Marceline awoke in a cold sweat as a knocking sounded at her door. "Miss Marceline? Princess Bubblegum has requested your presence in the dining hall for your morning meal."

She straitened herself and stood up out of the bed. "Uh, ok. I'll be out as soon as I'm dressed." She called through the door.

The sound of footsteps walking away echoed in her ears. She groaned and sat back on the bed. Her mind began to analyze her dream. "That was my party." She whispered. She closed her eyes and bit her lip, trying desperately to remember what happened next. Tears formed in her closed eyes as she hit herself in the head. "Why can't I remember?!" She asked the empty room.

Standing, she dried her eyes and popped her spine. Marceline found another dress on the vanity near the door. This one was white and it felt better to wear, but it was very similar to the one she had fallen asleep in. She pulled her clothing off and redressed. She pulled her hair down and looked in the mirror at her shoulder-length black locks. Her hair was shiny and fell almost perfectly into place.

She felt she was done dressing as she touched her neck where her mother's necklace once had been. She stopped the tears before they could flow anymore. "If I can't remember what happened, then I will forget everything I know." She muttered, turning to the door. She remembered her way to the dining hall easily. Bubblegum sat alone with a large feast displayed before her.

Marceline felt awkward as she waved, "Hi."

Bubblegum smiled sweetly, "Good morning."

Marceline chose not to sit at the far end as she had the previous night, but took a seat next to her hostess. "I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly last night. I was upset."

"I understand. It's hard dealing with change." Bubblegum announced, taking a small bite from her plate.

There was a small silence before Bubblegum resolved the battle within herself and asked, "You lost your mother in the war... Do you have anywhere to go?"

Hearing that fact caused Marceline's eyes to fill as she glared at her clenched fists in her lap. "I- I don't know." Her voice cracked and she turned her head away from Bubblegum, lifting a hand to her mouth. "I'm s-sorry."

Bubblegum gasped and moved to put a hand on the half-demon's knee. "Don't be sorry... It's all alright. I know what its like to be alone."

A scoff shook the blue skinned girl, "Of course you do, what with all of your multitudes of servants and all. You have them. Everyone I knew most likely died a hundred or so years ago. I literally have nothing."

Bubblegum wrapped her arms around the sobbing girl, wondering why it simply felt so natural when the only person she had ever hugged before were her parents and peppermint Butler. "I may have servants... But I've felt alone since my parents died." She whispered.

Marceline clung to her, happy to have someone there to comfort her. She felt so vulnerable here. "Really?" She asked, sniffling.

The pink teen nodded, "But I know they loved me. Nothing could change that. I just wish I had someone to talk to sometimes... It's so lonely."

Marceline drew back to see the gummy girl, "You aren't alone anymore, Bonnibel. You saved me from the black and... I'm in your debt." Marceline rolled the sentence around in her head. She'd never truthfully owned up to owing someone something. It was a different feeling. "You have me."

The princess gave a slight smile, shyly returning solely to her seat, "The only friend I've ever had is Lady Rainicorn... Do you think we could be... friends, Marceline?" Marceline nodded, patting her leg. "Since you don't have a place to go to, you can stay here with me. We can share lessons as well so you won't have to go to school."

A smile graced Marceline's face, tears forgotten. "You're very sweet, but I haven't needed lessons in a hundred years."

Bubblegum blushed from embarrassment and smiled. Of course she didn't need lessons! She took a bite of something from her plate. "How come you look so young?"

Marceline tapped her chin in thought, "I'm unsure of why I didn't age while I was in the black, but my people age very slowly. I only got half demon DNA, but my aging is still very limited. About 30 years for me chronologically makes up one biological year. If it is not rude to ask, what is your age?"

"Biologically I'm 16. Mentally I-" She paused, "I mean, I'm mature for my age." She slid a piece of melted candy between her lips with her spoon. "Mmm. This is so good."

Brow raised, Marceline inspected it from a distance. "What is it?"

She dipped her spook into the pink liquid. "Its Peppermint soup. Usually we dip our sweet breads and cake sin it, but I like it like this."

"Is it sweet?" Marceline asked, sniffing the air lightly.

"Yes. Here, why don't you try it?" Bubblegum placed a hand beneath the spoon, offering it to her.

The older girl gave it a quizzical look as Bubblegum giggled. "c'mon. Try it."

She took the spoon between her lips and swallowed the liquid. Steam soothed her throat as it went down. She licked her lips as the spoon was withdrawn. A slight gasp made her look up. "What?!" She asked, alarmed at Bubblegum's wide eyes, "Did I do something wrong?"

Bubblegum leaned forward, "What's wrong with your tongue?"

"What? Is it black or something?!" Marceline stuck her tongue out, trying desperately to see what was wrong.

"It's all thin and its split!"

Marceline relaxed visibly and chuckled, "It's supposed to be like that, Bonnibel. It's reptilian."

"Mines not like that!"

