The Human and The Shadow: Chapter 46
A New Dawn.
"My Queen, it is ready." Azrael knelt before her waiting for further instructions. Flame Queen followed suit, bowing to their leader. Their Queen of Darkness, in question, looked out onto the field as the remaining citizens of the Candy Kingdom and Ooo were being gathered to be sacrificed. Peppermint Maid had turned out to hold the trump card for reaching Lady Death. The tomes and scrolls of dark magic she had hidden were the very key to opening a portal to the Dead World. Multiple sacrifices in one spot, with the right incantation, would open up a tear into the very fabric of space, granting someone access to the usually inaccessible. Fionna just needed the right witch or wizard to perform the spell, fortunately she knew just the right person. Someone whose powers of magic had been proven to her time and time again. This once foe was now going to be the very key to her plans.
"Ice Queen, I take it by now you are ready?" Fionna asked impatiently before looking down from her throne at the witch bound in chains. She gazed back to the question with a cold stare from her icy white eyes. She had agreed to help her to bring back her beloved Marshall but when she had seen the lengths Fionna had gone to she tried to stop her, only to be subdued by the Flame Queen.
"As I will ever be." Ice Queen spat out. She wanted to disobey and fight her way out but knowing that if she didn't the sacrifices would still die held her hand. If they were to be sacrificed regardless she would pick the path that led to at least a little happiness.
"Proceed." Fionna ordered. Flame Queen rose, nodding to her ruler. She shot a blazing bright flame into the sky signalling it was time. Screams echoed through the air as the flame soldiers around them began to burn the people alive. Ice Queen started to chant and power the spell causing the sky above them to crack. Simone the Ice Queen kept chanting until her mouth was dry and her heart felt more broken than a thousand years of solitude had given her. She tried desperately to hold in her tears until all the screams were silenced, leaving only the small hissing sound of the burnt corpses releasing their last breaths. Fionna jumped down from her throne and strolled through the ashes of the dead before glancing up to the tear. Her head tilted to the right in idle curiosity. She moved her hair out the way to see clearer. Part of her was reminded of the time she had spent with Ice Queen posing as Gumball, the wind had blown her hair from the view that held so much hope for her. She almost hated herself for being so delusional and naive. Happiness wasn't some magical trip through the clouds with a sweet Prince, it was the small things, the small time. The times Marshall would look up at her from the lyrics he was writing, the small smile when he thought she didn't see. The sheer happiness that life could be that good with someone you love, someone who had helped you, and even saved you from yourself. The happiness she was now denied. She wouldn't be denied it for much longer, of that she was sure.
"Is it safe?" She asked Azrael after ripping her eyes away from the tear. He flapped his black wings, scattering the ashes around them, before flying up into the sky and straight through the portal. Fionna felt a strange conflict rise inside her. She was happy he was such a loyal servant and would even risk his life easily for her but would miss him if he was gone. He was the only one who actually still spoke to her without true fear of her. Fear that like those who had disobeyed her they'd be struck down and killed. Fear that she would see them as an obstacle. He wasn't afraid because he knew, as did she, that he was the one paving the path before her, a loyal bird soaring high.
He glided back out of the tear and returned to her side within minutes of his disappearance, bringing the conflict within to rest.
"The spell was successful my Queen." She smiled and patted him on the head. The other demons around looked confused by the actions but Azrael smiled proudly.
"Good job Azrael. Now let's go." She turned back to Flame Queen who had brought Ice Queen and forced her on her knees. Flame Queen smiled as Fionna nodded. She knocked the crown of Ice from Simone's head and then forced her hand over her mouth. The Ice Queen looked at Fionna in confusion as from Flame Queen's hand a heat burst forth. Ice Queen tried to scream in agony but her vocal chords were some of the first to be burnt to cinders. Her skin blacked and cracked as the red flames inside destroyed her. The Queen of Ice fell to the ground lifeless, parts of her disappearing with the wind until all that remained was another unimportant pile of ash. Fionna noticed a few solidified tears of Ice remained behind, the last tears of Simone. She let Azrael hold her tight as he flew her into the Dead World, their last stop on a journey of darkness.
/
Ice King's beard flapped furiously as he flew them through one of the higher up windows before laying Finn down on a bed and turning back to Lumen. He felt a little drained from carrying the pair but preferred it to walking over the flaming and vile lands of the Nightosphere.
"Are you okay?" He asked worried. Lumen tried to stand, ignoring how light-headed he felt and the blurring in his vision . He wasn't used to moving and everything that had happened was overloading his brain. He wasn't sure why but it felt like there was a voice in his head yelling at him but he couldn't understand what it was saying. The indistinguishable voice was familiar, it felt like a friend or a advisor to him. He tried to focus on the voice but felt each second he drifted closer to the voice he drifted away from the situation at hand.
"I'm okay. Just tired. Where are we?"
"The centre of the Nightosphere. It's where me and Marcy escaped to but since being here she's changed. She found an amulet of her father's after he died and it transformed her into a monster. Now she rules the place with malice and evil and if I try to escape she sends demon's after me. I just want my friend back" Ice King let out a few frozen tears before feeling a warm touch surrounding him. Lumen had wrapped his arms around him and hugged him. Ice King looked at the tears that crashed to the floor and for some reason he felt his pain amplified, as if the fallen tears were not his own but one's he understood.
"I need to talk to her.."
"You can't! She doesn't know you and she will eat you!" Lumen went to leave when Simon grabbed him and pulled him back. He looked into his eyes and saw fear and guilt. Lumen didn't possess the strength to resist the aged wizard and so tried remembering what the Lich had told him about focusing his powers. He let the Ice King pull him back and then focused his mind on trying to make the Ice King sleep. Darkness seemed to creep from Lumen's feet and spread out and around the room. It quickly surrounded them both. Lumen felt a little guilty as he heard the scared whimpers of the person grabbing him but held firm until Simon stopped struggling. Lumen tried desperately to drag his unconscious body to the bed when a shadow stepped out of him and helped him. He looked at it completely confused. Like with the Lich he knew beyond doubt that the shadow form before him was a friend but it didn't stop him from being bemused by it.
"Are you..me?" He asked it. It nodded to him before returning to his body. He felt whole again and wondered just who or what he really was. He walked free from the room and pictured in his mind the layout of the castle he had been imprisoned in and felt that if it was even a little bit of the same he'd find the right way. He looked left and right before following his heart and leaving the door closed behind him.
/
Finn shot up and let his eyes scan around the room. He knew this place, it was the Nightosphere, he had been here to rescue Marceline before with Jake. He could tell from the terrible decorating and the strong smell of sulphur in the air. He looked down beside him on the bed to find Simon the Ice King fast asleep next to him. Finn's heart was filled with a warmth he never expected he would feel looking at the aged antagonist of his life. He shook him awake and started to search around the room. He gave Simon a few minutes to wake up and respond coherently before he started to question him.
"How am I here Ice King?" Finn tried to remember what had happened as he continued to search the room.
"I was trying to escape again when I saw some people being dragged by the river. I pulled them out and it was you and the other human. I brought you both here when the human had mentioned Betty. When we got here he tried to go and meet Marceline but I thought it was a bad idea and tried to stop him when the room went black and I woke up next to you."
"So he knocked you out?" Finn doubted Lumen's frail form could take anyone by surprised but he had seen stranger things occur.
