Sugarless Gum

Princess Bubblegum was in quite the predicament. 

It was the time of the year for her mid-summer party. The party was annual, but somehow she'd let it slip her mind. She'd been so immersed in her work even the days of the week seemed to pass right by her. Now it was a day away, and PB was barely finished. Had she the right materials, she might be able to finish faster. Under any other circumstance(one where she wasn't running late) she would hop on Morrow and get the necessities herself. But this wasn't one of those circumstances. 

She hurried around the ballroom, placing decorations here and there, moving tables, and zombie proofing the windows(she wasn't going to take any chances). Candy people worked around her, and more than once she was tripped up by one stumbling under her feet. Eventually, after tripping and spilling a bowl of chips, she got fed up with the people milling mindlessly about. 

"Everyone, out of the castle," she ordered, taking a deep, calming breath as the candy people stared at her with wide eyes. with an exasperated sigh, she rolled her eyes, biting out, "Please," as nicely as she could. 

The assorted gumdrops, pastries, and other candies made their way around Princess Bubblegum, their sadness brief as they made their way out into the sun. Soon they were running about, squealing and continuing their lives. Princess Bubblegum couldn't help but smile and shake her head fondly. As annoying as they could be, these were her people and she loved them dearly. She turned back to face her work in progress, noticing a familiar flash of red and while working around the tables.

"I see you've stayed, Peppermint Butler," the Princess observed, placing more bowls on the long refreshments table.

"Should I leave, Princess?" Peppermint Butler asked, setting utensils on the smaller dining tables. 

"No, you were right to stay. Thank you for being one of the only calm ones," Princess Bubblegum smiled at her butler.

"Don't get me wrong, Peppermint knows how to party," he joked back, pausing a moment. "Might I suggest something, Princess?" 

"Go ahead," she replied. 

"Your problem with the decorations, why not get Finn and Jake to retrieve them?" 

"I considered that...I always ask so much of those boys. Do you think they'll make it back on time?" Princess Bubblegum fretted. 

"Only if you ask them to do it now. I wouldn't delay," Peppermint Butler wandered off, returning moments later with phone in had. He handed it to the Princess, returning diligently to work as she called up the two adventurers.

"Yes, hello, Jake? Could you and Finn please come to the Candy Kingdom? I have a quest for you," she spoke into the phone swiftly, getting a yes from Jake, and then hanging up the phone. She didn't have to wait long before they were at her doorstep.

"You have an adventure for us?" Finn asked, squaring his shoulders and looking proud. 

"Yes, yes. I need you two to get me some flowers," Princess Bubblegum informed.

"Golly, Princess, not to be rude, but why can't you step out of your door and pluck a few?" Finn demonstrated, walking over to the nearest patch of grass and picking a couple of flowers, giving them to the Princess. 

"Oh, no. I need to specify. These just aren't any flowers. They're special flowers that spout bubbles when exposed to moonlight. I need them for the centerpieces for my party," PB explained, watching Finn's eyes glimmer in amazement. 

"Wowza! Where can we find 'em?" 

"They're far from here, they only grow on tall mountain peaks. Taller than the Ice Kingdom's mountain range. It'll be a days travel, so you have to be swift. I need them by tomorrow night," the Princess explained seriously, trying to express how much of a pressing matter it was.

"How will we know which flower are the ones we're looking for?" Jake asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"You'll know," PB smirked, "they bite." 

"Cool! I get to use my sword," the biting didn't deter Finn any. If anything, it made him even more excited.

"You must pull them from the ground and remove the roots, or else they'll keep snapping at you. Good luck boys, and remember; I need them by tomorrow night," she bid them farewell, watching as they disappeared joyfully over the horizon. 

Now she could tend to the rest of the decorating. 

~*~

The Ice King watched uneasily as Finn and Jake made their way through his Kingdom. A smile spread across his bearded face as he realized they weren't stopping by to rough him up. They continued on past his Kingdom, making an idea pop in the Ice King's old mind. 

No Finn and Jake, no protection for Princess Bubblegum!

He began to set his plan into motion.

~*~ 

As night fell, Princess Bubblegum stopped her decorating. She'd made headway, all she needed was to start the food, pick the music, and have the flowers. She decided to begin the food in the morning so it was fresh, but she was at a loss for music. She was unsure of herself when it came to music choices. Not everyone liked the things she listened to. Instead, she returned to her quarters, changing into something more comfortable. She pulled on her pink hoodie and a pair of purple tinted pants, falling back onto her bed with a sigh.

A scratching noise came at her window, making Princess Bubblegum open one eye to look critically at the glass. A black shadow was cast into her room from something hovering outside. The scratching continued until PB got up, throwing open the window and looking outside with an unimpressed expression. In front of her hovered a black-haired teen with fangs and a tanktop. 

"Bonnibell," Marceline smirked, "you gonna let me in?" 

"Why in the world would I do that?" PB asked, a frown tugging at her lips. The last thing she needed was Marceline bugging her. 

"Because you need help with picking music for your frilly summer party," Marceline retorted, a laugh rising in her chest as she saw the Princess Bubblegum's reaction.

