Through Her Burning Gaze

~Incendium~

I leaned on the glass, struggling to see better what that blue thing was. He couldn't be a potato… I was very sure of it. His face kinda reminded me of a fire wolf, was he a dog or something like that?

The stranger walked towards the throne without shivering or sweating like most of the subjects did. Wasn't he afraid of the Flame King? Whoa! This is interesting; I wonder what he wants with my father. That "Flambo" flambit followed him from behind walking on his four paws and stood by his side. Maybe that flambit had brought him here, he said that he was going to the Grasslands a few hours ago…or maybe, they just knew each other from before?

"Good morrow! Majesty!" the blue dog greeted, lifting his arm solemnly. "I am Sir Jake, Baron of the Grasslands!"

The Grasslands… I knew it! I turned my head to watch my father; he was staring at the stranger enigmatically, helping me to figure out that this dog was an unexpected visitor. This means that they were not going to have a boring discussion about politics, deals and stuff…What if he brought exciting news? Like a declaration of war! I couldn't help but to giggle and circle around in my lantern eagerly. What are you waiting for dad? Ask him what's he doing here!

"Hmm… What is it that you seek? SPEAK!" my father's booming voice echoed throughout the chamber, finally causing that familiar expression of fear in the stranger's face.

The dog gulped nervously without removing his big round eyes from my father's demanding finger "Uh…amm…" he looked nervous, like if he wasn't sure of himself, but in any case his doubtfulness didn't last much. The stranger bowed gracefully before the King, making use of all his confidence "I come as an envoy of Prince Finn!"

As an…envoy of…? I felt a strange sensation growing in my chest; it was a combination of fear and excitement. Should I believe what I just heard or was it just my imagination? Did that talking potato really said that he was an envoy of a…?

"A Prince?!" My father repeated in astonishment and soon everyone around him began to murmur in excitement.

"A Prince?" "A Prince!" "He just said…" "Some Prince Finn!"

Prince? Even the crowd was saying that word—a word that I had grown to find personal enough to feel insulted by their constant whispering. I always dreamed of this moment. A Prince coming to take me with him, to set me free…it was my wish coming true. My wish. I didn't want to share it with anyone else or to let it become something public. Why did they care so much about my prince? This wasn't their business. It was mine.

"Yeah, and he's the same age as your daughter!" the dog replied, using his arm to point me. He was pointing me! Then it was true, a young Prince was coming for me!

I leaned against the glass, feeling curious, like if by staring at that Baron closely I would get a clue of how that Prince looked like. My brain was a mess; I suddenly filled it with every possible idea of Finn's appearance. Was he handsome? Of course he had to be handsome! And tall and strong and wonderful! What about his heart? Was he kind, gentle and sweet? Was he serious, bad-tempered or strict? Or was he wild, rebellious and daring? I have so many questions; so many feelings inside… I can barely control myself!

"Bold words…" My father's voice drove me out of my sudden burst of excitement "But know that my daughter is a rare jewel…" he rose from his throne, leaning forward to the Grasslands' Baron "She cannot be wooed by just any ragamuffin Prince!"

What? Oh c'mon dad! Now I'm an exotic acquisition or something like that?! Why are you making things complicated? Do you have any idea of how long I've been waiting for this moment?!

Finn's envoy looked doubtful again… Oh please don't tell me that he is a ragamuffin Prince… My father would never allow me to leave with that kind of Prince, even if I didn't care if he was rich or not.

"Umm… Oh! Prince Finn is…AWESOMEEE…!"

The crowd began to whisper again "An awesome Prince!" "That's the best kind of…" "Wait, are we talking about an awesome Prince?"

Well, I can't get angry with those gossipers this time; I just wanted them to keep complimenting my Prince so that my father would buy it. C'mon dad, Prince Finn is awesome! Won't you let me have an awesome Prince? You owe me that much!

"Silence, my molten mamas…" My father ordered, raising his hand before striding off his throne with his arms folded behind his back "We are perplexed…"

We? I'm not perplexed…why would I? No. Why are you perplexed father? Don't you know what the word awesome means? What's the problem now? Why do you keep complicating things for my Prince and me? I can't believe how stubborn "The King" is! He was causing me to feel anxious, so I began to walk from one side of my lantern to the other impatiently.

"If you are a Baron true…" my father commented walking towards the Grassland's royal messenger "Where is your gift? It's a common practice among visiting dignitaries…"

"Huh? A gift? Is that really so important?" I asked to myself, leaning against the crystal again.

"Gift!" "Presents!" "Yeah the gift!" "Where is the gift?" "You must present a gift!"

