Hiya! Finally midterms have finally ended and now I'm back for another chapter. And yes, about the last chapter, I'm sorry about the info dump. Last chap was supposed to be the first half of the whole chapter three and this chapter was the continuation. But since I felt really bad that I left this story for almost a month, I made the last part longer than I intended to do so. And finally this is it.
I would like to thank and send my gratitude to all the people who read, followed, favorite, and of course reviewed.
About that, thank you very very much SeliniErastis for that review and reminders. :D To all the anons and guests thank you too. You don't how much it means to me to see you guys reviewing. XD
Well, then here goes Chapter 4.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of Adventure Time. They all belong to the works and ideas of Pendleton Ward and Cartoon Network.
Chapter 4
Present Time:
Bonnibel Becket slumped down onto her office chair. She just got home after spending her time with the other daughters of the mayors or 'the princesses' as what they still insisted on calling themselves. And Princess Bubblegum was not fond of this day even before her parents die. She just went on with this thing because 'attendance is obligatory' as what her mother said before but it was just a gathering of the girls to express what they had been through. She was just attending this for the good of her people and the name of her city.
Now, even after all these years the Princess Day has still been going on even though they were not, technically, princesses anymore but daughters of the mayors of their own cities.
The bubblegum princess just couldn't excuse herself to these events since she was the only official in her city and that she was representing the candy city noted that she was the president of all the mayors and her presence was truly necessary.
At any rate, all she did was answer her crossword puzzles and not listen to Breakfast Princess's hair extensions or Lumpy Space Princess's boyfriend problems or Cornflakes Princess's wardrobe change. She just couldn't get why these princesses were making such a big deal out of small things.
And I still have the problem about the Magic Man and the Door Lord incidents, Bonnibel thought. I hope this end early so I can finish all the works at the office. She then continued what she had been doing, answering her crossword puzzle.
After three and a half minutes, she had already finished her crossword puzzle. A little while later, farewells and goodbyes erupted in the hall. She greeted everyone else through handshakes and smiles and bid them goodbye.
With her butler and escorts, she took a ride to her home.
Now, after slumping down on her chair she couldn't help but think how she survived the two meetings in the morning, a science conference about quantum physics with other scientists, and then spending another meeting after. Of course, there was another one, the highlight of her day actually, the dreaded Princess Day. Moreover, she still hadn't started reading all through the complaints that her citizens experienced because of the Magic Man and Door Lord's doings.
At first, it was just the Magic Man doing pranks and his magic things but later on the Door Lord broke through his prison. Again.
Bonnibel couldn't remember how many times the Door Lord had already escaped in his prison but every time he escaped the only thing he ever did was cause mischief and took the most precious things her citizens have. And because of that another problem was added to the list of things the mayor needed to manage.
Other than the mischief the Magic Man and Door Lord were doing, Bubblegum also needed to organize the meeting with the Lemongrabs as they had been negotiating and trading their products to each other these past years. Although the Lemongrabs made the mayor's head ache due to their unacceptable demands and other what-nots, Bonnibel never complain. She just kept it all through herself.
Going back to her work she filed the stacked papers into their certain folders and then one-by-one read them carefully. She needed to organize things before plunging herself into a deep hard work which was what she's doing right now.
"Princess Bubblegum?" Bubblegum was deeply engrossed with her paper works that she hadn't even heard the call of her loyal butler.
A rap on her door sounded and then Peppermint Butler called again, "Princess Bubblegum? Are you still in there? Can I come in?" Hearing no answer on his request, he tried opening the door and went in to her master's office. He closed the room after going in completely.
Peppermint Butler was a short man with puffy cheeks and had a very white skin tone with thin red stripes covering some parts of his skin much like a peppermint since he was a peppermint humanoid. Also, he wore his butler uniform... a lot since he was a butler. He was also one of the most loyal subjects the Becket family ever had.
Peppermint Butler was a little wary to approach the princess. Looking at her, she was so absorbed with her own little world of business and papers. And Peppermint Butler was only making it a lot worse because he was bringing in the papers the princess needed to sign. The butler, having second thoughts a while ago finally decided to approach the princess. He silently sighed and finally coughed loudly to recognize his presence to the princess.
"Ahem!"
The Princess looked up directly to the voice it belonged with a surprise on her face. "Oh Peppermint! I didn't know you were there." She then looked back at the papers before her and engaged herself to what she had been doing earlier. "So...?"
