2

Author's note: Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad to see some people are reading this and gladder still for the feedback. Unfortunately, I can really only work on this when no one is around so updates may be infrequent as I am not a very good typist lol. But, I will note that the entire thing is in fact written, I just have to type and post it, which will speed things up. Also, would anybody be interested in seeing a list of the music I listened to while writing this? I find it interesting sometimes. As before, please review- good or bad, doesn't matter.

"C'mon, princess, let's go!" Finn called over his shoulder as he ran to where Lady was waiting. He sprang onto Lady's back and Bubblegum climbed up behind him, irritated because he had ignored her, but unwilling to take his hope away.

Lady launched into the air, climbing high above the trees until the snow-capped mountains of the Ice Kingdom were just visible on the horizon, illuminated by the morning's first soft glow.

They soared above the fluffy pink tops of the Cotton Candy trees, which soon gave way to the verdant fields of the Grasslands. Eventually, the grass and trees were replaced with iron gray water as the crossed the ocean to the Ice Kingdom. The Ice King's mountain lair loomed ahead, taller than the rest of the peaks surrounding it. It might have been a more imposing sight had an actual threat dwelled within, but as it was the sight made Finn laugh. His goal was almost close enough to reach out and grab.

Lady flew in through a window and landed on the frigid floor of the castle. The old man was nowhere to be seen, no doubt still asleep at this early hour.

"I'm gonna go see if Ice King's got Jake in his prison," whispered Finn.

"Be careful, Finn. There might be traps or alarms, and you never know when he might come out here," said PB.

"Psssh, I'm not worried about that old poot. I've dealt with him so much before it's almost too easy," said Finn dismissively.

He crept forward, avoiding the detritus strewn all over the floor. Glob, this dude's messy, thought Finn as he scanned the numerous empty pizza boxes, discarded plates, and other trash. His foot found something soft. He looked down to see that he had stepped on a pair of Ice King's filthy underwear. "OH! EEEEYYYUUUCK!" he screamed without thinking.

Realizing his mistake too late, Finn clapped his hands over his mouth, but it was too late. "Alarm! Alarm! Alarm!" screeched an unseen Ice Toad, an alarm system set up by the Ice King to detect intruders. Light then flooded the chamber, and Finn saw Lady and Peebles staring at him, looking shocked and mildly angry.

"Wha…? Who's there? Gunter, did you trigger the alarm again? Daddy told you not to go out you silly penguin," came the Ice King's voice. Soon after, the man himself appeared, a blue night cap in place of his magic crown. "Gunter? Where are you? You better get back-"

Before he could finish, Finn had pounced on him, sending them both tumbling to the floor. He punched the Ice King on the nose and said, "What did you do with Jake you old scum-sucker?"

"Finn!? What the… What are you talking about!?" Ice King asked, surprised by the sudden assault.

"I know you've got him! Start talking!" Finn resumed punching. Ice King sputtered and spat, squirming beneath the raining blows.

"I already told you, I don't have him! Stop punching me," the old man pleaded. Finn continued, heedless. "Augh! OW! I swear I haven't even seen him anywhere!"

Finn felt himself being lifted off of the Ice King, his arms flailing in midair. "Let me know! I'll beat him till he talks!"

"No, Finn," said Princess Bubblegum's voice. "Stop this. You're consumed with anger, so you're not thinking clearly. The Ice King clearly doesn't know what you're talking about. He doesn't have Jake."

Finn ceased his struggling and the princess put him down. "You believe this old jerk?" he asked, still seething.

"Yes," said PB. "He's done many terrible things, but he's always admitted it, has he not? He certainly would have under that kind of… pressure."

Finn processed what the princess was saying, thinking hard, trying to dispute her. He could not. The reality of the situation was all to clear, and Finn had no choice but to accept it. The news was devastating. He had been so sure the Ice King had had his friend that he had refused to consider any alternatives. He had no idea what to do now. Once again he lacked direction, and there was no one to guide him. Certain he had lost, he stared at the floor, oblivious to all but his pain.

"Finn, look out!" cried Bubblegum. Finn paid no attention. The Ice King had snuck away and returned with his crown and was now firing frozen projectiles from his hands. They clattered to the floor all around Finn, who still refused to move.

"STOP!" Princess Bubblegum's imperious voice rang out and echoed through the chamber. "Leave Finn alone! He has no idea what happened to his best friend, and the reason he suspected you should be obvious. This is what you get for being such a big, ugly jerk! I should have just let him beat you to a pulp."

"Well, fine. I missed on purpose anyway," said Ice King, hurt. "But now you can all just get of my castle!"

The princess lifted Finn onto Lady's back and climbed up herself. They took off out the window. "Take us back to Candy Castle, Lady," said PB. "Thanks you for your help." She patted the Rainicorn on the head.

Finn lay draped limply across Lady's back. The only thing keeping him from plummeting to his death was Bubblegum's tight grip on him. He wasn't really conscious of what was going on around him, lost as he was in the darkness of his troubled thoughts. His hurt was beyond emotion- beyond any expression at all. It was a deep ache in his very core that burned and chilled him at once. He hated the world, and everyone in it, but mostly he hated himself. His best friend had disappeared, there would be no finding him, and it was all his fault.

The trio touched down in the princess's bedroom, now illuminated by the bright morning sun streaming through the windows. Lady spoke urgently.

"We'll find him," said Bubblegum, trying to console Lady. "There's a whole land out there to search, and we've only just started. We will find him."

Author's Note: Sorry for the brevity of this chapter. I've been pressed for time, and this seemed like a good cutoff point. Hopefully the next will be posted soon.