Disclaimer: I do not own Prototype or Adventure Time. All characters and locations belong to their original owners.

So, here we are. It's been over half a year, and someone is still reading this story. In that time it's gone to being a crazy idea that almost no one even saw coming, to my most popular story ever. I've got to say it's been a good run. And though I will soon post a sequel to this work, I'd like to thank you all for your support, and continued reading of my story. But for now, I bid you goodbye, with just one parting word.

Enjoy.

"There is no real ending. It's just the place where you stop the story."
― Frank Herbert

Chapter 21

Finn's POV

It was over. As the ash drifted through the air, the last remnants of the once proud Fire Kingdom, Finn, and what was left of his friends, slowly made their way through the rocky landscape. Their trail was marked by footprints left in the inch-thick ash, a trail that no one would follow, for there was no one left. However, there were only three sets of prints.

The first missing set would've belonged to Marceline, the Vampire Queen. But her levitation wouldn't have left any footprints regardless. But when Alex, who would've filled in the second set of missing prints died, she left. She didn't scream, didn't cry, she just looked... blank. She'd just stood from Alex's remains, grabbed her axe, and flew away. And the only word's she'd uttered chilled Finn to the bone, not just for what they were, but for the cold, emotionless way she'd said:

"I'm gonna kill her."

Finn didn't know what she was planning, but he had a feeling it would end badly.

What concerned him far more was Flame Princess, who normally would've been walking. But since the blast, since she'd become the last fire elemental left, she'd been in a state of shock. She'd walked at first, the artifacts of her kingdom clutched desperately in her hands. But when they stopped to rest Finn had caught her rummaging through his belongings. He hadn't been particularly concerned until she pulled out the water bottle. He'd barely had enough time to rush over and stop her from drinking it.

Since then, Jake had been carrying her, his flame shield preventing any burns. Once again, Ice King had proven that the decision to bring him along had been a good one. He hadn't spoken since the fight, but Finn got the distinct feeling that the old man didn't fully understand what was going on. Finn wasn't sure he understood himself. From the melancholy that colored their faces to the despair that marked their gaits, it was clear that they had failed more that they'd succeeded.

As they walked, a single depressing thought occurred to Finn.

"Now I've got my own nightmare."

PB's POV

She saw the explosion from the her window, it's blinding light temporarily drowning out the stars. She didn't know what had caused it, but from the size it must've been to be seen from this distance, well, she didn't have much hope. What she did see was a small dot on the horizon, rapidly approaching. It didn't take a genius to figure out what, or rather who, it was.

In the dark of her destroyed lab, she waited, confessing her sins to the rat. That rat, the only remnant of her research, and a testament to the only mistake Alex had ever seemed to make. It was ironic how the one time he'd messed up was when he was trying to help people, in his own way. While she saw the logic in his way of saving people, she couldn't help but disagree with it. Despite the destruction that had occurred, she stood by her decision to conduct her experiments. The results had been disastrous, but she'd tried.

In the end, all anyone can do is try.

Judging by the smashing sounds from above, Marceline had reached the castle. Alex must've known what she'd done, and it wasn't a surprise he'd figured it out. It didn't shock her that Marceline had pieced together the facts either. Any minute Marceline would reach the lab, and her axe was probably the only method of conversation she'd be willing to use.

Sighing, Princess Bubblegum stood and faced the door. She would try to explain her actions, but if nothing else, she'd greet her end with dignity.

Marceline's POV

Everything was red. Red as the blood that was so often associated with her kind. It was as if she was peering through a pair of red glasses as she stormed through the castle, cutting down anything that stood in her path. The guards and servants had the presence of mind to stay out of her way, but the doors and furniture, that was another story.

Her rage left her thoughts scattered like dust, but one singular thought burned in her mind: "The Princess had killed Alex, and now she must die."

