"Peebles did you here the news?" Finn rushed in the lab, Bonnibel is making the main exoframe of the Mk VI.
"What news?"
"Flame Princess, just overthrew the Flame King. Now she is the new ruler of the Fire Kingdom."
"Really, she did look for the truth after all, and went a little overboard. Well I'm happy for her, I think it's time to change their evil ways."
"Yeah your right, I'm so happy that I taught her and you taught me." Finn said, his eyes sparkling. Bonnibel blushed.
"Oh you." She turns her attention back to the suit.
"Flame Princess, also invited us there, the kingdom is throwing a celebration in her honour."
"When?"
"Later this afternoon, Flambo and a chariot are picking us up." He sat in a nearby chair watching his lover working on the frame.
"Oh, okay."
Finn noticed the exo frame she is working, and wonder at it.
"Is that a new suit? Another one?"
"Yeah, I figured that in the future maybe I will face enemies that can, uh, attack in multiple numbers and also heavier enemies. This suit is design to carry heavier weapons." She said eying her Ball Blam Burglerber armory in the wall beside her.
"So are you going to put those?"
"Yes this..." she picks up one of the gun. "Pack quite a punch, one ball can destroy a wall or a room. I figure I can take down multiple enemies faster and better."
Beemo suddenly appeared on the screen "hey Princess, hey Finn."
"Beemo, I thought you were here earlier." Finn stated.
"No Finn, I went with Jake to Lady's house. He asked me to edit their family album. I just came home, or rather my body is." He/she chuckled.
"Did you hear about-..." Finn began before Beemo cut him off.
"Flame Princess the new ruler of her Kingdom? Yes, it's all over the news. The candy press goes bananas on her. Listen." He/she opened Bonnibel's radio.
"Headlines for today: Flame King is found guilty of improper parenthood of her daughter, Flame Princess. The former King is imprisoned in the lamp where her daughter once imprisoned. The said young girl now takes the throne and rules the kingdom with sheer honesty and modesty. The very first proper value implied on the Fire Kingdom."
"Whoa, she did change the world." Bonnibel commented as she stopped on what she is doing, and listen to the radio. The radio announcer continued:
"Earlier in a press conference held in the Fire Kingdom Castle, Flame Princess or rather Flame Queen stated that her first decree is to change the justice system of the kingdom. Implying honesty and imprisoned those who have wrong the innocents."
"She sounds heroic enough" Finn stated
"You taught her to do so." Bonnibel replied, Beemo just chuckled at him. "Wait there is more."
One of the press asked her: "Your majesty, what is your goal as the new ruler of the Fire Kingdom?" The sound of flashes from the camera went quiet for a little bit.
Flame Princess' voice echoed in the lab. "It's time to change the ways of the Kingdom, I know it's going to be hard, I know that I will have many opponents, but I will be strong, I will face this issue with great honesty. Someone I know told me that the truth will set you free. He was right, it did set me free, I knew that now. So from what I've learned from him, I will imply here. Everybody is welcome in the new Fire Kingdom, just be honest and nice. Time for the world to know that we Fire Elementals are not evil as many said. We can change, and we can do it!" there was more noise from the press and the sound of pictures and cameras echoed the background. At that Beemo shut the radio off.
"That's my girl..." Finn said, smiling.
"I taught you well." Bonnibel said as she massages Finn's both shoulders. Beemo just smiled at them.
"Yeah, you did..." he blushed. But then shook out of the awkwardness. "I think it's time for you to change and get ready. Flambo is coming soon and we are not going to the party wearing that." He said pointing at her messy lab coat.
"Of course we are not, we are going to wear that." She points at the fire suits hanging on the other end of the wall.
"No Peebles, Flambo is going to cast us Flame shields, so wear your best dress." Finn dragged her to the door.
"Okay, okay I'm going. I think you should go to, you can't go to a party wearing shorts, it's weird."
He spread his hands "I'm weird."
"A different kind of weird." Bonnibel sighed, containing herself from face palming.
Finn laughed, "My cloths are in your room, we can dress up together."
