I'm sorry if I'm late. I wanted to upload this story on 31st December but my computer caused issues.
Weeks ago the Land of Ooo had been changed.
Were one to look down on Ooo from space they'd see a respectfully sized landmass, much larger than an Island but perhaps a wee bit smaller than the typical continent, like it had once been a part of something much bigger but was shorn off by… something.
At the northmost edge of Ooo, jutting out from the rest of the landmass, lay the Ice Kingdom, surrounded by its iceberg infested sea and easily distinguishable by its enormous frost-capped peaks and the pervading cold that surrounded the land, just looking at it made one want for a warm blanket and a mug of hot cocoa even in the heat of summer.
Just below the Ice kingdom were the Grasslands of Ooo. There were no official kingdoms to be found here, merely simple homesteads and farms for those who yearned for the simple comforts of solitude, and one or two rather sizable towns. The great plains of Ooo took up the center of this world, and a sizeable chunk of it at that, and were home to a great many interesting phenomena and locale, making it the perfect home for adventurers of all shapes and sizes to test their mettle throughout the years, as the most current residents there can attest to.
To the right lay the great forests of Ooo, all of them different and all of them connected. The Forest of Trees, the Spooky Woods, the Haunted Swamp, Moose Bone Clearing, and many other interesting colloquialisms. These were wild woods, their secrets hidden deep in leafy boughs along with many dangers. Though, it was also against their borders that the many Humanoids (those far-flung multicolored descendants of the once powerful human race) made their homes, along with the talking beasts and occasional nature spirit, druid, and, in one special case, a certain powerful Wizard with a love for the hunt.
To the south of the Grasslands the great desert spread out across the horizon, and even further below the badlands where many peoples of unsavory disposition dwelled (also the Breakfast Kingdom but that more or less fits under the umbrella). The Dead City was also to be found there, tucked out of sight, a decrepit and somber monument to a race that no longer existed in their world but whose presence could still be felt in these far-flung isolated places. There were other places as well, the Spiky Village, the City of Thieves, and even further south, below the forests and plains and separated by the desert by a small inlet, a tiny rainforest known as the Jungle Kingdom. The Badlands were also home to M.O. Co, the pre-war factory founded by Moe and the source of all MO's in the Land of Ooo, those adorable little robot helpers that were rare to find outside but always treasured.
To the west of the Badlands, located entirely on a sizeable peninsula that jutted out from the rest of Ooo and into a boiling sea of steam, was the enigmatic and often frightening Fire Kingdom, who had little to do with the goings on of the rest of the land and were more than content to focus on their own matters. The feeling was mutual, though sentiments had changed with the installment of the Flame Princess as the new Flame King who endeavored to set up a more respectable reputation for her people.
To the left, perpendicular to the Ice Kingdom, was the other half of the continent, and this is where things began to get very interesting for it was here that the primary seats of power in Ooo's government could be found. This was known among many peoples as the land of Princesses, for it was here that many of Ooo's city-state Kingdoms (from Muscle to Hotdog to Lemon to Goblin and everything in between) set up shop, and it was also were many of the more powerful villages settled as well. The Marauders below their mountains, the fuzzy people behind their walls, the Cuboids in their cubicles, and the Wizards in their super-duper-top-secret lair hidden behind the mountains, Wizard City!
It was also home to the Candy Kingdom, the alleged Candied Island as some would call it, the most powerful nation in all of Ooo, with its myriad of resources, network of trade routes and supply lines, and of course, it's seemingly all-knowing and long-lived monarch the Princess Bubblegum.
Said Princess Bubblegum was currently walking amidst the ruins of her once prosperous nation, surveying the damage that had been dealt to it in the aftermath of the Gum War.
The Land of Ooo had been changed.
