Marceline sat in front of her mirror as an army of makeup artists and hairdressers put the finishing touches on her appearance for the ceremony. They had long since stopped trying to engage the queen in conversation, as she was lost in her own thoughts. While everyone assumed that her mind was on her marriage to Finn, it was everything that had happened with Princess Bubblegum that was troubling her. Marceline couldn't help but think that she had ruined her marriage before it even started.
One of the hairdressers placed Marceline's royal crown on her head and stepped back.
"Are you pleased, Queen Marceline?" She asked.
"Yes. Thank you all," Marceline said, studying her reflection in the mirror.
The Vampires bowed and left the queen to attend to her bridesmaid, Princess Bubblegum. They had only been gone a moment when Marceline heard a knock at her door. She stood up and smoothed her dress, and mentally prepared herself to see Finn. She hadn't seen him since the incident with the princess, and she couldn't imagine facing him just yet.
"Oh, Simon, it's you!" Marceline said when she opened the door and saw her old friend.
"Who were you expecting? You know, it's bad luck for the groom to see his bride before the wedding," he laughed.
"Yeah…" Marceline suddenly started to cry.
"Hey now, what's this?" Simon asked. "Why are you crying?"
Simon closed the door behind him and led Marceline over to her bed.
"I did something bad last night, Simon," she whispered. "Real bad."
"I'm sure it couldn't have been too bad, Marcy. What was it?"
"I slept with Bonnibel."
"Oh," Simon said, adjusting his glasses. "That is bad."
"I know," Marceline cried. "I went to the Nightosphere last night with Finn, and we found out that his mom is still alive and then Ash showed up and-"
"Wait, Ash?"
"Yeah, apparently Dad excused him from eternal torment to be his right hand man or something. Anyway, Ash came into Dad's office while Finn and I were in there, and he hugged me, and it made me realize that I…I miss him. Even though he hurt me again, I still miss him."
"Is that where you got that black eye?" Simon asked.
"Oh Glob, I thought they covered it!" Marceline exclaimed, covering her eye with her hand.
"Relax, Marcy, you can't see it now. But the whole castle is abuzz over it. They think it was Finn. That's why I came to see you actually; I know Finn didn't do it, and I had to know who did."
"Yeah, it was Ash," Marceline whispered. "I told him to stay away from me, and I slapped him, so he punched me. But anyway, after I got back from the Nightosphere I was upset and I told Finn I needed some time alone, so I went to my room, and then Bonnie showed up, drunk. She offered me wine, and I know I shouldn't have, but I took it and then…it just happened. Finn's going to hate me."
Simon closed his eyes, took off his glasses, and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was silent for a long time, and Marceline could feel guilt twisting her heart.
"Marceline, do you want to marry Finn?" Simon asked.
"Of course," Marceline responded. "I love him."
"Well then, I think maybe you should put everything that happened last night out of your mind, and leave it there."
"You mean I shouldn't tell Finn?"
"Some things are better left unsaid, Marceline," Simon said. "I was just in Finn's room, and he's so excited he could barely sit still. He worships you, and he could never hate you, but knowing about what happened with Bonnibel would break his heart."
Marceline considered what Simon had said.
"I think you're right," she said after a few moments. "Thanks Simon."
Simon hugged the queen tightly and planted a kiss on the top of her head. They sat in silence for a long while, enjoying each other's company, until a light knock sounded at the door.
"Queen Marceline? It's time," Thurston called through the open door.
"Be right out, Thurston!" Marceline said, turning to Simon. "Let's do this."
Simon nodded and took Marceline's hand. The queen had insisted that both he and her father walk her down the aisle, and the wedding committee had reluctantly agreed. Hunson, who had always been a little jealous of Simon, had been hurt, but Marceline felt that Simon deserved the honor. Thurston led Marceline and Simon down a large staircase and to the ballroom, where all the members of the wedding party were waiting in front of the oak French doors.
Princess Bubblegum was wearing a knee-length black gown with an empire waist, and her hair was twisted up into an elegant bun. Jake, who was leaning heavily on a cane, was dressed in a black suit with a red bow tie, identical to Simon and Hunson's. BMO and Neptr were playing on the floor, and they ran over to hug Marceline's legs when she walked in. Hunson was standing in the corner by himself, anxiously watching his daughter.
"Marceline," he said, "last night…It wasn't what you thought. You of all people should know the importance of keeping your enemies close, and I-"
"Dad, don't," Marceline ordered. "Just save it. We can talk about it later."
"Very well," Hunson replied.
An awkward silence fell on the room. Marceline tried to make eye contact with Princess Bubblegum, but the princess looked away. Before she could, however, Marceline noticed that her eyes were swollen and her mascara was ever-so-slightly smudged, and guilt ran through the queen's body. She turned to see Jake staring at her, his mouth set in a tight frown. Marceline tried to smile at him, but she couldn't twist her face into the proper expression. She knew that Jake had told Finn not to marry her, and she was beginning to wonder if he had been right.
