Sugarless

It was a quiet meal. Nothing but the sound of her utensils chinking against the plate echoed through the large dining hall. As she set her glass down and pursed her lips slightly into a frown, she pondered why it was mandatory to have such a long table when it was only her who was to eat there. Everyday at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And only to repeat it the next day, and the day after that. She sighed.

"Is there something wrong with the food?" Peppermint butler asked, coming to her side.

She shook her head. "The food is fine. It's just..."

"Hey! You can't go in there!" a muffled voice of a banana guard said behind the large doors.

A laugh cackled. "Try and stop me!" another, but female voice countered.

Before the princess could question what was going on, the doors were suddenly flung open and in came none other than the vampire queen herself. A mischievous grin was plastered on her face as she floated above the table towards the pink girl. Banana guards came rushing in, growling angrily with their spears clutched in their hands.

"Halt!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Princess Bubblegum demanded. "Marceline?"

"Hey there, Bonnibel," the vampire greeted, wiggling her fingers in a weird wave.

The Banana guards quickly came to the princess's side, brandishing their weapons at the intruder. Marceline only raised an eyebrow, a cocky smirk on her lips.

"We apologize for her unannounced presence, princess. We will get rid of her at once."

The princess narrowed her eyes slightly at the queen, wondering what she was doing in her kingdom unannounced. It was typical of the vampire to do such un-royal things.

"Now is that any way to treat a guest?" the vampire asked.

The guards made a move, but the princess put a hand up. They looked at her in a confused manner. Bubblegum herself was not so sure why she had stopped them, but she didn't let that show. She needed to seem sure and leader-like. Besides, she was curious to know why the vampire was there at such a late hour.

"It's alright," she told them, earning more confused looks. "I'm finished eating and I think a walk in the garden will settle my stomach. Marceline may accompany me as well."

 "But princess..." Peppermint butler started, but she gave him a reassuring smile.

The butler frowned a bit but stepped aside to let her out of her seat. The banana guards looked upset, but obeyed the princess's orders as well. Marceline smirked and picked up a strawberry, sinking her teeth into it to drain it of it's color. She dropped the now gray strawberry and licked her lips, winking at the glaring guards before floating beside the princess.

They walked...well, Marceline floated while Bubblegum walked in silence through the long empty halls of the castle. The vampire didn't bother to try and hide the glances she took at the princess who looked back up at her with a raised eyebrow before turning away with a light blush. A chuckle erupted from the throat of the raven haired girl.

"What's so funny?" Bubblegum asked irritably when they made it outside to the gardens.

Marceline wasted no time to float up into the air, spreading her arms out wide as she spun around under the moonlight. 

"Ohh nothing," she said, grinning down at the princess who crossed her arms.

"Why are you here?"

Marceline floated down to Bubblegum, their faces inches apart. The vampire cupped her chin and Bubblegum took a step back, blushing once again and earning a laugh from the other girl.

"What are you doing?"

"So many questions! You're so boring Bonnie!" Marceline exclaimed, circling Bubblegum with that cocky grin.

"Marceline," the princess said in a warning tone.

"Ugh, fine," the vampire said, stopping behind the princess. The goody goody princess needed to kick back and relax more! Maybe she could teach her how to do that. Who else would be a better teacher than Marceline?

With an idea burning brightly in her head, she leaned close to her and whispered into the girl's ear. "Are you afraid of heights, princess?"

"Wha-"

The princess's words were cut off suddenly as strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist and lifted her off the ground. She screamed as she watched the ground shrink below her at an alarming rate and clutched desperately to the only thing near her, Marceline's neck.

The vampire laughed loudly as they soared through the night sky, faster and faster. They did wild dives that earned louder screams from the princess, and zig zags that made her cling tighter. 

"What are you doing?!" the princess demanded. "Put me down!"

"Okay," Marceline loosened her arms around the girl's waist who screamed again.

"Don't let go! Don't let go!" she said, squeezing her eyes tight and burying her face in shame and embarrassment in the crook of the vampire's neck. She almost threw up her dinner, but swallowed it back down with a sour face.

"Yes, my princess!" the vampire laughed, wrapping her arms again around her.

They continued soaring through the sky and whenever Marceline dived down or did spins, Bubblegum would let out a little squeak, tightening her fists on Marceline's shirt. The cold wind whipped at their hair and Bubblegum's stomach clenched in fear and her ears felt as if someone was putting pressure on them. This was pure terror! How could the vampire make such a daring move with the princess without any safety precautions? She was in danger for cabbages sake!

