She's still there, protecting me. And that makes it all better."
If Marceline's inability to stand was any indication Princess Bonnibel Bubblegum would be sleeping quite soundly that evening. The vampire was sore in places she didn't know she had, making the dressing process quite arduous. Finally victorious, she made sure to tuck her beloved in and provide one final kiss before opening the bedroom window, taking off. Bonnibel wouldn't appreciate her skipping out on the rest of the night, but it was almost daybreak and Marceline had been up almost two days, and it would be even longer if she let herself share her bed. The princess was too damn tempting, and she knew it.
She made it home on autopilot, anticipating an early night. There was just one thing left to do.
After finally entering her home she immediately locked the door, then grabbed a heavy, bloody bag from the side of the door. After a quick peek to make sure its contents were still together she grinned, then turned to her red, horrendously uncomfortable couch. For a brief moment she paused, lovingly caressing its cushions.
What is wrong with this couch?
Ehh, that made my teeth hurt.
Oh yeah. Sorry, I don't ever really sit on there.
Her ministrations suddenly stopped and she delivered a swift and powerful kick to its underside. There was the satisfying sound of wood scraping against wood, signalling that the latch was open. Slowly, Marceline lifted the middle cushion and peered inside the large box that impersonated a couch.
She was greeted with the sight of her treasures. Dozens of them: Horns, mandibles, claws, you name it. Each a piece of a demon she had slain in service of her princess, stolen as trophies. Gleefully, she reached into the bag and added three new ones to her collection: Jal's horn, a large shard of Mik's shell armor, and a brown bag. After rearranging her items to ensure the box would close securely she reassembled her faux couch. As she began to head up her ladder she gazed lazily around her living room, absent-mindedly wondering where the next couch would go.