Day 22

"I've literally tried everything!" Marceline said piteously, half-sobbing. "I tried getting other ghosts to kick him out, I even hired a sorcerer! I don't know what to do."

"So I'm your last hope," the Ice King said, a little too theatrically.

"...yes."

"Oh, Marceline, how I've waited for this moment!"

"When I tell you I'm only here because I literally have no other option?"

"When you finally relinquish the princess to me as payment for my help!"

"Hold on," Marceline said, sneering. "That was never part of our deal."

"Fine, be that way." The Ice King said, pouting. "But I won't help you with your ghost problem."

"Ugh!" Marceline moaned, throwing her face into her hands. "Why did I even come here? Why do I even bother living?"

"Hey now, there's no time for silly thoughts like thaaat," the Ice King said sympathetically, hovering over her head.

Marceline didn't reply. Instead, she began to tremble, and the Ice King became more panicked.

"Oohhh...don't cry..." He shot a look to the penguin near his feet. "Gunther! Go get my ghost encyclopedia!"

The book in hand, the Ice King flipped hurriedly through the pages.

"Why is the ghost haunting you?"

Marceline stayed quiet.

"Hmmm?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Is it about...a boy?" Marceline glared, and the Ice King took this as a confirmation. He twinkled his toes and put his head on his hands, imitating an eager teenage girl. "Is he cuuute?"

"What do I need to do to get rid of him?" she demanded.

"Well, no need to yell, yeesh!" He cleared his throat. "Ghosts often linger in Ooo because of...well, actually, we don't know. But most hauntings I've seen have been caused by unresolved feelings."

"I'M A VAMPIRE QUEEN. I don't have feelings!"

"Wow, someone's touchy."

"Ugh. Whatever. I'm out of here."


Day 24

"Bubblegum, I think there's something I need to tell you."

The princess looked up from her thousand page book, one of those charmingly curious looks on her face.

"What is it, Marceline?"

"Well, you see," she began, the exasperation already clear on her face. "You see, there's this ghost that has been following me around for days."

"Really? The ghost of whom?"

"It's not important," Marceline muttered, and ignored the insulted noises the ghost whispered behind her. "The ghost isn't important. What's important is what he's trying to tell me."

"Should I call Jake and Finn?" The princess asked, alarmed.

"No, no, please don't." Marceline sighed. "Only you need to witness this...embarrassment."

Bubblegum frowned but didn't pursue the thought any further, letting her friend explain instead.

"I..." Marceline began, her eyes glued to her feet. "I...I...oh, glob, this is horrible."

"Is it a message from...the other side?" Bubblegum asked worriedly.

"No!" Marceline could barely keep her cool. "I like you, Bubblegum. I mean, I really like you. I think you're cool, and pretty, and so unbelievably intelligent and I...I...I don't know what to do with myself most of the time!"

Bubblegum's mouth formed a little O before Marceline threw her face into her hands once more.


"Now is the point where you thank me."

"Shut up."

"You're the most ungrateful vampire I've ever met."

"I told you to be quiet." Marceline shot an irritated look at Fenster, the ghost floating next to her. "Besides, you have no real reason to haunt me now."

"You can't convince me you're not happy with how things turned out."

"Shut up." Marceline said, but this time, she smiled.