Chapter XXIII, Hurt

Marceline finally woke up from her slumber. Her bed was so soft that she had trouble crawling out of it. But where was she? That's not the place she remembered, oh no. It would seem that she's in the very chambers of the Candy Palace, the one she visited long time ago almost on daily basis. Nothing changed in this place. Nothing at all. The walls bare the same color. The furniture was unchanged, untainted. The bed, now that she thought about it, was also the same. Just as comfortable. Just as warm. And just as she thought about it, a loud knocking came, trembling through this sweet chamber.

"Um... Just a minute?"

Behind the door, Bubblegum stood smiling towards her lover. She looked like a blooming, pink flower in one of her most beautiful dresses. The little vampire simply stared as it was hard for her to gaze in any other direction. The princess looked so delightful, so charming, so wondrous. And that smell, oh what a scent! She smelled of the sweetest things. Most dulcet sweets. Most honeydew candy. The pink one smooched her little vampire on the cheek and grabbed her hands.

"Ready my love?"

"Ready for... um, what? And what's with the smile? You look stupid when you grin like that."

"Don't you remember dumdum? The big day, today!"

She still was pretty confused. The pink one on the other hand looked happy, almost unnaturally so. Her smile, although blissful, seemed to be out of place. Distinct. Kind of scary. Still, she was the one she loved the most, therefore, it was hard to judge what caused that feeling of uncertainty.

"You know! The one I promised you. No more pretending things!"

"Pretending... what?"

"Think about it you dummy!" She placed her pink hands over Marceline's shoulders. "The day that a princess should acknowledge her people about her... pursues and goals in life!"

"You mean..." Her face lightened up. "Oh... Oh!"

She hardly believed that this day will ever come. It was so perfect that she could almost scream. That she could almost dance right here, right now. There was nothing more important in her life than this single moment, this single notion, this single obtained goal. She waited so long. She hardly cared that the very moment of it happening just like that was almost out of place. Almost surreal.

"So you will finally drop the royal act. I'll finally be your..."

"Come, come!"

"Now?"

"Of course dummy!"

She grabbed her and rushed through the corridors. The vampire simply flew behind, still grinning happily. Nothing can change things now, nothing better can happen in her in life. She never thought that this day will come. She dreamed about it, yes. She loved to imagine how she will feel. Now, when she confronted the dream with reality, it tasted far more sweeter than she anticipated. As they ran through, they stumbled on Peppermint along their way. He bowed down a little.

"Hello princess and hello to you, miss Abadeer." He kissed her on the hand. "It's good to see you again in those thick walls. It's been a while, wasn't it?"

"I... Yes. Thanks."

"Hey." He waved at the pale girl and forced her to lean towards him. "Miss, you're in peril, I suggest that you quit the slumber, focus on the worm, I tell you, focus on the..."

"Wha..."

The princess looked at him with hardly hidden disgust. And just as he said those words, to avoid any more disruption, Bubblegum quickly shoved his round body. He went right through the wall, disappearing within it completely. The little vampire seemed to be quite puzzled.

"Oh, you know him." She shrugged. "He's a weirdo sometimes. Come on!"

Weird answer. Strange answer. The one she should probably think about. Analyze what's wrong with it. Analyze why it hardly suited her lover. Why she would never do and say thing like that. Yet, the happy and cheerful thoughts in her head ranged like loud gongs. She just couldn't think straight. Couldn't think rationally. As they finally reached the balcony, as she heard the crowd outside, she got more and more nervous.

"Bonnie, I'm kind off... you know..."

"Why's that, silly head?"

"I have nothing against all of them but..."

"You'll be fine, you worry too much doodoo head."

She dragged her right on the spot. So many people. So many of her lover's subjects. All of them in one place. All of them to hear the news. It was quite the sight. It was quite the moment. Still, was that the way it should be? Was that the way she imagined it to be? Was that the the notion and acknowledge she dreamed about?

"Citizens of Candy Kingdom. I need to tell you something." She rose her hands and stated theatrically. "Not that it's all that important, but I do."

That grabbed their attention. Marceline however couldn't help but shiver, as those words sounded strange. Those words sounded cold. Now and just now she realized that something was wrong. That something is tangling around and she simply cannot help it's motion. She was afraid.

"You see, there were rumors lately, about some individual secretly adoring me." She nonchalantly waved her hand. "Is it true? Someone in love with me, the one that rejected so many suitors?" People in the crowd gasped and looked one another. They seemed to be both surprised and curious. The vampire just now reminded herself why she never liked them. They always looked. They always judged. "Could it be? Someone of royal blood? Hah..."

She began to laugh. And that laugh was made from nightmares. Her worst ones. Cold, dry, derisive. She should knew better. All to perfect, all too good to be true. The girl began to panic as she blushed a little bit. The princess saw that almost instantly.

