Chapter Text
"Goodbye, Brain" Simon Petrikov announces, preparing to once more loose his sanity as he lowers the Crown on his head. Leaving himself stranded on this lifeless world, with only him becoming Ice King, but saving Fionna and Cake's world. At least this time, he won't be hurting anyone but himself.
"Goodbye, Simon" A memory of Betty Grof echoes, before a blue streak of magic erupts preventing the Crown to his head, surrounding Simon as it suddenly shifts into red. Opening a portal below them as it swallows both the Scarab and Simon down into the abyss.
Meanwhile, back in Ooo, away from the desolate universe.
"Told ya getting tats were worth it" Marceline lightly flies through the Candy Streets
"It means well but, you're forgetting one crucial detail about this tat"
Marceline peers in on Bonnie's tattoo
"It's not as good as mine, too pristine"
"You're the one who goaded me into this design, if anything this design was your fault"
"Queen" Marceline flies above Bubblegum's head "Princess, learn the pecking order"
"I'm made of gum, this will probably be gone in about a week, or two"
"Then just don't take a bath, duh"
"Tried, that, didn't work out. Though I did fit in the Candy Bars for a while, even did a little disguise thing, till everyone found out I smell different. Speaking of bars, haven't been to ole Dirt Beer Guy in ages. Drinks are on me"
"Well, duh, you're the princess"
The two enters the bar with some of the candy folk there muttering that Princess Bubblegum is here, and the others were just mopping around. Marceline asks why he'd keep such a dump like this in her Kingdom, asking that this place just reeks of sadness.
"Psychology notes, I observe them on dysfunctional, deviance, disability, and danger. Getting into the field, might as well as try something new. So I guess why not" PB whispers to Marceline, continuing to say that she'd sometimes go here unnoticed to study them, eliminating observer effect.
"I thought you've quit that whole spy spam"
"It's not for security, but health, plus I visit here every now and then, and kinda do therapy them. Stopped it a while back" PB whispers as she turns to Dirt Beer Guy who happily welcomes the princess. "I'll have the usual, and her, well make it deep crimson"
"Pretty sure I've read a book on that's not cool"
"When have you ever read a book?"
Marceline thought about for a moment, excluding the ones at her house, mostly magazines, it was mostly with Simon, back as a kid and when he came back. Actually, there was something she'd remember once Simon came back. "I've written a book, about my trip from the Bling Goldfishes, to Job Junk. Titled: Marceline's Trip. Hmmm, ever wrote any cool books, huh". Marceline smiles triumphantly.
"You've bunked in my room"
"Don't see anyone in talking them, Bonnie"
"UGH...I swear, if only people enjoyed science more...like what's even popular these days, first if was Mr. Cupcake's routine, Flame Princess' Rap Tutorial, and now what? When will Ooo appreciate science" Bubblegum groans as she drinks, and hands Marceline hers
"Well, you could try having your science books being more fun, that way it'll beat...." Marceline teases about to drink her crimson cherry.
"Fionna and Cake, that's the current hot read" Marceline and Bubblegum both turnsto Dirt Beer Guy. Fionna and Cake. Ice King's fanfic, how did that even become soo widespread. Marceline's mind starts buzzing, maybe Gunther had printed all those stories, but she doubts that Simon would even allow that.
There really wouldn't be a reason to why Simon would allow it. Maybe he got new sense of funny? But...no it can't be. When he left her house for the Human City, he wanted to be away from any reminders of his time as Ice King. It must be a mistake.
"Now that's what I've been hearing the Banana Guards muttering. Didn't know Simon was cool with that"
"He isn't" Marceline's tone shifts to annoyance. It must have been a prank, right?
"Yeah, poor guy can't catch a break. Been here looking all down, all the time. I mean he made a whole universe, should be proud of that"
"All the time" Marceline voice raises at the words, asking him to tell her more about it. Was something wrong about him again? Why didn't he tell her.
"The guy is always coming here with a sad look on his face, with that one thing that's always to bother him. Always drowning his sad tears on the top, like he seems tired, and really sad"
Marceline's hold on her drink trembles, muttering in the lines of "He could have told me.....". She felt a tang of anger and dread, asking for Dirt Beer Guy to continue, or anything more about Simon. A thought already of just zooming to the Human City to check on him was her priority, but hoping that this is just one of Simon's coping times.
"Basically, the guy was saying that he doesn't belong anywhere. Says he can't relate to modern humans, not magic, and not anything. Plus, says something about missing being Ice King" At the mention of the last thing he said, Marceline drops the glass, her hand to face, and her body trembles.
