The Vampire Queen leaned against the shadowy doorway that lead into the courtyard. She lifted a candy cigarette to her mouth and held it between her lips. Marceline cupped the front of it and lit the end.
"Those are bad for you y'know."
Marceline turned around, the Princess walked up to her. The Vampire watched as she leaned against the opposite side of the door frame.
"Well, I'm dead so, y'know." Marceline took a very long drag, slightly to make a point but more so because she was extremely stressed out.
Bubblegum crossed her arms. "I found you not even twenty-four hours ago, where did you get a pack of cigs from?"
"A lady in your staff." The dark haired girl flicked the end of the filter to ash it. It had been the head chef actually. She recognized Marceline. She was the one that was always making red dishes for the Queen when she hung around. Marceline had tried to explain what was going on to the best of her ability (even though she was still at a loss). When she was finished the lady was silent for a few moments before she dug into her pocket and handed her a pack. The lady said nothing but Marceline was grateful for the gift.
Bubblegum watched as smoke curled around the other girls mouth when she exhaled. The Princess noted the lost expression on Marceline's face.
Timidly, Bubblegum broke the silence. "You are invited to dinner tonight." The other girl meet her eyes when she spoke. "It's at eight if you're interested."
The Queen gave a half smile, "I'll be there." Silence grew over them again. Marceline watched the smoke leave her mouth as her thoughts raced. 15 years, asleep for 15 years. She still couldn't believe it.
"Are you alright?" Bubblegum's voice brought her back to the present moment.
"I'm not sure to be honest."
Bubblegum frowned, "Well, I know that this might take some time to resolve, but dinner may help."
Marceline looked at her while she spoke then looked at the space on the ground between them. "Thank you for your hospitality. You are very kind."
Bubblegum laughed, "It's the least I can do. I mean you should probably be under medical supervision for a few days. I'm not even sure how you survived that long without nutrition."
"Black magic."
"Ha. I don't believe in magic."
Marceline bit her tongue. Normally, she would respond with, "yeah, Bonnie, I know," but she remembered what Peppermint had told her. "You don't believe in magic?"
"Magic is science. Science that isn't well explained. Wizards use science without knowing how it works and call it magic."
"I see." Marceline smiled, Bonnibel was still endearing as ever.
Bubblegum chewed on her lip for a moment before speaking again. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Is it hard to keep friends? Being a vampire and all," her voice was gentle.
"Sometimes," Marceline dropped the butt of her cigarette and smothered it with the ball of her sole. "But sometimes you find people who live as long as you do and it makes up for it."
"That's sweet."
"Only if you choose wisely."
Bubblegum pressed her lips into a hard line, "what do you-"
"Princess!"
Both girls turned to see a royal servant walk up to them. "Forgive me, my Lady, your presence is requested in the Grand Hall. Finn and Jake are here."
xXx
Peppermint Butler walked up to the Candy Tavern that sat in the back alleys of the kingdom. The outside of it was rundown, it's candy walls cracked, and a window shattered. Loud noises came from inside the building.
His shoulders were draped in a maroon cape and a hat was pulled down to his brow. Peppermint shoved his hands into his pocket, took a breath and reminded himself to act casual. He walked through the swinging doors and scanned the scene quickly. The small man sat down at the bar and lifted a finger to flag down the waiter.
"Root-beer float please." He spoke quietly to the man and he obliged, giving him a tall mug. Peppermint Butler took a gulp of his drink as a figure in a dark cloak sat next to him.
"Thank you for meeting with me." Peppermint spoke but did not turn to the figure.
"One please."
Peppermint watched as the bartender poured chocolate syrup into a shot glass and slid it to the Huntress Wizard.
"Has the news reached past the walls yet?"
Huntress Wizard threw back the syrup and slammed the glass onto the bar. "If you pull the Vampire Queen from her grave, there will be talk and it will spread."
The Butler frowned and continued to watch the bubbles pop from the top of his drink.
"There was a time when the Queen could walk freely between both worlds. But time has healed no wounds and the Nightosphere wants both worlds still."
Peppermint took another sip of root-beer, "I saw her the night she was meant to go back to the Nightosphere. The Vampire Queen was to be wedded to the leader of a group of Overworld rebels. To solidify the relationship between the Dark Wizards and the Nightosphere's Royalty. They had a plan to throw Ooo into chaos. They would unleash hell onto the Overworld and claim it as their own."
"You are correct." The Wizard flagged the waiter for another shot. She spoke as he poured, "Many people knew the Queen was not in love with the rebel leader. Say what you will about morals. Why else would she hide the amulet?"
"The Nightosphere Amulet." Peppermint echoed, thinking deeply as he tried to remember the events of the day. Hudson Abadeer had given Marceline the amulet a few days prior to the arranged ceremony. She was to give it to Ash. Let him become filled with hatred and power lust.
Peppermint sneered, like that boy needed more of that.
"The person in control of the amulet is in control of the Underworld. Without it, there is not ruler and no chance to expand the chaos out of the confinement of the other dimension." Marceline had told them her father was getting tired of ruling only the Nightosphere's dimension. He had called it 'remodeling and expansion'.
"Where is it now?" The candy man asked.
"No one but the Queen knows."
"And the rebel leader?"
"Ash?"
The name made Peppermint scoff.
"Sorry but anymore information is going to cost you more, and upfront."
The Butler huffed and slid a small bag of gold in front of her. She tucked it into her cloak and continued to speak.
"He has been living in Wizard City, hanging low, waiting."
"What is he waiting for?" Peppermint took a swig of his drink.
"Yesterday." For the first time during their conversation Huntress Wizard meet eyes with him.
"I don't understand."
"When the Queen wakes up, the amulet is no longer lost."
Peppermint's brow furrowed, "why did he put her to sleep in the first place then?"
Huntress Wizard chuckled and shook her head. "Some will say the Queen declined the throne because of not being truly chaotic evil. I believe there was different reason."
"She didn't love him." Peppermint was putting the pieces together now. Marceline's actions where starting to make sense.
The night she went to visit her father was when it all started. She had come back to the castle after he gave her the talisman. Marceline said he was going to marry her off 'one way or another'. Obviously Bubblegum was not happy, and Peppermint could still remember the look on the Queen's face as she clutched the amulet in silence. Marceline was gone for most of the next day. When she returned she claimed that she had meet with her father. That she refused. Bubblegum was overjoyed and they spent the next few hours together. But at some point in the night, Marceline was no where to be found and after an hour or two the Princess assumed the worst. "We thought she changed her mind." Peppermint spoke with a frown hanging on his lips.
"Ash had been watching the Queen's every movement. He knew what she held dear to her. Apparently the rumors were true."
"So what you're telling me is that Ash would rather wait fifteen years for the amulet and Marceline to resurface just to get revenge on her for not loving him."
"The revenge plot isn't over if the whispers are right." The Wizard took her shot and stood.
Peppermint pulled out a medium size bag of gold coins out of his pocket and tossed it over. "Thank you for the information."
"Thank you for the gold," she said as she walked out of the tavern.