Prologue

She lay, staring up at the sky far above her. The sun shone bright like a coin glittering in a fountain of pale blue. Cotton candy clouds circled around the sun, softly dissolving the blinding light. A gentle breeze caressed her face, the smell of sweet honey and musty wildflowers tickling her nose. With a quick laugh, she licked her lips, tasting those very smells. She sat up. Fields of the greenest grass rolled down the horizon, spots of shadowy trees and vibrant flower patches barely blemishing the landscape. She heard a splash. Right next to her, a minnow swam in a glittering pond. Giggling, she dipped her hand into the cool water, and the tiny fish weaved between her fingers. The smooth scales glided against her skin; she giggled again.

She noticed a face smiling up at her. Her baby blue eyes gazed back at her, admiring the golden locks spiraling around her round face. She grinned, and another warm breeze wafted past her. She twirled a single curl around her finger. Then, her finger trailed down her neck and down to her breast, stopping at the neckline of… a dress? She immediately hovered to her feet and stared into the pond. Her hands slid down the bodice of a simple, yet beautiful white gown, the skirts gracefully flowing just above her toes.

She laughed. How could she have forgotten? A small ripple in the pond next to her reflection wavered into the outline of young man. He blinked, his colors exploding in the outlines. The man nervously straightened his navy blue tie, and then ran his fingers through his shaggy, sandy-blonde hair. The man caught sight of the young woman next to him. A smile broke on his face. The young woman smiled back.

"Soon," Bubbles whispered. She reached her hand out, her reflection disappearing into the pond as the young man's reflection turned to the real Bubbles. His eyelids drooped as he reached out at her. Bubbles touched the surface of the pond, almost feeling the man's hand. Then, he disappeared with another series of ripples, his colors fading into the mist. But Bubbles couldn't stop smiling. She closed her eyes, losing herself in a reverie so pleasant, she could feel the heat around her fingertips.

"My, do you look beautiful…"

Bubbles' heart stopped. The contemptuous voice, like a song of dissonant chords, echoed past her ears. Her smile slipped away as she tried to will her heart to beat. It trembled terrified in her chest. But, without opening her eyes, she pursed her lips into an unbreakable scowl. She took a long, deep breath.

"Go away," she said strongly.

"But it's just so… nice here… So warm and… disgusting."

"You don't scare me," Bubbles said. "Go."

"Hmmm… No, I think I like it here," the voice droned. "It just needs a few… homey touches, don't you think?"

Bubbles opened her eyes. She gasped. The once-blue sky burst into flames, the clouds wisping into smoke, the sun glowing with stark radiation. The fields shriveled into nothing but ash, leaving a thick stench of brimstone burning Bubbles' nostrils. Her eyes furrowed, holding back her furious thoughts.

"Oh no! Look what you're doing to your dress!"

Bubbles looked down at her dress, soiled with dirt. She jumped into the air, splashing the water from the pond all over. She tried to wipe the dirt off her dress, only to smear mud and some red liquid across the fabric. She whimpered and glanced back at the pond. Blood boiled over the rocks, steaming with a sickening metallic odor. A single tiny skeleton floated to the surface. Bubbles choked back a cry.

"You don't scare me!" Bubbles shouted. "Stop it! Go away!"

"Oh, I don't think so," the voice hissed.

Bubbles hands shot to her face, shielding her eyes from the travesty before her. A cold wind smacked her in the back, and she stumbled to her knees. She shivered, both from the cold and the fear. She tried to keep the tears from pouring from her eyes. Another blast of wind broke her. She sobbed.

"GO!" she roared. "GO AWAY!"

The voice laughed, starting at an ear-shattering chuckle and rumbling into a horrific cackle.

"I SAID GO!" Bubbles wept. "GO! GO!"

Suddenly, a presence whooshed behind her. Two very cold, very sharp points ever so lightly touched her bare back. Bubbles trembled, chills icing through her skin. She sobbed again. The points glided up her back to her shoulders. Bubbles gasped once more.

"Go…" she whispered weakly.

The voice hissed into her ear, a snake's tongue slithering in her ear.

"Bubbles…"

"No…" Bubbles whimpered.

"Bubbles…"

"No!"

"Buuuuuuubbleeeeees…"

"I SAID—"

"BUBBLES!"

Bubbles opened her eyes. The voice was gone, along with the horrible fields of ash and the bloody pond. Instead of the fiery red sky, a whole-heartedly pleasant sunlight shimmered through the blinds of her light pink bedroom. She quickly looked around the room, taking in the familiar vanity table, army of stuffed animals in the corner, and pile of dirty clothes near the door. Two faces stared at her, one with rosy pink eyes and one with lime green, both with similar worried expressions.

"It's time to get up now," Blossom said with a comforting smile.

"Yeah," Buttercup said with a smirk. "Someone's gotta get married today!"