Hey guys, I finally was able to write another chapter! Hope you like it! :)


The Mushroom War had been going on for years. Everybody had known that. But the atomic bombs were being used halfway across the world, so nobody had felt any need to panic. It wasn't affecting us. We were all so very wrong. When had they decided to kill everyone? Who had pressed the final button, allowed the attack to happen? Why would they have wanted to cause the apocalypse?

So many questions and no one to answer them. I will have to find out for myself. Marceline doesn't understand my concerns on the matter. She runs through the ruins like they were a playground. Her laughter is so out of place in this new world. It's filled with nothing but terror and depression, yet she finds some way to keep her chin up. Maybe I need to learn from her, if only I didn't have my own problems to deal with.

The crown seems to be growing stronger, much stronger than I am. I need it like it is some kind of drug and I am an addict, hopelessly lost without it. It takes all of my power to keep from putting it on my head. The feel of it as I run my fingers over its edges is terrifying. The metal is freezing, and the voices, the visions, everything that ails me grows overpowering. I can hear it whispering to me, promising immortality and power. Oh God how I want to give in.


"Simon, look at what I found!"

Simon looked up, quickly sliding his journal into his pocket and pretending to be watching the food on the fire like he was supposed to be doing.

"What is it Marcy?"

He had looked away from her for only a few seconds, and she had already found some way to run off without him noticing. Slowly Marceline walked into view, Hambo tucked underneath her arm. She was dragging something large behind her back.

Goodness, what has she picked up this time? Simon thought to himself, slightly worried.

Marceline had the eccentric talent of collecting the strangest things. She was constantly picking up the skulls of small animals, which Simon had thrown out when she wasn't paying attention. Just the other night she had found a large rat and had attempted to convince Simon to let her keep it as a pet so that it wouldn't be lonely. Simon had gotten his way only after promising Marceline left and right that they would find a good home for the rat. He had thrown the filthy thing into the nearest building without giving it a second thought, though it had felt wrong to lie to Marceline.

"A guitar!" Marceline said happily, carrying the instrument into their campsite and laying it down next to Simon's backpack.

"Would you look at that," Simon said, actually interested in Marceline's findings for once.

The guitar was in near perfect condition. The strings were a bit old looking, and there was a long scratch mark in the bottom of the wood like someone had used it for a shield, but other than that, it was fine.

"If you watch the food for a little bit, I can tune it," Simon said, standing up and handing the wooden spoon he was holding to Marceline. "Just be careful not to burn yourself."

"I'll be fine," she said, playfully sticking her tongue out at him and kneeling down next to the fire.

Simon sat on a fallen telephone pole and picked up the guitar, resting it on his knees.

"Do you play?" Marceline asked, poking the beans that were cooking in a pot and wrinkling her nose slightly.

"A little," Simon said. Memories of playing for Betty flew into his mind. He quickly focused his thoughts upon something else. Anything other than Betty. He strummed a few chords, shaking his head as an unpleasant sound echoed out of the instrument. "This will take a lot of tuning."

"That's okay," Marceline said. "I really want to hear you play it though. Can you sing?"

Simon laughed and shook his head.

"I'm not one for singing. Not at all." Betty was always the one to sing, he thought sadly.

Marceline giggled. "Yeah, you don't look like it."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Simon said, his eyebrows raised in question.

"You're a nerd. Nerds don't sing."

"I'm not a nerd," Simon muttered, fingers running over the guitar strings.

"You have a backpack full of textbooks." Marceline said plainly, pointing to his bag with the wooden spoon. "And huge round glasses," she said, leaning over to him and pulling his cracked blue glasses off his face.

"Marceline, give those back right now," Simon said, his vision blurred.

Marceline grinned and backed out of Simon's reach, putting the glasses on her nose.

"I'm Simon Petrikov, and I'm the world's biggest nerd. I read books all the time and I can't sing!" she said, dancing around.

"Marcy!" Simon said, trying not to laugh with her. He dropped the guitar onto the ground and lunged forward, snatching Marceline off her feet and pulling her into his arms. She laughed gleefully as he took his glasses back and rested them on the bridge of his nose. "Okay, so I am a nerd. Happy?"

Marceline nodded and wrapped her arms around Simon's neck.

"You're nothing but trouble, you know that right?" Simon said, grinning.

"Yeah, but you love me for it!"

"That's true," he said, placing Marceline back on her feet and taking the spoon from her. He reached down to the fire and grabbed the pot of food.

"Hey, how are you doing that? Marceline asked as he turned away from the fire and walked over to his backpack.

"Doing what?" Simon said, rummaging through the bag with his empty hand, looking for his supply of red objects for Marceline.

"Holding the pot by the metal part and not burning yourself."

Simon quickly turned his head, staring at his hand. The protective grip on the handle had fallen off without him noticing, and he was holding it by the burning metal. Simon felt the now familiar hum of the crown by his side and sighed. He quickly put the pot on the ground and pulled out a large red t-shirt.

"Catch," he said, throwing the shirt at Marceline.

"Finally! I'm starving!" Marceline said, collapsing onto the ground.

"I'd never think I'd hear someone say that while holding a sweaty t-shirt," Simon said, shaking his head and sitting next to her.

"You can't say anything, eating that disgusting mush." She pointed at the pot.

"It's just beans Marceline, they're not disgusting. Though, after eating them for seven straight days in a row, I might have to agree with you."

Marceline grinned and placed the edge of the shirt in her mouth, quickly draining it of its color.

