Note: Hello everyone. Apologies for the long hiatus. There's no excuse other than life getting in the way. I do have the intention of continuing this story to the end. I work on it when I have spare time. Thank you for reading. I appreciate it.

Bitter Sugar: Chapter 7

Gumball is obsessed with the idea of war. He seems absolutely convinced that the Ice Kingdom is planning to attack us at any moment. He even seems convinced that they have a new king, although I've heard no such intelligence. He's enacted a draft forcing a large portion of our working age men into military training, hired mercenaries, and more. If this keeps up… we will have to find a way to force him to abdicate the throne. Then you could return to take your rightful place at the head of our kingdom.

I understand that our current and future relationship with Nightos is important, but you are the only other surviving member of the ruling family. They would be hard put to say no. It's better than the alternative of a completely unnecessary all-out war.

Bubblegum chewed on the end of her pen mercilessly as she reread this portion of Rainicorn's most recent letter. What worried her more than anything were the increasingly negative reports of her brother, but there was little she could say in advice. She had already dedicated a few paragraphs in her reply to how Nightos was not as bad as she had been expecting, and had even been enjoying herself recently. It wasn't that she didn't want to return home… she still missed everything and everyone she had left behind in the Candy Kingdom. However, she felt that she had finally begun to find her place here as well.

She did not, however, mention the kiss she and Marceline had shared earlier that week for the paparazzi. Or the butterflies it had caused in her stomach for days afterward. Or how she often found her mind drifting back to it if she wasn't focused on something else. Times like now.

Ugh, this was ridiculous. Bubblegum smacked her face a few times to wake up and continue with her letter. Why she continued to allow such a meaningless moment to take over her thoughts was beyond her. It obviously hadn't meant anything to Marceline, as the only comment the Vampire Queen had made on the situation was to apologize for it. Had the other woman found it so detestable an experience?

Bubblegum found herself staring at the wall once again before forcing her attention back to the paper in front of her. The tip of the pen had been sitting in the same place for so long a large black dot of ink had formed in the middle of the paper. Frowning, she simply moved to the next available line without explanation of the random mark.

Once finished, she stretched before lighting a candle. She always took care to burn or otherwise dispose of her letters from home, lest someone find out that Marceline had concocted a way for her to receive and send correspondence. As she was burning the last piece, a knock on the door distracted her, sending a chunk of paper to the floor.

"Princess Bubblegum," Fiona, Bubblegum's trusty 'handmaiden' saluted lazily. "Lady Marceline is waiting for you in the dinning hall."

On the nights that Marceline wasn't forcing her through a boot camp of self defense, they often managed to have dinner together. Although the occasion was always quiet, Bubblegum enjoyed the shared silence they had.

It was later on in the evening when Bubblegum was pacing a circle in the floor of the windowless laboratory Marceline had lent to her. Her eyes stayed focused on a glass pitcher of dark liquid on the table. Fiona sat backwards on a chair in the corner of the room, chewing on a piece of gum, while Marceline floated nearby.

There were only two more days until the solstice ball, and Marceline had gotten confirmation that there would be more than enough Peppermint Advisory wine at the party to warrant worry. Bubblegum had been working tirelessly in an attempt to nail down the exact chemical makeup of the wine and its extra ingredient, but she couldn't seem to break the puzzle. She had run every test she could think of, but since she still wasn't sure how it worked, she couldn't create an antidote for it. While Marceline and Fiona offered verbal support, neither was particularly helpful at chemical deconstruction.

Suddenly, Bubblegum stopped pacing and planted her hands on her hips in frustration. "It's time for drastic measures," she announced.

Both Marceline and Fiona perked up. "What do you mean?" the Vampiress asked, floating over closer to Bubblegum.

"There are too many theories," Bubblegum stated, staring at the black liquid in challenge. "Does it rearrange memories? Does it increase aggression? Does it cause hallucinations? I need to know what processes of the brain it affects and how. There's only one way to do that." Bubblegum took a determined step forward and poured a small amount of wine into a nearby glass.

