Their voyage to the Haunted Swamp was the first of Bubblegum and Marceline's adventures together but by no means the last.
Their success in getting the herb gave them the confidence to go on many quests together – to find things Cotton needed in the lab, to scout out new land, to explore the many rumours and mysteries of the land of Ooo.
From The Floating Gems in the east to the Sea Of Sure Death in the west, the vampire and the princess conquered it all together.
They made a good team – Bubblegum as the brains, Marceline as the brawn, both filled with a certain type of bravery that comes from knowing there is no reason to be afraid of what lies ahead when you're standing alongside the person you trust most.
The candy people grew to deeply admire their courageous young princess, as well as her dependable companion from the Nightosphere.
Far and wide across Ooo, their friendship was recognised as a sure fact. Marceline Abadeer and Bonnibel Bubblegum. Princess B and the vampire-demon. Marcy and P-Bubs. Everyone knew they were buds.
Bubblegum even got them both walkie-talkies so that they could stay in contact if they got separated from one another during a venture. But the duo also started using them as a means to constantly keep up with each other – often chatting into the early hours of the morning before one of them yawned and bade the other goodnight.
The summer ended and The Scream Queens disbanded. Bongo and Guy had been asked to tour with a different punk band and Keila had decided to return to the Underworld to pursue other interests.
Marceline didn't mind so much. She knew a reunion was always on the cards.
Plus, now she could work on some of her more personal solo stuff...
Autumn melted into winter and Ooo heralded in a new year.
The winter finished and returned to spring, marking the first anniversary of Bubblegum and Marceline's initial meeting. It was around this time that a certain conversation took place during one of their Sunday night treks through the forest.
"So Dad says we have enough citizens to convert the settlement into a proper kingdom now!" Bubblegum was telling Marceline excitedly.
"Glob, it took you guys long enough!" Marceline teased and Bubblegum nudged her playfully in the ribs.
"Shut up dude! Anyway, I'm eager to start the move but," the princess' brow furrowed. "Dad keeps putting it off. I don't know why."
Marceline shrugged.
"Your dad's a smart guy, I'm sure he has his reasons."
"Yeah," Bubblegum agreed as they rambled down a winding path together. "Probably...It's just frustrating. If we can get things up and running now, why not now?"
Marceline produced a small snort of laughter.
"What is it with you and forgetting you're immortal? There's plenty of time for everything PB! Nothing has to be rushed into happening right now."
"I know, I know!" Bubblegum smiled and rolled her eyes. "The difference between dreams and plans doesn't matter for us, yadda, yadda."
Both girls laughed.
Bubblegum looked up at the trees around them, smiling, glad to be in her trusted friend's company.
But there was a heavy weight in her stomach that kept reminding her of itself with an occasional nauseous flip. She cleared her throat and turned to the vampire floating beside her.
Better say it now while she had the guts.
"Oh yeah, something happened yesterday that I meant to mention to you..."
"Oh yeah?" Marceline said, watching a rabbit scurry under a bush. "What's that?"
"Eh...I, uh, I got asked out on a date."
Marceline felt her chest tighten and her heart do a kind of queasy jolt.
But she tried to ignore that, tried to ignore how globbin' bad it felt, and just swallowed.
"R-really?" she replied, hoping her voice didn't echo with too much of what she felt. "Who with?"
"Em, a guy named Buttercrunch," Bubblegum's words were laced with reluctance. "He's eighteen years old and has been interning in the lab with us for a while. He asked me out the other morning during a coffee break."
"Oh so he's a science geek like you!" Marceline smirked at Bubblegum, hoping she could cover up how she felt. How this was clawing at her rib cage.
Bubblegum smirked playfully back, trying hard not to be hurt by the fact that Marceline didn't seem at all envious or even concerned.
Maybe the vampire just didn't reciprocate the feelings Bubblegum had been harbouring...
"I guess, if you insist on using that term!"
"So when are you guys going on your first date?"
"Tuesday night. After we finish up in the lab."
"Cool! Good luck Bon!"
"Thanks Marcy."
To any average being, the conversation would have seemed innocent, carefree and perfectly uncomplicated. Just two friends chattering excitedly about one of them having a date.
But the unspoken words and hidden feelings inside the two girls burned at them like poison, long after they had left the woods and headed back to their separate homes.
...
Tuesday evening came with a slight breeze that softly ruffled the trees and bushes across the vast land. The sun set in the sky and Buttercrunch happily prepared for his big date with the princess.
Marceline glumly plucked the strings on her bass, floating languidly above her bed.
Bubblegum sat at the edge of her own bed, motionless, silent, not her usual lively self at all.
