The First thing to do on Finn's agenda was to join his father and the rest of the royal family in publicly and officially announcing Finn's arrival, though Finn doubted that after the reception he'd had the previous day that any were unaware already. He was given a list as long as his arm of things that he would have to do today. Just scrolling his eyes down the paper made him feel tired, his father chuckled and gave him an encouraging clap on the back, though he knew it would only put him at ease for a short while. In the royal car Finn sat at the front beside his Father, his two brothers sat behind him and Fionna sat at the back, next to someone Finn assumed was a friend of hers.
Rounding the corner of an oval shaped tower, Finn could hear the crowd before he saw them but even when he could see them; he was still shocked at the turnout. It gave Finn a warm feeling despite the nervousness bubbling up inside him, ready, eager to burst as if he was a walking soda bottle. Finn was brought out of his nervous trance instantly as two hands clapped each side of his face. Finn found himself staring into the face of his father, who's rested yet fierce eyes put calm to Finn's inner storm. "Ready?" the King asked. Finn steeled himself and nodded, heading out onto the golden platform. The first thing Finn noted was that the stage felt a lot bigger when he was on it. Not that it helped at all. Cameras and people and robots alike stared in anticipation. And then Finn spoke.
"Hi everyone", Finn gave a big smile; cheers arose from a large group of girls around his age. "For the past two day you may have been hearing about my arrival and my life before this wonderful kingdom", another round of cheers, this time from men and women alike. "For all my difficulties and no end of flaws, today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the planet. I have been in this amazing place for just two days and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from both my family and all of you, this place, a place filled with people like me". Tears began to well up in Finn's eyes but he wiped them away and stood straight. "Is something that I would never have dreamed possible!"
"Just look at this grand kingdom! Such freedom and equality that I've seen nowhere else in my travels!" The cheers were deafening. Finn looked back to see his father and some smartly dressed men returning nods of approval and muttering excitedly amongst themselves.
"Sure, I'm new. Who wouldn't think that someone like me who's never seen this city before two days ago would be inexperienced and unsuitable for the job, but I promise you! I will live up to all your expectations and then more! I promise to give my blood sweat and tears to make this city something even a deity would envy!"
"And sure, I'm lucky. When the royal family suddenly tells you your family and then tells you that your heir to the throne, it would seem like a dream come true! But I know the work involved with being a ruler, the stress and the eventual hate that is gathered upon your shoulders. This is why I refuse to put myself above you!" The shock of the crowd was reflected and more on the face of king Lyon. "I may formally be called king, but I am only human. Just one of you! But that is no fault. Just look at what humanity has accomplished! Recovering to such a scale after nuclear destruction? What other species pre-war and even now, could have pulled that off! So I ask that you give me your faith, your love and your co-operation to make humanity the best it can be!"
By the end of Finn's speech the crowd was hanging onto his each and every word like he were hypnotizing them, his father gave a proud smile and turned to the other gentlemen and bid them farewell. Finn stood on the stage smiling, but catching his breath. The crowd was roaring enough to rival any dragon Finn had ever slain! His father joined him on the stage with a beam that mirrored his own. The king turned to the crowd, lifted his son's arm and bellowed "your prince!"
Little had Finn known it wasn't just the crowd that were mesmerized but also Fionna, who despite her knowledge of politics was caught on Finn and his way with words, not only did he rally all of your hopes and dreams behind him but made you WANT to follow him. His literary knowledge was clear among the greats of human history.
It was the afternoon, as the orange sun set on the horizon and its last rays of golden light shone down into the city streets, casting large shadows in their wake, Finn stood on the balcony in his room. He had been thrown a party by the king and all the nobles of the human city had attended. His hands were sore after all the vigorous shaking and his face hurt from all the fake smiles he had plastered on while meeting and greeting each and every of the nobles, all of them hoping to get into the good graces of the future king. Finn's door opened and as he turned round he had expected to see the face of his father however it was not the smiling face of the king that greeted him, it was the solemn yet cold face of his 20 year old brother Gion. "Hey Gion what's up?" Finn greeted him with familiarity although he had only known him for a short while. He had hoped to be able to form a close relationship with Gion as he did with all the family. But instead these hopes and dreams were dashed when Gion threw his fist towards Finn's face! Finn's honed reflexes allowed him to catch the fist before it even got close, it was weak and open, the attack of an inexperienced, sheltered prince.