As she raged through the castle, heading for the laboratory that the Princess had undoubtedly hidden in, Marceline's appearance began to change to match the rage she felt. Her teeth elongated. Her eyes became slits, cat-like red irises on a yellow background. Her nails became claws. She looked more vampire than human.

With a swing of her axe, she hacked down another door, descending into the darkness of the castle dungeons. The stone walls were all the same, but after so much time she knew the way to the lab well. Rounding the last corner, she could see the door ahead. Kicking them open, she marched into the lab.

The Princess was just standing there, an almost pitying expression on her face.

"Marceline, I know you're upset." she began.

The Princess's surely self-gratifying speech was cut off by the swing of an axe. She ducked just in time to avoid decapitation, but her crown was sent skittering off into the rubble.

"I don't want to hear your justification." Marceline screamed, bringing her axe swinging down.

"I never meant for things to get this carried away." PB replied, dodging yet again.

"Right! because you're the one who's so smart!" Marceline answered, attacking again.

"It had to be done. As long as Alex lived, there would always be a chance of another infection." The Princess stated with another dodge.

Marceline went on the offensive, punctuating each sentence with a wild swing of the axe, which was quickly dodged by the Princess.

"It always has to be done doesn't it! Experimenting on unknown life-forms has to be done. Locking up starving villagers has to be done. Murdering people who defy you has to be done. Well I've had enough! You've been hurting people more and more since this whole insanity started! And now It's time for you to feel it for a change!"

"I have been hurt by all this!" PB shouted in reply. "I've suffered with all of you. This past year we've had more criminal activity that any other year on record. Dozens of citizens are still missing! You haven't lost anything you didn't have before you met Alex, but my kingdom is broken beyond repair! Why does it even matter to you! You used to loath Alex, so why do you care so much that he's gone?"

"I DON'T KNOW!"

Marceline swung again, the axe hitting only rubble, lodging in the stone.

"I don't know." she repeated, her voice solemn, "But it's like something's lost, and I don't even know what it is, just that I took it for granted until it wasn't around."

Marceline stared at the floor, settling back into her normal appearance. Slowly, she walked towards the door, hanging her head sadly.

"I guess I'll never know what I've lost. The sun will be up soon, I'd better get back to my cave. Or maybe I won't, it's hard to say."

"You always did care more that you pretended to." A new voice said. A male voice.

Marceline spun around, and behind her stood the last person she thought she'd ever see again.

"Alex?"

Alex's POV

"Before you get angry, let me explain." Alex began. Unfortunately, his words fell on deaf ears.

Alex didn't move as Marceline's fist collided with his face. She winced as she made contact, holding her hand to staunch the flow of blood from between her fingers. Alex sighed.

"I'm sorry."Alex continued. Marceline quickly cut him off yet again.

"Sorry? I thought you were dead. I'm going to need more that sorry."

"I'm guessing you want some answers." Alex stated.

"At least." Marceline growled.

"Well, first of all, as I think I said, I knew about the poisoned serum." Alex explained, shooting Princess Bubblegum a glare. "I knew the Princess would try to have me killed as soon as she gave me that syringe. After all, why else would she create an injection to protect me when she just as easily could've made one to simply kill Rot. So when I destroyed her lab, I left a piece of my biomass behind in the form of a rat, from which I could reform myself after Rot was dead."

Alex craned his neck towards the Princess.

"I'm a little surprised she didn't figure it out." he stated, a bit louder than necessary. He turned back to Marceline.

"I'm sorry I lied to you, but if the Princess had known too early, she might've done something crazy."

Marceline was silent for a moment, staring daggers at Alex. Then, she sighed.

"I'm glad you're not dead." she muttered, looking away from him. She walked past him and yanked her axe out of the rubble. Then, she headed for the door.

"Just don't do it again," she warned as she left, "Or I might do something crazy."

Then she left, without another word.

Alex began to follow, but stopped at the door. There, he turned, staring at the Princess.