"No... The lights all went out and it was like a shadow came from him and surrounded me. Then I must have passed out." Finn thought of the name of the destroyed Kingdom, Shade. "Does he have some sort of power?" Finn pondered over the issue before placing it in his vault as something to come back to.
"Why didn't you want him seeing Marceline?"
"When we got here she found a purple gem necklace. She started to cry into it before placing it around her neck and.. and it turned her into a monster Finn. There was nothing I could do." Finn shuddered remembering their last encounter with the necklace. He remembered what wearing it did to him and how the chaotic evil inside was dangerous. He knew the Ice King could see things he couldn't possibly hope to understand so wondered what dark horrors surrounded the necklace that controlled their friend.
"How long ago did we get here?" Finn asked hopeful. Ice King looked out the window and frowned.
"Roughly 6 hours ago, give or take a few minutes." They both immediately rushed to the door and started to sprint towards the throne room. If they were lucky they wouldn't be too late to stop something neither of them dare think about.
5 hours before.
Lumen stuck his head round the door frame into a large room full of demon's. He peered around until he found what he was looking for. A giant demon sat granting audience to the rest. He wasn't sure why but he was drawn to it, around it's neck was a large mass of swirling darkness that seemed to be calling for him. He couldn't clearly see the image of the demon due to the darkness that surrounded it so had no idea what he was getting himself into. He pulled his head back and tried talking to his other selves.
"Hello?... Can you appear before me?" He wondered if it would work when a shadow man and a girl made of light stepped out of him. They bowed to him and stood waiting.
"There are two of you?" They both nodded.
"And you are both me?" They nodded again.
"Okay... I need to get to that darkness. Is that the right thing to do?" For the third time they both nodded. They were sure whereas he felt his feelings were being clouded by something. Lumen smiled as he realised if they were him and knew what to do then it would be perfectly fine to trust them as then he was trusting himself.
"Can you help disguise me?" He asked them. Instead of nodding they flew back into him. He wondered what was happening when clothes started to appear on him. He looked at his hands and saw them turn into claws of white light. His clothes kept growing when it passed over his head forming a mask. He wondered what was happening when his feet moved for him and walked to a reflective surface. He touched his mask and felt his own skin. His body had changed as his feet and hands became claws, fangs and horns grew from him as his eyes turned into white tears in his face. He looked exactly like what he thought would be hiding under his bed as a child, a monster of darkness. He realised he had also grow a tail and wondered if he could move it. After swaying it from left to right he confirmed he could indeed.
Walking back to the door he waltzed into the hall. He moved to the back of the queue and took his place. The demon in front of him was a small red horned monster who turned to see who had joined the queue behind him. He yelped out in fear before running from the line. After hearing the outburst other demon's turned and all began to make way for him. Lumen didn't know but his appearance reminded them of Hunson when he had lost his temper once. Lumen took it in stride and walked to the front. The giant demon was perplexed by this small shade.
"Who are you?" It asked him.
"Lumen the Human, I am here looking for the one called Marceline." The demon chuckled before grabbing Lumen with its giant tentacle.
"You cannot lie to me!" It screeched at him. As if understanding the situation his shades pulled back revealing his face. It took one look at him, and like Simon, knew it was the truth. Both had felt a familiarity to him and knew he was speaking the truth. The demon threw him back to the floor where he yelped out in pain. His weakened body could barely take the fall. He stood back up, frail and weak, and faced the demon.
"Where is Marceline!?"
"BE GONE!" It screeched. All the demon's ran from the room leaving only the great demon and Lumen. He let his body return to normal as he faced the demon. His shades moved inside him and began to try to repair some of the damage their main self had endured.
"I need to see her."
"What reason brings you here? A human who should not exist seeks a monster you are no match for." The demon spoke. It's voice was cold as if only humouring him in hopes he would leave.
Lumen sighed before sliding the bag over to the demon. He looked up at it with a sadness in his eye, wondering if the impact it had on Finn would be the same as this Marceline. He watched as it shrunk down to the point it could open the bag with ease. He wondered if he would be able to grow big like that with his powers too.
"What have you done...?" The demon whispered. Lumen couldn't quite hear so took a step forward when it shot it's gaze to him. Black tears poured from it's eyes as all of it's tentacles and other parts were shaking violently.
"I SAID. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" It screamed at him. He could see the darkness growing in the necklace and prepared himself. It shot it's tentacle towards him with a speed he wasn't expecting. He froze and closed his eyes expecting to be in pain again but when the hit never came he opened his eyes. His shadow had stopped the tentacle. The demon seemed to be trying to pull it's tentacle away but struggled to do so. In retaliation it tried to attack the shadow but the light came out and shone on it. For an unknown reason it recoiled in pain. Lumen watched as the darkness was drained from the being until the necklace around their neck cracked and fell to the ground. He watched as a giant wave of black goo exploded from the demon. He was worried he had accidentally killed someone again when a sobbing came from inside the goo. He made his way to the sound and found a girl inside. Her skin was grey and she had two small marks on her neck. Her raven coloured hair was stuck to her skin with goo and her clothes seemed to show some sign that they weren't always the same black as they were now. He didn't know why but he felt warm tears start to flow from his own eyes. He picked the bag up, trying to get as much goo off of it as he could before lifting up the girl with all his might and leaving with her.
When Lumen finally found a room that seemed to have some usable furniture he let the girl down gently and placed the bag down. He looked at her covered in goo and wondered if there was something he could do about it. The lady of light stepped out and seemed to make the goo disappear. Lumen wondered if they could act independently or if they were acting loosely on his thoughts. He worried about the girl, who seemed so light that he hadn't really struggled to carry her. He felt a chill within him so thought hard about making a coat. The moment it had appeared he took it from himself and wrapped it around the girl. He felt the tiredness wash over him and wondered if he ever felt this tired before. He sat by the door and let his mind go blank, drifting away into the sanctuary of sleep.
/
The lands of the dead were barren, with more of nothing than anything else. Fionna wondered if she would find anyone she knew here but it seemed like all the souls were nothing more than fireflies lighting up above them like a star lit winter sky. They had been moving for hours before they finally received word from the scouting units that they found what they were looking for.
"Perfect. Let's go." She smiled as the others looked at her cautiously. They were unsure of what they were even looking for. The only instructions they had received was to "Find the only place where something grows here." Azrael, himself, wondered what drove his mistress to this place.
"My Lady, I thought we were here for Lady Death? Is she not the only one who can revive the Lord?" He finally found his voice. She was grateful really, he was still the only one who would question her.
"We will find Lady Death but before that we need a bargaining tool. Like how I've become this because of my love for Marshy, I'm sure Lady Death will move the way we want with... Sufficient motivation." Before Azrael could ask what it was she meant a being was dragged before her and forced to bow. Azrael watched as their twin snake heads hissed at their would be oppressor.
"Human child... What bringsssss you here?" The twin snakes hissed in union. Fionna smiled before taking a seat down in front of them. She crossed her arms and legs and tilted her head.
"I'll be the one asking the questions. You know why I am here. Will you be saving me a trip and give me what I want or are we going to have to do this the hard way?" Fionna smiled sweetly before reaching over and stroking the scales on top of their heads. They shuddered at her touch and started to hiss nervously.
