Another update? so soon!? dont get used to it I had a long train ride with time to kill when I started writing this.

Friendship Forged

Chapter Two

The Apple Pit Inn

Far of the Candy Kingdom castle, on the line of their borders sat the Apple Pit Inn. Unknowing in mystery how such a fort could keep standing under such a heavy storm. The wind spiraled and shook and spun, crashing against the walls. But inside was warm. A fire roared in the tavern as men huddled around their meed and there beer, sharing stories and songs. A leek was found here and there but that did little to dampen the spirits of the men. Most were from a bordering village of brutish fighters who took no pleasure in magic or fighting magic. Many would be quick to wrestle an ox or a bear at the sight of it, but they too kept there diastase from the showy ice kingdom. Few were travelers, making a pitstop between condemns hoping for a safe night and good rest. One was a wonderer. Alone in a corner by the window sat a figure in a bright white hood.

The hood covered most of her face but a handful of golden blond hair managed to escape and hang to one side. Her boot covered feet sat up on the table as she leaned back into her chair. Her armor scratched and warn as her leather gloves. A top her hood were two peaces of fabric made to look and hold like bunny ears. She enjoyed the borders, not within any of the kingdom lines. She belonged to no kingdom. She was the only Human she knew of, and it had always been that way. When she was young she had been separated from her adopted family and traveled the land looking for work to do, people to help, along the way learning how to fight. She, now, a fair lass of eighteen had begun to travel farther and farther. Though she had been to this Inn before she had never journeyed into the Candy Kingdom or its capital. From story the Prince was said to be just and fair, but with a kingdom so large she stayed away. She was far better off in smaller villages.

She enjoyed the Inn, the men and women here were always in the best of sprites no mater what was happening. Always talking about monsters slain, trying to scare the travelers. She would sit back and enjoy her pipe and beer as the rest of the Inn patrons let loose into song and story.

" Well hello there stranger, I thought you might like an apple pie for helping me with that firewood earlier."

" Thanks Tree Trunks. And Thank You for the room tonight."

" Of course Fionna. You know you are always welcome here. Why, since you were a little girl you have been helping me out. I wish you'd stay instead of traveling so much. It's not good for ya."

" I beg to differ, besides you know me, if I sit to long in one place I get fidgety."

" I suppose."

" Hey let me know if you need anything else done, Im kinda low on gold and could use a job-"

The door swung open. Quickly and quietly Tree Trunks excused herself to go welcome the traveler in. Fionna sat up pulling her hid further down, causing a shadow to hide her eyes that she kept fixed at the door. She reached for her blade. It took only a crazy few to travel at this time at night. The hooded figure walked in with Tree Trunks.

" Welcome, would you like a room."

" No.. I am looking for someone."

That was all Fionna could make out from a distance as the hooded figure turned his head. She kept her eyes sharp and her grip firm on her sword beneath the table. She watched Tree Trunks point her out and the grip tightened, but she kept her breath calm. The figure approached and sat on the opposite end of her table.

" Tables taken, or can you not see my feet."

" I beg pardon, if you would remove them, I am of no threat to you."

" See thats what you'd think, no sane man would go walking around these hills at night, not unless they were more scary than anything that might attack 'em. So I say again, Tables taken. I'll have none of your business."

" You are Fionna the Bounty Hunter are you not?"

" I might be."

" I am looking to hire Fionna the Bounty Hunter."

Fionna swung her legs off the table and stood grabbing the cloak of the hooded man.

" Look here... I know danger, I know power, you got it. Why on globs earth do you need a bounty hunter." She keeper her eyes fixed on the shadow under the hood. The shadow let out a sigh.

" It is not my place to battle monsters," he spoke pulling back his hood slightly to show his face, " it is to battle wars."

Fionna's eyes opened wide as she released his cloak. In the distance a soft click caught her attention as she noticed a small figure in a dark hood hide what looked to be a cross bow.

" If you are Fionna the Bounty Hunter, then be at my castle at dawn tomorrow. I have a job and I will pay you handsomely."

" What sort of job does a prince want."

" Slaying the Beast of the Westland Caves."

Gasps broke out in the tavern and all fell to a hush. The Prince fixed his hood again looking a little nervous now that attention had been drawn to them.

" Be there by dawn tomorrow." He spoke quickly before rushing out of the tavern, the small hooded figure with the crossbow followed. Fionna looked after for a second before grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

" Hey Tree trunks imma need that Apple Pie to go."

" You're leaving so soon?"

" It takes a good nights journey to get to where I gotta go."

"F-fionna." Fionna turned around to see what was the drunken mess of men now all eyes filled with shock and fear. " You- you really going after the Beast of the Westland Caves?"

" I suppose.. You know something of it?"

" Thats right you never go much further from here. The best hides within the caves waiting for pray to strike, the caves are often a good night rest so long as you stay in the intrench, the farther in you go the more in the beast tangled web you will fall."

"But-" chimed in another. " As of late the beast grows hungry and has left the cave on several occasions to catch passing travelers.