Gion's eyes grew wide with surprise; with what he thought would be a sure blow was easily destroyed by Finn. The regret in what he had done was clear on his face as it cringed, ready for the returning blow, but it did not come. Finn let go of Gion's fist and sat down in the chair besides him on the balcony. Gion didn't know what to do. First he had attacked Finn and now, the same Finn that he'd attacked was motioning for him to sit in the chair opposite. Gion slumped into the thin back, wooden weaved chair and let out a large sigh.
Finn had sensed something wrong the moment Gion had opened the door however he'd decided to play it cool. He'd also seen the punch coming long before Gion had even reared his own fist, after having fought as much as Finn had he'd learnt how to analyze a threat as they approach. From the way that they walk, to their facial expressions and Finn knew that Gion wasn't a threat, even if his punch did make contact it wouldn't have had the desired affect anyway. So with that Finn made up his mind as he caught the punch, he would sit down with Gion and talk with him about what was wrong.
"So…" Finn began, "why are you here?!" Gion snapped, "Everything was fine until you came along! You ruined everything, now all father cares about is you and everything that I was preparing for has gone out the window-". Gion was suddenly silent and his eyes dropped to the floor, Finn knew it was because he'd revealed too much. Finn's eyes narrowed as he scanned the 20 year olds eyes. "What are you planning?"Finn questioned, still avoiding eye contact Gion quickly and quietly replied "nothing." Finn leaned forward and asked again, slipping a sterner expression onto his face as if he were angry, although it was simply a mask Finn put on during the darker times of his life where he'd been made to interrogate criminals by various princesses. Sweat dropped from Gion's brow and he squirmed under Finn's steely gaze, but he stuck with his answer "nothing." Finn darkened his expression another shade and this time he knew that Gion would break as the boy was clearly very uncomfortable. "Iwantedtobetheking" he garbled letting go of a breath he didn't know he was holding. Finn had understood what he'd said though and softened his features; he let out a bored sigh and looked at Gion. "Listen, I know you probably think that I've come out of the blue and stolen all of your future away but that's not what's happened. The people are excited because I'm new and fresh, don't worry because soon enough they will calm and you will be able to sort yourself out, it's all been a bit hectic around Nerio (the Human Kingdom) recently and its gonna' be tough to deal with I realize that." Gion had seemed to relax a little during Finn's talk and Finn gave him a reassuring smile just to put him further at ease. He returned a little nervous smile. Finn continued, I hold nothing against you for what you just did because I'd be frustrated too, okay?" Finn stood and extended his hand towards Gion "let's just forget about all this, yeah?" Gion wiped a tear from his left eye on his sleeve, took Finn's hand, and stood. Finn walked Gion to the door and patted his back before closing the door behind his younger brother.
Standing out in the corridor Gion checked to see if the door was full closed, the doors in the Mansion were fully blast proofs he knew he wouldn't make too much of a mess. He gave a devilish smirk as he walked to the end of the corridor where it turned left. He turned the corner and pressed his back against the wall peering out towards the direction he'd come from, towards Finn's room! He reached into the back pocket in his vest to pull out what he'd placed there, only to find it empty! He patted down each pocket his clothes had, desperately looking for what he'd lost before his mind flew to him leaving Finn's room, and the pat of the back that Finn had given him as he'd left. Gion gritted his teeth as he seethed on the spot, a nearby maid scurried past him eager to get to the safety of the main hall where nobles were still being served… to their wives, drunk, to be escorted home. Gion slammed his fist onto the corner of the wall, the plastered material shattering to pieces as his hand made contact.
Meanwhile back in Finn's room, Finn had just finished disarming a bomb that Gion had planted stealthily as Finn's back was turned, he threw the detonator he'd… confiscated into the trash along with the miniscule bomb all the while with a very grave look on his face, walking back to his balcony Finn fell deep into thought for a short while before retiring to his bed for the night, however he would get little sleep, with thoughts of his younger brother and suspicions of another much more complex plan running through his head.
As Gion reached his room his devious smile returned, opening the door a frightened gasp arose from a number a young maids chained to the walls in the dark room, other maids mentally shielded their eyes as they walked past the barely open door much to the dismay of the prisoners trapped within. The last thing heard of Gion that night was a single line "who's gonna play with me tonight then?" as he swaggered into the dark room, a cruel grin plastered onto his face.