"We are not the onessss who can grant your wissssshhh. You musssst abandon this recklessssss endeavour." Fionna's smile faded quickly into a frown. She punched both heads ferociously, knocking them out cold. Some of her scouts rushed forward and tied up the being.
"My Lady, who is that?" Azrael asked hoping for the answer they all sought.
"Oh that fella? That's Life. Boyfriend to Lady Death. The only being capable of being her soul mate. You see Azrael all of creation was designed to be balanced. If there is a Lady Death there had to be a Lord of Life. I had assumed as much after meeting Lady Death. Cake once told me she helped Lady Death with a mix-tape for her boyfriend. I just had to find the one place here where something could grow and suddenly I have my trading tool." Azrael froze and looked back at the being beside him.
"That is the Lord of Life?"
"Precisely. As I said. Nothing is getting in the way of me getting my Marshall back. I will kill both Life and Death themselves if i have to." Fionna chuckled as she began walking away. Azrael was filled with a sense of both awe and fear. The Nightosphere had gained it's most cruel and powerful ruler and he was the right hand who was going to be by their side as they shook the very world at it's core.
/
Marceline woke with a jolt, her head aching painfully. She was free from the necklace and tried to remember what had happened. Looking back at her memories under chaos' control it was like looking through a fogged mirror. She remembered a demon of black and white. His bag of horror and the feeling of her life leaving her. She jumped up, for the first time noticing that someone had put a coat over her to keep her warm. She looked at the human sleeping by the door and turned invisible. She floated over to him and tilted his head slightly. She had never drunk the blood of a human but for this monster she would make an exception. She let her fangs grow longer as her tongue, like a snakes, began to twitch at the scent of her prey. She pushed her fangs closer to his throat until she could feel his pulse beating through them and then brought them shut. Her mouth with filled with pain as the force of her jaw shutting on nothing had caused her teeth to shake and ache. She looked down and could only see her shadow. She floated away and froze.
"I don't have a shadow." She turned to see two white eyes looking back at her. They closed and his body rose out from the shadows returning him back to his place by the door. He was still asleep still but something was protecting him. Marceline picked up the coat and put it on, for some reason she felt like it gave her a familiar warmth. She reached into the pocket and found the remains of her father's amulet.
"I know you just wanna give your little girl the world,
But Dadddy I'm not just your little girl,
I got my own life,
I got my own plans,
I hope you understand and like the way that I am,
Cause I want your respect and wanna be here,
But I don't wanna rule the Nightosphere." She started to cry quietly after remembering the song she had sung with the weenie all those years ago. She often wondered from beneath the evil how he was doing. If he was even still alive.
"If dreams are hope and nightmares our fears,
Then how comes I wake from both showered with tears,
With nightmares of living and dreams of dying,
Regardless of fiction the results end in someone crying,
I want to be rid of this pain that surrounds me whole,
But pain only ends up passed on when life is stole,
To the ones we love and cherish above all else,
They become the sacrifice to our ever fragile self." Marceline muttered talking to herself. She had read the words back during the mushroom war and wondered how someone could be at that point of breaking. Now she had truly lost almost everyone and thing she understood. Love was nothing but a shackle to bind you to life and force you to watch everything you love turn to dust. Her own cold still heart was the very thing that stopped her finding the peace of death.
"I think the point is to share the pain with the ones you love. I think if you work through it together even the nightmares will seem like a silly memory." Marceline turned invisible again and flew to the roof. She watched as the human looked so confused by what was happening.
"Wow! That's amazing how do you do that!?" Without replying she turned her arm into a claw and went to remove his head when he disappeared into the shadows again and walked out upside down on the roof facing her.
"I don't know where you are... Or who you are... But can you let me down please?" His voice was shaking. She, for the first time, truly looked at the human. His wrists were nothing but skin on bone and his ribs were showing through his top. His skin was pale, bruised in various places and his lips were blue, almost like that of a corpse. The human was weak, weak and feeble. There was no way he would have been able to kill Bonnie or Phoebe on their worst days. She turned visible and faced him.
"...You are beautiful." The words escaped Lumen's mouth before either had a chance to really talk to each other. As he finished speaking it was as if someone had turned the magnet off of his feet and he started to fall. She rushed forward and grabbed him before floating them both to the floor.
"Thank you." He smiled at her. She was unnerved by him for some reason. She went to return his coat but he wouldn't take it.
"You keep it, I don't want you to get cold." He smiled again.
"You do know I am a vampire and the world around us is on fire?" She asked him earnestly. He looked at the floor beneath her and then in the mirror behind her.
"Well damn, That's mathematical!" He chuckled before waving his hand underneath her to see if she really was floating. He recalled Finn calling her the Vampire Queen but had assumed that was a nickname.
"You don't seem very scared of me?"
"Why should I be?"
"Well vampires drink blood?"
"But you only drink Red, don't you Marcy?" They both stared at each other confused.
"Who are you?"
"I don't know"
"How can you not know?"
"Well I only have about three years of memory and for all but two days at most I was kept prisoner by a room designed to keep me alive and restrained. I only just went outside and for some reason I have memories of another life coming back to me... The Lich said it was the real world and this is a dream but Finn didn't know anything about it." Lumen sat down on the other side of her confused as to what was happening. Marceline, on the other hand, was perplexed by his name dropping. The greatest evil of Ooo and the Hero of Ooo, yet a two day old human knew them both.
"How about you tell me every thing?" Marcy asked. Lumen nodded and recounted the journey that brought them together. She felt sick hearing about the time he had spent inside the Room. She could see the scars and the areas of his body where it seemed to collapse in on itself. He, for all purposes, was so broken it amazed her he could even walk. She smiled as she heard Finn had immediately offered him his aid and was happy the weenie had found another like himself but her heard returned to the darkness when Lumen told her the rest.
"So King of Ooo was the one who did this to Bonnie... I'd say I'd kill him but it seems like that's taken care of. So where is the Lich?" Her voice was hollow, as if she was unwilling to truly feel the weight the words she spoke carried.
"I honestly don't know. I assume he would be making his way here, he said we were going to need your help to reach the daughter of humanity?" Lumen asked hopeful but Marcy shook her head, never hearing of a female human outside of Simon's stories.
"So you said you know me in this other life? How?" Marcy asked hoping to distract her from all her pain and hurt. She just had to keep talking otherwise all the horrors she was blocking out would return.
"I don't know... I look at you... And my heart starts to beat faster, my palms become sweaty and I'm filled with nothing but warmth." He reached his hands forward and took hers in his. She wanted to pull them away but felt drawn to him.
"Where's your ring?" The words escaped him again as he was looking at her ring finger. She froze as he asked and looked up at him.
"I'm YOUR WIFE?" She questioned as he tried to think deeply about their connection.
"Not yet?"
"Yet?"
"I think we're engaged."
"We are?"
"Yes."
"The dude I've known for a day?"
"Well in that life it's probably considerably more you know?"
"Well I suppose you are cute enough... Have some weird powers... But hmm, you must of done some real crazy stuff to get my love." She joked as he smiled.
"From how I feel right now, as I look at you, I would have died several times over for just your smile."
"Well that's stupid, I'd probably hit you for that."
