Ardent Notes
The citizens could've sworn, with the effect of recent events, that the skies of the Fire Kingdom were denser and gloomier. Even the Earth itself seemed at a standstill. Volcanoes seemed to weep their molten payloads, rather than violently gushing out the steaming lava within. The land was in such indisputable sync, many had begun the rumor that their kingdom's physical state was directly linked to the emotional exertion of the king.
Even Cinnamon Bun could not argue with this. As he stood by, sorrowfully gazing upon the despondent ruler, there was no doubt that the realm she commanded was in the same dire mood as she was. Flame Princess hadn't changed her facial expression once since they attended the private funeral for Finn. For the last four days, she'd been as quiet as possible. During those times she absolutely had to speak, such as when business was on the table, her voice was monotone and hollow.
CB knew she wasn't all there. A large part of her was likely hiding away in the corners of her mind, desperately trying to get past her most brutal ordeal to date. The candy knight himself still felt awful, having never had the chance to explain to Finn himself that things were not as they seemed between himself and FP.
Or so he thought.
Shrouded in his ultimate disguise, Finn stood opposite CB, staring into the ground. He, like the king, had not demonstrated much activity for several days. When asked to perform a task, he would comply silently, nodding and going on his way. But there was something else bothering Cinnamon Bun, something that was right in front of his eyes and yet ambiguous enough to avoid being obvious.
Flame Princess suddenly stood up, seeing as the line of aid-seeking people had dwindled to nonexistence. CB watched her turn and head up to her chambers, with not so much as a 'goodnight' to her two protectors. The candy person knew he was to follow, as either he or Finn had to be posted at her door whenever she had retreated to the room. However, he'd had enough of going through the same routine every day. There had to be a way to restore life to the benevolent ruler of the Fire Kingdom. And her knight.
He faced the depressive flame human.
"Fen."
It took a moment, but the fiery young man nudged his head in the bun's direction and slid his empty pupils across the surface of his eyes, meeting sights with his comrade. However, he remained silent.
"Fen, do you think maybe, tomorrow, you could take FP out for another walk or something?"
He fully faced the hero, drawing him into the conversation.
"She seems to really react to your company, perhaps it would-"
"She hates me."
Cinnamon Bun nearly recoiled, not expecting the sudden reply.
"What? What do you mean?"
Finn remained in his position, half-heartedly participating in the talk.
"Haven't you noticed? Ever since we got back from the funeral, she's been going out of her way to never look at me."
The sugary knight's senses froze.
That's it! That's what I've been seeing!
Before her could respond though, the young man continued.
"I blew it. I gave her the news, I hurt her, I don't deserve to be acknowledged by her."
CB took a step forward.
"Fen, that's not true! You're kind-hearted, noble, and always put others before yourself."
He placed a hand on the hero's shoulder.
"How could anyone hate you?"
The fiery young man let out a breath, then backed away, out of reach of the bun's attempted comfort. Then, he turned, walking away into another portion of the palace. CB noticed Jake 2 go after him, whining, as if he could sense the distress Finn was in. Once the two were gone, the vigilant knight tightened a fist, frustrated with the situation.
No. I'm not letting this go on.
He retired from the throne room, heading off to his post in order to fulfill his duty to the king.
All the hallway torches burned a dim red, reflecting the current time of day and giving the appropriate light setting for anyone walking through it, considerate of those who may already be asleep. Cinnamon Bun quietly rounded the corners, fast approaching FP's bedroom. Once reaching the correct door, he hesitated.
For all he knew, she would simply shout at him to leave her alone. After all, it hadn't been that long, and he knew she still cried on occasion. It also occurred to him, exactly how much did she care for Finn? She never spoke of him, or indicated anything as to her stand on their relationship.
On the other hand, she slipped up her feelings recently, with none other than Fenrir, her newest guardian. Something about the young man stirred up memories of the human, feelings that CB thought felt were more than just friendship. The knight shook his head, seeing as he was sidetracking himself. He knocked gently on the door.
Waiting was tense, since he still expected an outburst. The bun was heartily surprised by the reply.
"Come in."
