The First Hero Returns
Chapter 3: Spending Time With A King
The first thing that he noticed as he woke up was the fact that his shoulder had a twinge of pain in it, the second was how warm and dark it was. Fumbleing around he located a lamp on a bedside table. However, he noticed that he couldn't seem to find his glasses. Then he heard the sound of someone coming into the room, as he turned towards the person who entered he charged the air with his ice magic, using it to feel the world around him. He knew who this person was, his magic felt a familar hum as it reached for the person before him. A smile graced his face, as he reconiced the only person in Ooo other than his penguins to ever seem to want the time of day with him. Marceline approached him to check on his wounds, and she had located the spare set of glasses that she always kept on hand for the Ice Wizard incase he lost or broke his. Once she reached his side she placed the old specs onto his face, as this happened a bigger smile appeared upon his face now that he could see the world around him with his eyes as well as his magic.
"Marceline, where am I? This place is dark and warm, I don't know how I got here. Also, why does my body hurt so much? Did I fall down the stairs agian?" Ice King started to stare off into space, slowly losing train of thought. As Marceline looked at him she could tell that the hit to the head he had recieved yesterday for his troubles trying to protect her must have been harder than she thought. With his already amnesiaic and damaged mind she really should have payed better attention to him in this area, but there was just so much blood from his other injuries that she forgot to check his head better. She had already given Bubblegum his glasses so that she could repair them for him. The spare ones were not nearly as good as the ones he had broken by Ash cold-cocking him when he was distracted by her scream of pain. "Don't worry, Simon, you're safe here. This is my room. You were hurt pretty badly yesterday, and I wanted you to have a safe place to rest while you healed. I also made you lunch, if you want it that is." stated Marceline. Simon nodded at the prospect of food and waved his hand for her to lead the way. She gently grabbed his hand and guided him out of her room and into the kitchen so that they could share a meal together.
Once they reached the kitchen Marceline placed a large plate of spagetti and meat balls before the old wizard and a large glass of orange juice. He tucked into the meal without further promting. Marceline had learned over the years that this meal and orange juice seemed to be one of his favorites when he was recovering from bad injuries. The calorie rich food and the sugary juice seemed to work wonders on him when he was like this, plus it was also something that she herself enjoyed eating. She sat down at the opposite side of the table and began to eat as well. Every now and then she would glance up at the man she saw as a father and wonder. Why does he care about me and protect me still when he doesn't even remember raising me? What makes him care so much that he is still, with no memory of me, willing to place himself in harms way to keep me safe? Why does he always try to hang out with me so often? Does this mean that the man I love and respect is still inside him somewhere? Maybe, if I can find out why he lost his memories in the first place I can bring him back. Marceline looked up to the sound of him clearing his throat to get her attention. "Hey, um Marceline? You really should come back down to Earth with the rest of us. Come on, you have barely eaten anything. You can't expect to invite me for lunch and then just not eat with me." he pouted. She shook her head and smiled at him. "Sorry, Simon, I just seem to be lost in thought. You wouldn't have been hurt and confused like you are right now if you hadn't been protecting me from some bad wizards. The thing is, I don't even know why they were trying to kill me either."
"Oh, don't worry about it. Wizards like that just think they can up their wiz-biz if they attack powerful people. They usually think hurting or killing a being of great power will end up granting that great power. Foolish really, the transfer of power doesn't work that way. However, you can never tell them that. For one, they won't believe you at all, and two, they'll attack you anyway. So really it's not your fault at all. Just idiots trying to gain what they have no right too in the first place." Marceline seemed shocked as she listened to him try and comfort her. Here he was in pain and confussed having no knowledge of what happened the night before, and he was trying to comfort her. She had only gotten burned a little and all of her wounds already healed since they were minor to his in comparison. Yet, here he was trying to make sure that she felt safe and comfortable. Oh how she loved this man, she was proud to know that when he had his memories he saw her as his daughter. Now she just wished that he could remember enough so that he could tell her if he was proud of who she had become or not. "Thanks, Simon. I guess I should be glad that you are my friend. I would have been toast yesterday if not for you." she stated and then remembered something important. "Oh, since you don't remember yesterday, you promised me that you would be my drummer for the concert in the Candy Kingdom as long as I agree to have a concert for your penguins. Would you still feel up to it? I would love to have my best buddy playing with me on stage." she waited patiently for his reply. He seemed to be thinking about it.
After a while, Simon smile at her. "Sure, Marceline, we have been friends for years. If this concert means that much to you, I would love to be your drummer." Marceline squealed with delight. "Oh, you won't regret this Simon, just think about. This concert will knock everyone's socks off. Then again with a drummer like you. There isn't a doubt." she laughed as the continued to eat their meal. Both going back for seconds.
When it was time for the Ice King to return to his kingdom, they planned on going together. The Vampire Queen told him that it was just so they could hang out for a little while longer and she could see what kind of songs the penguins may want for their concert that was to come. However, the truth was far darker. Marceline no longer felt safe inside her own home. The Ice King notice this and said, "Marceline, can I ask you a question?" "Sure thing, Simon. What is it?" she replied. "Oh, I was just thinking that since I still feel a little under the weather and I need to go back to the Ice Kingdom, would you mind having a sleep over? You see, I would feel better if I had someone other than penguins there to help me till I'm back at 100%. You don't have to if you don't want to. I just thought I would ask." he requested. After all he wanted her to still feel like she had some dignity. "Sure thing, Simon. Just let me pack an overnight bag and some of my music stuff to work on while I'm there." She flew off to get ready. When she was done, the two of them flew to the frozen lands together. Marceline didn't even realize that she had just been played by the crafty old wizard, but he refused to allow his only friend to feel afraid when he could clearly help ease her mind.