She always honest with him, and he always had a smile to help her in any he can. Wait, no, he would and see it that he'd help her win. Marceline's focus for her surroundings hazes, looking at Dirt Beer Guy.
"He should have said something" Marceline kept repeating, the same thing over and over again. "Not again...."
"Marcy......is there anything else, you know" Bubblegum moves closer, putting her arm around Marceline who kept muttering the same words. Tons of thoughts were going on in her head, memories of being a kid with Simon, travelling together, and finally the day Simon left. "I'M NOT A LITTLE KID!" She bursts with a wail, causes cracks in the building. Bubblegum quickly assures Dirt Beer Guy that she'll fix everything, telling him quickly to spill the beans on Simon.
"Not much! But after he spilled his stuff, he and Finn went out on adventuring. Says something about getting his mind out of things by questing"
"Finn's still in his usual place, right?" Marceline asks with her voice trembling
"He is, I'll tell him to stay put, c'mon let's go"
"I'm gunna...I'm gunna...!" Marceline flares. Why didn't Simon told her about it. Why did he have to lie, she wasn't a kid anymore, she didn't need protecting. Marceline breathes heavily as she was zooming through the sky with Bubblegum following on Morrow.
"FINN!" Marceline wails calling to attention. Zooming through the skies, and landing down causing a small quake. Her face fixated on him, hair messy from going to fast, and heavily breathing that her bite marks in her neck is making a sound.
"I see that there's a problem, alright, Marce" Finn lets go of a giant mongoose, patting in on the back, and sits down on a tree stump. "What can Finn the H help yah with this time"
"Simon....sad......why.....didn't......" She never really went that fast before in a long while, trying to stand up but fell on the ground, with her vision being blurry. She didn't notice that she flew so fast that her hat fell, and was beaming under direct sunlight. She felt herself being lifted by a Finn, and saw a crimson sweater in front held by Bubblegum.
"You gotta be more careful, your neck was whistling" Finn comments. Marceline quickly got the red off the sweater, and gave herself time to calm down, for about a minute.
"Simon" Marceline starts, she knows that Finn knew what she meant but..."Why didn't you tell me that something was wrong with Simon?!" Her voice filled with anger but bits of sadness sprinkled on it. "WHY?!"
Finn just had a blank face, and didn't reply. She was waiting for his reply, and when that didn't occur she kept asking.
"Marcy, calm down, getting angry at Finn won't do anything" Bubblegum interferes. Marceline looks to both Finn and Bubblegum, taking a heavy breath. "Sorry, Finn...it's just..."
"No offense, it's a pretty heavy bag. I understand. Talking about Simon, he didn't want you to know. Says that he didn't want you to worry, giving off the vibes of just letting you be happy"
"Didn't work out, now ain't it" Marceline hisses.
"I know it's hard, but I understand where Simon is coming from. He wants you to be happy" Bubblegum starts
"That's always him, helping out. But he rarely asks me to help him out! I could have helped him, I wouldn't even be bothered by it!" Marceline wails again but calms herself again. She wanted to return the favor, the time that Simon left her as a kid, he said to her that one day she'll help him out. All he had to do was ask.
"I took SP out on questing, you know to get the buzz of his mind. Out there, exploring, and having camp fires. Didn't peg the guy for an outdoors man"
"Heh, we were both outdoors man" Marceline comments thinking back building tools as a kid with Simon.
"Hunting beasts, and stuff"
"Huh?!"
"I figured since he was all experienced in that survival business, two buddies hunting down beasts would be chill"
"Did great, but that's all I gotta say for now. Took SP out questing, I think I did get him a little bit better. Although...oh...Finn, man, you really should have read the room" Marceline's notice to Finn's tone made her heart sink
"His voice was pretty sad when we split. That 'Where do I go' was down"
"Oh, Simon...."
He should of have told her, did he think that she thought of him as an annoying? Maybe before, maybe during as Ice King but even then she mellowed out, then when Simon was fully back, she never thought of him as annoying, or a bother on her. She was the that insisted on Simon staying with her, and only left when Simon insisted that he moved to Human City. He's all alone, again.
Not this time, Marceline vowed. She's gunna drag the sadness out of Simon.
