Disclaimer: I do not own Adventure Time.
A/N: Was working on outlines and so far 4 more chapters not counting this one.
The brisk walk down the halls seemed to take forever, as though the Princess was trekking though a pool of pudding. The one thing on her mind driving her forward was a voice telling her not to look back.
No matter how hard.
If she looked back any motivation would dissolve, like honey in hot milk.
Warm, sweet and irresistible.
Upon finally entering the loud meeting room, the princess was met with concerned citizens all talking at once.
"Alright everyone! What's going on?" She called out in the hopes of settling the crowd.
Instead there was a bombardment of voices, only a few strong enough to make out.
"There have been kidnappings all throughout the kingdom."
"Other Kingdoms have experienced the same thing."
"It's not just ours?"
"What should we do Princess?"
Bubblegum had begun to walk toward the front of the room, "Settle down!" She called out again. They obediently did so, having full faith in their leader. After all, when had she steered them wrong? "We already have a lead."
The voices rose again.
"So you know who did this?"
"Who is it?"
"What do they want?"
Bubblegum held up a hand, "Please, everything will be fine. I'll discuss everything with the Gumball Guardians and Banana Guards" She smiled, a comforting maternal smile, a trick she often used.
Bubblegum knew well what the panic could cause. Besides, it wasn't completely deceitful. She liked to think of it as 'necessary deception'.
The Princess tuned to her Butler, who had loyally found his way to her side. "Peppermint, can you call Finn and Jake."
"Already did." Before the butler could even speak, a voice came from the doorway speaking for him. It was just the heroes she had been looking for. In seconds they were also by her side, "So what's up P-to-the-B?"
Finn seemed almost cheery, probably something about the lack of adventure in his life now days.
Jake, on the other hand, simply looked Bubblegum once over and said nothing.
Pull them aside, the Princess began to inform the brothers, "I think Maja, the sky witch, is up to no good."
"How do you know that?" Finn questioned.
It was a legitimate question and Bubblegum sighed at the reminder of the answer, "Well I may have, sort of, accidentally helped her at being up to no good?"
Finn gasped, "No." He was shocked by this confession.
"Afraid so."
Bubblegum turned to look at Jake, who was still lost in a silent stare.
"What?" The Princess gave him a look. Wondering what he could possibly be staring at her like that for.
"Nothing." The question snapping Jake out of the trance, "What do you need us to do?"
"I have to help the citizens here and look for the reason as to why Maja has taken some of my people. Can you boys track down Maja for me?"
"Didn't Marceline say she did that, like, just a week ago?" Finn thought out loud, "Ya, that time we were passed out. She should remember where it is." He turned to his brother whom he found to be looking back and forth between the Princess and the younger boy.
Jake had been picking up a strange vibe from Bubblegum since this little meeting started. And her words to follow only strengthened his hunch further.
"Finn" The Princess's tone was like caramel covered onions. Obviously harsh, yet hidden under a layer of sweet coating, "What you choose to do with the Vampire Queen is your call. I have faith in you to get the job done."
"Math!"
Oh boy, Jake though. Last he saw the Vampire Queen she was headed to talk to the now irate princess.
What the heck happened within the last 7 hours?
Marceline had ended up rummaging though Bubblegum's things, finding a suitable covering from the sun. Well, if your idea of suitable was a cupcake shaped umbrella then it was suitable.
On the journey back home her emotions had a grand time of changing from relieved, mad and heartbroken. Every time she would become comfortable with one it left and was replaced by another.
Entering the cave's wonderful shadows, she callously threw the umbrella at the mouth. She couldn't stand for it to be in her possession longer than necessary.
The house was dark inside and as soon as Marceline took one step inside everything seemed wrong.
On instinct her eyes scanned the room, expertly spotting a dark silhouette. Luckily, whoever it was seemed to be more interested in the contents of the refrigerator then a sneak attack, giving her the advantage.