"Can you all imagine? Me and her."She pointed her pink finger right at the pale one. "That's an absurd. Everyone needs to know their place. And you're no different Marceline, so called Vampire Queen. Is that even an official title? A Queen, phew, since when?" She shrugged and swirled back towards the crowd. "A Queen, right! More like yet another monster that wants to claim this land!"

"Bonnie, what are you..." She whispered silently, trying not to shiver. "...Bonnie?"

"You tried to seduce me, didn't you?" She said out loud towards the crowd, not even looking at her companion. "Just to take over this kingdom? You vile, vicious, creature!" She began to shout. "Demonic offspring!"

"No, no, Bonnie, I..." Her eyes got more and more wet. "I love you, you know that..."

"I reject your. Simple as that. This kingdom needs a ruler. Not a lover with a bat on her shoulder." She grinned viciously. "Not a toy wench. Not something as pitiful as you. No."

Her pale face turned red, as little, wet drops slide down her cheeks. She quickly turned and ran back inside the palace, as she heard laughter echoing outside. Echoing through her head. Like needles, piercing her head. Like a sword piercing her heart.

###

Marceline sat by the table, staring at the wooden desk, as she was unable to do anything else. She was broken, as she felt every heartbeat in her chest. Every slightest bump inside. It hurt. Bonnibel just stood by the window and grinned to herself. For some reason, her frame looked sharp, almost unnaturally so. Twisted in a way perhaps.

"What's wrong, dearie." She finally spoke. Her voice, once again, was cold, emotionless. "You look a bit down. Can't imagine why."

"How could you do that to me."

The little vampire gazed at her carefully, still, there was no compassion on her face. In fact, all she saw was disgust. Disgust towards her. It frightened her. She never saw her like that. She never knew she was capable of doing such things to her. She trusted her. She loved her. Even now, even despite all of that.

"You really thought that I will admit all of that in front of everyone, you silly goose?"

"I... Yes!"

"Well, you thought wrong."

Bubblegum came closer and put her arms on her lover's shoulders, supporting her body over them as she tightened her grip. That wasn't the touch the pale one strove for however. It was painful, even if the pain didn't came from the grip itself. The princess mood on the other hand seemed to change rapidly, as she placed her hand on Marceline's breast, clutching her pink fingers around it, as she whispered to the vampire's ear.

"And who would like the company of a tomboy like you anyways."

"What... What?!"

Bubblegum simply chuckled as she took of her hands. The laughter stopped when she looked at them with much disgust and proceed to wipe them over her dress. The vampire's eyes got wet once again, still, she tried to contain her feelings as much as she could.

"You are such a let down at times, you know that?" She flicked her fingers once more in a nonchalant fashion. Smile appeared on her face once again. There was nothing charming in it however in this monstrous grin. "I do wonder why did I ever felt something for you. I were really blind, weren't I? Now when I look at you, I see there's nothing you have to offer." The princess giggled. "Flat chested urchin. Not only that. You have far more flaws to point out..."

"Bonnie..."

"Princess Bubblegum, if anything. Don't interrupt me." She narrowed her eyebrows. The little vampire hardly saw the person she craved for in her. All happened so fast. She simply wished it to end, one way or another. The pink one however just smiled, almost as if she was answering directly to her thoughts. "Where was I. Oh. I know. Did I ever felt something? I don't know, I don't know... Perhaps you were nothing more then a toy for me."

"I wanted to be something more! I was something more..."

"No." She thought about it and giggled. "This princess simply has her needs from time to time. And you served, when given the opportunity. Even despite the poor quality of your servitude..." She smiled once again, like a Cheshire cat, fully exposing her teeth. And then, she simply waved her hand at her companion. "That's enough however, begone."

The princess stood up and ignored the little vampire completely. As she sat by her desk and took out her brush, she began to slowly comb her hair, playfully whistling some cheerful tune. As she gazed in the mirror, as always, she saw only her own pink reflection.

"You cannot just throw me out of your life like that!"

"Oh, you're still here?" She chuckled. "I can. Wait. I'm doing it right now." She said, as the comb once again was driven into her hair. "Gaze into this wonderful piece of glass. It reflects perfectly how I want it to be. Me. Just me."

"But..."

"Shall you get out on your own, or should I call someone to kick you out?"

The girl was speechless. As the princess simply atoned to her doings, she desperately tried to keep it together. To keep her feelings together. Her thoughts together. No, she will not break her. No. The vampire tighten her fists, as her own fingernails pierced her skin. But as she looked at the face that was so dear to her, she was unable to act. Despite all that, it meant to much to her.

"You will regret this... doing this to me... why?"

"Oh, I'm frightened, believe me, I am. Now, off you go." She warded her with her hand. "Shoo. I don't need to explain myself."

