It's so dark. The road is so warm, but it's a furnace on the other end.
It's hot... It's dark...
The darkness clears up and I stand at a pier in Russia, with Betty at my side. A toothless, old Scandinavian seafarer holds a bundle in his arms that I take into my hands. The package is all too familiar... It's the CROWN.
"No...NO!"
I hurl the crown as hard as I can off the pier. Only now am I aware it's a dream. Betty melts away as I gape in horror at the blurring of the dreamscape. A glare of some huge shadow looms over my collapsing world as walls suddenly erupt from all directions, blocking my escape.
"No...! I won't let you- You can't take everything away from me!"
Come on, wake up, wake up...
The labyrinth enclosed me thoroughly for the shadow to fully scrutinize on me with it's three red eyes. At my feet, the crown suddenly poked out. On instinct, I lashed it on and felt a strange new power course through me. It was stronger than I remember...
Focusing the power at my fingers, I unleash a blast of freezing cold at the shadow. At everywhere. I didn't want anything else...
The snow settled, and I tried to pry the crown off. But it was stuck, as I feared. As the air became clearer from the snow, I realize with horror what I had just done.
Before me lies the vast land of Earth, covered in frost. And just a few paces in front of me is a small shape frozen over. Trembling, I approach it with dread filling me every step.
Wiping away the snow clustered on the ice, I scream at the sight of Marceline's face encased in ice. I trip trying to back away from the atrocity I committed... My throat can't seem to stop emitting a hollow sound of regretful loneliness.
"No-NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
…
"Simon! St-STOOOPPP!"
He doesn't respond. His eyes are white and he's mumbling under his breath. The crown atop his head glows eerily as he emanates a chilliness, freezing the area around him.
Just a few moments ago, he was just having a fitful sleep. Then he put on the crown in a dreamlike daze and suddenly began screaming nonsense. He just stands there, slowly freezing the earth. I back away from the creeping frost as it slithers over blades of grass.
"Simon! Simon, STOP!"
Something flickers in the air around him as I see his pupils return and his mumbling escalates to loud grunts as he wrestles the crown off his head. It falls to the floor, chipping some ice. He collapses, grasping his cranium in pain and moaning.
"Simon!" I run to him, "Simon! What were you doing?"
"Huh? I...Uh..." He struggles to speak with coherence, "What... What was I..."
He gasps as if in realization, "Marcy! Marcy, are you hurt?"
"N-No... You just froze the ground. What was that anyway?"
He glances at the crown, then stares at the frost in disbelief.
"Did I..."
"You just suddenly put it on and began freezing up the place."
"What? No... I- I thought I had more control... I didn't hurt you did I?"
"No, but, Simon..." I glance at the crown cautiously, "Maybe we should get rid of that..."
"No... That won't do, Marcy..."
"What? Why not?"
He doesn't answer, but stares into his bluish palms. His eyes reflected fear and helplessness. As I try to comfort him, he pushes me away.
"Don't... Don't come near me, Marcy. It's dangerous..."
His words sting. I feel lumps begin forming in my throat. He was in pain...
"Simon..."
"No, Marcy... Just... Just go back to sleep alright? I... I need sometime to think."
Desperate, I grasp the tail of his jacket, "Simon, don't leave me..."
…
I watch her plead as tears slid down her cheeks and I felt raw emotion gnaw away at my heart. So I say what is necessary to stop it:
"Don't worry, I'll be here when you wake up. I'm not going anywhere."
"...Really?" She honestly cannot believe me.
"Yeah. I promise."
"Pinky Promise?"
She extends her pinky in a familiar gesture. I complete the ritual, smiling.
"Yes, Pinky Promise."
That seemed to satisfy her a bit as she smiled a little sadly and curled up with Hambo in her sleeping bag. I sit in the nearby grass that wasn't frozen, a safe distance away.
I look at my hands and remember freezing the world. And Marceline with it. I shudder at the thought and peer over my shoulder to where the glittering headpiece lay on the frozen grass. I remember the labyrinth and the influence this thing has on me.
I don't want to hurt anymore people. This power... takes me unawares, and when it does... I can't fathom the thought of hurting Marcy. I'd grown to love her, attached to her. If I could ever meet Betty again... Marcy would be my daughter...
The best choice would be to leave her. But for who? Leave her her in this forsaken wasteland for who-knows-what? I sigh heavily and run a hand through my white hair. No, I won't leave her. Because I want to save her. So I will have to learn to earn control over this crown. Because I don't want to leave her.
I'm losing myself... and I want to save you...