Disclaimer: I do not own Adventure Time. Just any OCs.

Note: In this story Finn is 18.

Chapter 1: Rays of Sunshine

Whatever rays of sunshine entered through the window or whatever noise the birds made outside as they welcomed the morning, they were all irrelevant to Finn. All he could do was stare aimlessly at the wooden ceiling as he sat on a couch in his treehouse's living room. Jake was sitting next to him, talking about something that Finn could only make out as gibberish. The dog noticed the human's strange behavior and tilted his head.

"Finn?"

Finn didn't budge. His name was only a low echo as he kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling, looking at nothing in particular.

"Finn."

He slightly budged with having heard his name being called a bit louder, but it still didn't remove him from his trance. Jake stretched out his arm and snapped his fingers in front of Finn's eyes.

"FINN!"

The sudden shout brought the human back to his senses and caused him to look around the room. He was met with Jake, who was sitting next to him with an expression of confusion.

"What?" Finn asked.

"What do you mean 'What'? I've been talking to you this entire time. Have you been listening to anything I said?"

Finn sighed and rubbed his eyes. He was tired from being up so early in the morning, but at the same time he couldn't sleep properly. It had been that way for a while, and it had made him feel

"Sorry. My mind was somewhere else."

"Clearly. If anyone walked in here they'd mistake you for a zombie. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, I am. I just need some coffee or something. Now, what were we talking about?"

Jake looked towards the ceiling and groaned in frustration.

"Lady's birthday is coming up in a week and I don't know what I should get her. I was hoping for some advice from you if you don't zone out again."

"Well, do you know about anything that she might want?"

"Nothing that she doesn't already have."

Finn raised both his legs and placed them on top of a small table in front of the couch.

"Do you even have to get her something? I'm sure she'd just appreciate it if you just remember it's her birthday."

"I just wanna get her something special. I wouldn't feel accomplished if I didn't."

"You mean like that 'special gift' you gave Jermaine on his fifth birthday?"

"That was an accident and you know it!"

"He got hot sauce in his eyes and was nearly left blind. He had to get his eyes flushed and it got us both grounded. And I wasn't even involved!"

"I was aiming for his mouth, it's not my fault he kept his eyes open while yawning. I was dumb back then."

"You're dumb now."

"We're getting off subject!"

Finn chuckled then put his feet back on the ground.

"I hate to tell you, but you're asking the wrong guy for this information. I'm just as bad at getting presents for people."

The dog looked irritated but began to lighten up after several seconds of silence.

"I guess you're right. Maybe I don't have to get her a present."

It was right then that there was a knock on the front door. Jake groaned in frustration and sank down on the couch.

"Who could that be?"

"I'll get it." Finn said.

He got up from the couch and went to open the front door. As soon as he did, he was met with a trumpet being played right in front of his face, causing his ears to ring. Once it was done, he groaned and began rubbing his ears.

"What the heck, man!"

Finn looked at who had blown the trumpet and saw a squire from the Fire Kingdom standing in front of him with the trumpet in his left hand and an unopened letter in his right. He held up the letter to Finn.

"A message from her majesty, the ruler of Fire Kingdom."

Finn grabbed the letter and eyed it. It was slightly yellow rather than the average white. There was a red stamp on the front to keep it shot and had Finn and Jake's names written on the back.

"From Flame Princess? What is it about?"

"I only deliver it, sir. This is exclusively for you."

"Thanks."

The squire bowed and began to walk away. As Finn began closing the door, he stopped and peeked his head out once more.

"And thanks for nearly leaving me deaf!"

He shut the door, not waiting for a response. He walked up to Jake as he continued to examine the letter.

"What's that?" the dog asked.

"A letter from Flame Princess."

Jake's eyes shot open and he instantly stretched next to Finn and shrunk down to sit on his shoulder.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Open it!"

Finn exhaled and removed the stamp from the envelope and pulled out the letter. It had Flame Princess's signature in the bottom written in red while everything else was in black. He read it out loud for Jake to hear as well.

Finn the Human and Jake the Dog,

You are invited to attend the Flame King's 18th birthday.

The event shall take place today at 7:00pm.

Formal attire required.

While Jake had a big smile on his face Finn just kept staring at the paper. Specifically, FP's signature. He wanted to see her more than anything but he never thought she'd actually ask for him to come visit. But now, there it was, her asking for him. It was then he realized he had once again drifted away before Jake snapped his fingers in front of him again and shouted his name.

"Quit doing that!" Jake shouted in his ear.

"Sorry, it's just… I don't know if I should go."

Jake's mouth gaped open and he gasped.

"Who are you?! This is your chance to see her again and you're saying 'No'?"

"I don't know if I can face her. We didn't exactly part on the best of terms last time we met. That day was when I really messed up with her. I still love her; but I don't know…"

Jake stretched back to his original size and placed both his hands on the sides of Finn's head.

"Listen to me. You are going to this party. Take my advice: go through the whole thing with you and Flame Princess as friends. Because that's all you two are right now. Don't try anything you'll regret and you'll be fine."

Finn closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

"Ok. Friends."

"Haha! Now, come on. We gotta get ourselves some nice outfits and get a present for her."

"What happened to the whole 'a present isn't necessary' thing?"

"This is different. This is your chance to get some closure and stop moping."

