High-Grade Red

Chapter 5: Fallout

'It's been 2 months since Finn & Jake, Simon & Betty, and LSP fixed Ooo. A lot of people blame Bonnie and the others for everything that happened (I guess they never heard of Pim?), but at least they've been to keep everything under control since then. Well, they've managed not to go to war with anyone and they're all still alive. Still, there's been two failed coups against Flame Princess, a riot outside the entrance to Slime Kingdom, and Bonnie's been talking about a rebel movement in the Candy Kingdom. She says it's nothing dangerous and that she's known about it for months now, but I'll keep an eye out. I mean, I can survive pretty much anything, but if something happened to her... I don't know what I'd do.'

Sighing, Marceline puts her pencil's eraser in the corner of her mouth as she rereads what she's written in her journal. She begins doodling in the margins as she wonders what else to write, then quickly adds an addendum.

'Still, it's hard for me to look at her without hurting. I spilled my guts to her and told her how I really feel, and I actually managed to get her back... she told me that she felt the same way, and she kissed me! But then she got taken away (because why wouldn't she?), and now she doesn't remember any of it. It really hurts that we were so close, and now we're right back to where we were before. I can still remember, but I'm afraid to tell her again. Both times I thought we had a good chance, it ended up getting taken away. At least we're still talking this time.

I guess I'll just act like nothing's wrong and hope everything turns out fine. So, same as normal, right?'

Dropping her pencil and closing her journal, Marceline notices that she's almost all the way through her journal. Sighing, she looks through the window at the far side of her room. Outside the cave, she sees the long shadows of the setting sun. The Vampire Queen contemplates visiting Bonnibel. Before she can decide, she jumps as her phone on her bedside table vibrates.

She floats across the room and picks it up. There's three messages from Bubblegum.

>B: Hey, just realized that we never got to do our guitar thing.
>B: Mind if I come over tonight and we can play?
>B: Or, ya know, I can probably make a fool of myself trying?

Marceline smiles and types her response.

>M: dude its like 10pm.
>M: dont u think its a little late 4 that?
>B: Nah. It's been an easy day today, so I've been able to sleep in.
>B: Besides, I feel bad that we didn't get to play before... you know.
>M: alrite. come on down wen ur redy.
>M: ill get the stuff out
>B: Be there in a bit!

Floating off her bed, Marceline grabs her bass and the acoustic, then takes them downstairs. After half an hour, Bonnibel arrives, wearing her leather jacket over a dark t-shirt and jeans, and a bag on her back. The Vampire Queen watches through the window as she walks up to the door, then quickly opens it before she even knocks. "Hey Bonnie!" she exclaims.

"Uh, hey!" Bubblegum replies, surprised. "Were you just waiting behind the door for me to get here?"

Marceline shrugs. "I didn't have anything better to do. Didn't take long to get ready, ya know?"

"Yeah, I get it." The princess walks into the house and looks around with a smile. "It's been a too long since I've been in here."

"Hey, whatcha got in that bag?"

"Mostly snacks; chips, energy bars, soda. All the good stuff. I brought a couple notebooks, too."

Marceline notices that the bag is pretty much full to bursting. "Jeez, girl. How many snacks did you think you'd need? You could survive nuclear winter with this much stuff!" The princess giggles and shrugs. "Well, I guess you can make yourself at home. Mi casa es su casa."