Bubblegum was laughing. "Oh no! Then what happened?"

"Well, then I was like, 'Here's what I think about your stupid song!' and I took the drum, and I smashed it over his head," Marceline grinned.

"Oh man! That's hilarious! You're really funny," Bubblegum continued laughing. "Oh man." she continued giggling. "You're full of such hilarious stories,"

"Oh, well, after a thousand years, a girl learns to be totally awesome," Marceline bragged.

"I would agree with that," Bubblegum nodded. "So, back to our original subject, you're telling me that I got mad because you drained the color from me so I kicked you out of the kingdom?" Bubblegum seemed puzzled. "That makes no sense."

"Yeah well, I guess you just didn't like being embarrassed by having to be white for a few days, either way, my doing it was uncalled for," Marceline waved her hand.

"Well, no, you don't understand. I have a machine in my basement, which is filled with artificial dyes. The actors use it to change their colors for the plays and stuff. I could have literally just hopped in there, set it to red dye #5, diluted to 20% and suddenly I'm back to normal," Bubblegum shook her head.

"... Did you say red dye #5?" Marceline made a face. "In my day, pre-Mushroom War, everyone was terrified of that stuff."

"Really? But it's completely harmless. We make ours out of red candy beetles," Bubblegum made a grinding motion with her hands.

"Oh. Ew." Marceline made a face. "That's gross. Really?"

"Really," Bubblegum paused. "I have an unusual request. I will not remember what has happened before but perhaps if I could repeat the experience, I would understand... Would you please drink my color?" she turned to Marceline, studying her. "I'm curious about it in a scientific way."

"What? No! No way. That's what made me lose you before!" Marceline was angry.

"I've asked you to do it, and I have a device which will put my color back, after it's over," Bubblegum looked over at her. "I promise you I will not be upset. If you're worried about it, we can go down to my lab and you can do it there and then I will prove it works."

"... Mmm, this is exactly how it happened the first time," Marceline made a weird face.

"What do you mean?" Bubblegum looked confused.

"When we first became friends, you saw me drinking various shades of red, except tomatoes. They give me the weirdest dreams..." Marceline made a face. "Anyway. You saw that and you told me you were intellectually stimulated by my color drinking and you wanted me to drink your color... so I was like, 'Well, alright Bonbon, I'll drink your pink, but only 'cuz you asked so nicely.' and then it started out small but then that one time, you just flipped out."

"Just come on," Bubblegum got to her feet and went to her lab, Marceline following her, curiously.

They got down to the basement and Bubblegum pulled a sheet off a large pod-like tube. "This is our color-changer machine XI!" Bubblegum said, boldly. "I invented it... I don't know why. I guess for the theater people to change their colors."

"Creative name, Bonnie," Marceline looked up at the chamber.

"So, are you satisfied? Will you try it now?"

"How does it work?" Marceline questioned.

"Well, I step inside, and I get placed in a zero g environment. Gentle air currents rotate me 360 degrees in an even coat to lock in a new color, then it seals it with a thin layer of powdered sugar," Bubblegum explained.

"Hmmm. Sounds complicated. Couldn't you just step inside and then the SPRAYER rotates around YOUR body to cover you?" Marceline raised an eyebrow.

"Oh come on, Marcy," Bubblegum seemed annoyed. "Just do it already."

"Alright! Fine. But only because you asked for it," Marceline stepped towards her. She pulled Bubblegum towards her, tilting her head away. Marceline tugged Bubblegum's sleeve down, sinking her fangs lightly into the skin. Bubblegum shuddered a bit as she felt her color being pulled out of her skin. Marceline stopped herself short, taking a step back. The skin was pale white where Marceline had bitten and it extended across Bubblegum's shoulder and down her arm.

"I... I see." Bubblegum walked over and pulled on her labcoat, buttoning it over her pink dress.

"You see what? Aren't you going to step in your machine thing?" Marceline frowned.

"No. I'm fine. It's unnecessary." Bubblegum answered.

