I couldn't think of a better title for the chapter! Enjoy!

Twelve- Surprise

Death watched as the human woman breathed her last, the puff from her lungs coming out almost like a sad sigh. Her eyelids dropped over her unseeing orbs and her body went limp against the boat she had been leaning against. A final tear rolled down her face and fell into the water that would soon grab hold and pull both her, and eventually her boat, out to sea.

Her soul slowly rose out of her mortal coil and floated a bit above her corpse, motionless and on standby. He was going to take her straight to where she needed to go, her soul was ready and he didn't need any struggles or questions on this reaping.

Just as he started to reach out for the ripe soul a voice caught his attention.

"If I may interrupt?"

The voice was smooth and deep, with an odd accent.

Death looked over his shoulder in surprise to see Peppermint Butler standing a few feet from him. He leaned casually upon a small cane and a top hat sat upon his head. His eyes were large, black and weeping.

"Kalfu, What are you doing here? Stop possessing him. That's my bro man."

The being laughed and waved his hand dismissively.

"Se calmer, Thanatos. Our friend here agreed to it."

Death sighed. "Don't call me that. I haven't gone by that title for a very long time."

Kalfu leaned a bit more on his cane and manifested a lit cigar into existence. He took a puff and then said, "Vrai. But you are still him. Just as much as I am still Carrefour, and Legba. And just the same we will be again."

Death watched him as he spoke, the smoke almost looked blue in the orange light of the setting sun.

"What are you even doing here? And him, by the way. You can manifest just fine."

"We are here to discuss with you why taking that âme is a very bad idea."

Death narrowed his eyes and stood before turning fully toward the other, he positioned himself protective between the vulnerable soul and Kalfu.

Suspiciously he asked, "Why is that?"

"It's best if we explained together." Said Kalfu.

A large red and black cloud seemed to seep out of Peppermint Butler and rose up before coming back down and reforming itself. Soon there stood a tall man dressed sharply in a red and black zoot suit, he had dark skin and a bright smile. Kalfu casually took the cane, hat and cigar from a dazed Peppermint, the accessories changing to better suit his size and the style of the suit.

The candy man coughed and rubbed his head as he looked at Kalfu.

"Hey man, I thought we agreed no cigars if I did the leg work so Ullr wouldn't know you were here!"

"I am sorry Menthe poivrée, but I could not help it."

From the way the other grinned as he casually "apologized" told the candy man he was not very sorry. Peppermint opened his mouth to continue to argue but was interrupted by Death.

"What's this about Ullr? I thought the Crown was doing its work. And what does it have to do with one of my crop?"

"It seems that Ullr has…surfaced." Answered Kalfu. A frown on his face.

"What?!"

"We have a plan that could finally take him out, things are moving as we speak. But a part requires Beth, and her not to be dead. At least not completely…" Peppermint Butler pointed at the soul and slowly cooling body.

Death squinted his eyes a bit more and took a look behind him before turning back to the other two.

"I'm listening."

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It had begun to rain by the time Ullr neared the out skirts of the Fire Kingdom, the sun had set a while ago and dark clouds filled the sky. A light steamy mist was beginning to rise over the land before him; he gave a grin.

He couldn't wait to freeze it all. And all the cold water falling from the sky would only aid him in his quest. He stopped and spread out Ice King's hands, he rose them and was about to start zapping targets when a sudden light caught his attention. He looked down and gave a shout as he narrowly avoided a massive hit by a bright blue fire ball. His eyes widened at the sight of such heat and flame and he looked down toward the source of the blast.

It was her, the Flame Girl. Her little boyfriend was next to her as were that dog, two others and several underling guards. Ullr gazed down at them, one was an older Flame Male and currently giving orders to said underlings that were scrambling around the small group. The other was looking up at him with a tilt to her hooded head, Ullr gave her a grin full of pointed teeth.

Huntress Wizard could see him for what he truly was with her wizard eyes; he wondered if she and that human woman she had been with that one night in Wizard City were still on the lam. He had laughed heartily as he made Simon notice them and bother them that night- Ullr didn't like heroes or heroic women.

They always meddled in his endeavors.

He wondered how hard it would be to take the sorceress' eyes from her, he could make some fine, ancient magic from them. Plus he didn't like the way she was glaring at him.

His attention was diverted when the Flame Girl flew up to meet him in the sky, he backed up for her heat was like a force field around her. As she neared he noticed that her coloring was different. The energy around her was of a bluish tint, and her skin was more of a pale to whitish yellow.

She held a new, regal air to her.

Well, well…

"I presume I am talking to the leader around here, huh Flame Girl?"

The young woman before him furrowed her brows, the energy coming from the old man was completely off and…dark.

"My name is Elinore the Flame Queen. And you are threatening my lands Ice King. Leave. Now. Or I will make you."

"Oh-ho-ho! Such big words! But you see my dear, I am not who you think I am. Though I wear his face and speak with his tongue I am not the one known as Ice King. Not really, anyway. But you already knew that didn't you?"

As he spoke his odd grin had only gotten wider and hit teeth more prominent.

His voice was also…different.

Elinore frowned, the energy- dark and cold- that was surrounding Ice King was growing stronger.

"Who are you then? Speak."

"I am Ullr, The Glorious One."

Her eyes narrowed.

"What do you want?"

"To freeze you."

Heat started to gather in her outstretched hands.

"Try."

Ullr let out a laugh that held no mirth or warmth.

