Princess Bubblegum opened her eyes. She yawned sleepily, snuggling closer to the grey being beside her, looping one arm around her waist. She felt a cool hand close over her own.

"Morning Bonnie," murmured Marceline, her morning voice slightly croaky. How Princess Bubblegum loved that voice. Marceline chuckled as she felt Princess Bubblegum begin to kiss softly at the nape of her neck. She turned over, pulling the princess into an embrace, one hand tangled in her pink bubblegum hair. The princess felt warm, her head resting in the hollow between Marceline's neck and shoulder. "It's good to be home," she murmured. She chuckled, wondering why she hadn't realised it until now. The Candy Kingdom was home every bit as much as her home in her cave. "What's so funny?" whispered the princess.

"Nothing, I was just thinking," Marceline whispered back. She tugged the princess closer, nuzzling her face into the pink tresses, breathing in deeply. At least breathing still had one use; it let her breathe in the soft sweet scent of her hair. Lashes closed over deep red eyes, ready to sink back into sleep. Her eyes snapped back open as she remembered the past few weeks' events.

"Princess," she said, shaking the bubblegum girl's shoulder gently, "Wake up."

"I am awake, Marceline," she pointed out, turning to face her girlfriend, "What's the matter?"

"We have to call a meeting this afternoon," replied Marceline, "To tell everyone what's happening." Princess Bubblegum immediately snapped out of her early morning haze.

"What is happening?" she asked.

"They're trying to start a war," replied Marceline, "They've got vampires hiding out in the Acutus mountains. They're going to overrun the Candy Kingdom."

"They won't," replied Princess Bubblegum, a hint of steel in her voice, "If it's a war they want, it's a war they shall get."

"But Princess, that's just what they want," protested Marceline, "They know you don't work well in the face of chaos. They know...they know your weaknesses." She told them everything she had heard at the meeting, everything she had seen.

"Marceline, I've got to defend my people," Princess Bubblegum replied defiantly.

"What about defending yourself glob dammit?" said Marceline angrily. She threw off the bedcovers and floated to the other side of the room. She hugged herself tightly as she stood with her back to the Princess. Bonnibel got up and walked across the room to where Marceline was floating. She put her arms around her, resting her head on her back. "Mar-Mar, what other way is there to stop them?" she asked, "From what you tell me there are too many to pick off with raiding parties. And there's certainly no chance of negotiation, right?" Marceline nodded. Princess Bubblegum sighed.

"I don't like the idea of war any more than you do," she said, "But it's the only way. You know I wouldn't suggest war other than as a last resort."

"I know," replied Marceline, resting her hand on the princess' arm, "But I also know it's dangerous."

"I know," murmured Princess Bubblegum. They stood like they for a few minutes. "Come on," said Princess Bubblegum, "Let's go grab some breakfast before the kitchen staff get up. I could make us some pancakes." Marceline sighed and gave in.

"Alright," she said.

Princess Bubblegum padded about the kitchen, getting ingredients out of the cupboard. She was still wearing her night things which consisted of Marceline's rock shirt and a pair of magenta shorts. The only one in the room besides them was Edith. Edith Carambar was René, the head chef's, wife and it was she who was in charge of most of the baking that went on in the kitchen. She was a short caramel bar with ginger curly candyfloss hair. She wore a blue dress decorated with white spots and a white apron.

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" she asked Princess Bubblegum.

"No, we're fine, Edith, thanks for offering though," she replied. She cracked an egg into a bowl and began beating it into the mixture. Marceline casually picked a strawberry from the bowl at her side and drained it of its colour. She made to take another but Bonnibel tapped her hand with the wooden spoon. "Ah ah," she said, "Or you won't have any to go with your pancakes." Marceline pouted, sticking her tongue out at her.

At last the mixture was ready and she poured a measure of it into a frying pan which sat on the stove. The delicious smell of frying pancakes reached them, making their stomachs rumble.

"Mmm, that smells good," remarked Marceline, licking her lips. Princess Bubblegum tossed the pancake up before catching it in the frying pan.

When the pancakes were ready she put them out on a couple of plates with some syrup and strawberries. They carried them into the dining room where they sat down.

"Sorry for that outburst earlier," said Marceline as she ate, "But you do know why I acted like that, right?" she added, her voice stern.

"Yes, I do," replied Bonnibel, "And you're right. War is dangerous."

"You're right too though," admitted Marceline, "I've been thinking, there really isn't another way. But you will be careful, won't you?"

"Of course," replied Bonnibel, "Of course I will."

"I'll fight too," said Marceline, setting down her fork, "I won't let you fight alone." Princess Bubblegum laughed softly.

"We'll be in this together," she smiled, "And we won't be alone either. Finn and Jake will help us, and Lady and Flame Princess." Marceline smiled, nodding.

"It'll be a war those vampires won't soon forget," she said.

* * *

The conference room was silent as they waited for the two monarchs to speak. BMO was sitting on the table, recharging while he waited for them to start. Flame Princess was sitting next to Finn on a sheet of tinfoil. Marceline looked at them all before starting to recount her tale.

