"Great to have you back, Jake," Marceline began with a sigh of relief.
"What happened?" The canine asked as he propped himself up from the stretcher, rubbing his eyes.
"The whole lab exploded and then there was a fight between three giants," the vampire said skimming the details.
"Seems like I always miss the good stuff," Jake chuckled dryly before shifting into a serious expression. "Where's P bubs?"
"Gone," she simply answered.
Jake nodded in approval, grateful that the pink monarch was no longer a concern. Before he could savor the moment upon hearing this, his mind darted over the thought of a certain adventurer. "And Finn?" He asked with his eyes showing anxiety. Part of him suspected that he would hear the worst case scenario, while the other clung onto a trace of hope.
Marcy couldn't help but look away frowning and reply, "I.. don't know."
"Huh?" He asked perplexed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I was knocked out during the fight before it ended," Marcy explained. "Next thing I know, I wake up in the middle of a bunker full of fire elementals with another battle going on."
"Jeez," Jake commented shaking his head.
Marcy continued, "Phoebe's the only one who can fill out the blanks. And unfortunately for us, she just so happens to be in a coma."
"Great," he said irritably. "Finn could be anywhere at this point!" He looked down in thought until an idea surfaced, "We need to go back down there, at least find a lead."
"It's gonna take a while, Jake," she said tiredly. "When the place blew up, everything caved in. You'll be stuck here for hours if not for days!"
"I'm not going to sit back and wait for an answer," he argued. "I know I've been lazy when it comes to most things in life, but I will not stop until I find my brother!"
Marcy kneeled forward in front of him and slowly placed her hands on his shoulders. "I want to find him as much as you do," she confessed with an intense whisper. "But we're going to need everyone else's help. Save your energy, go home and tell your family you're fine, and then meet back here tomorrow first thing in the morning. Deal?"
Jake felt like he wanted to protest some more but then relented at the mention of Lady Rainicorn and the kids. They were probably worried sick about him no doubt, and if there was one thing he knew for sure was that needed to put them at ease.
After the magical dog parted ways in agreement, Marceline pulled out her phone and contacted Prince Furnius.
"I need to see you right away," the vampire began.
"Go on right ahead," he answered. "I'll be expecting you at the throne room."
At the Fire Kingdom palace, Flame King walked down one of the corridors with a team of eight guards. Although his efforts to save his people were acknowledged in gratitude, the former leader was still under close observation due to his past reputation. He was given some freedom to go where he pleased, but he knew it was only temporary. Before he would know it, he would find himself escorted back into glass lantern before the day was over. He sighed as some of the elementals he would come across would nod to him, while others would turn away or glare in resentment. It was interesting to see a mixture of reactions from his former subjects, but all of it paled in comparison when his mind fell back to his daughter.
His daughter, Flame thought as he clutched his heart with his hand. To see her overcome all the obstacles life has thrown at her, was something he had grown to admire. Ever since her birth, he had thought her one purpose was to simply destroy and bring upon untold destruction. But after seeing all the accomplishments and hard work she had invested, FK had realized her purpose was far more greater than he could possibly imagine. Although the kingdom had struggled initially with her leadership, it ultimately became stronger and more prosperous. Suddenly, the civilization had established friendly relations with powers that were once considered to be sworn enemies. All these aspirations Phoebe told him had come to reality, and he was foolish not to believe it.
Now here he was, staring at the family portrait that showed him, his wife, three sons, and daughter. They all had joyful expressions as they sat together, and the former king wondered how everything would have been if he had made different choices in life. He could see himself watching his children play, while his right arm would be wrapped around his wife's shoulder with a content smile. But then the feeling faded away just as quickly as he recalled his last conversation with his daughter. He had thought he developed the fortitude to become indifferent or callous regarding her, but now he cared so much that it made his heart ache. He supposed his wife would be sorely disappointed with him to top it all off, and he never would have thought he would be so desperate to have another chance at making things right. His legacy, his own flesh and blood was having a battle over her own life, and it seemed like she needed him now more than ever. The last thing FK wanted to add to his conscience in that moment was to have an unresolved family dispute. With that in mind, he began to head towards the throne room with the intention to make an urgent request.
The guards at the palace doors ushered him in as he stepped forth. Upon entering the room, the former king noticed his nephew conversing with a certain raven-haired vampire at the center. He could see the two talking in hushed voices as they stood in close proximity. Prince Furnius was nodding at something as Marceline leaned forward to whisper and then his hands clasped hers briefly before the two parted. The vampire strode towards the exit with a blank expression and then glanced at Flame King before leaving altogether. The former monarch watched her leave until the doors closed and then his eyes focused back on the prince acting in charge.
"You should be careful with the Lord of Evil's daughter," FK advised. "Her emotions are not to be trifled with."
"I am," Furnius retorted, hiding the flustered look on his face. He then changed the subject by asking, "Look, what's this about anyway?"
FK sighed as he realized he had no energy to argue, "I wish to see my daughter."
"Really?" Furnius said with a raised eyebrow. "Since when did you start having a change of heart?"
"Up until recently," he answered.
"I knew it!" The prince said as he wagged a pointing finger at him. "There was something I saw from you when we took the elevator a while back! I never would have thought a murderous backstabber like you would ever develop a conscience." His eyes scowled at him, "It just couldn't have been a better time couldn't it?"
"Please," FK implored. "She doesn't have much time! Her health hasn't been improving ever since she's been stabilized. If she's going to inevitably pass on into the next life as I fear, I need to at least make amends."
"I seem to recall that she no longer wishes to see you," Furnius countered with narrowed eyes, "Nor did you ever give me or my brother a chance when it came to my father. Come to think of it..." He conjured a sword on cue with a twisted expression and pointed it at him, "Perhaps now I should return the favor! An eye for an eye."
FK was unfazed despite being restrained from the surrounding guards. His expression remained stoic and he calmly replied, "You have every right to put an end to my wretched life. After everything that I have done, even I wouldn't want to be me! These times we've gone through regarding this war have changed people in ways that have brought out the best and worst of us. I won't deny the deeds that have brought us to where we are today, but I also won't lose a rare chance to do something right for once. Wouldn't Phoebe agree?"
Prince Furnius gritted his teeth in frustration as he battled his emotions. Every fiber in his being desired to avenge his father, but at the same time he felt reluctant. From that moment, he began to recall some of the life lessons he was taught from his family along with those from his cousin. When he and his brother Torcho were at the mercy under Phoebe's rule, the princess showed compassion and offered forgiveness despite showing hate and jealousy in return. He sighed as his heart willed him to make the right choice and his blade de-materialized, gesturing the guards to let go.
"Go," he said flatly as he looked away with his arms crossed. "Don't make me change my mind."
The former king nodded gratefully and departed with his escort. As he walked down into one of the corridors, he glanced up in the ceiling and imagined his wife staring at him, "I know I don't deserve your love or your forgiveness. I know that this one act alone won't undo everything I've done, but please give me the strength for what I am about to do."
He continued making his way towards the elevator that lead towards the Fire Kingdom's central core. As he focused his sights towards Phoebe's location, Flame King's wife appeared as a ghost and watched after him with a tender smile.