Picking up the glass, she turned to look at Marceline and Fiona. "I need you two to watch me carefully, make note of anything and everything I do or say. Attach the electro-wave readers to my head as well."

"Bonnibel, you can't be serious," Marceline looked shocked. "If you don't even know what's in it, you don't know how dangerous it could be. We don't know anything about the side effects or…"

"But that's the problem, Marceline," Bubblegum argued. "I've tried every test I can think of, and I've got scratch to show for it. Which means it's at least partially magical, and the only way to find what areas of the brain it affects is to see it in action."

"If that's the case, then you need to be the observer, since you're obviously the only one who knows what to look for," Marceline reached out a hand. "Give me the glass, I'll drink it."

"I can't let you take that risk," Bubblegum argued, holding the glass away from her wife.

Before either of them could continue the argument, something deftly stole the glass from Bubblegum's fingers. Both Candy Princess and Vampire Queen looked in shock to find Fiona gulping down the contents quickly.

"Ugh!" the blonde woman coughed as she lowered the now empty glass. "This shit is disgusting! What's in it?"

"I DON'T KNOW! THAT'S THE PROBLEM!" Bubblegum screamed, swiping the glass from Fiona, tugging on one of the woman's eyes down to check for any immediate negative effects. "It could be dangerous Fi! You shouldn't have drunk it!"

Fiona snorted, tugging her face away from Bubblegum's prying fingers. "I feel fine. Someone had to do it."

"Obviously I owe you a raise," Marceline murmured nearby, rubbing the back of her neck wearily. "Start asking her questions Bonnibel, we don't know how long you have. She didn't drink that much."

Bubblegum got to work immediately, sticking a ton of little white circles to various parts of Fiona's body. Once the screens in the room began showing different wavelengths for Fiona's pulse, brainwaves, and who knew what else, Bubblegum got her clipboard and a pen.

She started with easy questions such as: What is your name? What is today's date? Who is the current leader of Nightos? Who do you work for? Once she declared Fiona's memory in tact, she moved on.

"What is your most embarrassing secret?" Bubblegum said, not looking up from her notes.

"Uh, none of your business?" Fiona propped her hands on her hips in disdain.

Bubblegum glanced up before scratching something out. "Do you feel like you can lie to me?"

"I am a ten foot tall ice ogre," Fiona declared sarcastically. "Lying's good."

"Ok…" Bubblegum crossed something else out. "Jump three times."

"Why?"

"Do you feel like you have to?"

"No?"

"Ok…" Bubblegum sighed again, crossing out a few more things on her paper.

"Perhaps you're being too direct?" Marceline muttered, staring at Bubblegum's notes over her shoulder.

"What do you mean?" the Candy Princess mumbled, furiously scribbling things at the bottom of the paper, not even realizing how close the floating Vampire was to her.

"Well, think about it," Marceline crossed her arms in thought. "The Pepps… they're super shady as is. But they keep worming their way into places without making a fuss. I doubt it's because they made someone drink their wine and then ordered them to do something. Try thinking sneaky… be more subtle."

Bubblegum observed Fiona for a moment. "Fi, don't you think that wooden chair over there is an eyesore?" she asked, gesturing at the chair Fi had been sitting on earlier.

"Not particularly?" Fionna looked confused, like Bubblegum had lost her mind.

"I mean… I would get rid of it if I could," Bubblegum continued, "but I'm much too weak. If I were strong, say like… you, Fiona, I would do something about it. I would get rid of it. I'm sure even Lady Marceline would thank you for getting rid of such an awful thing."

After a few moments where nothing happened, Bubblegum's shoulders dropped. "Nothing?"

"Was there supposed to be something?" Fiona asked, rubbing her head.

"Ugh, I give up," Bubblegum slumped against her work table.

"Maybe… Do you think that because she knows to expect something that it is therefore less effective?" Marceline inquired.

