CHAPTER 7
Jake wakes up the next morning and heads back to the viewscreen. Prismo is there waiting.
"Morning, Jake! Ready to pick up where we left off?" Prismo says.
"Yeah, I'm wondering what's going to happen."
"Let's find out."
The viewscreen turns on and Jake and Prismo watch.
Finn and Jake arrive home and tell what happen.
"I don't get it." Princess Bubblegum says. "I thought he was a wizard, not a vampire." She turns to Marceline and asks "You didn't turn him, did you?"
"Of course not. But I did introduce him to other vampires, so maybe he talked one of them into turning him, or he came across a spell that allowed him to become one."
"Regardless of how it happened, he's more dangerous now. Since we know who we're dealing with, we can be better prepared. When he does decide to strike again, we'll be ready." Finn says.
Time jumps again a few months. Jake sees Marceline being rushed to the hospital to give birth. Finn goes in the delivery room to be with her as everyone else stays in the waiting room.
After what seems like an eternity, Finn walks out with a smile on his face.
"Well?" Jake hears himself asking.
"It's a girl."
Everyone congratulates him.
Soon after, everyone goes to Marceline's room to see the baby. They see Marceline cradling the baby with Finn.
"Hi, Everyone!" Marceline says. "This is our beautiful baby girl."
Princess Bubblegum comes closer to take a look. The baby is pale skinned and has pointy ears like Marceline.
"She's so cute! What's her name?" Princess Bubblegum asks.
"Bonnibel"
Princess Bubblegum is elated.
"After me?"
Marceline smiles and nods. "Hope you don't mind."
"Of course not! This is so sweet! Thank you!"
Princess Bubblegum walks over to Marceline.
"May I hold her?" Princess Bubblegum asks.
"Sure."
Princess Bubblegum gently picks up her namesake and cradles her in her arms.
"There's something me and Finn would like to ask of you." Marceline tells Princess Bubblegum.
"What's that?"
"Would you be her godmother?"
Tears of joy streams down Princess Bubblegum's face.
"Of course I will! I'll be honored."
Jake watches himself stretch over to look at the baby.
"My niece is beautiful, Finn! She's going to be as pretty as her mother."
"Thanks, Jake." Finn responds.
A few days later, Marceline and the baby are released from the hospital. Princess Bubblegum has some of her soldiers give her an armed escort home in case Ash tries to attack again. Luckily, nothing happens and they make it home safe and sound.
The following week, there is a royal celebration of the birth of Bonnibel. Princess Bubblegum issues a decree making the child an official princess of the Candy Kingdom. After the celebration ends, everyone goes back to Finn and Marceline's home for more celebrating.
They find the place ransacked. Furniture smashed and broken, curtains rent asunder, and food cluttering the kitchen floor.
"Everyone stay back." Finn says. "I'm going to check it out to make sure it's safe."
After checking out the house and seeing the coast was clear, he heads back outside.
"Okay, it looks like everything's okay."
Everyone heads inside.
Marceline begins to talk to Finn.
"That's a relief. For a minute there, I thought-"
Marceline is suddenly struck in the arm by a stake.
Marceline drops Bonnibel, and Jake sees himself quickly stretching out to catch her.
"MARCIE!" Finn screams.
Finn rushes to Marceline's side and pulls out the stake. Thank goodness it's not fatal, Finn thought to himself.
Everyone rushes out and looks on in horror. Then everyone hears a maniacal laugh from above. Everyone looks up and sees Ash hovering in the night sky.
"Aww, did I miss?" Ash says tauntingly.
"You… You…. You bastard." Finn says while covering Marceline's body to protect her.
"Watch your language. There's children present." Ash says while pointing to the baby.
Finn starts to get up. "It's time to finish this. Let's fight." Finn says with a sneer.
"Oh, we could. But then she'll die."
"Who?"
"Who do you think?"
Finn looks over at his child.
"If you ever try to put your hand on my daughter-"
"I'm not talking about her."
Finn looks over at Marceline. It looks like she's gotten weaker.
"MARCIE!" Finn screams. He turns back to Ash and asks, "What did you do to her?"
"Poisoned her, of course. That stake is made of Dogwood. Potentially fatal to a vampire if he or she is struck with it anywhere. But there is a cure."
"What is it?"
"Anything with the color red. I made sure to remove all traces of it from your home. Good luck in trying to find any. So, you can chase after me, or care for your sweetie. The choice is yours."
With that, Ash flies off.
Finn rushes over to Marceline, holding her hand, trying to think of what to do to save her.
Jake turns away from the viewscreen for a moment, then turns back and watches on, knowing Finn will set things right.