"I tried calling you from the outside Princess but it seems you haven't heard me. I tried the door and it was open so I entered. I'm sorry for entering without your permission," said the butler politely.
"No, that is okay. I should be the one apologizing to you Pep. I didn't even hear you before. And also please stop the 'princess' thing. I'm not a princess anymore in actually I'm more of a mayor now." Bonnibel said, still busy scribbling notes from her paperworks.
"I'm sorry Princess but you're still a princess to me and nothing can change that even if the monarchial government had been put at ease after all these decades."
The Princess sighed still not looking to her butler but at the papers on her desk "Well, as you say so."
In actuality, the princess internally smiled. She was happy that Peppermint Butler was loyal to her. And she was really grateful for that.
The butler bowed down even though the princess couldn't see his action as she was still engaged to her work. Stepping closer to the bubblegum princess until he was in close proximity he said his true purpose.
"This is the papers you need to sign for the different events and confluences you will be attending to this coming week," He then passed the folder to Bonnibel and show another folder. "while this is the papers that is still in need of the agreement of the other cities. We already checked through the papers and your consent and sign is the only thing left off before we send this to different cities and wait for their approval."
He then passed another folder, the last one, before he continued speaking.
"Finally, this is the goods you demand for the city. Mostly, it's candy shipments. And then the equipments and supplies you need to reconstruct for the theme park that the Magic Man destroyed. Go through with the list before signing at the end of the paper."
"Mmm." The Princess opened the folders and started skimming through it but not really processing what she had been seeing. She then closed the folder and said, "Okay. Is that all?"
"Yes, that is all about... Ah no, I have news for you Princess." He paused, "It is about the Magic Man."
Bonnibel turned her head so quickly that she couldn't help but think that it would be sprained, she then made a grimaced face before asking what the news was about.
"A witness reported seeing the Magic Man somewhere in the northern parts of the country. The enforcement took notice of this lead and took action on it. Later they confirmed that the Magic Man has been taking shelter at an abandoned house there."
"Mmm. Okay. Is where he is still part of our city?"
"No. Not anymore. He's in the Wilburs' city now and not in our city anymore." With eyes being in slits, he whispered, "Let them handle all the works, Princess. He is in their territory now."
She nodded her head slowly, letting the facts sink in. "He is fast to travel. Just yesterday he was here and nearly flipped the east side of the city. At the very least we have a clue to where he is and Peps..." the Princess stopped to look at the butler, "not just because he is not in our vicinity anymore, that we shouldn't handle the problem regarding the Magic Man. Remember I have a responsibility not just in our city but in the whole Land of Ooo, our country." Bubblegum sighed. "Anyway, when did you say it was reported?"
Peppermint Butler lowered down his head. He didn't meant what he said; he just prioritises the condition of her princess more. "I didn't say when. Well, the witness reported the sighting this morning and then the enforcement verified it by the end of the afternoon."
"Mmm" The pink princess absorbed the new information they had about the magic man. He is really fast. Well, he has magic. Of course, travelling is just an easy pie to him. There might be other tricks in his sleeves though; after all, magic is really a powerful thing.
"Well, that's all of it," said Peppermint Butler. "If you ever need me just call me. Though I suggest a sleep is what you need right now." He then checked his wristwatch; the small hand which indicated the hour is on the VIII and the minute hand on the XII. "It's 8pm by the way. Anything you need?"
The bubblegum princess was unaware of the time she spent in her office. She didn't even realize it had been three hours since she started working her paperworks. She looked up above the door infront of her and saw that the time was indeed 8:00. She needed to finish quickly signing the papers brought to her before continuing what she had been doing before.
She then remembered that she still have to make the Lemongrabs aware that the negotiation they would be having will be carried out this coming week. Fortunately, she already finished organizing her presentations for the negotiations a little while before her butler came in.
She looked at Peppermint Butler.
"Actually, I need you to call the Lemongrabs. They tend to be a bit forgetful to things they don't have an interest. After calling them, send a letter to them addressed at their city hall just in case they still forget. Remind them the meeting will be at ours, two days after tomorrow."
"Yes, Princess." He finally walked outside leaving Bonnibel all alone with works she still had to do.
It was almost nine in the evening when she finished sifting and signing through the papers Peppermint Butler had given to her that evening. She stacked the papers into a neat file on the corner of her table before going back to the things she was working before. She was already halfway through it when Peppermint Butler interrupted her with the papers and the news earlier.
