🎵 Come along with me, to a town beside the sea. We can wander through the forest, and do so as we please. Come along with me...🎵

Through the calm and peaceful quiet of the vast forest landscape, the familiar voice of Huntress Wizard suddenly broke the deafening silence speaking directly to the viewer.

"...How are we all so different? Yet all be exactly the same?"

Her disembodied voice provides a delicate breeze that lightly shakes the leaves of a tree.

"The same goes for the world...The world is considered strange and unpredictable to some, yet completely the same and never changes to others."

Her voice travels through the smoking and shattered remains of a once beloved, prospering, and familiar kingdom now deprived of all life.

"But it's the same world we all live in, yet we all live so different lives. The different choices we make, has different variables, which leads to different outcomes. Outcomes we as people have the choice to confront..."

Her voice travels through the a very wide and open valley grasslands where the sea of green grass has grown somewhat taller over the course of time and a much too familiar yet slightly rotting tree house fort could be found.

"...or run away from."

"Jake...I can't believe it, you're actually leaving?" B.M.O. said as he watched the magical dog man stretch his rubber like limbs to collect his belongings.

"Yeah, really sorry to say it little buddy but, I am."

"But whhhyyyyy? Why leave us? Why now?" B.M.O. demanded to know as digital bubbles of tears started to spawn in his eyes.

"It's...hard to say. I guess, I guess it's because ever since that big war deal done blown over it, well... it got me thinkin'. The world as we know it has seen its end once, and who knows when the next great deadly apocalypse will come...I wanna see the world, before I finally meet glob in person. Ya know, have no regrets and junk." Jake explained as he pulled out a spare suitcase and started fitting his various belongings inside.

"BUT YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE! WE ARE A FAMILY! YOU CAN'T LEAVE!" B.M.O. whined suddenly throwing his small robot body at Jake's feet clinging to his legs whimpering as digital tears started flowing down his screen.

"B.M.O. come on, stop it. It's not like I'm never coming back, consider it like...like a vacation."

"...More like abandonment to me." Finn's voice suddenly speaking caught both of their attention as the shadowy outline of an older post final war Finn Mertens sat on a ledge like branch overhead looking out the window watching the incoming raging storm outside.

"Abandonment? Finn, come on. You know I wouldn't go you guys like that. I just want a change of scenery is all." Jake explained.

"Then...then at least let us come with you." B.M.O. pleaded.

"Sorry little buddy, but Jakey gotta go solo on this one." Jake answered patting B.M.O. on his head as the little robot clung to his fur weeping still.

Finn watched from the corner of his eye at the display before scoffing lightly, Jake naturally hears the scoffing before looking up at Finn like an unamused father would look down at this son.

"Speaking of abandonment, Finn...you really can't talk at all."

Finn's icy gaze looked down at Jake with the intent to freeze the magical dog in place if his eyes did have such power.

"...And what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly what it means. For the past couple of months you have done nothing but mope around the house, even more than usual. And I think I finally know why, ever since you stopped protecting the candy kingdom from evil you stopped caring about fighting anything!"

It was true, it has been a couple of months since the end of Finn's adventuring days which brings a grand total of two years after the events of the final war for Ooo's future. Finn, now 19 has grown rather moody and depressed over the last couple of months as if a part of him had died and he was mourning his own death.

"Shut it Jake, no one asked you." Finn quickly snapped back turning his gaze back out the window.

"No, not this time. And you know, I think it's about Princess Bubble-"

Moving as fast as a bolt of lightning Finn lunged from his ledge landing on Jake grabbing him and slamming him against the wall hard pinning him in place, B.M.O. suddenly gasped in shock.

"What did I say about uttering THAT name, in this house?" Finn practically hissed in anger yet Jake simply stared back at him knowing if needed he could grow 10x Finn's size pinning him down if needed.

"Dude, I thought you got over her ages ago."

"I AM over her! That's why I don't wanna hear her name or voice ever again!" Finn yelled walking away from Jake clasping his hands against his ears.

