Chapter 9 – Misdirection
Flame Princess was angry, plain and simple. The fiery monarch was pacing in front of her rocky throne, her flames up, at time flaring high enough to lick the ceiling. Her guards had returned empty handed. They had found the dungeon, but it had already been breached, cleaned of its treasures, including the dreaded Whispering Blade. She had dismissed them before venting, but now she was fuming. Pacing the throne room, even her father in his glass prison kept his normal jibs to himself. She had been hoping desperately they would have returned with it, sparing her the trouble of dealing with the Candy Kingdom and it's ruler, Princess Bubblegum.
"Damn it! Argh!" She swings out, aiming a fiery globe at a rock outcropping, melting the rock to slag. Her flames rose higher and her features disappear. Cinnamon Bun, the only one willing to remain around her while she was in such a mood, stands off to the side, watching her have her fit. His fire wolf, Jake, looks up from its nap at the venting woman, whining softly. CB pats the wolf on the head, calming the beast. He understands why she would be upset at the blade being missing, but to be so worked up over having to call Princess Bubblegum, makes him worry. Something else was bothering her.
"Princess, why are you so upset about calling Bubblegum?" She spins on him, but can only see that his kind face watching her. They both know Bubblegum isn't what she seems, isn't the altruistic ruler she portrays. After months of thinking on the subject, FP had come to the realization, that as ruler, she was trying to the best for her people. Different people required different methods. Her violent unstable people needed someone to show them the truth of the world around them, to make them understand that they could rely on their ruler and not fear them. That everything wasn't hate filled and selfish, but could be understanding and kind.
The Candy Kingdom, on the other hand, was totally different. Almost completely pacifist, they couldn't care about the truth as long as they were safe, happy and serine. Bubblegum did everything she could to protect her subjects with the same vigor as she did, just differently. For the candy people, lying about things they couldn't or wouldn't understand seemed to work. Although protecting them with ignorance was something she didn't understand, it worked, very well. The Candy Kingdom had been around a long time, even before many of the other kingdoms, including hers.
Plus being as old as she was, it gave her an advantage of understanding how others behave. She's probably seen it all before. I wonder if I'll ever get like that, FP shivers slightly.
"We both know how Bubblegum is, CB, what I don't know is how she'll react to hearing about a "missing" artifact that even scares the Fire Kingdom." CB tilts his head to the side, thinking. If this blade is as bad as she says, then all of Ooo could be in deep do-do unless it's found. Bubblegum would jump at the chance to remove a potential threat to Ooo, even if it meant helping the Fire Kingdom.
"But, she could help, right? Maybe figure out where it went or who took it?" FP smiles, since coming to the Fire Kingdom, he's seemed to change for the better. She remembers the time he took her to meet his first dog, Jake, back at his house. When he tried to serve her tea, he knocked into the table and broke his leg. He had said his body was soft, she heated his leg up and it repaired him. As he spent more time in the heat of the Fire Kingdom, maybe he was hardening up, becoming wiser. Didn't matter, she liked having CB around, he was honest, loyal and kind.
"She probably can, I just wish I didn't have too." Because I know she's going to want Finn to help, that's what I dread the most. She sighs, forcing herself to calm down and lower her temperature. She would need all of her strength to keep her composure when she places the call. After a few minutes, she feels more in control, her flames visibly lower. She smiles at CB, who returns the gesture and walks off to get the crystal pendant needed to place the call. For better or worse, it needs to be done.
Peppermint Butler hears the chime again, still rushing to the conference room. Being a lot shorter made the run between sections of the castle annoying at times, but for the most part he's grown used to it. This time, it was doubly annoying. The Princess had left several hours ago, leaving orders to only contact her if Finn woke. Whoever was placing this call was using a very special system Princess Bubblegum had set up years ago. A special network that interconnected the various kingdoms all across Ooo and was to be used in dire times. It was a direct line to the Candy Kingdom or any other Kingdom connected in the grid.
Pep Butler finally reaches the room, a large oval space with several overhead video screens and a large twelve chair table below. One of the monitors was flashing "INCOMING", the monitor has a small placard beneath that simply read FIRE KINGDOM.
