"I love you."
Betty landed a gentle kiss on me as we teasingly twirled at the seaside. Pedestrians passed, some with jealous expressions, others flushed.
"Oh, I'm so glad it was all a dream..."
"What was?"
"The Lich bomb! You know! I had the crown...and, and Marceline! Marcy! Marcy!" I frantically swivel my head in all directions, "Where are you? I want you to meet Betty!"
"Who?" The voice was slightly garbled, but I took no notice.
"She's a little girl I met. Her parents left her, so I thought she could join our family..."
"Oh, but Simon..."
A slobbery feeling fell splat on my shoulder as a melting human hand slathered gunk onto my jacket. I looked at the gaping hollow in the horrid face melting before my eyes. The ugly mouth contorted into a malicious grin.
"This is all a dream, right?"
"NO!"
I kick off my sleeping cover and force my eyes awake at the sound of my own voice. Shuddering, I take deep breaths as I calm down. I roll over a bit to check on Marcy. She's still asleep. I sigh with relief.
Unable and unwilling to return to the nightmares so soon, I sit by Marcy and stroke her hair. She mumbles slightly and occasionally grimaces. Guess we both got intense night terrors. I look up to the sky, still cloudy but seemingly clear and starless.
I think back to my days in the antiquarian society. We discussed subjects of the most trivial matter. A simple coin from the Southern Americas could easily become a subject of dispute. Despite being of a scientific background, some in our circle did believe in the existence of magic. Until know I would have disregarded the idea as frivolous.
Still, it was the job of that circle that bought me to this thing. I shift my glance nervously to crown, expecting it to pounce any moment. I can't seem to shake the feeling that it grips me, and keeps me safe... No, don't think that way, think of all the things this thing has taken from you, Simon! Your future, your humanity, Betty...
Noticing a smudge, I remove my glasses to clean them. My vision was so clear, yet warbled with the crown's visions. I hastily proceed to wipe them and notice the cracks and scratches on the left lens. I sigh.
A nearby puddle of water was our present privy. I went to relieve myself and saw my reflection. White eyes, sharp teeth, white hair and beard, and skin too pale it was blue. I'm a menace, I thought miserably.
What... What if the crown tries to take Marceline from me too? I remember that horrifying dream of the frosted landscape... It's only too possible that I would lose myself. The crown... wants me to itself... I keep having these dreams, seeing these visions, hearing the voice of the accursed crown...
"...Simon?"
I turn around in shock (Thankfully, I'd zipped my pants). Marcy rubbed her eyes sleepily as she yawned.
"I was scared, when you weren't there."
"Now, now, Marcy. I promised, didn't I?"
A slow whoosh could be heard from all directions. I looked up and I saw it.
The Sky.
Marcy looked up too, and I saw her eyes twinkle at the familiar spots of twinkling starlight dotting the night. The clouds had parted briefly. I glimpsed the Big Dipper.
"Hurry, Marcy! The camera!" She darts swiftly and retrieves my Polaroid.
I take a shot at the crack in the monotonous clouds. The stark contrast made for a brief moment that was so rare and cherished. It was like a sign that things would soon become normal again.
When the clouds returned to their eternal positions, Marcy looked up to me with hopeful eyes.
"We saw stars... Think we'll see the moon?"
I flap the new photo and look at it's development. I smile.
"Yeah. Definitely.
