Bubblegum followed the near invisible trail of Huntress Wizard through twisting trees and over knotted roots. Her heart was pounding and her lungs burning she pushed on. Ducking under a low-hanging branch Bubblegum squinted ahead of her. The Huntress was setting a brutal pace. Even with the automated senses of her night-vision visor, Bubblegum was struggling to find the few signs that Huntress had left in the wake of her passage.

Coming to a halt, Bonnie stared around her in dismay. The trail had all but disappeared. She searched frantically for signs of what direction Huntress had taken, but there was no trace, she was alone in the Great Forest. Her guide was far beyond her augmented eyesight. Trying to calm herself, Bubblegum grimaced. She knew that the Huntress was likely enjoying embarrassing the Princess of the technologically superior Candy Kingdom.

Pushing her sweat-dampened hair behind her eyes, Bonnie attempted to control her rising anger. She took several deep breaths, imagining the frustration leaving her body as she exhaled. If pride got the better of her she'd never win Huntress' trust. She was a guest in the forest realm, and anger would get her nowhere. She had to do things the Huntress' way. Although the etiquette of the Great Forest was different from that of any other place in Ooo, this was a realm in its own right with its own traditions and practices. As a diplomat Bubblegum could appreciate that. The Huntress had proven that she was her equal, and now Bonnie had to do the same.

The Princess set aside her visor and stared deeply into the inky darkness of the forest around her. Technology would get her nowhere in this forest. Slowly, she let her eyes adjust to the moonlight. Huntress wouldn't abandon her here, but neither would she offer any help.

It's just another puzzle, she thought as she engaged the analytical parts of her mind. If the visor was no good, then normal sight would be of no use.

Bubblegum closed her eyes, and listened. Her heart rate began to slow, and without it pounding in her ears she could hear the soft melody of a flute drifted in the breeze like a whisper. Keeping her eyes closed, Bonnie stepped carefully over the fallen brush, following the sound as it guided her to its source. Opening her eyes, Bonnie found herself standing at the edge of a small grove of young oak trees. Huntress Wizard was leaning against one of the trees, a wooden flute at her lips.

With a flourish, Huntress ended her song. She smiled at Bubblegum, setting her instrument aside.

"I was wondering how long it'd take you to get here."

"Is the test over, or do you want me to chase you around the forest some more?" Bubblegum crossed her arms over her chest.

The Wizard shrugged, getting to her feet, and tucking the little flute into her belt.

"I'm trying to teach you about my realm, and you won't learn anything if you keep filtering all the wonders of this place through your machines." Huntress met her eyes gravely. The wind ruffled her long, leaf-like hair, and Bonnie stared at the ground.

"I understand what you're saying, but technology is the only way I can rebuild this world."

"This place doesn't need to be rebuilt. Nature always finds its own way, and will always reclaim what's hers. If you trust your machines too much, what happens when you can't rely on them? Even machines fail sometimes."

"I see." Bubblegum looked around at the grove. It had been so long since she'd been in such a peaceful place. In the tower, there was always work to be done. If she couldn't sleep, she'd summon Tuliad, and they'd work on one of the myriad of problems plaguing her kingdom

Alone in the tower with no-one but Peppermint and Tuliad, she often felt like a machine herself; pushing herself at an inhuman pace to keep up with the demands of running the tower. In the grove, even the thought of Marceline gave her no pain, only a sad wistfulness.

Abruptly, Bonnie sank down beneath the trees. Here, in this place, there were no problems to be solved. Nature found a way to rebuild after the Great Mushroom War. Huntress sat down beside her. The two women shared a comfortable silence. Bonnie felt Huntress's hand slip on top of hers. She tightened her fingers and gripped Huntress's hand.

"Glob, I must seem so strange to you." Bonnie said at last. "Is this how you see all outsiders?"

"You're not like them, Bonnie. You use the machines, you don't let them use you. But not all problems can be solved with machines."

