Author's Notes: Not much to say I guess, enjoy the chapter!
Oh right, check out "Adventure Time in Another Dimension" by wiseguy1107. It's a nice fanfic, I've enjoyed reading it so far and I would like to give him some spotlight ^_^.
Short summary; it's about an OC who gets sucked in out of his dimension into the world of Ooo and meets up with Finn and Jake.
Disclaimer: I don't own Adventure Time.
~ Fiery Embrace ~
- Aftermath, Chapter 6 -
Princess Bubblegum rushed towards the main square where Finn and Flame Princess had landed. The Candy Kingdom was half destroyed, half-melted houses and broken foundations littered the once perfect kingdom. Her citizens had fled to the outskirts of the kingdom to avoid the raging fire elemental. As they began to notice the chaos had ended, they slowly began to come back into the kingdom.
PB arrived at the scene, to find Flame Princess holding an unconscious Finn in her arms. She ran over to them, and gasped in shock at the burns Finn had suffered. His skin was half peeling and his body was a light red. His condition didn't look urgent though, and he seemed to be breathing normally. She turned her eyes towards Flame Princess, who had a slight blush covering her cheeks while she stared at Finn. Her body a darker color than usual, and PB could barely feel the heat radiating off her body.
Flame Princess turned to look at PB, and lay Finn down softly. Her body heated up to its normal temperature, and she glared at the candy princess. A short moment of silence and tension filled the air, until PB spoke.
"Flame Princess... I can explain..." PB began, trying to stop herself from being turned into charcoal.
"Why?" Flame Princess interrupted. "Why would you do that to me...?"
"Lock me away from everyone, my friends, my father... my life, why would you deprive me of my entire childhood...?" Flame Princess asked with a sob in her voice. "What kind of person are you to do that to someone?" she asked pleadingly.
PB had no answer; she simply stared at her, her eyes wide in shock. She didn't know what to say to the young princess. Her lips quivered, anything she said to the young princess wouldn't matter, because deep down inside, PB knew she had done the wrong thing. To take away a girl's childhood... to deprive her of the experience of growing up, and to even try and lock her back up again when she was finally free. What kind of monster would do that...?
"I'm sorry..." PB said. "There's not really much I can say... I guess it's all I've been able to say to anyone lately." The princess sat on the ground, the realization of what she had done to the young teenagers had hit her like a kick to the head. She didn't even want to explain herself, she deserved everything she received.
"I made a mistake, a huge mistake Flame Princess. You were too dangerous to be able to live a normal life... But that didn't give me the excuse to have your father lock you up. I understand if you don't want forgive me." PB said, a tear rolling down her face. The stress of the day had really gotten to her; it was rare for the tough candy princess to cry.
"I'm sure you would understand, my whole life has been taken away from me because of you." Flame Princess growled. Another moment of tension turned into silence.
PB didn't want to endure the Flame Princess' pleading stare. She got up, walked past Flame Princess and kneeled beside Finn.
What a brave fool Finn was. He must really love this girl to do something like this for her, he had suffered heavy burns and his skin was peeling away. She had to admit though, the plan Finn had come up with in so little time and under so much pressure impressed her. To use the mind-altering protection gems against the Lich, to undo his control over Flame Princess. It was brilliant. But... where exactly was the Lich?
"Flame Princess, what happened to the Lich during the flash?" PB asked, turning her head towards her.
"I don't know... His presence just left my body when Finn did something." Flame Princess replied, turning her head from PB's glance. Her forgiveness was definitely going to be a hard thing to acquire, especially with a stubborn fire elemental.
Suddenly, an ear-piercing sound could be heard, as PB turned her head to see a dark aura manifest itself into the physical form of the Lich. He looked weak, as he was clutching the side of his ribs, his body slightly leaning forward.
"This isn't over Princess, I assure you. I will harness that unstoppable force of power, and destroy all of Ooo!" The Lich cackled, before disappearing in a flurry of green flames.
"We'll be ready next time, Lich..." PB said.
~ ... ~
Finn woke up with a splitting headache, and a slight burning sensation around his entire body. He cringed in pain as he tried to move his head, as the back part of his neck ached in reply. He then remembered the events before he passed out. He had jumped into the dark flames of the Lich, in an attempt to split his control over the Flame Princess.