"Maybe you already did." The two started laughing but soon Lumen realised she had started to cry. Her laughter turned to sobbing and he felt the sadness return to his heart. He walked round and wrapped his arms around her. She didn't know why but for some reason he was exactly what she needed to let out all the tears she had kept bottled inside. Her still heart seemed to shatter like frozen glass as the horrors caught up with her. She almost wished to escape back into the chaos so she wouldn't have to face these feelings but knew Bonnie would have never let her run away from life, not for one day would she have let her run from truth.
Outside the door both Finn and Ice King were gesturing for the other to open the door first. Finn felt like intruding wouldn't be the right thing to do but they needed to talk so hoped the Ice King would insensitive enough to open the door with ease but, to his own misfortune, found he wouldn't do it. Ice King, on the other hand, thought that anyone who could make the Vampire Queen cry like that was scary and wanted nothing to do with them. While they were both hesitating a third option appeared as a skeletal hand reached out and opened the door. Finn froze as the Lich turned to him, smiled, and then walked in. Finn snapped out of his surprise and tackled him with all his strength. Ice King rushed to put up a wall of ice between the fight and the others in the room. Lumen and Marcy looked up in confusion as to what was happening.
"Lumen! Marcy! Run! It's the Lich and I can't hold him for long!" Finn called out. Lumen used his powers to walk through the ice and lifted Finn up and off of the aged skeleton. Finn hadn't resisted as he'd been too shocked by Lumen appearing through the ice wall in a flash of light. He gaped at him confused as Lumen rushed to help the Lich up.
"Thank you child. While I can't blame the boy for attacking me I do appreciate the assistance getting up, my bones aren't as strong as they used to be." Lumen pulled out a chair for him to sit in. Finn watched as his friend treated his nemesis as if he was just an aged relative.
"...What?" Was all Finn could say as everyone seemed confused by the situation. Marceline who had been informed just tried not to laugh.
"Erm... He's trying to help. He was the one that saved us at the tree house. Please just trust him... For me." Lumen asked Finn with a desperate plea. Finn could see how much it meant to the boy so nodded without question.
"I'm sure you are all surprised to see me here, Lumen aside. Well the truth is that this whole world is nothing but a nightmare you have been trapped in trying to seal you away from the true villain that threatens all your lives." Everyone started to listen attentively. If Finn was in a better mind he'd have made a comment about the truth bomb the Lich just dropped by he didn't have the energy anymore.
"The world you are from is at war, at war with Darkness itself. You have one final foe before you and the happily ever after you all seek and deserve. The deaths of your friends in this world are nothing more than ploys to weaken your minds and hurt you."
"Wait so Bonnie.. Bonnibel, She's alive?"
"Alive and well. She's engaged and about to be a mother." Marcy's tears began to flow again. Her heart was just freshly broken so the news that her beloved friend was doing better than before was a lot to handle. It was too much, in fact, for her and they had to wait for her to breath properly and calm down before continuing.
"Why are you helping us?" Finn asked sternly. He needed to know what the Lich said was true. He needed to know there was still hope. He needed to know.
"Well you see I am sort of tied to the child over there." The Lich stated plainly.
"What do you mean?"
"They are one and the same." Everyone looked as the Ice King spoke. He could see that both Lumen and the Lich existed on the same magical wavelength.
"Exactly Simon. In the real world, Lumen killed me and absorbed my powers after I possessed his adopted father. A good man who I assure you will be missed greatly. In this world you are engaged to the Princess of Flames. You have children who have journeyed from the future to be with you, you all do. You even have a family from the world of Pillows who live in the Shade Kingdom ruled by the Shade Prince over there." Thin trickles of blood slowly fell from Lumen and Finn's noses. They turned a ghostly pale as they dropped to the floor in pain. Marceline rushed to make sure they were okay. Their bodies shook violently as she felt them burning up.
"What's happening to them?!"
"They are remembering the real world. The problem is we are still missing the third piece of the puzzle."
"Why are we not affected by it?" The Lich looked at her and paused, unsure of whether to inform them.
"The only true beings in these delusions are the humans. You and the Ice King. You are both fabrications made from the memories of the boys here. Even I am only a remnant of the original, dragged into this world by chance." Marceline froze and without hesitating drove her claw through her heart. She watched as her body repaired itself as if the injury never happened.
"I'm not real?"
"Here you are not, if I recall you and your doppelgänger from Aaa are preparing to aid the main force of the United Front of Ooo." Marceline chose to ignore most of what the Lich was saying. Right now all that mattered was helping the boys.
"What do you need from me?"
"I need you to contact Death. We need his aid." Marceline flew from the room leaving Simon to use his hands, and powers, to try and cool down the temperature of the two boys. They groaned and winced as pain flooded their heads.
"I'm back. He should be here any minute." The few minutes waiting was unbearable. Marceline was holding onto Lumen as he shook in her arms. The pair was still in pain and bleeding from their noses. The Lich was chanting and each minute of it seemed to reduce their pain but it wasn't exactly a speedy process. Before long there was a knock on the door and Death walked in. He looked around at the group who were assembled before him. He took note of the horrible state his favoured hero was in and sighed.
"What exactly is happening?"
"I'll explain outside, if they hear any more their minds might shatter." The pair of deathless beings left the room and spent several moments discussing. Lich held the the door for Death to re-enter then followed him in.
"So if I'm to get this right, you need these two to meet up with their third counterpart in the Aaavian dimension?" The Lich nodded in response. Death waved his hand and a portal seemed to appear out of thin air. He grabbed the two boys, lifted them to their feet and pushed them through.
"Anyone else going?" The other three scrambled into the dimension before Death came through and closed the door behind him.
The group looked up to see an army of Demon's facing them. Upon seeing the group they all froze. One demon with black wings flew over to the group.
"Speak strangers? Who are you?" He demanded pulling a sword and pointing it at them. Marceline nudged Lumen, who nodded. He staggered sideways and grabbed Finn before the two disappeared into the shadows heading towards the castle behind the demons.
"Where are they!?" The demon yelled again. Marceline poked Death who shrugged before deciding to speak begrudgingly.
"Greetings, my name is Death and we are residents of the Ooo dimension. We have come here to meet with the daughter of humanity. Beside myself, there is the Ice King, The Lich and Marceline the Vampire Queen." All the demons attention was drawn to Marceline. She floated up and then down and noticed that all the eyes followed her around.
"Who were the two others?" The black feathered demon questioned.
"The other two children of humanity. Finn the Hero of Ooo and Lumen the Prince of Shades." All the demons grew tense as the being spoke. Much like their mistress they could feel the evil leaking from the deathless being. Azrael took in all the information he could. This might just be what they needed.
"Come with me." The group decided to follow the demon and see what exactly was happening in Aaa's dead world.
/
Fionna the Human stood before Lady Death with a twisted smile on her face. In one hand she held her blade and the other was a firm grip on the Lord of Life's neck. Lady Death stared at her viciously with her hollow eyes. She had felt the death toll in Aaa grow to an unimaginable level and before she could act the demons had surrounded the castle. She was prepared to send them all to a place worse than death when the newly crowned Queen of Darkness had brought her boyfriend before her. He had been beaten, tortured and tied up. He was breathing at least, she knew that.
"Child the sins you have committed this day will never fade from your soul. You have broken the very laws of our world and stand at a crossroads. You do this and there is no going back, for anyone." Lady Death tried to reason with the girl, at least long enough to gain an understanding of what had caused the once hero to turn into her enemy. What unknown force could inspire such evil.
