Chapter Seven:
Quick Author's Note: I would just like to say thank you to all who reviewed, and that I'm especially grateful for the constructive criticism I received :D Really, means a lot :3
When we last left our heroes, Magic Man had just eaten his sandwich and Finn completed his second trial with the help of Jake and Marceline. After the awkwardness left the air, Magic Man announced, "Would you like to rest for a little while or begin your third trial?"
"How about getting something to eat! I'm hungry!" Jake exclaimed.
"Uh, I'd rather get the third one over with," Finn answered truthfully.
"Yeah, the sooner we finish the sooner I can go raise an army of the undead," Marceline mumbled to herself, although Jake heard what she said, and took a step away from her.
"Very well," Magic Man replied, "Follow me." He turned around, and the three reluctant heroes followed him through the grassy field. Magic Man began to hum an odd sounding tune as they walked, much to Marceline's annoyance. Finally they reached where Magic Man led them, which was at a decent sized pond, with lots of green water lilies floating on top. There were also ducks and swans swimming atop, enjoying the sunshine as they swam.
"Why did you bring us here?" Marceline asked with a tone, "Everything is so happy and cheerful. It gives me a migraine."
"Oh hush up. This is where your third trial will take place Finn the Human, and it will test your fighting skills as well as your rescuing skills."
"I'm already great at that," Finn objected, "Not only can I kick butt, I can rescue princesses, and still keep all this adorable." He pointed to his face when he said adorable.
"Yeah man!" Jake encouraged, giving him a high five.
"You still haven't rescued me," Marceline huffed. "Not that I need it."
"Poop to you," Finn told her. "So Magic Man, what am I rescuing today? A princess?"
"No, your trial is to swim at the very bottom of the lake and retrieve this piece of popcorn."
"What piece of popcorn?"
Magic Man grinned. "This piece of popcorn." He held up a small popcorn kernel that had been popped. Then, he threw it into the pond, and despite being so light and fluffy, the popcorn started to sink, so Finn guessed Magic Man used magic for that to happen.
"Alright cool dude, that'll take no time flat," Jake said casually, lying down on the grass to relax.
"Do you seriously think that's all? There has GOT to be a catch to this," Marceline replied. "You thought getting a needle in a haystack was easy, until you found out the needles had to attack you, and you thought making a sandwich was easy, until you found out that they were guarded by angry pixies." She finished her sentence and blew a strand of hair out of her face. "So what makes you think that this is any different?"
"You certainly are observant Marceline," Magic Man said.
The Vampire Queen narrowed her eyes. "Someone who does a lot of tricks themselves tends to pick up on these things."
"Well whatever happens, I'm sure I'll succeed," Finn said confidently.
"What makes you so sure?" Marceline asked suspiciously.
"Have you seen this face?"
"That is a one of a kind face," Jake complimented.
"Oh whatever! But don't come crying to me when something bad happens!"
Finn made his voice deep and dramatic, "I never cry."
"You cry every time you po-"
"JAKE! Not now!" Finn exclaimed, dismissing the memories of his childhood that Jake almost brought up. The hero stepped closer to the edge of the pond. "Wish me luck."
"I wish I was in the Nightosphere over this," Marceline grumbled.
"Good luck dude," Jake said. "I'll jump in and help you if you need it."
"Yes Jake, you are permitted to help Finn if he needs it," Magic Man confirmed. Finn nodded, took in a huge breath of air, and dived inside the slightly chilly pond waters.
~X~X~X~
Finn hadn't been swimming ever since Jake helped him get over his fear of the ocean, but he felt alive as he swam down to the bottom of the pond floors. The pond wasn't terribly deep, and Finn started his search for the popcorn piece. He wasn't sure how long he could hold his breath, but he knew for sure he had a good minute or two, and then he would rocket to the surface for air. After fifteen seconds Finn began to realize a serious problem; the sand of the pond floors was the same white color as the popcorn piece. This must have been the catch Marceline was referring to.
However that was not the catch at all. For while Finn had his back turned to the surface, he didn't notice the evil water sprite gathering around him, preparing to attack him for entering their pond. The sprites were little, perhaps the size of a bat, but their size didn't matter because there were so many of them. After another thirty seconds Finn decided he needed air, and turned towards the surface. There he saw the water sprites, and screamed in surprise, which wasn't smart because that let out his remaining air. Which meant he needed to get to the surface. Now.
