Marceline sat on Bubblegum's windowsill deep in thought. She watched the moon fall closer to the horizon. What was going on? Why didn't Bonnie remember her? Why was she in a cave when she woke up? All of these questions raced through her mind as candy crickets chipped from the ground below.
Marceline looked over to Bubblegum who was turning over in her sleep. She seemed to be doing it a lot since the Queen had moved her. Marceline slid off her perch and walked over to the side of Bubblegum's bed. The younger girl's forehead gleamed in the moon light that was being cast into her room. Marceline gently swept the back of two fingers above her brow. She was in a cold sweat. Must be a nightmare. Marceline frowned and ran a hand through her dark hair. "Why don't you remember me?" She mumbled. The Vampire looked towards the door and clenched her jaw. Maybe Peppermint knew what was going on. Then again, he wasn't very found of her so there was a chance he wouldn't even tell her. Marceline sighed and floated over to the door. She opened and closed it quietly as not to disturb the sleeping princess. When she turned around she was greeted with a familiar face.
"Peppermint. You keep sneaking up on me." Marceline chuckled lightly, feeling extremely awkward. The Butler's face was uninviting. He did not respond to the comment and continued to stare at the Queen. Marceline rubbed the back of her neck, "I uh, was just coming to look for-"
"-What do you think your doing?" He asked, his expression the same.
"I don't understand." Marceline's voice was meek.
"Are you planning something?" He took a step towards her.
"What?" Marceline's brow furrowed in confusion, "look I don't even know what's going on, man. I thought maybe you could explain somethings for me." Her voice gained a defensive tone.
"The night you left I thought I'd never have to see your face again." Peppermint snarled, "You've got balls coming back after fifteen years."
Marceline's jaw dropped, her eyes expressed something close to horror. "Fifteen? I was out for fifteen years!?" She pressed both palms to her temples to keep what felt like her brain from exploding. "Oh Glob..."
Peppermint eyed the Vampire. "Wait, have you not been in the Nightosphere for fifteen years?"
"I never went the night I left!" Marceline was panicking at this point. "All I remember was going to my house to get a few things..." She looked down at the little candy man. "Ash was there," her voice cracked. "I don't know what happened after that."
"Marceline..." Peppermint's expression changed to deep concern.
"Peppermint," her voice shook, "why doesn't she remember me?" There were the first formations of tears in her eyes, the look on her face was still confusion.
The man clenched his jaw and paused for a moment. "Come with me." He walked passed her and began to lead them through the palace. They walked silently for a few moments until they reached the courtyard. The moon was almost set and the stars had begun to dim. These where the signs that first light was approaching. Peppermint sat down on a bench and motioned for the Queen to sit as well.
"Fifteen years ago. The night you were to leave for the Nightosphere. Princess Bubblegum cried for about three hours straight." Marceline lowered her head in guilt. "The next few weeks were extremely hard for her. She couldn't sleep, she couldn't eat, she was down right ill. The thought of you leaving crushed her constantly. She would have nightmares about you leaving over and over again. One night she couldn't take it anymore."
"No." Marceline looked to the Butler, tears rolled down her cheeks, "tell me she didn't."
"She erased her memories of you." His voice was gentle.
"I tried to come back," she was full on crying now, "I chose her. I didn't want to rule the Nightosphere. I didn't want to marry Ash. I chose her." Marceline wiped her cheeks. "Is there anyway to get them back? How do I make her remember me." Her voice and eyes were pleading.
Peppermint Butler placed a hand on the girl's knee. "Let me do some research. I'll let you know as soon as possible. For now, play along. I'm not sure what would happen if we tried to explain it to her."
Marceline sat quiet for a moment. "You know, I knew something was wrong immediately. She was scared of me at first. She was never afraid before now."
Peppermint sighed and looked up at the sky. The East was getting lighter by the minute. "Get some sleep. I'll find you once I know something."
The dark haired girl stood. "I've slept enough, I need something red."
"Whatever you prefer," Peppermint stood and began to walk back toward the castle, "there are plenty of red things in the royal kitchen. Help yourself," his voice was friendly for once.
