"Princess? Are you ready?" Peppermint Butler asked, knocking on her door. There was no reply. Worried, the man of candy pushed the chamber door open. "Bonnibel?"

The lump on the large canopy bed caused him alarm. No one had ever had to awaken the princess! There were rumors around the kingdom that she didn't sleep at all. Peppermint Butler knew better. She was responsible and woke herself every morning. He'd put her to bed on several occasions, taking it upon himself to clean up her messes. For her to still be in bed, something must be wrong! He approached the bed and saw a mop of pink hair. "Bonnibel?" He whispered, "Wake up."

"I'm not asleep." She replied coldly.

He bowed his head at the sixteen year old's response. "My lady, pardon my rudeness, but you should be dressed already."

She rolled over to look at him, "It's the anniversary, isn't it?"

He took her hand in his sadly and brushed his fingers over her knuckles, "Afraid so, my dear."

"My dearest princess... Before your father passed, I promised I'd take care of you and assure that you'd grow up to be a respectable lady. Do you know how proud I am of you?"

She felt tears filling her eyes. She'd give anything to hear her father say that to her... "I miss them terribly."

He kissed her hand, "Ten years ago today, your parents gave everything to protect you. They will always be with you, so there is nothing to miss."

Her tears caused him to look away, "I do anyways..."

He stood and patted her hand before placing it on the bed, "It is only to be expected. Your father was my best friend."

She sat up and wiped her tears, "I'm sorry for your loss."

He smiled, "Come, darling. I'll take you to see them." She pulled herself from the bed and looked in the mirror. "I'll return in ten minutes to escort you." With this he was gone.

Bubblegum sat back on the bed. She'd grown up a lot on her own. While the candy people loved her as much as they loved her parents, there was only so much they could do. She fought off the memories of that horrible day. Letting out a shaky sigh, Bubblegum dressed.

She pulled on a floor length gown with white sleeves and a white collar. Behind this she pulled a cloak from the wardrobe. This cloak was all she had that was not red, pink, purple, or white. It had belonged to her father. She pulled her hair into a low braid, but her bangs managed to slip out.

She looked in the mirror and forced a smile. She was a princess and her kingdom loved her. They never needed to see her depressed.

With a fake smile and her cloak folded in her hands, Bubblegum left her chambers.

When in the garden, she found Peppermint Butler on his way in to see to her. "Oh! Princess, it was nice of you to meet me here."

She nodded and looked around. "Where is Lady?"

Peppermint Butler handed her an umbrella, "She was not feeling well, so I insisted that she stay home. I will be your personal escort and I thought a walk through the cool air might do you some good."

She gave another polite nod, "Shall we be off then?" Her voice was laced in sadness.

The two candy people walked in silence, save for the forest life. It seemed that the shadows of the forest caused the sun to simply not exist because Bubblegum had to put her father's cloak around her shoulders to keep warm.

They found the old cemetery easily. It was where most royalty was buried, even those of far away realms such as the Nightosphere. It was the safest place for the dead. They could not be disturbed here -not with guards at every gate. No grave robber ever survived a climb over the tall spires on the fence. She nodded to the guards and they allowed her to pass. "You run on ahead, Bonnibel. I will catch up with you." Peppermint Butler announced.

She nodded and closed her umbrella as she browsed the large mausoleums. She found the one her parents were in towards the center of the cemetary. It was impressive that she could navigate her way there all on her own. She placed her prop on the side of the stone building. She exhaled steadily and heaved open the crypt door. Everything was dark. She reached into a sack that hung on the door and pulled forth a match. With this match she lit the torches on either side of the door and a third one between her parents' sarcophagi.

She sat on her legs beneath the torch and felt her eyes watering. "Mother... Father... I know I shouldn't be here... It was my fault you are even like this... but I missed you so much." Tears slipped from her eyes. "I miss you so much," She repeated, bowing her head. Her knees bent, supporting her arms and hanging head as she wept.

"It will all be alright

No one is to blame

for nothing is or ever was

but hatred, love, and fame."

She looked up, at her mother's resting place, "Mother?"

"How did I end up here?" The voice continued singing. She stood in shock, unsure of how to respond. The beautiful voice sang to her a sweet and morbid melody.