"Flame Princess!" he yelled out loud and raised his body up in shock. He cringed in pain again as the entire upper part of his body felt the full sting of the burning sensation. He fell back onto the soft cushion of his bed. His bed... He realized he was in his room, back at the Tree House. What had happened while he was out? Where was Flame Princess? What happened to the Candy Kingdom?
"You're awake brother, finally!" A familiar voice called.
Finn couldn't believe what he had just heard; he had to listen for the person to speak again before he could believe it.
"Hey Finn! You alright man? You look all spaced out." Jake said.
"J-Jake?" Finn asked.
"Well, who else bro?" The yellow dog replied.
"Jake!" Finn exclaimed in happiness, tears swelling up onto his eyes and making him cringe as they fell onto his burns. He tried not to move, knowing the consequences, but nonetheless turned his head to face his brother. How was he alive? Didn't PB say he disappeared in the explosion?
"I thought you we're dead man..." Finn said, tears still falling down his cheeks, caressing against his fragile burns.
"Me? Dead? Pleeease." Jake said with laughter. "I was thrown into that river after your girlfriend exploded!"
Finn's face flustered. "S-she's not my girlfriend!" He exclaimed embarrassed.
Jake giggled at Finn's reaction, and continued.
"I was knocked out and the river sent me way downstream. By the time I got out and followed the burning trail your girlfriend left to the Candy Kingdom, everything was already over. PB explained everything to me, so after she gave me some kind of treatment for your burns, I brought you here... Oh and..."
"I'm here too." Flame Princess finished as she flew up past the ladder, and changed herself into her physical form in front of Finn.
"I couldn't just leave you like this… It's my fault after all." Flame Princess said with a slight blush on her cheeks.
Jake climbed down the ladder. "I'll give you two lovebirds some alone time..." Jake said with a grin.
Finn glared him down as he went down the ladder, and sighed with relief. He was so happy his brother wasn't dead, but almost wished he was at that moment. He exclaimed in shock as Flame Princess began rubbing something against his face. He tensed and blushed at her touch.
"I'm just putting your treatment on; I offered to do it when the Princess of the Candy Kingdom gave it to your dog." FP said.
Finn blushed and looked her in the eyes, she had such beautiful eyes. Every time she looked at him, he could swear she was staring right through his soul. "You don't have to... I've already put you through enough trouble." Finn said.
"It's the least I could do Finn, after all you've done for me." she said, dipping her hand onto the treatment and rubbing it against his face again. She had to repeat the process regularly, as the treatment would only last so long against her burning touch, being the only barrier against her and Finn's fragile burns.
"Anyway, there's no point in arguing. You can't move a muscle, so there's nothing you can do about it!" she teased, rubbing the smooth substance over his face.
"Oh yeah?" he challenged, and tried to push his body upwards, but received the massive burning sensation that made him cringe in pain once more, as he fell back onto the sheets.
She giggled at him, tilting her head forward as she moved closer. She pulled his hat off and began rubbing the treatment at the back of his neck.
He stared at her, she was so beautiful... How could anyone think she was evil? She was the most pure thing he had ever seen. She was passionate even, what could drive anyone to even dislike her? Other than her flaming exterior, Flame Princess was an amazing, beautiful person. He could tell just by one glance at her, the first time she fell into his arms.
She raised her head for a second to meet his stare. Their faces were now directly in front of each other's. They stayed like that for a few moments, before Finn fought through the pain to move his lips towards hers. She moved away at the last moment.
She wanted to feel his touch against her lips so badly, she wanted to feel his embrace against her body, she just wanted to be able to touch him so bad that she almost forgot what the princess had told her.
"W-what's wrong? Are you okay?" Finn asked.
"We can't..." Flame Princess said. Her eyes we're full of sorrow. "The princess told me something about myself... We have to be careful Finn."
"Why? What's wrong?" he asked.
"She said that if my emotions get too out of control, what happened at the river will happen again, only next time it'll be worse." She exclaimed, looking away from him. Tears were swelling up in her eyes.
"I..." Finn began.
"You need to get some rest anyway; the burns will only get worse if you keep moving around." She exclaimed, as she placed the treatment on the draw next to his bed.
"Call me if you need anything..." She said, before disappearing down the ladder.
