Walking Upon Coals
No matter the season, a twilight stroll through the Fire Kingdom was as if a midsummer night had befallen, dictated by the unyielding volcanic activity. Soft embers drifted along the heat currents at night, created by interaction with the much colder fronts present beyond the blistering terrain. The various hissing, bubbling, flowing lava, and churning subterranean magma all coalesced into a soothing blend of sounds that one could meditate to.
All of this went unnoticed by most of the Fire Kingdom's citizens, who were commonly preparing for a long night's rest. Those who remained enjoyed it immensely; a gracious break from the normally hardened and fiery nature of their own people. Suffice to say, the gentler side of fire elementals was seen here, with most everyone Finn and Jake 2 passed giving either a friendly smile or wave.
He was well known; by all accounts a symbol ever since displaying his skill in the arena. Having a massive fire wolf walk beside him only drew an increased number of awed gazes. The men they passed tended to grin wider, fans of someone who could truly encompass the valor and strength of a fire elemental. The ladies usually had a barely visible blush, quickly scurrying past to avoid Finn noticing.
Once the two made their way past the residential area, they made their way over to the edge of a molten lake, sitting by the shore and silently taking in the peace. JT eventually turned in place for a moment, then finally laid down, sensing that his friend just wanted some time to think rather than immediately returning to the palace. While the wolf drifted off into a nap, Finn absentmindedly picked up a small rock beside him.
Winding up his pitch, the flame human hurled the pebble at a low angle towards the lava. When the stone instantly sizzled and stopped dead upon impact, he sighed, only now realizing that molten rock offered no surface tension, and that the rock he threw wasn't even that flat. He stared at the pebble as it disintegrated, merging with the lava.
"Missing something?"
Finn jerked his head to the right, noticing a cloaked figure leaning against a nearby building. Jake 2 lifted an ear and opened a single eye, targeting the being as well. It only took a moment for the glow of the lake to reveal Rattleballs' metallic surface as he shifted slightly, causing the two to calm themselves. As JT returned to his slumber, Finn just went back to staring out at the molten rock, trying to find the spot where his rock had landed.
"Nothing important," he finally replied.
Rattleballs walked over to the young man, striking his rapier into the earth and sitting down beside him crossed-legged. The pair remained silent for a minute longer, simply eyeing the glowing lake.
"I'm sorry for your injuries," the gumball bot stated.
Finn lowered his eyes to the edge of the lava, which constantly let out steam.
"You did what you had to."
Rattleballs turned to examine his companion's expression, sensing ulterior burdens beneath his stoic gaze.
"Another issue troubles your mind," he declared.
The flame human didn't look as he answered.
"My friend, Marceline, she's known this whole time."
The robotic knight nodded.
"She is a faithful and understanding friend to have kept it to herself."
Finn nodded back.
"Yeah."
Ree-B-Z pushed on.
"But that isn't the struggle, is it?"
The flame human closed his eyes, letting out a breath.
"Be honest with me: is what I'm doing right? Lying to the world, even those who care about me, just to hide myself?"
Rattleballs said nothing at first, instead returning his eyes to the lake, seemingly deep in thought.
"That is a question full of perspective."
He breathed in, despite not needing to, then released.
"You used your own history to decide this path. You believed it necessary to use secrecy to avoid confrontation with the one you loved. You still hold guilt at the Candy Kingdom's destruction years ago."
Finn sunk slightly.
"And yesterday…"
He jumped upon feeling a metal hand fall onto his shoulder. Looking over, he found his mentor staring him right in the eye. Rattleballs spoke firmly.
"The people of the Candy Kingdom, all the banana guards, do you scold and blame them for vandalizing the city? Threatening their fellow citizens?"
Finn was taken aback as he quickly responded.
"No, of course not! It wasn't their fault, they were under the influence of that… monster."
The gumball knight tilted his head, as if urging the young man to continue. Upon realizing what the robot was getting at, he gasped, eyes wide as he fell into the trap. After letting go of his shock, the hero faced the lake once again.
"I get it."
Rattleballs smiled under his hood, then moved to stand, retrieving his sword in the process. Finn watched as the knight replaced his weapon and turned to leave. However, he refrained from walking off, instead turning his face in Finn's direction.
"As for your question, no, I don't think it is right."
Finn was somewhat astonished at the reply, standing up as well to face his mentor.
"W-what?" he asked in disbelief.
Ree-B-Z faced the flame human and placed a metal hand against his chest.
"That is my perspective. I am grateful for your friendship and the life you helped revive for me. For that reason, it pains me to see you suffer due to your own mistakes. From one who has lived an era of solitude, I beseech that you find peace and gather with those who care for you, not push them away."
Finn tightened his fists as he struggled to process his mentor's words.
"So, what, do you want me to reveal myself too?!"
The young man's outburst didn't faze the gumball bot, but did offer insight into the conversation Finn had with Marceline. Now aware of the source for his friend's frustration, he approached the flame human, placing a hand on his shoulder again. In a calm voice, he replied.
