Chapter Thirteen: Lake, Cave
"Really, Marceline? Is it necessary we move to the lake?" Bonnie complains.
"Yeah, we need to keep moving"
"Are we even going in the right direction?"
"Are you questioning my navigational skills?" Marceline retorts.
"Yep, I most definitely am"
"We follow the setting sun"
"You could just say we're going west" Bonnie groans.
"Yeah but which sounds more romantic?" Marceline smirks and pats the side of Schwabl.
Bonnie snorts but says nothing. They reach the lake and Schwabl gallops towards the water. The horse stomps around in the water. The splashes of the water soak his mane and he flings his head from side to side.
Marceline chuckles and begins to strip down to her trousers and breast binding and jumps into the water. Bonnie looks from afar and smiles at the happy moment the girl-horse duo are experiencing. Marceline shoves against Schwabl. He bends his head to nip at Marceline but Marceline drops down into the water and swims away. Schwabl follows Marceline around in circles, trying to bite her playfully.
Marceline stands up and waves to Bonnie "C'mon!"
Bonnie shakes her head no.
"Don't be such a baby come play with meee" Marceline purrs.
With a shake of her head and a sigh, Bonnie takes off her shirt and pants and wades into the water.
Marceline smiles playfully and splashes at the princess.
Bonnie gasps as her strawberry blonde hair becomes soaked. Her jaw is dropped and she puts her hands on her hips.
"Marceline Betty Aba-" Bonnie begins to scold Marceline for splashing her but is cut off by another splash to the face.
Marceline snickers.
"That's it!" Bonnie shrieks and splashes Marceline back.
"Looks like the Princess can have some fun!" Marceline howls with laughter.
Marceline is rewarded with a splash of clear blue water at her face. They continue the water fight. Marceline loses her balance while attempting to splash Bonnie and she falls into the clear blue water. She jumps back up, gasping for air.
Bonnie giggles "Looks like the majestic knight can lose her balance"
"You saw nothing" Marceline growls playfully and pushes Bonnie. She lands on her butt and she smiles.
"Let me help you up" Marceline offers her hand.
Bonnie takes it but pulls Marceline into the water.
"You sly little bit-" Marceline cackles but is interrupted by a splash to the face.
"Care to finish that sentence, Marceline?" Bonnie says sarcastically.
Marceline stands up and shakes her head, splattering water.
"You're the dog here not me" Bonnie purrs.
Marceline empties the water out of her ear by jerking her head to the side.
"I'll take that as a compliment"
Schwabl is grazing the long grass on the edge of the water.
Marceline helps Bonnie up from the water and they walk onto the sand. Marceline falls down to her butt and pulls her knees to her chest. Bonnie sits down next to her, putting her arms behind her back and crossing her legs.
Marceline turns her head to look at Bonnie "I can't believe I found you"
Bonnie shudders and leans against Marceline.
"I'm glad you did, though"
"What just happened out there in the lake...it reminded me so much when we were kids" Marceline sighs.
"You hated me when we were kids!" Bonnie exclaims.
"Uh, Princess, last I remember you hated me first"
"You're the one who spilt glue over my head!"
Marceline groans "Ugh I only did that because I liked you"
"Marceline that was like fifteen years ago"
"And? I've liked you for that long"
Bonnie's mouth tugs into a small smile. "You're so cute"
"That's not what I am aiming for but...thanks"
"You're welcome, you butt"
"So…" Marceline trails off.
"Hmm?"
"Are we going to pretend that whole kissing thing didn't happen yesterday?" Marceline asks.
Bonnie pauses, her eyebrows knitting together, her mouth set in a slight frown.
"I don't know, Marceline"
"What do you mean you don't know?" Marceline responds defensively, a flare of anger.
"Don't be like this, please"
Marceline growls and weaves her hands through her hair. She pulls her bangs over her eyes. Her hair has grown since the wedding and her longest strands of hair reaches her chin.
"This whole...situation...Is really hard for me to cope with!" Bonnie explains.
