"Whoa..." Finn looks about at the raging storm enveloping the Ice Mountain Range, "Ice King's really lettin' off his fireworks..."
"We better be quick, bro," Jake's eyelids protrude his eyes far out of his face, like binoculars, "Seems like the storm's reaching beyond to the Kingdom!"
"Alright, Ice King...!" Finn pulls out a silver sword he'd found in the Tree-house treasure pile, "Prepare for a beating!"
The brothers charge into the fray.
…
"Soo... We're going to the Ice Queen's place?"
"Ice King."
"Whatever."
Marceline grit her teeth. As much as she hated it, they would have to see the Ice King again. Simon, in other words. She watches as Marshall Lee lazily flits about, nonchalant. He hadn't been given the back-story. She hadn't thought of it for him when she told of it. And why should she? That story … was make-believe. A world where she wouldn't have to deal with all the heaviness she had here. So why didn't she just throw it in his face right now, shatter him with the cold truth of this reality? For some reason she couldn't bring herself to ruin this image of her bent into a world of simplicity. Something held her tongue from revealing the hard facts.
Let him fly about in ignorance.
The storm was growing worse as they neared. Icy lightning shot out of the head tower in sporadic bursts, illuminating the surrounding clouds with a light blue hue. Snow and blizzard winds rage about, making them shield their eyes.
"I hope they're okay..."
"Who? Fiona and Cake? Yeah, they'll be fine..."
"Finn and Jake," Hisses Marceline.
"That's what I said."
…
"Finn!"
Fiona's cries are answered only by the wind's howl and icy chill.
"We gotta get into her castle!"
"Slow your roll, sister!" Cake's legs turn into springs, "Up we go!"
The two are launched into the air towards the head tower. Fiona can see a large shadow moving beneath them in the blizzard.
"Finn?! Ow-"
They slam smack dab into the body of the tower, a few feet from the mouth window. A sudden gust erupts from the opening, blowing them off the mountain.
"Fiona!" Cake makes a long grab for Fiona as they free fall.
A wind blows Fiona just beyond her grasp.
"Caakke! – Oomph-" Something breaks her fall. No... warm arms are holding her...
"Fiona?!"
Fiona looks up at Finn.
"Finn!" She wraps her arms around his neck.
Finn feels his insides melt on contact. He'd seen her falling and jumped off Jake to intercept her. Now he wasn't sure whether or not he regretted it.
"Finn!" "Fiona!"
Jake and Cake come running.
"You two okay – oh..."
Fiona is still hugging Finn. Jake's mug curls up again, much to Finn's embarrassment. Fiona quickly lets go when she sees Cake. Cake's face is squeamish with delight.
"W-What?"
"Fiona, what are you doing here? I said you guys would watch the tree-house!"
"Well, we had to come help!" Fiona retorts, blushing, "You don't know what you're getting into with her-"
A crash. An explosion of cold air and ice shards. Jake and Cake form a barrier around the two humans from the shrapnel.
"AAAAAAAHHHH-"
The Ice King lands into a snow bank. Snarling, he pops out and bristles, floating back up. The Ice Queen floats out of the hole in the wall she made and looks down at him.
"That... HURT!" He shoots a frozen beam at her, "Now you've done it lady!"
She dodges it and makes birds out of the swirling snow. They fly downwards towards Ice King. He in turn conjures his icemen to fend against the aerial assault. Jake and Cake loosen their folds a little so Finn and Fiona can see the spectacle. They can't believe their eyes.
"Ice King … who's that lady he's fighting?"
"Ice Queen … who's that old -"
Fiona stops short. Something inside feels naturally attracted to the old man who's blasting about. Why?
"Oooh..." She hears Cake murmur, "Who's that honey bun there?"
"Cake!"
"Who? What honey bun? Ice King?" Jake looks at her, confused, "Did you hit your head or something?"
"Cake! What would Sir Monochromicorn think?!"
"Well, if he'd seen this guy, he'd known this Ice King be way outta his league!"
"Alright, bunk this!" Finn jumps out of the Jake and Cake barrier, brandishing his sword, "Take this, Ice King!"
He jumps up, swiping at the Ice King's tunic. Ice King doesn't even register his presence. He fires ice lasers which the Ice Queen returns. The two have this shootout as the snow around them swirls into a storm, descending slowly.
"Give it up, lady!"
"You first!"
Their next blast knocks Finn into a drift. He pokes his head out and angrily shakes off the snow.
"Finn! Be careful!" Fiona calls out.
"Aim for the crown, man!" Jake hollers.
"Oof!" He narrowly dodges an icicle as it flies over head. The fight is getting worse, and so is the storm. The cold is getting to him. Wearing a t-shirt is not the best way to ward off the cold. But he'd lost that sweater Bubblegum had made him...
The Ice King and Queen are now wrestling with each other on the snow, standing on a bit apart and trying to freeze-touch the other. Numbly, Finn staggers up and charges with significantly less energy. He brings his sword down as the two monarchs separate and send a blast towards each other, with him in the crossfire.
"Finn!"
"No – Fiona!" Cake's hand gets frozen trying to stop Fiona, who has gone running past the ice beams to reach Finn.
She shakes the frozen, leaden feel from her legs. If she can't reach him...
"F-Fiona, don't – argh!" Finn's sword is blasted out of his hands. His hand slowly becomes encrusted with ice.
Ice Queen sends another blizzard beam. Ice King sees Fiona and pauses for a second, letting the beam hit him directly. He tumbles into a pile of snow. Blearily, he crawls out and looks about. His eyes fall on Fiona, who's trying to help Finn stand, both of them being exhausted from the cold.
"Oh, my glob..."
Ice Queen spies the two heroes. A look of disgust flashes on her face. Sparks fly from her fingers towards the two. Ice King, trying to react, sends an intercepting ray. Fiona, seeing the pincer attack, shoves Finn out of the way. She sees his lips form a soundless "NO" as he extends a hand to reach her.
ZZZZKKKRRSSSHHHH
It's the sound of countless grating ice shards in the cold air. It's the sensation of tearing pages out of a books spine. His heart had stopped on realization. Her touch is still warm where she'd pushed him forcefully. His lips are contorted but his voice is stricken by despair. His vocal chords knot as she is enveloped by the blue and white light. His eyes widen at the passing impact. Upon landing in the snow, he regains his voice.
"FIONA!"
Ice King looks up in horror. In the sky, scattered by the magic shots, are pieces of his tattered fan-fiction.