Princess Bubblegum pondered the nature of what happened earlier. Whatever possessed Flame Princess seemed to react to the kiss that Finn had shared with Water Princess. It could be possible it retreats from showings of affection. But, whatever the case, she'd have to keep an eye on Flame Princess.
Meanwhile, Flame Princess surveyed the destruction of what happened the few weeks before. The city looked different, but it did not seem to matter to the citizens of the kingdom. But as she walked into the palace, she was given some unexpected news.
Elsewhere, on a deserted mountain top, a man with long black hair, and a long black beard, walks among the uninhabited landscape, headed for civilization.
Finn sat on the couch, feeling confused. He was worrying about Flame Princess the past couple of weeks, and now that she was finally out... he felt empty? That wasn't quite the right word, but he definitely felt that he wanted to see her again. She was his friend after all. But he decided she needed time to get back to her own life. He'd stop by in a few days. She was staying in the Fire Kingdom while it being rebuilt.
A few days had passed when Finn was chopping down some trees. He could do it quite easily with his Kouvier, but he decided to do it the old-fashioned way, with an axe. As he did so, an old man walked up to him. Finn stood dumbfounded. It was a human! He looked a bit familiar. He had long, black shaggy hair, and a long black beard. He was thin, wore a beige/tan professor's uniform, complete with elbow patches, and had a pair of round, wire-frame glasses.
"Good day to you young man. I'm a bit lost, and I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of the nearest city?" The voice sounded familiar as well, but Finn couldn't place it. He pointed in the direction of the candy kingdom. He looked at the man as the old guy walked toward the kingdom. That place was under serious construction. It was the first kingdom the be attacked, and the Princess was currently operating in an underground lab since her upstairs one was melted. All those kingdoms, like the Fire-
'Flame Princess!' Finn ran toward the kingdom. He'd've told Jake where he was going, but Jake was with Lady. He slowed down near the entrance. Oh yeah, it was a fire kingdom. Luckily, he remembered that he had a protective suit. Though made by Bubblegum, he took it home amd kept it there. After putting on the suit, he openes the door to find Water Princess was standing there, her arm poised mid-knock.
"Oh, hey Finn," she said awkwardly. She took a look at the suit he was wearing. "Are you going somewhere?"
Finn fought against his instincts. They were telling him it was a bad idea to tell her, but the logical part of his brain said there was no reason why she shouldn't know.
"To the Fire Kingdom."
"Could I come?"
Some part of his chest/stomach area were screaming "no".
"Of course."
As they entered the (half) rebuilt palace, they saw two guards posted out front.
"Hey-o."
The guards crossed their spears in an "x" shape.
"Halt, state your business."
"We're here to see Flame Princess."
The guards looked at each other before letting the couple pass.
The duo stopped in there tracks as they reached the front throne room. There sat Flame Princess herself on the throne, a crown on her head. She wore a similar suit to the one her father wore, and even had the same eyes that he had.
"Hello, Finn."
She nodded in acknowledgement of Water Princess.
"What happened?" Finn asked. He emphasized by gesturing toward the throne, and then around the room.
"My father... is gone. That monster..."
She didn't need to say anything more. Finn remembered that day as clearly as if it happened an hour ago. He always would. He looked down at his metal hand.
The old man from earlier strolled into the Candy Kingdom. He went toward the (melted) tower. He looked around.
'Sheesh, this place doesn't look to good. I wonder what happened.'
He noticed the basement door-like entrance to the underground lab, no longer hidden by the tower. He approached the tower and two banana guards talked about some nonsense as he simply walked passed them. He walked around the halls inside, looking for somone of authority, when Princess Bubblegum walked out of her underground lab. She noticed the confused man, and walked over to him.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Oh, uh, hi. Listen, could you help me. I don't seem to remember anything. All I know is that I woke up in some mountains. I can't even remember if I had a house."
He looked at her shoulder.
"Funny-looking hamster you got there," he told her.
He pointed at Science, sitting on her shoulder. Something about the "hamster" rubbed him the wrong way.
"Oh, that's Science, my rat. But, anyway, I'll try to help you. But I don't know if I can without any information."
Though she were just about to take a break, she walked back to her lab with the old man, who mysteriously was keeping his distance from her. With all that was going on, everyone just wanted things to return to normal.
After explaining that her father had not survived the attack on the Fire Kingdom, Flame Princess informed the two that she was now its ruler. She explained the new policies she was implementing, like becoming less evil, and being more honest.
Finn looked over at Water Princess. Whatever feeling that had caused her to gravitate to the treehouse that first morning, that's what he was feeling now. He had hoped to talk to her alone, but he did not know what it was he wanted to say. He wanted to tell her that he was worried sick since she was possessed by that evil, but there was something else. He knew, to a degree, but he did not want to admit it. Things- not just romance- were going to get complicated. New situations were developing, and the strange events that led to what happened weeks earlier would lead to a fracture in destiny.