"I don't see how that could matter," Bubblegum mumbled. "But a portion of this is magical, so there are aspects I wouldn't be able to understand even through science. If we knew a sorcerer or witch of some kind… but they rarely are trustworthy."

Marceline actually snorted. "You can say that again."

Bubblegum was curious about the somewhat violent reaction, but an alarm began to sound from one of the monitors. "What-"

Out of nowhere, Fiona let out a growl as she unsheathed her sword and began to stomp across the room. Marceline immediately jumped in front of Bubblegum, shielding her. Fiona, however, walked right past the two of them and headed to the corner of the room. With a ferocious swing of her sword she began to mercilessly chop at the innocent wooden chair.

The two women silently watched as Fiona left the chair in little more than a pile of splinters, Bubblegum holding tight to Marceline's arm. When Fiona staggered a bit, she grabbed her head again. "What… ?"

"Fiona!" Bubblegum ran out from behind Marceline and over to her friend in worry. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"Just my head…" Fiona grumbled, looking at the pile of wood pickings at her feet. "What… why did I do that?"

"Can you tell me what you remember?"

"We were trying to figure out the wine…" Fiona started slowly. "You asked me a bunch of questions. I said I was an ice ogre. Then I just… had to get rid of this chair because it was so awful. I felt like Lady Marceline would be happy if I did, but then…" Fiona clutched her head again. "It's like there's a fog…"

"Come sit down," Marceline picked up another chair and floated it over to Fiona. The woman collapsed gratefully, holding her head in her hands.

Bubblegum was scribbling furiously onto her clipboard, the letters coming out in a scrawl that only she would be able to understand. Once she was finished she clasped Fiona's shoulder gently. "Let's get you some bread and water and get you to bed. I think you just helped me figure this thing out, Fiona. Thank you."

Fiona glanced up at the Princess silently for a moment before a weak smile crossed her face. "I think you owe me a raise, too," she murmured.

After deducing that the still unknown ingredient made certain areas of the brain severely prone to suggestion, it was simply a manner of working backwards to find the appropriate blocking chemicals to protect said portions of the brain. Bubblegum tediously explained the entire process to Marceline, who listened politely but offered little in comment. Fiona, on the other hand, didn't even bother pretending to listen. Once Fiona, who insisted on volunteering again, was able to drink the wine without any negative side effects, the serum was ready.

The morning of the Solstice ball awoke to clear skies and excited murmuring among the people. It was tradition for the nobility attending the party to ride through the city in open carriages to show off their evening attire. When Bubblegum expressed her concern, Fiona laughed.

"No one is going to try anything on the Solstice, Princess," her bodyguard assured her, adjusting the bright orange tie around her neck. "It's too important to the people."

"I don't see how the royalty getting dressed up and going off to party is important to the people," Bubblegum muttered, her right eyebrow twitching at the sheer brightness of Fiona's uniform for the evening. "Why on earth are you wearing that disgusting… thing?"

"No bodyguards, staff, or paparazzi are allowed to wear the same colors as any royalty for the evening, less we throw off their fashion aura," Fiona answered, as if it was as plain as day. "So the council decides on a color each year that none of the royalty can wear, and then all the under-foot people get a uniform in that color. It's usually something like this. Last year's was pea-vomit green."

Bubblegum grimaced. While she would never consider herself a serious force in the fashion world, she at least knew some colors were not meant to be used for clothing. Pea-vomit green definitely qualified for that category, as did nuclear-carrot orange.

It was barely noon when the Vampire family's personal dresser appeared at their home to prepare them for the evening's festivities. When Bubblegum protested to getting ready with more than seven hours to spare, the man insisted that only the prepared looked their best. Obviously losing any argument, she resigned herself to her fate. When the man ordered for all reflective surfaces to be hidden until the process was finished, Bubblegum began to doubt her chances of surviving the day.

