I do not own Adventure Time. It does occupy a lot of my time, though.

~~o~~

Chapter 9 - Blank Points Pt. 1

"Marceline, I swear if this was just another one of your elaborate jokey-joke-jokes, I'll have you thrown in my dungeons!"

"Well...I don't mind spending more time in your dungeons."

The candy monarch blushed furiously as the vampire laughed hard. Making Bonnie red in the cheeks never gets old. Marceline looked around and was relieved to see that most of the princesses were present, almost all faces held a look of annoyance. Well, except Embryo Princess, who was asleep as always. How she managed to get here was beyond her.

"Bonnie, how what did you do to convince all this princesses to come over?"

The pink lady looked at her sheepishly. "Well...I used certain methods you're...better off not knowing. So what's the reason for us to stand around Finn and Jake's house in the middle of the night?"

"Relax, wait here. I'll just get the Enchiridion."

"You WHAT?!" How did you got your hands on that artifact?" The princess looked visibly worried. "That ancient relic was destroyed by Finn a long time ago!"

"Look, I really don't know. Okay? Just wait here."

Marceline went inside the Tree Fort and retrieved the Enchiridion. Now that she thought of it, why was she doing all of these? It was not the first time those two goofballs got themselves in some strange situation, and she was not around to help them. What make this different? Maybe the involvement of the Enchiridion and Simon? Whatever. Maybe I'm just bored.

"And I have to pay Finn someway or somehow for taking good care of me."

There appeared to be a commotion outside as she opened the front door. It seemed Bonnie had forgot to 'invite' Lumpy Space Princess, who thought all the princesses are having a slumber party at Finn's room. Marceline whistled in mixture of annoyance and amusement.

"Let me inside! You're all just jealous of my LUMPS!" LSP struggled against Muscle Princess firm grip. "Oh look, Finn! My dress was reaped to pieces!"

Marceline cringed, both mentally and physically. She went over Bonnie and tapped her shoulder to get her attention. A smile seemed to be plastered on her face, probably amused by LSP's usual antics. She raised the Enchiridion at chest level and twisted the sword-knob, which caused the middle of the book to open and reveal five unique holes arranged in circular fashion around a sixth larger hole.

"How did you knew that, Marceline?" The candy monarch was visibly impressed.

Marceline ignored her question, deciding it was time to gather everyone's attention. "Alright, Princesses! Gather around here because I have something to show to you all."

All the royalties complied, Embryo Princess's container in Bonnie's hand, and gathered around her. She heard mumblings of annoyance, some curious enough, most just wanted to go home. She have to do this swift and sure. Marceline doesn't know how Bonnie forced them to come but she hoped the reason will hold over until she got everything she needed.

"Stand back a bit, girls."

For the second time, Marceline zapped the little shield with his vampiric powers. The shield shook and opened to reveal a small piece of gem. Everyone was shocked to witness a small hologram of a creature emanated from the gem. Booko instantly launched into long incomprehensible babble before Marceline ordered him to slow down.

"As...you...wish...Marceline...The...Multiverse...is...comprised-"

Something in herself snapped as she drew her Bass Axe. "Not THAT slow, you jerk! Speak clearly or I will smash this book to pieces!"

Everyone gasped at her reaction, but at least they seemed to be interested now. "Pssh. You could destroy the Enchiridion, but it will only rematerialize near its' rightful owner."

"Why, you little creep?"

Bonnie held her hands before she could pummel the holographic nuisance. Marceline instantly calmed at her touch. She set down the axe and let the little guy continue with his rant. But this time, Booko did complied with her request to speak more clearly.

"Ahem, as I, Booko, was saying before I was rudely interrupted, the Multiverse is comprised of different universes that normally are separated from each other. But there are universes that are closely linked together, some just happened to be connected for a while, and others have artificial connections through powerful artifacts, such as this book. In the center of the Multiverse lies the Time Room, where time and space of the universes don't apply. In that room resides Prismo, the Almighty dude that can grant your any wish once." As Booko spoke, small shapes hovered over the book, each representing a universe in the Multiverse, as what she understood.

"This is the portion of the map of the Multiverse, and here is your universe. This one her e is the Time Room."

"Oh my Glob! Is that some kind of surveillance camera? Map, show me where Brad is!"

LSP excitedly shouted in glee. Despite the angry uproar from the crowd, the map zoomed and homed on a location where Brad should be located. The view was almost on Brad, who seemed to be taking a bath, before Marceline could stop Booko.