Now looking at her work, she finally noticed that she had finished all her works for the upcoming week and what she had been working on is for the next weeks after. She smiled contentedly. She did not expect to finish already all her works before the week even comes.
Maybe this upcoming week will be wonderful. I can already relax from all this desk works. Maybe.
She then remembered the Magic Man. She groaned. The euphoric feelings she felt a little while ago was now dissolved.
Bonnibel, don't forget the Magic Man. And yes you can relax from your desk works but that doesn't include all the field works you still have to do.
She frowned. She could keep up her desk works and city halls' meetings and such but whenever she went with the Enforcement Team and talked with the Magic Man and the Door Lord she just couldn't keep up with all the running and the adventure.
She was an intelligent person. Her brain was way more advance than all the others but her body couldn't keep up with others. Anymore. She frowned at that thought.
Completely dismissing her thoughts, she looked up again at the wall clock, noticing now that the minute hand was now exactly at the XII.
She yawned. It was just at this instant that it hit her how exhausted she was.
Finally standing up, she cleaned and organized the papers in front of her before turning off the lights and leaving the room before shutting the door.
On her way to her bedchamber, she walked past her butler.
"Peps, the files you need are in my office. Just take it there, alright?" She said to him.
"Yes, m'lady."
"Okay, good night. I think I need to sleep right now."
"But Princess you still haven't had dinner!"
She frowned, "Oh yeah, then I'll have dinner tomorrow morning."
"Isn't that called breakfast anymore?!" Pepermint Butler was furious. He couldn't let her Princess go to sleep without her stomach full. As much as he liked the idea of the Princess getting sleep, he didn't like the idea of the Princess getting sick more. Also, it was his duty to make the Princess eat.
Bonnibel giggled. "I'm just kidding, Pep But." She liked teasing the loyal butler. "But don't worry; I'll be having dinner later. Can you please bring it to my sleeping quarters? I still need to clean myself."
"Oh. Alright," he was more at ease now that he knew that the Princess was just kidding. He remembered the time when the Princess was still a child. He smiled.
He liked those days. Very much. He remembered the pranks. He was always picked on. The princess and-
"Well, here we are. Thanks again," Bonnibel said, interrupting the butler's reminiscence. They were in front of her bedchamber now. Before the butler could even walked away to prepare her dinner, Bonnibel stopped him.
Confusion was etched on the butler's face. "Did you need anything else, m'lady?" he asked politely, thinking the princess needed something more.
"Ah no. I just- Well, you usually call me when dinner is ready right? But tonight, you didn't even interrupt me." They were finally inside Bonnibel's room.
"Huh? But Princess did you forget? You told me to never interrupt you whenever you are engrossed to your works even when dinner is prepared."
"... Oh yeah!" she exclaimed rather enthusiastically to hide the lie between. Actually, the Princess didn't remember. I must be really tired. I couldn't even think properly now.
"You must be really hungry and tired now, Princess. Don't worry, I'll prepare even faster." He said before running downstairs to the kitchen.
Yes, I must be. Bonnibel deeply sighed. She walked to her interconnected bathroom and stripped of her clothes so she could take a bath and plunged herself into the water.
She was now feeling refreshed after taking a bath and eating dinner. After taking bath, she found her dinner at the tabletop with a note tucked in;
Please eat your dinner so you'll be better and then get some sleep after. - Peppermint
So she did what it told and after a while she laid down in her bed. She didn't realize how exhausting the day was until she felt relieved that her back was now lying on her soft mattress. With her eyes slowly closing in, she fell asleep not knowing that another nightmare would start to creep in her sleep.
Bonnibel was screaming.
That was a fact.
She suddenly sat up forward, clutching her chest so hard. She was panting heavily like someone was chasing her and that she was running for her dear life. She tried to calm herself but was having a hard time to manage that. So, she started counting numbers up to ten to ease her breathing.
When she felt that her breathing returned to a normal rate, she pushed her hair back. She felt that she was drenched in her own sweat and frowned because of that. But on the other hand, she was really thankful no one could hear her screams since her room had special insulators, making her room soundproof. She couldn't bear seeing their concerned faces when they started rushing in and asking questions if she was alright.
Thinking back to the reason for the sudden wake up, she recalled her dream.
No Bonnibel that was not a dream. It's a- a... nightmare.