The Tree Fort of the Grasslands had been felled. So many of the villages and towns throughout the Grasslands wiped out in one horrible night. What remained of the Forests still smoldered, the smoke rising high into the evening sky. Many of the minor kingdoms had been destroyed by the rampaging beasts summoned by the Chaos God, the ones without standing armies or venerable heroes to safeguard them, the ones that hadn't even had a stake in her own petty, childish, stupid war-
Princess Bubblegum stopped for a moment and rested her face in her open palms. Leaning against what used to be a candy cane light post she rested, shoulders trembling and normally fresh, pink bubblegum flesh pale and pasty. She didn't cry, and not for lack of trying either. She just had nothing left to offer. They'd taken everything, everything, and now she hadn't even tears.
With a deep shuddering breath, The Princess of the Candy Kingdom gave the wilted candy post a good couple of pats for shouldering her. Two beady eyes opened on the post's side and a mouth followed suit, offering its beleaguered sovereign a tiny smile. Bubblegum's heart ached at the glazed, haunted look in its eyes and she leaned over to give it a quick kiss on its peppermint shell before, with a husky sigh, she began to once again make her way down the street.
The past few days had been a blur, a haze of movement and orders and tears and screaming and forced smiles far too painful to be ever mistaken for genuine but nobody wanted to say anything. Why would they? It would only hurt her and besides that they needed her to be strong for them, always and forever. Their friend, their princess, their creator and protector and mother and a thousand other things that were all of them true and yet also not even close to what she meant to them.
And what they meant to her. Her people, her creations, her precious little gumdrop babies and how many of them were missing...
Her family was quite big... And it grew bigger as time has gone on
She had many friends that she considered family too like Finn and Jake...
Her and Marceline finally got back together after centuries in part thanks to them...even after seeing her in her most dark shades...
And at last ... there was their son, Gregory... A child that was now in their care by accident... she wasn't sure if the accident will turn out to be happy or not though...
A small hand shot out and grabbed princess' cheek and she snapped out of her line of thought.
Marceline : Heh seems to appreciate your face Bonnie
Looking at the baby in her hands, she was somewhat grateful for the distraction Gregory gave her.
She had to be strong for her people, and that includes Marcy and now Gregory too...
She needed her mind to be clear right now, which was easier said than done but she'll try.
Marceline : Ooh just look at you, who's our little gut? It's you, it's you~
Baby giggles, it grabs Marci's hand as she was caressing his hairlocks
Bubblegum : He is so small, even Starchie is bigger in comparison
Marceline : Bonnie he is a newborn. They don't start out as big as Finn is now.
Bubblegum : Yeah but why isn't he talking? He didn't say a word ever yet, he did nothing but sleeping and crying
Marceline : Bonnie that's how it starts. Humans aren't all born with ability to talk instantly
Bubblegum : I see. I guess we have to teach him
She places the baby in his bed while putting on his pijamas.
He then grabs her cheek again playfully "Gregory please I'm trying to dress you up"
Marceline : Bonnie he doesnt understand you yet so good luck.
He then starts to lick it, causing Bonnie to shiver and drop him
Marceline was quick enough to catch him luckily
Marceline : WOW! Phew that was close. Anything to say in your defense Bonnibel~
She asked playfully
Bonnie : . Me.?
Marceline held her mouth shut, trying not to laugh.
She places Gregory back into his new crib
Marce : Oh c'mon. He's just goofing around, also you're candy remember?
Bubblegum : That's..true. Still he shouldn't do that again, it creeps me out.
Marceline : Oh really? You also creeped out the same way when we first-
Bubbelgum exclaimed in blush "MARCELINE
Adopting Gregory sure wasn't an easy choice, not any easier than before the gum war against her uncle Gumbald and then Golb.. Yet another change broguht in to the land of OOO... What she wasn't telling Marcy however was that she has her insecurity too. Would Gregory accept her as mother despite the number of immorality on her conscience?...
Her mind knew this won't get her anywhere so she had a lot on her plate now. Her citizens, Gumball Guardians, friends and some allies were helping when they could which did make it a bit easier.
