Author's note: ⭐10 stars to see if you like it. I'm writing little by little to test if this style of storytelling appeals to you. Nothing more to say—just comment so this story can go further.
I also have another story about the Lich, inspired by Adventure Time and based on another work. If you're interested, you can support that one too.
Perspective of the Ice King:
I was calmly walking around my house—which honestly felt like a labyrinth—tidying everything up. Two weeks had passed, and I had been able to piece together the memories of this body.
First: I'm still Simon Petrikov, the one who studied antiquated objects. I also had my girlfriend Betty, who, for obvious reasons, was taken by truck-kun. But what I noticed in that memory were some imperfections, like it wasn't really her… and it truly wasn't.
With a little magic from some books I had on space-time, I realized that was more illusion than reality. Why would they do that? No idea. But it made me believe for a long time that Betty had died—and that really drove me into madness even faster than what happened in canon. Even with Marceline, I was more protective, and I was about to start calling her Gunter for everything…
I stepped away.
I genuinely cared for Marceline as if she were my own daughter—the one I could never have with my Betty, my princess.
I shook my head.
I noticed how I was slowly transforming into the Winter King, at least in appearance. But honestly, it didn't feel bad.
"The hump isn't as good as the memes," I thought, cracking my back.
"How's it going, Gunter?" I said, looking at the ancient being inside a friendly penguin.
"Quack," Gunter replied calmly.
I placed my hand on the little beard I still had.
"Mnn… if I make more ice, Ooo's rivers will get bigger. But if I enchant the areas where rivers split, I could make them potable and fully useful for both aquatic and terrestrial life. That way they wouldn't rely on the Candy Kingdom's water."
A shiver ran through me at the thought.
"Gross," I muttered with a grimace.
"Take me there, Gunter. I honestly don't remember the way."
"Quack," said the penguin, walking toward a point.
I followed. I wore my most polished suit and crown.
"I've tried something: without my crown, my powers diminish, but… they don't fully disappear as they should. It must be a bonus from wearing the crown," I told myself as Gunter led me to massive blocks of ice that were drifting down a current connecting several rivers across Ooo.
I quickly started some basic and advanced enchantments. I wouldn't have been able to do this before, but with a few runes I left on some penguins roaming here and underground, plus a barrier, the water should now be as healthy as it needed to be.
"Ah, didn't I mention? Ooo depends on my kingdom. I think that's why I wasn't killed—I was the one providing water for all of Ooo."
I shook my head and left some spare runes with snow beings I had placed around.
"Even if people have water to drink, someone will probably try to take it for some absurd reason," I thought irritably.
I walked back to my kingdom but paused, standing still.
"I could research how to bring Betty back," I said aloud, as if no one could hear.
"I could do it, but I want to first see what I need thanks to my books," I said, flying back to my study.
After a few minutes, I found the book that had guided me to Betty in the original timeline.
"Timelines," I read aloud.
I went page by page. I looked at the page I would use for Marceline's bear, though honestly, I didn't want to take Jambo.
As I read, I found something that caught my attention:
"Go to Mimir's Well, then to the runes. Each will help you gain the knowledge to travel to the past, present, or future. Warning: each comes with a consequence."
…
I stared at it. Well… I wanted something to do, didn't I?
I shook my head.
"I'll need to ask about this in the City of Wizards."
I looked toward a specific location where my memories said the City of Wizards was.
…
"Why not?"
I said, getting up and walking to the window, staring at a point in the City of Wizards.
"Well, let's go," I said to myself, flying toward it—not forgetting to take a few gems, potions, and magical items for trade.
End of Chapter 3.