The forest was dark. The cold was unbearable. Snow was falling steadily. But, to this young girl, it was the only home that she knew. Darkness and cold had become something she was accustomed to. Her guardian had left her here for a short time while he scavenged around nearby for something to eat. He had told her that he would be safe as long as she stayed in this exact spot. This would have been valuable information had she listened and not wondered off. The girl's curiosity was one of her greatest faults. She had a need to explore, as it kept her looking forward and not back. Looking back on previous life was not something the girl liked to do. Too many bad memories… The apocalypse had not been a pretty thing. People screaming, being turned into those…things. At the beginning, everything had been ablaze. Now, everything was cold. It seemed almost a representation of what the world had become. Cruel. The girl kept these thoughts in the back of her mind. She didn't talk to her guardian about it; He already had enough to worry about just finding them food. So, she just kept moving on. It got hard at points, but he was always there to help her. She was all he had left. Other than the crown, that is. The girl frowned and sat down near a tree stump.

"He always has that crown near him. It makes him act weird; why does he need it?" The girl wondered to herself.

When her guardian put the crown on his head, everything about him changed. He became scarier and prone to rage. Unspeakable power came from him in the forms of stinging ice and snow. She knew to hide when he made the decision to put it on. She would always plead for him not to, but the situation always demanded its power. That was always what he told her, anyway.

Marceline…

The girl turned her head at the sound of a soft, inviting voice off in the distance. She stood up and searched for the source of the voice.

I'm here. Come to me.

She followed the voice. She was unable to stop herself from doing so, as it was such a beautiful voice. It called her to a spot of the woods thick with trees. Spikey thorns cut and sliced at her body, but she kept going mindlessly.

You're almost here.

The girl stopped when she saw her guardian of in the distance searching the trees. She quickly hid behind a fallen tree.

"Simon? What is he doing here?"

I'm right here, Marceline.

"Who are you?" she asked softly.

Take the crown, Marceline.

"The…crown?"

Take the crown and we will speak to you.

"What about Simon?"

Simon won't mind if you try it on, will he?

The girl seemed unable to disobey.

"How am I going to get it?"

He will set it down on a stump shortly. Watch for when this happens and move quietly to where it is. You must be quick about it.

"Grrr! This stupid crown keeps catching on the branches!" She heard Simon say loudly.

She watched carefully. Just as the voice had said, he set the crown onto the stump and climbed back into the tree.

Move now!

The young girl moved quickly toward the crown and snatched it from the stump. She quietly sneaked away a distance from where Simon was searching.

Yes, Marceline. Put the crown on.

"Why do you want me to?"

Simon is getting weaker. He can no longer hold our power. He is no longer a suitable host. We need someone who will last for centuries. You are the one. We can see that you are a special girl with amazing potential.

"Me?"

Yes, Marceline. Place the crown on your head and we will grant you powers beyond your wildest dreams… You'll be able to protect what you love…

"Simon?" She asked softly.

Yes, even Simon… But you must trust us and do as we say. Put the crown on.

The girl stared at the crown with wide eyes. She rose it over her head and slowly lowered it down on top of it. She felt unbelievable power surge through her body the minute it touched her. The previously slow moving snow around her now whipped into blizzard conditions. She laughed at how she could so easily control the snow. Just a wave of her hand sent the snow blowing off in another direction.

Remember this power, Marceline…

"I will…"

The girl heard Simon off in the distance.

"The crown! Where did it go?!"

Find the crown and take what is yours. Let no one stop you.

Marceline…

Marceline.

Marceline!

Marceline was shaken awake by her girlfriend, who had a rather frightened look on her face. Marceline herself was covered in a cold sweat. It was dark, so Bubblegum hadn't noticed this.

"Bonnie? What the glob, woman?! I was sleeping!"

"Sorry. You were just… What were you dreaming about?"

"Huh? That's what you woke me up for?"

"Just answer me."

"I dunno. I don't remember dreams, Bonnie. Now, what's this about?"

"Well, you were… laughing…"

"Laughing? Maybe I was enjoying myself."