Jake took a step forward from the wall watching his brother in emotional agony over the subject.

"...Finn, you have to understand. Things change...sometimes for good reason. I mean, look at us."

Jake motions to the fact that despite everything around them was the same clear differences can be seen. For instance, Jake's signature bright yellow fur coat has taken a bronze brown in color and a short tuft of fur was combed to look like a cowlick hairstyle at the top of his head yet kept his overall laid back yet mature demeanor.

Finn had on the other hand had changed dramatically from his previous adolescent appearance. His signature forest bear hat had been upgraded to a full grown polar bear head carved into a hood with his ever growing tempest of blonde hair overflowing the space inside the hat now flowing down his face usually covering the majority of the right side of his face. He now wore a jean vest to match his deep blue shirt, a leather archery glove on left hand, long jeans that have been ripped at the sides and a hole in his right knee, and sturdy mud coated brown leather boots. Unlike Jake Finn's demeanor towards any problem has grown somewhat pessimistic drenched in a feeling of post teen angst at best.

"...I couldn't agree more, that's why I changed. Why I gave up adventuring in the first place, its...its..."

"Pointless? Just like Billy said, ya know...before we both proved him wrong."

"...It's different this time. I finally opened my eyes to the truth."

"And what truth is that Finn?"

"...That I was a pawn. A simple dim witted foot soldier that followed blindly in someone else's plans, being played like a bad hand and seen as a joke. I finally realized that princess had no respect for me, I was no different than those bumbling banana guards."

"Dude, what the blip are you talking about?"

"The blip? You wanna know the blip?! Huh? Jake? Here's the blip, we are at the very bottom. Ok? Nothing we say matters, nothing we do matters. We take orders and if we fail or die horribly we get replaced, easily...that's not the life I intended for myself, not for any of us."

"So you rather turn your back on everything, on everyone?"

"No, I rather gnaw through my shackles, or my arms even! The fact that trying to fight all the evil in Ooo and failing, was exactly the wake up call I needed. You can call me a heartless coward all you want, but I rather run away with my sanity still intact then die a pointless death pursuing the idea of justice that never existed in the first place."

Jake felt silent after hearing Finn spill out the bitter and venomous words that poisoned his heart for so long, he simply collected the last of his belongings locking them safely inside his suitcase before placing a certain grey fedora on his head. He was the splitting image of Joshua, the deceased father of the two boys. Jake slowly walked towards the front door lightly twisting the knob and opening the door with an audiable creaking sound taking a single step outside before looking over his shoulder at Finn and B.M.O.

"...See ya around, you guys."

The door closed shut and Jake was gone, B.M.O. looked like he was about to short circuit from all the virtual tears.

"...Hey, hey, hey. Little buddy, don't-don't cry."

"...But...But what will do without Jake?"

Finn picked up the little robot cradling him in his arms like a small child carrying him away from the door.

"Forget about him, it's you and me now. We can have buttloads of fun now."

"...Like...Like we used to?"

"...Yeah, like we used to."

With the intent to help B.M.O. forget about Jake like a parent that had just walked out on them it was Finn showered the little robot with as much affection as he could. The two played hide and seek, cops and robbers, indoor treasure hunting, etc. Yet it was Finn that had the ultimate fallout finally collapsing on the living room couch lost in a mental sea of melancholy thoughts, the aftermath of what he said to Jake and the look Jake gave right back to him was burning him up and slowly eating away at his mind.

"...Finn? Are you, ok?" B.M.O. asked still dressed in his robber outfit pulling at his sleeve.

"...Yeah, I'm fine. Just, a bit tired is all." Finn answered rolling over so B.M.O. couldn't see his sad face.

"...Hmm, I think we need some extra help."

