Chapter Text
All he knows is that he's falling. They had made it to the end of the adventure.
Everything had gone to plan despite a few hiccups and incidents that had gone further than expected.
How would he have known.
The adventurers and that fellow Simon showing up changing how things worked merely by existing in this realm. He thought of them as possible new companions.
To stay with him in his winter wonderworld. For a week or for much much longer. Who's to say. If he had planned to keep them. That it would have been such a cruel fate for them? To be here! Safe! With him.
The wonderful winter king that was so much better and grander than that old dangerous ice king he used to be.
They would have such a splendid time. They were braver than he had expected. As hero's will be.
But something had gone wrong. Something. Went terribly terribly wrong.
"FIONNA?!"
He's falling. Falling. And then he loses sight for a moment. Nothing could have happened in that moment. Haha. Nothing at all. It didn't feel like his whole body had fallen into itself. It didn't feel like every particle of his body had decided they didn't want to be together anymore. That. That. The last thing he sees is Fionna's horrified expression and then.
He opens his eyes. He's falling. Through a sky. Through something blue. Except as he falls it turns pink?
Bubblegum pink.
He hits the ground heavily. Getting knocked out in the process. His glasses crack from the impact. His vision goes dark.
And he lies there in the road. The road. Wasnt he up on a pedestal with Fionna and simon. .
Wasnt he with them?
He's not alone. He hears whispers around him. Voices of candy people quietly whispering.
"Is that the ice king?!"
"No! No that's Simon. Remember. The vampire queens' friend."
"But he's obviously blue! Look at him!"
He starts to stir with their voices surrounding him. How unprofessional to pass out outside of his castle. He has never done such a thing. Haha. Those were voices he hasn't heard.
"Ahh- he's waking up! Someone get the princess!"
"Yeah!"
"Yeah! Okay!"
They all run off into different directions.
He hears little feet skitter away from him quickly.
He slowly opens his eyes. Head pounding from the impact along with something. Something at the back of his head feels different. . .almost . .cold.
Theres those footsteps again along with someone much taller. A candy individual. That's familiar. Her presence alone almost sends a shiver down his spine. Wait a minute isn't that what he's supposed to do. Haha.
He slowly sits up. Looking up. And he sees her.
The candy queen.
Queen candy.
Princess bubblegum.
Bonnibel bubblegum.
All those different names. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that she is looking at him. And she looks . .sane? And. .worried?
She reaches out a single hand.
". . .Simon?"
She asks in a hushed and disbelieving tone. As she stares at him.
How could this be?! How is she sane? If she's sane then the crown. Where's the crown?!
He looks at her and her extended hand. An expression of fear she has not seen on Simon before.
He starts scooting back on the ground away from her. A rather childish response to seeing something that frightens you, but he's had a day. Give him a break.
"Simon. Where did you get that?" She questions. Pointing at something?
He follows where she's pointing with his eyes and he sees it.
The crown.
Just sitting on the ground on its side. Right beside him.
He reaches out a hand and grabs it.
"You aren't getting it!"
He says in a harsh tone. Holding the crown close to his chest. He doesn't plan on letting anyone else touch it after.
He pauses. Looking at bubblegum.
"H. .how. .how are you?"
"Simon you are clearly frightened and not thinking right. Let me call Marcy and Finn. We can figure this out. It's okay."
Marcy?
Is she trying to mess with him?! How does she know that name?!
Marceline. His Marceline. She's not. .
"What are you taking about?!"
He brings more bravado into his voice trying to hide that confusion he's feeling. And that uncharacteristic fear. No. No that's not something the winter king would feel. No. No. Hes supposed to be calm and grand and helpful. Not sittings before another ruler. He shouldn't.
Bubblegum picks up on the change of tone and expression. She's known Simon for a long time. He's about to do something stupid or dangerous. Or both. She needs to get that crown away from him now. She crouches down in front of him.
"I'm about to do something that may enrage you but know it's for your own good."
She says in a calm tone as she sits evenly to the fallen 'king'.
"What?"
|| She grabs the crown. Despite how tight he had been holding onto it she's able to get it out of his grasp fairly easily.
"HEY!! YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE THAT?! YOU KNOW WHAT ITS FOR DONT YOU?!"
She stands up and backs away as he lunges at her trying to grab it.
"Yes Simon. I clearly know what it's for. And it's not safe in your possession. We both know this!"
She keeps her composure easily. This is not the maddest she has seen a Simon be. Not by a long shot.
"Give. It. Back."
"No! I'm going to put you somewhere safe for now so we can figure this out."
"Put me somewhere? what does that even mean?!"
"You can stay within my castle until Finn and Marcy arrive. Then we will figure this out from there."
He groans. He audibly and childishly groans. Gaining a bit more desperation in his voice.
"What do you mean by that?! Why do you keep saying that name?! How do you even know it!?"
His hands have moved to his hair as he grips it looking up towards her. Ready to try and attempt to get the crown again.
"That name? How affected have you been?"
She looks at him with clear concern. Something he would have never expected from her. Her asking something like that in that tone. They had barely known each other before now. Why would she care so much about him now?!
Why does she keep saying that name?! Why does she keep saying that name!? She shouldn't know that name!!
He grits his teeth. She's not answering his question. How does she know that name?
He backs up more before he tries to stand up. Clearly unsteady.
"Bubblegum. How do you know that name?"
He hisses out his tone almost growing akin to ice kings' tone when upset. He doesn't care what she thinks of him. How does she know that name?! How?
"Because she's my friend! Simon?!"
This is different. Somethings different about Simon to even how he holds himself. It's surprising how his focus went from the crown to Marcy.
She needs to get him somewhere safe. Inside. So, he doesn't get himself hurt. Or hurt anybody. She thought their relationship was long past this. But it seems somethings happened.
He stands unsteady on those heals on solid ground. Holding his arms out then back towards himself to keep steady.
Looking at her like he's going to try for the crown again.
She sighs.
"I'm sorry Simon."
Then she calls out.
"Banana guards! Please take him to a safe room within the castle."
"Wha-"
He lets out before multiple banana guards come out from around him and he gets completely knocked over.
"Hey! Hey wait a second! HEY!"
