The final chapter for part 1, I guess, of the FF. Apologies that it took l allot longer to come out than the others but I was preoccupied with other projects. Without further ado, read, review and enjoy!
Chapter Ten: Either You Either Die A Hero...
Jake helped Bubblegum get to her feet, Marceline simply returned back to her spot leaning against the wall from across the benches. Jake assisted Bubblegum over to the seats with her arm over his shoulders; he enlarged himself to match up with the princess's height so he could compensate her weight.
About half way she said. "I'm okay Jake, thank you." Her vocal cords were tangled, only making out struggled squeaks and whispers, raising higher and lower in pitch unpredictable. She lifted her weight off Jake and staggered the rest of the way to the bench, holding her tensed up throat, breathing heavily ,and tending to her aching cheeks. It was still very sore, throbbing with pain, Marceline's hand was still printed on Bubblegums neck.
They both refused eye contact the entire time. Jake didn't know what happened between them but felt it was an inappropriate time to ask, besides if Bubblegum hadn't called for Marceline's incarceration yet, then he assumed the whole situation was over and done with; still the atmosphere was tense, like they go could at each other again in a moments notice for a simple gesture or comment.
Jake chowed down on his snack that he left the girls alone for in the first place: a mixed bag of candy. The crunches of his teeth and rattles of the bag as his hand went in to fetch more candy, were now the only sounds that filled the halls. It was quite awkward; Jake kept his eyes on Marceline the entire time as he sat next to Bubblegum on the bench. Marceline now and again stared back at Jake to discomfort and make him look elsewhere. Bubblegum was scrunched up with her knees bent up too her chest and her feet up on the seat, she angled her body away from Jake looking down the hallway, feeling defeated, thinking that could have been it for her, killed in a petty fight. And the irony of getting killed in a hospital, she was caressing her neck as she pondered on the troubled thoughts.
The doctors sprung through the doors after a long wait, it felt like hours went by to them, when in reality it was merely a couple of minuets. Doctor Princess announced. "Sorry for the wait gang, you may all come back in now if you please." The doctor had no notion of what happened out here, the scanning machine was quite loud and both doctors were in close proximity. They all jumped up anxiously to see Finn again.
The doctor continued as she led them all in. "Well we performed the scan and..."
Jake butted in, blurting out. "Is Finn okay, his gonna pull through right?"
Marceline also followed after Jakes action. "Yeah there's nothing wrong with him...?"
Bubblegum too wanted to voice her questions but found it difficult to speak at the moment. The doctor continued, now nearing Finns bed, going around the curtain. "Um-well in fact his better then ever." They all passed the curtain finding Finn smiling in pristine condition talking to doctor Ice Cream as she bandaged his cheeks from the recent scratches he caused earlier.
"Wah!?" They all burst out in unison, followed by Bubblegum coughing roughly after she spoke.
"He's made a full recovery and we found his brain to be in working condition, the bump is simply a scratch, it most likely will scar but he will be okay." Dr. Ice Cream informed.
"Bu-but he was scratching his face off earlier from the pain." Jake said in disbelief.
"The morphine seems to have worked quickly and numb it completely, we bandaged and plastered up his scratches, everything appears to be fine now."
"Are you sure?" Marceline questioned cautiously, knowing this most certainly was more the hit.
Both doctors nodded; Finn leapt up off the bed tossing the covers aside. "Come on guys lets go home, I would really love to relax and finally spend some time with you guys after so long."
"Wait Finn, don't mean to be a bummer but you're not cleared to go yet." Marceline said stopping him in his tracks, holding her arm out in front of him.
"Sure I am, the doctors cleared me after the scan." He said smiling innocently.
"You sure you're okay buddy?"
"Of coarse Jake, I'm just tired, I want to rest in the comfort of my own bed, but only after we all catch up first. C'mon lets go."
