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Ten- Battle Royale
Flames, bright blue and white flames, the fiery landscape was reacting to their battle and flaring up accordingly. They surrounded the fire elemental Maddock Sula, otherwise known as the Flame King. His niece stood before him, a glorious example of contained rage and power. Both had grown to enormous size as they made their way to the coastline and Steamy Lagoon, the body of water that surrounds the Isle of Steam before the lands opened up half way between the Sea of Sure Death and the Squid Ink Sea. He could feel himself tiring, and actually feeling the heat of Flame Princess' flames. He had to think of something and quickly.
A white, fiery fist knocked into his chest and he stumbled backwards, the back of his foot hit liquid; but since the usual temperature of the water was just below boiling point it did not really affect him or weaken his flames. Flame King looked behind him and grinned when he saw the thick, fog-like steam that floated above the water. He turned that grin to his opponent before shrinking down to regular size and disappearing into the gloom.
The Princess of the Flame Kingdom gave out a frustrated sound, but followed suit. She gave another as she flew through the white haze and could make nothing out, but then she paused, for an idea had formed in her head. Giving a quick twirl she sent out her heat sense, she blinked at the results she got.
First Flame King was out in front of her toward the Isle, but then there was something made of wood, metal and bone and carrying life coming quickly toward her from a ways away. She frowned for a moment but let it be, if it proved to be her problem she planned to deal with it later. She flew forward at full speed and rammed into her opponent, who let out a grunt of surprise.
They grappled and twisted in the air, flames shot holes in the steam around them and warmed the air which in turn warmed the water. The result was a thicker steam cover; Flame Princess narrowed her eyes and managed to move her head enough to the side to avoid a blast of fire. She felt the energy go past her face and watched as Flame King thrust his hand forward; she had an idea.
Flame Princess grabbed at Flame King's still outstretched hand and pulled him forward, she meant to pull and twist him around to disorient him and then throw him up and send a large blast of fire and be done with it but before she had managed to even get a good grip Flame King twisted about and started laughing.
She was starting to hate that laugh; she gritted her teeth as she was gripped and twisted about instead.
"You think you can use that move on me girl? I'm the one that taught it to you!" He jeered at her.
A fist rammed itself into her gut, hard.
The air whooshed from her fiery lungs and her concentration momentarily fled. That was all the chance her opponent needed. Suddenly she was tossed through the air and then heat hit her back, propelling her forward. She flew over the Isle, still too stunned from the hit to do more than flail about. She watched as she sailed over the other side of the lagoon and realized with horror that she was headed straight for the cold sea.
This was enough to snap her back to reality. She stopped her involuntary flight just as she popped out of the cloud of steam. Flame Princess looked out over the sea for a moment before turning around; she glared at the white haze before her and tried to guess where Flame King would reappear.
She didn't have to wait long.
Out of the cloud Flame King rose, large and burning bright. He took power from the heat around him; Flame Princess backed up but instead of growing she flew up and started peppering his face with large, blue fire balls. He grunted and did his best to both block her blasts and grab at FP.
Finn watched all of this through his sister's binoculars, with a grip on her skull and claw figure head he leaned out a bit. He watched as his girlfriend left a trail of blue and white flame behind her as she soared through the air. His heart thumped in his chest, he didn't know whether to be excited or worried. He prayed to Glob that FP would win. He took an odd comfort in having Flambo resting upon his shoulder; the little guy had hitched a ride when no one was looking.
He shifted his feet with the boat, and did his best to ignore the choppy sea water all around them.
"How is she doing?" Yelled Beth from the Rutter, there was a fair bit of wind that muffled sound and she had to keep a steady hand or her boat would be at the mercy of the wind and her sails.
She snapped her eyes up at said things and was content to see the various repairs were holding for now, she was happy her boat had been spelled to repel flame by Flambo. She had a feeling it would be needed.
"She's blasting him."
Reported Finn over his shoulder, he took another look and spoke loudly. "She's flying around him and he can't catch her."
Jake looked on as his brother narrated and watched as a blue blip few around and around the large figure of Flame King. He frowned; this was going on for too long. As a magical being-never mind that PB continued to say it was a mutation- he knew all about how prolonged use of any and all magical abilities took their toll on the body and at this point the two combatants either had to have amazing stamina or be running on fumes.
He just hoped that the princess could last long enough to win this.
He didn't know how right he was. For, even with her impressive anger at the Flame King fueling Flame Princess' powers, she could feel herself begin to tire. And knew it would only be a matter of time before her strength would give out, and it was not a very long one. Her flames always had the tendency to burn very hot but only for a short while.
'There must be a way to end this!' She thought furiously.
As she flew once more over her opponent's head Flame Princess noticed how the air and steam moved with her and wrapped around the Flame King. He growled and furiously waved his hands, moving the steam around him more and out of his face. She flew a bit away and watched the scene; she then turned her face toward the sea and felt the cold winds go by her and hit the wall of steam behind her.