Bonnibel shivered even if she was sweating so badly. She tried hard to remember something about it but couldn't recall what her dream was. All she knew was that it was cold and it was dark. She couldn't see anything and make out what her nightmares was about just like the other past nights.
She sighed as she ran fingers through the strands of her hair and took deep breaths. Standing up, she thought about taking another shower and getting back to sleep and then sleep through her nightmares, again.
The bubblegum princess found herself staring at her walls; gazing at the intricate swirling designs that pattern her royal chambers in front of her. She was currently laying down on her bed with her weight propped up on her right side.
I cannot believe that I am completely wide awake at-
Bonnibel stopped her thoughts in mid-sentence to check the current time on her bedside clock.
-at 11 o'clock in the evening...
She groaned rather loudly and tried getting back to sleep but found it hard to.
She thought about getting back in her office to start her work for the next, next weeks but decided not to since she was already ahead of it.
She suddenly sat up as if a brilliant idea came to her which was really accurate since she thought of an incredulous one.
What if I take a stroll downtown? She thought rather enthusiastically.
She hadn't had a walk for a while now since she had too many responsibilities in her work and business. She missed the feeling of the cold wind on her skin; the moon above them when they were walking the streets; the safeness she felt whenever she was holding her...
What?! She shook her head and then sighed. What was I thinking?
She stood up, the past recollections was already in the back of her head. She readied herself for what she would be doing then considered telling Peppermint about her almost-midnight rendezvous which would probably earn a lot furious calls and make the whole place awake.
Or maybe I could just sneak out to have fun and let nobody know about this whole event.
She smiled. Of course, she picked the latter.
Bonnibel didn't know why she was feeling so rebellious tonight. She just felt that this was the right night to take a stroll downtown and enjoy the feelings she felt right now. Besides she couldn't sleep for the night.
Now wearing a more comfortable outfit than her nightgown, she walked past the dim-lighted halls of her house. She would take the secret tunnels that they had been keeping instead of using the front gates in case any candy (humanoid) subjects would see her sneaking out of her own house.
Bonnibel couldn't help but reminisce the moments when she was young and was playing around their castle, memorizing all the secret passages around, and playing hide and seek with Peppermint.
And then after minutes of walking and crawling down the basement and secret passages in her former-castle now identified as the city hall, she was now at last outside her manor. She breathed in the fresh cool wind and shivered when she felt it brushed her skin. Now that she felt cold, she remembered that she forgot to bring with her a jacket as she was currently wearing a tee-shirt and pink pants. She then hugged herself to gather heat to herself. Even with only the street lights and the stars to guide her through, Bonnibel wasn't afraid of what might be lurking in the dark. She felt safe in her own city. She also knew that the banana guards were doing their duty well enough to protect the candy citizens.
While walking, she could see that houses were closed (of course) and that the lights were turned off.
People are probably sleeping right now, and here I am walking alone in a peaceful night, Bonnibel thought.
Every now and then, she would pass people who were probably buying in the near convenience store. She would look down at her feet so that no one could identify her as Mayor Becket. Somehow, Bonnibel was confident that they would not think of her as the mayor since it was now late at night and they wouldn't think that their mayor was still outside her manor but she knew not to be so confident about that.
"Ey Princess! What you doing here, walking alone in the dark!" Someone called. So, someone really noticed her. She groaned. What could be so noticeable about her?
Of course, the pink hair and pink hue of her skin.
She looked back and saw that the person calling her was on the other side of the road. She noticed that it was a man of thirties with a bright blue cap on his head. He had dark skin and a curly mustache. Oh, so it was Starchy.
"Uhmm-" Bonnibel didn't know what to say. She could say that she needed to do or buy something laboratory-related in the store. Or she could say she was hungry and was now planning to buy some food in the store. Or she could run and pretend she was not 'Princess'.
Ha! As if I could run. He already saw me. And for glob's sake I'm the only person here who has a pink hair.
"Oh Starchy! I was just on my way to the store to buy something I needed. And just walking..." She said calmly and casually.
"Well, let old Starchy come with you. You are alone and Starchy will keep you safe."
Bonnibel shook her head "No Starchy, I am alright though I have a favor to ask."
"Eh, you sure about that. I mean walking alone." Starchy said, still not getting over the fact the Bonnibel wanted to walk alone. He crossed the street and he was now talking face-to-face with Bonnibel.