"Where did it all go sour?

One moment I'm alive,

The next I wield this flo'er.

The thorns prick my fingers

but its too dark to see if I bleed.

Will I ever get out of here?"

By now Bubblegum had began looking for the body to this lovely voice, wiping her tears away. "Hello? Whoever you are... Where are you? What are you doing here?"

"Will I ever be free?"

She took the torch from between the graves and waved it around. "Where are you?"

There was a harsh laugh. "Now I've cracked...

The voices speak and whisper things to me...

They say things in the dark

of how I might see once again

They say things in the dark

of how it will never... end."

Bubblegum heard a small sound like someone leaning back against the stone. She looked down at her feet. It was impossible! This was a crypt. No one could possibly be beneath her. "I am here!" She said anyways, "I... I want to help you. You have to tell me where you are."

"I'm in the dark." The voice replied simply. "You know that."

Bubblegum looked around with a question. The voice was definitely coming from beneath her. That meant there had to be something loose, right? Like a stone staircase hidden by the walls?

She searched for a long time, wishing she could simply find whatever she was looking for. The voice had gone away now, remaining silent. After tiring of her search, the torches growing dim from the wind and cold that seeped into the stone room from the open door, she slid down beside her father's tomb. "I don't see you... How do I even know you're there? I could've imagined it." She muttered to herself.

The voice spoke again, "Of course I'm here. You are the one that plagues me."

Bubblegum's eyes widened. She'd crawled all over the floor, hoping to hear signs of the captive in the stone, but it was never so loud as it was where she sat. She leaned the fire down and felt something beneath her fingers. 'It could not be that easy,' she thought.

She tugged a small string and grunted as it refused to budge. She dipped her fingers into the crevice between stone slabs. With all her strength, she pulled it up. It opened after a moment.

A shocked gasp reached her ears. "Hello?" Bubblegum called into the dark casam. There was no reply. She looked around, contemplating her situation. She took her torch in hand and gently lowered herself into the darkness.

"Voice? Are you down here?" She asked. The second it left her lips she felt silly. She waved the flame around until her eyes fell on a large stone pallet. She approached it and stared with a question. This was the type of pallet for newly deceased corpses. Why was there no body?

She walked around it and looked down at the sound of shaky breathing. A gasp shook her. "You are real?" The voice asked, omitting from the pale blue/grey lips of a teenager, about her age.

"Yes... I told you I was. What are you doing down here?" Bubblegum asked, pulling her cloak from around her shoulders to hand to the girl.

The stranger shied away. Her dress was lower cut, leaving her shoulder's mostly bare. It fell to a point between her breasts. The skirt was ripped and dirty. She shivered from her lack of clothing. "Take it." Bubblegum demanded gently.

The girl reached out and took the clothing, standing. She pulled it over her shoulders and sighing in relief. "Why do you do this?" She asked, deep ember eyes down cast. Her hair was wild and shoulder-length. Her face was as dirty as her dress.

"Because you need it... Why are you in here?" She asked again.

"I... I don't know." The stranger announced, looking up to meet the candy girl's eyes.

Bubblegum stepped forward, "I'm Bonnibel Bubblegum... I want to help you."

The stranger scoffed, "I'm obviously dead and my spirit is trapped here. That's the only way this is possible. you can not help me."

Curious, Bubblegum touched the girl's hand. "You seem alive to me. You even have body heat. Please, let me help you."

The girl looked down again and nodded, "Alright... T-thank you."

Bubblegum smiled, loneliness and sadness forgotten. "What's your name?"

There was a pause with obvious thought before the girl looked up at her, "I... I don't remember."


So that's chapter one... Its a little slow. Don't worry, not all of it will be like this. Tell me what you think -great, good, bad, horrid, not worthy of continuation, too early to tell, etc.

As I have said, I'm not a huge fan of this pairings, but I am hoping it will grow on me. It isn't utterly repulsive, but I think I can get used to it.

On another note: Who can't wait for The Bad Little Boy episode of Adventure Time?! *Raises hand* That'd be me! ^_^ Marshall Lee will make his official appearance!

Until next time!