Her tiny blue hands plucked the petals from the flower before her. "Oh ooh la la la." She sang happily, picking another small flower from the grass. "Mommy will like these." She announced, standing to pick many more with petals on them.
She looked up and squinted at the sun with a huff, "Its so hot out!"
With this she set off in the direction of the small town her mother worked in. It was not unusual for her to show up in her mother's antique shop. Some of the other ladies even gave her candy when she went in. Besides, it wasn't like this town was dangerous. It wasn't all too big and noisy. It was a small everybody-knows-everybody type community. Lately, everyone had been scared of the big metal birds that were flying over head, but she saw nothing wrong with it. She knew men came into the town and took families away -but to where she didn't know. All she knew was something was happening and that it hadn't effected her yet.
She skipped down the hill and hummed to herself, short hair flailing in tune with her steps. She was careful to make sure her ears werre covered by her hair. Mommy said they were different and that people wouldn't like them too much if they were seen. She had noticed that her skin color was different from that of the other people, but she liked it. The rest of the world settled for their peach colored skin, but her own was a lovely blueish grey color like Mommy.
It had often created wonder in the child of why she had pointy teeth and pointy ears, but her mother didn't. Mommy had explained it as "The only way I could have you."
There were loud noises and her expression fell as the town came into view. The smell of smoke invaded her nostrils as she looked up at the flaming buildings. She looked around with wide eyes as she tried to find a familiar face.
Any face at all would have been nice, but these weren't nice times.
She quickly sped over to Mommy's shop, hopping over a crashed bicycle. "Mommy!" She shouted, looking up at the broken glass of the door. She pushed it open with all her strength, moving the light wire shelf that had fallen. The bells on the door had fallen to the floor upon her forced entry. "Mommy?" She asked, worry seeping through her.
She looked around the front of the shop, coming up short. She reached the back of the building before she heard anything. There was a loud crash and a grunt coming from behind a closed door. "Please, don't do this!" Mommy's voice shouted.
"Why would I spare you? Your kind no longer exist here. I have devoured them all and grown all the more stronger. Your little curse can't save you now." A raspy voice replied.
She shivered from the sound of the voice. Who was in there with Mommy? What was wrong? "I can give you power... I can give you whatever you want! Just please, don't do this... Please."
Tiny hands grasped the door knob and twisted it, opening the door. "Enough!" The angry voice shouted. There was another loud noise as the door swung completely open. The large mass of black towered over Mommy. Her face twisted in terror and tears streamed down her cheeks as the mass turned to look at the child. Ember eyes wide, the child stumbled back at the sight of the skull that stared her down. While the entity had no eyes, she could tell it had a hungry gaze. "It seems I missed one." It rasped.
She gasped and stepped back. Mommy stood up and grabbed something, a chair it seemed, and slammed it down on the skull. "Marceline, run!" She shouted.
Young Marceline ran at top speed, squealing as her mother fought the creature.
"Marceline!" She gasped, springing forward in the bed. Her breathing was ragged as if she had ran a mile. The pink girl, Bonnibel, stood next to her, looking down worriedly. She calmed herself and took in the scene of the candy infirmary. An uneasy feeling settled in her stomach.
"Is everything alright?" A large chunk of candy wearing a nurse's outfit asked.
Wide ember eyes settled on the nurse. "What the Hell is that?" She shouted, scooting back on the bed.
Bubblegum nodded and thanked the nurse, but explained that everything was fine. "What does that mean?" She asked calmly, sitting back in the chair that she'd pulled beside the bed.
"What? What the hell?" Bubblegum nodded curiously. The teen scratched her head, "Uh... Its a phrase. I didn't mean to curse like that. It kind of slipped."
The pink girl's eyes widened, "You cursed the nurse?!"
"No! I meant -Just... Words like that are considered 'cursing'. Its not the actual act of cursing someone. My apologies, Bonnibel." She rubbed her hand before leaning back to recline on the bed. She looked over, "Marceline."
Bubblegum's brow furrowed, "What?"
The girl smiled a little, "My name is Marceline."
"Well, Marceline, do you remember anything else? Where are your parents? Who put you in the tomb? Can you tell me anything about yourself?" Bubblegum asked, straitening her posture.
Marceline closed her eyes, trying to remember. "My Mom is... gone. Daddy? I don't know where Daddy is. I remember he threw me a party for my birthday, but I don't remember past our dance."
"Well, how old are you?"
Marceline thought for a moment, "I don't know how long I was in the dark, but Daddy threw me a party for my five hundredth birthday. That was after the Great Mushroom War."
"You were there during the war?!" Bubblegum shouted.
Marceline frowned and rolled over, "Yeah... Its how I lost my Mom."
Biting her lip, Bubblegum held back. She had so many questions about this Marceline's past, but she didn't want to pry. That was rude. "How do you feel?" She asked.
Marceline patted her stomach, "Dirty and hungry."
"Princess!" A new voice yelled as the sound of footsteps entering the room caught Marceline's attention. "I heard our guest was awake and I wanted to know if you needed anything."
"Draw a bath for Marceline, here. She needs new clothing and bring her something to eat, please, Peppermint Bulter." She announced. A large peice of peppermint approached the bed and smiled at the tired teen. "Right away, Princess."
He fled after that, leaving Marceline with many questions. "You're a princess? Of what?"
"I'm Princess Bubblegum of the Candy Kingdom."
Marceline nodded as best she could from her position, "I like Bonnibel better."
Bubblegum giggled as two candy people came in, "Come along, Miss! Your bath will be ready by the time we get to it!"
Marcline was pulled out of the room with a worried expression.
This one's a little shorter. Sorry about that! I hope not to disappoint anyone in the upcoming, or this one, chapters. Don't forget to review!