Those fools! I turned around to face them angrily and hit the glass with my fists "Silence! You're going to ruin everything!" but my orders were not heard. This stupid lantern, if only I could break it! "You should thank Glob I'm trapped inside this stupid thing, you freaks! 'Cause if I were free, you'd be nothing but a bunch of flambits right now!" I can imagine the scene, everyone's eyes fixed on "The King" and on the Baron of the Grasslands while right behind them —being completely ignored— the Princess of the Fire Kingdom was ragging uselessly inside her crystal cage.

I noticed that "Flambo" flambit whispering something to Prince Finn's envoy, but I couldn't hear anything from here. One more reason to add in my never-ending list of why I hate this lantern so much.

"A gift?" the Baron exclaimed with a relieving grin—relieving for me at least. "Sire… Prince Finn sent ugh…three gifts! He played with his hands seeming happy to announce how outstanding his lord was.

"Three gifts! I thought he didn't bring a present for my father, but he's got three! Three!" I mumbled cheerfully "Prince Finn must be really wonderful!"

Still, I noticed something weird… That Flambo looked concerned, why?

"Hmm…" My father's expression changed to a more convinced one "Three is more than one…" he replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Wait a second, he said three gifts!" "I want three gifts!" "Prince Finn brought three!" "One, two, three… I counted them with my fingers!" "Yeah more than one, better than one!"

So now you're on my side? I can't believe how indecisive this people are…well good for them… They better keep supporting Prince Finn if they know what's healthy for them. Now, regarding to those three gifts… Present them to my father, I want to see them!

The Baron swung his backpack off his shoulder and I couldn't help but to lean forward with curiosity "The first gift is a…umm…" he mumbled out loud, searching inside his bag. "Ummm…this…" the envoy dropped some of his strange stuff onto the ground and something weird happened.

The flames rose and consumed them, literally vanishing them from existence. I tilted my head in confusion, staring at that odd phenomenon, but I decided to give it no importance. After all, how could that silly trick affect my life? Prince Finn on the other hand is all I care about in this moment; he is the one going to change my life!

"This…Water Bottle!" Sir Jake exclaimed, showing it to my father.

"A water bottle?" I wondered, squinting my eyes to see it better "But…doesn't Prince Finn know that playing with water is dangerous? Someone might get hurt…"

The Baron shook the bottle playfully and it slipped from his grip! I followed the flying object with my eyes until it hit the Flame Jester, dousing him off. I stepped back in fear, I knew water was dangerous…what was Prince Finn thinking? People get locked up in lanterns for doing that kind of stuff… I know that quite well! "Oh no…here comes my father's reaction" I whispered, covering my eyes with my hands.

"Prince Finn smote my jester!" he exclaimed, "Pour quooooi~? … I do hate my jester…"

I opened a gap between my fingers and peeked through it "Huh?"

"Ughh…" Sir Jake replied, swinging his backpack on his shoulders again "Prince Finn hated him too…"

"Umm…" I leaned back getting his point. Maybe if I had shot the jester instead of the general I wouldn't be locked up in the first place. I killed the wrong subject! Everything makes sense now! Prince Finn's so smart!

"For your second gift!" the Baron said showing two fingers "A…uhhh…" he was doubtful again, maybe Finn's envoy had a terrible memory 'cause he never seemed to remember what he's going to say next.

He looked around the palace probably trying to remember "Oh!" he gasped after sighting the Royal Minstrel "A serenate!"

"Yay! He remembered!" I applauded.

Sir Jake ran over the minstrel and snatched his flame guitar, ignoring the musician's puzzled look as he stared at me "That Finn wrote! …For Milady…" he whispered, bowing gallantly before me.

"Oooh...!" I exclaimed, feeling already a little embarrassed, but excited at the same time as I held my hands against my beating heart.

The Baron of the Grasslands strummed a few notes before starting to play:

"Oh, Flame Princess, I think you're rad..."

I pasted my hands against the glass and stared at him, drawing a smile on my happy face, "Prince Finn thinks I'm rad!"…I still don't know how, but who cares? I'm the luckiest girl in the world! Even if I've been locked up almost my whole life…

"I really wanna kiss you, right in front of your dad...!"

I noticed that my father was bothered by that line, but behind him, his daughter's cheeks flushed at the same time that her body shone passionately…on the inside... And she didn't give a flip about her father 'cause; I'm indeed the happiest girl in the world!

"'Cause I think you're great, I wanna be your mate, or maybe go on a date…

'Cause it feels like there's a fire inside my body, like there's a fire inside my heart!

It's like this fire is gonna consume me, if I keep waiting for this thing to start!"

I watched the Baron in delight while he danced and jumped around the palace, playing Finn's beautiful song, my song…

"Ohh, I feel like I'm all warmed up inside, I feel all warmed up inside, I feel all warmed up insi-i-i-i-de..."

