Chapter I, Reunions

She came out from one of the alleys, as the twisted maze eventually ended. Things were looking up for the little vampire, as it finally began to rain. That kind of weather was a blessing those days in the land of Ooo. Refreshing. Soothing. It changed the way the air smelled, if only for a little bit. If only for a brief while. So divine. So blissful. This time however, she simply lacked the time to admire it's wonders. And as she ran amongst the shadows, finally she got to the former palace's courtyard. It looked bit better than the rest of the low city. Tiny bit. Here, people actually walked freely, feeling a bit more protected perhaps. Safety however was quite the illusion, as even this lightened boulevard saw numerous knives driven into someone's back. No one asked questions. No one cared. Nevertheless, it was a place where she could blend in amongst the other gray silhouettes that passed in directions that hardly matter, to a places that no one cared about. But it was for the better. Silence was always more pleasing than meaningless words. As she began to walk towards the palace, a bright pole caught her attention, as numerous posters were glued to it. Most of them were dedicated to the one and only, miraculous ruler of Ooo, Bubblegum herself. Marceline found those quite funny, if a bit ironic. The painting of her pink frame was exaggerated, almost to the point of silliness as someone clearly got the proportions wrong. The vampire knew the pink being well once. Knew every single curve on her body. The thing on the poster? No, that wasn't even remotely similar.

"Our princess cares for you." She began to read out loud one of them. People didn't even noticed that. As a matter of fact, no one even payed attention to her. "Your well being means everything to her. Everyday, the princess weeps after those that were lost." The girl shook her head, disgusted. "Each time when she hears about those touched by the influence of magic, sorrow slides on her cheek. Each time she prays whenever someone hurts her subjects." Marceline began to laugh. Her chuckle was bitter. "You can stop the tears. You can stop her sorrows! Be a good citizen! Report any kind of unregistered magic usage. Report things which are unnatural. Report abnormality. Report abominations. Serve your kingdom. Serve yourself."

The vampire pondered for a bit. Eventually, she snatched one of the posters when no one was around. Probably no one would care about that either way, yet being cautious never was a wrong thing. She just took one last glimpse over the pole itself. Some wanted posters here and there. Something about Huntress Wizard being loose again. Something about Crabbit dance group. No one noticed he was oozing with magic? Figures. Aside from that, the usual things that hardly mattered in the grander scheme of things. The kind of things that never concerned her. Perhaps they should? It was hard to tell. Marceline's road lead elsewhere either way, as on the top of the Candy Palace, in the renewed, metallic tower, lied the one she needed to see. The guards outside were quite the obstacle for some. Ferocious metal beings that electrocuted anyone whom even attempted to come near the main gate. She however was different. A shady creature, some said. One of the best to sneak in and out, without a trail. The guards could be merciless, true, it was she however that had numerous tricks in her sleeve. Numerous cards to play with. The first metallic being didn't even saw her coming, as she quickly snatched it's core from behind, leaving him on the ground with sparks flying from his body. It was only a matter of time when the second one came near, only to be caught in the explosion of his former colleague. That made quite a mess, enough for her to slip inside unnoticed. The walls in those chambers looked sterile clean, such contrast between the things she saw outside each and every day. They smelled way nicer as well. Such wonders one could assume. But somehow, the beggar's stench outside, felt a little bit honest. A little less phoney. Eventually, the white corridor led her to one particular room which looked like a huge office. Or perhaps it was a cell? Hard to tell with all the bars around. In the middle of it all sat a sturdy and crude looking man, filling some paperwork with his shining, metal hand. His blonde hair were trimmed perfectly, so was his beard - not too long, not too short. She could think of many words to describe him. One particular was fitting the most however. Strict.

"Hey Finn."

The man looked up. His eyes seemed to swirl her inside out. She could almost guess the numerous questions that appeared in his thick head. Why is she here. What for. Why she disrupts the peace of this place. Why this, why that. Such a tool.

"Ah. You." He said with a deep voice. "And it's Finnegan."

She slowly came closer. The person before her hardly resembled the playful kid she once knew. The one she went on numerous adventures. The sweet little urchin with a heart of gold. Time corrupts all they say.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." She sat on one of the empty chairs. Judging by the way they were designed, they surely were used for interrogation purposes. "Finn."

