"Bonnibel!"
Marceline called out, looking for her favorite candy person. Today was the day of the young royal's birthday, and there was a whole celebration waiting. Well, not yet. But there would be soonish and her mother was freaking out about her being ready. It had been a little over a year since Marceline first became a part of this kingdom, and today was the princess' fifteenth birthday. Not that the princess ever seemed to care about the anniversary of her birth. In her words, she described it as 'the celebration of my creation, a supposed day about me and I have to suffer through more formalities.' Marceline chuckled at the memory of a half composed princess attempting to vent. Luckily, Marceline knew just where to find the princess at times like this. Slinking through the darkness like only she could, Marceline practically slithered up the ladder that lead to the attic, a place no 'respectable' royal would ever be caught. It was dark and creepy, except for some small beams of light, and not even the servants liked to go up there to clean. The perfect hiding spot for a princess. With a grin, Marceline quietly opened the hatch and snuck right on in.
Bonnibel Bubblegum was born on this day fifteen years ago, and she didn't care one bit for the ceremony that followed. She didn't particularly like throwing parties for herself. It didn't feel right. Especially not for something as trivial as a birth. Everybody who existed right now had been birthed, so why is hers so special to need a celebration? It wasn't a monumental accomplishment in her opinion. So she decided she would hide until absolutely necessary, prepare in ten minutes in her usual finery, and arrive no better or worse than she appeared the day before. Hopefully it would inspire her parents to stop throwing these balls. After all, she knew the real purpose behind them. They would invite every prince and princess in the land, but mostly every prince. They wanted her to start thinking about marriage. It wasn't fair! They didn't make Berry suffer this, and he would be king! It was always about little Bubblegum getting a man. Pfft! The annoyed teen princess sat curled in what is probably the brightest corner in the entire attic and read "Demons of the Nightosphere" for probably the fifteenth hundredth time. Ever since Marceline showed up, she got an almost unnatural obsession with the concept of demons, where they came from, what they were like, what they ate, how they repopulated. Unfortunately, this book answered none of those questions. Bonnibel sighed and put the book down. Something felt...off. A sense of fear suddenly arising out of nowhere. Ears straining for the slightest sound. She could barely make out what almost sounded like scurrying. Small things being moved. The tiniest of sounds here and there with no particular direction. She couldn't stay here. Bonnibel quickly got up and rushed through empty boxes, outdated decorations, old furniture, and all the other crap of the palace to reach the hatch. She could see it, the small bits of light that came in from the edges around the hatch. Her freedom. Just as she was about to reach it, something jumped out and roared. Bubblegum shrieked and fell on her rump, arms up to defend her self, heart beating a million miles per minute.
"Glob, Bonnie, you're so easy to scare. I don't even have to work that hard." Marceline laughed an evil sounding laugh.
"Marceline, you butt!" Bonnie gave a few half hearted hits to the demon before giving her a tight hug. "Scared me half to death."
"Awww, cheer up Bon-Bon. Your mom's looking for you, by the way." The princess pouted very un-royal like before crossing her arms and letting out a huff.
"I don't get the point of these balls. I didn't do anything to deserve it. Balls are for heroes, foreign relations, and significant achievements. Not for trying to ship your daughter off to some prince!" Marceline's ears perked at that last bit of the rant. Surface royals were weird. Their relationships were so fragile that they had to seal things with marriage. In the three great underworlds, there were no such things. They were all coexistent and their relations preset.
"Don't worry about it, Bonnie. They can only ship you away if you find one, right? Well, then if you don't that's fine and if you do it's better, right?" Marceline grinned, pulling the princess over to the hatch. "Besides, wouldn't want to make our favorite candy folks go sour."
The Queen prepped the princess magnificently, with her hair put up allowing curls to fall down elegantly. Her dress was simple, but effective. A dark pink dress with a light pink sash around her waste. She was being lead down the staircase by Berry, as was custom. He had to look his best today as well, with a pure white suit, a very light purple dress shirt underneath, and a pink tie. They entered the ballroom to a round of applause and a chorus of well-wishers to the princess. Among the attendance was LSP in her purple dress (though how she kept it on, or why it was needed was beyond PB's logical mind). With her was Wildberry Princess, Hot Dog Princess, and Turtle Princess all gossiping about something. In another corner stood Warrior Princess (the only girl wearing a pants suit and wearing a decorative sword) talking to what appeared to be a higher noble from the Warrior Nation. He had green skin, long blue hair, and antlers. Strange, noted, ignored. The princess hadn't seen who she wanted to see. Berry gave his farewell and went to join Warrior Prince, Emerald Prince, Flame Prince, Muscle Prince, Ocean Prince, and Skeleton Prince. They high fived and greeted like normal teenagers. Some dared a glance, some a smile, all repayed with the grimace of the very uninterested princess. Charles sauntered out of the center of a circle of the older nobles and greeted his daughter warmly before he announced the official beginning of the party. The music began (lead by Mrs. Martens as conductor), the servants with food trays released, and the dancing commenced. First Bonnibel danced with her father, then her brother, followed by a series of Berry's friends. Twirling, spinning, slow dancing, faster pace. There wasn't one she was spared today. If she were a different kind of princess this would be the time of her life. If she were a different kind of person she wouldn't be in this situation at all. After about five dances, she sat to rest. She took a sip of her punch and dared a glance into the darker corners. In that darkness she could very briefly see a set of blood red eyes. A pair she felt she had seen somewhere before. A tap on her shoulder pulled her from her thoughts and made her jump in surprise.
"Geez, Bonnie, twice in a row. I must be terrifying."
Bonnibel sighed at the familiar voice and turned to greet her friend. The sight she beheld took her breath away. The young demon was simply clothed in a slimming black dress with a slit down the side. She had her hair pinned up and while not looking like royalty was still simply stunning. The younger princess was almost gaping, before an entity appeared behind the Nightosphere native. From the darkness a pair of pale hands grabbed the shoulders of Marceline, followed by a pair of lips very close to a pointed ear.
"My, my Marceline. And here your father said you never dress up for anything."A deep masculine voice hummed. Marceline spun around and punched the air. The Vampire King had taken a step back, knowing the violent temper that Marceline was prone to.
"Hey no need to be violent. I'm just here to have a good time just like everyone else."
The Vampire King had a peculiar way of speaking. Every word was enunciated. Overly so, it seemed. And the key words were practically hissed. He talked slowly and careful as if he were a tightrope walker, tip toeing his way across a thin line with a smile knowing very well falling would mean death. Yet this was not a man who feared death, but rather a slippery creature that reminded Princess Bubblegum of a snake. The Vampire King was a tall slender man with golden blond hair whose tips barely brushed his shoulders. His blood red eyes glowed with satisfaction with a self satisfied smirk across his pale, pale face. He wore a red dress shirt with a black tail coat, black dress pants, and black leather shoes. From his pocket you could see the silver chain of a pocket watch, a piece of technology long forgotten. Marceline wrenched from the side of the Vampire King and stood next to Bonnibel. He extended his hand in what would normally be a charming gesture on anyone else.
"Would either of you ladies care to dance? It is a party after all." Marceline and Bonnibel looked at each other before Marceline took his hand and they began their dance. They both danced gracefully with the feet of well versed experts who've had many years to perfect the art. The other royalty would stop and stare, clearing the ball room so that the evil entities could show them what dancing was really like in a haunting waltz. Bubblegum could hear the whispers of the other royalty in the room who thought they were so careful in sharing.
"It seems like the Vampire King has found his queen."
