Jake walked slowly through the Candy Forest, moonlight streaming through the trees. Returning from another quiet dinner with his wife, Lady Rainicorn, heading for the hill where he had left Finn earlier that day. Jake's worry over Finn's worsening condition had wrung his nerves dry, as Finn's obsession had consumed what was left of the friendly child Jake once knew. On some days, Finn would lighten up, and they could almost have fun together again. He reached the hill, and stopped dead in his tracks. Finn was gone, leaving behind only his backpack. Jake looked and smelled all around, but could find no sign of where his friend had gone. He looked down at the pack, and noticed a note pinned to it.
"Dear Jake,
Tomorrow, I will have my answers.
Finn."
Jake's heart sank. He knew exactly where Finn was heading. He looked out over the Candy Kingdom, to the mountain of ice and snow, hovering like a vulture over the quiet, dark land. Jake imagined he could see a tiny blue figure climbing the slopes, golden sword in hand. He ran, knowing he had to tell her. While he ran, his thoughts went to his best friend. "I hope you find what you're looking for buddy." He turned his head away. "We all want you back."
Dead silence. Marceline stared at this apparition that had appeared before her. The more she looked, however, the more she saw how different Simon and this young man was. Simon's eyes were feverish and befuddled, while this frozen prince's eyes were hard and cruel, colder than the walls around them. She saw herself in those eyes, frozen, studied, like a bug encased in ice.
The eyes refocused, locking with her own. The Vampire Queen, immune to winter's touch, felt a chill crawl up her spine. The sword twitched, and the voice spoke again,"I will not ask again. Who are you?" Marceline snapped out of her delusion, as if some spell had lifted. She leapt up, teeth bared, batting aside the blade, grabbing the Prince by the throat, and slamming him into the wall, causing the sword to drop from his limp hand to the ground. "Where is Simon?!" she yelled, the full power of her demonic ancestry radiating off her. The Prince grunted, and grabbed her wrist with his now-free hand. Marceline screamed, as ice froze around her hand, causing her to loosen her grip, and fall to her knees. She looked up, and noticed the Prince frozen to her, and on one knee.
He was staring intensely at her, and asked, "How do you know that name?" She answered,"My name is Marceline, Simon's friend. Where is he? Who are you?" The Prince reached into his coat with his free, left hand, and pulled out a small book, which he began to flip through with his fingers. Marceline noticed Friends and Enemies on the cover, written in rounded, wobbly handwriting. The Prince's grunt brought her out of focus, "Marceline the Vampire Queen. Friend and ally to me and therefore you. Has been my friend for over one thousand years. Possess powerful demonic abilities, plays bass guitar, etc. etc. Note: Tell her, I'm sorry for forgetting." The book closed with a small pap.
Marceline was dumbstruck. Simon had obviously penned those words, not the insane Ice King he had become. What had happened since she had seen him? The ice melted off her wrist, and the Prince stood, offering his hand to help her up. She took it, and rose, noticing for the first time the Crown upon his head. Still in shock, staring in confusion, she could only muster a stuttered question, "W-w-who are you?" The Prince stared back, complacent as a glacier."The Ice King, Simon, was my mentor, my caretaker." He said, "He provided for me everything I ever needed, and instructed me to wait here for you or one other's arrival. He was my friend, my predecessor..." he paused, and looked away, as if hiding something "and my father..."