"Urgh you're acting the same way now that you did THEN. I don't understand," Marceline scowled. "You know what? Whatever, Bonnie!"

"I understand everything now. Particularly those of my own actions."

"I don't understand anything!"

"Excuse me," Peppermint Butler peeked around the doorframe. "Raggedy Princess is ready for your arrival."

"We're headed that way, Peps, come on, Marcy," Bubblegum smiled at her, heading upstairs. Marceline let out a frustrated sigh, floating after Bubblegum.

Raggedy Princess filled a small tub with a murky green liquid. "It's a simple process... we dip the doll into the solution, and then they become conscious but only for one hour."

"Yeah yeah, just... get this over with already," Marceline seemed annoyed.

Raggedy Princess dipped Hambo into the solution, and sat him on the bed. After a moment, Hambo began moving. Raggedy Princess gestured to them. "Take his hands."

Bubblegum moved over to him, and Marceline went around the other side. They took his hands and they were transported to the past.

"I'm hurting you because I love you," they heard a tiny Marcy say. The scenes moved forward. They saw Hambo sitting on the couch, watching Marcy and Bonnie play, then grow a bit and laugh and talk about boys on the floor of the house. The world moved forward, pulling them slowly through the story of their entire lives together. It saw the girls get closer and closer, over time becoming the best of friends.

Then Ash arrived. Bubblegum and Marceline watched as Ash entered the house for the first time. "Nice place, Marmar," he threw himself on the couch, partially crushing Hambo. "Pretty sweet. All yours?"

"Oh, yeah," she gently pulled Hambo out from under him, setting Hambo on the chair. "All mine,"

Marceline started to feel sick from dread. She wondered what Hambo would see, what he had been through after leaving her.

"Nice. I'm kind of between homes. Mind if I crash here with you awhile?" he grinned.

The future moved forward, pulling them to the fateful day in question. Bonnie came in with Marcy, Hambo quietly watching from the couch.

"Welcome back, Marmar. Make me a sandwich, yeah?"

"Ash, you are ALWAYS hungry. You pretty much never stop eating, do you?" Marcy laughed, going into the kitchen.

Ash looked up at Bonnie. "Hey, Bon,"

"It's Bonnibel."

"Woah, sorry. Bonnibel. How are you doing? You're lookin' real cute today,"

"Yeah thanks." she answered.

"Ah man, I've gotta take a leak, I'll be right back."

Marceline felt weird, like she was seeing something she wasn't supposed to see. What she saw next terrified her, because she didn't remember it. She saw herself come out of the kitchen, setting a sandwich aside, and strolling over to Bonnie, she chatted with her about not liking Ash a moment. The scene was hard to see, she could only see herself, but she could see what was happening. She leaned forward and kissed Bonnie forcefully, surprising the candy girl. Then, as Bubblegum had stated, she drained her of her color until she was white as a ghost.

Marceline felt sick when she heard herself say, "Ash wanted to watch so I told him I'd give him a show. Did you like it, Bon? We can do some other fun things too, if you want,"

The two of them watched Bonnie tear out of the house, past Ash, standing in the doorway.

There was a moment of silence in the room. Marceline swayed a moment before straightening up.

"Marmar, what's going on?" Ash questioned, a smirk on his lips.

"... I don't... know." Marceline floated into the air, knitting her eyebrows tightly. "I don't... Where's Bonnie?"

"Oh, she said she had something going on in the candy kingdom. Her dad called her back on Princess business, or something. She said it'd keep her busy a few days," Ash grinned. "So don't bother her for a while."

"Geez, I have a headache out of this WORLD, and I feel so bloated and sick. Ugh," she floated into the kitchen.

"Well, that'll take care of her," Ash took a seat on the couch, ruffling Hambo's head. He picked up the doll, looking him over. "You sure look valuable there, huh, Hambo?"

Marceline watched in horror as the next day, Ash carried Hambo off into the forest. He arrived at the Witch's house and he knocked on her door. "I hear you collect valuable things for valuable things," he grinned.