"No. Like, really creepy… Evil laughter…"

"So, you woke me up because I creeped you out?"

"Well… I… Yes." Bubblegum said quietly, feeling more ridiculous as the minutes passed.

"I'm a vampire, Bonnie. Everything I do could be labeled as creepy by someone."

"I guess…"

"Good. Now, let's get some sleep. We have to meet Finn and FP tomorrow."

Bubblegum watched Marceline lay back down and cover herself with the blanket. She still felt a little uneasy, but soon dismissed it as just vampire weirdness. She eventually fell asleep, not knowing that Marceline was still wide awake.

"What was with that?" She whispered to herself.

Although Marceline had often been plagued with nightmares of her previous life, nothing had ever addressed her directly. But, the last few nights she had been having strange dreams involving Simon's crown. A beautiful voice had been tempting her to take it in the dreams. She didn't understand what it meant. Why would she need the crown? Who were these voices? Marceline got up slowly, not wanting to wake Bubblegum. She looked out the window and placed her hand against it. The glass was cold as she touched it. She left streaks as she ran her hand down. Snow was softly falling around the castle.

Marceline.

She spun around quickly and looked around the room. There was nobody there.

"Who's there?"

We are, Marceline.

"Bonnie? If you're doing this, it isn't funny…"

We are not Bonnibel. She still slumbers on the bed.

"Who are you?"

Nothing but a good friend to you.

"I'm warning you…"

Don't threaten us, sweetie. We aren't an enemy. We just want to talk to you.

"About what?"

Your future.

"What about it?"

We can't tell you here. Too many watchful eyes for our tastes. We can't let such sensitive information be heard by the untrustworthy.

"How are you going to tell me, then?"

We will lead you somewhere that those against you cannot hear. Follow our voice and we will take you there.

Marceline, almost instinctively, followed the sound out of the castle. The snow didn't feel cold. She felt nothing as she flew through the snowy night.

We promise that this will be worthwhile to you.

Marceline said nothing and continued following the beautiful voice.

"That's great, man." Jake said with a smile.

"I know, I'm so happy she's back again."

"See? Everything eventually gets better."

"I know."

"Well, I'd better be getting back. I like to help Lady put the pups to bed."

"Yeah, see y-." Finn started to say, before looking out the window with a puzzled expression.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Jake asked.

"No, Marceline's just flying out there…"

"So? Vampires have walks, too."

"She's not blinking, Jake. She looks like she's in a trance."

"I'm adding that to the list of creepy vampire biz." Jake said, pulling out a notebook.

"C'mon, Jake. Let's go see if something's wrong."

"Alright, alright. Guess Lady'll have to wait a bit."

Finn and Jake followed below Marceline.

"Jake, give me a boost up to her!"

"Alright, just be careful."

Jake stretched up to Marceline's height. Finn looked directly into her eyes.

"Marceline? Hey, Marceline!"

Finn looked back to Jake.

"She isn't responding."

"Maybe this is normal for a vampire?"

"I don't know… I've never seen her do this before…"

"I didn't know you were Ooo's leading Vampire expert, bro. Maybe this is just Vampire sleep-walking."

"So deep you can't wake her up, Jake?'

"I'm just saying."

"Well, we've got to snap her out of this."

Those who wish to disrupt us are giving chase, Marceline. They are in front of you.

"What are those things?"

There were two warped monsters standing in front of her. One was a humanoid figure with twisted features, screaming as she approached. The other was a long, stretched out wolf. Both had ice chunks sticking out of their bodies.

Don't kill them. They are not going to follow if they are not conscious.

"I understand."

"I understand? What does that mean?" Jake asked nervously.

Marceline suddenly dashed away from them. Her fangs extended and she hissed angrily at them.

"Get out of my way!"

"Marceline, what are you talking about?"

"Dude, I'm not hitting a girl with one eye."

Finn looked at Jake.

"It doesn't look like we have a choice. Don't hurt her, just wake her up!" Finn said, readying himself for a fight.

Marceline hissed louder and charged toward the pair.