After hours and hours of endless makeup, hair dressing, body glitter, even gluing individual rhinestones in a pattern up one side of her neck, the stylist ordered Bubblegum to close her eyes as he moved her body like a mannequin to get her into the actual dress.

"Alright," the stylist suddenly sounded excited. "Bring her in!" he ordered.

"Bring who-" Bubblegum began to inquire.

"EYES SHUT!" the stylist screamed in a pitch Bubblegum hadn't thought the man could reach.

"Ok ok," Bubblegum grumbled, allowing the assistants to guide her forward slowly.

"Bonnibel?" a familiar voice sounded nearby.

"Marceline?" Bonnibel responded, making sure to keep her eyes shut when the stylist made a strange noise.

"Have you been suffering the past few hours as well?" the Vampire Queen asked, sounding amused.

"I'm not sure if I can take much more," Bubblegum answered honestly.

"Hmph!" the stylist screeched from next to her. He picked up Bubblegum's right hand and connected it with someone's, she assumed Marceline's. "Just wait until your eyes behold my pair of masterpieces. Then you will not complain so much. You there! Hideous carrot child! You may behold your ladies."

"I didn't ask to wear thi-" Fiona's voice sounded from across the room, but suddenly stopped. The dead silence lasted long enough that Bubblegum began to worry, before a soft whistle broke it. "Well, damn."

"I am a genius!" the stylist exclaimed enthusiastically. "My ladies, open your eyes and behold your own splendor!"

Thinking the man to be a bit grandiose, Bubblegum slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the stylist, all his assistants, and Fiona staring wide-eyed in her direction. Then she looked to her right, her breath immediately catching in her throat. Marceline stood next to her, holding her hand in a gentle but firm grip. The Vampire Queen looked, simply put, down-right stunning.

The fabric surrounding Marceline was a deep navy, which upon closer inspection had an even darker, almost black, pattern etched along it. The collar around her neck attached in front of her torso like a vest, with the ends falling past her knees. While the jacket itself was sleeveless, three-quarter length gloves covered her arms from her wrists to just beneath her shoulder. The fabric surrounding her left hip had a dusting of sky blue gems sewn in, stretching out in a circular fashion.

Gradually looking up, Bubblegum's eyes met Marceline's. The Vampiress's long black hair was pulled up in a half-style bun that allowed it to flow over her right shoulder. Someone had taken the time to painstakingly braid in small sky blue gems here as well. Tiny dark beads were also glued to the left side of her neck.

"Look!" the stylist exclaimed, effectively ruining the moment of silent reverie. "I have made them fall in love all over again!"

"What?" Bubblegum finally tore her eyes away from Marceline to address their onlookers.

"Mirror!" the stylist ordered, sending three assistants off in a flurry to uncover the large mirror on the opposite wall.

As the cover fell, Bubblegum blinked at her own reflection in surprise. Her own dress was similar to Marceline's, a vest-style jacket wrapped around her neck hung down to button in the front. Rather than fall as a jacket over slacks, as Marceline's had, the material fell around her legs in a long gown. The overall color coordination was a soft sky blue that matched the small gems on Marceline's outfit. Bubblegum turned to the side, finding a dusting of small navy blue gems covering her right hip. Her own pink hair had been pulled up in a similar style to Marceline's, with dark beads carefully beaded through the locks. Standing next to each other, Marceline and Bubblegum looked like two halves of one picture.

"Wow, you really outdid yourself old man," Fiona praised as she walked towards the two ladies. "I can't imagine how you're going to beat this next year."

A look of horror came over the man's face. "No! The hideous carrot is right! I'll never beat this glory! What have I done? Must the end of my career come so soon!?"

Bubblegum looked at her bodyguard with a sigh. "Fiona…"

"What? He called me hideous carrot like five times," the woman shrugged. "You do look very nice though."

"Thank you," Bubblegum said, feeling surprisingly shy. She risked a glance back in the mirror, finding Marceline's eyes still directed at her. She turned to her wife with a cursory smile. "You look really great Marceline. …I'm sure your fans will be happy." Bubblegum immediately wanted to kick herself. Why had she added that last part?