~ ... ~
After a week of treatment, Finn was allowed to move around the house. Flame Princess had returned to his side twice a day to apply the treatment to his body. After a visit from Princess Bubblegum, she explained that it was okay for him to begin to move around. He still couldn't find it in himself to forgive Princess Bubblegum; after all, she had used him for so many years. Then once he decides to move on, she gets in the way of that too, almost causing a catastrophic disaster.
There had been many intimate moments between him and Flame Princess, always ending with her moving away at the last second. But they lessened as the week continued. She looked as if she were trying to avoid being around him as much as she could. Jake had made an improvised bed under the tree house from all the scraps they had in their stockpile of junk, and she had spent most of her time there, Jake had told him.
Finn still cringed a bit when he walked, but it was bearable. He made his way past all the scattered toys Beemo left around and pushed his way out the door, moving around the back of the tree house. The sunlight stung against his skin, and he lifted his hand up to protect his face against the relentless rays of the sun.
He moved around the corner into Flame Princess' new "room". It was in better condition then it used to be, the piles of random junk had been pushed against the walls of the room and her improvised bed was made of long, thick slate of tin, with a punch of assorted junk shaped to be a pillow. Since none of it could catch fire it was perfect for Flame Princess. It actually looked comfortable too, only Jake could make a bed made of metal that was actually bearable to lie on.
He could see Flame Princess sitting down, leaning against one of the large piles of junk. She was asleep, holding something white against her chest. It was his hat! He had completely forgotten about it the first time she pulled it off his head to spread the lotion around his neck. He walked up to her and sat down next to her.
"Flame Princess?" he said, waiting for a reaction.
She woke up, her sparkling eyes looking into his. She seemed to be entranced in his eyes until she came back to reality. She raised herself and looked at him with a serious expression on her face.
"What's wrong Finn?" she asked.
"Why are you down here? You know you can't walk out in the sun yet..." she scolded.
He looked away, blushing. "I just... had to see you..." he said.
Her expression changed, she was happy to see him, but she didn't want to... If them being together put the world in danger, who was she to be naïve and completely disregard the fact. She had to avoid him.
"Finn... we can't see each other, I told you. Once you're fine I'm leaving." she said with sorrow in her voice.
"FP... I understand, but you have to listen to me..." he said.
"Finn we just can't..." she said, tears swelling up in her eyes.
He grabbed her hand. His hand began burning in response, and he cringed.
"Finn stop!" she said pleadingly.
"Not until you listen to me." he said with a smile, the pain still showing on his face.
"Finn!" she exclaimed.
"You'll have to burn my hand off if you don't want to listen to me." he said grinning.
"Fine, but let go!" she said trying to tug his hand away from hers.
"FP, back at the river, I made you a promise. I promised you everything will turn out for the better..." he said, his hand still tightened around hers.
"And I'm bound by my hero code to fulfill all promises! You can trust me Flame Princess; I swear everything will turn out for the better..."
He let go of her hand, and yelped in pain. His hand had reddened and was burning just as much as it had a week ago.
"Finn..." she breathed, looking into his eyes.
"Sorry, I'm such a fool..." she said blushing, turning away from his gaze. "I was wrong to doubt you, again... It's just... I've been betrayed my entire life, so it's hard for me to trust again..."
"I'll find a way around this, I promise." he said smiling.
She stared into his eyes. She yearned for his touch, she wanted it, he wanted it. But they betrayed each other just by being themselves, if only there was a way around it. They could only sit there and stare into each other's eyes, feeling what the other was feeling just by sight. It was all they needed, at least for now.
"Well isn't this an adorable sight." A voice interrupted from the entrance.
He looked towards the sound, and noticed a tall floating girl, with long black raven hair drifting down her body. Her fangs stuck out in amusement as she grinned at the two lovebirds.
"Marceline!?" He exclaimed.
"'Sup weenie?"
~ End of Chapter 6 ~
Author's Notes: What kind of AT fanfic would it be without Marceline the Vampire Queen? So happy I get to introduce her into this fic!
Did you like the chapter? What should I improve? What would you want to see in the story? Leave it in your review!
I needed a lot of feedback on this chapter, chapters that only consist of sappy romance aren't really my thing, so review as much as you can! I'll see everyone in the next chapter!