"Situation? You're the one who kissed me..." Marceline says quietly.
"I can't explain how I'm feeling! It's infuriating. I feel and I can't explain it! I don't know how! I don't know what it is! I've never felt this. And I don't even know how the kingdom would react to us" Bonnibel makes a motion with her hands.
"Are you kidding me? They love us! Why would they care?" Marceline demands.
"Marceline you know that's not how it works!" Bonnie responds.
"But it is!"
"No! How am I supposed to rule a kingdom when everyone is more interested in my love life then me actually running the kingdom!?"
"Finn could rule in your stead!" Marceline exclaims.
"Marceline!" Bonnie raises her voice "Responsibility demands sacrifice!"
"You know what you could do for once? Put your own needs infront of someone else's. You deserve to be happy!" Marceline says loudly.
"Well what if I don't know what makes me happy?"
"Figure it out!"
"Marceline I don't know what my emotions are right now. I'm so confused"
"Glip blop it, Bonnie! You don't need scientific evidence to explain your feelings you just feel them!"
Bonnie snarls and turns away. "It would be so much easier if you didn't love me"
Marceline's mouth opens in shock. "I...I can't help how I feel"
Bonnie blinks with surprise "That… was out of line. I'm sorry Marceline"
"You aren't as perfect as you thought, guess you can't judge me anymore" Marceline mutters.
"I never said you had to be perfect!" Bonnie exclaims.
Marceline spits at the ground.
"I'm sorry" Bonnie repeats.
Marceline's hopes are crushed and she sinks her head in defeat. "It's fine"
Marceline stands up and brushes off. She puts her shirt on and grabs her bow and arrows.
"I'm going to go find food"
"Don't...leave...please" Bonnie stutters.
"I'll be back" Marceline says sharply.
"Okay" Bonnie says.
"Stay by Schwabl"
Marceline knew that she didn't need to go hunting or foraging. But she did know that she needed a place to cry in silence, alone, away from her heartache. She stumbles through the forest with tears in her eyes.
She stumbles through the forest until she comes across a wide opening. A mouth of a cave is gaping. Large bushes cover the entrance. Marceline kicks the bushes out of the way. Marceline walks into it and sits on the ground. It's cold floor sucks the warmth out of Marceline.
She puts her hands on her face. Her body heaves with a silent sob.
She lays down on the ground and stares the caves ceiling. A thousand thoughts race through her mind but one sticks out from the rest.
"Why won't she love me?" Marceline asks the ceiling. Her stomach twists painfully and she puts her hand over her chest. Her heart aches with a dull throb.
She dozes off until she hears footsteps outside of the cave.
Marceline snaps up and kneels with one leg from the ground and draws her bow.
"Marceline?" A voice calls.
Marceline resists the urge to ignore her.
"Go away Bonnie" She groans.
"Are you in the cave?"
"...No"
"I'm going in. Schwabl is here too" Marceline lowers her bow.
"What part of no don't you understand?"
Bonnie pushes her way through the bushes to find a disgruntled Marceline. Schwabl snorts and follows her. Bonnie unbuckles the saddlebags and sets them on the cave floor.
"Have you been crying?" Bonnie asks.
"No there's something stuck in my eye"
"Don't lie to me, Marcy I know you better than that"
Marceline sighs.
"You were gone for a long time"
"I was gone for like fifteen minutes at the most Bonnie"
"Marcy" Bonnie repeats. "It's almost dark outside"
"Oh"
"I really am sorry about what I said before"
"Like I said. It's fine"
Bonnibel sits next to Marceline as Schwabl settles down near the edge of the cave.
Bonnie grabs Marceline's hand.
"I'm so scared Marceline, for the both of us. For my kingdom"
"It's my kingdom too, Bonnie. Remember that."
"I...was sorting through...What I've been feeling?"
"And?"
"Marceline...I think I love you"
Marceline's eyes widen with surprise. She turns and cups Bonnie's face and presses a kiss against her forehead.
"I loved you first" She murmurs.