"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Melissa put the history books she had brought here with her in her backpack. Finn, Jake, and Princess Bubblegum were all looking at her uncertainly.

"I know the Ice King has some answers to this dimensions history. I'd like to do some research on my theory."

"Theory?"

"Back in my dimension there is this theory that there are thousands of alternate realities in which different versions of ourselves are supposed to exist. Like, the timelines are similar and yet different in some way. I'm hoping to find some evidence."

Bubblegum nodded her approval.

"It is a noble endeavor. How are you going to convince him to let you look around though?"

"I'll figure something out. If I'm not home before dinner you guys can come looking for me."

Finn and Jake nodded. After that the two escorted her to the Ice Kingdom. She pulled her sweater on while Finn talked to her.

"Are you sure you don't want us to come with you?"

"I think I'll get more information this way. Don't worry."

With that she began the trek into the Ice King's domain. She entered his castle and waited in the doorway.

"Ice King?"

She heard a crash in the kitchen.

"Huh? What? Princess?!"

He pulled the pot off of his head and held it timidly.

"P-princess? Why are you here?"

"I have a favor to ask of you."

"A favor? Could it be…"

He blushed.

"…Whatever you're thinking, it isn't that."

"You didn't want-"

"I came because I believe you have some old papers or books that would be useful to me."

"Oh…I have some old stuff in the past room…"

"May I see it?"

"Wait, what's in this for me?"

"…What do you want?"

"Marriage."

"No."

"A kiss?"

"No."

"A date?"

"Only if it's in the form of a party and Finn and Jake are allowed to come."

"Hmmm…"

"I could just go."

"Ok! Ok! Fine. BUT I have one condition."

"What?"

"It is formal attire."

"…Fine. But I don't own a formal dress…"

"I dooooooooooo!"

"…Fantastic…"

After Ice King picked out a dress for her he finally showed her to the "past room". Once inside she began digging around, really only finding pointless stuff like an old kayak and a rubber band ball.

"Hello? What's this?"

She pulled a thick, bound journal out of an old desk and opened it up. The first page had writing hastily scribbled on it.

I have decided to keep this journal to document the progression of change caused by the crown. I will keep it along with my videos in case I am unable to film more of them after this. –Simon Petrikov

October 15, 1962

After purchasing this crown from an old dock worker in northern Scandinavia, I brought it home and excitedly showed my fiancée Betty, and jokingly put it on my head just for a laugh...and that's when it started...The visions...I fought with them...Shouted at them until I realized it wasn't real—it was the crown! I quickly took it off...and saw my fiancée in front of me...looking at me with such contempt. What had I said? What had I done when I wore this crown? All I know is I never saw Betty again. The most I know is that she returned to the United States.

October 20, 1962

I see the visions always whether or not I wear the crown. They tell me the secrets... the secrets of the ice and snow... that the power of the crown will save me with its frost. I don't yet know what this means. My skin is beginning to turn blue. My body temperature has been lowering at a supernatural rate, to what is now about 30°C. I don't know when it will end... I'm really scared...

October 23, 1962

Due to my predicament I had not been keeping track of current events. I have been living in Sweden for the past year doing research…but today I heard about it. All of the fears and tensions have come to a boil. The US and the Soviet Union have declared nuclear war. I have decided to save newspaper articles to document this war as well. Thankfully they sell English papers here.

Melissa's mouth went dry and she fought back nausea as she began looking through the articles. Her theory was right, the dimensions had a very similar timeline up until a certain point, but it was just different enough to manipulate history. In this case the drastic change was the Cuban Missile Crisis during the Cold War.

In her textbook it said that President Kennedy created a naval blockade around the island, and in the end he and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ended the whole ordeal peacefully. However, based on the article headlines, things didn't go that way here…the titles were like watching a game of Pandemic.

Crisis! Kennedy Bombs Cuba, Soviets In Uproar

War Declared, Troops Deployed

Nuclear Bombs Rain Down, Washington Destroyed

Tragedy! Off-Course Bomb Lands In France, Contact Lost

World War III Has Begun, Countries Scrambling To Find Alliances

Mutagenic Horrors, The US Has Fallen

Contact With Russia Lost

Mutated Creatures Ravage Australia, Declared Most Dangerous War Zone Yet

The Bombs Have Stopped, But The Radiation Has Not

The rest of them seemed to have been torn out for some reason. It picked up again with Simon's writings.

February 12, 1963

I, against my better judgment, have returned to the United States. It is mostly a wasteland now, but I heard stories that there are still living people here. They called me crazy when I left, and I'm starting to believe them. Maybe I should have gone to Iceland with the others…but something in my heart tells me that my Betty is alive. I must search for her.

February 13, 1963

I have entered a deserted town in New Mexico. At least, I think I'm in New Mexico. It is hard to tell, everything is in shambles. I can feel myself slipping away…I should rest here.

February 15, 1963

I know my mind is changing... but I'm already too far gone to know what to do. I want people to know that...if I do things...if I do things that hurt anyone, please...please forgive me. Just watch over me until I can find a way out of this labyrinth in my brain and regain my sanity! And then maybe Betty, my princess...my dear, wonderful princess…maybe you will love me again. Please love me again, Betty!

February 21, 1963

I lost myself for a while. The ruins of this town have completely iced over due to my bout of insanity. I need to keep moving if I want to search for Betty in Nevada. She would have gone there, her parents live there.