Pulling a stool in place next to the house telephone the little robot climbed up to reach the phone before dialing a few numbers and waited patiently as the dial tone rung. On the far other side of Ooo resting on a tree branch under a thick canopy of leaves Huntress Wizard was quietly meditating listening closely to the calming roars of the thundering skies above, her eyes suddenly opened to the light vibration emitting from her cloak pulling out a small little makeshift cell phone like device made out of an old nintendo DS game with an antennae and battery duct taped to the back. A thoughtful gift from Finn a couple of months ago as a way of easily keeping in contact with each other to avoid the task and manually scouting for the forest dwelling magic user. Upon flipping the device open Huntress Wizard was pleasantly surprised to see B.M.O.'s face appearing on the screen calling her, she clicked the receive call button before answering.

"Hey B.M.O., what's up?"

"Evening Huntress Wizard, we need your help."

"What's wrong? Is another monster attacking the fort again?"

"No, worse. Please, just come quick."

"I'm on my way."

Much later there was a light knock at the door as B.M.O. rushed to the front door hopping up to cling onto the door knob twisting it to let Huntress Wizard in, the elf ranger was dripping wet from traveling at top speed through Ooo during the raging storm due to how urgent the emergency sounded.

"Ok I'm here, where is the emergency?" She announced springing into action getting into position with her grass spear ready.

"Over there!" B.M.O. said pointing over to the still resting Finn on the couch.

"...Uh, that's just Finn."

"Yes, Finn is the urgent emergency."

"...I, don't understand."

"Here, let me explain."

B.M.O. then whispered in her ear the details leading up to Finn's chronic despair.

"...I see, Jake left and now Finn is facing a severe reality crisis."

"Reality crisis? Is it bad?"

"With proper guidance, even the most unfortunate of lost souls can still climb out of spiraling insanity."

"But, Finn's not insane."

"Not yet, which is a good thing...just leave him to me."

"...Um, ok?"

Huntress Wizard walked up to Finn lightly shaking his shoulder wanting to get his attention.

"Finn, Finn. Come on Finn, it isn't healthy mentally and spiritually to sulk around like this."

Finn simply shrugged off her hand sighing lightly feeling mentally defeated beyond consolement. Huntress Wizard exhaled sharply through her nose pulling her leather hood back and shaking her leaf like hair making several rain droplets fall on him slowly waking him up from his negative emotion influenced nap looking up at her. Ever since he and Huntress Wizard first started officially hanging out he had a secret additional affection towards her when her hood wasn't on to cloak her full appearance. And now was no exception, the way the small water droplets rested on her leaf pedals made her look even more alluring than usual pulling Finn out of his sadness induced slump.

"Whoa...Uh, hey H.W...when did you get here?"

"Got here about 5 minutes ago, now." She said smiling down at him as he sat up straight to greet her.

"Oh, I'm guessing B.M.O. called and told ya I was feeling extra bummed out today."

"Right on the money."

"Sorry Finn, but I didn't know who else to call who was best to come for your mental aid." B.M.O. said walking up to hug Finn's leg genuinely worrying about the human boy.

"No need to apologize B.M.O. You were just helping look out for me, thanks."

"Of course. Ever since you stopped going out on adventures Jake and I have always been worried about you, but...I guess it's just me here to worry now."

"I wouldn't say that, don't count me out already couch." Huntress Wizard joked sitting down next to Finn on the couch.

"No way H.W. I can't ask you to worry about me me too, I know you're all kinds of busy with mondo important bizz in the forest and wizard city."

"Actually no, it's been a rather slowly week for me. Ever since I slayed the last of the invading pests that plague the dark thorn forests, I've been mostly doing yoga and tai-chi exercises just to past the time."

"Oh, yeah ok. Cool, but still anything can happen. Anything. You're one of Ooo's best fighters, you need to be available when evil comes. And we both know there's no way to truly stop all the evil in the world..."

Huntress Wizard's green cat like eyes shimmered a bit being verbally praised by Finn, she couldn't resist smiling a bit to herself. Her smile went away for a moment realizing how heavy Finn's last statement weighed in his voice.

"...Birds Finn, we are birds."

"Huh?"

"The mama bird doesn't teach her babies how to fly. They must figure out how to fly themselves in order to avoid the ground, that is to say I won't try and tell you how to live your life Finn. You must spread your own wings and find your own way through life, and no one can make your choices for you."

