Nanam stared at the seven of them.
"Finn the human. The blade which you held previously, the Kouvier Blade, is a cursed sword, one that would have taken control of your body. That is how the power which corrupts Orlock works. It is a dark power, one which desires the extinction of all life."
"But, where did it come from?" Finn asked.
"Where does anything come from? It simply exists. All of the evil in the world, and that power is its manifestation. When the Comet came that day, it brought all of the evil with it. And then the bomb 1000 years ago, and the miniature bomb that came just a few weeks ago. They all embody that chaotic essence."
"Does this have to do with the Keeper?" Simon asked. "We're running out of time."
"The Keeper, yes. Bonnibel is located some fifty-nine light-years away, on the planet Aldavon. Head in the direction of the sun. I do not know of what plans are going on over there, however. I will transport you there, but that is all I can do. I can only transfer two of you at a time, however."
"You said there were more of you?" Simon asked.
"Correct, but I can answer no further questions."
Its eyes glowed, and Finn and Jake were transported. Flame Princess and Water Princess were also transferred. Marceline and Simon were next. Finally, Peppermint Butler was the last to go.
Finn and Jake were expecting the rest of the group to appear, but they didn't. After a few minutes passes, they decided to head for wherever the Keeper was.
The planet they were on was odd. The sky was a light grey, with a pink ground. Some blue plants, which looked prehistoric, littered the ground. They headed in the direction of the sun, which at the moment indicated early afternoon.
"What's bothering you Finn?" Jake said. He noticed Finn was being quiet for most of the trek.
"I don't know if I can do this, or if I want to do this."
"A little late in the game to start having doubts, brother."
"I know, but... do I still want to be a hero? I mean, maybe there's more to life than just adventure..."
"That's not all of it, is it?"
"I'm confused. My old feelings for Flame Princess are building up again. I still care about her a lot, but... Water Princess, ya know?" The slightly incoherent rambling was understood, but Jake knew they needed to stay focused on the task at hand.
The two princesses walked on silently. They had no idea where the others were, but they walked in the direction of the sun.
"Flame Princess?" Water Princess finally broke the silence.
"Y-yeah...?"
"Do you love Finn?"
"I don't know, it's confusing right now. When I look at him, I remember all of those times and it makes me feel... hollow, you know?"
"I'm sorry."
"There's nothing for you to be sorry for. It's not your fault. It's... mine. I should have tried to work things out."
"What happened?"
Flame Princess looked at Water Princess. "He never told you?"
"No..."
Marceline felt a bit awkward walking in the sun, but it looked like she was finally free from her curse. Simon walked along, stopping every few minutes to rest. He felt exhausted.
"I never got the chance to say this, but I'm proud of you."
"W-what?"
"You've managed to live a somewhat normal life, while I was stuck in that labyrinth. I was gone for a thousand years, and I remember all of it. All the madness."
"At least you're ok now, Simon. That's all that matters."
"I know, but if I could do it all different, I would have never picked up that crown. But then again, we probably wouldn't be here now, to stop the Keeper."
"I'm proud of you, too, Simon. You managed to keep your real self for a thousand years."
"You know, that means a lot to me. I love you, kid."
"And I love you, old man."
The two shared a hug.
"Now then, enough of this sentimental stuff," Simon said. "We have a universe to save."
Coming through the vines and trees, they arrived at a swamp. There was someone there.
"I have been expecting visitors. From a far away land, yes?"
It was an old coot in the middle of the swamp, with nothing but a rocking chair, and a fire going next to them.
"We're looking for someone," Simon said.
"Yes, I know. He should be coming along anytime now. You two are quite strange-looking."
The old...person... looked quite strange his/herself. They were short, had a blocky, yellow-orange head (that was about the same size as his/her small body), and short purple hair in the style of dreads.
"How do you know that?"
"Oh, I am an oracle. I have known about this event for some time. Oh, yes. There he is."
