In a graveyard, a crowd of ghosts are partying to a ghost band playing electronic music, accompanied by a ghoulish theremin. "Techno again? Can't we have alt rock for once?" one ghost told his companion. "Or anything that doesn't remotely sound the same every week." the other ghost said. "And theremin, really?" the first ghost said. "Haven't heard this instrument before now. Always wondered how the movies made that noise." the second ghost added.

Spying from a faraway treetop with binoculars is a stocky ghost with ectoplasmic dreadlocks, thick eyebrows, and a goatee. "Time for me to shine like moonlight." the ghost said to himself. A grappling hook shoots from the tree and pins to the stage's back wall above the band, who stops in confusion. The ghost pushes a massive crate suspended on the cable that zips down to the stage, dropping on top of the band's instruments, destroying them. The dreadlocked ghost swoops in and stands atop the crate with cowboy boots.

"Y'all ready for the best performance of your afterlife?!" the ghost screamed. The crate collapses to reveal a drum set, the bass drum adorned with a bubbly logo reading "BONGO". He takes his place in the set and taps his bone-carved drumsticks together before going to town on the set. The crowd cheers louder than before as Bongo intensely plays a sick drum solo before them. The band goes backstage to fetch bouncers.

Two bulky ghosts with sunglasses emerge from backstage and surround Bongo from behind. Before Bongo could play another beat, the bouncers drag him by his arms and escort him offstage, earning jeers from the crowd. "Oh c'mon! The party just started to get good when Bongo showed up!" the first ghost said. "Who?" his friend asked. "Bongo, he's like an indie drummer who crashed bunk parties like this one and takes it from negative to eleven!" the ghost explained.

"Too bad they're kicking him out." his friend said as they see a third bouncer ghost carry the drum set. The two bouncers throw Bongo out of the graveyard. "Hey, don't be a party pooper!" Bongo yelled before his drum set is thrown onto and phases through him, smashing on impact. "My stuff!" Bongo exclaimed in horror. He looks back to the graveyard and sees his cowboy boots left behind.

"My boots!" he yelled. He runs to the entrance and is punched by a bouncer, sending him to the junkpile that was his drum set. "Aw man, I spent a fortune into these babies." Bongo said solemnly as he looks down to his destroyed drum set. He spies a golden glint from the pile and picks up his intact cymbals and drumsticks. "At least I have the Zildjians… but I gotta get replacements!" Bongo declared.

At Marceline's cottage, she and Simon oversee repairs by skeletons, now patching up the hole in the wall made by Marceline throwing a Rock Person. "You need to work on your anger management, Marceline." Simon told Marceline. "If you were there, you'd be sick of back-to-back techno demos." Marceline said. "Hopefully there won't be further damage." Simon added. The skeletons operate a crane to winch something from the lake, and lift the Rock Person out of the water.

"I take it I'm not in?" the Rock Person asked in a low voice. "Get 'im outta here." Marceline commanded her Skeletons. They release him from the winch and escort him outside. "So, how's that band coming along, Marcy?" Simon asked. "I've got a couple people; my former nemesis and some Guy we picked from the audition." Marceline answered.

"You never talked much about your vampire hunter years outside of the Vampire King. How long have you known this nemesis?" Simon asked. "'Bout three years before she threw me down a chasm." a woman's voice answered from behind. They turn around and see Keila and Guy entering the cave with their instruments. "'Sup, guys." Marceline greeted them. She shoulder-bumps Keila and fist bumps Guy.

"Well, we're here. Wanna jam?" Guy asked Marceline. "Yeah, I've been waiting forever to stretch my musical legs." Keila encouraged. She proceeds to play a brief guitar lick, only to realize its electric, and it comes out as pathetic plucks. "Yeah… still trying to get used to it." Keila said awkwardly. "You must be Marceline's new friends." Simon greeted the two bandmembers.

"Keila." "Guy." they introduced themselves. "This is Simon. He's an old friend." Marceline introduced Simon to them. "Great to meet you. Marcy doesn't have many great friends, so I hope you'll treat her well." Simon told them. "Can't guarantee anything when muscle memory kicks in." Keila said. "What does that mean?" Simon asked.

"I just try not to turn my back to her." Marceline said. "I'll leave you kids to it, then. I'll be at the university grading papers." Simon said as he walks to the cave entrance. "Kids? We're way too old to be just kids." Keila said. "I'm a couple thousand years old myself." Guy added. "Simon's way older than you think, K." Marceline stated.

As they walk to the house, they hear a motorcycle drive up. "Hey look, a Decepticon!" a voice noted. Guy turns around in a panic and sees Backfire and Daniel standing at the entrance. "Your hat, its got their emblem." Daniel pointed. Guy takes off his hat and looks at it. "Heh, yeah… just found this at some thrift store." Guy said awkwardly before re-joining the others.

They enter the house and set up their instruments. As they begin to do so, Keila notices a drum set behind the counter. "We got a drummer already?" Keila asked. "Nah, that's Simon's. I asked him to join, but he said he's plenty busy." Marceline said. "Would be nice to have one, though." Guy added as he tunes his keyboard.

As they continue to set up, they hear crashing from the kitchen. Marceline turns and sees the drums floating out the back door. "Simon's drums!" Marceline yelled. She goes after the "#1 BABE" bass drum and tugs at it, finding a hidden force tugging back. "Leggo my friend's stuff!" Marceline demanded before kicking at the hidden force.