"I don't mope."

Jake just grunted and dragged Finn out the door to begin their preparations, despite the human's complaints.

It was 6:43 when Finn and Jake where on their way to Fire Kingdom. Finn was wearing a black suit with a black bow-tie and black gloves. He had left his bear behind because he thought it wouldn't be very fitting, showing his shoulder length hair. Jake, however, was more serious about his style.

He wore a black suit and bow-tie just like Finn, but he also wore a top hat and a monocle on his left eye. He was holding a brown cane on his right hand and a fake smoking pipe hanging from his mouth.

Because of the fact they were wearing suits, they had to walk all the way since Jake couldn't stretch to his big self. As they walked Finn turned to face his companion, who was walking with a straight posture.

"Dude, don't you think you may have overdone it?"

"No I don't. I gotta look classy."

Finn decided to not pursue the matter further. Trying to argue with Jake about fashion was like talking to a wall.

It wasn't much longer before the Fire Kingdom's outer wall came into view. The gate was left slightly open just enough for a person to squeeze through. Outside it, sitting on a small stone, was Flambo. The little guy was knowing on one of his paws until he saw Finn and Jake approaching and he stood up straight.

"Hey, Flambo." Finn greeted, "What are you doing out here?"

"Waiting for you guys and give yous your flame shield."

He began chanting the spell and Finn and Jake were both covered in the blue shield. They said their thanks to Flambo before stepping into the kingdom.

The outside was mostly empty, save for a few flame people going about their business. The real commotion was coming from the palace, where the sound of music and people talking could be heard from a distance. Finn and Jake walked to the palace's entrance and were halted by two flame guards.

"Invitation." one of them said.

Finn reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the invitation. One of the guards examined it then gave it back.

"Alright, you're good. Head on in."

They both nodded as the guards opened the doors and they went inside.

The entire palace was packed with people, but not so much as to make it uncomfortable to move around. Everyone was wearing a suit and dress, in accordance to the party's formal attire request. There was a band standing on a small stage in a corner of the room, playing some classical music. There were several tables decorated with red sheets around the room, all holding different kinds of refreshments; though Finn doubted he could partake in any of them. FP's dad and Don John still sat inside their lantern prison which hung above the throne. Finn looked around but he couldn't find any signs of FP anywhere.

"It looks like we're the only non-elementals in here." Finn pointed out.

"Makes you feel a bit more special, doesn't it?"

As if by impeccable timing, another non-elemental walked up to greet them both. It was CB, wearing a suit as well while his lance hung from his back.

"Finn, Jake, you made it!"

"Hey, CB." Jake greeted back.

The pastry locked eyes at Jake and studied him before chuckling.

"Don't you think you may have overdone it?"

"That's what I said."

"You're both just jealous."

The three of them shared a brief laugh before Finn began looking around the room for Flame Princess.

"So, where's the birthday girl?"

"In her room getting ready. She should be out-" He was interrupted when the music came to a halt and trumpets began sounding. "-right now."

Everyone turned to the top of the staircase that led to the upper levels of the palace, where there stood a servant.

"Presenting our most esteemed and generous ruler!"

The trumpets sounded one more time before the Flame Princess appeared at the top of the stairs. Everyone cheered loudly for their beloved ruler, but Finn just stood motionless with his mouth hanging open as he admired the beautiful girl.

Her dress was similar to one she used to wear when she and Finn were dating, but this one was a lot more elegant and practically shined with the light focused on her. He paid little mind to the dress, however, as he focused more on the ruler herself.

Even from the distance, Finn could notice a gentle smile formed on her face. Her hair still stood in its candle form, as bright as ever. While there weren't many, he could notice several changes in her expression that made her seem more adult, which he thought only made her all the more beautiful.

She raised her hand and the crowd stopped its cheering.

"Thank you all for coming on this special occasion." Her voice was a bit deeper than Finn remembered it. "In all the time I have been your ruler, this kingdom has come far beyond my expectations. We have worked hard and come far, and now we are one of the most prosperous kingdoms in all of Ooo."

The crowd let out more cheers before they were silenced once again by the princess raising her hand.

"Today, we don't just celebrate me reaching a mature age; today we celebrate on behalf of this kingdom and all of its inhabitants. For it is you who has made all of this possible and sent us on a path to a better future for everyone. Let us rejoice!"

The crowd erupted into more cheers and the music began playing once more. Finn had a huge grin on his face as he saw the gorgeous elemental walk down the stairs and begin greeting her guests. Almost all of them were surrounding her, which made CB excuse himself to go and assist her. Once he was gone, Jake tapped Finn on the shoulder.

"A bug is gonna get stuck in your teeth if you're not careful."

Finn closed his mouth but still kept a smile on his face. It soon turned to fear, however, when he noticed FP was getting closer to them, though she hadn't seen them yet.

"Oh, Glob, dude. What do I say to her?"

"Just say 'Hi'."

He turned to the dog with a frown.

"Hi? I can't just say 'Hi'. She'll think I'm disinterested and don't actually want to be here. Which now that I find myself in this situation don't actually-"

He stopped his rant when he looked up and saw that she was standing right in front of him.

Note: Not much to say about the story just yet, really. I'm not entirely sure how often I'll be able to update, but I plan on making each chapter a proper length.