In the infernal lands of the Flame Realm... A figure appears that has not been seen in years...
La-ta-tah! Cried the court jester of the Flame King as he danced around the royal hall to appease his majesty. The Flame King however was brooding once more and with a scornful gaze he ordered the flame guards to throw everyone from his hall and leave him alone. Fearing an angry outburst to match the one of his daughter, the burning-stone guards obeyed, quickly shoving the throngs of Fire Elementals gathered in the hall, out through the large rock doors and into the Fire Kingdom. His peace restored, the Flame King breathed a deep sigh of regret as he remembered the look on his daughters face as she saw him last. True, he did appear in the fire of her boyfriends oven as she was visiting him, and he did whisper continuosly into her ear saying: Evil, evil, evil... in an attempt to subconciously subvert her into an evil alignment... but who can blame him for that? It`s the duty of an evil father to pass on his evil to his children... She was all that he had left... Or was she?
A monstrous sound hit his ears and he realised that someone was at the front gates of his castle. They were pounding in the door with great force, it seemed. The Flame King, rarely interested in anything these days, flared up immediately at the chance to punish the one who dared to disturb his quiet. But before he could get up, he heard an almighty crash as the front gate came crashing down into his entrance hall. Amazed he listened to the guards as they accosted the invader..
Stop! You are tresspasing on the property of the Fla- said a guard who was cut off by a blow to the midriff, which shattered his rocky frame, leaving only rubble and a small pool of lava on the floor. The stranger, wearing a long cloak made of dark red magma over his silvery-gray armor, continued across the entrance hall, easily dispatching another half a dozen guards. His feet, mere seconds ago, still a trail of red flame, now touched the ground in boots made of the same silverish metal as his chestplate and gauntlets. He proceeded to draw from midair a sword of brilliant white flames. He used this sword to cut several gashes into the great doors of the royal hall. By sheer force of will he then turned the sword into a heavy mace made from solid and yet still molten lava, which he then used to break down the doors allowing him to proceed through to the court of the Flame King.
Who dares to insult my kingdom by attacking the king`s castle? Asked the gigantic fiery monarch who had by now risen from his throne to stand against this stranger.
Speak! He commanded taking a step towards the hooded creature.
Has it truly been so long that you recognize neither power nor kin? Or have you merely decided to pretend I never existed... father? Asked the Fire Elemental as he lowered his hood to reveal a blazing orange fire that shaped into the features of his face. His hair was as red as the cloak he was wearing and it flowed upwards from his head, the crackling from it heard all across the hall. On his forehead a ruby, set in a small golden crown, glowed with the fire captured within it.
Pyrodon? You live? Asked the Flame King without betraying a hint of emotion save for sincere surprise.
Yes. And I have learned much in my travels father. As you gathered from my entrance I have finally mastered the magic art of Pyromorphis. I am now able to transform my fire not only into searing flames but also into any kind of molten rock or crystal I have encountered. This armor I bear is also something I made but no flame or heat will melt it now, save for my own.
And why have you come back here son? Asked the now re-seated Flame King with no small amount of apprehension in his voice.
… This is my home. And I have returned to it for that same reason... Where is... Amber?
… If you are asking whether she exploded from one of her outbursts, then I cannot say. She left these halls of mine with a pretender. One I believed to be a mighty prince but who turned out to be nothing more than a pauper who... has nevertheless... won her heart.
She is happy at the least. I trust you have tried to change that...?
How dare you!
Do not forget the reason I left father. You tried to manipulate me by using her. In my core I thought I was doing her a kindness. Thinking you would be kinder to her if she was the only child left to you. But before long I knew I had been deceived by my own selfishness. I had escaped your grasp but left her here... on her own. She never left her lantern after the day I left, did she?
… At first it was of her own volition. Your departure had left her... somehow empty. And after a while she simply stopped caring.
… Do you know where she is?
It has been... several months, since she left with the so-called Hero Finn...
Finn? Finn the Human?
Why, yes I believe he is human. Why?
I have heard of him in my travels. And from what I`ve heard he is indeed a great hero.