"Ow, hey!" a voice yelped before revealing itself as Bongo. "You!" Marceline said in disdain. "Uh, Marceline! Didn't know this was your pad." Bongo said awkwardly. Marceline released her grip, sending Bongo flying backwards through the fridge, letting go of the drum. "Bongo, what are you doing?" Marceline asked Bongo as he peeks from the fridge.

"You know him?" Guy asked Marceline. "Barely. We've met at a couple gigs. He's nothing but trouble, and that's coming from me." Marceline explained. "Marceline, I just need these drums for my next gig, and I can pay you back when I get the cash." Bongo said. "You're not taking Simon's drums! Now get outta my house!" Marceline insisted. Bongo dejectedly floats to the front door before feigning and floating off with the bass drum through the back door.

"Why you…" Marceline grunted angrily as he eyes glow red. "Aren't you going after him?" Guy asked them. "He's a ghost. Vampires can't fight ghosts. Rock-paper-scissors rule." Keila explained. "What does- nevermind. I'll take care of him; I just need a mirror." Guy said before running after Bongo. He dashes out of the door after Bongo with a mirror.

"Can't catch me! I'm a ghost and you're not!" Bongo taunted. Guy sprints even faster towards Bongo and then smashes the mirror over Bongo's head, shattering it and knocking him down. "Ow, that really hurt!" Bongo groaned as mirror shards stick to his ectoplasmic hair. "Silver-backed mirror. Silver's the one metal that can really do damage on supernatural entities." Guy said as he held the frame over his shoulder. "Fine, take the stupid drums back. I can get a better one." Bongo whined as he gets up and floats away.

Guy picks up the drum and says "Beef Patty Dreams." to Bongo, who stops. "What?" Bongo said. "Your last album before you died was Beef Patty Dreams." Guy said. "You've heard my music?" Bongo asked. "You were one of my favourite indies, topped the charts back in thirty-seven, right before you dipped." Guy answered.

"What did you think of it?" Bongo asked. "One of the saddest things I've ever heard." Guy answered. "I was going through things then." Bongo said. "So, what are you doing here in Ooo?" Guy asked. "I'm trying to relive the old days, back when the crowds loved me and records wanted me. I can't remember the last few years of my life, 'cept they were total horse droppings." Bongo said.

"You're looking for closure." Guy realized. "That's the word. I've been rocking all over Ooo to turn them memory gears, but nothing could oil them." Bongo said. "You could join us. We're forming a band, and we'd like to hear your stories." Guy suggested. "A band? I haven't been in a band since…" "Thousand Island Sauce!" Bongo and Guy said at the same time. "That was my peak." Bongo said.

"Your ratings were abysmal." Guy said. "Eh, the journey counts." Bongo shrugged. "What do you think? You wanna join us? I think I can convince Marceline to go easy on you." Guy asked. "What's your name, brother?" Bongo asked. "Guy. I'm on keyboard." Guy answered. "Well, Guy. I think I'm in." Bongo said.

Listening to them at the front door is Marceline and Keila. "You really gonna let him in?" Keila asked. "On the fence." Marceline said. "You heard him, right? He's probably trying to move on." Keila said. "Bongo says a lot of things." Marceline said.

Guy and Bongo return to the house with the drum returned. "I'm real sorry for trying to steal your drums. I can make it up to you by joining your band." Bongo apologized. Keila darts her eyes to Marceline and gives her a slight tilt of the head to Bongo. "Bongo, look, I really, really, really, don't like you, but if Keila and Guy will give you a chance, so will I." Marceline told Guy. "Does that mean I'm in?" Bongo asked excitedly.

"Just one audition, and maybe I'll give you a chance." Marceline groaned before being glomped by Bongo. "Thanks a bunch!" Bongo thanked. Marceline grabs him by the neck and pulls him to her face. "Just get on the drums, and don't make me regret this." Marceline said. "Y-y-yeah, I won't!" Bongo said nervously before being released.

"Now you just need a drum set." Guy said. "Can I use your drums?" Bongo asked. "Just this once." Marceline reluctantly agreed. "Alright!" Bongo said excitedly. He gets to work assembling the drum set and soon gets ready to play.

"Y'all ready for the best performance of your afterlife?!" Bongo screamed before tapping his drumsticks. He plays so hard and so loud, the stalactites in the cave crumble from the soundwaves and fall onto the roof and the working skeletons. He concludes by slamming his sticks into the cymbals, letting the beat die down with the echo of brass. "Was that a performance or what?" Bongo asked. "What?!" Keila said. "You didn't have to put it that way." Bongo said.

"We can't hear you! I think we've gone deaf!" Guy added. Marceline, meanwhile, is wearing hidden noise-cancelling earplugs. "Yeah, not bad." Marceline commented positively. "And?" Bongo further asked for confirmation. "I'll take what I can get. You're in." Marceline answered.

"I'm in a band… I'm in a baaand!" Bongo said excitedly before zipping around the room. He returns to the ground and prostates himself to Marceline. "Your majesty, I swear to make sure this band comes out on top in the ratings" Bongo said eloquently. "Don't 'your majesty' me, just call me Marceline. And get up, it's embarrassing." Marceline said. "So, you got yourselves a drummer. What now?" Bongo asked.

"Looks like we've got ourself a well-rounded band. I think it's about time we write something worth listening to." Marceline answered. "What?!" Keila yelled, still deaf from Bongo's performance.

To be continued…