With one last stroke on the fiery instrument, Sir Jake finished playing. I let a swooning sigh escape from within my chest while I clapped at him. I don't even care about the third gift anymore, nothing could be better than this! I can only imagine how many wonderful songs will Prince Finn sing to me when we get married...!

"A fire inside my body?!" My father exclaimed in annoyance "Those lyrics are pornographic… I AM DISGUSTED!" he shouted, leaning over the nervous Baron "Give me your third terrible gift and be on your way!"

What? My father was disgusted by Finn's song? But… I didn't notice anything wrong with it, much less dirty…or was I too naive to notice? Nah, Prince Finn is a gentleman. "The King" is just making things difficult again! What's his problem with my prince anyway?

The Flame King walked back to his throne, leaving a very disappointed Sir Jake behind…now he'll probably have to inform Prince Finn that my father rejected him... I wish he could notice how disappointed I'm feeling as well, that way Finn would know that at least Iliked his presents…

The Baron took out a small device and began to talk with it, I couldn't see who was him talking to 'cause my father was standing in the way. All I could hear was a loud "Goose!" and then a high-pitched squeal, but "The King" saw something else...

"Is that him? He looks terrible!" my father exclaimed indignantly.

"Him?" I wondered, struggling to see behind my father's massive back "Prince Finn?"

"Why isn't he here? Why did he send his buffoon? Leave now buffoon, for you have failed!" My father ordered angrily.

"No! Wait! Eh…urm… Prince Finn is here!" Sir Jake proclaimed solemnly "He's riiight…HERE!"

Where? I can't see him… My father was still in the way, much to my frustration… "Dad! Move!" I yelled, but my voice wasn't heard or it was simply ignored again.

"Greetings Flame King," Was that his voice? Oh…well… I hope he looks better than he sounds… "My final gift is your favorite thing in the world!"

Prince Finn has a koala bear? I've never seen one in my life, oh father…why can't you move your big butt away?!

"A koala bear?" I heard "The King" ask with a skeptical voice.

"Umm…yeah!" Prince Finn replied, showing him the koala… I think…

The next thing I heard almost made me jump in surprise. It was the most disturbing animal cry that I had heard in my entire life—not that I have heard many animals before, but…that was awful...

"Eucalyptuuus…Euuucalyptusssss…."

"I don't like koalas anymore…" My father proclaimed without any regret.

"I wonder why..." I replied rolling my eyes "Can't imagine how that thing looks like, but I don't want it wandering around the house…" those comments were more for the desperate me, fighting to glimpse Prince Finn from within my stupid lantern than for anybody else in the room.

"BE GONE!" My father ordered, shifting out of his armor and reappearing on his seat, finally letting me see how Prince Finn was.

A regular boy, there was nothing exceptional about him except for his weird hat. He looked quite lumpy and blue —in both senses— because…like his envoy, his whole body had a shade of blue, and also because he looked like if he was about to cry. No. He was crying, but I couldn't understand why...

Sir Jake was trying to calm him down, but instead of that, he made Prince Finn angry—and maybe too much 'cause all of a sudden he chomped his Baron's arm and then grabbed his neck with both hands, strangling him until…until he killed him. I stared at the weird show not really knowing what to think about it. I mean, this usually happens each time my father gets mad at someone, so it's not like it amazed me or anything… Actually I felt a little bad about the potato dog. I was starting to like him, but…well…

I felt a new source of heat getting close to me. It was my father, standing right beside the golden lever that could open my lantern. He looked happy. No, he looked more than happy. He was pleased, excited, delighted and suddenly I felt the same.

"Eeeexcelent!" Dad exclaimed, placing his fists on his hips and leaned in to stare at the Prince from the top of the staircase while I held my hands in excitement, something good was about to happen. I could feel it!

"You have indeed proven yourself!" my father said "Any Prince ruthless enough to kill his own buffoon would make an excellent boyfriend…"

"Yeeaay…!" I whispered, clapping my hands quietly. Weird… It was like if somebody just did the same thing…

"For my Evil Daughter!" That title again? Oh well, if Prince Finn likes it… "She's an unstoppable force of destruction!" I blushed a little when my father said those words "Heh…nothing that a psycho like you can't handle…" he continued talking while he did something I had only seen in my wildest dreams. He pulled the lever! "Congratulations!"

For Prince Finn, for me or for both? I don't care; I'm finally going to be free! My lantern hit the ground and a small door was opened, of course I didn't wait to spring out of it and run over my Prince. This was all thanks to him and I had to let him know.