Then seek him out. And perhaps you shall find a way to bring your sister back here, to where she belongs. Said the Flame King with a finality in his voice.
I wont force her to stay here father...
Urgh! Fine then... But you must still bring her here... There are matters that must be discussed...
For instance?
Whether you or her shall succeed me... Unless you wish to resign the right to the kingdom? Questioned the Flame King with something akin to humour in his voice.
… Honestly... I dont know. Replied the younger Elemental.
I... think it would be best... If she did not know who I am... So that her feelings towards this discussion will be... unbiased.
… You would trick your own darling sister? HAH! Perhaps you are my son after all... Mused the king as his son replied...
I only wish to know her true opinion without me influencing her decision... So do you agree? Will you allow me to decide when... if... to reveal my identity to her...?
As you wish... Agreed the monarch, as he stood up and called the now re-formed guards to escort the newly reinstated Prince Pyrodon of the Fire Kingdom to the place where they believed, Finn the Hero lived. But before he left, the long-lost son asked his father one last question...
Did you ever bother to look for me?
… We thought you had died in the Haunted Swamp. But then we heard of your foray into the Ice Kingdom of all places... After that we knew there was no hope for you... Or so we thought.
Just goes to show you father. I passed throught the Ice Kingdom and then through the cold valleys of the Mountain Kingdom... I even journeyed across the great seas to the Ruins from before the Great Mushroom War. All the way I learned more magic and finally when I arrived to the lands west of our kingdom I decided to return here... But not for you... For our people. I saw that we are still at war with the People of Steam... I intend to change that...
You wish to fight them?
No. I am going to speak with them... I am certain that only by negotiation will we end this feud. I intend to offer them a ceasefire on behalf of the Royal Crown...
Outraged at his sons audacity, the Flame King bellowed...
You cannot speak on my behalf! But Pyrodon calmly noted...
I am your heir. And currently, your only one. Like it or not, if we dont begin with diplomacy, neither of us will live to be king for long. And with these last words he left his father`s halls seeking out his sibling.
Meanwhile in the Candy Kingdom...
Hear ye, hear ye! Princess Bubblegum announces grand ball this night in the lands south of our fair kingdom. Cried a small rectangle of chocolate as he walked around the Candy Castle, spreading word of the party that evening. A party she would be attending, thought Princess Bubblegum as she looked down upon her subjects from her balcony. But then a knock on her door disturbed her. She quickly smoothed the folds of her customary princess dress and bade the visitor to enter. A „Hey there Peebles!" announced the arrival of Finn the Hero in her room.
Finn. It`s good that you could make it. I expect youve heard of the grand ball I`ve arragned for this evening?
Erm... Yeeeeeeeah? Asked a suspicious Finn whose interest had already been aroused by the town crier in front of the castle.
I would like to invite you and Flame Princess to join us. It`s important that you bring her, okay?
… Why? Asked Finn bluntly as was normal due to his childlike nature.
Princess Bubblegum raised her eyebrows at his question as if insulted, but she had realised that with him no longer having a crush on her, he would no longer simply agree to everything she said.
I wish to introduce Flame Princess to the other Princesses. Shes been locked in her lantern for so long... I see now that my judgement was... flawed. She gulped as if the thought of it filled her with shame. Finn who seemed rather pleased with her reaction said...
Ok PB. If you think thatll be good for her... But erm...
Yes Finn? Asked the slightly relieved princess.
Do I have to wear a suit?
Princess Bubblegum blinked once... twice... and then burst out giggling as she nodded her head and said...
Yes Finn! It`s a formal ball... But dont worry. After the reception and a small speech, itll be a real party OK?
OK! Thats totes rad PB! WOOHOOO! Yelled Finn as he launched himself out of her room only to return a few seconds later to close the door and say his goodbyes. In no time at all she could see him running our from the castle and back to his treehouse. She smiled knowing that tonight was going to be a good night. Absently however her mind was preoccupied with thoughts about a certain vampire who was going to be playing tonight... A certain vampire who had recently been quite low.