DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Adventure Time Content, nor do I want to.
Finn ran tirelessly, forcing his legs forward with the very last of his energy towards wherever the trail led him. Green and brown smudges were barely visible through the endless stream of tears that ran down his cheeks soaking his shirt and the ground that zoomed beneath him. His muscles screamed and begged for mercy, throbbing with each footstep in time with the constant pounding in his head like a symphony of pain. His mind, befuddled with raging thoughts of anger, hatred, and incredible sadness didn't have the room to process any of his bodies urges and pleads. Scratches and bruises lined his pale skin as he tripped and stumbled into and onto the towering Fir trees that shrouded the entire forest in flailing shadows in conjunction with the wind. Though his speed was one that surpasses many, one would notice the horrible wobble he attempted to endure with an awkwardly twisted ankle, still he pushed on in aggravation.
He just couldn't take it anymore. He felt as though the entire world was against him with no one to rely on in his troubling inner conflict. First, Flame Princess curses his name for all it's worth, which wasn't very much to begin with. Her burning scorn stabs at his heart like the sharpest of swords and crushes his soul like the heaviest of maces. She'll never look at him the same ever again, all she will remember him as was that jerk who broke her heart sometime ago, what was his name again? He spiraled into a dark oblivion of depression and self-loathing where all his hopes disintegrated right in front of him. Of course he'll always love her no matter what she does or says and do whatever she commands, this includes dying in her name. He can't say the same thing about her feelings towards him.
From there he personally declared himself a retired hero of Ooo, if you would had considered him one. Performing petty acts of kindness wasn't what a real hero was all about. A real hero handled the most extraordinary problems and feuds with complete diplomacy, unless things were forced to turn towards a different route, then he would eradicate the threat in the most awesome manner that would make passing strangers gasp in awe and wonder. Escorting a family of ducks to a near bye pond wasn't heroic in any way, form or fashion. He isolated himself from the outside world and anyone who inhabited it, not speaking to a single soul except a framed picture of him and his beloved, hand in oven mitt. Eating was also out of the question, everything tasted so bland and grey compared to the sweet and fiery pecks he received periodically when no one was looking.
His mind continued to wander leaving his other senses completely preoccupied, enough that he didn't notice the gaping hole quickly approaching in front of him. When he did notice it, it was already too late and his foot instantly latched into it. He tumbled painfully down the hill in all types of directions, further damaging his already sore body with the many twigs and sharp pebbles that littered the ground. He somersaulted through a group of shrubs into a small clearing hidden by the trees and bushes on one side and a jutting cliff that hung over the raging ocean underneath its apparently unstable ledge. All the wind was knocked out of him with the impact of his back to the solid ground when he landed. He lay there barely conscious, his adrenaline running dry and the multitude of wounds and scrapes bleeding his life away slowly and painfully.
He didn't bother getting up, what was the point? All that was waiting for him was the constant nightmare called reality and all the horrors and plagues that call it their home. No one would be waiting for him to brave the "kick-butt" reality he once called it before everything collapsed, not even his own brother. He's probably not even looking for him, already considering him thankfully excommunicated from his life. He regrets everything he did or said to Jake, like that to Flame Princess. All Jake was trying to do was comfort him and show him the bright side of things like he always did, even during the darkest of times. But all he gave in return was a front seat view of his back and cold, very cold words. Jake doesn't deserve him as a brother, he was just a burden to him and everyone. All because he was just a human. He didn't have the blessings of Jake's superpowers, or Marceline's immortality, or Ice King's magic, hell not even Bubblegum's wicked intelligence.
He often tried to search back to where he came from and why he was the only human left alive after the Great Mushroom War. Jake would complain saying it was unlike him to be all sullen and soul-searchy, then gave him the same explanation whenever he asked. He was found crying and laying in his own boom boom right atop Boom Boom Mountain, no one could be found around where he was placed, not a single trace of other life. He was taken in by a generous family of magical bulldogs whom he proceeded to consider his family. When he first met Jake he was incredibly cautious towards Finn, probably observing what a real human looked like. Once he even went as far as to call him teasing names such as "weirdo" or "freak." It didn't stop until Jermaine overheard him and proceeded to slap and scold Jake, explaining to him why it was wrong and to never do it again. Jermaine never really had much to do with Finn, he acknowledged him of course, but ever since then, Finn had a kind of total respect for Jermaine.
