A few days passed, and as Bubblegum was flung from one errand to the next, she took pride in knowing that Marceline was probably just as busy. The vampire had to be enjoying the rewards of being sought after and looked up to. Admired and loved.

And while she did find herself imaging the queen in her crown of ears and barking orders quite often, she certainly didn't worry.

A week or two passed, and Bubblegum shouted 'HA!' all to herself. It was the dead of night, her body curled restlessly around the last paragraphs of 'Bleh.' She had finally found textual proof that yes, Marceline could and most likely was performing hypnotism.

"When attempting to practice the act of 'hypnotism' (Got you now, you cheating leech!), it is important to recall that flattery and manners (Yeah, Marceline definitely didn't read this) are required first.

To hypnotize your prey, said quarry must already be enthralled in your presence (What.). Only the incredibly weak minded and stupid can be hypnotized. Anything smarter than a shovel or a lobster (That wasn't…this isn't) must be seduced-?!"

"Seduced?" Bubblegum spat, slamming the book shut as if it was a door leading into a nudity party. "Marceline's never seduced me!"

It's okay, her brain reassured. Obviously, this segment was written for peasant vamp tramps. Marceline's the QUEEN, after all.

She peered back into the pages.

"—beforehand. Even the king or Queen is not powerful enough to brainwash a mind of fortitude, much less a clever koala oh cabbage!" she huffed, tossing the dumb book to the ground and rolling over in her bed to glare out the window.

"I am a clever koala," she said to the dark sky. "Marceline just played up that vulnerable act and made me feel…feel sympathy towards her. That's hardly 'seduction."

When the vampire finally returned, she was going to give her a piece of her big ol' mind!

Three months went by, and there came a quiet knock at her door.

Peppermint hesitantly left her side to answer it, and she didn't bother getting her hopes up this time.

In her fretting need to know Marceline was alive and well, she had become desperate enough to think that the rock star would ring the phone or asked to be let in through the front door, knowing full well Marceline only came in the dead of night through her bedroom window.

But every time, it had just been another guest or friend.

And only owls and moths had entered her room through a window kept wide open now.

She slouched in her throne, feeling the weight of her crown.

Marceline had been correct in saying that their kingdoms were much different, but had it really taken her till now to realize how different?

Her people were cuddled on a daily basis, for Billy's Sake! Vampires were more dangerous than, than sharks with tentacles. And hawk wings. And a secret cat head. Like tentacat shark hawk—

"Your majesty," Peppermint bowed. "The human Finn and dog Jake are here on your behalf—"

"Yeah, okay," Bubblegum sighed, straightening herself. Peppermint lingered for a moment, something akin to worry on his face, but he knew that if it was one thing that always cheered up his princess, it was Finn.

He opened the door, allowing the heroes in.

"Hey P.B! Brought you some soup," the boy chirped, heaving a steaming bowl up.

Bubblegum's lips pursed tight, but she ignored her body's resistance for the sake of manners, and forced them to smile. She cradled the soup in her arms, enjoying its warmth at least.

"Thank you Finn…" she paused, brow furrowing. She slid up to stand, placing the soup on her throne. "Wait…you only bring me soup when you think something's wrong…"

"Peebles, I know something's up," he replied, a fist thumping on his chest, his eyes closing sadly. "You got a serious case of the feels."

"The huh?" Bonnibel asked, raking her brain for what he was saying.

"You're all gloom and doom and stuff!" Jake agreed/translated, his legs stretching up into stilts. "We haven't seen you turn that frown upside down in weeks." His long body arched up like lips smiling before deflating down into a pout.

"Oh. Well," she started, voice dying away. And this wasn't a spell. She knew what she was feeling. And as if the boy's sheer virtue were inspiring her, her denial split like a dam under raging water.

"I'm worried!" Bubblegum burst. "So worried—and guilty, too! Marceline, she may be in horrible danger. And it's all my fault Finn. I was selfish, so caught up in my ways that I couldn't see hers."

"What the math?" Finn exclaimed, drawing his yellow bladed sword. "Mar Mar's in danger? Where?"

"Oh Finn, can't you see?" Bonnibel's crumbling face pressed down into her hands. "I can't send you now! Regrettably, I almost did. But now I must go on my own. I have to make things right, and sacrificing you isn't part of that answer."

"Aw hey naw!" Jake snapped, weaving his head. "We can't let you go running off after that creepy vampire alone!"

"Yeah, whatever's too dangerous for Mars is going to be WAY too dangerous for you!" Finn cried, eyes bulging.

"Yeah! Like 'a-shark- with- tentacles- and- bird-wings' too dangerous!" The dog declared, his limbs wriggling as a fin and wings sprouted up from his stretchy yellow skin.

"With 'a- secret-hidden-cat- face' too dangerous!" Finn agreed, and despite Jake's scowl, his jowls folded into a lumpy cat face.

"What? That's lame man, cats are lame."

"Cats aren't lame—you're just saying that because you think they're snobs."