"Oh… thank you," Marceline murmured, not sounding quite like herself. The Vampire Queen turned away, floating into the air before heading to the door. "I'll call the carriage around," she said blandly.

Bubblegum tried to hide her disappointment as Marceline exited the room. Why was she disappointed anyway, it's not like she particularly wanted any compliments from Marceline.

"I'm sure she's just in shock at how gorgeous you are," Fiona offered in consolation, patting Bubblegum's shoulder gently.

"It doesn't matter," Bubblegum replied, sounding sharper than she intended. "I'm sure she's just worried about the evening ahead," she tried to reconcile.

It wasn't long before the carriage arrived. Fiona and Kovmir hid in the covered front half of the vehicle while Bubblegum and Marceline sat in the open back. There was little room for talking as they were immediately assaulted with heralds and waves by the onlookers outside of the gates. It seemed as if every fanizen in the Nightos capitol was out to view their royal families. It was hard to make out specific words, but Bubblegum got the distinct impression the fanizens were more than pleased with their matching outfits.

By the time they reached the event hall, Bubblegum's face was sore from polite smiling. She rubbed at her cheeks, already wondering how she was going to survive the rest of the evening. A suspicious sound of soft laughter made her turn to look at Marceline for the first time since they'd entered the carriage.

"I feel it's only fair to warn you there will be plenty of cameras when we first walk in. There's a… red carpet of sorts before you actually reach the party," Marceline said sheepishly.

"Wonderful," Bubblegum sighed. She watched as Marceline hopped out of the carriage, turning to offer a helping hand. Bubblegum accepted gratefully, stepping out of the carriage after her wife. Thankfully they were in a covered alcove before a large set of doors that she assumed entered to the event.

"Don't worry," Marceline said, gripping Bubblegum's hand a bit harder, making her realize the Vampire was still holding onto her. "I'll go in first. Just follow my lead."

As soon as the doors opened, Bubblegum's breath shortened. The overwhelming sound of camera shutters, flashing lights, and excited voices of the paparazzi were like being hit with a wall. If the whole evening was to be like this, her expected rate of survival was rapidly declining.

With Marceline's steady hand guiding her down the carpet, Bubblegum managed to keep her sanity under the flashing lights. She left answering questions and greetings to Marceline, smiling as much as she could. Before long, they made it to the large doorway that separated the outside from the actual party.

"Looks like you made it in one piece," Fiona appeared next to her once they stopped in a corner for a rest. Kovmir followed, drawing Marceline's attention as they began to discuss something in whispers.

"How did you avoid all that?" Bubblegum fanned herself.

Fiona produced a small towel from her jacket pocket, dabbing at Bubblegum's forehead. "There's a separate entrance for the servants and help- hold still," she griped as Bubblegum tried to dodge the towel. "You've made it through the worst part. There are some video cameras and a few official photographers inside the main hall, but no flashing lights."

Bubblegum sighed. 'I still don't really understand how all this works."

"You made your big entrance for the fanizens," Fiona explained, bringing out a makeup puff from another pocket and attacking Bubblegum's forehead. "Just shut up and hold still! If I let you in there with even one bead of sweat on you that designer guy will chop me up like a carrot himself.

"You showed off for the fanizens, now the rest of the evening is about showing off for the royalty. You have to greet Hunson with Marceline when you first enter. The main ballroom is where most of the action happens. The few reporters and the servants can't leave this room. But you need to be careful in the side rooms. I would prefer you not go to any, but I have a feeling you wouldn't listen."

Bubblegum resisted the growing urge to sneeze from the powder. "And what's in the side rooms?"

'They're supposed to be for the royalty to rest and recuperate for short periods of time… but it's… well, it's where your typical 'party activities' happen… wine, drugs, cheating, gossip, gambling, networking…" Fiona answered, spraying something into Bubblegum's hair.