Huntress leaned in, pressing her lips against Bonnie's mouth. Huntress's tongue darted in between her lips, and Bonnie felt a pulse of heart rush through her chest. Reaching up, Bonnie twined her fingers through Huntress's hair, and the two women sank down onto the grass. They lay there, intertwined in the darkness, listening to the sounds of the forest around them.

Huntress kissed Bonnie again before pulling the Princess to her feet.

"I want to show you something."

"What is it?" Bonnie tightened her fingers around Huntress's hand.

"You'll see." Huntress pulled Bonnie through the grove, and deeper into the trees.

The Huntress stood behind her, wrapping an arm around the smaller woman's waist, and holding her hand in the other. Using her body to guide the Princess, Huntress navigated them through the darkness. Bonnie allowed herself to be led through the woods, her body thrilling at Huntress's warmth.

"It's not much farther." Huntress whispered into Bonnie's ear before trailing her lips down Bonnie's neck. The Huntress' hot breath against her ear drew a soft moan from the Princess.

"It's part of this place. Let your other senses compensate for what you can't see."

Bonnie stopped trying see. She could smell the huntress close to her; the scent of her skin mixed with that of the wilds. She could hear creatures moving around them, opening a path for their Queen and her companion. Bonnie tasted the huntress lips against her own. The ranger's mouth was a burst of ice, refreshing like the spring wind flowing around them.

The Princess pressed herself against the strong frame of her lover's form and pulled her closer. The Huntress hands wandered the length of Bonnie's body, but were frustrated by the sturdy armoured suit encasing her. The Wizard broke off the kiss, leaving Bonnie with a minty taste in her mouth.

"That was something else, sweetheart." The Huntress gasped. Bonnibel could feel the hot, ragged breath of Huntress on the nape of her neck. "But we're not there yet. Just a little more."

Together, the two women left the thick canopy into a clearing, and ventured deeper into the heart of the forest. Moonlight had coloured the world a deep shade of blue, and pools of water poured steam into the night sky.

"This is it." The Huntress whispered into Bonnie's ear.

"A hot spring?"

"Yes, people don't ever wonder this far out. The beasts make sure of that." The Huntress nipped at her lover's neck. "We're all alone here."

"Aren't we supposed to be hunting mutants?"

Huntress laughed, a deep, rich sound that made Bonnibel knees tremble.

"Can this come off?" There was a tug at the zipper of Bonnie's armour. Bonnie couldn't help but think of Marceline. It had been so long since they had been together, and much longer since she had a lover before her.

When she spoke, her voice was soft and sure.

"Yes."

Reaching up, Huntress pulled the zipper down, and pulled the armour off the pink Princess. The wind was cool against her skin. The Huntress stepped back and admired the naked form of her lover.

"You're beautiful." The Huntress whispered. Bonnie felt a flush of embarrassment.

"It's not fair, you're still fully dressed." Bonnie pouted, closing the distance between them. The Huntress' clothes phased out of existence.

"H-how'd you do that." Bonnie asked, taking in the tall lean, sinewy form of the Huntress' naked form. An austere lifestyle and constant exercise had sculpted the Huntress like an ancient statue.

"Magic." The Huntress smiled. Bonnie rolled her eyes, but ignored the other woman's teasing.

Playfully, Bonnie waded into the hotspring casting flirty glances at her lover as she went. Her sore muscles easing as she sank into the water.

I'll have to build one of these in the tower, she thought passively, letting her cares flow away with the water.

Huntress was floating through the water behind her, the mist obscuring her body. As she followed, Bonnie could see ripples of light dancing beneath Huntress's skin, as if her very spirit was shining so brightly it would burst from her body.

"The forest claims those who belong to it." Huntress said. Bonnie stared at Huntress in amazement, her eyes fixed on the light dancing on Huntress's skin.

What is Huntress? Is she even corporeal?

Before Bonnie could say anything, Huntress was behind her. The swell of her breasts pressed against Bonnie's back, and she could feel the forest monarch's hot breath on her neck.