Finn encouraged them with enthusiasm. Marceline and Jake just looked at each other shrugging their shoulders as they followed the teenager (Bubblegum included) out of the hospital to the tree fort. Bubblegum ended up leaving the hospital in a worst condition than Finn.
Later that day at the tree fort.
By the time they left the Candy kingdom the sun was going down, Finn had been in the hospital all day. Along the journey Finn was practically hugging Marceline seeking protection under her umbrella from the sun, the other two still didn't know. "Ah, home." Finn sighed with relief taking the wait off his feet, jumping on the coach, instructing them to sit with him.
"I'd rather stand." Said Marceline, she didn't want to get comfortable for the questions she had in store for him, she wish she brought the bass, playing a couple of cords a notes help clear her head. She stood on the other side of the table with her arms crossed inspecting Finn.
Jake and Bubblegum both complied with his instruction an sat with him.
"What's wrong Peebles." Finn asked the princess as she still held her aching neck.
"Lets just say me and Marceline got in a little... disagreement." She groaned out, with her voice still not quite back to its high pitch self.
Finn looked up at Marceline, who was slyly squinting a over a Bubblegum and levitating with her arms and legs crossed; even though she said she'd rather stand. "Hmm" Finn just shrugged off the thought, thinking it as just another argument between the two, completely overlooking the fact that Bubblegums neck had palm-prints on it and her voice was wrecked. "Uh, sooo... hows the kingdom?"
Bubblegum swallowed, clearing her mouth to speak and also open her throat up a little more, the muscles moving in the neck brought no pleasure to the action. "The kingdom is well, however settlements and towns in the Grasslands are constantly... Cough, attacked and raided. Ever since you disappeared the crimes and problems sky-rocketed. You too Jake, I haven't heard from you since a year ago.
"I... yeah, its nothing personal, I just had problems of my own." Jake answered indistinctly, avoiding to tell them what he was doing.
"And you Fi..."
"I would actually like to talk about that." Marceline announced, talking clearly over Bubblegums frail voice.
"Um, about my problems?" Jake asked nervously.
"No about our little, disagreement, and what it was about." Marceline said.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Finn asked.
"I guess I zoned out for a bit." Marceline hoped down from thin air, as if she was actually seated on something and approached Finns side of the table. "Since we're all here, I think its time we questioned you."
"About what?" Finn asked innocently. Jake was equally uninformed as Finn. Bubblegum had an idea of what she was on about.
Marceline rested her weight through her arms on the table. "About your remembering issue." She said as an understatement.
"What's there to talk about, I just get headaches now and again."
"What's there to talk about? Finn these aren't no normal headaches; I have never seen someone in so much pain having a simple headache, half the time you almost pass out! I'm sorry to say kiddo but that's not normal." She took a second to breath and collect her thoughts. "And its always when you try and remember a certain something."
"Remember wha..."
"DON'T-try and think of it!" She cautiously jumped at him, slapping her hand over his mouth.
Jake was sitting back on the chair, watching the drama unfold, still didn't have a clue what was going on. Bubblegum let Marceline go on, she too had no input at this point.
Finn lifted the vampires thin, pale hand off his mouth to speak. "Marceline what the junk are you on about, you're acting kinda weird; speaking of weird, Arah, I feel kinda wheezy, I'm gonna hit the bathroom." Finn got up walking past Marceline holding his head, swaying a little in his steps walking into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
"Do you guys see what I mean." Marceline kept her voice down so Finn couldn't hear. "Every time his asked to remember something, I don't know what, he gets all strange a freaks out." Bubblegum gave a short nod, still looking discomforted from her throat.
"Uh sorry to interrupt Marcy but last time Finn went to the bathroom, he went hospital."
"Gah, I needed to talk to him alone anyway." Marceline walked away from the table, across the room to the bathroom door. It didn't seem to her that they was both heeding her words seriously still. She went to grab the handle.
"Um what if his actually 'using' the bathroom..." Jake put out there.
Marceline rolled her eyes and proceeded inwards. She shut the door behind her for privacy and found Finn at the sink with the water running, he was washing his face getting over the headache.
"Finn we really need to talk..." Not taking her eyes of him, she shut the door slowly behind her, leaning her back against it, using her hands to feel for the lock and then pulled the slide over, locking it shut. She sounded open like she had something to confess something, her heart begun to pick up the pace as she thought about what she was going to say.
"We were just talking Marcy." Finn spoke sickly, he was still in a daze. He rested himself on one elbow on the sink, with the other free hand now and again reaching under the running tap for water to sip or splash on his face.
"No, not about that." She stretched herself taking in a deep breath, started to approach him slowly with her hands behind her back twisting and coiling her fingers with each other and the back- pockets of the jeans she wore.
"Then what is it Marcy?" Finn wasn't really paying attention to her, she moved so silently that he didn't even know she had moved from the door and crept her way a few feet behind him. Finn kept calling her Marcy at this moment in time to sound a bit nicer in a way, but really he didn't want to talk to anyone right now.
She however loved the fact he was calling her that, it made her feel even more giddy for what she had to say.
"Um, well... we have known each other for a long time now and, well I have watched you matured over the years and..." She stalled trying to think of what to say, well she knew what she wanted to say, but how to word it.
Finn was starting to feel better, it made him jump slightly when he heard Marceline's voice emit behind him instead of at the door. He turned to the sound of her voice. "Marcy I don't really understand what you're getting at?" He leaned back on the edge of the sink.
"I-I'm trying to say..." There was a huge feeling bulging up in her chest that wanted to burst out but couldn't. It impeded her speech. She approached him a bit more on her now trembling knees, still with her hand behind her back now tightly grasping each other.
"Marcy, are you okay? You don't look so good. Do you need a drink or to sit down?" He only asked as he noticed her shaking, she had goosebumps and her skin was even paler then normal which seemed impossible for her, but her cheeks were gleaming red.
She went to speak again almost hiccuping on her breath. Marceline isn't usually seen like this, she is usually the boldest of the group, but like she said, she hated exposing herself to others; in this case she wanted too but was still incredible nervous. "Two people can know each other for some time and... not show any interest at first, but then one of them realises they are an idiot for denying they have... feelings for the other. What I'm trying to say Finn is I... like you." She almost collapsed and passed out expressing those final words.
"I know Marcy were friends, you don't need to remind me." Finn didn't quite get what she was telling him, he always saw her as a friend nothing more, with the exception of a few occasions.
"No, Finn, I LIKE, like you." She said glaring at him with admiration, bring her hands forward to perform gestures of expression.
It took Finn a while to process what she just told him, until it finally hit him. Now his face too exploded red. Marceline was practically panting, leaning up against the shower. Finn didn't know how to reply. He cared about Marceline, and felt a connection between them, now and again he too had a crush on her, but now with the fact out there he didn't know what to do. However he felt he had to say something, he just said what he felt since she did the same.
"Marceline-I, I really don't get what I'm feeling right now... my bod's all cranked up, I mean its not you, but it is you-but its not." Finn started to get tangled in his words and like so many other times didn't know what too say.
Seeing Finn as emotionally distorted as she is, made her regain her self-confidence. She walked over flinging her arms around him and whispered assertively. "This should clear things up a little." She clung her lips against his, powerfully kissing him; it was like the first time at her house, just less confusing now.
Marceline had an idea to know if he liked her or not, or if he felt comfortable with her yet, she brought a familiar friend into the kiss, her long, snake-like tongue slipped out of her mouth and licked against his lips, this time with no resistance; Finn unknowingly let Marceline's tongue into his mouth exploring his oral cavity. Finn was still confused but he didn't want to resist or stop what was happening, and although Marceline's tongue action felt weird, he liked it. Finns once limp arms hesitantly started to crawl up Marceline's back and embrace her, pulling their bodies tighter against one-another, she welcomed the gesture.
Marceline's tongue was done feeling around and wanted a friend, it started to poke and slide against Finns. At this point he let Marceline do all the work but now she wanted him to contribute. He looked into her eyes with confusion, using his expression to ask her what to do. She simply grinned, (Although he couldn't see it with their faces pressed against each other.) closing her eyes and lifted his tongue with hers, he followed her actions, closing his eyes and started playing with her tongue. She was clearly the dominant one, wrapping hers around his, keeping his tongue in his mouth, wrestling it back as it pushed for more ground. Suddenly Marceline's tongue uncoiled itself, whipping its way back in her mouth and she detached their lips.
Finn opened his eyes widely, it felt like the sudden shock of waking up from a dream.
"Did that help you understand, hero?" She said in a teasing and seductive tone.
"That... felt, awesome..." He wish it hadn't stopped, although he didn't know what he was doing, he liked her taking the lead and teaching him. "Can we, uh, do it more?" He asked uncomfortable.
"Haha" She sniggered. "Don't worry I'll give you something even better later..." She winked at him.
He wondered to himself what could feel better then what just happened. But couldn't figure out what it could be. Marceline continued giggling to herself as she looked at him innocently trying to guess.
"Come on, hero. We have been in here far too long, the other two may start getting ideas. And besides we still got to tell them what happened to you."
Finn blushed when she mentioned Jake and PB getting ideas. But regathered himself when she mentioned the rest. "I know you're worried about telling them what happened, but don't worry were all friends aren't we, they'll understand just give them time. And if they try to do anything to you... I just won't let them. Although you still haven't really told me what happened Marcy." Finn asked.
Marceline had a sudden wave of shock and puzzlement, going back in here thoughts, almost certain she told him at her house what happened in the cave. "What do you mean I haven't told you, I told you at my house."
"Nope, all I know is I died somehow and you brought me back. What killed me though? Its really bugging me, its like in know the answer in the back of my head but can't quite see it." Finn genuinely didn't remember Marceline telling him, this worried her even more.
Something is very wrong with Finn, she got distracted with her feelings for him and ignored his problem. Whatever it is, its not stopping him remember, its stopping him from knowing the truth, but who would benefit from this other than... "The Lich..." Marceline unconsciously spoke her thoughts from sudden realisation.
"Ahhhhh-fffu-STOP!" Finn shouted, falling to his knees, clutching the side of the sink to try and hoist himself up. He pulled himself up on the sink resting on it, looking into the mirror, seeing things that wasn't there. Finn raised his left hand punching the mirror causing it to smash, small fragments and shrapnel's of glass tore into his fist, the rest of the glass fell into the sink and on the floor.
Marceline tackled Finn to the floor sitting on top of him so he wouldn't harm himself any further. She sat on his waist and pinned his hands to his side until he stopped wiggling and squirming under her. Finn stared off to the side unable to take his eyes off a large shard of glass, the Lich was staring back in his reflection again.
"M-Mar-Marceline! Le-l-let me up!" Finn stuttered out in fear that he was going to be taken again.
Marceline still held him down, ignoring his pleas until he stopped moving, not realising why he so desperately needed to get up. Before long Finn couldn't resist and succumbed to the Lich's control, causing him to stop shaking. Marceline let go of his hands, Finn turned his head looking up at her with empty glaring eyes. Finn lunged his hand at Marceline's slim neck, fully enclosing his fingers around, grabbing it tightly, pulling her closer to his face.
"Ah my persistent pestilence, we meet again." Finn spoke in a demonic throaty voice similar to the Lich's. The Lich was in full control of Finn, unlike the other times.
Marceline was scared, she never feared anything, but now and back at the cave when she laid next to Finn's dead body are the only times she been genuinely scared. "Finn... snap out... of it, I need... you." Marceline struggled to breath, trying to tug the fingers that wrapped firmly around her neck off.
"The boy can't here you, his mine now, such a loyal puppet he is, reminds me of you. You would be lost without him, and he would be lost without me."
"Get out... of him!" She choked out."
Lich-Finn begun to get up from underneath Marceline, still tightly gripping her neck; once he got on his feet he lifted her off the floor with one arm. "Snfff, I smell more then a simple friendship that you hold for him, hehe. The boy doesn't love you really, I should know I'm in his head. He is just using you like everyone else. A disease and a demon, interesting, you a long way from the Night-o-sphere, you're telling me they didn't even want you, weren't you good enough to take on daddy's little realm?"
Marceline had enough of being taunted. She just kept reciting in her head 'Its not Finn, its not Finn.' She grew twice the size of Lich-Finn into her beast form, obviously forcing the hand to let go.
Jake started knocking on the door. "Marceline, Finn, what's going on in there."
Marceline Grabbed Lich-Finn as he kept laughing at her, making her even angrier; she tossed him through the wooden wall outside the tree house. Finn's body bounced off the grass a couple of times before skidding to a halt under the young night sky.
Marceline jumped through the hole after him as Jake crashed through the door. She charged up to his limp body expecting the possessed Finn to get up and fight, but he didn't he just laid there. Once she reached him lifting him up in her giant hand, Finn was still very limp and weak, with a black eye, a busted noes and dirt riddled all over his clothes.
"Mar-Marceline, what... the clams?" He mumbled out of exhaustion before his head slammed back against her fist, passing out.
Marceline was frightened, it was Finn again and there's no way it was that easy, one punch to get the Lich out. He was still inside, but he was messing with her, using this as an example that he cant be touched. Marceline turned back into herself, running over to see if Finn was okay, but before she could reach him, she was tackled to the floor and then tightly wrapped up by Jake.
"What in Globs-name has gotten into you!" He shouted down at her, with only her head sticking out of all the rolls. Bubblegum soon followed behind Jake, checking Finn, turning him over on his back.
Marceline tried explaining. "It was... I... It wasn't Finn, it was the Lich!"
"No way Marceline not this time, first you turn up with Finn when no one else has seen him for years, then I see you strangling the princess, now this! You're hiding something and you're unstable! You've changed; Princess..." Jake called over to Bubblegum as she tended to Finn, she simply turned and nodded back at him. Marceline feared this would happen from the very start, without Finns word she is truly screwed.
"Marceline Abadeer, you are hereby under arrest for allegedly conspiring against the Candy kingdom and her people, assaulting and almost killing the princess and assaulting Finn the human, my brother and a respected hero of Ooo. You are unstable and evidently pose as a threat to the citizens of the Candy kingdom, you are to be sentenced... to death. If you cannot prove your innocence before the royal court, then the sentence will carry through."
There was nothing she could really say, all the evidence frames her perfectly, she would just sound even crazier if she kept ranting about the Lich. "Bubblegum please I..."
"Save your pleas for the royal court, Marceline; and you better put allot of thought in to what your going to say." Bubblegum talked over Marceline, still with a weak, sore throat. "I always had a bad feeling about you since the day we crossed paths. Take her away Jake." The princess turned away again returning all her attention back to Finn.
The magical dog stretched his enormous feet over the distant hills towards the Candy kingdom with Marceline caught, tied up in his giant fist to incarcerate here in the dungeons and await her trial. The Lich still receded deep within Finn getting much more powerful ad now able to posses the boy completely at any given moment, and the only person who know was Marceline, now the kings plans can go underway.
To be continued...
And thats-that for part 1, I left it on a cliff-hanger for you so I can tease your brain with all the possibilities and outcomes that could happen in part 2. :)
And don't forget to review, your opinions matter to me. Also tell me of some scenes of events you want to see in part 2, if I like them and they are fitting then I'll put the idea in; although you should probably PM me instead of review it if you have an idea. Anyhow farewell until part 2, thank you for reading.