"What?!" the princess whispered harshly. "Why am I only just now hearing about this? I've no intention of partaking in such things!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure your body's a temple and all that," Fiona fluffed the body of Bubblegum's dress. "You don't have to partake, but if you're invited to a minor room, it's considered rude not to go for at least a few minutes."

Ignoring Bubblegum's continued complaints, Fiona revealed one of the small vials of anti Peppermint wine serum from inside her jacket. "Drink up," she ordered, watching as Kovmir also offered one to Marceline. "Remember this will only last for a few hours. If you think you need another, come find me in the main hall and ask for your lipstick."

"If I even survive the night," Bubblegum frowned, handing the now empty vial back.

"Don't worry so much," Marceline interrupted. "If anyone tries to pressure you into anything, just mention I'm looking for you."

"The lady has a reputation for being what you might call a 'party pooper'," Fiona interjected, pulling out an actual lipstick container and dabbing it onto Bubblegum's lips. "Ready as you'll ever be."

"Gee, thanks," Bubblegum frowned.

"If you don't mind following my lead, I'll take us in to greet Hunson," Marceline offered her hand.

Bubblegum nodded seriously, taking her wife's arm and following her towards the second set of doors. The lack of flashing lights as they entered seemed like a good sign, but Bubblegum quickly realized that everyone in the room was watching them. She remembered her entrance to the last large ceremony, over half a year ago now, where she had entered in traveling clothes and stood a little straighter. She wasn't going to be cowed by these people.

They approached Hunson's throne, waiting at the foot of the stairs for the footman there to announce them. Once their introduction had been proclaimed to the room, they ascended the first set of steps.

"Your Majesty," Marceline greeted her father with his formal title. She nodded to Bubblegum encouragingly as she released her wife's hand. "We greet you this evening under the solstice blessing."

As Marceline bowed, Bubblegum curtsied next to her with an accompanying polite, "Your Majesty."

"Marceline," the King's voice beget boredom and irritation all at once. "May the new sun lead you to prosperity. Although, I imagine such a sentiment is lost upon a vampire."

An awkward silence stretched through the hall, making Bubblegum nervous. She wondered if the comment was inciting the whispers running through the room… or if it was the fact that Hunson had obviously and purposefully not acknowledged her presence. She risked a glance at Marceline, who watched her father with a puzzled look.

"All in good fun, Marcy," Hunson waved his hand at her. "Off you go, you're holding up the line."

Bubblegum rose at the same time as her wife, following her down the steps and toward a corner of refreshments. "Are you ok?" she asked.

"He didn't even look at- I'm sorry," Marceline murmured in a harsh whisper. "To not acknowledge his own daughter-in-law in front of the entire court… Such a breach of protocol- it's not like him at all."

Bubblegum smiled a bit. The fact that Marceline seemed so upset for her sake made her curiously happy, although she wouldn't admit it aloud. "We both know I'm not his favorite person after my stunt with the water supply fiasco," Bubblegum pointed out. "Here, eat a strawberry and feel better."

Marceline turned her cursory glance at Bubblegum, a smile crossing her face despite herself. "Thank you," The vampire took a strawberry from the plate nearest them and ate it while surveying the room. "Something's wrong with him," she said. "I'm going to talk to some people, get some answers. Will you be alright on your own for a while? I'll find you in a bit for a dance."

"Dance!?" Bubblegum bristled. No one had mentioned dancing to her! She hadn't practiced in months. And what kind of dances were common in Nightos?

Marceline chuckled, nodding her head in a slight bow before taking off across the room. Bubblegum looked out at the giant ceremony hall, taking it all in. How the royalty managed to act like there weren't people dressed in neon-carrot orange peppered around the room was beyond her. Plenty of the upper echelon were already enjoying a practice waltz on the dance floor, while others scattered the room chatting.

Taking a deep breath, Bubblegum squared her shoulders. It was time to get the evening started.