Bonnibel felt her heart stopped for a moment at his words. She blushed furiously, Beemo just laugh at them.
"I see where this is going" the computer said in sing like voice.
Finn laughed mockingly "Very. Funny."
"Okay! Enough let's go Finn! Beemo take care of things for me while we are gone. And check the d-diagnostics of the Mk VI, if it's okay, do finish the exoframe. Check everything!"
Beemo is still laughing "Okay, Okay, you got it Princess, stay safe. I handle things from here." The couple left.
An hour passed a royal fire carriage parked outside the candy castle, Flambo is waiting outside. The Banana guards on the main doors eyed the carriage with awe.
Finn first stepped out of the door, he was wearing his coat and tie. The very same one he wore back at Jake's birthday months ago minus his fox mask. He assisted Bonnibel who wears her famous royal tart dress. She steps down the stairs with little difficulty. Finn has to hold her hand in order for her not to fall.
When they reached the bottom, Flambo greeted them. "Yo, Finn a fine day for the Fire Kingdom eh? Your chick will change the world after all." he turned to Bonnibel and greeted her "Your highest" Bonnibel just smiled and hopped inside the carriage. Once everything was ready they set off towards the Fire Kingdom.
As they reached the Candy Kingdom gates, four Royal Fire Guards riding large fire wolves joined them a pair in front and in the back of the carriage, their escorts.
Bonnibel whispered softly to Finn "Flame Princess really want us safe."
Finn just shrugged, "She is overprotective sometimes."
They reached the Fire Kingdom in just twenty minutes, the coupled looked out the window as they trek the main road towards the castle. Everything did change, the fire elementals now cheering happily on the sidewalks, some were singing, some are dancing, some drinking, some even were playing. Some were even surfing in the lava. Fireworks flew all over the above them as if they were liberated from a conquest.
They also noticed the fire guards standing nearby talking and laughing. They were no longer the mean and intimidating guards that Finn used to know. They were now cheerful, even participate in games, of course today is a celebration that is.
The carriage stopped at the main door of the castle, it was opened and common folks can now enter the castle freely unlike before. Some of the people were not even fire elementals at all, they were candy people, spike people, even some princess, like Slime princess, Wildberry Princess. They were tourist, looking around the castle courtyard, taking pictures. The guards are keeping them from falling into the lava that surrounds the castle.
"Flame Princess didn't just promote honesty; she also made the Kingdom a tourist spot. She opened the long closed doors of the kingdom for the first time. Outsiders can now, enter the kingdom freely, As long as they are honest though." Flambo said as the got off the carriage. The couple just nodded and look around at the changes of the kingdom.
Once they are inside, more jesters and entertainers greeted them with high spirits. Flambo guide them to the throne room. As the doors opened, the first thing they saw was Flame Princess sitting in her throne that was once her father's. She was wearing a copper made metal suit just like her father. She now wears a crown and her hair is swaying brighter than before. Finn couldn't help but amazed by her looks.
"She is more awesome then before." He whispered, a whisper that stung Bonnibel's ears.
She punched him in his arm and clutches it tightly with her hand. "Finn..." she warned, hint of jealousy is spelled in her eyes.
"Jealous much, dear?" he said with a mischievous look.
"Yeah..." she sighed "man I wish I brought my Iron Princess suit, totally threw her fashion out the window." She muttered.
Finn put her hand to his and squeezes it lightly, "she might got the dress but you're still the most beautiful."
"Thank you" she gave him a peck on the cheek making him blush.
Flame Princess was happily talking to Cinnamon Bun who ridiculously wears a fire hat and holds a leash of a fire pup. Finn and Bonnibel manage to get close before she noticed them. "Hey you guys!" she stood up from her throne and hugged the pair.
"Hey FP!" Finn greeted
"Finn, they don't call me FP anymore, FQ short for Flame Queen. But still you can still call me that. I got used to that." She turned towards Bonnibel. "Nice dress, really sweet." A mixture of sarcasm and amusement is spelling in her eyes.