"How in the world do you know that?!" Princess Bubblegum squawked in disbelief. 

"Because I'm psychic," Marceline said mysteriously. When she saw the Princess backing up, preparing to close the window, she took it back quickly. "Wait! Your butler told me, duh. I can't believe you actually fell for that," she cackled.

"Whatever, come on in, I guess," Princess Bubblegum frowned in disapproval. The Vampire Queen floated in, landing promptly beside the Princess. She began rummaging through her room, making disgruntled noises as she snooped. PB watched the vampire with distaste as she rifled through her things. She didn't worry much, she had nothing to hide. As long as the rambunctious vamp put everything back where it belonged like she was doing.

"Where do you keep all your CDs?" Marceline asked, ruffling through some clothes.

"Definitely not at the bottom of a hamper," Princess Bubblegum laughed.

"Don't get smart with me," Marceline warned with mock-malice. 

"Oh, yea? What'll you do?" PB smarted back with a challenging tone. 

"Drink the red from your pretty pink face," Marceline quoted one of her songs, throwing a smirk over her shoulder. Princess Bubblegum huffed, sitting down on her bed. She wouldn't admit defeat. It's just sometimes the things Marceline says catches her off guard and manages to get her flustered. Marceline knew she had won, and she smiled to herself. 

"Oooh, what's this?" 

"Hey! Don't touch that!" Princess Bubblegum piped in protest as Marceline held up something in her hands. 

"I didn't think you would have kept it after this long," Marceline said, her voice going soft. She held up a black t-shirt to herself, smiling fondly at the design. A blush rose high on her cheeks, but she turned around before the Princess could notice. 

"well, yeah...I mean," PB didn't know how to explain herself, and she found that her cheeks were getting heated. 

"Do you keep the music downstairs?" Marceline asked, jumping subjects although she had brought up the shirt in the first place. 

"Yea, the room next to the kitchen," PB nodded awkwardly, avoiding eye contact as the vampire went back out the window to retrieve the CDs. "You could have just used the door, y'know," the Princess muttered, knowing Marceline wouldn't listen.

She sat waiting for her return in deep thought. She had kept the shirt because a friend had given it to her. Or she told herself that. She ignored the fact that sometimes when she wore it to bed, she thought she could still smell the vampire on it. Or when she imagined the previous owner as she fell asleep. Those were all minor problems. So why was she getting so worked up? She stared at her ceiling as another scrape came at her window. 

"You don't have to ask to come in, Marceline," the Princess called. A cackle came from outside the window as the Ice King scuttled through. Princess Bubblegum let out a high-pitched scream, backing up against the wall. 

"Oh, come on, don't be like that," Ice King frowned, approaching PB cautiously. 

"I'm not coming with you, Ice King," PB stated confidently, scanning the room for any type of weapon.

"I expected this, you know," he said, smirking. "Freezo!" A bolt of ice shot from Ice King's hands freezing the wall by PB's head.

"You missed!" Princess Bubblegum laughed, diving for a dagger Finn had given her as a gift. 

"Blast these wizard eyes," Ice King muttered, rubbing his eyes with his hands before looking back up. Princess Bubblegum had the dagger held out towards him, eyes set into a glare. He cackled, sending another ice bolt flying her way. This time, it hit home, freezing her hands and the dagger. 

Where's Marceline when I need her?

The Ice King advanced forward, freezing PB's feet to the floor. He had a proud grin on his face, and was muttering to himself about how grand of an idea this was. PB looked around nervously, trying to pick up her feet to run away. Just as he got within arms reach, something hit him over the head, knocking him sideways. Marceline hovered over him, frowning. 

"I don't want to have to hurt you, Ice King," Marceline said sternly, axe-bass in hand. "Please don't make me hurt you." 

Ice King's eyes widened at the girl, and he looked hesitantly at Princess Bubblegum. His face hardened, and he fired an ice bolt at Marceline. She deflected in with her axe-bass, a sad look on her face. She shook her head, sighing. 

"I didn't want to have to do this," Marceline's frown grew grim. She began to melt into a black mass, forming into her large tentacle monster form. She filled the room, wrapping her tentacles around Ice King, who shrieked in protest. She picked him up, maneuvering him to the window. With a flick of her tentacle, she sent him flying back towards the Ice Kingdom. She tried not to think about his landing as she transformed back into her normal form. 

The ice around Princess Bubblegum's feet and hands had melted, and she ran to Marceline, engulfing her in a hug. Marceline awkwardly hugged her back, eventually tightening her grip and melting into the hug. 

"Thanks for saving my buns," PB smiled nervously as they parted.

"I'd never let you get hurt," Marceline said with finality, realizing it sounded cheesy, and another blush colored her cheeks. 

"What now?" Princess Bubblegum asked, averting her eyes shyly. 

"We still have a party to prepare for, Bonnie, duh. Let's go pick the music," Marceline elbowed PB playfully in the side. The two girls descended the stairs, both within a close proximity of each other, to put the finishing touches on Princess Bubblegum's mid-summer party.