She watched him disappear into the castle then set out for something to eat.
xXx
Princess Bubblegum jolted upright into a sitting position and looked around. Her breathing was heavy and cold sweat ran down her temple. She was in bed, the light of day was creeping into her bedroom. She glanced at her clock, it was close to noon. The Monarch wiped her clammy brow and tried to remember the events of the nightmare she had. Though the dream had already escaped her. She rolled out of bed with a reluctant sigh. Bubblegum walked to her closet and picked out a comfortable outfit for the day.
She had no scheduled meetings so her day was open for science or hobbies. These were the days she could develop a new type of candy citizen or hang out with Finn and Jake. These were her favorite. She walked into her bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. There were bags under her eyes. The Monarch sighed and picked up her toothbrush. As she scrubbed her teeth with choco-mint toothpaste she thought about what she wanted to do for the day. Marceline is top priority. That is if she even stayed the night. I wonder how I got into bed.
Bubblegum spit into the sink. "I wonder where Marceline is," she mumbled to herself.
"I'm right here."
Bubblegum jumped, her eyes snapped to the bathtub. The shower curtain was pulled back to reveal Marceline laying there.
"Marceline?" Bubblegum was beyond confused as why the older girl was relaxing in the candy porcelain shower. "Why are you-" she paused, "did you sleep in there?"
"Well, Vampires don't really sleep during the night. We hardly have to sleep at all actually." Marceline began to float; she was no longer in the tub and was now in the air above it.
"Okay but why?" Bubblegum asked, still confused.
"I don't know," Marceline scratched her temple, "you fell asleep last night over your notes. I tucked you in and I didn't really know where to go."
Bubblegum's confused expression dropped. "You tucked me in last night?"
"Of course." Marceline tried to read the other girls face for some type of clue on what she was thinking about. She couldn't really pin it so she began to feel anxious. She cleared her throat and spoke again, "Anyway, I need to go to the bathroom. I'll go try to find one." The Vampire glided over to the door and disappeared.
Bubblegum scrunched her face up. "But we're in a bathroom," she said to herself. The Princess stared at the empty threshold for a moment then set out to find her butler.
"Pep Butt!" Bubblegum shouted down the halls of her palace, "Pep, where are you?"
"Here, my Lady." Peppermint came strutting around the corner in front of her. "What can I do for you?"
"I need to talk to you. In my lab."
The small man nodded and followed her into her laboratory. "What do you need to talk about?"
"Marceline." Bubblegum closed the door behind them and turned to face Peppermint. "She was in my bathroom this morning?" She said it like a question, still slightly confused. "She also tucked me in last night. Is that weird?"
Peppermint stood silent for a few moments. He had seen Marceline carry her out of the laboratory. He knew that wasn't abnormal. Marceline would do it constantly. Distract Bubblegum from her work, keep her up until first light, then tuck her in. She had the Princess practically nocturnal at one point. But she couldn't know. Not yet. They would have to be careful. Normal things that Marceline would do could be considered weird for a stranger; and that's what she was to her right now. "A stranger." Peppermint didn't realize he said it out loud until she responded.
"She is a stranger. Is it weird that I feel comfortable around her though?" Bubblegum was staring intently at him. He realized she was distressed but did not speak. "Pep, please say something I'm kind of freaking out about this."
The Butler sighed. "I don't think it's weird, my Lady. Vampires," he paused, "they live for very long periods of time, they meet a lot of people along the way. Maybe if a vampire has deemed you worthy of friendship they skip formalities and get right down to being friends." Peppermint Butler turned over a hand in a suggesting manner. "Maybe Queen Marceline has already deemed you worthy." The Princess was quiet for a moment and Peppermint hoped to Glob that could sound plausible enough.
"I suppose that's plausible." Bubblegum lifted a hand to her mouth as she thought.
Peppermint exhaled a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in.
"Maybe I should invite her to dinner. But I suppose that may be difficult considering the difference in diets..." she trailed off, deep in thought.
"Let me worry about that, Princess." The Butler smirked. "Dinner will be at eight. Let Queen Marceline know." He walked out of the door with a mission.
Bubblegum sighed and set out to find the other Monarch.