Everything was in a dull orange with a greenish tint through Finn's eyes as he walked the streets of the Flame Kingdom. Flame Prince had recast the ward after 'accidentally' burning the blond's hat while picking it up. He was still cursing the Prince in his head for it. He felt concious with his hair all over the place, it was thick and getting in the way of his movements, long strands of gold tickling his arms and legs. He wished an evil bear would just pop out and attacked them now so he could get a new hat.

Flame Prince noticing the discomfort of his new date, broke the silence, "Perhaps after we return to my mother then I'll take you to try Flame Kingdom's finest coal." he said chirpily.

Finn just tiredly laugh as a reply. "About that FP..err wait did you say return to your mother?"

"Why yes, I must show her I have won my conquest." Finn stared wide eye at the reply. He only met the woman earlier in the day and her fury was one to be feared. It had been a taxing day for the hero and it was only the late afternoon.

Finn was out dungeon hunting that morning, Jake feeling like sipping this trip out, when Flamby, one of their regular informants found him in the woods. The lil flambit had a perchance for trouble and false information but she'd do anything for some coal, even lead him on a wild goose chase. Figuring it could be of no harm to listen the lil flame told Finn of a someone needing rescuing in the Fire Kingdom. Hero's instinct kicked in and they were off. Little did he know the moment he reached the Fire Kingdom and Flamby cast her ward, guards ambushed him at the border. After he was tied down, they carried him off to the palace. Flamby sat on his head giggling the entire way telling him not to worry.

Entering the throne room of the palace Finn looked at all the flame people lining the stony walls, 'most likely noblemen' he thought. He flinched and dodged as some flames gushed out of the ground close to him and that was when he saw it. The giant brass lantern hung from the ceiling by large iron chains in the center of the court, the glass almost unnoticeable from being kept clean. Inside he saw a flame person collapsed at the base, 'That must be the person that needs rescuing.'

Suddenly Finn's view dramatically dropped as the guards lowered him to the floor. They began loosening his bindings as Flamby cleared her throat. As his arms regained their freedom, he grabbed the backpack off his back and threw it into a guard. Not expecting it, the guard began falling back. Demon blood sword in one hand Finn jumped onto the falling guard, using him as a booster of sort to jump up and catch a chain suspending the huge lantern. Shimmying over he could haer load gasps and a few horrified screams from the flame court below. Ever focused though, he kept his eyes on the imprisoned flame person who was beginning to stir from the sudden shaking of the lantern. Giving a hard swing, Finn leapt on to the top of the lantern.

"Don't worry guy, I'll get you out." he reassured as he lifted his sword. Dark coal eyes met his own bright blue ones. He could see the confusion and questions going through them, but Finn figured he must have thought no one was coming for him. Muscles tense to bring down the blade onto the glass when suddenly a sharp, deep, angry voice pierced the air.

"What is the meaning of this!" Finn turned to see on top of a flight on stairs sat a voluptuous flame woman decked out in one of the most hardcore armour sets Finn had ever seen. It look like it was made of enchanted steel gleaming against the flames that radiated of her skin. Her hair appeared to be a large wild flame almost Amazonian in its volume. All observations were soon interrupted though.

"Mah Queen, ma' a' present Princess Finn of da Grasslands" chimed Flamby.

"Wha-" gapped Finn. He could feel every gaze in the room on him in that moment.

"Princess eh," began, who Finn now knew to be the Flame Queen, "well then my dear, I know my son's good looks are overwhelming and you obviously cannot wait to bed him..."

"Mother!" a shy smooth voice exclaimed. Finn looked into the lantern mouth agaped in shocked at the Queen's word but the boy had his face buried in his hands from embarrassment. He was obviously not going to help out much in this situation.

"Don't be shy, be proud of your prowess! You are the Prince of the Flame Kingdom after all!" said the Queen and she walked, flaring a little, towards the lantern.

"Now my dear if you would be so civilised as to join me on the ground, we can review your proposal." Said the royal flame to the hero.

"Pro..wha.." Finn began. "Ah mah Queen, da Princess 'as brought a number 'f gifts ta present da Prince." Flamby interrupted, Finn shot her a confused look but she just giggled. "Here she 'as slain a troll fa da Prince." she announced as a guard held up the troll skull from his backpack. The court ohhh-ed and ahhh-ed at the sight. Finn was confused as ever, quickly he jumped off the lantern, somersaulted in the air and landed gracefully on his feet, and grabbed Flamby to crouch into a corner with her. The court just marvelled at the sight of the acrobatics display.

"Dude, what's going on!" whispered Finn a little frantically.

"Don't worry, just go along with it." she chimed. "But why?" he hissed.