"The plan has already been set in motion. That would be disastrous if not done at the correct time. However, it must be you who does so."
Finn let his eyes drop to the ground.
"Marceline said the same thing."
Rattleballs nodded.
"Just the wisdom I'd expect from the Vampire Queen."
He allowed his hand to drop, stepping back.
"Keep in mind what I said. Standing with those who know you lends far greater strength than posing as a stranger among friends. You may just need that strength to combat the Olympians."
With speed only his mechanical body could attain, the knight was gone, likely heading back to the Candy Kingdom. Finn was left pondering his teacher's words, the same as with Marcy's. He sat back down beside JT, pressing his fingers into his forehead and tightly shutting his eyes.
"Ngh… what am I going to do?" he mumbled to no one in particular.
The two of them remained at the lake's edge for an uncertain amount of time, one resting and the other replaying previous conversations in his mind. Finn felt the pressure of a life-or-death situation pressing into his skull, struggling to fight between his own morals. Seeing himself getting nowhere, he looked over to Jake 2, the only one around to whom he could speak freely.
"Hey, JT…" he started, unsure if the wolf was even awake.
Sure enough, an ear raised and an eye lazily opened to show that the noble beast was listening.
"Am I a bad person?"
The fire wolf made no move while it contemplated the young man's very direct question. Finn thought it was appropriately worded, remembering Jake saying something about dogs having a keen sense of character. He couldn't really see it in his brother, but PB had actually confirmed the statement as a definite possibility. Since JT was in the family of canines, the hero figured to give it a shot.
The wolf eventually stretched out his neck towards Finn, bringing his nose almost to bump his forehead before sticking out his tongue and licking his cheek, making the flame human chuckle and give the shaggy hunter a scratch behind the ear.
"Heh, thanks."
He suddenly pursed his lips.
"But… I'm still making people sad, aren't I?"
Jake 2 responded with a low whimper, his eyes conveying reluctant agreement. Finn sighed, looking back at the lake.
"If I could just stop the Olympians, if the Fire Kingdom could just be free of those terrorists, then maybe I could find the right time to show Ooo I'm still alive."
He hung his head.
"Jake will probably understand. The others will, eventually. PB and Marcy know. Flame Princess though…"
He recalled all the moments the flame king's emotions had sprung up, revealing her true feelings about him, and the pain it had left upon his 'death'.
"Would she even forgive me after breaking her like this, twice?"
JT just stared into his friend's uncertain eyes. The fact remained that the loyal hound wasn't the most reliable source for relationship advice. Nodding in understanding, Finn looked down at the volcanic ground by his feet. He ran over what Rattleballs, Marceline, and even himself had said one more time, seeing if there was anything left buried in the speech. Meanwhile, Jake 2 had turned to watch the streets behind them, sensing an approach.
A gasp of realization from Finn caught the fire wolf's attention moments later.
The flame human struck his fist heavily into the ground, grinding his teeth as his eyes struggled to sit still.
"Damn!"
The hero held his head in his hands as he accepted the truth.
I pledged my service to the Fire Kingdom as Fenrir the fire elemental. I can't leave without revealing myself. That's what Marcy and Rattleballs were trying to say the whole time!
He closed his eyes.
"I have to tell the truth."
Finn let out a breath.
"Eventually…"
JT could feel the anguish from his companion's words, but was quickly drawn back to the approaching figure. By now, Finn caught sound of it as well. The young man got up from the ground, turning to see a soldier running frantically down the block, looking in all directions. When the heavily breathing elemental spotted the two by the lake, his eyes widened and he flame dashed right beside them, barely able to stand straight.
"*Huff, huff* Sir Fenrir! I was sent to find you immediately, there's… *huff* an urgent matter that the king needs your assistance with!"
Slapped out of his troubling situation, Finn was instantly focused on the new one. Nodding to the fairly young soldier, the hero climbed onto JT, who bolted past and rapidly began closed the distance between them and the Fire Kingdom palace.
Finn wasted no time bursting through the front gate of the palace, with Jake 2 following closely behind. The guards present in the throne room directed the pair to a nearby lieutenant, who led them down a corridor towards the makeshift command post in the meeting hall. The room was as busy as ever, with varying degrees of personnel running from one station to another, speaking to superiors, sharing intel, or taking a break from the insanity by sitting down and catching their breath.
The lieutenant pointed Finn to CB and Flame Princess, then wandered off to attend to his own duties. The flame human sent JT off to whatever portion of the palace the wolf usually resided in then stepped inside, narrowly avoiding bumping into several officers. Cinnamon Bun was quick to notice him, waving the young man over while FP was busy talking to the general. The three of them and a handful of group leaders were gathered around a table, upon which sat a highly detailed map of the Fire Kingdom, depicting land all the way to the border with the Ice Kingdom.
Once Finn came up beside his two closest companions, Flame Princess finally noticed him, catching the hero off guard by pulling him into a hug. His shock wore off fast enough to return it, but only for a split second before the fiery ruler stepped back with a concerned look on her face.