"Watch yourself Princess." Alex warned.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll be careful of you from now on." she answered returning his stare.

"It's not me you should be careful of." Alex stated.

The Princess's brow furrowed.

"There are only five people who know the full extent of what you've done. That's you, me, Finn and Jake, and Marceline. And Finn and Jake aren't aware of the fact that you tried to have me killed, so they don't fully count."

"Get to the point." the Princess demanded.

"I'm not going to harm you, for Finn's sake. Him and Jake will also leave you alone. And I'm willing to bet Marceline won't really kill you either. It took me a few minutes to fully reshape myself, but I saw enough of your fight with her to tell she wasn't really trying to kill you. Maim perhaps, but not kill. But others might not be so understanding. Remember the villagers who joined with Rot. Their reaction is about what you can probably expect from most people if they were to learn what you've done. If word got out, you'll have a lynch mob at your doorstep. And let's not forget Flame Princess. Her people are gone, her kingdom is gone, her entire life is gone. She's in a pit of self-blame and despair, but If she were to learn that the man responsible for all this was your creation, all that hatred will be directed at you. And she will kill you."

Princess Bubblegum held her ground, but Alex could see she was shaken.

"Just something to think about." He finished. And he left.

15 Months Ago

Rot's POV

He'd been walking all night. In the few hours since he'd crawled from his crypt, he'd been consumed with thoughts of revenge. But he still couldn't come up with any workable ideas. Between Finn and Jake so called "champions of Ooo", and Alex being force to help them, he couldn't see a way to get at the princess without getting himself killed. His feet were aching, so he stopped to rest.

As he lay on the ground he pondered what he could do. He could try scaling the towers? No, the stone would turn to dust beneath his fingers. He could build a catapult, oh wait, right, this was reality. He pounded his head on the stone of the ground, his body cold in the night. They could've at least been decent enough to bury him in some clothes.

Then, he felt a light ticking sensation on his stomach. He stopped gazing at the sky to see a small snail crawling across him. It wasn't decaying like anything else either.

It was strange, but as he looked at it, a strange feeling came over him. It was like someone was whispering in the dark corners of his mind, telling him secrets. He had a plan, oh yes he had a plan. But he would need money.

Brushing the snail off him he stood. before leaving, he took one last look at the snail. An overwhelming sense of hatred overcame him as he looked at it, and for no apparent reason, he stepped on it, grinding it into the dirt beneath his heel.

Rot grinned to himself as he walked away. The whispers walked with him.

Present

The Fire Kingdom

A breeze flows through the ashes of the Fire Kingdom. The gray is all-encompassing, all save for a spark. And from a spark can the mightiest flames grow. But unfortunately, this was not a fire of light and warmth, but devastation. For its black hue and purple glow betrayed its origins as not true fire, for that had been blotted out. No, this was the negative fire that had brought so much destruction, and which would cause so much more.

Slowly, it drifted through the air settling within a small hole in the ground, gradually flickering to life. Then the earth began to shift.

From the dirt rose an arm, then another arm, then two legs. Then rose a large, round figure. Black fire burned in his eyes as a burly right arm gripped the nearby maul that the shriveled left arm could not lift. On similarly mismatched feet the figure rose, the remains of an eye patch tumbling from its grasp.

"Yes, this form will do nicely."

And with those words the Negative Flame King made his way through the ashes. His kingdom was in shambles, but that did not matter. He would create a new kingdom, powerful, and black as night.

For that's what the whispers promised.

Within The Abyss

Five small, snake-like heads rose from the sand. With rage burning in her mind, the Queen of The Abyss rose from the ground. She was vulnerable now, but once she reached her true form again, she would once again be beyond death.

"Sorry my queen," a raspy voice said, "But the reign of Takhisis has ended."

And so the existence of one of the most powerful being in the universe was ended beneath the heel of a sickly, black-robed mage. Summoning his destination to his mind, the mage found himself in a distortion of the grand hall of Wayreth, the original lost long before the second cataclysm. He seated himself upon his new throne, and reached out for the souls of the abyss, awaiting the strength they would give him.