Bonnibel put her hands on her hips, "At least I don't look intimidating everyday." She retorted.
The Fire elemental raised her hands in surrender "Okay, okay, chill out princess. I knew if you were that fancy suit of yours, my dress is like yesterday's garbage. I know you had reasons."
"Did you tell anybody about me?" she asked alarmed. Finn on the other hand went to get drinks.
Flame Princess shook her head "No, as much I imply honesty, I still keep words of my friends. But don't hide this forever tell the world the truth." She said.
"Yes, in the right time. I don't have the courage yet." She sighed.
Flame Princess took her hand "Walk with me."
Bonnibel nodded and called Finn "Finn, FP is going show me something, stay here for a while ok?"
Finn looked at them "Okay" he began to pick the foods on the table.
Flame Princess and Bonnibel went to the Castle courtyard. Bonnibel is having a little trouble with her royal tart dress as they crosses steps. Flame Princess gave her a hand.
"Funny, I thought you were the one helping me." She laughed.
"Guess we are even." Bonnibel replied she too was laughing.
When they reached the courtyard Bonnibel stared at awe. The courtyard is actually the castle garden, filled with fire flowers that blooms, varied flowers are also present in an orderly fashion. Several fire servants water the plants, real irony. Beyond the garden she could see the rest of the Fire Kingdom, several solid volcano rocks formed Islands in the sea of lava. Each island has fire citizens dancing in joy. Fireworks and flying comets flying overhead, exploding in mid air creating different colors, Bonnibel couldn't imagine the Fire Kingdom like this, nor she never saw the kingdom this vast, the last time she was here is that when she return a baby to her father. The baby that now stands beside her as the new ruler of the kingdom.
"Look at this, vast right?" Flame Princess motioned the vastness of the scenery.
"Yeah, I never imagine this to be like this." She said dreamily.
"This alone, to govern this vast land is hard task. I already feel the world weighting down on me. People will really look upon me, they might say 'FP is changing our kingdom, let's see if she succeeds or not.' So for you to expect like that is to not screw up. So it's a hard task."
"You have no idea. I lived long enough to experience this countless of times." Bonnibel sighed sadly.
"Being a ruler sucks, the back of my mind says that 'I wish I never went back here to know the truth.' Still I could be free, but at what cost? To live free in exchange for living a lie." The fire elemental said, looking at the distance. Her face painted a sad smile.
"It's better to seek the truth in suffering than to live freely in a lie."
"Exactly, it also implies to you too. Never cover yourself in the walls of deception; I don't want you to experience what I've experienced, my almost entire lifetime living a lie. So that's why you need to tell the world who you really are before others judge you wrongly."
"I know that, I just have to find courage to tell it. Maybe in the right time."
"You told that to Finn as well. Correct?"
"Yes, funny that my people are like Finn when it comes to reveal things." Bonnibel shook her head. "They are eager to know the truth."
"Yeah."
A long silence ensured between them as they both gazed the vastness of the Fire Kingdom. Several more fireworks erupted above them, the echoing of the cheering crowd is heard clearly. Another ten minutes passed Bonnibel decided to break the silence between them.
"I have to tell you something." She mentally gulped 'here it goes'
Flame Princess looks at her with raised brow, "Yeah?"
"Well, about your imprisonment in that lamp, I really ordered you to be locked up."
The fire elemental's features remained passive. She was not angry or enraged, just passive. Her expression is unreadable.
"I'm sorry if I did tell earlier, I felt scared, and they say I'm a strong princess, in truth I'm not. Science is the only thing that keeps me going, besides Finn, if I'm not that smart, I don't know what to do." She looked down and closed her eyes hoping for the worst, she kept telling herself that she loves Finn and she is sorry.
After a short and breathtaking silence, Flame Princess spoke. "Okay."
She opened her eyes "What?"
"You had your reasons why you had dad lock me up. The fault is not really yours, it still dad because he sent me to die in the first place. You just protected the outside world from my innocent mind, I would have done the same." She smiled, not sad, but with understanding. Finn's teachings are already some of her traits.