"Listen to me. Just because you stay in your little silly world in your little silly head, just because you linger in a single spot for all eternity, doesn't mean we all do." He shook his head. "So don't call me like that. My name is Finnegan. Full name. I'm not fourteen anymore."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." She shrugged as she took of her hood. "So, I need to see the one in charge."
"The princess? Don't be ridiculous." He stood up from behind his desk. "Even If I'd put you on an appointment, lowlifes such as yourself simply cannot just walk in, endanger our ruler's safety."

"Your ruler seems to be quite concerned about the things outside." She playfully leaned on the chair. "She has windows in her tower up there? If not, you should order one for her."

"May I remind you..." He took a deep breath. "...miss Abadeer, that you're talking about the ruler of our splendorous..."

"My ass is more splendorous than this place." She grinned right at him. "And it's pretty skinny. You should ask your ruler. I bet she remembers that."

Part of him wanted to chuckle a bit. She was the same brat he knew and liked once. Times have changed however. Some bare responsibilities, while others pursue their little ventures for goals that hardly matter. For people that hardly matter. So he just shook his head, as he pulled out his sword.

"Miss Abadeer. I'd strongly suggest you contain your... foul language, when speaking about those above you."

"My, my. Little Finny learned how to speak beyond catchphrases." She bend around the chair flirtatiously, as she stroke her body. "But speaking about foul language, my tongue is pretty foul as well. The ways it raveled around Bonnibel's flower once, mmmm..."

"That's enough." This time, it was him who grinned. Guess he waited for that moment for quite some time. "If you want to fight so badly, a fight you will have!"

"Think you can take me, Finny? You're big, that's for sure." She giggled. "But, I still remember the times that you ran away, in search for a new home."

The smile was still on his face as he charged and slashed his sword right at her. She swiftly rolled behind him, as his weapon cut the chair in half. He knew the way she fought, as he turned around almost instantly in hope to impale her on his blade. The girl was one step ahead of him however, dodging right underneath the cold steel. His body may have grown - his moves remained the same. And they began to walk in circles, waging their moves, preparing for attack. They were like two predators, gazing at each other and deep inside, feeling somewhat happy. Both of them chuckled from time to time, like children tangled in their little play. As usual, it was the hotheaded boy who charged first. His pirouette was almost perfect, his strike was heavy. He still lacked in aim however, as the girl moved out of the impact's way with ease. That only encouraged him to unleash his flurry of stabs and blows. And the vampire danced to his movements, laughing every single time. When in motion, both of them were free from thoughts. When they spanned, notions of the world outside disappeared. Their dance on the battlefield was quite thrilling for both of them. Eventually, the man made a mistake, exposing himself on the flank. The girl used that opportunity almost instantly, punching him hard, as she tried to tangle her claws around his neck. Finn learned a thing or two however as well during all those years, as his sword reached her throat when she least expected it. And just as they were meant to check who'll endure more, a sweet voice echoed through the hall.

"Enough!" Said a pink being, emerging from the elevator doors behind them. "Enough..."

She haven't changed at all, at least on the outside. Much like Marceline, she was like a still frame, never tapped on. Her clothes changed slightly however, as now her dress was far more rich and exaggerated. It was still pink however, so that was a sign that not everything has changed, despite the fact that there was still a lot of red on her hands, albeit unseen.

"That's enough. I'll be taking care of her from now."

"But majesty..." He stashed his sword almost instantly. The pale one let go of him as well. "She is a threat to you."

"I will decide who's a threat to me and whom is not." She nodded slightly. "Thank you nevertheless."

"Your majesty."

"And you..." She turned towards the vampire. "Please. Come with me."

The princess turned around almost instantly, as she walked back into the lift. Marceline just sighted and just as she was meant to float towards the pink being, she took a quick glimpse of Finn. Despite his rough face, there were still flames in his tired eyes. She smiled to him and came closer, giving him a small kiss on the cheek. For the first time in thirty years, he saw something beyond a street brat. And she saw that cheerful boy in him. A friend.

"Like old times, eh?" She winked. "Only your chin was a bit less hairy."

"Yeah..." He grunted. "Old times..."

"Still would kick your butt with one hand on my back."

"Wouldn't count on it Marceline..." He paused as his face got serious once again. "...miss Abadeer."

Smile disappeared from her cheeks as well. The girl simply shook her head and went away, this time without looking back. And the elevator started to go up. The princess remained quiet, looking at her former lover. The latter simply gazed through the glassed window, as they slowly got higher and higher. Eventually Bubblegum coughed a couple of times and began.