"Enough!" the princess shouted, her hands falling down to clench into fists. "Even if it is that dangerous, it's my fault she's there. I've been reading up on vampires, I know what to expect. And I absolutely forbid you from following me."

"WHAT? No flippin' way, Peebles!" Finn strained, face turning red within the white circle of his hat.

"You must Finn," Bonnibel said. "You're right, I do have the feels. And the only prescription is saving that butt's butt!"

She turned to move towards her room, for what she wasn't sure. Her mind was racing with the endless possibilities of what she could encounter, the tools in her arsenal whipping before her mind's eye.

"No!" Finn yelped, reaching out and snatching her wrist. "I—huh? What's this?"

She felt his thumb scraping over the bumps Marceline's teeth had left, and she whirled back around, face red. It was too late; Finn stared down, his mouth agape, and Jake peered over before recoiling.

"Did she bite you?!" the dog whined. "No wonder you've got feels!"

"No, I have feels because I'm guilty from something I did wrong!" Bubblegum forced, yanking her hand away. "And what would Fire Princess do if you got hurt, Finn? You have to think about her too. And what about Lady, Jake? You two have puppies."

"Leave my beautiful family out of this!" the canine gasped sharply.

"I'm trying to!" Bonnibel all but yelled, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

"Oh, thanks."

"We're not letting you go stone alone, PB!" Finn charged between them. "Marcy's my gal pal too. And as a hero, I have to help anyone who needs it!"

The look on his face was one Bonnibel knew too well—'no' wasn't even on his radar. But she couldn't possibly take him.

Oh, why didn't I just sneak away? I really got to start thinking more like Marceline. Where are you?

"Dude, your skull is mad cramped," echoed an all too familiar voice.

Marceline?! But—how-

The queen appeared in her mind's eye, floating upside down with a toothy smile. "No, not really. I'm more of a figment of you going mental."

Close enough! What would you do?

"C'mon, Bubblegum. You're the brains of this operation. Literally." She poked a grey finger into Bonnibel's grey matter. "What would I do?"

But then Marceline's shoulders rolled, her thick long hair sweeping down. " And let's not get lost in what I would do to you, shall we?"

I beg your pardon?

"I know you looked at my butt while I was sleeping," Marceline purred, floating on her side with an arm over her hip, the other propping up her grinning head.

I did no such thing! Stop trying to brain wash me, I'm A CLEVER KOALA!

"PB?"

"Wut..oh!" Bonnibel snapped out of it, wiping her mouth and quickly pouting. "Alright Finn—we'll go together. But there are three places I think she might be. If only I could go to them all at once!" She draped a hand over her eyes helplessly, peering out from a small space of pink skin.

To her excitement, Finn's mouth popped open with eager thought.

"That's easy! I'll go to one, Jake will go to the other, and you can go to the third! You can call us on BMO if danger arises."

"Nice one Bonnie! Now slide 'er on hommmmme," Marceline growled through gritting teeth, sliding down on her knees and hammering out a frantic solo on her axe bass.

"That's a marvelous idea Finn!" Bubblegum exclaimed, relief poured into her act of joy.

"So, where do we go?"

"Oh..uhm… The Bouncy Castle and the Meadow of Giggles," she responded slowly, pointing to each boy respectively.

"Why would Marceline be in danger there?" Jake asked skeptically.

I'm not going to get away with this meddling dog, or his stupid kid, too! Bonnibel inwardly fretted.

"Hey, you got this. You know me." Marceline wrapped her arms around Bonnibel, smelling like falling stars and rain, damp dark places the sun couldn't reach-

It dawned on her instantly. You're right!

"Do those sound like places of enjoyment for her?" Bubblegum demanded, arms akimbo.

"PB's right, she would die from lack of violence and damp shading!" Finn shrieked, his eyes watering.

"Come to think of it, I'm feeling bad for the peeps stuck with her," Jake groaned.

"That too!" Bubblegum beamed. "Think of the suffering!"

"Where will you be going?" the boy asked, but this time, Bubblegum was ready.

"The mountains!" she said, thumping a fist down into her hands. "The Marauders totally owe me one, that's why they visited and stuff, you know, convenience, I'll meet you guys back here bye!"

She ran from the room, lifting her dress up and over her head. Beneath was a pair of boots and white slim snow pants and coat.

"Thank Gob I'm always ready for a cold kidnapping," she growled. As she ran down the halls, she couldn't help but think of sliding towards Marceline that fateful day in her library.

'I know, Imma comin.'

She skid into her lab, seizing a backpack and stuffing what she needed in light speed.

Then before she knew it, she was leaping off the roof, arms spread eagle.

"KAHEE KA!" she hollered, and The Morrow swept up under her legs.

"To the caves' on the southern side!" Bubblegum urged, and the bird's wings shot backwards as it rocketed through the cold evening sky. A tear streaked down her eye, and it wasn't from the gale force wind.

I just hope I'm not too late.