"Yes, I am sure," she smiled. "About the favor-"
"Oh yes! Anything you want my Princess!" He bowed down.
"Can you let me borrow you cap? Just for tonight."
Bonnibel was sitting on a swing.
Just sitting on it and not swinging. After Starchy let her borrow his cap and went home, she wore his cap, hiding all her pink hair inside. She also said to him to never tell anyone about her almost-midnight strolling. On her way to the store, she passed this park-slash-playground and she realized that the store was just a fence block and steps away.
Carefully, she walked backwards; she was still sitting and gripping the chain of the swing. She let her feet dug the sand, raised it and let the gravity worked its way.
Yes, the gravity. Just the force that makes everything falls down.
She was now swinging back and forth. She closed her eyes, liking the feeling of being suspended in the air. She really felt like flying that time but just like how fast it goes, the swinging slowly stops. She then jumped and landed on her feet before the swinging completely stops.
Bonnibel was aware of how late it was, however she also knew that it was still not midnight. In their city, there was a bell tower that has a clock that chimes when the clock strikes twelve. So, she looked at her digital wristwatch to check what the time was and she frowned when she saw a red blinking 11:50PM on her watch.
I should probably get back but not before checking the store out. I might really buy something if I checked through it. Or I could just buy a drink. What's more, I already said to Starchy that I'll be going to the store. At least, I'm completely saying the truth.
Even in the playground, Bonnibel could see the convenience store. It was just a walk away and Bonnibel was determined to buy a drink. She was now back on the sidewalk and saw that there were several cars parked on the parking lot of the 24/7 store.
Nothing like when it was daylight. She could count all the cars parked with her fingers. Four, only four.
Bonnibel dismissed the thought easily and walked the remaining few steps to the store.
Outside, there were a few vending machines for drinks and sodas and bags of chips. She also noticed that there was a hooded man leaning on the machine for drinks; probably purchasing a soda or a cola.
Bonnibel didn't think about it anymore, she opened the door to the store. It was small but everything was in it; from foods, to essential materials to travelling packs to medicines. Very convenient. Bonnibel thought.
She checked every lane but nothing was intriguing her. Instead, Bonnibel went outside and was planning to buy a drink but the man was still there. Now looking at the stranger, she noticed that she didn't know who he was and Bonnibel know everyone in her own city. She was about to ask if everything was alright when she noticed that the currency she was putting on the coin slot was different to hers and the city's.
Ah! Now that seems to be the problem. He must be a foreigner to have a different currency. He should've at least changed his money to this country's currency that must be why he was taking so long to get a drink. Bonnibel was now determined to help this guy.
"Ahem! Uhm. Excuse me, but you seem to be having difficulties in... that." Bonnibel pointed out to the vending machine.
The man just nodded.
"Look, I think you have a different currency." Bonnibel crouched down to retrieve the coin and she was now looking at a golden coin with embedded bones and skulls. "This is Nightosphere's." She said a matter-of-factly.
"You need to have Ooo's when you pay here, mister. Look, your drink's on me this time. Treat this as a welcoming gift." Bonnibel said still looking forward to the vending machine to pick her and the man's drink. She said that it was her treat since he clearly looked like he just arrived here. "What do you want by the way?"
The man chucked lightly. "Yeah, I was having a problem there. The vending machine seems to vomit my money. And also I want a cherry soda. Thank you." He said in high but musical tone much like a girl.
Hmm. I'm right about him picking a soda. Bonnibel realized that she liked the voice of this man and that it was familiar to her. Suddenly, she remembered the tone of his voice. Wait! That's like- He must be a she! And not just a she but - Bonnibel turned to face the hooded stranger.
And the clock stroke to twelve, reminding them that it was now midnight. Unfortunately, Bonnibel seemed to not notice this.
Earlier, Bonnibel couldn't saw his face but now that the light was directly striking the man's face, Bonnibel could clearly see that his eyes were red, his skin was pale, his ears were pointed, his hair was a dark mane of black; probably long because she couldn't see it since his jacket was obscuring the length of it and of course that feminine face.
"Marceline," she breathed out, like she couldn't believe what her eyes were seeing. "What are you doing here?"
"Uhm. What do you mean? Do I know you?"
Bonnibel was speechless; she couldn't believe Marceline didn't know her after what she had done to her.
After she screamed at me with that beautiful voice of hers two months ago.
01/27/2016