Chapter the Thirteenth

"Marceline, the trespasser, was sighted last night. Along with the tapes, several people were also saying they saw the wanted person in the city. Lieutenant Colonel, please pass the case files to the Mayor."

Bonnibel Becket looked down at the folder with the label Case File: 45-1-29104-1.

"We also sighted a car on the national highway which we suspected as her car."

Flipping open the folder, the first thing that caught the Mayor's attention was a picture (screenshot from the CCTV camera) of Marceline in the middle of a busy street. She also noticed a picture of the suspected car as well as several clippings from the interviewed people.

"Wait. Wait. General Doug, Lieutant Colonel Mertens. I think, it's not in your job to say these things directly to the Mayor. And we are not in the appropriate setting to discuss these things," butted in by Peppermint Butler.

General Jake Doug and Lieutenant Colonel Finn Mertens looked at each other.

The two of them were the best of friends as well as comrades-in-arms during deadly missions.

They were also trained in the same military academy and Jake was a senior to Finn in this academy. After graduating, Jake applied as a Royal Guard, advancing quickly in the ranks. Two years after Jake's graduation, Finn successfully graduated at the top of his class. However, unlike Jake, Finn pursued another goal. After barely achieving this goal, he continued to pursue his own dreams of being Bonnibel's own champion. Unfortunately, there are no such titles in the royal state. Nevertheless, his current status in the Royal Guards satisfied this dream.

In any ways, that's just half of what Jake and Finn let the people know about them.

Truthfully, they are brothers. Finn Mertens was adopted in the Doug house when he was still an infant. They never have any clue as to who are his parents nor where they are.

They also know Bonnibel even at a young age because of their parent's line of work. They also suspected that Bonnibel was immortal since she never age. Although there's a big difference in their social statuses, the three of them never really cared.

Years ago when Joshua and Margaret Doug invited the Princess for an afternoon tea, she met the brothers. Bonnibel adored the brothers and let them call her the name "Bubblegum". They pointed out that the color of her hair was bubblegum-colored and up until now the name stuck to them. That was not the first time that Bonnibel was called that nickname but Jake and Finn were kids that time and she never find it infuriating. For years, they have been friends. However, a terrifying shock passed to the brothers when they realized that the person they play with when they were kids was the Mayor of their city.

Bonnibel barely had friends around her. To her, she treated Finn and Jake as her close friends. Fortunately, this huge difference in their status never complicated their friendship with each other. The brothers perfectly knew well when to act as a friend or a citizen towards Bonnibel. And Bonnibel was thankful for that.

Jake and Finn stood up their seats and bowed. "We apologize very deeply," Jake said afterwards.

"And we know we didn't think this through but as what the General said. This is an urgent matter," Finn told them.

"We sent the report in the Information Office," Jake said. "But we didn't get the response that it was received so we went here personally because we're closer than the other officers.

"We were actually going to your office but when we asked the guards, they said you were in this hall," he continued.

Peppermint internally cursed Cinna. Didn't he already know his job? Why didn't he sent a receiving notice back to the central enforcement?

"We will acknowledge this mistake we made. In behalf of the Central Enforcement, we deeply apologize for the scene we have made."

Peppermint Butler was about to open his mouth when Bonnibel raised her right hand, stopping Peppermint into talking. "I cannot accept your apology since it was I who should be apologizing to the Enforcement. We were at fault for not giving the notice back to you. I apologize for this simple mistake we have committed. I assure you this will be the first and the last mistake."

Jake laughed nervously. "Well, I suppose I should accept your apology even though I know we're really at fault here." He shrugged his shoulders. "Plus, the Enforcement is actually your whole unit. We are all working under you, so, yeah. I guess, we should just leave this discussion here and now."

Bonnibel nodded and looked at Peppermint. "Also, I have a feeling that we already received the news. Peppermint was about to talk something to me."

The butler smiled sheepishly. "You are right, Princess. This was the news I was about to talk to you. But as I was saying earlier, the dining hall is not an appropriate setting to discuss these kinds of thing."

"Yes, I agree with Peppermint. After all, I still have to change clothes," Bonnibel said, letting them know she was still in here nightgown. "Anyway, let's just meet and discuss things in my office," she looked at her watch. "At exactly 10:30 am."

A/N:

This is the shortest chapter by far. I wrote this in just one sitting since I really just want to let you all know that I still haven't left this story and I'm still alive. T.T

For people who still haven't known that I'm actually working on another story, I have another story here, Pouring Rain. And yes, it's Bubbline. I haven't actually wrote anything for the next chapter there because I'm seriously beat up with all our school and organization works but semestral break is nearing and I'm already planning in spending my break writing things. Hahaha. I wish this sem would end already. T.T

Anyway, have you watched the latest AT episodes? I haven't but I'm very, very, very curious in the "Bonnibel Bubblegum" episode.

If you have questions and suggestions or anything, please say so.

Until next chapter!