Author's note: Whew! It's been a long time hasn't it ladies and gents? I've made a few changes, nothing too drastic. I won't rewrite the 1st few chapters in a 3rd person style cause I'm just too damn lazy for that. I'll just have to try and improve my writing as we go along shalt I?I apologize that updates will probably still come few and far between, the only reason this chapter is out is cuz it's the holidays now. Anyway, Review, Favorite or Follow if you liked this! (It keeps me from crying myself to sleep)
Finn awoke to a neutral white ceiling. Instinctively, his hand went to his chest, where the gaping hole should have been, only to find a jagged scar in its place. The wound still throbbed beneath his touch, a reminder that he almost died mere hours ago. Checking his arms and the rest of his body, he realized that his wounds had miraculously healed. The multiple cuts on his body had sealed and the broken ribs, left wrist and right arm all seemed to be un-broken now. At the same time, he noted the many tubes running from his wrist to a drip stand and that his tattered clothes were replaced by a clean blue hospital gown. He looked around, studying his surroundings before registering that he was in the infirmary. He tried shifting into a sitting position, groaning at the pain lancing through his body. "I may be healed but my body still hurts like hell."
"How will the Ice Kingdom fare when I'm gone? The Fire Kingdom might decide (to) take advantage of my... absence and attack. My penguins would die by the thousands."
"Don't worry Simon, I'll make sure the penguins are not harmed."
"Wank!" came the supporting cry of Gunther.
Recognizing those voices, Finn shifted his legs off the bed, grunting again from the effort of standing. Using his drip stand for support, he shuffled to the source of the voices, the squeaking of the wheels on the drip stand echoing through the quiet infirmary. After a few steps in the hallway, he came to the door where the others were. Walking into the dimly lit room, he gave nods of acknowledgement to Bonnibei and the shriveled old man with a penguin on his lap.
"How long do you have?" Finn asked, eyes downcast at the prospect of the answer
"Not long, the Doctor said I'd have till noon at the most."Simon replied before sighing and turning to stare longingly at the window sunlight was streaming through.
"Don't worry, I've already sent Peppermint to find her. He has contacts." the Candy princess stated as if having read his thoughts.
"I'm not worried that he won't find her, I'm just don't think she'll come. After everything... I don't deserve her coming here."
"Maybe, but I'm here anyway." A silhouette in a flowing cloak separated from the shadows in a corner of the room, a blue flame glowed softly behind in the shadows. Finn and Bonnibei jumped slightly, both wondering how Marceline and the Flame Princess entered the room.
"Mar-Marceline? Is it really you?" Simon croaked
"It is, I came as fast as I could. Do you remember me now? From when I was a little girl?"
"Ye-Yes. I do."
The Queen of vampires lowered her hood, floating effortlessly next to Simon's bed, tears already welling up in her eyes. "R-Really? Please don't tell me this is a trick, please."
"I remember the song, I remember finding you wherever you went, I remember everything." Tears touched by the soft morning light streamed down Simon's wrinkled face as he continued. "Marcy, my dear Marcy I'm so sorry." His voice strained further as sobs interjected "I left a frightened little girl all alone. I should have done something, anything..."
"I wasn't alone, I had Hambo." She pulled out a thoroughly worn stuffed bear. "I managed to find the witch that Ash sold Hambo to. It took me years but it's the only thing that reminded me of the old you. I think it's time I gave him back Simon." She gingerly placed the bear on his lap next to Gunther, tears falling slowly down her pale visage. "I-I never dared to hope that you would ever remember, but now that you do, you're going to die soon. How can the world be this unfair? Why can't things just work out for once?" moaning as she buried her face in her hands in a futile effort to stop the freely flowing tears.
"It's okay, really, don't cry. I got you see you one last time, that's all an old man like me can hope for. I've always treated you as a daughter you know. We had our time. Don't you remember? We wondered the wastes for almost a hundred years, it was a good run but it's time to let me go. Just stay with me to the end that's all I can ask. Please."
"But I- Alright."
As the sun rose slowly, Marceline held the aging old man in her arms. Even as the dawn's rays burned her, she didn't seem to notice, prompting Bonnibei to draw the curtains close. Everyone else in the room were held in solemn silence, watching the scene unfold with damp eyes. Finally, at almost noon, the now completely human Simon went limp in her hands. She clutched his body, shoulders heaving as she sobbed into his blue robe. When she had no more tears left, she straightened herself, wiping away stray droplets from her eyes.
"I will have Peppermint make preparations if you want." Bonnibei offered, placing a pink hand on her shoulder.
"No. I want to bury him myself. He deserves that much from me."
"Now? It's mid-afternoon. The sun-"
"Now." Marceline declared with finality. She picked up Simon with ease, floating out the door to begin the burial. Flame Princess followed behind her silently, stopping only to say hello to both Finn and Bonnibei.
The group moved slowly with purpose to the courtyard, Marceline leading the way, cradling the body in her arms. When they reached sunlight, FP opened an umbrella, shielding Marceline as they continued to a spot Peppermint butler was waiting with a spade. The spot they picked was next to a lavishly decorated crypt made of candy and not in the least depressing. When Marceline placed the body on the soft grass, Peppermint Butler took up the spade.
"No, let me. I need to do this." She took the spade from him, and started the long process of digging a grave. Even with her long cloak and Flame Princess shielding her with an umbrella, every now and then sunlight met her bare skin. She gritted her teeth, and continued the long toil, hissing only occasionally from the pain. When she was done, her hands were blistered, blood and dirt caking her slender fingers, her skin raw at all the places touched by the sun. She bent down, lowering the former Ice king into the grave with unusual tenderness before placing Hambo gently on his chest. She paused a moment, as if saying goodbye one last time before she started to slowly and methodically fill up the grave. Once she was done, Flame Princess engraved the tombstone with dancing blue flames.
Here lies Simon. A Wizard. A King. A Friend. A man who gave the world so much and received so little. May he rest in peace.
Below the inscription was a penguin and the runic symbol of Ice.
When she was satisfied, Marceline turned to the Bonnibei and Finn "I need to rest, We'll discuss this later tonight. I'll show myself to one of the guest room." Without waiting for a reply, she flew into the castle, gone in a moment.
"Is she going to be okay?" Finn turned to Flame Princess, meeting her fiery blue eyes for the first time in years.
"She just needs time I think and rest, I've never seen her this down. We should leave her be until she wants to talk. She must be exhausted too, the speed we flew here? I've never seen her push herself that much before. Even I could barely keep up."
"Oh sorry, you must be exhausted too! How could I forget my manners? Come, I'll have Peppermint show you to the guest rooms." The Candy Princess interjected quickly.
"Thanks, I would like that." The Fire elemental replied. She turned to follow the Butler into the castle, leaving trails of blue flames in her wake.
"Don't worry too much Finn. Marceline will be fine, she's much tougher than she looks and she looks pretty tough already. Then again, I'm sure you'd know that." Bonnibei placed a reassuring hand on Finn's shoulder. "Go get some rest."
Finn tried to take reassurance from her words, but as he passed by Marceline's room a few minutes later, He couldn't tune out the soft sobs creeping from within the darkened room no matter how hard he tried.