"Hey, Bonnie, I'm gunna go out on a trip. Maybe Finn's right, maybe some travelling does good for the mind"
"Course it does, does wonders check out these prizes"
"I understand, I'll give you two some things on the way"
It'll be just like old times, Simon and Marcy. She was gunna see it through that Simon would be happy
"Hey, Finn, gunna need to get in to Human City"
"No, probs, at all. Fun fact, you're kinda getting famous there. Marceline the Vampire Slayer, even has you in books"
The moment Marceline took one inch near the city, there were already murmurs as Marceline flew past them. They were giggling, smiling, an in awe. She'd gotten use that sort of stuff, but they were really looking at her with the same kind of look that everyone in Ooo gave Finn
"Marceline, friend of humanity, and savior. Woah, you are famous" Bubblegum comments showing her a comic book of her.
"Hero of Ooo, and the Hero of Humanity" Finn adds.
"Yeah, Bonnie, when are you getting your hero title" Marceline teasingly asks trying to lighten the mood, but her thoughts still thinking on Simon's sad state.
"My boy! You should visit more often" A Minerva bot hugs Finn "Oh, Princess Bubblegum and Marceline the Sun Savior"
"Wait, that's what they call me...."
"It makes sense" PB replies
"Will you be staying here for a while, now. Care to at least take a break, and maybe a shower"
"Huh? I don't smell bad"
"Yeah, he doesn't" Marceline adds. Finn didn't smell bad to her, getting looks from Bubblegum and Minerva.
"Maybe, but I need to ask about Simon. Mom, you notice anything sad about him?"
"Professor Petrikov, he seems rather a lonely individual. Perfectly keeps to himself, but has outbursts just a few days ago, concerning something about that story...Fionna and Cake. Rather, distasteful"
"I liked it. Did Simon try to like seek your help, like therapy"
"No, need to be a narcist. But he did one time, rather a lot to unpack from that session. Then never again, and by that he never left his home again"
"Wait, he's been cooped up in his house? Marceline interjects.
"A couple of days now, his usual home exhibit hasn't opened since then"
"Simon...what's going on with you"
"Maybe, he's just in bed, all by himself" Finn comments as he asks his mom to lead them to Simon's house.
"That's not helping" Marceline sighs following Finn's mom. First things she's gunna do is see Simon's state, talk about things, and drag him on a trip. Marceline took in another huge breathe, still angry, that he should have told her about it. Well, he's gunna get a wake up call from her.
"There it is" Minerva points to Simon's home. 20th Century Man in His Natural Habitat. So Much Dust!
"That's where he lives?!" Marceline growls at the sight of it. She accepted it that during his time as Ice King, he was looney, but he knew jokes, and played his part. But this Simon, normal Simon, not Ice King. She getting pretty mad, her face starts morphing. Bubblegum's touch on her shoulder calmed her down.
Simon deserved better than this.
"Ooooo...He opened a portal in time, for sakes. Could get a good shack by a hill, not like this." Bubblegum comments in.
"So that's what he meant by can't relating to modern humans. Man, no wonder"
"He couldn't get any other jobs? He was professor" Marceline asks with an angered tone.
"Professor Petrikov's knowledge on magical artifacts have been recorded in the database, and our database on magical knowledge is slowly expanding. On a footnote, he didn't also particularly interested in sharing his more in depth knowledge, understood to be a security reason. There wasn't much help he can do, he was depressed. Then when people asked what's with his clothes, and mannerism, explaining how his time period worked. Eventually he asked me to build a building according to his specification. Eventually, now he become the teacher who humans asks about his life, on how they lived"
"He was more than that" Marceline answered again with anger. "He was a professor, he knew human history before his time". Marceline blinked remembering all the stories Simon had told her, of fairy tales, and past human history. "He could have taught all the humans that, instead of answering stupid questions on how a telephone works"
"Most of them aren't interested in ancient history"
"No wonder he called himself a dinosaur to them. He wasn't magical enough to relate to Ooo, and wasn't modern enough for humans of today" Finn comments.
"I can feel that" Bubblegum joins in.
"He just needed to ask for help" Marceline dismisses clenching her fist.
Marceline froze in place. Realizing that even though Simon wasn't Ice King anymore, he felt frozen. Stuck in place, and can't move. It would be no better than being cursed by the Crown. No, it'd be worse. This time he was in control, felt everything, and remembered.
She flew in front of the metal door, and began knocking.
"Simon! I've heard what's bothering you. C'mon, we can talk about it!'
There was no answer.
"Simon! C'mon, it's Marcy."
Again, no answer.
"SIMON! Please, open up. Don't do this to me again!"