"Are you alright?" she asked gently.
Finn nodded with the best of his confidence.
"Yeah. The walk helped a lot."
Nodding back, FP motioned for him to stand beside her and CB as the current situation was resumed.
"We waited until you got here to start the full discussion," she stated, to which Finn replied with thanks.
"What's happening?" he asked the general, who had just finished circling a small portion of the map.
The military man placed his hands on the table and looked the knight in the eye.
"About 20 minutes ago, a few of our men spotted two unidentified elementals traversing the outskirts of the western village. All civilian occupants were accounted for, so we believe it may be the Olympians. I advised against confrontation until we had word with the three of you, who have the most experience with them."
FP nodded, moving a finger to point out a nearby feature of the village.
"That settlement is right beside the mines. Considering what we know of Zeus building some sort of construct, they may well be scouting out resources."
The general shook his head as he studied the same area.
"I doubt it. The western mines are quite barren. Sure, there's still a vein or two of precious metal, but nothing worth funding a dig for."
Cinnamon Bun crossed his arms.
"Either way, if the Olympians are interested in it then there's reason enough to worry."
As the general agreed, Flame Princess eyed the militant.
"Did the men get any descriptions? Any detail at all?"
Her commander looked over at the man beside him, the same colonel from before, who addressed his king with the information.
"The silhouette concludes that one is female. The second is unknown, due to an apparent cloak covering the majority of their body."
Finn's heart stopped briefly.
"Also, the men say they saw abnormally large hands, possibly claws."
FP heard Finn's knuckles cracking as his fist tightened on the table. She looked her knight out of the corner of her eye, noticing that his pupils were shaking.
"Ares," the flame human concluded in an almost whisper.
CB took in a breath as he thought over the facts, while Flame Princess placed a hand on Finn's back to calm him.
"Aphrodite was eliminated, and we haven't seen any other female Olympians. Odds are that the woman is one of the two who attacked Rattleballs."
The candy knight faced the colonel.
"Did the men notice a bow of any kind?"
The man shook his head.
"So, likely not the archer."
Finn was still thinking of his encounter with the cryptic Ares. Regardless of how powerful Zeus and his other comrades were, he considered the hooded being the most dangerous. Unpredictable, manipulative, and giving off an aura of destruction; the scars across Finn's chest would never let him forget the feeling of unnatural rage Ares emitted. Remembering his previous monologue, the knight spoke out.
"I think it's an opportunity."
Those surrounding the table all looked at him, attention drawn.
"With what you've told us, they don't seem aware that they were spotted. If we can catch them by surprise while they're isolated, that's two less Olympians to deal with."
For a moment, everyone contemplated the young man's words, looking at the map and between one another. The colonel looked to his superior, who nodded.
"Sound reasoning, Sir Fenrir. Your highness?" the general inquired.
Flame Princess seemed the most conflicted about the idea, turning to her knight.
"Fen, you just got out of the last bout with that monster. To get right into it again… and this time, even if by some miracle we get help, the one who struck down Rattleballs is potentially with him."
Finn held up a determined fist.
"I'll be ready for him this time. We know what he can do. Besides, I held my own against two Olympians before."
FP furrowed her brow, recalling having to watch her knight be pummeled by Apollo. Shaking her head, the fiery king gave the young man a hard look.
"That was by luck, Fen. If you're really that insistent, then I'm coming along."
Before anyone could argue, she slammed a hand down on the table.
"I refuse to be the king who sits on a throne all day while my soldiers risk their lives. I'm in this fight just as much as any of you. Is that understood?"
She gazed at the assembled fire militants, who gradually all hardened their expressions, giving their monarch a respectful bow.
"Yes, your majesty," they collectively called.
Nodding, FP turned back to Finn.
"Are you sure you're ready to get back into the fighting?"
The flame human felt his lava vine shift and tighten across his arm, as if eager to pay Ares back.
"On your word," he replied.
Flame Princess let out a breath, focusing her attention on the map laid before her and her combatants.
"Then let's begin planning our approach. There's no time to waste."
Yeah, sorry, it's another filler. But next time will have fights, yay!
Wow, season 7 started off with a bang! Oh, hang on *SPOILER ALERT*. There we go. Secrets! History! Worldbuilding! Confirmations! Humanizing! Shipping! They made the wait worth it! I'm really feeling it guys. This season is gonna be good. Anyway, I think there's a few emails I've neglected, so see ya later.
Awolfx9: I appreciate that, and hope I'm not saturating the downtime too much.
Neo Deadmau5: Then I'm sure to keep watching.
Fiery Crusader: That's the plan, gotta max out the tension at every step.
MUTO TOHO: Thanks.
The Guyver: Probably solving puzzles.
MCFanfics: I feel it's one of the most important abilities of a writer to create multiple possibilities for the same character. So thanks for the analysis!
Hope you enjoyed and thanks for any comments/reviews!