The Keeper emerged (in Princess Bubblegum's body) from the plants surrounding the swamp.
"You!" he yelled.
"What?" Water Princess asked after having been told of the events proceeding Finn's breakup with Flame Princess.
"Yeah, that's when I decided I need time to be alone."
"You patched things up, though, right?"
"Yes, but... maybe not the way we should have."
Water Princess looked at her fellow princess, a sense of some kind of longing. She wanted her to be happy, but she knew there were only two options, and she wasn't about to give up Finn. She wanted to take her hand, but knew they both would feel pain.
"Whether we win this or not," Finn began, continuing his walk with Jake, "at least we do this together."
Finn and Jake walked out of the underbrush and noticed six other faces as they reached the swamp.
"Finn the Human," the Keeper growled. "Welcome to your death."
He pulled out a small blue crystal.
"The Crystal, yes," said the Oracle. "You wish to use it for your final project, hmm?"
"And just who are you, old fool?" asked the Keeper.
"Just an Old One. But it seems like I am intruding. So if you don't mind, I'll take that crystal and be on my merry way."
"Fool, the crystal is mine!" He shot a green fireball (slightly melting PB's candy arm) at the Oracle, but it spread out and dispersed before it could hit them.
"What's this?"
"Hand over the crystal, yes."
"Over my dead body."
"Very well, then. I will leave you people to it." The Oracle walked away, leaving the other seven to begin their final battle at the swamp.
"What's with the crystal?" Finn asked.
"It is the final piece of my project," said the Keeper. "When we battled last, I had used imperfect clones to power my monster."
He picked up the small, dark blue crystal.
"With the real deal, there's no limit to what I'll be able to do!"
"Grab the crystal!" Simon shouted. We can't let him exterminate all life!"
"Is that what you think I want!? Hahaha! No! What I want is something far more... ambitious. I will recreate the universe in my image. And the first step is getting rid of you people. I have already stripped this world of it's candy elemental. And it's ice elemental has fallen. Now, all I need is the fire and slime elementals. With them gone, I will appease my master and gain it's favor."
"Your master?"
"Yes, I believe you're familiar with him, Simon."
"I don't know who you're talking about."
"GOLB. I know you will all one day come again. But by that point, it will be too late. I will win this day!"
"Who the heck is GOLB?" Finn asked.
"Now I remember," Simon said. "GOLB is a entity that embodies chaos."
"Yes," said the Keeper. "One of the divine, extradimensional beings of the Universe. Now, if you'll excuse me, my plan will commence."
Flame Princess tried to throw a fireball, but he snapped his fingers. With a shudder, she grew yellow, and then green. The same horrible look of madness was on her face.
"This time, I win!" the Keeper exclaimed.
His (PB's) body was engulfed in green flames. The candy flesh of Princess Bubblegum melted away and left behind a skeleton, with glowing green eyes and dark black hair.
"Bonnie!" Marceline cried.
She tried to fly over to the Keeper, but Flame Princess got in the way. She burned a green inferno. She began shooting fire at Marceline.
"Come forth, Finn the human" said the Keeper. "Today, you meet your end."
He pulled out his sword.
"The Blade of Ruin," he said before the sword transformed into a scythe. "Now, pull out that Kouvier Blade I am so envious of."
He noticed for the first time Finn's eye and right arm had been restored.
"Nanam, I presume."
Finn pulled out the Ancient Sword.
"Oh my, this appears quite interesting. Let's see if your stone can match my steel."
He surrounded himself in green flames, and manifested a dark robe with a hood. He held up the blue crystal.
"Now, speak you last words before I take your life."
"Gotcha!" Peppermint Butler (who had arrived at the Swamp) yelled.
"W-what!?"
The Keeper was rendered immobile by some sort of paralysis spell.
"You!" he growled at Peppermint Butler. "I will destroy you."
"Hello," said the Oracle. "We are back. I knew you'd be here, yes. Peppermint Man arrived here first, so I used him to my advantage, hmm."