"Oh Grob it." Pep Butler mutters, heading over to the control panel and starting up the machinery to accept the call. Although not directly informed on PB's suspicion of Flame Princess's involvement in the current events relating to Finn, he found out more than enough through the castle scuttlebutt. In some ways, if she was responsible for Finn's mental collapse, he was impressed. It was a delightfully wicked turn of events, he wondered how it was accomplished. In other ways, he was totally disgusted in her behavior. She indirectly caused Prince Bubblegum pain, which was one of the things that he disagreed with completely. He may be several things, but he was always loyal to his Princess, to the Death if it needed to be.
He hit the last few buttons and the viewscreen came to life, showing the fiery face of Flame Princess. Other than her dress was replaced with a set of armor, she looks the same as the last time he had seen her, but calm and in control. Wonder if she's taken acting lessons?
"Peppermint Butler, is that you?"
"Ah, yes your highness. How may I help you?" He bows, smiling up at her. She watches the little candy man, Finn had once told her that he was odd, like dark creepy odd, but that Bubblegum put her full faith in her candy servant. But why would he be answering instead of her?
"Where is Princess Bubblegum, I need to discuss something of grave importance with her." The candy man stares at her, his one eyebrow arching. What was that little sugary fool up to?
"A thousand apologies, my lady, but Princess Bubblegum isn't here at the moment. She is away from the castle at this time." FP lets out a sigh of disgust, bad enough she had to try and get PB's help, now she's not even around to get the help from. She rests her head against her palm, trying to figure out what else she could do. She looks back at the candy servant.
"Is there any way to get in touch with her?" Pep Butler shakes his head a resounding no. The Princess only said to contact her if Finn wakes up, even though he's curious about what FP may need to talk with PB about, he wasn't going to go against his lady's word.
"Unfortunately no. Nor," he continues before she can ask, "Do I know when she is due to return. As soon as she either contacts me or returns, I will let her know you called, your Highness." He bows, trying to be convincing, smoothing things as he could, hoping she would believe him. She watches the candy man for a few more seconds. Either he was lying or not, but it didn't look like she was going to talk with Bubblegum at this time.
"Fine, but please, have her contact me at her soonest." Pep Butler nods and kills the viewscreen, his face dropping the false smile. She honestly looked worried about something, but depending on what Bubblegum may find, it could all be a ruse.
Flame Princess held the intercom gem, a small green crystal, twisting it slowly in her hand. It glints with the light of her fire, almost mesmerizingly. Suddenly she shakes herself, closing her hand around the gem. This was worrying, where was Bubblegum and why did she have a feeling that candy butler wasn't telling her the truth.
"So, FP, what are you going to do?" CB asks, patiently waiting for her move. That's the big question, she ponders. She could wait till Bubblegum calls her back, but who knows when that could happen. She thought about calling Finn, but that would be super awkward. Plus, her fears where stopping her from making that call. What if Finn found that blade?
Standing, she puts the gem back in its flame proof box and turns to CB. What should I do?
"I don't know, CB." CB's firewolf, Jake, pads over to her and nuzzles her leg, whining softly. She reaches down and scratches that spot between his ears, the one that always made him drool with happiness. CB watches his friends, they were happy, but it was going to be short lived. This blade business was bad business, it needs to be taken care of soon.
"Maybe we should go to the Candy Kingdom?" He offers. The fiery girl before him glances up at him, still scratching Jake's head. That was an option, but not one she wanted to fall back on, not yet. If they went, it would leave her kingdom without her support and protection. She doesn't trust her father to not plan something as soon as she left the boarders.
"I've thought about that CB, but I don't dare leave, not yet. The people are only just beginning to accept that they can look to me for help. I fear leaving may inspire my father to try something in our absence." CB nods, Flame King would most likely try something, although from inside his glass prison, it wouldn't be easy.
Feeling trapped, FP stands, Jake whining because with the loss of his scratcher. She would wait for now, she didn't want to leave unless she had to. So how come I feel that I'm already too late. New to a lot of emotions, this feeling of dread and unease was confusing. She didn't like it one bit, but for now nothing could done to fix things.