"...Wow H.W. You are just so...wise...and mature. Almost like... someone I used to admire." Finn said looking down at the floor.

"...It's Princess Bubblegum, isn't it."

Now it was Finn's turn to breathe in sharply through his flared nostrils.

"Did you have to say her name?"

"Yes, because it's the only way to truly get to the root of your problem."

"My problem? I'll tell you what the problem is, I'm done. I'm done being the little adventurer that does all the work and gets no respect for it. From the time we had to hunt down the vampires to the time candy zombies infested the candy kingdom, twice!"

"...That's not entirely true, you got my respect. That means something, right?"

Finn gasped lightly as Huntress Wizard placed her head on his shoulder making him blush a bit.

"Of-Of course I do. I just meant, ya know...I'm just worried about my future is all. There's gotta be a point where I really have to give up adventuring for something else, something more...meaningful, right?"

"Everyone is afraid of the unknown the future will bring, but it doesn't mean we have to dread it."

"...Yeah, yeah I guess you're right. It's my choice, and I should live my life however I see fit. Just, gotta wait and see what happens."

Finn then felt the tug of his pants leg again, he looked down at little B.M.O. now in his cop uniform costume.

"Do we still have time for another round of robbers and cops?"

Finn couldn't help but smile, a true smile no longer harboring the hidden pain of uncertainty.

"Sure thing B.M.O."

With that said Finn threw his hands up and started playfully chasing after the small little robot, Huntress Wizard just smiles watching the two have fun. It wasn't long before B.M.O. grew tired from all the playtime and was carried in Finn's arms to his charging area for the night. There was something about watching the innocent little bot sleep on his side snoring so peacefully that gave Finn such a strange yet warm feeling inside, a feeling he just couldn't describe yet. Huntress Wizard placed a hand on his shoulder watching B.M.O. sleep alongside him.

"Everything will be alright, I'm sure of it."

Her statement, despite being based entirely on the insufficient knowledge of the unknown, felt the most reassuring. The sun had risen again as expected the very next morning chasing the storming thunderclouds away so that a bright new day can begin. Finn stirred in his sleep clinging onto what he imagined was his pillow that grew hard and brittle overnight, finally opening his eyes he realized he was laying on the living room couch with his arms wrapped around a log that was covered in budding mushroom spores.

"Heh, oh yeah. Huntress Wizard." He said with a slight chuckle remembering both he and H.W. were so tired from playing with B.M.O. all night he finally collapsed on the couch and apparently the elf huntress decided to spend the night, his nature dwelling friend apparently tends to take the form of inanimate logs during her overnight rest.

He was careful and considerate enough to start slowly removing his arms from around the log being careful not to disturb her out of her sleeping state before climbing off the couch towards the kitchen with the intent to start making breakfast. As many times Finn watched Jake cook his meals he never did consider taking up cooking for himself up to now, staring at the black wood burning stove like an evil fire breathing dragon beast staring him back down.

"...I will tame thee." Finn said in a low tone, eyes full of determination.

Pulling out a broad steel short sword he gave a warrior cry impaling logs of wood that rested in the corner before chucking the wood into the open maw of the oven to get a proper roaring fire going inside. First were the eggs which he tossed up into the air before swatting them in midair with a wooden mallet sending egg guts and shards of egg shells flying everywhere, thankfully a good amount landing in the waiting frying pan already starting to bubble from the simmering heat emitting from the stove.

"Blam! Now thats how ya make real scrambled eggs."

Next was the toast, the bread Finn had retrieved from the wooden cabinets before force feeding the toaster full of excess amount of bread and turning it on setting the knob on high.

"It ain't breakfast without some tasty toast." Finn declared as he turned away from the toaster moments before the excess bread started smoking then catching fire without him noticing.

Finally Finn rushed at full speed to the fridge to collect a frozen pack of a bacon from the freezer.

"Come here ya beautiful bacon, time to get you in our bellies."

