Author's Notes: Edited 5/4/13

Enjoy the chapter, if you continue to read, enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: As much as I'd love it, I do not own Adventure Time.

~ Fiery Embrace ~

- Memory, Chapter 1 -

A young boy sat atop a hill, overlooking the plains of the Grasslands. The sun was rising, glowing orange over the horizon. The world seemed to be sparkling around him, pollen from flowers spreading around the atmosphere, reflecting against the glint of the sun, fighting against the shadows for dominance. It was a beautiful morning, but nothing compared to that sparkle in her amber eyes, as if he could see straight through her soul..

The boy's head facing the ground, he uttered two words.

"Flame Princess..."

He raised his head and looked towards the horizon, how much it reminded him of her, her glow, her warmth, how her very presence comforted him when he was at his worst. He couldn't describe her any other way, she was the sun. From yesterday onward all he could think about was her. He hadn't even slept, his emotions swirled up deep inside him and he couldn't help it. He decided on a walk through the Grasslands and ended up wallowing in his own misery atop a hill.

His mind locked in thought, the weight of his chin leaning against his palm, he thought about the events prior to the day.

~ ... ~

A single tear caressed down his cheek and dripped down onto the fires below. He simply lay there, all of creation burning around him, the flames around him reflecting against the night sky.

"Why can't I... just like a girl?" he sniffed. He was oblivious to everything around him, his emotions raging in his heart. His was so deep into his pit of sadness that he didn't hear the cry of pain from the angry flame princess, or see her approach to him. It was only when he could feel the warmth of her glow that he raised his gaze upward.

She was so beautiful, so innocent. The way her fiery hair reached for the sky, how her radiant glow complimented her smooth curves. As she curiously reached towards him, it only made her look ever so more innocent. He couldn't imagine how anyone had ever thought she was evil; she was pure, passionate even. The warm palm of her hand touched his face, and sizzled against the tears on his cheek. She reeled back, letting out an "Oh..."

The human boy raised himself off the ground, his eyes nervously returning to her gaze. The fire elemental had a different expression on her face, not one of anger or betrayal, but of understanding. She looked like she had come to a realization.

"I understand now.. You're a water elemental..." she spoke softly.

He let out a confused exclamation. "What?"

"You're my opposite, you create water." Trying to explain his tears, she caressed her palms down her cheeks.

"What, cry? No, I j-" he exclaimed, embarrassed. Being a Fire Elemental she probably didn't understand the meaning of his tears.

"Yeah, you cry and cry all the time." she interrupted before he could continue.

"N-no! I-I don't usually do that." he tried to explain.

"That's your power!" she insisted, her voice raising a fraction.

"No! N-n-n-no-no-no!" he said frantically waving his hands, his cheeks flushing red.

"Finn, even if we like each other, we're going to hurt each other." she said with sorrow in her voice, her face looking to the ground, her hands curled together against her chest.

His expression changed, she was right. The slightest touch to her flames would cause her pain, as her touch to his skin would. Out of anyone in the world, the person he didn't want to hurt the most was her. But he was determined, he couldn't just give up. Her sorrowful expression only made him want to change it. He wanted to hug her, comfort her, and tell her everything would be okay.

"No, we don't have to. I can take it... I... I mean.." his eyes pleaded hers for acceptance. "Can't we just... try?" She stared into his eyes for a few moments, as if she were gazing right through his soul.

"You would defy nature for me?" the girl asked curiously.

That one moment, that one question, would forever be engraved into his soul. His emotions surged, it was the question he knew had been waiting for him to answer ever since he gazed upon her beauty. It was a moment that he could not pass up; it was his trial she had laid out for him. No matter how long it took, no matter how many hardships he would have to face, in that one moment he would do anything just so he could stay true to his one answer.

"Uh... yeah.." he leaned in closer to the blazing girl. "Whatevs.."

He felt the heat of her body encase around him, he returned her embrace, holding on tight no matter how much pain it had caused him. It didn't matter. In that one moment, a city blazing around them, the stars sparkling against the night sky, everything was perfect. The atmosphere lighted up around them, she glowed brighter than ever, showing her desire to have him clearly. He didn't want to let go. He finally had a grasp of what love was, and he never wanted to lose it again. His body began to instinctively push away from her, the pain fighting for control. But he only held tighter, his body driven by his emotions. In the end it wasn't him that pushed away, but her. She had realized that she was hurting him.

As she walked backwards, she examined the burns she had caused him. She then looked once more into his eyes, that sorrowful stare returning.

"Bye, Finn..."

~ ... ~

The sun had almost risen above the horizon when Finn heard a familiar voice calling his name.

"Finn...! Where are you man?" his brother Jake the Dog called out. Finn yawned tiredly, sluggishly turning his head towards his brothers calls.

"Finn!" the dog called out again.

Finn groaned lazily and raised himself off the ground. "I'm here Jake!" he yelled out. Just moments later, a stretching foot of yellow appeared over the hill separating the two. As it moved, the body of Jake came along with it.

"Finn! There you are!" Jake exclaimed as he landed in front of the boy. "I woke up and you weren't in your bed, I looked around the house and you weren't there either, so I came out looking for you. What are you doing out here man?" he questioned.

Finn looked away, almost letting tears form into his eyes from the sudden question. "Nothing man... just... couldn't sleep." he lied.

Jake wasn't convinced, when Finn didn't look him in the eyes he knew something was up. "Is this about Flame Princess?" the issue last night had definitely caused problems for his brother, and it was all his fault. He should have at least asked Finn before he went off picking love interests for him. "You can tell me bro, I'm here for you."

Finn looked at him, his expression fuming frustration. "I can't help it Jake, I just can't get my mind off her!" the boy lashed out. "Why does love have to be so flippin' complicated! First PB rejects me, after everything I done for her! Now Flame Princess doesn't trust me.." his eyes lowered, his temper calming. "I just.. wish I didn't have these emotions..."

Jake lowered his eyes from Finn's own, a guilty look on his face. He shouldn't have been so careless with what he said, the girl would have trusted them both from the start if it weren't for his stupidity.. It was all his fault, he had to fix it somehow..

"Why don't we head out for a while? See if anyone needs our help?" the dog asked, doing anything he could to cheer Finn up.

"No..." Finn replied dully.

"Play video games?" Jake continued.

"No!" the boy replied more sternly this time.

"How about we head down to Marceline's?" Jake was desperate, he would never suggest such a thing, he was terrified of vampires.

"Glob it Jake, no!" Finn burst out, going back to his sitting position against the hill. He turned around to face the horizon. A tear caressed down the boy's cheek. "I just... have to see her again."

Jake didn't know what to do, his mind raced in thought. his brother was too far gone to be cheered up with anything but her. An idea flashed into his mind.

"Just head back inside soon bro, I'll be back later." Jake explained. He walked towards and soon came out with a backpack. He said goodbye to Finn and headed out towards the Candy Kingdom. He was determined to help Finn, he planned to find information on the whereabouts of Flame Princess. He had to start somewhere, and the person most attuned to information around Ooo would be none other than Finn's old crush.

Princess Bubblegum.

- End of Chapter 1 -

Author's Notes: I hope you enjoyed it, if you did, hit up the next chapter and keep reading! If you didn't, leave a review on what I could improve and I'll take it into full consideration :)

This chapter is short because it was originally a prologue ^_^. They get longer as the story progresses, I hope you enjoy!