With a flick of a switch the figure jumped, turning around to reveal a face full of what was once red velvet cake. It had long since become drained of its color and now looked more like plain unappetizing vanilla.
"Oh!" Said Mr. Crabbit, "Hey there- GAaa!"
Before he knew what was happening Marceline attacked, pinning the intruder down ready to strike. "I'm really not in the mood for this!"
"Owowow, Not the legs I need those."
Though he did not struggle against her, Marceline began to vent out her anger on the beast anyway.
"Then why don't you fight me back, huh?"
"Cuz, I don't want to fight you." The helpless creature explained.
"Ha!" Marceline eased up a bit, "Nice try."
"No really. I'm on your side, really." Eyeing him suspiciously, the Queen decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Explain." She ordered.
"I just couldn't sit by and not do anything as that evil witch stomps on my dream anymore."
"You're dream?" Marceline was interested, moving back to give the intruder space, "And what's that?"
"A dancer." The Crabbit said seriously, not missing a beat.
This brought a smile to the Vampires face. She had no clue how to respond. The thought of this creature dancing came way out of left field, "You're kidding?"
"No. Don't judge, I'm a good dancer."
Marceline held up her hand, "Not judging, I'm sure you are." But the smile continued. "That was a good talk. But you know I'm still going to have to teach you a lesion for trespassing and all that." She explain.
"Oh right…" The Crabbit seemed willing to accept his fate, when he suddenly remembered why he had come in the first place, "But there's no time just now. I'm going to have to get back to Maja."
"I knew you were a trader!"
Marceline was about to re-attack, but the Crabbit ran and hid behind the kitchen table, "No, listen to me. She's brought back the Lich King."
"She what?!"
"Yes, but he doesn't have a physical body…yet. She needs to collect a set of temporary vessels and then do some kind of spell to fuse them and create a deathless body for him to use." The Crabbit took a breath. There had been a lot to explain at once.
Marceline's eyes went wide, "So she kidnapped candy citizens?"
"Not only candy citizens, from all over." The Crabbit waved his hands around him, as though it would better get the point across.
Over the centuries Marceline had become very wise. Maybe not in terms of science and technical junk, but wise none the less. "What made you finally decide to leave… well, help us at least?" It was a valid question.
"Well…" The Crabbit thought. It seemed as though his words were causing him great embarrassment to say, "After fighting with you, I know how strong you are. You may be able to help me, my ticket to freedom. But hey, the Queen of Vampires has better things to do then help little old me. After I found out about Maja's little stunt she pulled on you last night. I figured we might have a common goal." He looked at Marceline to gauge her reaction, "Maybe?"
His words seemed truthful and plausible. The explanation was reasonable enough that Marceline decided at that moment to accept that he was most likely telling the truth.
The Vampire turned her back on the trader-turned-ally, rummaging through a cupboard, "The trick she played had nothing to do with me. It was Bonn- Princess Bubblegum she was tricking. Maja was just stupid to let her guard down when I showed up."
The Crabbit watch the Vampire move about with interest, "I won't deny the stupid part." He joked. It felt nice to talk to someone like this, "But really, in this case, she could have never foreseen that you-" The Crabbit paused with the suddenly realization, "You don't know, do you? She didn't tell you."
"Tell me what?" Marceline turned around, with a box in her hand.
The Crabbit would have thought the witch would rub it in the Vampire's face. It seemed like something she would do. Take feelings unrecognized and torment her victim with it. Did she have something planned? He was torn, "It's not my place to say."
Marceline tried to guess, "It's about the Princess and who she thought she was kissing, isn't it?"
"Why do you even want to know so badly?" The Crabbit knew but invited the Vampire to think about it.
"Look I- it doesn't even matter anymore. How did we even get on this topic?" Marceline walked to the Crabbit, extending the box in her hands, "This is for you."
"What is it?" The Crabbit took the box, eyeing the Vampire the entire time, trying to judge whether or not this was some kind of trap.
