Chapter One: Princess Bubblegum

In the heart of the Candy Kingdom, beneath the shimmering moonlight that danced across the sky, I lay in the stillness of the night, the city below a tranquil tableau of slumber. Silence draped over the streets like a velvet cloak, every inhabitant tucked away in the embrace of sleep.

Suddenly, a cacophony shattered the serenity. From within the castle walls, the once-docile animals erupted into frenzied chaos. The ordinarily hushed padding of paws escalated into a crescendo of wild barks, echoing through the corridors until, as swiftly as it had begun, leaving behind an eerie calm.

Driven by unease, I rose from my bed, my footsteps whispering against the polished floors as I ventured forth to uncover the source of the disturbance. The guard dogs, renowned for their unyielding composure, now trembled with agitation. Their usual vigilance was replaced by a disquieting frenzy, an anomaly in their steadfast demeanor.

With trembling hands, I flicked on the lights, illuminating the pale pink walls of my chamber. There, etched in scarlet, was a grotesque smile wrought from the blood of my people. A sickening sweetness hung in the air, betraying the origin of the crimson stains that marred the once pristine surfaces. Dread coiled within me as I realized the depth of the darkness that had infiltrated our kingdom.

"Do you like it?" a voice emerged from the window.

"Like it?" I replied angrily. I could feel my face warming up, anger filling every inch of my body. "You MONSTER, How dare you. Who was this?" I asked as I walked towards the bloody wall. 

"I don't know why you seem so upset. You knew this was coming," He purred. "Consider yourself lucky; other kingdoms pay higher fees for… My protection." 

Abadeer emerged through the window, the veil of shadows parting to reveal his towering, slender form. His sleek, dark hair was swept back, framing his face where crimson eyes gleamed, capturing the moonlight in their fiery depths. Dressed in a tailored black suit adorned with a scarlet tie that mirrored the intensity of his gaze, he exuded an aura of refined malevolence.

Drawing nearer, his smile stretched across his face, a sinister curve that unveiled the depths of his true nature. In that moment, he appeared not as a mere businessman but as a harbinger of darkness cloaked in the trappings of sophistication. His fingers danced around the walls as he smeared the smile once perfectly drawn from the blood of my people. He let it sit on his fingers as he finally licked the substance from his index. 

"Delicious," he smiled. "Your candy people are simply delicious." 

I held my breath as my nostrils flared up. I tried to look away but couldn't; he demanded this attention. It was part of our deal. I got to see one of my beloved people die. He got to protect the kingdom from the fire kingdom.

It wasn't always like this. But here we were. Abadeer had taken another victim to satisfy his hunger, and I was powerless. It was ironic that here in the Candy Kingdom, I was the ruler. I was the most powerful being for miles, yet in front of him, I was powerless. There was nothing I could do besides watch. 

"You have what you came for – Now leave." I made an effort to look at him, to sound as intimidating as possible. 

He snickered with wicked amusement, and suddenly, all the lights went off. 

"Until we meet again, Princess," he whispered to my ear in passing. The windows swung wide open as he disappeared into the night.

The lights came back on, and I screamed in frustration. Abadeer didn't have to take the blood of my people, he quite literally could suck their souls out of their bodies if he chose to, but he didn't. He did it for me, to make them suffer, to make me suffer by extension. 

I turned around, and behind me was Betty, the courts' mage. Her glasses intensified the wrath that seethed behind her intense stare. Her red hair was messy, probably from running to get to me, to attend to my screams. She knew he was here. It didn't take long for her to notice the present Abadeer left me. I broke down.

Betty approached me slowly, closing the door behind her and using her abilities to make sure that no one else heard. If word got out of what was truly happening at the castle, panic would take the streets, and unfortunately, the candy people are delicate beings; a single ounce of fear would end their lives, and the peaceful kingdom that once was would be no more. 

Betty let me crawl into her lap. Since her arrival, she has been my strongest ally, not only by her affiliation with magic, but also because her wits and smarts kept me sane during the hard times in the castle. She has known about the visits from the Demon from the beginning, I didn't have to tell her about it. His magic left traces all over the castle, especially my chambers. It didn't take long for her to confront me about it when she first arrived. 

"I almost had it," said betty "A couple moments longer and I would have been in" 

I smiled softly, "We will get him next time, Bee." 

"How much longer can we keep this under wraps? People are asking questions; they are starting to notice their friends and family disappearing. How long until they come here and put two and two together?" 

"I don't know Bee" I gazed at the window, admiring the beauty of the candy kingdom, "did you get anything out of him?" I tried not to sound too hopeful 

"His mind is like a fortress, well protected. I'm Strong, but he is stronger." she sighed. "Could we reach out to her? She hates him, you know what they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend?" A sad smile creased her lips, a bittersweet curve that hinted at the depths of her sorrow.

"Marceline? It is too dangerous. Is hard to tell which side she will really be on." 

Betty nodded, her eyes staring into the distance, her brow furrowed in contemplation as he delved into the recesses of his mind. 

Betty wasn't wrong about asking about Marceline's help; this had been going on for too long, but her feud with me had been going on for longer. If she were to help, it would be at a steep price, one that I'm not sure I was willing to pay. Not since what happened last time we spent our time together. Other kingdoms were nearby going through the same; maybe an alliance would be a game-changer for us. 

Unfortunately, the Candy Kingdom doesn't have much to offer, not anymore, at least. Back in the day, we had strong diplomatic ties that would help us succeed. And our spices and sweets were well known throughout the lands. How quickly have times changed, once mighty in trading and riches, it is now stripped down to a mere memory of what it used to be. 

I stood up, and cleared my tears with my hands. My gown had somehow managed to get bloodied during the earlier encounter with Aberdeen. I took it off, showing my naked body to Betty. She blinked rapidly, processing the sudden turn of events. I pointed at my bedroom chimney and nodded at her. 

She understood the assignment, and with a quick gesture from her hand, the fire began crackling. I threw my gown into the fire. We sat in silence, as we watched my once beautiful nightgown crumble into the flames. A sweet smell emanated in the room. 

"Do you think you can do something about that?" I looked past her and pointed with my chin towards the bloody scene. 

"Yes, your majesty." And so she did, a flick of her fingers, and the blood was gone. Like nothing ever happened. 

"Call Finn. Send for him. I have a mission for him." If someone were going to be able to help the kingdom, it would be him, the last human hero of OOO. If I could help him find the Enchiridion, we could defeat that monster together. 

"Are you sure you want to involve him?" She was hesitant about my decision about Finn. Not without good reason, at last. 

"Yes, if something. He is the only one that can help."