"Bonnie..."

"Now, now, what did we said about that?"

Marceline trembled. Not a word could pass by her throat. Instead, she just spat on the ground and with the last gaze on her lover's face, she rushed through the window. Bubblegum simply raised her eyebrow in a nonchalant fashion.

"Phew. Now you show no respect for those you should."

She couldn't hear that however, as she was long gone. She flew above the Candy Kingdom, above the lands of grass, above things that didn't even mattered. They never did. She couldn't stop herself from crying, even despite the fact that she wanted to stay strong. Despite the fact that she needed to stay strong. When she reached her home, her little safe haven, she flew right in without even locking the front door. The pale girl felt on her bed, as tears were slowly dripping down her cheeks.

"Why, why, why, why, why..."

She began to hit her pillow numerous times, as feathers began to fly all across her room. Then, she remembered something. She quickly rushed towards their framed picture. As she took one last gaze at it, she smashed it to pieces.

"You stocked up, good for nothing, painful, unbearable pink who... " She paused. "Whom I loved...

Her eyes widened up, as the girl realized that she just broke that very precious token she received from the princess. The one that mattered so much to her. And despite what she just said, despite what she wanted to feel, she knelt over it, as she began to gather the broken pieces, desperately trying to put them together.

"No, no, no..." Her hands shivered. "No, at least... at least I want to have that... no, please, please, I'm sorry... please... make it whole, please... please..."

And then she heard a noise. Echoing sound. She remembered that from somewhere. But from where, she pondered. That cleared her thoughts, if only for a little while. If only for a brief second. But that was enough. That was enough for her to stand up and look for it's source.

"Wha..."

In the other room, a worm playfully sat right in the middle. He looked at her almost playfully, but when he saw the rage in her eyes, smile quickly faded from it's green face, as it was now replaced with a different emotion. Fear.

"You!" Marceline quickly rushed after him, as the little being began to run away, eventually sliding underneath her wardrobe. "You little shit, come out!"

She reached out for him with her hand only to be bitten on her finger. That only got her even more mad, as she simply crushed the desk with her bare hands. The worm was no where to be seen however. Her home began to fade, as she soon found herself in an empty space, full of nothing. The big insect stood before her feeling quite comfortable in confronting her, as he wobbled his body back and forth.

"Hello friend."

He stated calmly, as he began to scream. This noisy screech, this painful sound almost pierced her ears as she felt back. When she lied on the ground, when the huge, obese thing approached slowly, something snapped in her. Her eyes almost began to burn as she stood up. The worm was quite surprised, yet he opened his mouth once again, only to let out this buzzing accord. It was futile however. This time she took a step forward. The screeches intensified, yet she was stronger than that. Stronger than this pitiful creature. And as she came close enough for her hands to finally grasp his body, she did just that and began to strangle him. His grotesque frame eventually felt down.

"Not so tough now, huh, you pile of shit?"

Before the thing could even react, before it could even say a world, before it could evade her attack, she drove her heel right into his head, smashing it into tiny pieces.

###

Marceline woke up abruptly as she gazed around. She never thought she will be this happy to see this stinking, forsaken place again. Her whole body shivered, as the girl could still feel the tears sliding down her cheeks.

"No..." She said to herself. "No. That was not true. Not in the slightest."

She stood up. Her limbs felt weak, numb at times. It was as if she forgot how to use them properly. Almost as she never used them in the first place. She felt weak and the inside of her chest still hurt. Only one notion proceed through her mind now. Only one thing mattered.

"Bonnie, where are..."

The worm was still in his place. His glittering eyes were now fixated only on her pink partner, as she stood there, locked up in a dream. The vampire began to ponder, if her lover has it the same. If her lover right now feels just as shattered. Just as broken. Just as hopeless. And with every thought that passed by her head, with every notion that just now, this filthy thing is hurting the one she loves, is tormenting her just like he did with her, fury rose within her.

"You!"

She grabbed her guitar in both of her hands and charged right at this gruesome creature. The worm was a slick one however. He knew what's coming up. Seeing into her mind, he knew what will hurt even more. He never had to have his grasp upon her to cause pain. Oh no. The beam from his eyes changed it's color, loosing a bit of it's strength. Half conscious princess muttered something to herself. She was hard to understand, but one word could be heard clearly. The most important one.

"Guy." She whispered. "Guy..."

Marceline stopped and looked at her. She was both speechless and unable to move further. She couldn't quite believe what she just heard. Dreams were one thing. Visions were another. This. This was simply too much. So he still lingered in that pink head of hers. So she still thought about him. All it took was one obese worm to pull that notion out. To pull out something that Bubblegum wanted to remain hidden. The vampire felt shattered. Shattered and disgusted.