"Excuse to interrupt, Princess, but I believe you are here for my audience." the Queen's voice boomed. "Your battle prowess is good and well but what else can you offer my son." Looking at her and up towards the Flame Prince who was staring at him intently and back to Flamby, Finn tapped his head with his fist to clear his mind.

"Erm, well your majesty, the thing is" Finn cautiously began. "I'm not a Princess." The court gasped. Narrowing her eyes, the Queen looked down at Finn, "Well then peasant what are you doing in my court." her hair flaring wildly. Finn took a step back from the heat that was penetrating his ward.

"Well you see, Flam.." his mouth was quickly covered by the flambit he was about to accuse. "Ahhaha, ma Queen, ah made an error 'n presenting the Princess 'ere." The Queen was getting more irrate. "Which is it! are you a princess or not!" her form changing to a huge flame with a fierce face surrounding the hero. Finn quickly slapped off Flamby and yelled. "I'm a boy ok!"

Suddenly everything stopped. The whole court felt silent, the royal flames stood stunned in their spots, Queen reverting to her humanoid form. "Hehe, yea so I'll be go-HIIIIIIIHHHHHH" face red, he jumped back curling his body away from the Queen. She stood hand not moving from its recent 'confirmation' touch. "My glob, it's true." she mumured, the whole court broke out in an excited chatter.

"Lady! That wasn't right!" Finn screamed in his high pitched tone, hands cupping his crotch. Suddenly a laugh broke through the noise of the court. Looking up, the entire room looked amazed at the source of the sound. The Flame Prince was laughing and quite hard from the looks of it. The Queen was the most shocked of all, most didn't know it but she hadn't seen her son so much as smile for a few years now. He was withering away in the glass lantern and it was breaking her heart. Looking between the mortified Prince of the Grassland and her son she decided this would have to do.

"Very well then Prince Finn. It seems you amuse my son and that deserves some recognition. You will be allowed to court my evil son." Flame Prince laughing suddenly ceased as Finn's jaw dropped and face became redder.

"W-w-wait." Finn screeched, "I am not here for your son, well I was, but not in the way you think. Wait you said evil?" he was blabbering as the Prince was lowered from the lantern. He was ignored as background noise as Flame Prince spoke. "Mother, I must insist that I am the one to do the courting."

"What!" the situation was becoming more and more confusing for Finn. He had to think of a way out. "Is there a problem with that, Prince Finn. My son is obviously more capable at courting you him and yes, evil." Finn looked over at Flamby, she never seemed evil, never would he have thought she would be from a country with an evil prince.

"Err...well, he..he...He has to catch me first!" He blurted out. The hero was in a panicked state of mind. Not only was he being made to date a guy he hasn't really met but he was evil.

"Catch you?" questioned the Prince.

"Excuse me? Did you not come here to court my son! Why must he win your favour?" the court was abuzz at the Queen's words, today was definitely an exciting day in the Flame Palace.

"Eh heh, well," eyeing Flamby, he could see that she didn't wanna be tattled on, "err, since Flame Prince is insisting on courting me, then it is only fair I get to state my terms."

"Hmph, very well." Without warning, a spell was cast and Finn was hit. The suddenness of it caused him to fall to his knees. The Queen loomed over him, "If you can make it to the Ice Kingdom before the ward completely dissipates then you will be free to have this courtship go your way. But as you have insisted, if my son catches you before that, well, I'm sure you can guess."

Finn stared slack jawed, he looked over at Flame Prince and saw the excitement in his eyes as he flared up, looking more flame like then humanoid. 'Oh glob, what have I done.'

Recalling the chase, Finn didn't even know how he made it as far as he did. Every moment the prince was hot on his tail, 'He was most likely enjoying the chase.' Finn thought.

"Say FP, why are you so determine to go out with me?" questioned the hero. "I mean we haven't even really met."

Flame Prince gave a look like he was thinking it over and replied with one more a sweetest smiles Finn has ever seen, "Why not? You are probably the greatest thing I've ever seen in my whole life."

Finn blushed, unused to such compliments. "I have been in that lantern since the Candy Princess visited, never had friends, never went outside unless heavily escorted, never spoke to anyone but my mother and Flamby, it was quite a boring life." Finn could only stared wide eyed at learning this new information. 'PB locked him up?' he questioned himself.

As they approached the palace doors, Flame Prince continued, "But then today you showed up, and try to break my lantern and something inside me broke instead. It was like my eyes could suddenly see more then the inside of the palace, and I am excited at what else you can let me see." Finn didn't get to reply as the doors to the throne room opened and applause greeted them.

should I continue? ~o.o~