"You have to see the view, Bonnie!" the vampire exclaimed.

"I don't want to."

"Don't be such a butt!"

"I'm not a butt!" the princess argued.

"Then prove it!"

The princess hesitated. She really didn't want to do it, yet she knew that the vampire wouldn't stop calling her a butt unless she looked. Maybe the view wouldn't be so bad. With an intake of breath, she clutched tightly on the vampire and poked her head out and away from her neck to take a split second look before returning to her hiding place.

Marceline laughed. "What was that?"

"I looked!"

"Fine. Don't blame me, you're the one whose being a butt."

Before the princess could ask her what she was about to do, she felt the arms around her waist loosen and her body shifted. She let out a scream, thinking that the vampire was going to drop her and tried clinging tighter, but Marceline was stronger of course. She squeezed her eyes tight, awaiting to fall and die, but she didn't. The vampire's arms were still around her, holding her safely against her.

"Open your eyes."

Bubblegum shook her head.

Marceline sighed. "Come on or I'll drop you!"

Bubblegum, not wanting to fall, slowly opened her eyes. They scenery and height made her gasp. They were no longer soaring above the garden, but flying across the Candy Kingdom. The altitude gave them a perfect view of her kingdom and it's night lights with the castle's tops barely reaching them as they soared past. The Candy People were just dots roaming around, but the sweet aroma of her kingdom still reached their noses. When she looked up at the night sky, the moon was full and bright. It beamed down at them and Bubblegum felt a rush of happiness course through her.

"It's...beautiful..."

Marceline said nothing, but that was fine. Bubblegum felt her fears fly away from her and she even found herself spreading her arms out like a bird. She laughed into the night but still felt a little queasy when they dived down. Marceline let out bellows of excitement, resting her chin on the princess's shoulder who didn't seem to mind or notice.

Although her own flights alone made her feel so much more exhilarated, Marceline was just as happy flying with someone else. It made her feel...warm inside. Quite odd for a vampire she knew, but she liked the feeling. It was better than diving off a cliff before soaring back up for the thrill. Yes, this so much better.

They soared high and low, spinning and diving. Bubblegum no longer screamed in fright, but now in delight. They dove down close to an open field just outside the kingdom and soared above a pack of wolves running in the night. Marceline let out a howl and the wolves howled back. 

Bubblegum was amazed at how the vampire was in touch with the animals as if they were family. She then realized how much she didn't know about the girl except the obvious things like for her taste for rock music or the color red. They always spent their time bickering with each other, but over time they found themselves drifting unconsciously closer. Bubblegum inwardly admitted at how she liked liking Marceline instead of hating her. Though she would never say it aloud.

They were so deep in their excitement and own worlds that they didn't notice it was getting close to midnight. Much to Marceline's disappointment, she knew that she had to end this flight before the sun came out to ruin their fun.

Marceline flew them back to the garden and landed the princess gently on her feet. It felt weird to be on ground again and her knees buckled slightly before standing firm. She turned to the vampire and smiled.

"Thank you, Marceline. That was fun!"

Marceline smirked and gave a bow while floating in the air. "It was my pleasure, princess."

Bubblegum giggled and watched the vampire float higher. Her cocky smirk was on her face, but there was a look in her eyes that betrayed delight and excitement from the flight they shared.

"Later Bonnibel!" she said, and just as she was about to fly away, Bubblegum grabbed her hand.

"Will...can we do that again?" she asked, shyly averting her eyes.

Marceline grinned and cupped her chin so that the princess looked at her. She was surprised that the pink girl didn't take a step back like earlier. Maybe their flight had did something to them. Something good.

"Sure," Marceline said, winking. "I had fun too."

Bubblegum smiled, her eyes sparkling under the moonlight that spilled itself on them. And then, Marceline surprised her for the second time that night. A quick peck was placed on her lips, and before she could react, Marceline was already flying in the air.

"Nighty night Bonnibel!"

Bubblegum stood there in shock for a long time, staring up at the night sky even though the vampire was long gone. She slowly and gently touched her lips that still tingled from the kiss. A warm feeling filled her insides and she licked her lips out of curiosity. There was no sweetness like the candy she was always surrounded by. There was no fruity taste like the strawberry the vampire had eaten.

It was sugarless.