He plucked the crystal from the Keeper's hand. He put his hand on the Keeper's head.
"Hmm, Orlock, is it? Anyway, for her."
He threw a jar filled with powder at Flame Princess.
"For you, Flame Girl."
The jar broke and released a gas. Flame Princess fell asleep.
"Well that was easy," Jake said.
The Oracle tossed the crystal to Finn.
"Swallow it, child."
"Wait, what?"
"Hurry, child, use the crystal. We're running out of time."
The Keeper broke out of his paralysis.
"I don't think so! I am done underestimating you!"
He charged into Finn, grabbing the crystal. He quickly swallowed it.
"Hmm, it is this outcome, I can do no further."
The Oracle left.
"It is over, now. I have increased my power. I will conquer the universe!"
Finn ran toward the Keeper, using his Ancient Sword, but the Keeper blocked it with his Blade of Ruin.
"I won't forgive you for what you did to Bubblegum."
"I don't expect you to."
Flame Princess walked in a dark void. A dark, cold green fireball is all that could be seen.
"Give in, child," it spoke to her.
"No way!"
"Don't delay the inevitable."
"Stop talking!"
"Aren't you cold? Give in and warmth will return to you."
"I would rather die!"
"If that's what you want."
Flame Princess curled up into a fetal position while her flames slowly burnt out. Her body, now lukewarm, was getting colder and colder.
So this is how it would end for her. She thought of all her life. Her father, her people, her friends, and Finn. She remembered that day, when Finn found his resolve. He found a way to win, and so would she. She exploded in flames. Her body increased in temperature.
"I'm not cold. I'm burning!"
Back in the real world, Flame Princess' body exploded and she returned to her real self. The green light in her eyes disappeared.
"Impossible!" growled the Keeper. "She could resist the power of chaos?"
She burst into life as the Keeper used his magic.
"Not so fast."
He raised up am army of mutated, zombified cave dwellers.
"Necromancy has its perks."
Finn continued to fight, but whatever power the crystal had given him made him faster than Finn could keep up with. Finn's body was covered in cuts, bruises, and other wounds.
Finn tried to strike the Keeper, but the Keeper parried and stabbed Finn.
Flame Princess screamed in anger at the Keeper as she crashed into him.
Water Princess rushed over to Finn.
"Finn, please tell me you're ok."
Jake rushed over to Finn with a bottle in his hand. He poured the contents of the bottle onto Finn's wound.
"What's that?" Water Princess asked.
"Cyclops tears," Jake answered. "Should heal him up."
In Finn's mind, Nanam spoke to him.
"All is not lost, Hero of Ooo. You must defeat the Keeper before he is fully corrupted by GOLB's influence. Chaos demands the destruction of order, and that requires the extinction of life in the universe."
"I can't do it. He's too powerful."
"No, Finn. I have given you the power you need. Use the sword to it's full potential. Chaos can be balanced by harmony. Fight with your friends, end it. For the sake of all life."
Finn used the ancient energy within his sword, and in a single blow, used the sword's full potential to shatter the Blade of Ruin.
The end had come, but Finn knew he would still have one more thing to do afterward.
"You will pay for that, Finn the Human," said the Keeper. "This is the end for you."
Finn rushed the Keeper. The same ray gun he had used to teleport to Aldavon fell out of the pocket of Princess Bubblegum's lab coat. The ray gun dropped and went off, creating a portal that transported Finn and the Keeper.
"What the-? Where are we?" Finn asked. It was a jungle; no, it was the jungle. They were back near Nanam's temple. Suddenly, the same beast from a few days before appeared, growling and roaring. It attacked Finn and the Keeper.
"Finn," Finn heard Nanam say.
"Kinda busy here," Finn said, holding back the beasts head.
"You must use the energy stored in the Ancient Sword. It is a mass of all the time and memories accumulated since the dawn of this planet. The sword's energy is this planet's history incarnate. Use the blade to defeat the Keeper."