"Maybe, he's asleep" Finn comments.
"Well if he is, then I'm waking him up. Miss Minerva, can you-"
"On it" The Minerva bot opens the metal door.
Simon's apartment. It just looks like his apartment before the Mushroom War, he'd shown Marceline some pictures of it, and drew some pictures. This felt the closest thing to home he'd had, just like her shack back then. Even still if the interior was comfy, even Marceline could imagine living in a home like this, something just feels off about it.
"Simon" Marceline announces again, floating to the door of his bedroom.
Again, there was no answer.
"Simon...I've come to help, c'mon. I'm here to help, please"
No answer
"Simon, you've got my back always, and I've got yours. We're family, SIMON!" Marceline bangs on the door, with her eyes starting to form tears. Yet, the moment her fist meet the door it swung open, with Simon not even the there. "Huh, Simon? You said that he hasn't left his room in days?"
"He hasn't I have the recordings, one day and returned, and never again" Minerva shows the holo recording of Simon leaving with his backpack, and leaving.
"The shower water is still running" Bubblegum annonces.
"He's the in city?"
"It can't be, all humans have comm watches, and his is still here. And he hasn't left the city, I would know" Minerva showing security cams on everyone in the city.
"If he's not here, and he can't leave without you knowing. Then...."
"There's something messy about this place, magic feathers" Finn announces picking up a dark green feather, before tasting it in his mouth. "Definitely, magic feathers"
"No, not again. Simon, don't do this to me again" Marceline cries out. He's doing it again, Marceline swore that Simon wouldn't turn out like Betty, and do something stupid.
"Wait, I'm sensing some weird magic mojo coming from there" Finn points to a closet.
"Simon, please, no...please" Marceline couldn't take it anymore, but she had to know, as she opened the closet.
"No!"
Marceline collapses on the ground seeing the GOLB shrine.
"Simon, you should have told me" Marceline picks up the burnt photo of Betty. He never really moved on from Betty.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid" Marceline cries in anger and sadness
"Summoning GOLB. This is bad, the amount of damage it could do, and we don't know how to stop it. Took Ice King's crown, but that's gone now" Bubblegum inspects the GOLB statue, and wires.
"This is a serious violation, I'd need to up the security, and magic protocol. And a word to Professor Petrikov" Minerva sternly comments
"Didn't know SP was down in the dumps this bad. With Ice King he kinda harmless, but this one is...yeah" Finn comments.
Marceline just starts crying, mentioning that Simon can't just do this to her again. She felt powerless despite her powers. She was angry at him, angry that he didn't tell her. Why did he think of her like that, she didn't need any protection any more. If anything, she should be the one protecting him.
He wasn't alone. Marceline screams in her head.
Simon's is probably gone, teleported to GOLB, or who knows where.
He abandoned her again.
"Mr. Petrikov, are you here?"
A girl's voice drew everyone's attention to the girl wearing Finn's clothes.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. It's Princess Bubblegum, the candy monarch. It's Human the Hero, and it's Marceline the Savior!" the girl is awing at them.
"Hey, there little one" Bubblegum greets with a sweet sugar tone
"Woah, I'm that famous. Didn't know they made my old clothes here"
"Oh, hey, kid" Marceline wipes her tears off, greeting the kid.
"My name is Astrid, huge fan of all three of you! I've got soooo many questions. Like, was it true that you still use Ninja Ice Powers? Or, how about the time that Princess Bubblegum held a slumber party that has zombies, and how many vampires did you beat!" She continues bombarding with more, and more questions.
"I forgot, Can I still use them?" Finn wonders
"It said you stopped a big meteor with those powers!" With quickly corrects her that was magic school, not the ice ninja powers.
"It happened one time! But yeah, that did happen. Remember in taking your science classes, always double check. Also, try reading my books" Astrid glees, and says will do.
"All of them" Marceline puts up a smile yet still beaten by the revelation. "Um, anyways, why are you for Si-I mean Mr. Petrikov?"
"I wanted to know where's Fionna and Cake! I'm guessing they'd be here, but Mr. Petrikov hasn't really been opening up for days"
"Kid, they're just stories. And, I don't think Mr. Petrikov would want to continue writing them"
"I know, he got mad, and took my Fionna and Cake copy over it when I asked him if was going to write more of them. But I'm asking if Fionna and Cake are here, the real ones."
"Astrid, what are you talking about" Minerva steps.