Before long, Marceline heard music and the Vampire guards, wearing their dress uniforms, opened the door to the ballroom. Princess Bubblegum and Jake walked in first, arm in arm. They were followed by BMO, who scattered red rose petals down the aisle, and Neptr, who was carrying the rings on a plush pillow. When the music changed to the traditional wedding march, Simon and Hunson positioned themselves at either side of Marceline, and they hooked their arms around hers. She took a deep breath and together, the trio entered the ballroom.
Vampires, Candy people, visiting royalty, and countless people that Finn and Jake had helped over their years of adventuring were packed into the ballroom. When they saw Marceline, they stood and watched as she made her way down the aisle. Finn, standing at the altar next to Jake and a Vampire High Priest, felt happy tears fill his eyes. He had always thought Marceline was beautiful, but seeing her like that took his breath away.
When Marceline stepped onto the altar, Simon and Hunson went to their seats and the queen took Finn's hand in both of hers.
"You're beautiful," he mouthed.
Marceline smiled and looked into Finn's eyes as the priest began to chant. She studied his wide grin, the scar above his eye from his encounter with Ash, and the way his blond hair fell haphazardly around his face, despite the work he had put in to it. In a moment of sudden realization, Marceline saw that Finn truly loved her. He wasn't marrying her for convenience, or to get something in return, but because he wanted to be with her. Marceline felt herself tear up, and she squeezed Finn's hand.
As the priest's Latin chant turned monotonous in Finn's ears, he stared at Marceline, remembering the day they first met. He wondered what his twelve-year-old self would think if he saw him now. He supposed that his younger self would be shocked that he was getting married, even more so when he saw his choice of bride. He'd spent the first few weeks after meeting Marceline thinking that she was an evil, blood-sucking monster. His grin widening, Finn realized just how wrong he had been.
The young hero felt momentary panic when Marceline began speaking, but he calmed as soon as he realized she was just saying the traditional Vampire vows.
"Ego, Marceline, suscipio te, Finn, sicut meus maritus, habere ac tenere in felicitas et in litis, in opulentia, in paupertas, n morbus et in salus, amare et colere stituens is dies et aeternum."
Finn repeated the vows, and sighed with relief as soon as they were over. He had been studying them ever since he had learned that he would be required to say them in Latin, and he was glad to have gotten them out without making any mistakes.
"Present the rings," the priest ordered.
Neptr stepped forward and presented the rings to the couple. Finn slipped Marceline's ring onto her finger, and she did the same for him. The priest gave the order, and Finn pulled Marceline close for their first kiss as a married couple. Their guests cheered, and they walked down the aisle together, followed by the wedding party.
When Finn and Marceline, hand in hand, stepped out into the gardens, they were bathed in a warm glow from the setting sun. Finn initially jumped, afraid of being burnt, but Marceline squeezed his hand and gently pulled him towards the long, raised table that stretched across one side of the garden's empty space. They sat side by side, facing their guests, and looked out at the transformed garden.
The decorators had hung paper lanterns around the perimeter of the garden, and their light cast a soft glow on the grounds. Over a hundred small tables had been set up, and at the center of each was a small bouquet of red roses cut fresh that morning from the plants that surrounded them. Each place setting was elaborate, more so than even Princess Bubblegum was used to. Marceline made a mental note to reward the decorators for their hard work as soon as things settled down.
Before long, an army of Vampires servants brought out silver platters of food, while others came around serving drinks. Marceline reluctantly refused a glass of champagne, and opted for tomato juice instead. Along with Finn, the queen clinked her glass with the rest of the wedding party, and the dinner officially began.
As the night went on, and the alcohol flowed more freely, Marceline noticed that the tension that had hung heavy over their table was beginning to dissipate. She had kept a careful watch on how much Princess Bubblegum drank, and she had discreetly ordered the waiter to cut her off after her fourth glass of wine. The princess had been belligerent at first, insisting that she wasn't drunk, but Simon had leaned over and whispered something to her, and she had calmed down.
After the dessert course was eaten, Jake stood and tapped his class to get everyone's attention. The room fell silent, and he began the short speech he had written.
"When our parents first brought Finn home, I begged them to take him back," Jake began. The guests laughed, and Jake visibly relaxed. "But over time, I got pretty fond of the little guy. We've been on some pretty crazy adventures over the years: toting the Royal Tarts for Princess Bubblegum, playing detective for Lumpy Space Princess and," Jake smiled mischievously, "getting stuck in Marceline's closet. Now, it's time for Finn to start a new adventure, this one without me. Marceline, take care of him, and I wish you both the best of luck."
The guests clapped and Jake hugged the couple. When Marceline put her arms around him, she felt his spine straighten, and she wondered if Jake would ever trust her. Hunson stood to give his speech, and Marceline found it to be dry and obviously rehearsed. Simon declined to give one, but he slipped a letter to Finn and Marceline with instructions to read it later. Finn tucked it into his suit jacket so that he wouldn't forget about it later that night.