"The time to talk is over. I want what is mine back. Bring Marshall-Lee the Vampire King back to life and I will release your boyfriend." Fionna threatened. Life opened his eyes and shook his head discretely to Lady Death. One sin shouldn't be committed to appease others. Suddenly it was clear to Lady Death, what force drove all mortals to their darkest depths but one of the lightest emotions one could feel... Love.
"I cannot do that. I believe I told the demons the same thing when his mother died." Fionna's smile vanished once more. She grew tired of all these powerful beings denying her the right she so desperately sought. She had tried to be kind, she had tried to be merciful. To smile to these false gods that dictated her life but she was done, done trying to curry favour to those she no longer needed.
"Well.. That is a shame." Without batting an eyelid she tried to slit Life's throats only for both Lady Death and Life to disappear from her sight. She screamed in fury and began to throw the furniture in the room when a knock drew her focus. She ripped open the door to find Azrael waiting for her.
"WHAT! What is it!" She yelled furiously. He could tell that by letting the two boys go he had angered her. He hoped what he brought her would appease her.
"My lady, A portal opened outside and strangers stepped out. It appears to be people from another dimension similar to ours." He explained quickly. She wanted to tell him it was of no importance but her curiosity got the better of her.
"Similar how?"
/
Lumen reappeared from the shadow with both Life and Lady Death. He gasped desperately for air as the toll of using his powers when he was so weak was finally showing. Finn quickly started to treat Life's wounds as Lady Death stared at them both in confusion. A male who looked like the very same girl who just tried to kill her beloved and a half human mortal who moved through shadows.
"You are not of my world?" She asked while looking at Finn.
"No we're from Ooo."
"I see.. I take it Death brought you? Where is he?"
"We left him with the demons."
"YOU DID WHAT! Why would you rescue me but leave him behind?" She moaned at the pair who looked at each other before answering.
"He's with friends."
"Friends? Who do you think has the power to rival a fallen Hero?"
"A Vampire Queen, the Ice King and the Death of Humanity?" Lumen replied. Lady Death stared at him before shrugging her shoulders in agreement. As far as she was concerned that was pretty good back up.
"What's the plan here?"
"We have no idea" Finn admitted before looking at Lumen who shook his head too.
"We kind of were hoping that we'd find the answers here but it looks like we need to go back. You two get to safety. Prismo could probably help you, if you head to the tree house you'll find a pickle jar. It can take you to him." Lady Death bowed before grabbing Life and disappearing like smoke in the wind. Finn turned to Lumen who was still taking a breather from using his powers so much.
"So... The shadow thing is cool?" Finn said uncertain. Lumen smiled and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm not really sure I get it but if it helps us then it's okay. Let's go." Lumen grabbed onto Finn's tattered sleeve and the two stepped out of the darkness of the Lich's cloak. He smiled as they returned unnoticed by the Demons.
"Things are moving quickly now it seems." Death whispered back to the Lich. Death had noticed some of the Demon's acting unnatural. They stared at the group with hollow eyes but seemed to be no more than puppets. He had joined the story late but felt like events were moving too fast.
"The Darkness' illusion is weakening the closer they get to each other. The elaborate lies he spun are coming undone and he grows desperate for them to break. We need to be careful going forward. The children must connect and remember." The group listened without giving away any expressions as they waited for the return of the winged demon. Marceline tried to remember her past and realised until she had met Lumen had become a blur, the lies were indeed becoming undone, even her.
"So is that why it feels like I've spent more of my life in a day than in the three years of being tortured?" Lumen questioned.
"Those years were nothing more than a setting the darkness placed in you. If his plan had succeeded you two would never have met and you would have met your ends. Lumen, trapped forever until his mind lost all meaning. Finn, losing his life to the evil who stole it from him and Fionna, destroying everything she once held dear."
"Fionna?" Finn and Lumen said in union. Their heads began to hurt again as they turned to see the black winged demon and the blonde girl, draped in red and black, who stood watching them.
"Who are you?" Fionna asked coldly as she let her eyes scan her visitors.
"My name is Finn and I'm the hero of Ooo."
"Finn? Like a male version of me?"
"Exactly. We are all versions of people you know but of the opposite gender." Fionna was unnerved by the Lich's presence. She was sure that she had killed his counterpart but always held the fear in her heart that she would return.
"So who are the rest of you meant to be?"
"Death."
"Ice King."
"Marceline The Vampire Queen."
"And I'm Lumen the Human, nice to meet you." Lumen said with a smile. He thought that anyone who was like Finn would be a nice person to meet. She focused her gaze on him and wondered where he fit into the mix.
"You? I don't know you. If you are meant to be version of my friends why don't I know you." She asked him. He started to try to think of an answer but couldn't since he didn't really know what was going on.
"Never mind. Frankly I don't care. So Marcy is it? Why aren't you dead?" Fionna stared at her coldly.
"Pardon?"
"Well if you are just an opposite sex version of us and our worlds are the same why aren't you dead like my Marshall?"
"Wait? I'm dead in your world? What happened?"
"I'm the one asking the questions. If you really want to know though I may as well tell you. Flame Prince became jealous of mine and Marshall's love. He was egged on by Prince Gumball and my sister Cake. He attacked us and killed Marshall. So I killed him. I then proceeded to kill both those who betrayed me. I freed Flame Queen and with the demons of the Nightosphere I conquered Aaa. I killed all those who opposed me from the Ice Queen to the United Prince's of Aaa. I slaughtered them all and used their deaths to tear open a portal into the Dead world. I captured the Lord of Life and was going to force Lady Death to return my Marshall back to life when they mysteriously disappeared into their shadows and you guys appeared. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but you seem to control shadows don't you. Lumen." She rushed forward with her blade but never made contact as he disappeared before appearing again on the roof. Marceline tried to stifle a laugh as he looked confused again.
"Finn?" He asked, as if to check if he would have done the same as her. Finn shook his head and drew out his sword.
"If you really are me then you know what I have to do." Finn said solemnly. Fionna began to laugh loudly before clicking her fingers. Around them hundreds of demons circled them. The group edged closer together while Lumen tried to work out how to get down. The now lifeless demons creaked closer to the group. Finn stayed his hand as their blades formed a sharp ring around them.
"Now answer my question. Why aren't you dead?" Fionna asked again, pointing her blade straight at Marceline.
"Well... For one I didn't shack up with Finny here. He still loved Flame Princess and I moved to the Nightosphere once Bonnie went missing. Turns out this is all a mad dream and I'm actually engaged to shades up there." Everyone looked up at Lumen as he started to try to make his way down the wall. He wasn't sure how to stop this part of his powers so was shifting slowly closer.
"What?"
"This is all a dream. A dark nightmare brought on by the final boss you will ever face and he has trapped you here to break you and end your lives. If you awake from this nightmare you will find that all those you love are still very much alive." Just like before Finn and Lumen's head's started to ache. Lumen came crashing to the floor and Finn fell to his knees. Before them both Fionna was doing the same.
"...What's happening to me..." She cried out in pain.
"You are remembering the real world." Marceline said in bemusement. She wasn't sure if it was even true but wondered to no end just how crazy their day to day lives were.