Swimming like he never swam before, Finn maneuvered his way past the sprites, trying his best to kick and punch the ones that got in his way! Finally he poked his head out of the water with a giant, "AH!"
"How goes it dude?" Jake asked.
"Ah! Huh! Ah!" Finn continued to gasp, trying to get enough air.
Of course Jake didn't understand this. "Calm down bro," he chuckled. Then the water sprites took a hold of Finn's feet and dragged him underneath the water again. "He's really showing enthusiasm," Jake noted. Marceline rolled her eyes.
Back underneath the water, Finn started to fight the water sprites. He punched, kicked, and shoved them to get away from him, but they kept coming like bees for honey. The young hero then realized if he was going to retrieve the popcorn piece, someone was going to have to fight off these sprites. With a final shove, Finn once again stuck his head above the surface.
"Hey dude."
"JAKE!"Finn got dragged down again before he could get a proper breath or tell Jake to help him. He fought them off again, and then swam back up. "JAKE!"
"What?"
"Help me!"
"Kay." Jake jumped into the water and Marceline put her hands over her head thinking, what have they gotten themselves into this time?
It didn't take Jake long to figure out Finn wanted him to fight off the water sprites. As Jake began to enlarge his size, Finn resumed searching for the popcorn kettle. This wasn't as easy as before, because he knew that the longer it took him, the more Jake had to deal with the sprites. The twelve year old boy tried to hurry as fast as he could, and soon his eyes were starting to strain. He starting to demand the need of air, but he ignored the demands and kept searching.
While he did that, Jake was getting beat up the water sprites. He started out beating them up, but number proved to be better than strength, and combined with that lack of air, Jake was getting to punched up to swim to get air. He and Finn were both slowly losing their oxygen.
Finn was almost ready to give up, but then as that thought crossed his mind, he saw something in the sand that looked different. He stuck his hand deep in the sand, and pulled out a fistful, luck having it that the popcorn piece was inside. He clutched it closer to his hand, and with a boost of adrenaline, kicked off the sands of the pond to rocket to the surface. Finn saw that Jake was just as hopeless as he was, and used every bit of his energy to wrap an arm around Jake, kick away the sprites, and finally reached the surface.
The young hero felt cold arms go around his shoulders, and he and Jake get pulled out of the water before he went out of it.
Marceline sighed. Finn was knocked out like a light. She should've helped him. The vampire didn't spend much time scolding herself, because she had to save her friend. Placing a cold hand on Finn's heaving chest, she pressed down, and repeated this action. "Come on, breathe!" she exclaimed. Marceline pounded on his chest harder and harder. "Breathe! Stay with the living! You don't want to join the dead like me!"The vampire then realized Finn needed air in his lungs. She cursed under her breath, "You owe me one Finn." She prepared to press her lips against his for oxygen, but suddenly Finn coughed, and regained consciousness.
However this didn't stop the realization of awkwardness. "Uh hi," Finn said quietly.
Marceline instinctively jerked her head away from his. "Don't scare me like that you weenie," she growled. She tried her very hardest to hide the blood that rushed to her face, and covered her face with her hair to hide her blush.
"Jake!" Finn exclaimed. He crawled over to his best friend, who was unconscious as well. "Marceline, I think he needs CPR!"
…
"No way."
"Marceline! I don't know CPR!"
The Vampire growled and then kicked Jake's stomach with the toe of her boots. Jake then awoke, and coughed a few times, water gushing out. "What happened?" he asked. "Did we do it?"
"We did it dude," Finn smiled. He turned to Magic Man, "Here's your stupid popcorn piece."
"You can let Jake eat it," Magic Man said, "Congratulations for completing your third trial."
Finn nodded weakly and tossed the popcorn in Jake's mouth. "You deserve it dude."
Jake felt a tear form. "Sweet salvation."
Author's Note: Lol. So I'm sorry for the late update. I had a horrible disease that spreads throughout fan fiction, it's called writers block. A nasty disease, but luckily I found a cure. So I'm sorry for the late update. However, thank you for reading, and please review! Whoo!