"Well, the last I saw Mr. Petrikov was in house, with Cake the Cat coming out of his house. Then the other day, Fionna came out of his house. And me and her had this super cool adventure to the farmer's market"
"Wait, I've heard something about the Banana guards talking about that, something about terrorizing the forest farm" Bubblegum comments.
"Is this some sort of prank?!" Just the thought of people pranking on poor Simon by dressing as Fionna, and dumping a cat into his farm flared her up again.
"So, that's what this was" Minerva beams another holo video of a cake emerging from Simon's home, and a woman too.
"Huh, she looks like someone from Simon's time, it has to be connected to whatever he was doing for the GOLB ritual" Bubblegum points out.
"Okay, SP, what did you do...like, I thought this was all Ice King business" Finn comments.
"The madness of being reminded of Fionna and Cake must have done this" Marceline's immediately thought of the worse possible outcomes that happened to Simon. Did he get suck in, and these two emerged from his place? She needed answers, and those two must have it.
She swears if Simon is dead, she'll make those two wish they were still fanfics.
"Hey, Astrid, wonder where Fionna and Cake are now?"
"That's thing, they just disappeared before my eyes. Like, a pink dazzle just beams them up"
"Oh no, that's not good" Finn says with Marceline looking at him for answers. From Finn's face, she could tell it wasn't good news.
"Just spill it, no sugar coating, I don't need anymore secrets"
"It's Prismo. That sort of thing is Prismo's territory"
"The Wish Master?!" Bubblegum mutters more about the implications of this.
"Simon told me he visited him, wanting to wish Betty back, but that couldn't be done" Marceline looks to the GOLB statue "He was desperate"
"Wait, let me use this old thing to get us to Prismo's cube room" Finn brings out the Enchiridion.
"So, this is the Time Room, looks like a dump"
"Huh, even I...no. I can live like this, at the worst days"
"What in the blue blazes happened in here!" Finn rushes in with all junk, and broken screen. "PRSIMO! You here! Bud"
"Over, here, by the tub" Marceline points to the cube.
"Oh, hey Finn"
"Prismo, what happened?"
"Long story, I broke the law"
"Yikes, what law did you break"
"UGH, enough about that. I wanna know about Simon, and his connection to you" Marceline interjects
"Oh boy....I here I thought my couldn't get any worse. Well, I'm in the busts now, might as well...." Prismo starts explaining his story, on the creation of Fionna and Cake, and how he beamed it into Ice King's mind and it connected to him summoning Fionna and Cake. The moment that was revealed, the Time Room shook, as Marceline transformed slamming the walls of the room.
"THE GUY WAS ALREADY NUTS, AND YOU DECIDED TO JUST ADD MORE!" Marceline out of rage punched the cube containing Prismo. It didn't break, but he let out an ow.
"Dude, Prismo" Finn got Prismo in his hands
"I know, I know. It bit me back right now"
Marceline held another fist high, ready to throw another punch, but Bubblegum's touch calmed her nerves.
"Where's Simon, now" Marceline's asks, with her voice laced in outrage. Prismo then explains the thing with the Scarab, how he broke the law, and how Simon, Fionna, and Cake are hoping all over the multiverse travelling. Prismo told Finn place him near the T.V. to have a look around. That way, they could find them.
"Alright, you just gotta do this and that, and here we go" The TV was a bit static, but it was showing something, as Prismo told Finn to hit it a bit.
"I know a way I can protect you from the Scarab, bring magic back to your world, and make it last forever. I need to become Ice King again"
"Simon, no! Think about it! Betty didn't sacrifice herself so you can just throw it all away! Think! Think about the people you're going to hurt! Think of me!"
The screen shifts to another scene
"The next world we'll have a magic crown that will work. And I'll be cursed the right way"
"There isn't a right way!"
Fionna pleads that she doesn't want to curse anyone, holding the magic crown.
"Don't, let him!, please!"
"Fionna, it's gunna be fine"
"Simon, not again! Don't do this!"
"Wait, what universe is this" Bubblegum suddenly asks
"It's a lifeless universe, no is alive there"
"He's gunna curse himself in that place, all alone. Dang, that's even worse" Finn comments.
"Simon...not again, why..."
"Goodbye, Brain" Simon spoke before getting sucked into a red portal from below
"Oh no, that's bad"
"GOLB..."
"No reception in GOLB's land, I'm afraid"
"Is...he...dead?"
"Hard to tell"
Marceline collapses on the ground, and cries.
It happened again, Simon abandoned her, and was cursed again.
"Simon...please, at least, be safe"