"War?" gasped LSP in surprise, "Major drama bomb alert."

"It's a little more serious than that, LSP," explained Princess Bubblegum, "It won't be an easy war to win either. The vampires are very strong and we've never had to deal with any before, let alone this many."

"But there isn't any other way," continued Marceline, "We could flush out the group hiding in the Acutus mountains but that would only trigger more, possibly larger, attacks."

"Finn," said Princess Bubblegum.

"Yes Princess," replied Finn.

"I need you to start training the citizens in swordsmanship," said Princess Bubblegum, "We already have the banana guards and a small army but it's quickly becoming clear that won't be enough.

"내 고향에 가서 우리를 돕기 위하여 종류의 사람을 얻을 것이다," said Lady Rainicorn, a look of determination on her face. Princess Bubblegum nodded.

"Thanks Lady, we'll need all the help we can get," she said. And so the meeting continued. They discussed the vampires' weaknesses and how best they could exploit them.

"We'll meet up again in four days time," concluded Princess Bubblegum, "I'll call a meeting of the Candy People in the meantime and call them to arms. Then I will send out a declaration of war to the vampires. Next time we meet, we'll be at war." BMO gulped nervously, a sweat drop appearing on the side of his LED screen.

* * *

"Bonnie," said Marceline as they stood in Princess Bubblegum's room.

"Yes, Mar-Mar," Princess Bubblegum replied as she rummaged around in a drawer.

"I need to return home to my cave," said Marceline, "Just for tonight," she added quickly when she saw the troubled look on Bonnibel's face, "I just need to get my axe-bass."

"Alright," said Princess Bubblegum, "Just don't stay away too long."

"As if I could ever stay away from you," grinned Marceline, snaking her arms around the princess, brushing her lips softly against her neck. The princess moaned quietly, leaning back against Marceline.

"My princess knows what she likes," purred Marceline, kissing her way down to the princess' collarbones. She stopped, looking up as she heard the curfew siren sound. "I'd better go," she murmured into Princess Bubblegum's neck. She sighed.

"Hurry back," she murmured.

"I'll be back before you know it," replied Marceline.

"That's what you said before," pouted Princess Bubblegum.

"Well this time I promise," said Marceline, kissing Princess Bubblegum before floating over to the window sill. She lingered there a moment, looking back at the princess before flying away from the window. Not long after Marceline had left there came running footsteps outside the princess' bedroom. The doors burst open and Michelle Nougat rushed in, followed by two gumdrop girls from the resistance. Peppermint Butler hurried in behind them, looking angry.

"What is the meaning of this?" he shouted, "You can't just come in here unannounced." Michelle ignored him. "Your majesty," she said, "I spotted the vampire leaving your quarters. Are you alright? Did she hurt you?"

"What? No, she's not our enemy," replied Princess Bubblegum, looking shocked, "She's a friend."

"Your majesty, vampires do not have friends," piped up one of the gumdrop girls.

"Yes, they are cold calculating monsters," added the other, "You saw what they did to some of your citizens."

"Yes but," began Princess Bubblegum but Michelle stopped her.

"No Princess, we cannot take any risks," she said, "We will patrol the perimeter of the castle, armed and at the ready."

"No Michelle, really, that's not necessary," protested Princess Bubblegum.

"Your Majesty, we cannot afford to take any risks," interrupted Michelle, "This vampire could be just using you. Feigning friendship to get closer to you and kill you. This is for your own safety."

"How can you even say that?" burst out Princess Bubblegum, "Marceline's my...my best friend." She didn't think now would be a good time to tell the whole truth but she had to get them to understand she could be trusted.

"How can you be so sure?" replied Michelle, "No, we will take up our posts tonight. No one shall get past our defences." With that she left, followed by the two gumdrop girls. Princess Bubblegum looked after them, aghast. She turned to Peppermint butler.

"Forgive me, princess," he said, "I tried to stop them."

"Peppermint, we've got to stop them," she cried, "Marceline's on our side. She's my...my lover." Peppermint Butler looked momentarily shocked.

"Princess, are you sure?" he uttered in disbelief.

"Yes, I'm sure," replied Princess Bubblegum, sitting down at her dressing table and resting her elbows on the table, putting her face in her hands, "We've been going out for a while. I love her. So much."

"B-But Princess, what about a son and heir," sputtered Peppermint Butler, "And your kingdom. She's hardly a model of discipline." Princess Bubblegum stood up quickly.

"How can you even say that?" she said in a low voice, "Yes, I know that if I stay with Marceline there will be no heir to the throne. And I know she can be rude and uncouth at times and her ways can be a little creepy but I love her all the same. I'm sure I'm not her usual type either but we love each other unconditionally. She sees past my flaws and I see past hers. She- she completes me." With that she fell silent. A tense atmosphere hung between them, broken only by the chatter of servants somewhere down the hallway. "I'll take my leave, Princess," said Peppermint Butler before exiting the room.

Princess Bubblegum sat down at the dressing table, putting a hand to her face and sighing. It was going to be hard to get Peppermint Butler to understand. It would take a long time but she was determined. She wouldn't let anything come between her and the Vampire Queen.