"Will you play for me after we eat?" Marceline asked, throwing the now useless gray shirt aside and pointing at the guitar.

Simon nodded, swallowing a mouthful of hot food.

"Why are you so interested in the guitar?" he asked.

"I've always wanted to play!" Marceline said eagerly. "My mom was going to let me take lessons in a few years," she said, expression changing into a frown. "But now…"

"I can teach you," Simon said, turning the subject back onto something happy.

"Would you really?" Marceline asked, smiling again. "Thank you!" she shouted happily, wrapping her arms around him.

Simon pushed the pot of food aside and picked up the guitar. He wasn't feeling that hungry at the moment anyway. Marceline rested her head against his arm as he finished tuning it. Simon smiled to himself. This was one of the few times that he could actually spend some time with Marceline and not have to worry about anything. Even the crown was quiet; its visions seemed to fade into the background.

"You're so cool Simon. You're a better dad to me then my own dad was." Marceline said suddenly, lazily tracing a pattern into the dirt with her fingers.

Simon frowned slightly, still fumbling with the guitar. "Come on now, your dad couldn't have been that bad. Not if he raised a sweet little girl like you."

"Yeah he was. He was a jerk." Marceline said indifferently, as though it didn't matter to her. "He was almost never home, and when he was he would tease me all the time. And it's thanks to him that I eat red stuff." She opened her mouth and pointed to one of her fangs.

"Was he a…a demon?"

"Yeah," Marceline said unhappily. "He's the ruler of the nightosphere."

"The nightosphere?" Simon had no idea what that was, but it didn't sound like anything good.

"Huge underworld filled with demons. I bet that's where he is right now. He ran out on me and my mom…he left us to die."

"What does he look like? I'll know to keep an eye out for him."

"Uh…he always wears a business suit," Marceline said, beginning to count out on her fingers. "I don't think I've ever seen him without one on. He's got blue skin like yours, and red slits in his eyes for pupils." She put up two more fingers. "And he's got fangs like mine, but he doesn't eat the color red."

"Well what does he eat, blood?" Simon asked, worried.

"No, he eats souls," Marceline said, a little too calm for Simon's liking.

"Souls?" Simon's hand flew up to grip his throat. He swallowed roughly. "That's terrible."

"Yeah…he sucked the soul of my old dog when it peed on the carpet. He's got a really bad temper sometimes." Marceline ran her fingers along Hambo's fur.

"He does sound like a...jerk." Simon could think of many other words that he would like to use instead.

"See? And you didn't believe me. Are you done tuning yet?"

"Wh-oh, yeah." Simon had been unnecessarily fiddling with the knobs of the guitar for the last few minutes. He pulled the guitar up to his chest. "Now, it's been a while since I've played, so it might not be perfect."

"You'll be fine," Marceline said reassuringly.

Simon bit his lip, wracking his mind for a song to play. He hadn't practiced since long before his trip to Scandinavia. There had been so much work planning it, and not enough room to pack it. And afterwards…well, playing guitar hadn't been the first thing on his mind.

There had been a song that Betty had loved to sing, often when she didn't think anybody was listening in. He could practically hear her voice. His fingers seemed to move of their own accord.

Come along with me,

To a town beside the sea.

We can wander through the forest

And do so as we please.

Simon smiled as the silent night air was filled with the smooth sound of the guitar and the gentle crackle of the fire. Marceline was smiling, the fire throwing shadows across her pale face. Her arms were wrapped tightly around Hambo, whose bright red color had begun to fade.

Come along with me

To a cliff under a tree

Where we'll gaze upon the water,

As an everlasting dream.

Marceline was humming softly, holding Hambo out in front of her and pretending to make him dance along to the music. Simon was half-way absorbed in his memories, remember how he and Betty used to dance together. Neither of them had been the best dancers, but spending time together and laughing at each other had made it wonderful.

"All of my affections,

I'll give them all to you.

I'll be here for you always,

and always be for you."

Simon blushed as he realized he had sung the last few lines aloud. Marceline stared at him before grinning and wrapping her arms around him. Simon slowly finished the song.

"Come along with me, to a town beside the sea, we can wander through the forest, and do so as we please. Living so merrily."

It was silent as the last few chords drifted off into the night sky.

"I was wrong about your singing. It's wonderful."

Simon smiled sadly, lost in an array of memories.

"Come on Marcy, it's late. You should get to sleep."

Marceline frowned. "But you said you were going to teach me how to play!"

"Not now. In the morning, I promise. Here, take this." Simon set down the guitar so he could pull a thin grey blanket and a small pillow out of his bag.

Marceline sighed, but didn't argue as she laid the pillow on the ground and curled herself up in the blanket.

"'Night Simon."

"Good night Marceline."

Simon picked a stick off the ground and poked at the fire, watching the sparks drift into the air, listening as Marceline's breathing slowed as she drifted asleep.

I'll be here for you always,

And always be for you.

He had sung that line with Betty so many months ago. It had felt like a promise to her that he had broken. His eyes drifted to Marceline then back to the fire. There was no way he was going to leave her. He was going to protect her, even if it killed him. He wasn't going to let anyone else down, ever again.


A/N: Thank you so much for reading this chapter, I apologize for not posting anything in the last few months, but I've been very busy with writing a novel and dealing with schoolwork and family.

The song above is the Island Song, or the end credits from Adventure Time. I know it's not the whole song, but I didn't really feel like using all of it.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, it was pretty fun to write.

As always, please review!