"So, how are you?"

The vampire raised her eyebrow. Out of all questions, this one just seemed out of place. So bizarre, so inappropriate, so obscure. How are you. What she was meant to say. Fine, thanks, I enjoy the rotting corpses on the streets, I enjoy the smell of sewage, I enjoy looking as the city goes to shit? The girl pressed her hand to the glass, as she saw the pink reflection in it.

"Fine."

"That's... good to hear."

"Yes. It is."

And thus, silence occurred once again, interrupted occasionally by the machines that flew by with their buzzing sounds. The tension between the two could be felt however. It was just a matter of time when one of them will snap. Marceline could remain like that for days, she got used to silence. Did Bonnibel?

"So I must ask..." The pink being finally responded. "...why did you came? We both know you're not here just to see me."

"Simon." She took a deep breath. "He's dead."

"Pardon?"

"Back in the days, I never repeated myself." She tapped on the glass. "What makes you feel I will do it now?"

The princess made a step back. There was fear in her eyes, even if she tried to mask it as hard as she possibly could. But the pale one knew her all to well. All the nights they spent together, all the days they embraced one another. No. She couldn't hide a thing.

"The question is..." The vampire finally turned towards Bonnibel. "What do you know about it."
"Nothing."

"Don't lie to me." She grabbed her arm and pressed hard. "Why him, you knew he was harmless."

"Let go..." Bubblegum said silently. Those words hardly concerned the girl however, as her fingers still were clutched hard on her pink being. That lit something inside of this bright pink being as she finally screamed. "Let go!"

She pushed her aside, right at the thick glass. Now that was the old princess that Marceline once knew and loved. Someone with fire inside of her, someone ferocious, someone ready to act. Shame that so little of that side of her remained.

"I'm... troubled by those news." She coughed, as she fixed her dress. "He was... pardoned in terms of my..."

"Cleanse."

"...peace making. Just like you."

The elevator finally reached the highest floor and as the doors finally opened, the princess nonchalantly waved at her companion to follow. The chambers of this place were wondrous beyond comprehension. Walls seemed to shimmer, as they were made of rare gems and gold. The floor was shining like a mirror, reflecting everything in it's surface. Paintings on the walls sprouted with numerous bright colors and finely crafted furniture was just an icing on the cake. The pink one took her right into the main hall, where the table was already set with all the appetizers the pale girl could possibly imagined. That, and the red wine.

"So you know nothing about it?" She sat down slowly, bit suspicious about all of this. "Nothing at all?"

"No. I have a kingdom to rule and..."

"..you're doing a piss poor job at it."

The princess coughed a couple of times, as she opened one of the bottles and poured the liquor into two glasses. The vampire saw clearly as her pink hands were shaking.

"So what do you want from me?" Bubblegum finally asked, passing her the glass. "Why are you here."
"I want you to help me find whoever did this."

"Another crusade Marceline?" Her finger circled on the glass. "Over what, one old wizard?"

"I could slap you right now on your pink face." She quickly took a sip. "But I'll let that one slide."

And for this brief moment, blows of wind could be heard outside, as the silence occurred yet again. The vampire tapped on the table from time to time, which drove the pink one insane. In the end, she sighted loudly.

"Fine. I will give you my best. For old times sake." She nonchalantly took a shoot to mask her irritation. "You enjoyed your adventures with him. Count that as one more."

"What help will he be if I don't know..."

"...But you know." She raised her finger to silence her. "You should start your search at the Diablerie Hutch."

"The place where you lock magic users, huh?"

"Contain. There is still some opportunities for redemption. In some." She coughed. "But yes, there you will find answers, I would assume. The likes of him will know what happened."

The vampire nodded and almost instantly stood up. No one was stopping her, even if deep inside she craved for some words. Words like stay. Words like I missed you. Like I thought about you every day. Like stay for the night. Nothing like that came however.

"And you?" She gazed in her eyes. "Care to come?"

"I would love to." She smiled vaguely. "But I have a kingdom to take care off."

"You should come down once in a while Bonnie." Marceline narrowed her eyebrows. "To see how a maggot infested body looks like, you know? To see your friend with a hole in his head. In a pool of his own blood. To see rats chewing and gnawing on his skin. Quite the sight Bonnie. Quite the sight."