"...Kill them." Fionna muttered as the demons rushed in. Ice King surrounded them all with a dome of ice while looking panicked.
"Now what?" He asked terrified.
"Death. Head back to your world. This may be a dream but it's best to be safe. We will take care of this." Death nodded and like Lady Death he turned to dust before them and vanished.
"Now we just need the three of them to come in direct contact with each other. We need to keep the demons at bay." Marcy and Simon nodded.
"Hey Si, you ready to jam?" Marcy winked before making her bass axe appear. Simon nodded and made two drum sticks out of Ice. The Lich stepped forward and turned the ice to ruin. Marceline began to play her guitar as ripples of chaotic energy burst from it and started to vaporise the demons. Her time with the amulet had allowed her to tap into her demonic power and control it. Simon on the other hand began to drum in mid air as if playing the air drums. Somehow it seemed like he could still play a beat and wherever he pointed at with his drums sticks giant icicles exploded from the ground impaling the demons. The Lich looked at them both and wondered if he neglected music as an application for magic. Turning back he found himself surrounded by a large number of the demons.
"Fall." The demons who heard his words fell to the ground screaming, their senses cut off and his voice in their minds.
"Ha aha ha, You are alone children. There is only darkness for you and only death for your people. You are weak and I am beyond strength. I am the end. I have come for you all." The demons shook on the ground, trapped in the Lich's dark delusion. They were powerless to him. In the silence of his spell and the sound of the two others many demons began to lose their lives. Fionna watched as her people fell to these strangers. She saw Lumen still recovering on the floor and rushed to end his life. Like before he disappeared into the shadows but unlike before he walked straight back out and punched her to the ground. He looked at his fist in confusion.
"Oh I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. It was instinct." He confessed guiltily. She swore loudly and jumped back up, trying to slice the apologetic human in two. No matter what she tried he kept escaping her. In the end she dropped the blade and grabbed his arm gently. Unlike before she realised his dodging was as he said, instinct and the only thing that beats instinct is experience. She drove her fist into his nose hearing the crunch of bone breaking and felt his warm blood gush out. All of a sudden the pair dropped to the floor in pain. She looked down at him, laying in the mud begging for her to stop. He couldn't save her mum, she knew that but she still wanted him to try. Rage fuelled her as she stabbed him again and again forcing him to his limit. Fionna snapped out of it to see him looking at her in confusion, he saw it too. Out of no where Finn rushed out and kicked her away. He went to help Lumen when Azrael lunged at him, dragging him into the chaotic battle that was taking place beside them. Finn kicked the demon off of him and then brought his sword round to strike him. Azrael shielded himself with his wings. Blood poured from them as he winced in pain. He flicked the blood straight into Finn's eyes before grabbing him and pulling him into the sky. Finn shook the blood off and looked down at the ground from high above, before he had time to think he was thrown from Azrael's grip towards the dead world. The wind rushed past him as he prepared to hit the ground, just before he could however Lumen burst from the shadows and dragged him back in. The pair came flying out across the ground before breathing heavily.
"I hope our real lives aren't like this... I'm not a cat. I don't have nine lives." Lumen moaned before trying to stand. He was pretty sure he broke a few more ribs in that last move.
"You and me both. I think if it is like this I might just retire from the adventuring gig." Finn chuckled wiping the last of Azrael's blood from his eyes. The two looked up to see Fionna picking up her blade before them. They both raised their fists to fight when Azrael came flying at them. Lumen dragged them into the shadows leaving him to fly past. They heard a massive crunching noise and turned to find him on the floor crying in pain, blood pouring from his back. The Lich had clipped the demons wings and tore them from his body. He smiled at them both before turning to rip the heart from another demon.
"Are you sure he's on our side...?" Finn whispered to Lumen. He smiled nervously before turning in time to see Fionna's fist before it sent him flying. Finn dodged her next attack and parried her blow with his. Their swords clashed together as the sounds of metal smashing together stopped the battle. Everyone now watched as the Heroes fought their final battle. Lumen managed to stand and started to limp towards them. He struggled to follow them with his eyes as he edged closer.
"I need to stop them before it's too late." He told himself. Finn found himself struggling against Fionna's speed whereas she couldn't believe he was over powering her. She managed to cut his hand and he recoiled in pain, staggering back. He looked down and saw some of Azrael's feathers were scattered on the floor. That would be his chance, he led her closer before putting force on her. She stepped onto the feathers and blood and lost her footing falling onto her back. He kicked her blade away and held his above her head.
"Do it." She spat at him as she faced her end. He brought his blade down straight through Lumen and into her heart. He had appeared from the shadows and tried to stop him from finishing it but it was too late. Finn froze as he looked down at the last two human's impaled by his sword. His blood ran from his hand and down the blade until it connected to Lumen's. Lumen's blood poured onto Fionna and connected the three together. The Lich smiled as the world around him began to shake and fall apart. Everyone began to vanish until they were left in complete darkness. Lumen looked over to see Marceline blow him a kiss before she faded with everyone else into the black. Finn stood up and watched as Fionna pulled the sword free from Lumen and cast it aside. The moment it left their bodies it turned to dust.
"...Is that it?" Lumen asked as the Lich spoke from inside his body.
"You are whole again. Now the real fight begins and I'm sorry, but this is goodbye for good Lumen. Once again, It has been an honour knowing you, Prince of Shades." Like the rest the Lich had been dragged back into the shadows, left only as a power gifted to Lumen. The trio fell to the floor once more as their minds were starting to restore to their original memories. Lumen was the first to realise what had happened in their confused state. While the Darkness had been trying to break their minds and hearts he hadn't left their bodies untouched. He looked down to see his arms, back in his normal clothes forming a shield in front of him. He turned his head back to see Fionna on the ground, her sword by her side but uninjured. He looked forward to see the guilt in Finn's eyes as they looked at the sword he had stabbed Lumen with. Their nightmares had come true and Lumen's shades had forced his body to dive in front of Fionna to save her from Finn's blade.
"Lumen... Oh my glob.. I'm sorry." Finn began to apologise while Fionna jumped up and stood in front of them both, facing the darkness. Lumen smiled at the pair before reaching out and grabbing Fionna's shoulder. His body began to glow and, then like the time in the field, all of his powers were absorbed into Fionna. His hair returned to its original colour as he winked at Finn and fell backwards. As he fell he grabbed the small vial of Infinite energy from his breast pocket and threw it to Fionna, who caught it with ease. Finn's sword was left, covered in blood, pointing at the empty darkened sky as Lumen fell from the platform.
Finn froze unsure of how to process what was happening when Fionna's voice cut through to him.
"GO AFTER HIM!" She screamed at him. He nodded before throwing her his sword. She caught it with ease as Finn ran and leapt from the platform into the raging war below. He saw how much time had passed in the nightmare as the once structured armies were now a mess of the fallen and those struggling to survive.
Fionna turned back to the shadow before her. She threw the vial into the air and using both blades she sliced it in two. Her body was brimming with the powers of light and dark. Her golden hair seemed to shine as her blades became swords of light. From her back a second set of wings grew and she truly became the Princess of Light. From below, those who fought for good looked up to their guardian angel facing down the darkness.