"The rest of the cake you stuck your face in!" Marceline scolded him with a smile on her face, "You can take the rest, if you want."
The Crabbit's eyes seemed to light up. He had no clue what to say. Had he just made … a friend?
With a new found motivation the crow/rabbit hybrid got serious, "Alright. Here's my plan."
Finn and Jake decided after a little brotherly meeting to employ Marceline's help. When they were close to the cave, Finn thought he saw something leave, "Jake, did you see that little freaky flying bunny?"
"Finn, bro, I think you need to calm down for a bit. I know you haven't been adventuring for a while, but this is-"
"No I saw it!" The teen defended as they entered the mouth of the cave. That was before he got distracted, "Oh hey, that looks like Bubblegum's umbrella."
Finn picked it up and put it into his backpack. He would return it to her later. Jake walked off ahead toward the door. Just as he was about the knock it flew open.
"Oh, sup guys" Marceline landed in the doorway. She was sporting her highly covering day wear.
Jake inquired, "Can you help us get into Maja's house?"
"I'll do you one better and go for you." Marceline looked as the younger brother, 'danced' up to meet them. His little 'nervous dance' did not stop when he reached the two.
Sees this, Marceline chuckled, "You know where it is." She pointed in the house and moved to the side so Finn could rush to the facilities.
After turning back to the door, she realized Jake was staring at her. "What?" His intense gaze was unnerving to her.
Jake stated of very serious, "Not sure how to put this and I want answers missy…. Bubblegum's moody and smells like you." Before taking an unexpected turn, "Did you get her pregnant?"
It was a joke meant to lighten the mood. Unfortunately it fell flat.
"No. But she pretty much hates me."
"Well that explains moody." Jake considered, "I thought you guys were friends."
"You don't have to tell me that pup." Marceline shrugged.
Seeing the Vampire's drain, Jake did not speak of the topic anymore. Instead he let the Vampire fill the silence.
"She'll always been like this."
Finn came back, "Alright, we all ready to go?"
Marceline shook her head, "You guys go back to Bubblegum and help her do her thing. I have a personal score to settle with Maja."
Jake looked a bit worried by this, "I think you should be the one to go back. Tell us where to find Maja and we can meet you there, if you still decide to go."
"She said she didn't want to see me, so I'm not going back. I'm going to the Witch's house." Marceline explained, making her stand on the matter perfectly clear.
Finn was just hearing this for the first time, "What did you do?
"I didn't do anything. She was the one who-" Marceline began to rage before catching herself, taking a deep unnecessary breath to calm down, "Look, you guys adventure all the time and frankly I haven't been able to be badass lately. As a queen of vampires, you can kind of see that my reputation needs this. So I'm going, we good?"
"Can you at least tell us your plan?" Jake tried.
Finn jumped in, "Ya, don't hog it all to yourself, let us in on it."
And Marceline was happy to do so. It was comforting to know they had her back, whether or not she needed.
After she was done, Jake was the first to comment, "That seems sort of reckless."
Marceline rolled her eyes, "What has becoming a father done to your spirit for danger and excitement, man."
"Hey, I can tell you some stories. Jake Junior is wild, a chip off the old block. It's dangerous trying to keep up with them all."
They shared a laugh.
"No. Really." Jake added. Finn nodded in agreement.
Marceline mentally reminded herself to ask for details later. But for now, "Alright, we all have work to do." She clapped her hands together. "Take care on the way to the CandyKingdom."
Finn calls out after the Vampire as she floated away, "Be careful."
"Never~" Marceline waved, not looking at them.
When she was gone, Finn turned to Jake, nudging him with his elbow, "Dude, I told you I saw a flying bunny."
Jake looked up at his brother through narrowed eyes.
"Just sayin'."
A/N: I just got done with a massive paper/presentation in one of my classes. It feels so good to have that weight off. That is until midterms in two weeks :P
Since it's coming to the end, I will try and update maybe twice a week.