Chapter 21: Ice, Fire, and Blood

Cinnamon Bun walked through the corridors of the Fire Kingdom palace, walking past fire soldiers who were running down the halls preparing the defenses. He reached the lift leading to the prison and stepped inside. The doors closed and the lift began going down. Once they opened again, he went along the corridor until he reached Flint's cell.

The elemental stood up from his bed and faced the pastry.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Your help in saving this kingdom."

Flint chuckled.

"This kingdom turned its back on me. Why would you think I would help?"

"It's not just the kingdom. The entire world is at stake."

"Life is cruel. Besides, I'm pretty sure your 'Hero of Ooo' can handle it."

CB remained quiet for a few seconds before speaking.

"If you won't do it for the kingdom or the world, then do it for your sister."

"Oh, my sister made it quite clear she didn't want anything to do with me."

Running out of options, CB resorted to something Finn had told him before he left.

"Finn sent along a message."

"And what is that?"

CB leaned in closer.

"Parthrax is here."

Flint's eyes widened.

"What did you say?"

"Parthrax. He's here."

Flint remained quiet for a few seconds. CB noticed his face was now growing an angered expression.

"If a world should end, it shouldn't be like that." he whispered, though CB still heard him.

He sighed.

"Alright. I'll help."

CB narrowed his eyes and stared at him.

"Just to be clear: once this is over, you'll still answer for what you've done."

Flint said nothing, just kept staring at CB with a stern face. CB pulled a lever on the right side of the cell and the glass slid down, releasing Flint.

Phoebe was barely able to dodge Finn's punch as it hit the ground right next to her, sending her a few feet away. When she got back up she noticed Finn's other hand heading towards her as well.

"Finn!" she shouted as she dodged the second blow.

She flew up to Finn's face and held on to the side. She stared at his blue eye while he stared back.

"Finn, it's me, Phoebe! Don't you recognize me?!"

He just growled and raised his hand to grab her. By the time she realized, she was already in his grasp. He held her in front of him as she struggled to break loose. She grew an expression of horror as Finn opened his mouth to swallow her whole.

As she was inches from devoured, Finn was punched in the face, sending him against a building. As he hit, he let go of Phoebe, sending her falling to the ground. Before she hit, she was grabbed by a black creature that flew by. When she was set on a nearby roof she saw that it was Marceline in her bat form, with Bonnie riding on top of her. The vampire went back to her humanoid form and the two went to the fiery girl.

"Phoebe, are you alright?" Bonnie asked.

She was about to reply but her gaze was drawn to the sound of Finn roaring. She looked to see he was being held against a building by Jake in his giant form.

"Finn, you gotta snap out of it, dude! This isn't you!" the dog said as he attempted to reason with his brother.

It was useless. Finn just roared loudly as he pushed Jake back with all his strength, pinning him against a building on the opposite side. The dog struggled as Finn attempted to bite him, only being held back by Jake placing his arm on Finn's throat.

"What's wrong with him? Why is he attacking Jake?" Marcy asked.

"He's being controlled." Phoebe said.

Jake was able to push Finn back just long enough to get out of the way as Finn smashed into the building in front. As he was dazed, Jake used his stretching powers to wrap himself around him. Finn continued to roar furiously as he attempted to break free of the dog's grasp.

"Finn, listen to me. That black dragon is messing with your head. You gotta fight it!"

Once again, no effect. Finn continued to move around wildly as he attempted to move his arms. Once he had shaken enough, on of Jakes sides was in front of Finn's face. He opened his jaw and bit down on the dog, making him scream in pain. He untied himself from Finn and went back to a fighting stance. While the bite had hurt, the cut wasn't very deep.

Finn growled at Jake before beginning to charge him. As Jake readied himself to take the hit, Finn was blasted to the side by a large ball of ice that shattered on impact. The people around looked to see Ice King flying above them.

"Sorry I'm late." he said.

"Where have you been? I sent you a message!" Marcy yelled.

"Hey, I still gotta make sure Gunther doesn't break anything while I'm gone. He really doesn't like cages."

Marcy growled but said no remark. Ice King flew over to Jake.

