Chapter XXXIII, Same But Different

This time around, the lands that surrounded them were more pleasing and more appealing. It looked like the place they knew, as it lacked both the lemons and the overwhelming destruction from each and every direction. All for the better, for them at least. The wind slowly blew throughout the green fields in a soothing and delicate notion. Marceline just looked at the princess, as she responded with a shrug. There was nothing more to say about it really, as their goal was quite simple. There was always a palace. There was always a doorway. This one should be the last one, at least according to her calculations. Was it really? Like with all things tangled in science, it was hard to tell. There's always a margin for error, even if the smart one tried to avoid them as best as possible. So they went off without a word, holding each others hands. It was quite enjoyable actually. Just that, only that, without much thinking, as there was nothing to consider, nothing to ponder about right now. The road was straight, and so were their thoughts. On the horizon they saw a familiar palace, this time without any additional contraptions set by this world. It looked almost too peaceful, judging by the the things they experienced before.

"I don't see anything different here Bonnie."

"Me neither." She looked at the white, high towers. "And I don't know if I should be worried or not."

Her eyes began to haze once again, as she saw walls of flames set off in the distance. This word was corruptible as well, and she knew it. The grass quickly became a carpet made out of maggots. The chilling breeze to her was nothing more than a stench of rot and decay. Something snapped that night inside of her it would seem. The one residing in her head got more and more relentless, vile. Time for subtleties passed away, as more and more he wanted to drive her mad not only in her slumber. And once he would accomplish his goal, one could only assume what would happen next. Nothing good, that's for sure. And as she gazed at the sparks that emerged from within the palace's windows, eventually her companion's voice snapped her out of it.

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah, it's math." She blinked a couple of times. "Let's go."

Before they could venture forth, they quickly saw someone approaching them in the distance, far above the trees. The creature looked almost like Jake in it's stretchy fashion, only this time around, it apparently was a fluffy cat, carrying someone on her back. The thing quickly ran pass them, ignoring them completely, or simply hardly looking at the ground below. The girls were quite surprised, more so by the fact that the one riding the cat looked awfully familiar as well.

"Was that..."

"Looked like him but..."

"Too much in the 'chest area', right?"

"Yeah, still..."

Before they could talk about it further, numerous beams of ice hit the ground surrounding them. Apparently there was someone chasing the previous duo and now she found herself a different type of entertainment. She floated in the sky, as her pointy teeth glittered in the light. The energy from within her slick hands flowed all around her fingers, ready to strike any second now, like a wild animal, gazing playfully at her prey. She was somewhat confused by the two however, as she never seen the likes of them. Still, the pink one's resemblance to her dearest prince wasn't a coincidence, she was sure of it. So the sorceress did the only thing that came into her mind. In fact, the only thing that always came into her mind in those troubling times, when decisions needed to be made quickly and swiftly – she conjured even more ice, tossing the beams left and right at them, in an attempt to hit both of them within her chilling creations. The princess was quite used to the attempts of freezing her little being. She dodged out of the way, as she tried her numerous devices to interfere with the ice witch. Marceline did the same, shifting from one form to another, quickly avoiding each and every icicle that came into her direction. She too somewhat knew what to expect, in terms of her capabilities at least. The Ice Queen was a cunning beast however when needed to be. Since they were dodging around her attacks with ease, why not making it a bit more, as they say, harder. She quickly frozen the surface underneath their feet, so that those slick figurines would have some issues with stability. She was right, this time around, since the two hardly expected anything else aside from brute force from the likes of her. As soon as the first one tripped, beam of frost turned her into a pink filled, stale block. It was only a matter of time before the second one joined her within the clutches of the prison made out of ice. The Queen quickly descended from up above and gazed at her catchings. They were somewhat similar, yes. Perhaps she will be able to use them for her likings, one way or another. Especially the pink one. Maybe that was one of Gumball relatives? He never told her about his family, all in all. No, he screamed most of the time, and other times – he simply tossed some insults towards her little, blue frame. She hardly minded that, obviously, those that say such things, say them because they're full of emotion. At least, that's what she told to herself all the time. But, come to think of it, she told herself many things, numerous times.

"Two little birds, caught in the ice, it's because they simply couldn't play nice..." She began to sing out loud, as her cold, slick fingers tapped on the surface. She was rather proud of herself. The Queen hardly ever caught someone like that, usually people slipped away when she turned around. This time, she wanted to make sure that everything is in order. "I do ponder what secrets will you tweet to a damsel like me. I am a damsel after all. A damsel fitting for my dearest Gumball, oh yes." She tapped on the ice once again, especially on the pink one's face. She was quite curious about her. "But now I'll have to drag you all the way, all the way. You better make it worth my while."

