Chapter IV, From Death with Love

The gardens of Death greeted her with a chilling breeze over her pink cheeks. Vast and empty spaces with plants emerging from the ground only to die rapidly, rotting and decaying with each and every single blow of the wind. And in the middle of all that, the host himself stood, patiently caressing the ground with his pitchfork. The sands seemed to bend to his will, floating and swirling around his tool, only to be mixed up within the dunes. As she came closer, he raised his hat. His head looked almost like a skull of a horse, only bit more menacing.

"Sugar baby, sweet of you to drop by." He clicked his teeth, still occupied in his doings. "Hey and welcome."

"Wait, you are..."

"Death, my dear. You are in my domain sweet cheeks, so, you should guess that off the bat." He chuckled a bit. "Specially since you like bats, right?" He still laughed, finding that amusing apparently. "We even met once when you nearly died. Or twice. In person. Even if it was, as they say, nothing personal." Death gazed closely at her curves. "Shame. I would love it to be otherwise."

"I'd imagine you'd be somewhat... different. Bit more sophisticated perhaps? Looking less like a..." She quickly stopped herself. "Like that."

"Don't we all rise our expectations blooming sugar, to prove ourselves wrong in the end, sweet heart, with the indication on sweet?" He gazed at her from head to toes. "And my. Aren't you a sweet prize for someone who'll get lucky at some point no doubt."

He took of his hat and bowed before her, as numerous grains of sands started to pour from within it. She nodded, but still could not believe that this is the one she seeks. She was after Death, not a skeleton in rags. What she noticed however, was that his were full of weird sparks. She would even go as far as to say that they were full of life. Especially when he caught her gaze. But that would simply be absurd.

"So why are you here sugar lady? Entertainment? This place has it in great numbers, I assure. If you like decay. Don't mind the lack of guests. They simply pour here all the time as we speak." He said jokingly. Almost like if he tried to mock her. "I doubt you're here for me and me only. Although, I can be quite interesting, at times. And I would take much enjoyment from that, little honeydew."

"I must know a certain thing." She sighted loudly. "Connected to you and your business. Things that even science could not solve..."

"Deep words that avoid the topic, eh pretty face? So what are you asking for exactly? When you'll die? I'm Death, not a fairy, sugar lady. When you'll die, you'll die. Snip snap. And you land here." He tapped his fingers on his chest, right in the place where his heart should have been. "So heart-warming, isn't it? Knowing that others will take care of you." He looked closer. "I'm sure I won't mind taking care of you at some point, pretty one..."

"No, nothing like that." The princess sighted. "Listen... Death. I need to know how to get rid of the Lich. From my body." She shivered. "When I nearly died, when he was within my mind... I... thought I got rid of him. Still, I think he's around despite all the efforts."

"Ooh. Sugar lady, snap. Snap, snap, snap. That's kind off harsh. It's like having a bruise on all that sweet pink melodies of yours. And that's a real shame, since it's like you're meant to be played, sweetness." He grinned. "So what do you want me to do with it?"

"To check, if my assumptions are correct, and if they are..."

"You want me to get rid of him, eh, my dulcet velvet?"

Death took yet another look at her frame, this time he seemed to be more serious about it. He put away his pitchfork and as it was devoured by the shifting sands, he began his journey through the dunes. He waved his hand at her to join him by his side. She did just that, seeing that she already made him somewhat curious.

"So tell me, sweet girl, Peppermint sent you here? He was the one that came up with this?"

"Pepp... no, of course not, why should he?"

"So he didn't smelled off the scent of that ancient rot?" He shrugged. "He's getting soft. And old, even for him. But if he did not... it lingers deep within you. He's that way you see. Planting his seeds deep." The fires in his eyes were lit once again. "We'll need to see how deep."

He stopped and touched her shoulders, after which he ventured lower, stroking her back and spine. Chills passed through her body as he proceed to smudge her cheeks. His touch was similar to that of the Lich. He did it far more delicately however. And then, he clutched his arms around her, as their eyes met. Bubblegum's whole body shivered, as waves of cold passed through her. She thought she'll pass out, yet was unable to turn her sight away. And just as she was meant to let out a single, loud scream, he let her got.