Unlike how she was a little while ago, she also doesnt monitor everyone all the time. If anything happens, they can handle it. She is a bit skeptical but she was so paranoid before that she just decided to give them freedom to do it themselves.
Gregory? Well he was like Neddy. Only smaller and with a bit of shockwaves and sparks coming out when he's crying.
She still didnt' find out where it was coming from.
And judging by his behaviour, she doubts he can tell anything himself.
She then thinks 'Hmm since he lives with us, and we have to raise him then why not teach him some maths?'
Marceline : Hello Bonnibel? Are you here?
Then a new thought has crossed her mind.
Their baby as heroic as Finn but smarter like her and with Marceline's musical talent crossed her mind, and so she gets the idea.
Bubblegum : Alright! Now can you solve this?
PB then starts writing down an easy equation at least to her.
Marceline smirks and looks to see her try
Baby however didn't say a word just stared at her and played his tongue
Marceline : Lol...I don't think he can do that...
Bubblegum doesn't have it and still keeps asking
Bubblegm : Can you grow your muscles?
Baby said nothing
Marceline : Bonnie read by lips humans don't grow up quickly
Bubblegum : How short do they live, and how slow do they grow...
Marceline : I honestly don't know how to answer that. I mean I lived another thousand years and I still didnt grow up only until we fought those vampires. Years difnt change you either but king of ooo definitely did when he kicked ya out
Bubblegum looked at Marceline frowning at her mentioning the event
"Waaaaaaaa!"
They turn to look at the baby who is crying again
"Waaaaa!"
Bubblegum : Argh a ding dong what is it this time? It's getting late already.
Marceline tries to comfort the baby and was about to sing him a song but smelled something
Marceline : Ewww! What is that?
Bubblegm smelled something as well. It smelled like a combination of a rotten mud
"Waaah!
She covered her nose
Bubblegum : HUH! What food are you giving him Marcy?
Maceline : Well a good sandwich...maybe a little tacoos
Bubblegum frowns at her again
Marceline : Hey don't look only at me! You are the one who gave him that large apple candy!
And then a weeping baby's pijamas then grew large around the part of his butt
Marceline : And there goes his pijamas
Bubblegum : You know what? I don't care how dirty he is, since you are so grown up why don't you clean him up?
Marceline : Ouh no! You are the one who loves digging into things so this is your job candy mama!
Bubblegum : Argh! Just hold him while I go get some diapers!
Marceline : Sure easey peasey
Marceline held him up while trying to keep his smell away from her sensitive nose
"Okaaay maybe I either underestimated you or overestimated myself here"
She took him into the bathroom after she undressed him
She removed the stinky part and threw it in the garbage can
She then turned on the water, checking first if it was warm
"Here Gregory, nice and easy. You are a destructive little fella... You are lucky really. I mean you font have to search into rubble for food. Trust me its not always good"
He didnt seem to understand a word and simply played with his hands and tongue
"Heh guess I also need to hear my own lessons"
She puts him right in the bathtub as he giggles and starts splashing
"Wohoa do you wanna play little guy?"
He was just a 7 months old kid, he couldn't say anything yet 'Wonder what his first word will be?'
Bonnie : Here I got some diapers. C'mon let's wash him first.
They did exactly that cleaning every his body parts carefully
It was tickly for him though.
They put the diaper on him before taking him to his new baby crib
Bonnie : And here. Hard to believe this little child wrecked my laboratory...I really didn't expect it to explode.
She was dressing him with a small pijama
Marceline : Well look on the other hand. You took your mind off of those nerd things. But what about him? Unless he is asleep, he cries whenever we both are too far.
Bubblegum : That's expectable. We are his mothers now, he doesn't want us to get away...but I never dealth with something like this before.
Marceline : Seriously? And what about all those candy citizens you make? Aren't they like your children?
Bubblegum : Marcy I created them with a degree of intellect. They aren't as smart as me but if you ask them of something they have enough in them to understand.