Jake stopped talking to Finn for a couple of days afterwards until he one day approached him and asked to play. From then on they were only the best of friends, doing literally everything together, even becoming roommates later in life. When sharing memories between the two, Jake learned about his human intolerance and apologized fiercely, turning the day into a tear-fest. Then Finn realized all those memories are in the past, never to be relived. He could never go home to face Jake again, all the words that tumbled from his mouth came back twice as hard. The tears came back accompanied with faint whines and groans. How could everything go to waste so fast? All he wanted was to do everyone a favor and disappear, never to cause anyone pain ever again. He knew what had to be done to make-up for all the suffering he's caused for the ones he loved, particularly Flame Princess.
He attempted to stand but his body wouldn't listen to him. It took him a couple of excruciatingly painful tries, but he finally stands on his two feet with the support of a long branch. Taking small baby steps he approached the cliff ledge overlooking the sunset, a beautiful sight to behold. He stood in awe and just simply stared at it for a good while until his began to hurt. He didn't bother looking down towards the ocean, if he did he wouldn't have the guts to do what he was about to do. He threw the stick to the side and shut his eyes. Taking a long, deep breathe, he visualized his past life and pondered all the events that led to this very moment. He pictured all his friends, Bubblegum, Jake, Marceline, Beemo, Lady, Billy, Peppermint Butler, and lastly Flame Princess. He held that picture for a good minute, taking in each and every detail.
He took one last breathe, savoring its refreshing taste and let a small smile creep across his battered face while a final single tear rolled down his cheek. He leaned forward and fell, not a word uttered. The wind whipped across his entire body as he gradually gained speed towards the end, it actually felt quiet refreshing similar to a mothers touch. His life literally flashed before his eyes, everything he pondered with the addition of many forgotten memories past before him. It's as if time stopped just for him that moment. He wondered if he'll see Death again, this time without the hordes of skeletons trying to rip off his flesh. He could hear the waves splash and crash against the rock, he might as well go while overcoming his fears. He opened his eyelids slightly and gasped at the beauty of the light refracting of the perfectly breaking waters. That moment all worries were diminished from body, mind and soul.
Right before impact, a dark shape crashed straight into him, rattling his insides and blurring his vision so he couldn't see what had happened. He slipped in and out of consciousness, but he did notice that he was instead going up, maybe Glob had finally come for him. His hopes were crushed when he felt his body carelessly thrown onto the same ground he just was. He heard gasp of air and wheezing from next to him and looked over to see one of the people he never thought to see at a time like this. The figure recovered from her midday scare and whipped around to face Finn with a face that was out of this worldly pissed.
"That isn't Glob..." Was all he could mouth before being slapped with the force of a fully loaded freight train. His attacker wore muddy combat boots below a ripped and stained pair of faded jeans. What looked to be a jet black tank with a white skull and crossbones sagged and swayed on a pale blue and deathly thin figure. Her face was slightly hidden by a large mass of unkempt black hair and a comically mismatched sunhat with a pink ribbon wrapped around the base. But he knew full well who this person was, the merciless queen of the entire Vampire race, Marceline, and she looked pissed beyond measure.
"Finn! What the hell has gotten into you!" She yelled, obviously shaken up by the sight she just saw. "I was having such a great day, then I fly by and see you standing next a cliff. I was going to go over and scare the jabeebus out of you but then you go and throw yourself off the ledge." She used many hand motions to emphasize her point, she gave up trying to hold back her emotions and let the tears fall, similar to Finn's. "And don't give me that shit about it being an accident, I've been around long enough to know what that was." She was practically yelling at this point, whimpering and gasping at each point. Finn looked up with a pained look.
"That's right Marceline I attempted suicide, is that what you wanted to hear?! It's not like you ever cared, why the hell didn't you just let me fall?!" He screamed. grabbing at his hair remembering that his hat was gone. She flinched at those words and hung her head down. All was quiet between the two until Finn attempted to break the silence. "Mar-"
SLAP!
The noise scared away a flock of birds perched in a nearby tree, cawing in irritation at the sudden burst of sound. A gargantuan red hand print welled up on the heroes cheek, much more painfully than the last one.
"Can you stop that!" He yelled rubbing his cheek, that was all he said before Marceline placed her hands on each of his shoulders and pulled him closer to her face so he could hear her whispers and sniffles.
"Why would you ever try, much less, think about that?" She forced the words out of her throat. Finn had never in his life seen this much emotion from Marceline. She always seemed so laid back and content with everything and everyone around her.