'Hot and cold air…and the freezing sea…'
'That's it!'
She grinned. Determination settled onto her face as she began to fly about her uncle. She raised the temperature of her flames, heating the air around her and pulling the cold air toward her. Flame King growled and tried to catch her, turning with her as he did so. Not at all aware he was helping her with her plans; she began to gain speed and the air and steam moved with her.
"What is she doing?" Asked Jake, "She's putting in the killin' blow, that's what she's doing." answered Flambo with much gusto.
"I'm sorry, did you say 'killing blow'?" Asked Beth incredulously.
The flambit turned to her and nodded his head, "That I did sweet cheeks, that's the way of the Fire Kingdom. You sees succession happens when, and only when, the old ruler kicks the bucket or secedes. Power then passes on to the next in line. All citizens feel the change, so there's never a mistake. Since those two are havin' a Royal Duel, if Flame Princess wins she's then the next in line and therefore the new Queen. And to win she has to defeat-an' I mean defeat- the Flame King."
Beth stared, her blue hair whipped around her and her grip tightened around the handle of the Rutter.
"So it's a duel to the death." She said simply.
"Now she's gettin' it." He said to Jake and Finn conversationally.
She turned to them and watched as they glanced at one another and then looked back at her. "It's not the way we would like it, but that's the way of the Fire Kingdom. And the only way Flame Princess really could win the throne for herself." Said Jake helplessly.
"Besides, he's evil. What else do you do with evil?"
Beth looked at her brother, at his straight shoulders and listened to his matter of fact tone.
"I don't like it."
"No one does." He told her.
They all stared at one another for a moment and then all four turned their attention back to the Duel. They watched as air swirled around the Flame King, faster and faster. Flame Princess was but a spot of bright light through the moving steam, Flame King visibly struggled as he was being involuntarily twirled about. He tried to catch his opponent but his hands always came up empty, he dared not to shrink down for he feared he would be at the mercy of FP's whirl wind even more. He yelled as he began to move faster and faster, everything was a steam hazed blur, he could not escape.
He had not even realized they had moved until suddenly everything stopped turning and he found himself falling, spat out toward the sea. His eyes widened and he only had time for a garbled shriek before he hit. The sea rolled and boiled at his touch, the boat of onlookers rocked and swayed as it rode the waves. Flame King spluttered as he resurfaced, his form was cooling and disappearing.
He quickly shrank, he raised his hand to the sky and felt something fiery and hot grasp it. Flame Princess pulled Flame King half way out of the water, and looked down at her defeated opponent.
"Do you yield?"
He stared hard at her; the swirling winds fanned the flames of her being around her. She was a commanding figure, showing him mercy in complete regal glory to voice his surrender with dignity. Her true nature was shining through at last; his kingdom would prosper under her good reign. As much as he hated to admit it.
'Seems you had the last laugh after all brother. I could not change her.' He thought.
"I yield to you, the new Queen of the Fire Kingdom and the ancient Burning Lands."
Flame Princess gasped as she felt the right of regency flow through her, power and connection to the Fire Kingdom coursed along her blazing veins. It settled into her very core. She was Flame Queen now. She looked down at the former ruler; just one more thing to do.
"What was my true name meant to be?" She asked.
"Elinore, he would have named you Elinore Justine Sula."
"Thank you, may you find peace in the 36th Dead world."
With a final look at the man she had once called father she let go. Maddock Sula gasped as he hit the water but did not struggle as his being was doused. He sank below the churning waves and closed his eyes.
'The Flame Kingdom will endure'
He let himself go.
For that was the way of the Fire Kingdom.
Flame Queen watched until she felt the Fire of her uncle's soul disappear. She sagged, she was so tired. She turned her head when she heard shouting. She slowly flew over and raised her eyebrows at the sight of Finn, Jake and Beth. As Finn put down the binoculars Flambo jumped off his shoulders, the hero then moved forward.
"You won."
He said simply as she touched down onto the boat and cooled down to her normal red and orange coloring. They smiled at one another.
"I did; I am the new Flame Queen."
She said triumphantly before collapsing to her knees upon the deck.
"Flame Queen!"
Shouted Finn as he came forward and placed his –thankfully-still shielded arms around her. She gave a tired grin, "I'm fine, just exhausted."
She looked up at his face for a moment and then leaned forward to place a quick kiss on his lips," And call me Elinore."
She turned to Jake, Beth and Flambo, who were watching the scene.
"All of you, please, call me Elinore. That's my real name."
She included the little flambit because he was the one to tell her the truth; he had always been aligned with her more than her father. He would make a good adviser and spy.