###

And so they found themselves in yet another weird place, quite unwillingly so. Was it ever the other way around however? Not in the recent days, that's for sure. And as their frames were cuffed tight towards the icy, unpleasant walls, the one that held them captive circled around, pondering loudly about who they may be. Well, at least the princess was somewhat cuffed, as Marceline remained in her block of ice, as she was apparently not needed right now. Either way, the Queen never saw them in those lands, that's for sure, and still - they were somewhat familiar. Almost too familiar. Since the the host of this frozen palace was clearly out of her mind, much like the King in their world, she began to over think it heavily, as the cogs in her head worked at full spread it would seem, judging by the way she constantly bit her lip while talking to herself.

"Looking weird dear, yes. But familiarities are always a feature. Or not? Oh, no, no, familiarities should be considered, I am smart after all, so if it's similar it should be..."

"So, when you will decide to free us, huh?" The princess finally decided to ask, which apparently stopped her thought process, as she began to stare blankly at her with her round, white eyes. "Will you respond at least?"

"Oh, you're so impatient. So, so impatient. I will, of course, I will. I'm the damsel here after all." She shook her blue head around. "Who would have thought that Gumball relatives are so annoying." She clutched her hands around her chest. "Guess everyone has some black sheep in the family. And speaking of black, you too remind me of someone. Yes." The Queen winked a couple of times, as she came closer towards the vampire. "It's almost as if I saw you once before. Can't put my fingers on where however. And thus, that makes you quite unimportant." She scratched her head. "Or does it. I tend to forget about important things as well at times." She then slapped herself across the face. "I'm easily distracted. Pardon."

"Um... no big deal?"

"Ah, yes, yes. Nice to see someone that has some manners and pardons the damsel in her thoughts." She once again winked a couple of times. "Still, my questions weren't fully answered, therefore that's not all that nice at all, no, no."

"I think you are mistaken, I'm not..."

"Oh you are, surely you are! Pink skin, quite similar face, candy like as well, yes, yes. Surely you are. Big chest would indicate that some of those things run in the family." She chuckled a little. "Splendid!"

"I still think that..."

"Yes, yes, we can think later, but tell me. How was growing up with him, huh? Huh? Any secrets about him? Any interesting bits? Was he a prankster? Or was he nice? And oh, oh, maybe something about his teenage years, you know, something spicy, like, like..."

Out of no where, somewhere from within the depths of her frozen palace, a messy noises came, almost as if someone crushed and smashed something. Judging by how the Queen eyes widened, it had to be something quite precious.

"Babies!" She screeched. "What mommy told you about her whereabouts! Oh I swear if you weren't so adorable I'd..." She looked at the princess. "Pardon me, dear Gumball relative. I must part for now, but I shall return, that I guarantee." The insane one smirked. "And maybe you will tell me about some gummy and juicy secrets, oh yes, yes!"

And the insane Queen left the spot. Bubblegum looked around, quickly searching for a way out. No matter how hard she thought however, how she bent her body, how she wanted to slide out of the thick blue surface, it was all futile. Her intelligence was unmatched, still, even she knew that with the share brainpower alone, she won't do much about their current location and situation. And then, he appeared, just like that. The princess hardly even noticed when that happened – when this white, blank skull stared at her from the back of the room, when his empty eyes gazed at her with such curiosity, when his yet another straw hat appeared from the darkness within the glacial walls.

"You find your way into such interesting places." He slowly clapped his bone hands. "And as usual, you hardly were aware where exactly you ventured." He smudged his pointy finger at her cheek, smirking constantly. "Ah, sugar babe, you should know better."

"You're hardly helping in our current situation." She looked at him. Usually he appeared after they achieved something, and last time she checked, they hardly did anything around here. Yet. "So, care to change that?"

"Ah, dulcet divine, I'm not here to help." He smooched the air around. "I'm here but to watch. To watch and be entertained. I never said anything about helping."

And he did just like he said, circling around slowly, tapping his stiff hands over the ice, looking constantly at his reflection, as he tried to look amused. He obviously wasn't, and she could see that with ease. Still, that hardly helped her in any way, shape or form. Therefore, she decided to ask, since questions don't hurt much. Usually.

"Well, could you make one exception from that rule perhaps?" She smiled a little. "For your two favorites?"

"I could, but I don't know if I should."

"Well, you were eager to grab the Lich in your arms, not necessary to hug him. And us, in this state, well, we can hardly do the job."