Well, it makes sense, Marceline thought desolately. She likes the science guy, the one who can actually understand what she's talking about and not just listen. Of course. It makes perfect sense. It just hurts is all...
Bubblegum looked down at her hands neatly folded on her lap and sighed. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why had she even bothered holding out hope? Marceline could never want her that way...could she?
Buttercrunch strode towards the Bubblegum residence, chockfull of pep and confidence. Tonight was the night! Time to take Princess B out on a hot date!
Marceline floated aimlessly around the house, thinking of a million little things, like Bubblegum's smile and her laugh and her scent and how she squinted her eyes when thinking hard.
Just try to forget about Marceline! Focus on Buttercrunch, he's a cool guy, you'll have fun, Bubblegum tried desperately to tell herself.
Buttercrunch lifted up an arm and inhaled. He shrugged. He smelt fine.
Marceline landed in the corner of her living room and leaned heavily against the wall, letting out a sigh. Well, she reminded herself, no matter what happens, Bonni is still your friend...Your best friend.
The vampire smiled at the thought.
Bubblegum stood up, straightened out her dress, checked her reflection. She imagined Marceline jokingly wolf-whistling at her semi-formal outfit and smiled. At least she always had the vampire as a friend. A great friend. Her best friend.
The very notion of it warmed her heart.
The doorbell rang.
King Cotton stood at his bedroom window, watching his daughter and the young wannabe scientist trek across their front lawn and disappear into the night.
He couldn't help but chuckle when he noticed how off their body language was...walking at least two feet apart, both with folded arms and unsure postures.
Unlike Bubblegum's body language around the vampire girl...how they walked side-by-side with a spring in both their steps, clearly feeling completely at ease in each other's presence. The way they talked to one another, sometimes jokingly, often mockingly, but always lovingly, never without care. The way they looked at each other, smiled at each other, laughed with each other.
Cotton turned away from the window.
That was all OK. There was time for Bubblegum to figure out what she wanted. Time for her and Marceline to discover what was so blindingly obvious to him...a man who had been deeply in love for many years.
He stopped, looked in the mirror. Grey streaks had slowly been working their way into his pink hair recently, more lines had appeared on his face, and he was getting thinner. He hoped Bubblegum hadn't noticed how much weight he had lost of late. He turned away from his reflection, trying hard not to notice himself.
His thoughts went back to his daughter and the vampire, and the long lives stretched out in front of both of them.
What was it Bubblegum had told him that Marceline had said to her before?
"The difference between dreams and plans doesn't matter for us because we've got eternity to figure out the bugs."
The king sank into a chair, an admiring smile on his face. Nicely put Marceline!
He closed his eyes, tiredness sweeping over him. He was tired so often in the past few months.
Cotton rested his head on his hand.
He sighed, feeling defeated and whitewashed and very, very old.
Yes, there was definitely plenty of time for Bubblegum and Marceline.
But for King Cotton?
No, the same couldn't be said for him.
Marceline was just getting ready for bed when there was a tap against her window.
She looked up, took a pause and then shrugged, figuring that she had imagined it.
But then there was another soft tap. And then another.
"Huh?"
She floated over, peering out into the darkness, down to the ground below and saw...
"Bonni?"
Bubblegum put her arm back, ready to throw another pebble at Marceline's bedroom window when it suddenly slid open and the vampire stuck her head out, folding her arms casually on the windowsill.
"Hey Bonnibel, come here often?"
Bubblegum smirked.
"Hey Marcy. Sorry to drop by like this...mind if I come in for a while?"
"Sure. Hold on."
Marceline couldn't help but feel delighted as she went downstairs to open the front door for Bubblegum. The princess thanked her when she did and walked into the living room.
"I take it the date didn't go fantastically then?"
"Nah," Bubblegum said, sitting down on her friend's couch. "He was kind of a butt. He made me pay for dinner and the movie. Plus, he just talked about himself all night."
"Whoa, jerk alert!" Marceline laughed. "So how'd you end up way out here?"
Bubblegum shrugged.
"Buttercrunch wanted me to go back to his place after the movie but," she laughed. "There was no way man, so I just got him to drop me home. But then I didn't feel up to being grilled by Dad about how it went as soon as I got in the door – so I got one of the house servants to drive me out here. Hope that's cool?"
"Yeah, of course," Marceline replied simply. "You're welcome here anytime dude. You know that."
Bubblegum smiled broadly.
"Thanks Marceline. Mind if I crash on your couch tonight?"
"Sure, no problem Bonni! I think your pyjamas are still here from last time anyway."
"Cool, thanks dude. This is why you're my best bud."
Marceline smiled, feeling a glow where her heart used to be.
"Thanks Bon, you're mine too."