"There nothing left for me in this life. I'm just some worthless screw-up who prances around like an idiot preaching about an unreachable dream. I wasn't able to keep my promises to Flame Princess, I couldn't defy nature so we could be together. Then I became the hugest jerk because of this barrier and said disgusting words to the greatest girl in the Universe and went as far as to get into a full-blown fight with her! All I am is a huge burden on everyone around me, I don't deserve to be able to walk on this land with the actions I've committed weighing down my shoulders every day. No one would have missed me if I had disappeared, they would have thought it a blessing." Finn spilled out all his worries onto the very spot where he stood to one of the last people he thought would have listened.
Marceline didn't say anything except pull him into a spine crushing hug. Finn felt almost instantly better, he just needed someone to talk to this whole time, but instead he bottled himself up in his room and wallowed in his own self-pity.
"You're so wrong that it's not even funny Finn..." Marceline took a deep breathe and looked Finn straight in the eye. "You are not some worthless kid everyone hates. You're an awesome and righteous guy who could put a smile on anyone's face without even trying. If you were gone, no one would be the same, especially us, we'd be depressed and junk and that's not cool, trust me I know. Being around 1000 years teaches you things you usually don't want to learn. Everyone I've met and loved had died right in front of me multiple times, you can't imagine how painful it was to watch all my friends either die from old age, monsters, whatever. I once considered my immortality a horrible curse until I finally realized something. Though I'll eventually lose everyone, it's better to just enjoy the time you have with them instead of fretting about the time you'll lose them." The words stuck to Finn like bees to honey. All the troubles he's been encountering and stress he's accumulated had released into the atmosphere leaving behind a wave of relief to wash over Finn.
"Wow, Marcy, you're right. I've been acting like lame lately because I thought there was no one to have my back after Flame Princess broke up with me. I don't want us to end our relationship like that, that's not the heroic thing to do!" He bounded out of Marceline's grasp and did a flip. Unfortunately, he forgot about his ankle and landed with a yelp of pain, tumbling in the dust and sand while Marceline just shook her head.
"Glob you're a weenie." She laughed helping Finn to his foot while supporting his busted leg. "One more thing though..." She transformed her face into one of a demon. "You ever try something like this again, I will go into the Nightosphere and beat you to twice death." She hissed. Finn swallowed and nodded quickly.
"Alright, time to go find FP and renew our bonds!" He pointed towards a random direction. He held that position, "I'm lost."
Marceline laughed even harder than last time and smacked Finn's butt causing him to blush. "Don't worry wee-"
"Finn!" Jake yelled bursting through the growth. He wrapped his stretchable arms and entwined Finn in a spool of affection. "Aw man, where were you dude?! I was worried when you didn't come back!" He exclaimed. Finn just smiled and Marceline winked at him.
"Don't worry bro, just havin' some Finn time." He said.
"Ugh, don't tell me you're in another soul funk, I told you, leave that stuff to the music you dig?" Jake sighed morphing into an afro and deepening his voice.
"Uh what?" Finn asked.
"Never mind. Oh Glob! I almost completely forgot the second reason I came looking for you." Jake explained everything Flambo had described about FP's capture and forced marriage.
"What! Why didn't you find me sooner?!" Finn freaked.
"Long story for another time bro, what matters now is we got to go save yo girl." Jake morphed into his giant form and threw Finn onto his back.
"C'mon Marcy, we got some flamin' buns to kick!" Finn danced around on Jake's back. Marceline just giggled and nodded.
"Yeah sure I guess I'll tag along, wouldn't want you guys getting burned by anything except me." With that she shot through the air towards the fire kingdom.
"First one there is awesome, yo Jake you know what time it is?" Finn asked holding out his fist. Jake smiled like a madman and returned the fist bump.
"Adventure Time?" He said.
"Heck yeah, onward my noble steed!" Finn kicked with his good leg on Jake's side who in return neighed like a horse and galloped through the undergrowth the same direction as Marceline, his mind finally at ease. Whatever happened must have been amazing for bringing his old buddy back.
Hello, as a side note for those who have made it this far in the tale, I wanted to recognize: PersianLady. She was the inspiration for this entire story. I love the work she's done and the continuous effort she's been putting into her stories, also for the recent personal reference in a chapter of one of my favorite stories. Go check her out when you have the time and you won't be displeased.