Finn flushed and resettled them so he was leaning on the mast and Elinore leaning on him. Flambo ran forward and settled himself on her lap, at rest with his Queen. Beth looked at the scene and gave a small sigh, 'that's the way of the world I guess.'
All was silent for a bit and then Jake clapped his hands, gathering all of their attention.
"Okay, I think everything is done here, let's move this tub around and get back to the Fire Kingdom."
Beth nodded her head, "Right, hang on landlubbers! The Sorceress of the Sea will get you out of here." She yelled, trying to lighten the mood.
She couldn't help but giggle to herself at the title she used, it was something she gave herself while out at sea; she had yelled it triumphantly after surviving a particularly crazy storm while lying punch drunk on the deck.
She aimed the boat for the opening to Steamy Lagoon, she planned to dock her boat at the mainland shore-her boat was heat proofed anyway so it should be fine- and planned to come back for it later and place it in the original cove she had had it. She didn't want anything happening to her only way back across the water, for she did intend to return one day.
As they began to near the first strip of land a large shape began to swim next to them, Beth narrowed her eyes.
"What's that on our port side?" She yelled at Jake, he blinked. "What?"
"The left! The left side, something big is swimming next to us under the water!"
As Jake looked over Finn heard a ringing come from his pack, Beth noticed him shifting and pulling a receiver out of it and placing it between him and Elinore so they could both listen.
She turned back to Jake, She saw he had stuck his face in the water and was now pulling it out. He had a wide eyed look to him.
Crap
"What is it?" She asked. He opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by Finn.
"Hey! Princess Bubblegum just called; Ice King's gone crazy again. She thinks it's from all the activity from the Flame Kingdom. He's going on an Icy rampage through Ooo and is headed there right now. Marceline is following him but she wants us to get there too!"
"We have to get to the Fire Kingdom!" Yelled the new ruler next to him; Beth began to tell them an answer but was cut off as something large shot out of the water.
She grunted as she kept hold of the boat, making sure to turn it so it would not hit nose first into the now dangerously close sand bar. She idly noticed Jake quickly wrapping around the fire elementals and Finn as large waves splashed upon the boat.
"Son of a –"
"BLLLAAARRGGGHHHH! I am the Dragon of the Sea of Sure Death! Who dares use the remains of my kinsman for this vessel!?" roared a large, deep voice.
Beth stared up at the beast and cursed, he looked like a larger and scaly version of that damn sea beast. His scaly skin gleamed bright crimson in the afternoon sun and fire flared from his mouth at every word he said.
She began to feel a sense of Deja vu.
She flicked her eyes to the others and made quick motions for them to make a break for it and then yelled "I am! But he had it coming! Jerk called himself the 'Terrible Beast of the Open Sea', he wouldn't leave me alone and damaged my boat while I was stuck in the middle of the ocean! Even trade after all the trouble he caused me!"
"You vile little creature, you will pay for not just accepting your fate and then dishonoring his remains!"
The dragon gave a mighty roar and threw a blast of fire at Beth; she calmly took it for she had yet to take her pendant off. The water around the boat boiled and released steam, under its cover she looked over and angrily motioned for everyone to keep moving. When Finn shook his head- everyone nodded in agreement- she repressed the urge to scream and turned back to the dragon.
"You'll have to do better than that you big lizard! You really want to fight me let me get on land and we'll see if you can avenge your kin! Just let my passengers be on their way."
"Are none of your blood?"
He asked and began smelling the air. Wanting to distract him she quickly said "No! I was just giving them a quick ride! Let them pass, your fight is with me!"
He gave a roar but said "Very well!"
She quickly moved to drop anchor and ran to the sand bar, her sword in her hand.
"Beth what are you doing?!" asked Jake as she passed him.
She stopped and turned to face them as she said "Freeing the way, you guys need to go stop Ice King. I will catch up. Now get out of here!"
"But-"
Began Finn but she stopped him, "No buts! Listen to me, I took on his bro, I can take him." She gave a familiar grin.
And then she ran off toward the outer edge of the sandbar, the angry Dragon following behind.
"There goes one crazy yet smart dame." Everyone turned to Flambo, "What? It's true!"
Finn frowned, "Dude, that's my sister!"
"You're point?" He began to answer back but Jake interrupted him.
"Hey, are we going or not?" He was already on the other end of the sand bar and had shifted into a raft shape.
Still frowning, Finn helped Elinore to cross the way and sit in the Jake-boat. Flambo jumped in behind her, Finn looked over and saw Beth make a slash at the dragon's face. He laughed as she missed.
"I don't like this." He said.
"Neither do I but we gotta go, we have to stop Ice King. Plus Beth can handle herself."
Finn hummed at Jake's words and got in. Elinore grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze but said nothing, returning the same silent support as he had given to her a little while earlier.
He squeezed back. Finn watched his sister until the steam obscured his vision and all was grey. He then turned and watched as Flambo lead the way across the lagoon.