Finally, Princess Bubblegum stood up to give her speech. Marceline noticed that she wobbled bit as she walked to the microphone, and the queen vaguely wondered if she had drunk more than she thought. Marceline put the thought out of her mind and squeezed Finn's hand.
"I've known Marceline and Finn for a long time," Princess Bubblegum said. "I have to admit, I was always a little jealous of Finn: his carefree nature, his lack of responsibilities, his unstoppable optimism. And now it looks like I have one more thing to be jealous of, and that is Marceline."
The wedding guests looked at one another nervously. Finn stared at Princess Bubblegum with wide eyes, and a blush rose on Marceline's cheeks.
"I'm not the first person to have her heart broken by Marceline, and I'm sure I won't be the last. Marceline-"
Simon stood up, took Princess Bubblegum's arm, and tried to lead her off stage.
"Get off me!" The princess screamed.
Simon managed to get her off the stage, and Marceline followed them. Thurston gave a frantic hand signal to the band, and they started playing. Before long, the guests started to the dance floor, and the awkwardness of the moment slowly fell away. Finn sat, tapping his foot nervously for a few moments before he started to get up.
"Dude, I'll go find them," Jake said. "You stay here."
"Okay, man," Finn agreed reluctantly. He sat back down and twirled his glass nervously.
Simon had taken Princess Bubblegum to the edge of the forest, out of ear-shot of the guests. He had sat her down on a fallen tree stump and was holding her wrists gently, murmuring to her and trying to calm her down. When she saw Marceline march towards her, the princess stood up and pushed Simon away.
"What the fuck was that, Bonnibel?" Marceline asked.
"Calm down, Marceline, she's-"
"Stay out of this," Marceline snapped.
Princess Bubblegum started to cry quietly.
"Why are you doing this to me?" She asked.
"Why am I doing this to you? Why are you doing this to me?" Marceline retorted. "Why can't you accept that it's over?"
"Because I don't want it to be!" Princess Bubblegum cried. "I need you, Marcy. You're the only one who's made me feel that a person instead of just a princess. Didn't last night mean anything to you?"
Jake was walking towards the women, but he hid behind a tree as soon as he heard what the princess was saying.
"Last night was a mistake, and that's all it was, Bonnibel. I love Finn. I never should have touched you!"
Jake had heard enough. He snuck back into the reception and sunk down in the chair next to Finn.
"Did you find them?" Finn asked.
"Uh, yeah, they'll be back soon," Jake lied. For some reason, he couldn't tell Finn what he had heard.
On the edge of the forest, Marceline had wrapped her arms around her friend.
"Bonnie, you're the smartest woman I know, and I care about you. I always will. But I'm with Finn now, and that's just how it is. Please don't make this any harder than it already is, okay?"
"Okay," Princess Bubblegum whispered. "I'm sorry about everything. Can you ever forgive me, Marceline?"
"Of course I can, Bonnie," Marceline said. "We better get back before they worry about us, okay?"
"Okay," Princess Bubblegum agreed.
Marceline, Princess Bubblegum, and Simon started back towards the reception when they were met by Malum. The elder Vampire was red-faced and breathing heavily.
"Queen Marceline, they're marching…burning…coming to the kingdom…"
"Calm down, Malum," Marceline ordered sharply. "Who's marching?"
"The Wizards!" He screamed. Taking a deep breath, he tried to explain. "There was an explosion in the Wizard City center a few hours ago, and a man rose from the crater it made. He's leading troops from their kingdom towards us, and they're burning everything in their path."
"Which direction are they coming from?" Princess Bubblegum asked.
"From the south, Princess," Malum replied. "The Candy Kingdom should be safe. What do we do, my Queen?"
"Send out troops to meet them, as many as you think are needed. Secure all entrances to the kingdom, and have all the guests escorted home or boarded into the castle. Where are they now?"
"In the Soft Village. According to all reports, everything is gone. At this rate, they'll reach us by nightfall tomorrow."
"Go carry out my orders," Marceline said. "We don't have time to lose."
Malum ran off to do as Marceline said, and the queen started towards the garden to find Finn, but he nearly ran into her.
"Marcy, did Malum find you? Did he tell you what's going on?" He asked frantically.
"He told me, Finn. We need to prepare the…"
Marceline trailed off, and her face turned impossibly pale. She swayed backwards, and Finn caught her carefully.
"Marcy? Are you okay?" He asked, panic rising in his voice. "Marceline?"
Marceline's eyes rolled back in her head and she fell limp. Finn noticed, as an icy fear ran through his body, the bright red fluid pooling as his wife's feet.
A/N: Sorry for the delay in updates, and my awful Latin. Thanks so much for reading. Please leave a review and tell me what you think and how it can be improved!