"I sense something. I see rot. Decay." He chuckled and scratched her on the chin. "Sounds like our guy, eh sweet candy? Sounds like the burden you try to get rid off. So now, we'll get to my favorite part. There is nothing free in the realms of Death. In my realms. There is nothing I can do for you without a notion of you, giving something to me. And you posses only two things that interest me." The dead one looked at her almost lustfully. "One which you'll obviously won't give to me."

"And that is..." The princess asked, but seeing his smile, she stopped right in the middle of the sentence. "...no, I won't."

"Therefore. Give me the cat."

That was something the princess didn't really expected. She thought about the offer and considered it from every possible angle. The cat was hardly someone who was dear to her heart. He did tried to claw his way through her body without hesitation. However, he did helped her a bit, so it was hard for her to judge, if that should be his fate. Once again, the better side of her won.

"Why do you want him, Death?"

"Why, oh why. That's my business, sweet tooth." He shrugged. "Besides, he tried to kill you. So kill him. Smother him. Gut him. Rip out his heart. And give it to me."

"So many tried to kill me you know, I have lost the count. Everyone wants some sugar..."

"Hah. But he would betray you if he had the slightest opportunity, sweety." He grinned and chuckled a bit once more. "And as he would chew your sweet, sweet face off... You would be the one that lost it all, babe."

"Listen, many tried, one way or another... I won't do the same just to fulfill your sick games, got it?" She poked him right in his skeleton forehead. "I'm not like the one I'm... bearing."

He winked a couple of times, apparently quite impressed by her attitude. Bubblegum wasn't sure if that was good or bad.

"Ah... Sugar sweet, sugar babe, sugar all the way. You're quite something. Like a pink diamond, mhm." He scratched his bald head. "Thought that a gal made of science like you, would find it logical." Death's mood changed quickly, as he shook his head, quite displeased. "So what we'll do now, huh?"

"I should ask you this question."

"Well. Curious little sweet. We shall do absolutely nothing." His face narrowed and got bit more serious. "You don't posses a thing that I would like to obtain. Aside from things that are apparently not obtainable. Pity. Deal is off."

"Just like that?"

"Sweetness, even for you, I dislike to repeat myself." He stated crudely.

"So cruel, I thought you like me." She started to circle around, as her voice got more and more flirtatious. "Mister Death. I have something that you would love. And it's not my body. Nor the cat's heart." She flicked him on the chin. "But this princess has something for you..."

"And what would that be, miss sweets?" If anything, he followed her movements closely, as her dress waved around him.

"I've tried it all, yes." The princess still walked around, moving her hips from side to side. "Science proved to be nothing, magic? Please, like that ever worked. And then we have you..." She paused. "Refusing to help..."

"That's still not the..."

"But, it's as much in your interest as it is in mine. I have him." She placed her finger on his mouth. "Even if he wants to destroy everything close to me, my world... He's still bound to me for now, as much as I'm bound to him." The princess stroked him on his hat. "But if you'd help me, by getting him out... he could be killed, with your advise, yes?" She breathed heavily into where his ears supposed to be. "And that, would bring you what you want I'm sure." Bubblegum leaned even closer. "You know what that is?"

"Tell me." He murmured. "I want to hear it from you."

"I'm surprised you are so casual about it. How much did that old thing lingered? How many times he almost died and in the end, avoided you?" Her finger circled around his chin. "But if you'll help me, it'll finally happen. Death to the deathless."

"Death to the deathless..." Skeleton said, as sparks appeared in his eyes. No, not sparks. Conflagration. "Death to the..."

"Deathless..." She silently whispered.

"Sweetness, you have fire in you..." He chuckled. "And you sure know tow to tingle my pride. I think... we can make an agreement after all."

"I knew we'll come to an agreement." She raised her eyebrow. "So tell me about our friend and your deals with him, mister Death. Since the way he avoids you cannot be mistaken with a simple coincidence."

Death crouched and took some sand in his skeleton hands. He started to pour it between his fingers, raveling and tangling it around. He eventually formed a small hourglass and passed it to Bonnibel. As she gazed at the grains inside taking it's course, she pondered. If that was a riddle, she would not understand it in the slightest.

"He did won with me. Once." He finally said.

"I can imagine easily what he won. I can put two and two together." The sand inside of her hourglass shifted constantly from it's one part to another. "Immortality, isn't it?"

"My eyes will never be fixed upon him, yes." He sighted. There was regret in his voice. As it got more and more sour, the inside of the glass went darker and darker. "Only when he will come here, I can claim him. He, in person, not within someone. Carried on the hands of the of the hero. Still if we'd lure him out... That would be my opportunity."

