Slowly all the grass was turning gray, trees withered and then died, birds stopped to sing and hung their heads in exhaustion, all because all life energy, all magic was literately sucked out of them and into a big machine, then into Betty herself.

She felt the buzzing in her fingers, the power it was immense. If she could get enough power she could do anything! Maybe she didn't even need to go back in time, maybe… She could fix this world around her?

Yes, she could fix not only Simon but everything. She could make a safe heaven, a paradise, where she and Simon could live together forever.

This world was not supposed to be here at all, it was trash. All Betty had to do was to suck out all the energy in this world, empty it out, get all the power she needed and then start over. Build it all from scratch, make it a paradise for her and Simon.

Power… She needed more power. She was going to be stronger than any wizard, stronger than the crown. She would make Simon remember her, she would give him his old body back and they could be together forever and ever in the paradise she would create! It was glorious.

And Betty laughed with glee as this scenario filled her head. "It's going to be beautiful Simon!" she laughed. "And it's all for you! I'll do it all, just for you!" She laughed loudly.

Marceline couldn't help but be really fascinated as she observed Simon while they walked around the capital of the candy kingdom. She could always tell whenever they were walking towards or away from the palace, because Simon was constantly changing!

The further they moved away from the palace and thusly the crown, the shorter his nose, hair and beard would become, but then when they turned around and walked a bit backwards his nose, beard and hair would grow again.
Marceline had seen many odd things in her life, this one though still stood out in particular to her.

And Marceline had to wonder, if they walked far enough away from the crown, and stayed away long enough… Would Simon start to remember again?
Of course that would be a dangerous game, take Simon to far away from the crown and he would die, it was simple as that.
So well, it probably wasn't even worth testing right now, especially with the crown as broke as it was.

"Geesh, is it just me or is the smell of sweetness just way to strong right here?" Simon asked as he wrinkled his nose.

"Oh glob you're right, it really stinks here." Marceline wrinkled her nose as well. "I think I know why, we are nearing the soda pop fountain."

Simon shook his head. "Don't get me wrong, I like a little piece of sweet ones in a while just as much as the next person. But this is kind of overdoing it don't you think?" he asked looking at a giant candy cane next to him serving as a street lamp.

"Yeah pretty much." Marceline chuckled. "Also the colors, it's way to bright for me." she commented gesturing at her own clothes in dark colors and of course her umbrella which shielded her from the sun, and it was indeed black.

"You do stand out a bit." Simon chuckled amused. "You look more like the downtown city type, a place with old record shops and bars which has stages in them where people play rock."

"I love rock!" Marceline grinned. "And I play!"

"Really?" Simon asked now sounding excited. "What do you play?"

"Mainly the bass, but I can also play guitar, piano and drums if i'm in the mood." Marceline informed in a smile.

"Really? That's weird, those are the exact same instruments I play." Simon blinked astounded. "Huh, now that's what I call a concidence! Please don't tell me you write lyrics to, then i'll be seriously out of my own depht!"

Marceline smile amused then shook her head, neglecting to tell Simon that he was the one whom had taught her those instruments in the first place, such a long time ago when all they had were each other and what ever little entertainment they could come up with, including making songs and playing instruments they happened to find laying on the ground, and of course, Simon had made songs up on the spot to amuse Marceline inspiring her own endavours. He hadn't been to bad a lyricist as far as Marceline was concerned, sure kind of corny and a very silly sense of humour but that was also kind of what she liked about Simon the person.

"I bet you have a great singing voice though." Simon commented thoughtfully.

"People say it's not to bad." Marceline smirked. "You should come to my next concert, i'll be rocking it out for sure."

"I would love to." Simon smiled then he frowned.

"What is it?" Marceline asked as she looked at him.

"It's…. Pretty odd. I'm very sure that I do play those instruments, that I have played them before. But I don't remember when." Simon admitted. "And I… I feel like taking a walk with you should mean something special, something that's both happy and sad on the same time. But I don't know why." he commented. "Silly isn't it? How can something be very happy, but also very sad on the same time? Heh listen to me talk, I sound like some sentimental senile old man." he commented amused.

Fondly Marceline looked at Simon, her heart almost melting. "Don't overthink it." she then encouraged.

Simon groaned as he held a hand towards his forehead.

"Simon?" Marceline asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm a hundred different kinds of messed up aren't I?" Simon asked. "It feels like, there's so much. To much, excuse me." he groaned as he leaned against the wall gasping deeply for air.

"Do you need to rest?" Marceline asked. "Do you want to go back?"

Simon groaned pressing a hand towards his forehead. "I don't know, I just." and he almost stumbled.

"Hey easy!" Marceline managed to grab Simon before he fell over. "Here." she then offered taking Simons arm supporting him. "It's okay, you just need to rest for a bit."

Simon though didn't look well, he looked incredible gaunt and weak, so much so he was forced to lean on Marceline. "I'm so sorry for this." he said.

Marceline shook her head, fighting the urge to point out how Simon had carried her ones. When she had been very small he had carried her in his arms when she was sick, when she had become to big for his arms he had carried her on his back when she had been to tired.
Even when Marceline had been a teenager and had ones strained her ankle, Simon had carried her across the field to a place of safety where her ankle could heal. Im comparison this really was nothing.

"Don't think about it." Is what Marceline ended up saying instead. "You crazy old fool."

Simon smiled amused. "Yup that's me." he fully acknowledged.

What neither Simon or Marceline realized at that point though was that they had been spotted, Betty had decided to try and locate the Ice King with a seers sphere and astounded saw him holding the arm of another woman! A young woman with long black hair, holding him up and smiling lightly at him.
The Ice king… He looked different than last, he wasn't wearing that stupid robe nor the suite but a sweater and pair of brown pants, other things about him looked different but Betty couldn't quite place it, only that he looked more like her Simon than before.
And he was looking at this other woman with gentle and warm eyes, the same way her Simon had looked at Betty.

Somehow that made Betty's blood boil and the machine next to her started to send out sparks, who was this tramp?! Who did she think she was?! Here Betty was doing all that she could for Simon and this tramp was taking him away.

Over Betty's dead body…