He could feel, nothing. He sighed to himself.

"Caramon, you were right."

But there were other worlds. And the strength of a god, even a weakened god, was great. Soon, all would bow before Raistlin Majere.

Back in Ooo

Finn's POV

It had been a week since they'd returned. The Ice King had stayed behind when they passed by his tower. The rest of them continued on until they came to the tree house, where they were surprised to find Alex and Marceline waiting for them. When asked what had happened and how Alex was still alive, the two had just exchanged looks, and stated that Alex had planned ahead.

Flame Princess's old house had long since burned out, so they made her a new one. One a bit farther from any lakes of rivers. It was also within sight of the tree house, in case they had to protect Flame Princess from something, even if that something was herself. Finn tried to be there for her as a friend, but he didn't think any romantic advances would be appreciated.

And so, life returned to normal, at least until the day Alex had made his announcement.

"I'm leaving." He stated.

"What?" Finn asked, confused.

Alex handed Finn a letter.

Dear Finn, Jake, and Alex

Due to an exemplary record of service to the Candy Kingdom, it has been decided that Alex's period of parole is over. I me glad to announce that Alex is free to roam as far from us as he so chooses, and may visit other lands at will. I hope he is agreeable to this and will take full advantage of these terms.

Sincerely,

Princess Bonnibel Bubblegum

"She wasn't weren't exactly subtle about the fact that she wants me out of here." Alex stated, "I can't exactly stay in this house forever either."

"What are you going to do?" Finn asked.

"I don't know." Alex admitted, "First I should probably tell Marceline. Then, I think I'll spend some time just travelling, seeing the world, that kind of thing. Then, who knows? I might come back, find my own place. It all depends."

Finn smiled.

"Well, good luck out there."

"Wait!" Jake exclaimed. He ran out of the room, returning with a small remote in his hand. He gave it to Alex.

"This looks like the remote that controlled the probe." Alex observed.

"It is." Jake said. "I know that the probe was destroyed, but I held on to the remote. And I'll admit I pressed the button a few time when you got me angry, especially after that wendigo incident."

Alex slipped the remote into the pocket of his jacket.

"Thanks." he said.

Then Alex went into his room, grabbed his picture of Dana, and walked out the door.

"Hey Alex." Finn called as he left. "Where do you think you'll go?"

Alex stopped, took in a breath and said:

"For the first time in over a thousand years, no one's hunting me. I've got no one stopping me from leaving, and no demons that can hold me in place. For the first time in my life, I'm free. So I think I'll start by heading in the classic direction."

"Which direction's that?" Finn asked.

"Wherever the wind takes me."

A Dark Room

Two men sat at a table, a small lamp the only source of light. It was too dark to make out either one's features, although one could almost see shadows almost supernaturally dark pouring off of one's face.

"You have what was promised?" the first one asked, his voice screeching.

"I do." the other one, with the shadowy face answered, his voice lower, "Burying it outside the Flame Kingdom was one of the previous keepers better ideas."

"Let me see it." The first one demanded.

The second reached into a bag, pulling out a small canister, about the size of a soda can. He set it on the table. The liquid inside was black, although if one looked close enough they could almost make out a few flecks of pale, sickly green.

The first leaned forward to view it, his pointed nose and fat, yellow face illuminated by the lamp. He inspected it closely before giving a grin full of dagger-like teeth.

"Acceptable."

And so the story ends. But don't worry, I would leave that many plot threads in the end of a chapter without continuing. In fact, I've been working on other works, including the sequel, a lot recently, which is why this thing came out so late. Sometimes I get so caught up in writing I forget that I actually have to post things before other people can read them. Speaking of which:

READ AND REVIEW, OR RAISTLIN MAJERE'S MAGIC WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN!