Disclaimer: I do not own Adventure Time.

"Where is this castle anyway?" Jake sighed as the prince spoke. They'd been traveling for barely three days and already he regretted bringing the prince along for this rescue. The royal was like a spoiled child; obnoxious, annoying, and demanding. How Finn managed to stand the redhead was beyond him. At the thought of his brother Jake deflated. How could he have let Finn be taken? He should have done something, he should have protected Finn. Before he could be dragged into drowning self-guilt a hand fell on his shoulder. Jake looked over to see Peppermint giving him a sad smile over the prince's head.

"We'll find him." Jake gave a weak smile back and straightened under the butler's hand.

"Thank you." Peppermint nodded to him and turned back to the road. The two walked on in near silence for a while, with the prince's occasional complaints brushing over them. Suddenly the prince stopped dead in his tracks, looking up at the two older men with a frown.

"Can we please take a break?" Jake stopped to glare down at the prince and Gumball flinched. The woodsman's gaze was harsh and the prince felt a trickle of fear run through him. Peppermint sighed and covered his eyes. At this rate Jake would end up killing the prince before they even found Finn.

"We'll rest here for the night." Jake and Gumball threw Peppermint twin looks of surprise. Anger suddenly took over Jake's face and he was face to face with Peppermint.

"We need to keep going." Peppermint smiled gently to Jake. He knew this had to be stressful for the man but he needed to calm down.

"It's nearly dark and we've made good progress. We should rest for the night." Jake growled and stepped back from the man.

"We need to find Finn. Who knows what that monster is doing to him!" Peppermint pulled Jake to him for a hug, ignoring the man's suddenly stiff posture.

"And we will find him but we won't be able to help him if we're dead on our feet." Peppermint held the man until he felt Jake relax in his arms. "Good."

Jake sighed and turned away from Peppermint.

"We can rest for the night but we leave at dawn." Peppermint smiled and pat Jake on the back.

"Of course." Jake nodded and turned fully away from the two men, clearing the area for sleep. Gumball slid next to his butler as the man busied himself with setting up camp.

"How did you do that?" Peppermint smirked slightly and looked down at the prince.

"I've no clue what you're talking about." Gumball huffed.

"You are impossible." A smile graced the butler's face.

"We are doomed." Tree Trunks frowned over at the Ice King. The man sat slouched in his throne, ice trailing along the wall behind him in a mindless swirl. The woman sighed and moved closer to the king, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I'll have none of that." The woman gave a smile, trying to lighten the man's mood. Ice King groaned and placed his hands over his eyes.

"We are. I can't- I can't reverse the curse." Ice King let his magic flare out further up the wall, ice blackening considerably.

"You'll find a way without Fionna. You could go to the witch." Tree Trunks nodded to herself. It could work. The witch might be willing to lift the curse after as these years. Ice King snapped forward suddenly and Tree Trunks flinched back.

"No I can't. I can't." The Ice King was rigid, nearly shaking in his stiffness. The woman frowned and moved to stand in front of the throne. She lifted the man's head and Ice King stared blankly back at her.

"What are you saying Simon?" The white haired man sighed and gave Tree Trunks a pleading look.

"The witch... The one who did this... I-I hunted her down. It was a few hundred years ago." Tree Trunks gave a shaky nod, she knew this story would not end well and unease filled her.

"What did you do Simon?" The man laughed, a soft crack filling the air as his thickening ice finally reached the fireplace.

"I demanded that she turn us, turn me, back to normal. I just wanted to be normal again Melia." He laughed again, a broken sound that sent chills up Tree Trunks spine. But what shocked her most was hearing her name. She hadn't heard Simon use her name in over 700 years. Not since she had lost what was most dear to him. Before she could relish in the sound of her name the man was speaking again. "And when she refused I killed her. I thought if she was dead her magic would die as well but I was wrong. Her rose is still here and so is the curse. I've doomed us all."

Tree Trunks let out a harsh breath. To think that Simon, her son in all but blood, had killed someone was unbearable. Had he used his magic or a blade? Did he make her suffer or was is a painless death? The thoughts came unbidden to Tree Trunks and the woman shook her head violently to discard them. She had to be strong, for Simon.

"Simon... we aren't doomed. It'll be alright." His laugh this time was hysterical, bordering on madness and for the first time Tree Trunks could see the insanity swimming in Simon's gaze. Pure chaos that threatened to spill out in violent waves and taint the very air around them. How had she missed this? Where was her young, innocent Simon? Had he ever really been there?

"Oh really. Then what would you call this?" He gestured to his body and Tree Trunks let her gaze sweep over him and more. Simon himself was a mess; eyes wild, clothes rumpled, hair a mess. The ice that had been steadily growing since Simon had sat down was jagged in most places and pointed threateningly at her from all angles. "I could kill you here and now with a simple touch. I can barely control it. How could any of this ever be okay?"

His eyes burned through her and with a start Tree Trunks realized how old Simon was. No longer was he the young boy king she knew who ran through the halls with Marceline. Nor was he the young mage with powers he couldn't control or understand. He was the Ice King; cold, distant, and powerful. He could kill her with a look and laugh over her corpse. She was heartbroken. How had she let her boy become this?

She moved forward, kneeling before the throne and grasping the man's hands in hers. They were colder than ice and she could feel herself becoming numb but pushed past the pain. Simon needed this, she as well, and she would be damned if she lost her boy once more. Simon looked down with blank eyes and Tree Trunks took a moment to gather her thoughts.

"When the curse was first cast I thought that the witch was being cruel. Surely death would have been better than this. Then people began to hear of your castle, of the citadel, and they came from far and wide for the safety that it offered. So many families and refugees came here for protection, for a better life. A life where they didn't have to hide their true nature and could live in peace. Think of Flame, BMO, and even Cake. We wouldn't know them if not for the curse. It isn't truly a curse. So much good has come of this magic. Would it be so bad if it stayed?" Simon's eyes were soft by the end of her speech and Tree Trunks gave a slight smile. The madness had receded, though now that she knew it was there it was impossible not to see. Still Simon was lighter and the ice around them had grown smooth. She felt a tug on her hands and stood at Simon's request. His arms wrapped around her waist and Tree Trunks finally gave a full smile. Her fingers were soon in his hair, stroking the white locks back into a presentable formation.

"Thank you Melia." The words are whispered but Tree Trunks hears them all the same. It warms her and she tightens her hold on Simon.

Merry Christmas!