"I'm so happy! I'm so happy to meet you prince!" I said, getting in front of him and held his shoulders to pull him close to me. I can't remember the last time that I actually touched someone or someone touched me. Prince Finn was the first one in years. From now on, I'll hug him everyday, every time he's close to me... Nothing would stop me from doing it… Nothing. "You are my Prince…"

"Awww…" "This is beautiful…" The crowd whispered behind us.

"She seems normal…" a faint voice said nearby.

"Yeah!" "She seems normal…" "Normal…normal…normal" "Why are we saying normal?"

Those annoying voices…again…not during my special moment…. No! They hammered my ears, giving me an unbearable headache. I had to do something to shut them up!

"STOP! WHISPERING!" I yelled, firing at those gossipers. I've been waiting for years to discharge all my anger over them! Could this day become even more perfect?

I noticed that Prince Finn was watching the small flambits as they ran away in every direction with concern. Then he just backed away from me… why?

"You know…on second thought…we're not really each other's types…" he mumbled nervously.

"We're… what?" I replied, not being able to understand what he was trying to say.

"III've...changed my mind…" he answered staring at me worriedly "I don't like you."

He…but…he just…What the heck's going on here?! I felt the anger rising again inside my body, this time nothing could contain me, this time I could just… LET IT ALL BURST OUT!

"You…WHAT?!" I yelled, letting my body explode over him. How could he?!

"Uh…nothing…" he whispered picking up his dead dog "Bye Flambo!" Prince Finn ran away…and he just said good-bye to the flambit?! What about me?!

That was the last straw, if my father locks me up again… I'll…I'll KILL THAT PRINCE! I let my wrath fire up my powers. I felt so hurt and betrayed that I didn't care if I just blew up the palace by making the volcano explode, all wanted was to catch up with Finn and make him pay!

I left the palace, listening to my father's laughter behind me;he was saying something about "young love." Love? What the heck is that? All I know is that I'm going to chase that blue dog, destroying everything in my way! Wait a second…wasn't he dead? Maybe they just faked it to win my father's trust, maybe everything was just a heartless prank. He may not even be a Prince… Finn laughed at me!

"FIIINN!" I roared when I noticed a strange fortress in the distance; the dog ran inside it and slammed the door behind him. So be it then! I'll destroy their home as well!

"Who lit that fire?! I'LL KILL YOU!" someone yelled as I climbed over the fortress, letting my flames consume it all. Kill me? Ha! Not if I kill you first! I passed over a window and glimpsed Finn inside. He wasn't all blue anymore, but he looked furious just like me, what was it? Did I make him sad? I'll show him how true sadness feels like! I heard a glass breaking behind me; so Finn was coming to me get me, huh? Very well… I wanna see him trying! I rose from the top of the fortress ready to face him, it'll be a piece of lava cake!

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HER STUFF!" That jerk yelled at me.

Just what the hell is he taking about?! Never mind, I'll just focus on burning his house down. Everything was going according to my plan until something weird happened. I spotted some multicolored lights exploding in the night sky; strange grey clouds gathered above me and then…water! Water was falling from the heavens, pushing my monstrous form down. I roared in pain, feeling the drops crashing against my skin like needles; weakening me, leaving me defenseless. My body was reduced back to normal in a few seconds, my flames were being doused. Was this the end? What a miserable life I had…

I covered my eyes and stared at the sky, my father once told about the rain… I never thought it'd kill me one day… I felt like chuckling, but soon all my strength was gone and then... I blacked out…

x+x+x+x+x

My senses were slowly returning. I opened my eyes weakly, feeling a strange sensation of warmth around me. Where was I? I had no idea, but I felt so…comfortable…

I looked upwards and there he was. Staring at me with worried eyes…it was Finn. But he didn't look like the same one I met in the Fire Kingdom, this one was more real. I don't know why but "real" was the first word that came into mind when I saw him. Then I realized that he was holding me in his arms and everything came back to me; his visit, my father, the potato dog, the rain… And the anger.

My first reaction was to push him away, I was so confused that I just let my anger lead my actions. "YOU!" I yelled at the boy before me. He was on his knees, looking at me with the same confusion that I was feeling seconds ago "What's wrong with me, huh?!" I demanded an explanation. I needed an explanation. "You don't like me?!" I screamed, throwing my arms open fiercely.

Finn stayed on the floor, looking at me like if he was all dazed by—who knows what, and then smiled briefly "I like you!"

I froze. Everything froze around us and then I just blushed at him...'cause he looked so...

So cute...

Hi, I hope you liked this one! If you're wondering about the Flame King's line at the end of Jake's song, it was an idea of the original storyboard, but they dropped it 'cause you know...little kids could type pornographic on Google and well, trouble. Anyhow, I found it funny and decided to add it here (I wonder what "a fire inside my body" means for a fire elemental) lol.

Next one's "Hot to the Touch" I really hope you have enjoyed this chapter! :)