" What of this beast scares you brutes senseless?"

" The best is a shape shifter, with limitless size. Some of our men had went into the caves two winters ago and never returned. Some say they got lost and died of starvation, but others say that the Beast grew to be so big they were crushed against the cave walls."

" Sounds like a challenge." Fionna smiled grabbing her pie placing it in her bag.

" Fionna! What about what you always say, only crazy, dumb, or dangerous foke travel at night."

" Ill give ya a guess to which one I am." She smile as she left. Walking through the soggy night away from Apple Pit Inn, it was a shame to leave but there was no way to get to the Candy Kingdom fast enough. If she had a horse to ride maybe. But she always walked. Midnight fell and the sky cleared for a moment, she sat upon a rock and ate her apple pie savoring the taste under the stars until she continued on reaching the kingdom by day brake.

It wasn't nearly as colorful as she had hoped, though that could have been the gray sky's falt. Everything seemed so much darker. She approached the large gate where the two guards stood, without word the guards opened the gate allowing her in. She caught there passing disapproving glances but continued forward. What greeted her in the town was the same, the Candy people looked on from there houses at her, perhaps they had never seen a human before. That was not at all surprising Fionna ignored the glances. She soon aproched the front door of the castle were Lady Peppermint stood waiting.

" Lady Peppermint! Good to see you."

" And you Fionna."

" I had not seen you at the Inn for a while, It appears we keep missing each other."

" Or I have simply stopped going, I am needed here. Good to have you finally pay a visit."

" Good to have that cross bow not pointed at me."

Lady Peppermint blushed slightly. Embarrass she had been found out.

" Why could you two not simply give me a ride back instead of making me walk from Apple Pit Inn."

" We had to ride in and only brought the two horses, I am sure you would have rather walked then ride side saddle."

" True."

" I would have thought you had a ride yourself."

" Not for a while now. My horses have bad luck."

" I would say so to get you as a rider."

" It is nice to see you though Pep.. Can I come in."

" Yes. Please come in from this deathly cold."

Stepping in Fionna shook her hood slightly, refusing the servant when asking to take it from her. Her cloak was her armor, it never came off. Not hear anyway. She headed forward into the castle with Lady Peppermint by her side.

" Lady Peppermint! You are needed in the kitchen!" Shouted a small candy corn about the size of the lady herself. That was something Fionna had noticed about the Candy people, aside from the banana guards they were all quite small. How ever did there prince become taller then her. She always pictured him much to his name a small fat gum ball, perfectly spherical, rolling around the castle. Fionna giggled at the thought.

" Fionna if you would excuse me. The Throne room is just down these halls and up the stairs, the large door with GB on them."

" Roger that." And then the Lady vanished.

Left to wonder the halls alone that is what she did. She slowed her pace to look upon the portraits. Oddly all depicting the figure she had met in the tavern. Though some of the portraits looked quite old. Not one showed another kIng or Queen, or even a princess. Strange, she thought. As she spiraled up the stares she was tempted to lick the walls. A kingdom of anything edible to a none food creature was.. inviting. She was tempted at least to have a small taste or the chocolate railing. But now she must control herself. This job offered by one of the richest kingdoms would no doubt pay well. Best not to make a bad first impression, or second impression.

The grand doors inscribed GB opened upon her arrival at the stairs her eyes immediately found the Prince gazing out the window. His cloak now gone she could see the fine silk of his wardrobe, pinks and purples, high puffball sleeves resembling his namesake, the Candy sword by his side, the gold crown on his head. She approached slowly.

" Fionna."

" Yes."

" If you will beg pardon for the informality of our first meeting. You see I needed your help at once. Peppermint informed me you might be near by and I got rather excited a the prospect of this problem being solved." He turned to face her. " Though you may find me threatening I am not a violent man. Those days are long behind me. After the wars and our years devised I am tired and simply wish for things to be as they were meant to be. In those days I would not dare call on another, much less a young girl to take on such a task."

" Do not say what you think are protective words of kindest. Me being young or a girl has nothing to do with your issue and should not concern you. I fight just as well if not better than most."

" My apologies I did not mean for you to take offense. Fionna. I am troubled by the Beast in the Westland Caves. Im sure you have heard the tales."

" I have."

" You know it is no small feat to kill such a creature."

" I know."

" And I will pay you handsomely in return for the Creatures head."

" You better."

" Very good. Then please take this." He handed her a small glowing red Crystal. Almost matching that of her glowing pendent. " This is a Crystal sword found in old ruins. Im sure it will serve you better then your current weapon." Fionna looked solomly at her old sword that hung on her waist.

" Couldn't hurt to upgrade. I'll leave my old sword here if you don't mind, I travel light."

" Very well. It shall be here when you return." the prince nodded before dramatically pointing towards the door. " Now go forth and bring me the head of the Beast of the Westland Caves!"

Fionna turned on foot and left with her cloak trailing behind her.

" With pleasure."

Not sure when I'll post the next chapter. Hopefully soon.