Marceline : Huh can't argue with that I guess. In old days if you can't work, you should give it up to adoption. But we already tried that...
Bubblegum : Which didn't work... And Marceline I already told you he'll stay with us. If his powers will awake later, it can be a disaster.
Bubblegum patted him lightly on the head
Gregory then smiled up as he hugs Marceline's hand
Marceline : I know... I know we can't leave him now can we?
Bubblegum : Well... now look at the bright side yourself, at least he's calm now see?
Marcline : For now yeah but uhm shouldn't you be feeding him?
Bubblegum : What are you talking about? I already did.
Marceline : I mean what a newborn baby needs
Bubblegm : And you mean?
Marceline : Breast milk
Bonnie's cheeks blushed as she yelps
"NO WAY. MY BODY ISN'T READY"
Marceline laughs
Bubblegum : Although I wonder if I can change my body in a necessary way.
Marceline 'Wait she can do that?!'
Gregory laughs again, this time he giggled a bit louder with a wide smile
Marcline : Oops seems like he agrees.
Bubblegum : It's the first time he laughed like that...
She looked into his eyes which were pure and beautiful but something was really off to her. The way this..."childcare" felt different for a gum princess.
For someone like her who lived her entire life full of scientific discoveries and duties as a princess, she rarely had the time or opportunity to spend on familial bonds. She created all of her candy citizens which are her children in all honesty but they were rather obedient since the very start only requiring her to give certain commands.
Mother gum wasn't much of a mother either and as far as she remembers she had a vague idea of who her father was or even if he was there at all...
Her uncle Gumbald was mean and betrayed her along with her cousin and aunt without hesitation
Her brother Neddie didn't turn on her but he didn't do anything but panicking and always needed comfort. That's not to say that she doesn't love her brother, she always cared about his safety but he never shown that he cared back... (I just say what I see in Adventure Time no offense to Neddy character really. He's cute)
And this boy, Gregory... there is a difference with him. He cries and wants her around him but he also makes her feel less forceful about it. He makes it feel less tiring for her possibly overworked mind. And she IS a very hard working person. Maybe that's why her mind doesn't understand how so...
Regardless Bubblegum smiled at Gregory
"Let me sing you a llulaby Gregory, your uncle Neddy loves it so I hope you will it too"
As she swings the crib slowly, Bubblegum spoke out the lyrics as her voice sounds like a flute.
"You are my darling,
I love you so much.
Whisper in my ear
That you love me as much [as I do,
That your love is true like a child's heart.
You are my darling,
I love you so much"
Once she was done, Gregory was sound asleep.
Bubblegum leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
Marceline looked on proudly at her girlfriend and gives a thumbnail "Oroud of you Bun Bun~"
Bubblegum who then kisses her too suddenly
"W-wha?"
Bubblegum – Creeped out now Mar Mar? Hehehe.
As she left the room, Marceline was left wondering
'Wow did dad ever felt like I do now?...Hmmm Nah, guess I'll find out some other time'
She then decided otherwise to pick up Gregory and carry him over to the Grand Hall
Bubblegum : C'mon Marcy, I think it's time we show Gregory what we do once every year
This surprised Marceline "Wow what? I thought you didn't wanna bring him along since he won't be able to sleep?"
Bubblegum : Meh he already woke up 3 times today , not to mention fireworks outside so... I simply changed.
She admits I did feel like a waste of time... but it'll be bigger waste if they'll exclude him for this special time of year.
"Like I said, C'mon can't let Holly Jolly to wait for too long"
Marceline: I still can't believe we called it that instead of Christmas and have Ice Thing for Santa Claus.
Bubblegum: For another time, I don't know who that Claws is.
Marceline thinks to herself as she pats Gregory playfully 'boy oh boy... looks like me and Simon have to teach you and Bonnie a few things on history too. Oh well for now, LET'S ALL HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS'
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