"Sup, bro?"

"Not your bro…" Jake replied.

Their gazes were drawn to Finn getting back up and facing them both. Both of them noticed he was about to breath fire at them.

"Woah!" Ice King exclaimed.

As the blue flames shot forward, Jake stretched out of the way and Ice King flew upwards, both successfully dodging the fire. When the flames subsided, they both went back to their positions.

"Let's ice this fool!" Ice King said.

"Terrible pun." Bonnie said.

Ice King began to form a ball of energy in his hand and was covered in a white flash. When the light dimed, it revealed a large knight with ice armor holding a maze and shield, with Ice King floating on the inside of its chest. It was smaller than Finn by two meters, but its bulky armor made it look thicker. He turned to Jake.

"By the way, where's Finn?"

"You're looking at him." Jake replied.

"What?!"

Finn roared and charged the two of them. Jake and Ice King took battle stances and prepared to fight.

Ice King raised his shield and took the hit and he kept getting dragged back. He raised his foot and planted on the ground, stopping the push. He raised his shield push Finn back. As he stumbled, Ice King swung his maze and hit his jaw. As he got knocked back, Jake grabbed him and slammed him face first into a building.

"You are not a monster. You're Finn the Human!" Jake yelled.

Finn turned around to face Jake. He roared and threw a punch at the dog. He dodged the first but a second landed straight at his stomach. The dog flew over some buildings and landed on a roof, smashing it. He groaned, got off the roof, and rested on the building.

As Jake recovered from the hit, Ice King was still swinging at Finn with his mace, but Finn kept dodging them.

"Stay still, you butt!"

He swung his mace sideways and Finn grabbed it with his teeth. He bit down on it and it snapped, leaving only a stick.

"Plops."

Finn breathed fire on Ice King. He blocked it with his shield but it instantly melted.

"Oh, plops."

Finn grabbed Ice King from both arms and lifted him up into the air, making Bonnie, Marcy, and Phoebe's eyes widen.

"Oh, really big plops!"

Finn threw Ice King towards Jake, making the dog yelp as he got hit and making him land on the street, shattering Ice Kings armor in the process. As the two of them laid weak on the ground, Finn walked towards them and stared at them. Phoebe stared at the terrifying sight.

"I can't let this go on." she said.

She jumped off the building and flew towards Finn.

"Phoebe, wait!" Bonnie yelled, though Phoebe ignored her.

After a few seconds, he opened his mouth and prepared to breathe fire Ice King and Jake, who were both still down from the impact. As a blue glow appeared in the back of his throat, he was hit in the side of the head by a small fireball. It barely did anything, but it drew his attention to Phoebe, who was standing on the roof next to him.

"Finn, I know you're still in there! If you care about me, if you've ever truly loved me like you said, then you will fight to the last breath for yourself and for everyone else!"

Finn's eyes widened as he stared at her. Suddenly, he roared loudly and held his head with both arms.

You don't control me. And this isn't your world! I will fight! And I will win!

I beg to differ. Parthrax replied.

Finn stumbled back as he roared once again. The black substance on his skin began to spread further along his body. Once it stopped, Finn opened his eyes and turned to Phoebe. Both his eyes were now yellow and the black substance covered almost all of his body except for part of his left side. He growled and raised his fist above Phoebe.

"Finn… no…" she said, tears running down her face.

Right before he struck, Finn was hit with great force and got pinned to the ground by a large object that flew towards him. As the smoke from the impact clouded the view, CB and Jake 2 landed next to Phoebe, along with Marcy who carried Bonnie over.

"Are you alright?" CB asked.

She still had tears on her face but no had a shocked expression.

"Wha-what happened?" she asked.

"Well… you see…"

Before CB could finish they looked back at the destruction as the smoke dissipated. Her eyes widened when she laid eyes on Finn, who was being held down by Flint in his dragon form. Flint roared loudly and raised his fist to punch Finn, but he simply dodged. Finn roared as he raised his legs and threw him off, sending him a few feet away. Flint got up and raised his fists, with Finn doing the same.

The blue and armored dragons faced each other once again.