"LSP, don't do that again!" Bonnie scolded LSP with so much fury that the latter just cowered behind Wildberry Princess.

Everyone took a time to absorb the flood of information from Booko. Some Princess seemed genuinely interested in the wishmaster Prismo, others looked skeptical at most. These kind of things take time to be understood, she thought.

Suddenly, Turtle Princess, who remained silent until then, spoke with pure vindication. "Marceline, this is cool knowledge and all, girl. But what does these have to do with us?"

"Just listen more, okay?"

The turtle just stared at her indignantly as Booko continued explaining. "This very book in your midst contain vast amount of power with potential to rip open a passage between universes. It just needs six gems of power to as catalyst."

"Marceline, I think I know what you're doing." Bonnie looked at her with disdain. " Whatever you're planning to do must be ceased at once!"

"Wait Bonnibel, please! Just hear me out! Booko! Show us where Finn and Jake are located, now!"

"As you wish." Booko zoomed the map on a universe that lies parallel their own, continually enhancing the view until it reached the roof of what seemed to be Candy Castle tower.

"Finn and Jake!"

All the princesses are now glued to the live view as they watched Finn get beaten by someone that resembled a cross between Finn and Ice King. Marceline gasped as Finn was almost thrown outside of the roof, that would have resulted in his death. From that moment, her resolve became apparent. I have to get to the bottom of this.

"They are in danger! You're right, Marceline!"

At least Bonnie was in same page as hers. Suddenly, everyone erupted in annoyance as the live view faded . All the royalties now want to be part of the apparent rescue effort, asking what they needed to do. Bonnie held her hand high to calm the ladies. Marceline took the time to get everyone's attention again.

"I need to get to the Time Room and demand an explanation from this Prismo guy, and Booko here will explain."

"All eyes over here ladies. As you can see, the book has six crevices around the middle. Six of those present here tonight held the correct gems of power each, which can unlock the Enchiridion's potential. You need to find out by placing all the gems near the book."

Marceline frowned. This will take a lot of time indeed. She watched as all the royalties placed the variously colored and shaped gems on the ground near the Enchiridion. In her estimate, there should be around thirty princesses present but still a gnawing feeling was forming in her gut. A cold wind unexplicably blew across the Grass Lands making her shiver much to his confusion. Vampires are naturally resistant to cold and heat.

"Are you alright, Marceline?"

Bonnie looked at her with concern and reached for her hand. It was Marceline's turn to blush. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit worried about those two dweebs."

The pink princess just continued to stare at her face, a grin slowly forming. "You actually care for those two?"

"Of course, I do! I seldom have friends that lasted as long as them."

"What? I'm not your friend? "

She stammered nervously. "What? Of course you're my..." Marceline wrestled her hand out of Bonnie's grip.

"What?"

"Look Bonnie, what we had years ago no longer applies today alright? We're just friends now." She sincerely did not want to bring up the fact that Bonnie was the one who messed up their past relationship, and all her recent tries on reviving their what they had was met by disdained scorn. "And it's not really the time to be talking about these."

The Princess was visibly disheartened, making a small part of Marceline cringed with regret on what she said earlier. " I understand, I thought we're...you know? On good terms again?"

"Of course, we're friends!"

"Friends, huh?"

"Yeah, but no tongue."

"Yeah ...whaaaat?"

Marceline laughed as Bonnie blushed her signature deep red. "Nevermind. Look, they're finished taking off their gems!"

They walked closer to the gathering of Princesses. A full minute passed until four of the gems on the ground rose on eye level, the fifth one that belonged to Bonnie followed suit. The gems hovered closer to the Enchiridion and snapped into their corresponding places, leaving one crevice empty.

"Look, girl. Your gem is trying to fit itself on the book!" Turtle Princess nudged LSP, who was busy on her phone.

"Oh my Glob! Even the book can't resist my powerful LUMPS!"

LSP's star-shaped gem suddenly hurtled back at its owner, smacking the lumpy princess in her head. "This is so insulting, I'm out of here!"

They watched as LSP flew away. Turtle Princess followed after her friend. Marceline noticed the frown on Bonnie. "It still lacked a single gem, Marceline."

The Princesses murmured among themselves, accusing each other of holding back their gems. Before a fight could break out, a voice rang from somewhere behind them. Marceline can recognize that voice anywhere.

"Hey, Princesses. Whatcha doing here in my turbobro's abode?"

"Go away, Ice King!" Slime Princess and Wildberry Princess both screamed at the Ice King. Simon.