He almost didn't, thinking he misheard. However, not wanting the chance at direct discussion slip by, he twisted the knob and entered, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Flame Princess was at her balcony, staring off into the distant lava lake beside the palace. Cinnamon Bun's legs felt cautious as he approached her, as if they believed that coming any closer would shatter the solemn moment. Eventually, he stood behind her, wondering what exactly to say or even how to begin.
"I…I just wanted to ask…"
He was shuffling his feet absentmindedly.
"Are you…upset with Fen?"
FP's head raised slightly, her attention attracted. The young lady turned around, revealing a confused expression.
"Upset with him? Of course not."
She spoke with absolution, as if the very thought was preposterous. Cinnamon Bun tried to proceed carefully.
"Then why have you been avoiding him?"
She crossed her arms.
"I haven't, you've seen that yourself."
The knight could've sighed. She was dodging the real question.
"You know what I mean, FP. You refuse to even make eye-contact."
He frowned.
"He's hurt, thinking that it's all his fault you're like this. Can't you at least explain why? Is what he believes true?"
Flame Princess looked at him for a moment, then turned around, shifting her arms from being simply folded, to gripping her sides.
"No. I'm just not ready to face him."
The reply certainly brought confusion to the knight, who tilted his head with curiosity.
"Why?"
It was quiet for a moment, then the girl wiped away something from her face and sniffled.
"Every time I look at him, all I see…is Finn."
Cinnamon Bun's eyes went wide, as all of his theories and contemplations suddenly were laid to rest. The candy person walked up next to FP, placing a hand on her back as he leaned over to look at her face. Her eyes were closed, but he could still see a rim of shimmering lava on her lids.
"Flame Princess, what were your feelings for him? From what I can tell, you've been keeping them locked up, seeing as you never spoke of him throughout these years."
At that point, FP's eyes flashed open, gazing out at the horizon once more.
"No, but, I did think about him, many times."
CB's insight grew with every word that came out of her mouth. He was also thankful that she was speaking so much. It was good for her.
"Way back then, when my dad tried to retake the kingdom with Don John, I had hoped Finn would be serious enough to help, but he still wouldn't accept where we stood as far as a relationship."
She lowered her sight to the edge of the balcony.
"But, despite his immaturity, how could I knowingly say I have no sense of feeling to him?"
The fiery girl ran her finger along the volcanic rock of the ledge.
"It may have been indirectly, but he was the one who freed me from the accursed prison of my lantern. When I was alone, utterly confused by my new surroundings, he gave it everything he had to help me, even if it meant being burned."
FP twisted her neck to look at Cinnamon Bun.
"He even taught me that fire elementals don't have to be evil. We can choose our own alignment, and that is how I reshaped the Fire Kingdom after dad was out of the way."
She looked back at the lake.
"If you really think about it, Finn is the one who set the foundation for this place. I could never give him enough gratitude for what he did. I understand that the Fire Kingdom would've never gotten here if we didn't break up, but…"
The ruler looked to the ashen skies.
"No one ever said that break ups have to be forever. Even if I could take an hour or so out of my day, for him, we could've started over."
The sizzle of lava tears met the floor.
"Fate however, played the cruel trickster. After all the waiting, the hoping, the thought of Finn actually returning here every once in a while, the world comes down on me and makes sure that I'll never get the chance to tell him I never stopped-"
Her words cut off after that. She sniffled again, hugging herself. It was silent for a few minutes, until Cinnamon Bun stepped over and leaned on the edge with her. She resumed a moment later.
"What Jake said, it was like the universe was mocking me. Finn had spent all this time, growing up while burdening himself with such guilt. He finally understood the importance of a kingdom. Then, just like that, I was too late to admire the young man he had grown to be."
She stuttered her breathing, then sobbed for a minute. Cinnamon Bun took her in for a comforting embrace, as his sugary skin was soaked with bits of molten rock. He waited for her to get the worst out before finally speaking again.
"If what you told me is true, then you've been a fool."
Flame Princess nearly gasped, stepping away.
"Excuse me?" she stated indignantly.
CB looked her in the eyes.
"You haven't thought of the other perspectives."
The fiery ruler couldn't speak, too shocked by the knight's words.