Snapping the pack open the slabs of meat slid out falling into the other frying pan to start sizzling alongside the eggs. Returning to the burning toast Finn used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames before using a pair of metal tongs to collect a piece of charred bread that had a bit of surviving fire on it still.

"...Mmm, perfect."

Finn then collected the eggs and bacon before turning on a nearby fan to get the aroma of food flowing towards the sleeping log on the couch, the log quickly shifted back into Huntress Wizard as she woke up rubbing her eyes to the smell of food.

"Finn?"

"Hey H.W. check it out, I made breakfast."

"You did? Huh, didn't figure you for the cooking kind."

"It's my first time, I think I did a good job. Come here and have some."

Finn gestured for Huntress Wizard to join him at the table where the food was placed, what she quickly noticed was the...unique quality of the good. The scrambled eggs were coated in scrambled egg shells, the bacon was still a bit raw and dripping wet, and the toast was burnt nearly to ash.

"Hmmm..."

"Um, something wrong?"

"...Nope. Everything seems pretty fine here, good work Finn."

He grinned ear to ear with glee stuffing a piece of burnt bread in his mouth munching loudly as bits of burnt toast covered his mouth, the elf wizard chuckled using a spare napkin to wipe his mouth clean. B.M.O. now fully charged woke up soon after walking up to the table as well.

"Good morning, what are we talking about?"

"Hey B.M.O. look, I made breakfast."

"Finn? Cooking? Hmm,"

The little robot turned his gaze over to H.W.

"Psst, blink twice if you are being held against your will." He whispered over to her despite Finn being able to hear him clearly but was too busy munching on another piece of burnt toast.

"Eh dont worry, I've had much worse." Huntress Wizard said to calm the robot down picking him up and setting him down on her lap.

Now craving for more burnt toast Finn took a step away from the table before the wooden floor suddenly gave out from under his feet, his upper body now sticking out of the giant hole in the floor.

"Finn! Are you ok?" B.M.O. asked looking over at the sight.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I have been eating a bit more than usual." Finn said tapping his tummy entertaining himself despite being currently stuck in the floor.

Huntress Wizard sat B.M.O. on top of the table before placing her palm against the floor focusing for a moment.

"Finn, I don't think the floor broke because of excess body weight." She finally inferred.

Before Finn or B.M.O. could say another word she punched her bare fist against the floorboards revealing a scattering nest of termites swarming through the rotting wood below.

"...Yeeeep, ya got termites."

"What?! Termites!? How?"

"Dude, it's a tree. Termites like trees...and houses...so a treehouse is like a buffet and a home for them."

"...Oh, huh….Fair point."

"Are we gonna have to leave the treehouse?" B.M.O. asked walking up to Finn and sitting down next to him looking up at Huntress Wizard.

"What? No way, it's just termites. Little peeps just looking for a place to crash for a while, no biggie."

"Hmm...that's how it starts. But it's fairly obvious to me how dangerous it can be trying to live in a house full of termites, falling into floors is just the beginning. Won't be long before these little peeps starts gnawing away at more important stuff like ceiling supporting wooden beams and junk." H.W. informed the two with a cross of her arms and looking around the house.

"Or worse, they get into Finn's precious Finn cakes stash." B.M.O. added with a sly giggle making the young boy's eyes grow wide with a sudden pressing concern.

"...We need to get rid of these termites."

"Agreed, I'll just conjure up a bug hypnosis spell to persuade them to leave." Huntress Wizard offered as she began waving her hands to begin said conjuring as a magical aura begin to appear at her fingertips.

"...Um, actually. I kinda rather you didn't, I don't like magic being used around the house." Finn suddenly interjected.

"Hm? Why not?"

"...Noodle Wizard."

Short flashback:

Finn was looking at the window of the tree fort as a goofy looking man wearing a robe made of raw ramen was waving his fork like it was a wand down below.

"Skedaddle Skadoodle, your wee-wee is now a noodle!" the man exclaimed setting a cure equal to erectile dysfunction onto Finn catching him guard and by surprise.