"C'mon now, I'm just passing through. Care to go with me and play with Gunter? We're having a movie marathon though, so he'll probably busy to-"

"NO!" The two princesses shouted firmly, a look of hurt painted across Ice King's face.

"Ice King!"

"Oh, hey there Marceline..."

"Me and Bubblegum will come over your place sometime soon and watch movies with you or whatever."

"Really? That would be so fantas-"

"Marceline, what are you doing? Don't get me involved in there!"

"Relax, Bonnie. I got this." She turned back again at the Ice King who was now flying with glee. " For just one condition, Ice King."

"What is it? C'mon don't leave me hanging here!" All the princesses looked at him incredulously. "Well, technically flying, but whatever. Spit it out, sister!"

Marceline hoped her hunch was right, if not...she did not want to know what would be Bonnie's reaction. "Hand over the gems on your crown."

"But I need these gems...I mean...without them I couldn't kidnap princesses, boss Gunter around and pick up chicks."

The Princesses looked incredulously at him again.

"Well, I mean literally pick up chicks."

"So, how about it Ice King?" Marceline crossed her fingers in anticipation.

"Okay then...my Crown says 'no' repeatedly but whatever." Ice King proceeded to pluck the three gems on his Crown, making him fall down hard on the ground. "Ouchies. My hot buns shouldn't be experiencing that kind of trauma, girls. I'm sorry you have to see that."

Marceline hovered closer to the fallen Ice King and took the gems. "That's a deal. After I'm done with here, we'll check up on you, okay?"

"Alright!"

Shooting one last smile at the King, she threw the gems near the book. The three objects hovered in midair, earning some response among the crowd, merged together to form one bigger red gem. A clearcut ruby. It circled on an axis then plunged down fast and hard on the book, an audible click was heard as it slammed down to its place. For a moment, everyone stood and watched with anticipation.

"Whatcha doing here anyways? Is this a slumber party?" Nobody bothered to answer the Ice King. "Wowzers!"

Marceline picked up the book and watched intently at the changes happening. The skull in its cover began to chant something incomprehensible and then exploded for some reason. She watched as the grapes wither and fall, and the dove flew away. Suddenly, the sword in the middle of the cover started to cut down around the vertical middle of the book.

"Princess Bubblegum, are you sure what we did was correct?" Hotdog Princess asked skeptically, probably worried about the book.

After the sword completely cuts the middle of the Enchiridion into a loop, a black substance oozed from the crevice, and turned the Enchiridion to a brown stone. Marceline dropped it like a hot coal, afraid the black ooze will spread to her.

"I remember this!"

"What, Bonnie?"

"Finn smashed the Enchiridion and opened the portal, that's what I remembered."

Marceline swung the Bass Axe with all her might and crushed the brown stone. "Like this?"

In a blink of an eye, a large hole in space that seemed to go somewhere appeared in the place where the shattered stone was earlier. The winds howled ferociously, making most of the princesses run in every direction. Marceline was about step in the portal when a hand stopped her.

~~o~~

Ice King doesn't know what to do. Without the constant whispers of the Crown, he felt more clueless than ever. He watched as a portal opened in front of him. Marceline was about to step into the portal but Princess Bubblegum stopped her. Oh Princess, you look so lovely tonight. You look so much like Betty...wait. Who's Betty?

"Marceline, I'm coming with you."

"Bonnie, it's too dangerous. I can't guarantee your safety."

"You need not to. I can handle my own."

"And here I thought I was the more stubborn between us two...Grrr. Fine."

Ice King gasped as she watched the Princess hugged Marceline from behind but the latter wrestled out of her embrace. "Hey, when did you became so clingy?"

"Look, let's go."

Marceline looked back at him then spoke softly he barely heard what she said. "Hey Simon, I promise you when we come back, we'll hang out together!"

Then they both stepped in to the portal, which promptly closed and left him alone in front of the Tree Fort.

I'll gladly wait for you, Marcy.

~~o~~

I really intend this to be only one chapter, but I don't want to rush and cram so many things on one chapter. And I'm still stumped on how to make the three-way free-for-all work. That chapter only have its half written.

Ooobserver: I'm really glad you liked the idea of a three-way battle! It's kinda what I had in my mind ever since I read Miss Bonnibel's diary in the first Tales of the Alternate Universe, the cryptic passage about the brown-haired Mertens driving off the Rainicorns and setting out on his own. I thought what if he came across his brother? Boom.

I'm so excited for the announced new episodes of AT! Finally, Betty!

Read and Review dudes!