She looked into the darkness and from within a figure walked out. She couldn't describe it, like Ghost had told them the Darkness was more like a feeling. For Fionna it was losing her mother again and again. It was hurting her friend in her anger. It was every mistake and bad decision she ever made. It was the sinking and empty feeling in her heart that made her lose hope.
She felt her vision grow weary as she faced him. She tightened her grip on her swords. In one hand she held the sword of Aaa and in the other the sword of Ooo. The being raised its hands and giant spikes of darkness rushed towards her. Somehow she knew she didn't need to defend. A blinding ball of light surrounded her as she walked towards it. Lumen's light protected her, the shield was strong. She felt the power flowing from Finn's sword. Within her, the heart that was so close to losing hope, seemed to bloom with happiness and love. She let her mind drift to the nightmare and thought that maybe a picnic wouldn't be bad. If anything the nightmare let Fionna know one thing, good or bad she'd be the best at it but for now, she was the Princess of Light and whether the two who once stood by her lived or not she would not fail them.
"YoU ArE aLl DoOmEd." What could maybe be described as a voice, but for Fionna felt more like nails on chalkboard speaking, came from the shadows. She smiled, it was so arrogant that not for one minute did it believe it could be killed by mere mortals.
"It's Adventure Time." Fionna whispered to herself as she raised her blade and thrust it into the being before her.
/
Away from the final battle above, Finn could barely see through the wind and his watery eyes. He could make out Lumen's figure as they tumbled to the earth, he reached out as he gained on him.
His coat flapped in the wind as it started to disappear. The power that gave it substance no more, forcing it to leave it's master. He looked back at the shinning light above him and Finn who was coming closer before his world faded to black, the speed of his fall robbing the oxygen from his lungs. He could feel the wind flowing through his brown hair, the cold air nipping at his peachy skin. Lumen fell towards the war waging on below, powerless and for the first time in a long time, he felt alone. Ghost, Lich and the many darknesses he gathered. His shadow and his light, all were gone. Even in the nightmare he had his shades and now, as his mind was beyond faded, he had none.
"LUMEN!" A scream silenced the whole battlefield. Both sides paused in that second to look up at the darkened sky, as the Prince of Shades fell for the last time. Marceline tore herself from the battle as Marshall grabbed her and threw her with all his might. She flew through the sky with all her power going as fast as she could. If she was quick enough she'd be able to save him, save them both. She locked her eyes on him as the rest of the battlefield was focused on the angel above. She knew he would do something like this, he always did. She had lost so much in the past to lose anything now. She could see Finn speeding up to catch him, wondering if he had even thought of the consequences before jumping after her beloved. They were going too fast for her, she could tell she would never make it in time when Phoebe flew from below and wrapped her arms around her. Her flames started to burn Marceline's skin as they sped through the sky.
"This may hurt.. but its the only way to save them!" She yelled out to Marceline. Phoebe used all of her power, her flames and all its mastery. The powers she had gained since the day she was reunited with Finn burst from her as she propelled them forward with all she had to give. The pair were starting to reach their mark. Lumen's version of the flame shield couldn't protect Marceline from the intense heat Phoebe was generating but she didn't care, nothing mattered in that moment but saving the people they loved.
Finn reached out and grabbed Lumen's arm. He could see Phoebe's light coming closer but knew they wouldn't make it in time no matter how much they tried. He used all of his weight to make the pair spin while falling. Finn was struggling to keep his consciousness but kept going until he got enough force and then he used all his strength to throw Lumen upwards in the direction they were coming from. The force caused him to change direction away from the approaching two. He was falling more towards their headquarters and hoped, above anything else, he'd done enough to save Lumen.
"Maybe it's time for someone to give their life for yours Lumen." Finn smiled as he saw Marceline reaching for him.
The pair had seen what Finn was trying to do and had worked together. Marceline turned into her giant form and threw Phoebe like Marshall had thrown her. She then flew towards Lumen and caught him in her arms. The force of his fall brought them both back to the ground. She held him in her arms, realising that just as planned he'd given up his powers, his abilities and his immortality. She started to patch up his wounds as she rock him in her now charred arms.
"Sleep my baby... Just sleep. Leave it to the she-weenie. She'll end this and we'll have our Hope after all. We have your whole life to be together. To love each other and be happy. Just sleep now... Because when you wake I'm never going to let you go again. You drive me crazy, you always end up throwing away yourself for everyone else. I want you to keep your promise... That we have forever... Even if forever is only a fraction of eternity.. please Lumen." Marceline kissed his forehead before looking up at the fight above. It was nearing its end. Cold tears ran down her grey skin as she gazed at the light above, it was his light that now protected Fionna, she knew his light would never falter.
Phoebe was struggling to hold her form as she raced across the sky. She knew the pervert would be fine with Marceline but she couldn't lose her love either. She could see him nearing to her, he had passed out and wouldn't be able to control his fall. Phoebe felt her own life force draining as she spent every bit of energy she had but as she neared she finally realised that she wouldn't make it no matter how hard she tried. She didn't hesitate to continue, however, and pushed herself to the limit. She could see some of the others preparing where Finn was heading but couldn't afford to hope that they would be able to save him.
Finn sped towards the ground at an alarming speed, realising Phoebe wouldn't make it those left at the headquarters were taking action of their own.
"Are you sure about this?" Jake asked with nothing but concern and worry on his voice. He had stretched out into a giant baseball glove ready to catch Finn. Inside the glove Bonnie and Bubba had laid down ready to take the impact.
"If you take that force Jake you may end up injured and so might Finn. We, on the other hand, would be able to cushion his landing. We are squishy and if anything it might be the nicest landing he has ever had." Gumball chuckled as he readied his body to take the hit. Both he and Bonnie had been proud of their efforts in the war thus far. They'd led them through the first wave of generic villains like the battle cubes and the wolves sent forth to thin their numbers. They had been no match for the combined might of Ooo's kingdoms. The friends to the champions had taken a lot of the enemies out themselves. When the people whose names were known by their misdeeds stepped forward it became harder. The average soldier was no match for them. Peace had dimmed the Flame Warriors and the rest of the Kingdoms had never really wanted war. Unlike Finn and Jake they weren't fighting every day for fun and excitement. Marceline and Marshall had worked to force the named to an area where Phoebe could lead the strongest to oppose them. Jake conveyed the orders from the twin gum royals as the war raged on. The pair had worried immensely when the dark wave had consumed their friends above but they had chosen to believe in them unconditionally and do their part.
"This is our chance to fight Jake. We may be the brains of our army but it doesn't mean we don't want to carry our own weight. I have to say... I'm sure saving the life of a war hero is a decent contribution." Bonnie chuckled as she turned and smiled at Bubba. He nodded back and they readied themselves as Finn came crashing into them. It took all of Jake's strength to not go crashing into the HQ building behind him. He had thought he would falter when an army of Gunter's came to his aid. He chuckled as their little fins tickled his back. He stretched out a hand to grab Finn from inside his landing spot and laid him gently on the ground. He then shrunk and turned to see a giant pink and purple blob.
"Erm Bubblegum? Bubba? Is that you?" Jake asked uneasy.
"Why yes Jake!"
"It most definitely is!" Their voices came cheerfully from the gumwad. He watched as they separated and somehow returned to their original forms.
"What was that?" Jake asked confused as to what he witnessed.
