Hey all, short chapter on this one. Finals are here and I haven't had much time. We're coming to the close of this story anyway. I finally caught up with the newest episodes and realized this is horribly askew in the AT universe. It's alright though, it was great to write and you guys really gave me the motivation to continue writing so thanks for that. Now read and watch as the pieces take their places on the board...
Don't own Adventure Time, but you guys should checkout bravest warriors if you haven't already. That same great AT style with a kick of adult humor.
A smoke laced wind whipped across the plane, stirring up any dust in its wake. In the sky birds flew lazily on the heated currents looking for any type of easy meal.
The Burning Wastes existed on the outer reaches of the Fire Kingdom. It was a barren, featureless wasteland that radiated heat from the magma channels below. An endless plateau of grey rock that would slow roast you within an hour for the burn buzzards to pick apart at their leisure. That did not stop the variety of criminals and Fire Kingdom exiles from eking out an existence here.
An aerial view of the wastes would reveal the many holes that dotted its stony surface. These were as close to homes as the denizens could get. Many were melted openings from where the owners used their fire to create them, but a few were broken and chiseled out, hinting at the non elemental occupants.
The kingdom exiles had very few places to flee due to their elemental makeup. They preferred warm environments along with homes that didn't instantly combust whenever they walked in the door. The wastes provided both, but in nowhere near the quality of the Kingdom. As for the criminals, well the wastes provided a decent amount of protection. Heat was a deterrent, the dust storms were constant and harsh, and usually lawmen and bounty hunters lost track of the proper paths, fell down a hole and turned themselves into extra crispy lizard food. It's a win win for everyone... in the wastes.
Near the center existed the most violent of the inhabitants. Lawbreakers of every degree and magnitude. Murderers, vagabonds, cutthroats and one particularly aggressive hitman.
Scorcher stood at a desk in his chambers, pouring over a map of Ooo. Multiple X's and O's covered the parchment revealing the areas of his past and future "jobs". Next to him was a stack of files, each with either an X or and O on the front.
He pulled out one with an X, opening it to reveal a picture of a young human and a golden dog. His eyes narrowed as he put a finger to the X in the grasslands and burnt it into a perfect circle. He took the picture over to his wall and placed it with two others. One held a man with an arm of metal and a head of dreadlocks, the other was the current Flame King. His fists clenched at the sight of the burning royalty, years of hate boiling to the surface.
"You seek revenge... do you not?"
Scorcher whirled around, his arms instantly ablaze. He scanned the room in search of the voice's owner, but there was nothing. A wave of darkness consumed the room, leaving the bandaged killer standing in a lightless void.
"Show yourself..." He hissed into the dark. A flash of green flame erupted before him that took on a vaguely bipedal shape. The flames began to disperse, leaving the skeletal frame of its shape behind. Tattered robes began to extinguish then flow outward and a face with only the barest shreds of skin emerged from the emerald fire. The last traces of flame siphoned into the monster's eyes, leaving the Lich whole once more.
Scorcher wasted no time in creating a fist full of fire and hurling it at the undead intruder before him. Instead of charring the remaining flesh and bone it merely passed through, leaving the Lich to continue staring at the bewildered assassin.
"This is merely a projection.. My body is not yet whole..." His voice bounced off the walls, deep and commanding. It slithered inside the elemental's head, giving each word a pulse of power. For the first time in his life, Scorcher felt cold.
"What do you want." he asked, keeping his voice flat and emotionless.
"To offer you a chance at revenge." The Lich passed his skeletal hand through the air, conjuring a picture of the Flame King on his throne.
"This man stole from you... He took everything and left you to die..." Scorcher's eye began to literally burn with fury as the memory was dredged up.
As the former champion of the Flame Kingdom, he had everything. Wealth, influence, adoration... but that was under the rule of Lord Singe, the previous king. The coup was quick and merciless. It resulted in the previous king's death along with the exile of everyone loyal to him. But that wasn't enough... As the former champion he had to be made an example of in front of the people he once protected. The pain was excruciating, and the bandages hide the outer scars, but the humiliation has never left him.
"Why?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the image of the Flame King.
"We have a common annoyance.." The image shifted to Finn and Jake walking through the rain. Once more barely retained rage was visible in Scorcher's body language. His shoulders tensed, fists clenched, and his breathing became heavy.
"These insects work to oppose me. Even now they search for my destruction. Help me with their eradication and in return I will grant you your vengeance." Scorcher watched the two who had escaped him. The two who had ruined his otherwise perfect record, the one thing he held on to in his new life.
"I will end them."
"Tomorrow at noon you will find them at their home along with the princess of the Fire Kingdom and an artifact of great power. I require that artifact, the rest can be eliminated." Scorcher's eyes widened.
"The princess?"
"True revenge leaves victim with nothing but a wish for death... Take everything they care about, everything they worked for, and tear it away." Scorcher continued to stare at the walking duo, thinking of his past humiliations all the while.
"Yes... Everything..."
The rain hadn't weakened in the slightest as the two boys continued on their journey. Jake had stretched out his umbrella hand to cover them both with decent results. So long as it didn't switch to a knife storm everything was smooth sailing.
"Hey Jake."
"Yeah bro?"
"Thanks man... For everything. It feels like we've finally got this." Jake smiled and lightly punched his adopted brother on the shoulder.
"No problem buddy. I got your back, whether it be in battle or the battlefield of looooove." He went deep voiced towards the end of his spiel.
"Haha, yeah. Dude, there's the first hangout!" Finn pointed to a stone cave in the distance. It was at the very edge of the forest. The trees and greenery merged with stone and dirt making a perfect borderline.
The heroes approached the mouth of the cave, feeling the temperature slowly rise with each step. A light fog bank had surrounded them thanks to the rain and heat. The two looked in and found nothing.
"YO FLAMBO!" Yelled Finn into the cave. There was no response except silence.
"Shoot, not this one." He turned to his canine companion. "Next cave?"
"Next cave." he said agreeing.
The two turned in sync with each other only to come face to face with a small blue light.
"Hey Jake, what's that?"
"I'm not sure man, don't touch it though..." But Finn had already reached out and poked it, causing the little thing to vanish in thin air with a sigh.
"Huh, cool. Oh well, back to the hunt." Said the human as he continued walking.
"Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnn! What if it was cursed or something?"
"Nah, it was too cute to be cursed. Oh hey, there's another one!" Only a short distance ahead of them another blue flame had appeared. This one bounced in an odd rhythm, beckoning the two closer. Finn happily obliged, reaching out and trying to grab this one as well. Unlike before when it disappeared, this one grew tiny arms and little yellow eyes. It dodged Finn's attempts at capture and proceeded to vanish on its own.
"Man, those things are giving me the creeps. Let's go Finn." Jake started walking down the border towards the next hideout. "Okay, okay." Said the blonde boy as he stepped in line behind his brother. The little blue wisp popped back in view and began to bob along behind them, unbeknownst to either.
A short while later, the adventuring pair had arrived at the next cave. This time it was Jake who called in, using his hand as a voice cone. "HEY FLAMBO! YOU IN THERE?" This time there was a reply, in a heavy Bronx accent as well.
"Maybe I am... Who wants to know?"
"Uhhh, Finn and Jake..."
"Yeah? Hey alright! Yous guys come on in, it's still raining and I aint fixing on steaming." With a shrug the duo walked into the cave. Flambo was a little ways in playing solitaire by a campfire.
"Sup guys? Hows yous two doing?"
"Eh, not bad." said Jake. "Been super busy lately, taking out dungeons, monster's, there was that thing with the Lich... You know, the usual. How bout yourself?"
"Old Flambos livin large my friends, just finished my new book and sent it to the office. Man, my groopies are gonna lose it."
"No way! Is it another in the Burning Soul series?" asked Jake excitedly.
"A fan huh? Yous got it. Book four "A Singed Heart". " Jake clapped his hands on the side of his face.
"Oh my glob, OHMYGLEEERRRB!" Jake was having a massive freak out. "What happens to Jessica? And Flameo? And, and who's the Flannice's father!?" Flambo just chuckled.
"Nope, no spoilers. Yous gotta wait like the rest of thems guys." Jake let out a groan and fell on his side. Finn finally decided to steer the conversation the right way.
"Hey, that's great Flambo, but we didn't just come here to talk. We kinda need your help." Flambo gave him a smile.
"Whatchu need Finn?"
"Can you help us find Flame Princess?"
"No problem guys. I know exactly where she is." Jake sat upright and Finn bolted to his feet.
"SERIOUSLY!?" They both asked at the same time.
He just waved them back, getting them to calm down. "Yeah, I know exactly where she's at. But as keeper of this valuable info I need to know why you want to know. I talked to her for a while, you really donked up her insides there bucko." Finn looked down at the ground, a sense of shame creeping up his back.
"Now wait a minute!"said Jake. 'That's not fair Flambo, it really wasn't Finn's fault..." He started rubbing the back of his head."Actually it was mostly mine... Ok it was all mine... But I had good intentions!"
"Good intentions that still mashed up that fiery dame all heavy like." Now it was Jake's turn to look down. Finn spoke up again.
"Look, Flambo, I really need to see her. We found a way that could let us be together AND make it so she doesn't have to worry about burning the world to a crisp... The first time I really saw her in that glen.. Everything she touched, she destroyed, and she hated it. If you won't do it for us, at least do it for her."
Flambo stared up at the young human boy, studying him for any signs of deceit. Finally his smile returned. "Ahhh, I'm just messin with yous guys. I knew you were searching for some solution all along. Just wanted to see if yous was still as noble as everyone's saying." He started picking up his cards again.
"I'll take ya to the princess, but after it stops raining. Don't feel like getting steam foot ya know? Oh and Finn, yous guys owe me one for smoothing it out with da princess. Old Flambo bout got fried, but I turned on my charm and calmed her right down. She was pretty upset with you Jake, but hearing about Finn being all truthful like got her all docile again." He packed the cards in a hidden alcove before turning back to the two.
"In fact, she's pretty hyped to see you again Finn."
Despite the rain, despite the injuries, the hardships, everything he'd come across or went through to get to this point, Finn could only think about one thing. It was totally worth it to hear those words. And so the three of them sat, patiently waiting for the rains end and the second beginning.