That finally made him look at her once again, as at this point and with those words, she was more entertaining than his own reflection. He came before her once again, looking and pondering, considering and thinking. Eventually, he put his hands on her shoulders, as he gazed deep within her candy eyes. And then, he smiled.

"Entertain me then."

"Sorry, hardly in the mood." She sighted. "And I don't think that will change for that matter."

"Not like that." He snapped his fingers before her face and chuckled a little bit. "Many things I find thrilling, sugar babe. And your position hardly stops me from asking questions."

"Questions?"

"You should figure out by now that I enjoy them immensely, dulcet candy."

He took of his hat and put it right before her, as it began to hoover in the air. Bubblegum hardly was interested in his little games, but if that was the way out of here, she could at least gave it a try. Death was helpful after all, at times at least. Other times, well, he was a bit of a nuisance. Or, not only a bit come to think of it.

"Whoever tries to weasel out, shall make the hat fall." He shrugged. "I like to make up rules as I go."

"That I noticed. Stakes?"

"Rather obvious. I'll either help you or not."

He smiled, as the hat began to span around within it's notion. He on the other hand scratched her chin, as once again he gazed deep within her, almost as if her eyes were the ones that were meant to give him his much adored answers.

"I'll go first. So, ever considered a life that's a bit more... normal?" He pointed at her frozen companion. "Stale perhaps?"

"My life is perfectly stale as it is, thank you very much."

"And yet you neglected everything and everyone that looks at you with care."

"I changed. And I am what my people need me to be." She rolled her eyes. "Not part of the question either way. Still, I have all what I want from life now. Plausible?"

"Plausible."

"My turn then." She grinned, if just a little. Still, her hands inside the icy abyss were hardly a fitting notion. "A simple one, despite the fact that I hardly like simple things. Your strife with the Lich?"

"A simple one indeed – I don't like things that simply won't die. But that you already know, huh? Back at you." He pointed his finger at her chest. "Your heart always had it's rhythms towards this one, or..."

"Well, there was another one, way back." She bit her lip. "Way, way back."

"There was another one than, huh? Whom, the boy?" He liked gossips, that's for sure. And a gossip about the great ruler of the sweet kingdom? Too good to pass upon that notion. "Nah, someone else, I sense it but..."

"Two questions in a row mister Death?"

"Right." He grinned. "My pardons."

"Accepted, obviously." She bowed down slightly, at least as much as she could in her current state, as her frozen limbs were hardly adding to the gesture. "But it was a she as well, if that fulfills your... curiosity. You should know the name. She's dead, and you deal with those kind of things." She stared blankly at the ground. "Either way. Tell me, why the attitude, why the act? Why the smiles, chuckles, grins?"

"Why should it be other way around?" He shrugged. "Why the fact that others pass away should worry me? Oh no, no. There's nothing sad in that for me. I'm above relations, above connections sugar babe."

"Right." She rolled her eyes. "Above it all, and no hints whatsoever."

"World would be better if we all mind our own things." He chuckled and quickly changed the topic of their little conversation. "That's all the smart candy princess has to offer?"

"Oh I do have a question. And an answer I think. If I may another one in a row. Since, you know, you did the same." She grinned, as he smiled back curiously. "You don't really know everything do you? Every answer, every detail, huh? You thought no one will figure that out, don't you? And you use that as an excuse to ask others, telling them that you know it all. But you don't, don't you?" He simply gazed at her, without any notion, as lights danced within his eyes. "And deep inside, you have some secret that you badly want for someone to unravel, but you're too stubborn to reveal by yourself, huh? And it's not about the Lich, it's about you, right?" She shook her head playfully, since it was the only part of her body that she was able to move freely. "So, mister Death, given all the odds and percents, given all the possibilities and ideas, can you tell me, how well I figured you out?"

He smiled in silence, as he grabbed his hat without even saying a word. As the sparks ignited within his empty hollows, he once again came closer. With a long gaze, he eventually headbutted the ice that surrounded her limbs, crushing it completely. And then he began to laugh, laugh so much, that the walls echoed with this sound. And just like that, he began to fade, eventually leaving nothing but ash around his former frame. That was enough for her however, as she smashed the prison of her lover with ease, now that her hands were finally free. Marceline almost instantly rushed ahead.

"I will get you, I will... oh." She winked a couple of times. "Where are we?"

"A long story." The princess smiled. "But as usual, the long story short – we need to get out of here."

"I'm good at sneaking out!" She grinned. "And you were pretty good at it as well, back in the days."