"Well we just fused as one, our minds and body became one and we shared everything!" Bonnie blushed profusely while looking away from Bubba. Jake didn't exactly know what to say or do. "Would that be Tier 16?"
"Okay... But are you two okay without that part?" Jake pointed at the ball of gum on the floor between them. He felt an intense heat approaching so knew his brother would be just fine, he'd let them have their moment together. Bubba and Bonnie checked themselves over before picking up the gumball.
"It can't be?"
"That's just not possible?" Bonnie began to smile, tears forming in her eyes. She turned to Bubba as if looking for an answer.
"I mean... Did we?"
"I think we did!" She chuckled before her grin grew even wider.
"What did you do?" Jake asked as he stretched bigger to see what the ball was. Bonnie nodded for Bubba to explain.
"Well... When me and Neddina, like I imagine Bonnie and Neddy, were created. We were part of the Mother Gum and developed independence because of two reasons. We were unique and intelligent and the Mother Gum wanted to create new life. When me and Bonnie fused... Due to our intellect and age... We became a new Mother Gum. Both our minds were focused on only one thing... Life. Saving Finn's, our friends lives and most of all... The life of our little girl. While it was brief it seems our wishes were heard and we, together, created a life." Bubba had never sounded so unsure of anything in his life. Jake took each word in but couldn't quite comprehend.
"Wait is that?" Jake started to ask as the gumball broke and a weak crying sound came from inside. Bubba reached in and pulled out a small baby girl. Bonnie reached onto her back and ripped her cape off. She wrapped up the baby before kneeling down to let Jake see clearer.
"Jake.. Say hello to your god-daughter.. Belle Gumdrop." Bubba quickly rushed forward to grab Bonnie, she was so overcome with emotion she could barely stand.
"Belle... And me? Godfather?" Jake asked as tears began to fill his own eyes.
"Well of course! I mean you, in every timeline have always been her Godfather, I seem to have made sure of that! Plus you literally had a hand in bringing our little girl to life!" Bubba grinned widely. Belle had told him that him and Jake form a close bond over the years and he got named as her Godfather alongside Marshall. They had chosen Marshall and Jake as her Godfathers and Marceline and Fionna as her Godmothers, a pair from each dimension just seemed to fit for them.
Jake watched as they came together, Bubba holding Bonnie as the pair gazed at their now sleeping little girl. He stretched round and hugged them all.
"I'll go check on Finn, you guys should rest, after all you just had a baby." The Gunter's rushed forward and started to build a protective wall around the trio. Jake rushed over to see Phoebe crying over Finn. Dread filled him as he got closer.
"Phoebe! What's wrong!?" She looked up to him with a big smile as she held him tightly.
"He's okay... I was so scared Jake. I thought I'd lose him again, thank you! Thank you so much for saving him. It was always you Jake bringing us together. If it wasn't for you I'd never have even left my glass shell. I owe you so much Jake.." Jake felt like his heart expanded on his own and he rushed forward and wrapped his paws around the girl. She cried into his fur as she let out all her worry and fears.
"Hey... Don't be silly what are brothers for?"
"Brothers? Oh right... You mean Finn."
"No Phoebe... When you and my boy get married I'm going to be your brother in law. That makes us family. I will always be there to protect and look after this family. Always." Phoebe chuckled and hugged him tightly.
"thank you..." She whispered quietly. He smiled before the pair joined the rest of the battlefield and looked up to the Princess of Light above.
/
From the moment Fionna had stabbed it with the blades the situation had changed. It screeched loudly in agony as the pain from the Infinity Blades coursed through it.
"Bet you never even felt pain before? Have you?" Fionna slashed at it again. It raised it's dark hands in defence only to screech louder as they were cut off. It tried shifting it's form and escaping from her but the light from Lumen's shield that surrounded Fionna held it from escaping.
"I bet you've never had to feel the agony of losing someone. Of having someone torn away from you and being left all alone. I bet you've never even felt a single bit of remorse for all the lives you've ruined!" Knowing it couldn't escape it tried to attack Fionna only to be blasted by light from within her. It tried to run at her but chains of shadows bound it in place. She looked at the darkness before her and for the first time, she felt it's fear.
"For so long, you have stood above us all. The mortals who you could walk over, torture and destroy. You ended world after world for your own selfish satisfaction. Well let me tell you something about this world you probably didn't know. The people here are good! They are brave and strong and will never let evil bind them down and they're not the only ones. Each world you took apart had champions to defend it, and each time you felled them their dreams and hopes and wishes were passed to the next. Until they finally reached us... Reached me. I am Fionna the Human, Princess of Light and I'm the girl whose about to kick your arse!" She screamed at the Darkness as all of her being filled with light. She rushed forward and slashed her blades with all the skill she had trained for. All those years, fighting and saving lives accumulated into her form as she forced it to it's knees. It's physical form began to suck all its energy back inside. She watched as the darkened form began to boil as all of its power came together for one last stand. She forced her two swords together and felt them combine into one. She raised her blade above her head and took her form. It was a stand off for all of creation. For the first time she felt the weight of the sword above her. Her heart was strong and she felt the many hands supporting it up.
"You got this Fi! Show him whose boss my little bunny!"
"Do it Fionna! For Lumen and everyone else!"
"End it! You got this girl!" She heard the voices and wishes of everyone below. The weight seemed to lessen as she felt them all with her.
"WhAt ArE yOu?" The Darkness's voice flooded her ears.
"Me? I'm just a good little girl." Fionna grinned wildly as she rushed forward and brought down her blade. She sliced through the Darkness with everything she had before falling to her knees. The sword in her hand shattered and the light inside her vanished. She watched as her wings began to break apart and she was returned to normal. She gazed back to the Darkness. It screeched louder than ever before as it tried to hold itself together. Cracks of light started to form and grow as it lost its form. She felt a light inside it growing and quickly started to run in the opposite direction from it. She rushed and was near edge when the darkness imploded and the force sent her flying through the sky. She looked down towards the ground and smiled as she flew straight into his arms.
"Oh Fi... What are you doing?" He said as he held her tightly.
"Just dropping in, did you miss me?"
"Every second you were out of my arms" She smiled before wrapping her arms around him before kissing him with everything she had. She and Marshall floated down to the ground, ignoring the chaos happening behind them.
Everyone else witnessed as the final part of the Darkness was consumed by the light and the implosion became an explosion. The wave of light spread across the horizon and ventured through all the universe's, ridding creation of the Darkness's touch. The mindless goons and villains of Ooo snapped free of his grip and began to run away from their pursuers. A beam of light rose from over the mountain as the first light of a new day came. Cheers erupted from the United Forces of Ooo as they all celebrated their victory. Beams of magic and light spread across the sky as the survivors each looked towards the sun with hope and joy in their hearts. The champions of Ooo and Aaa held their loved ones tightly as the storm finally passed and a rainbow took it's place. After all this time, the trials, the danger and the war... was over.
A/N: Thanks to anyone who reads this. If you can find the time please review and let me know what you think. This is the second to last chapter of a story I've been writing for years. I find it strange to admit but this story has been with me through some of the hardest moments of my life and as I face the end I see it as a chapter of my life coming to an end. For anyone who has supported me, read or reviewed I offer my most sincere thanks and gratitude. I hope you can love the end as much as I do and join me one more final time for The Human and The Shadow.