"Finn isn't gone. The universe, I all its divine wisdom, left you a part of him."
FP was still confused.
"I-I don't understand."
Cinnamon Bun smiled gently.
"Tell me, what do you see in your new protector?"
The fire elemental slowly lowered her head, pondering the question for a moment. CB watched as she brought her hands together, then laid them against her chest. Her eyes grew closed.
"I see…everything that I loved about Finn, and everything I hoped he would become."
The girl felt her champion's hand on her back again. Looking upon the pastry again revealed that he was still smiling. He gestured to the door.
"He left you a guardian, someone to carry on his feelings and vows. How do you think he would feel, knowing you are avoiding his final show of how much he cared for you?"
'The Wise Cinnamon Bun' was never a title that anyone in Ooo would ever think to use, but in that moment, Flame Princess could not think of any greater phrase. She threw herself into her knight, still letting out some stray tears. The bun hugged her back, secretly feeling his own type of satisfaction at his success.
"Thank you," was all his king said.
FP could hear nothing but her own steps as she made her way through the corridors of her own palace. It had been a good ten minutes of random wandering, an attempt to find her second protector.
Where could he be?
She sighed, losing faith by the second. However, just as the fiery sovereign was about to give in, a sound stopped her dead in her tracks. She remained unmoving, determined to know if it was just a trick of the ear. Aside from the crackling of the torches all around, she could have sworn a note was just played.
Sure enough, another rang softly through the halls once more. Intrigued, FP tracked it, practically jogging down the pathways as she heard the notes get stronger. The sounds led her to a fairly unused portion of the palace. It contained the library, along with a handful of ceremonial artifacts, and, as far as Flame princess could remember…
A piano.
Struck with renewed wonder, the young lady rushed towards the large doors serving as the entrance to the chamber of knowledge she so rarely stopped by. Just as she was about to kick the doors open, she restrained herself, realizing that if she did, the music would likely stop. Instead, FP opted for gently placing her hand against the flame-resistant wood and pushed. Luckily, it didn't even creak.
Instantly, the playing became louder, clearly the source of that wondrous tune. She crept up to the edge of the overview, as the actual library was a two-story circular room, keeping all the books on the top floor, with an inner lower floor containing the relics and piano. Flame Princess set her hands on the railing as she leaned over to see what was happening.
Gentle and controlled fingers were tapping down on each white key of the delicate instrument. Eyes closed, golden fiery hair dimmed, Finn sat in command of the beautifully carved device, delicately ringing out synchronized notes that produced a calm and graceful tune. FP stared at the flame human, entranced by the entire scene. She knew that song, it was well renowned, not just in her kingdom, but all across Ooo.
Suddenly, the music was cut off, as if the vocal scoring had been torn. She heard a frustrated sigh from the one playing the large instrument. Finn briefly opened his eyes, studying the keys beneath his fingers. He seemed to be attempting to remember the rest of the piece. A moment later, after taking a deep breath, he started over.
Flame Princess slowly walked to the stairs, listening intently the entire time. Her step was in sync with the music. She practically felt like dancing. Her nightgown swayed in the movements of her body, as she lost herself in the enchanting sounds. The stairs especially fit perfectly into her movements. Some of the notes were spread out, indicating her hesitation to intervene on the pianist; others were full of energy, representing her urge to find company in the young man below.
At long last, she reached the bottom, just as Finn broke off again, cursing under his breath. Once more, he started from the beginning. Flame Princess approached one step at a time; every five notes brought her closer to the hero's back. As the music dragged on, it was almost as if it were ushering the ruler to hurry up. This quickly turned to anticipation, as she now stood almost next to him and sensed the music drawing to the portion Finn couldn't play.
She tried to step forward, but found herself too nervous. The notes came closer to the abrupt end. FP subconsciously bit her lip, unsure of what to do.
Just do it, FP. Go.
Even after summoning her best courage, the fire elemental just couldn't make her legs move.
Finn, totally absorbed into his playing, noticed the part coming up that he struggled with. He knew why, and it was an old scar upon his heart. The piece itself was a classical song, popularized especially one night at the under-reconstruction Candy Kingdom. Finn had recently finished restoring the night club, and the lovely couple of Tree Trunks and Mr. Pig had decided to celebrate its return by inviting everyone for a romantic date night.