"You also aren't a demon." Marceline reminded her.

Bubblegum calmed down. "Can I see it again?" She asked timidly.

"As long as you don't freak out again."

In agreement, she nodded and Marceline stuck out her tongue childishly. Bubblegum, interested beyond belief, scoot closer. "I wonder what it feels like." She wondered aloud.

Marceline smiled and leaned forward a little to brush it lightly against Bubblegum's cheek.

Withdrawing, Marceline caught sight of the dark pink that tinted Bubblegum's already pink cheeks. "T-thank you."

She sat back and took Bubblegum's spoon, stealing more of the candy soup. "No problem. If you want to know anything else, just ask."

Bubblegum nodded and took her fork in hand to eat something else. "What's it like being five hundred years old?"

A shrug shook Marceline's shoulder, "Now we know that I'm closer to a thousand, but I still feel about... 18." There was a brief silence between the two as they took the chance to eat. Marceline grabbed a drink that had been set on the table for her. It was then that Marceline noticed none of the guards or servants were around them save for the waiter who came in and out of the kitchen every few minutes.

"Bonnibel?"

"Yes, Marceline?"

"I wanted to... Thank you for allowing me to stay here. I'll be out of your castle as soon as I can find a place for myself." She announced.

A warm smile dawned on the candy teen's lips, "Take as long as you need. It's not easy being on your own."

Marceline returned the smile fully, I'm not alone... I've got you now."

Weeks passed and Marceline began to feel more and more comfortable around Bubblegum. She accompanied the young princess to several lessons weekly -mostly to just observe. One of the lessons happened to be about sewing. Marceline absorbed her fill of knowledge and learned how to sew. She hated the long gowns the castle maids gave her, so she took it upon herself to go out and *cough cough* borrow some fabrics to make her own clothing.

The other lessons she sat in on were History and Music. The tutor was so unforgiving of Marceline to come "assess" him. He began to draw on a large chalk board. Marceline recognized the scale easily. When he began to sing, the teenager could not help the laughter that erupted from her.

The tutor, a short round man with a bushy mustache, snorted. "I suppose you can do better, Marceline?"

Bubblegum silently fumed at the lack of respect the tutor showed her friend, but Marceline was unphased. "Step off, sugar. What should I sing...? Hmmm... Ah! I know." She stood in front of the board and cleared her throat. She quickly ran through the scale and began to sing.

"Oh baby, my baby baby baby, yeah~"

She skipped the first verse and went on to the chorus.

"I lost my mind

from the moment I saw the light

when we're here the world fades away and gets in slow motion

(I can tell you so that this love is all I want)

I won't slip away

My battle scars are lost when I see on-ly you

What is love if there is nothing here?

(I can tell you so that this love is all I want.)"

She closed and smiled happily. She hadn't sung like that in a long time and she was happy that Bubblegum could've heard it. In the black her voice had been dry and cracked. She was uncertain of the difference, but was just happy her talent returned to her.

Bubblegum felt her face heat as she registered the lyrics to the song. She couldn't help but hope Marceline had been singing for her, not just as a random song she liked.

The tutor glared daggers at Marceline. "Hardly sufficient! You were flat the last to lines and your opening statements changed tempo from the rest of your excerpt! What kind of music does that?"

"Its old, yes, but much better for self expression than any of that song-bird stuff you're trying to teach h- Wait a second! Bonni, do you even sing?" She asked, shocking Bubblegum out of her slight daze.

"I-uh... I'm hoping to learn an instrument."

"With vocal lessons?"

"You have to start somewhere. Where did you learn how to sing?" She asked.

"Well, I-"

The tutor cleared his throat, interrupting the conversation. Marceline growled and gave the tutor a sickly sweet smile. She felt her eyes widen and she took on a new face. It greatly resembled the head of a wolf with an elongated snout, however it dawned scares instead of fur. "Did you need something?" She asked, drool escaping her canines.

Dropping is notepad; he left without another word - other than a terrified squeal. Marceline laughed, features returning to normal. She was clutching her sides. "D-Dif o see his f-face, Bonni?"

Looking at the half demon, Bubblegum chuckled, "I never like him."

Marceline strode behind Bubblegum and stroked her gummy hair, "C'mon. You don't need vocal lessons to learn to play an instrument." With that, they left.

Later that day, Peppermint Butler confronted them. They feigned innocence before he explained to them that a new tutor would be in for next week's lessons. She accepted and thanked him before she and Marceline went to Marceline's chambers.

Sooooo? If anyone doesn't know the song Marcy sang, the original is owned by SM entertainment and Exoplanet. Song: What is love? You should really go check it out. I made these lyrics, so I do own that. This is the Chorus of the song and the english in the Korean and Mandarin versions line up. Yes, the song is nor originally in English. I hope this chapter was satisfactory. The next chapter will give insight into Marcy's past. So... if you want to know, tune in for that next week. Don't forget to review!

-Shippo