"Glob dang it Noodle Wizard!"

End of short flashback:

"...I freaking hate that guy."

"Oh, that guy. Yeeeah….That's a good reason I suppose. So what do you propose we do?"

Finn broke through the wood floor so more yanking his hands free from the hole he made placing one hand to his chin.

"Hmm….I'm sure simple bug spray would send these pesky pests packin'!"

"Alright, Wizard City should have some general stores we can check out for some spray."

"Wizard City? Ugh, that place is full of creeps and nutcases…..oh, sorry, n-no offense."

"Oh no, none taken. That place is sideshow freakshow central for sure, but I got good connections there…. plus, free coupons."

She held up a collection of colorful slips of paper to which Finn burst up from the floor with ease at the sight of them.

"Woot woot! Free coupons! Alright, lets go!"

Finn and Huntress Wizard started racing off towards the front door when B.M.O suddenly spoke up again.

"Hey! B.M.O wants to come too!"

"Sure B.M.O., you can come." Finn called back over his shoulder.

"Come here baby." Huntress called back as well holding her arms out.

"B.M.O come! Yay!"

B.M.O. leaped into the air which Huntress caught in her arms as promised as the trio left for the mad and sad world of Wizard City. The only place that had a bumbling begger or blind bum hanging around every block and street corner, even the smoldering ruins of what used to be Detroit looked more well kempt in comparison.

"Ok, here it is. Mar's Magic shop." Huntress Wizard finally announced pointing at what looked like an old withered outhouse shack of a store.

"Cool. Wait, what did I say about magic around the house?" Finn interjected crossing his arms.

"Eh, don't worry. This place is completely harmless, besides half the stuff sold here aren't even magical at all and the rest are just cheap knockoffs of magical items."

"Hmm, alright. Lets get that bug spray and dip already before another beggar asks for one of my teeth again."

The tiny bell chimed the moment the front door of the store slowly creaked opened, Finn was the first to walk in openly acknowledging the place resembled a dirty gas station convenience store littered with rats.

"Blech! It even smells funny in here, like rotten eggs and kimchi." Finn said gagging at the stench invading his nostrils having to cover his nose up.

Huntress Wizard walked over to the front corner to find an incense burner literally labeled "rotten egg and kimchi special surprise", it was enough to make her smile a bit to herself realizing how accurate and efficient Finn's nose was for a normal human.

"Hello, service? We would like to be served please." The elven hunter announced tapping the front counter bell making a distinctive ringing sound before waiting patiently.

Seconds slowly became minutes which became an entire half hour with no response from anyone behind the corner. And spending so much time in a foul smelling room made Finn slowly develope the very same taste in his mouth much to his torture, fortunately he spotted a single bottle of cream soda resting in a would be completely empty wall freezer.

"Cream soda? Awesome! I haven't had cream soda since I was little,"

"Well go ahead and grab it since we're waiting anyway." Huntress Wizard insisted.

"Oh man, this is gonna hit the spot!" Finn said excitedly running up to the freezer sliding the cold door open and reaching up to grab said bottle.

But to his surprise the bottle wouldn't budge a single inch from its spot like it was completely frozen in place.

"Aww what? Come on! Give it up already!" Finn groaned using all his might to move the bottle only to hear a loud click.

The wall freezer slowly starting sliding forward out of the wall before groaning loudly as it moved to the right revealing a hidden dungeon like stairway passage. Finn slowly looked back at his friend before smiling lightly at her.

"...Hey H.W.? You up for an adventure?"

Note from the author:

As an added bonus to the overall enjoyable experience I intend for the reader I will allow OC submissions to consider adding to enhance future chapters. Below is the official OC character template, submissions must be in this format in order to be valid for consideration.

Name:
Age:
Species:
Alignment (Good/Evil/Neutral):
Personality (please limit to a paragraph):
Unique traits (if any):
Powers/Magical abilities (limit to 2 please):
Additional lore or info about character (please limit to a paragraph or two):