Naturally, Jake and Lady Ranicorn had come, as well as the party bears. Even Xergiok and his mermaid lady came along. Finn offered to be the pianist at the engagement, committed to making sure everyone around him was happy. Near the end of the night, after numerous slow dances and enjoyment, TT requested Finn to play that song, as her and her hubby hit the floor.
Their performance was so persuasively cute, every single couple joined in on it. The human sat there, urging on the joyful pairings in front of him with his notes. It was there, halfway through the piece, that each couple in the building joined their lips in passionate bliss. The sight, while making the hero smile, secretly struck a weakened chord in his heart. A single tear had dropped from his eye that night, and it just so happened to splash onto the last key for the song.
On the final note, Finn felt the salty hidden pain seep into his skin.
He never played the song again.
After so long, the piece was scattered in his mind, but also less painful to play. After all, he was now isolated from that emotional beating in his chest, choosing instead to give his efforts into helping those around him. Regardless, he now wished he knew that second half. The very portion he struggled with suddenly was upon him. He struck the last note he could remember.
Only to hear the next parts begin to play.
Disbelief suppressed his startle, instead allowing him to calmly turn his head to observe the fiery girl now sitting next to him on the bench. She had her eyes closed, expertly continuing the music as Finn sat in shock. After a minute, FP set her amber gaze on him for the first time in days. To her utter delight, it was not painful or difficult to hold the stare.
The Finn she knew had been reflected onto the young man sitting next to her, who was gazing back at her with the same thoughts in mind. Subconsciously, his hands reached for the keys, instantly joining in to the song. He had no idea how he suddenly remembered the rest of the notes.
FP knew he was happy before he did, smiling as the flame human's eyes slowly shifted to blue. It didn't matter who the person beside her said he was; to the fiery girl, those were Finn's eyes.
Her magical smile. The hero felt like crying just then. Instead however, he chose to simply smile back, then closed his eyes and returned to the keys. Flame Princess did the same. The two poured out the beautiful tunes, letting them fill the circular room and drift off into the walls of the palace. Those who were asleep smiled in their dreams, those who were awake immediately felt a joyful memory sweep across their mind.
High above, leaning against one of the room's support columns, Cinnamon Bun watched with a wide grin as his fellow knight and ruler sat beside one another, content as could be, sharing a wonderful melodic mantra of joyful moments and passionate thoughts.
Thank you, Fenrir. I can protect her person, but only you, can protect her heart.
This chapter was written using leftover emotion from reading the latest of SCIK1012's "Flanella".
If you haven't read, you really should. NOW!
nrbuer: Well, I kinda check the wiki practically every day. I see nothing of darker episodes.
kojh0124: Thanks for the morale boost, sorry for the depression.
Riset36: Feel kinda bad for making a second feels chapter then. Oh well.
LepreKanZ: Good to know, thanks!
Bio team2: *feeling bad for junking up people's hearts*
trystrike: Gotta love it.
dfinkel70: I KNOW!
Rick: Going for maximum heart twisting, makes it that much better on the upswing.
Jinouga: ...no.
SCIK1012: *Phew*, you're alive. What a relief. And yes, I'm super excited!
Roberto: Yep, the whole story is aimed to be crazy emotional.
Mayojar77: Oooooh, ok. Now I get it.
Brony225: I'm sure he'll get to that soon.
Writingsterner: I will!
CuteFoxSage: I do often wonder how much crying this causes.
Jessi-chan9867: I think I'll stick with making him a wise fellow. Seems to fit nicely.
Ventus Uzumaki: Thanks.
Fiery Crusader: Those are good considerations. Thank you for the feedback.
Posiden666: You're too kind.
Guest: Flattered.
TheMentalAdventurer: That's very good to hear. Thanks for you're input.
I am The7: Yeah, I was going to do it anyway.
randomreader: Indeed it did.
TimeManipulator99: Gotta throw in some darkness for dramatic effect.
Kaiser Luigi: Thank you.
Hope you enjoyed and thanks for any comments/reviews!