Bonnibel remained silent but her eyes spell out joy. The fire elemental noticed this.
"How does it feel?"
"What?"
"How does it feel to tell the truth?"
"Better, as if someone pull out a painful torn on your back." she sighed in relief, her royal tart dress is not a problem anymore.
"See, I told you, the truth will make you feel better."
She scratched her head, "Yes it does." Something popped to her mind. "What is Cinnamon Bun doing in the Fire Kingdom?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you yet. My apologies, Cinnamon Bun is my right hand man. I found him wandering around in the woods when I was heading back home to face my dad. Well he is good friend, despite being ignorant for some reasons, he wanted a real dog so I gave him one when he help me overthrew my dad."
"So he lives here now?"
"Yup, it's his choice so let him be." Flame Princess shrugged.
"Okay, do you like him" Bonnibel teased.
The fire elemental blushed and went wide eyed. "What? No, of course not." Then her features became blank "Just friends. Just friends. Period." She stated flatly.
"Okay, okay, so defensive. Don't be defensive next time, guilty persons are usually defensive."
Flame Princess laughed. "I'll keep that in mind." She offered her hand to Bonnibel. "Shall I help you trek back to the throne room? The others might get worried on where did I went." She is trying her best not to laugh at Bonnibel's misfortune and her silly sweet dress.
Suddenly the royal tart dress became a problem again. Bonnibel took her hand embarrassed.
"Sure but don't let Finn see you helping me with this thing." She said looking away. This time, Flame Princess laughed out loud making her blush even redder.
Once they returned to the throne room, Finn was still eating in the table; the other guess still goes upon their business. Flame Princess let go of Bonnibel's hand as they entered the throne room, she just nodded in appreciation. Then her phone rang.
She excused herself from Flame Princess and answered it. "Hello?"
"Princess, its Beemo. We have a situation. Come back to the lab quick." Beemo said in urgent tone.
"What's the matter?"
"The new Arc Reactor design Prototype is missing! Several blueprints regarding the Arc Reactor and the suit designs were also missing as well!" Beemo exclaimed, panicked.
"What!?" Bonnibel almost screamed. Flame Princess looked at her surprised.
"I've check everywhere and I can't see the prototype, I also check the databanks and some of the files went missing as well."
"Oh no" shook her head in disbelief.
"Just come back as soon as possible."
"Okay we will be right there!" she hung up and went to Flame Princess urgently.
"What's going on?" the fire elemental asked, concerned.
"Someone broke into my lab and stole spare parts and the plans for the Iron Princess suit." She whispered the last part. "I'm sorry FP, we have to go home early... this is urgent matter" she said sadly.
"No problem, princess, I have a carriage to take back immediately." He called Flambo who immediately went out to get the carriage. "Within a minute the carriage will be waiting."
"Thank you." She bowed and called Finn.
Finn went to the two ladies, his mouth is filled with food. "Yeah, what's up?"
"Finn, this is bad..." Bonnibel slightly panicked.
"What?"
Flame Princess interjected, "Finn, someone broke into her lab and stole the main blueprint of the Iron Princess also some spare parts."
Finn almost choked at his food in shock. He cleared his throat rather awkwardly, "We have to go, sorry Flame Princess."
The Fire elemental wave him off, "It's alright, now go, get this sorted out. I hope you find and apprehend the perpetrator of this crime. Take care you two."
The couple bowed, and left the throne room in a hurry. Finn has to drag Bonnibel out with a little speed, she almost stumbled.
"Finn, wait a sec, my dress." She said. A part of her dress was ripped off.
"Sorry Princess" he lifted her up bridal style and headed outside in a hurry.
Outside Flambo and the carriage is waiting for them, Finn and Bonnibel hurried with a little ceremony of goodbye.
"I'm sorry that, you have to leave early. I understand that more important matters to attend to. Her majesty understands it." Flambo said.
Finn looked at him from the window "It's alright Flambo, duties come first."
"Yeah, take care and come back soon." He waved goodbye, as the chariot sped towards back to the Candy Kingdom. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.