"And this is where I come in." She smiled. "But how could he overcome... well, you?"

"Different time. " He placed a finger on his mouth. One grain in the hourglass remained right in between the two halves. No matter how hard she shook, it was stuck right there. "Not the right time for bed-night stories."

"So it's a matter of revenge, Death?" She raised her eyebrow. "You simply seek revenge?"

"No. I do like to win games in the end however, hah." He laughed, but the laugh was bitter this time. The hourglass in her hands shattered. "And he not only won, but took something from me. Hey, at least he brought me you here in the twisted turn of events? Right? Ah-hah!"

"So, how you'll do it?" She ignored his jokes completely. "With your magic, or what exactly?"

"Do? Oh, no, no, you're mistaken. It's you who'll do the job now." His mood seemed to lighten up. "I never said I'll do it for you. But I can help. And just to cheer you up, it would end the same way, regardless of your offers."

"Right." She sighted. "So what will I need to do?"

"Many things, I won't lie. I will hand you the shopping list, one by one. And I'll appear after each one, to guide you for your next goal." He paused and once again gazed at her, winking playfully. "Deal candy beauty?"

"Sounds fair enough." The princess shrugged. "And I do like shopping."

"Hah. I like you. But the humor will get you only that far." He chuckled. "Well, first off, know any demons? Aside from the cat, he doesn't count." Death shook his head. "He's dead to me, he just doesn't know it yet."

"I think I do, yes." She bit her lip. "Half ones count?"

"Great. And yeah, fiend is a fiend even half one..." He paused and thought about what he just heard. "Hunson's daughter will do especially well, yes. Thought she's dear to you." Death clicked with his teeth. "But I see now that you are willing to do anything. You fascinate me, sugar sweet." He said it almost as if he was in awe. "Still I will need a vial of demon's blood. Or that specific one you mentioned. Unoriginal, yes. Still, powerful enough to do the trick sugar candy." He clapped his hands.

"So i guess that's all, mister Death?"

"For now, yes. It shames me, this place will be... dead without your sugar lighting up the way, hah!" As he raised his hand up above, the dunes parted, creating a straight road made out of dead plants. "Off you go, unless you want to stay a bit longer? I would not oppose." He looked at her once more. "Obviously you don't however sweetness. It's time for us to part."

He bowed down before her and she exchanged the pleasantries. From withing the sand, almost as if it bended to his will, large sculpture emerged. Death jumped right on top of it and sat there. As he conjured a rod made of bones and cast it into the dunes, he recalled something and turned to her one last time.

"There's one matter to be held." He sighted loudly. "The cat. Do with him as you please. One way or another. Maybe he'll provide some uses to you candy babe. Either way, he'll come here soon sweetness. With or without your help."

"Aw, what did he do to you, poor, poor mister Death?" She tweeted almost like a mockingbird. With the emphasis on mocking. "Stole some fish bones from you?"

"Haha! I really like you!" Skeleton raised his hand. "But that's also my business, sugar babe. Better not to stick your fingers in it." He laughed. "Unless you're really that curious about sticking them somewhere..."

"My, oh my, what could you imply mister Death?"

"Gardening, of course!" He winked. "I could use some help at times. Of someone that would grab a pole... of a pitchfork and simply leaned over each and every plant sugar babe."

"So humble!" She giggled. "But my heart belongs to science."

"So that's a no-no? Aw."

They laughed for a while, before she finally ventured back. The road lead her straight to the portal. There, the cat slept near it, nervously breathing as his legs moved from time to time. Apparently he was having some bad dreams. He looked kind off cute that way, curled into this ball of fur. So defenseless. She placed her feet on his chest and poked him a bit.

"Hey fluff, it's time to go."

"You came back my dear sweet pink seizure. I feel almost... how do you call that feeling..." The cat scratched his head with his paws. "That tangling thing inside of you."

"Fleas?"

"No, no, I'd call it a... liking, there we go!"

"Would say pinworms as my next call." The princess playfully joked. "They tangle as well."

"Still, you surprise me." He gazed at her with his big, yellow, shining eyes. "Hardly anyone does that."

"Well. I tend to surprise myself as well from time to time." She giggled. "And people say I'm dull, can you imagine? Let's go."