"What have you got?" the witch asked, through a crack in the door.

Then came the footage that Marceline didn't want to see. The sight and memories of Hambo being cut apart and gutted and hurt tore her apart. "I- I can't," Marceline managed. "I can't look anymore. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Hambo," she let go of his hand and jolted to the present. She didn't realize there were tears flowing down her face. "I let you down. I let you down."

"No! You have to keep watching! He has more to say!" Raggedy Princess said, surprising Marceline with a fire the vampire didn't know she had. "The reason he made it there, in that place, was because of his love for you! He knows you didn't betray him. Keep watching!"

With fear and sadness, Marceline took up his hand, preparing herself for what she would see. She saw him getting thinner and smaller and more weary each day. Then Bubblegum, Finn, and Jake showed up.

Marceline listened to the conversation with the witch. "You and I both know that that is not worth anywhere near this doll, with a lifetime of memories."

"What would you want?" Bubblegum asked.

"Give me your kingdom."

"You can't have the Candy Kingdom! You're CRAZY!" Bubblegum seethed.

The witch laughed. "Alright then... There is something else you can - hey! Get out!" she ordered Finn. "You want to touch things, get out!"

Finn and Jake left, looking sad. The witch turned to Bubblegum. "There is something else you can give me, in exchange for the doll."

"Tell me what it is," Bubblegum responded, looking into the Witch's eyes.

"You can give me your most precious memories," the Witch grinned.

"... I accept. But in exchange, let me speak with the doll for five minutes alone, before you take my memories. Let me tell him how sorry I am, and how I've missed him, and I will let you take them."

"Mmm. Your terms are fair," The witch frowned. She hobbled into the next room.

Bubblegum walked over to the thin, decrepit body of Hambo. "I'm sorry, Hambo," she whispered. "I'm sorry about what has happened to you, what the witch has done," she gently kissed his forehead. "You're going home now, soon. Marceline will take care of you. You will be home. In exchange for what I've done, I have a favor to ask you." she leaned in very close and whispered in his ear. "Please pass the message for me, that I am remembered in my research."

The vision faded out, and Marceline and Bubblegum were left staring at the doll.

"It has passed. One hour has gone by. Did you learn what you needed to?" Raggedy Princess asked.

"I have learned everything," Bubblegum rose to her feet, kissing Hambo on his forehead. "As I should have guessed, Ash performed some kind of spell or hypnotism on Marceline to force her to do what she did that day. It was a misunderstanding. And most of all, I have backed up my memories and I know where they are."

"You backed up your memories?" Marceline straightened up. "How do you know that?"

"I am remembered in my research," Bubblegum said, brightly. ""You didn't think I would give away my most precious memories without backing them up, do you?"

"..." Marceline blushed a bit. "You're- … you're on a whole different level, Bonbon."

"Come on, let's go get them and put them back," Bubblegum went down to her lab, Marceline followed her. Bubblegum went through her research papers before finding one that didn't make sense. "Aha, look, see this paper about parallel universes? Everyone knows those don't exist. This is the one." She followed the instructions on the paper and they led her to a hollowed out book with artificial memory bubbles. She put them back into her head one by one and the pieces fell into place.

Marceline watched as Bubblegum put the last orb into her head where it belonged. "Ah, there we go," Bubblegum said, in a relaxed voice. "My memories are back in place. I feel better."

Marceline seemed confused. "So, we're... friends again?"

Bubblegum turned to her, before smiling. "I don't know. What do you think?"

"I don't know what to think. You're so confusing!" Marceline threw her hands up.

Bubblegum laughed. "Well... you're welcome back in the kingdom. That's all I'm going to declare for now. If things change... well, I won't mind that. But for now... I guess we're friends."

Marceline let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Woof! Bonbon, girl, you are a HANDFUL."

"Between us both, we're a mess, aren't we? Come on, let's go, Marcy." Bubblegum smiled at her. "I've got things to do. I'm sure you have something you have to do too, right?"