Finn ran from the beast. The Keeper grabbed the enormous tiger-like creature by its tail and slammed it into the ground before throwing it deep into the jungle.
"Where are you, Finn? This ends now."
"I know it does," Finn replied. His sword was now charged with glowing white energy. He stabbed it into the Keeper, and the glowing light began obliterating the Keeper.
"This will not end this way, it can't. I, Orlock, will not stand for this. This cannot be!"
Those were the Keeper's last words. No chaos, no evil, and no GOLB. It was over, finally. The sword had shattered, leaving only the green gem once embedded in the hilt. Finn picked it up as the sword crumbled. He found the ray gun and found the settings for Aldavon. It was time to go home. He opened up the portal and stepped through it.
"Hey guys," he called to the group.
"Finn," Jake called. "You're alive!"
The group took turns hugging Finn. The Oracle showed up.
"You managed to do it! You're welcome, by the way, for the powder, yes. It sure comes in handy, it does."
"Thank you," Finn said.
"By the way, take this." The Oracle gave Finn a pendant, with a strange alien symbol on it.
"What's this?"
"Our crest."
"Yeah, but why?"
"How should I know? I didn't make it up."
"I mean, why give it to me?"
The Oracle gave him a second one, this time with the initials AT on it.
"In case you ever see my children again. I understand they patched you up some time ago, yes. The second one is for you."
"You mean the Seekers?"
"Yes, indeed. They are in search of my knowledge. They will will eventually see some knowledge comes at a price. Now then, get a move on."
Finn opened a portal back to Nanam's temple.
As the group came back to their planet, they realized that Princess Bubblegum was lost. They started to cry, every one of them.
"Do not cry," Nanam said, again addressing them telepathically. I can help restore Bonnibel back to life."
"Really," Marceline asked. "How?"
"I will speak with the Master of Wishes."
"You mean Prismo?" Jake asked.
"Correct. She will be restored shortly. For now, I will transport you all back home."
The group was transported in front of the treehouse. Jake went inside immediately.
"Jake," BMO exclaimed. He sat beside N.E.P.T.R. and Shelby. "Where have you been?"
"Jake, 너 괜찮아!" shouted Lady Rainicorn.
Peppermint Butler left for the Candy Kingdom, and Marceline went home, enjoying her newfound immunity to sunlight. Simon went with her.
Only Finn, Flame Princess and Water Princess remained.
"Listen," Finn said. "I care about you, and maybe I still have some feelings for you, but... I love Water Princess. So... I guess what I'm trying to say is... I'm sorry, but we can't be together."
"I know Finn," Flame Princess replied. "That's alright, I understand."
"I'm glad."
"But that doesn't mean it will always be that way."
"Wha-?"
"Bye, Finn."
She left, leaving the embarrassed Water Princess alone with Finn.
"I guess I'll see you later, Wendy." Finn teased. Water Princess took mock offense, her face flushing, causing her cheeks to steam.
"Sh-shut up!"
All's Well That Ends Well
The End
Epilogue
Shermy and Beth unearthed a skeleton, near an old plain. It looked like there had been a tree there at one point. The skeleton wore a blue shirt and short, as well as a white hat. It had a pendant with green gem attached to it. It has the initials AT on it. After asking the King of Ooo (BMO) about it (he couldn't remember, but he'd seen it before), he gave them a map to a place where they might get an answer.
After sailing to an island, they reached an old temple. They reached a chamber with a lóngguī statue. The statue explained they were worthy to receive his knowledge. They asked about the pendant.
"Let me tell you a story," it told them. "That pendant was worn by the greatest hero in all of the Land of Ooo. A hero who saved the entire universe. Our hero's story begins with two words: Adventure Time."
A/N: Thank you for reading through all of this. It means a lot to me.
BTW, there is a sequel to this story, titled The Water Prince.