"You think you stand a chance?"

His voice grew husky and energy started to gather in his hands.

Elinore held up her hands, small spheres of flame hovered over each of her palms.

"Don't test me you evil dork, I defeated my uncle and I fought you-well, Ice King-before. I can take you easy."

Marceline raced through the air, Ice King had managed to out fly her but she was now nearing the Flame Kingdom. She could see Ice King and Flame Princess in the air conversing. She narrowed her eyes as she saw them suddenly start shooting attacks at one another.

"No!"

She raced forward, were she still truly living her heart would have been beating in her ears. She veered hard to the left to dodge an errant fire ball. She pushed herself forward and purposefully crashed into Ullr, she couldn't help the gasp she let out upon contact with him.

He was so cold. So very, very cold.

They flew through the air and rain, landing hard on some –luckily not aflame-ground near the Fire Kingdom Border. Elinore watched this all with some surprise, she really hadn't expected Marceline to show up out of the blue. She looked down at the others and saw them mobilizing and moving toward where the two had landed. Jake grew to a large size and carried Finn, Huntress, and Furnius on his back. Elinore flew up and past them.

They had to move fast.

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Peppermint Butler let out a soft growl of frustration, he hated it when his mistress sent him out for relations or negotiations. She knew it too. He guessed it was passive aggressive pay back for his little "speech" to her at Marceline's house.

Also, he was the only candy person beside herself- and Root Beer Guy, but he was busy making sure the Banana Guards were actually USEFUL with Sir Rattleballs as a final defense- that was really at all capable outside the kingdom.

But that was beside the point. The real matter was that he really hated dealing with beings from this plane, it was so much easier to get shadow beings to do as you wanted.

And using this body made is easier for others to use him. But, you do what you have to do.

'Ugh, where's Cinnamon Bun when you need him to do grunt work!' He thought darkly, the slow witted pastry had been quite the no-show for some time.

Right now these trolls were wearing on his last nerve, first off they kept calling him "fat candy man" – fat indeed!- and secondly all of their "proud warrior of the forest" bravado was getting on his nerves.

With another sigh of aggravation Peppermint Butler continued his walk around of the lands surrounding the Candy Kingdom. The trolls were doing a very good job of defrosting the woods and the various inhabitants of Ooo who had been unfortunate enough to get in Ice King's way. They had mobilized at practically the instant he had started shooting up and were still working hard up until now to help minimize the damage with the help of other inhabitants of Ooo.

In the midst of the woods Peppermint was currently in everyone was working by torch or lamp light and morale was surprisingly high. He walked up just in time to see a group of three boisterous males crack open a large hunk of ice, freeing a fox, swan and a Marshmallow Kid.

The sugary youngster cheered and thanked the trolls before running off home. Peppermint checked his list and grinned when he saw that all Candy Kingdom inhabitants could now be accounted for, his job was finally done! Now he could get back to more pressing matters.

With that he walked through the group of trolls and others and over to the where he had last seen king Cedric, he had to formerly tell the leader his task was done and he was now going to leave. Finally Peppermint found him as he sat on a rock, his advisors standing around him and telling him reports of their progress. Currently a troll with dark green skin and light purple hair was talking.

"…and finally Aulis has sent in the report that he and his team have completed freeing all those stuck in ice on the border of the Grassy Plains with the help of its inhabitants."

"Very good Barclay, things are proceeding at excellent pace." Said the king with satisfaction. The ruler of the trolls was of lean figure, as he spoke he had a tendency to lightly grasp his long, light orange beard with one of his light green hands.

"Excuse me, your Majesty?"

King Cedric was the one troll Peppermint Butler actually held some respect for, he was a reserved ruler and knew what he was doing. And he had never bothered his Princess. So he made a point to be polite in gaining his attention.

King Cedric- along with the small group surrounding him- turned to look at Peppermint Butler. He nodded for the candy man to approach and room was made for him to advance.

"The last of my Lady's people is free and it is obvious you and yours have everything under control here. So with great respect and gratitude toward the trolls for their efforts in helping all of Ooo I must inform you that my time here is done and I will return to my mistress."

"We trolls are simply doing what we feel needs to be done, but I am glad to hear that you have found all of your fellow sugary people, Mr. Butler. Before you go, though, May I speak to you a moment?"

"Uh, yes?"

King Cedric waved his advisors away and directed Peppermint forward. As the monarch had spoken his tone had turned rather serious and enigmatic. The candy man wondered what he wished to talk about away from his subjects ears.

Once his group was well enough away King Cedric looked down at the peppermint candy before him and asked, "Tell me, Mr. Butler. Do you know why the King of the Ice and Snow went on such a rampage? Usually his shenanigans are confined to easily thwarted kidnappings or senile daftness. This was something else entirely."

Suspicion and curiosity was plain in the monarch's voice, his attention fully on peppermint Butler.

"Oh, I'm not really sure. You know Ice King, dude just gets crazier every year." The candy man made his best attempts at being casual. Couldn't have people finding out some mad, primeval winter god was running amok.

Or that the Candy Kingdom had any connection to it.

"That must be true, one would have to be rather touched in the head to go on claiming themselves to be Ullr and all."

King Cedric stared pointedly at Peppermint Butler, his look reading clearly that he knew that Pep knew something and if he didn't tell him anything he would figure it out for himself. Rather loudly if that's what it took to get answers.

"Ah."