Chapter Eight:
Author's Note: Readers, I am very sorry I didn't update sooner. I guess I could give you a list of excuses, but I'd rather not do excuses. The truth is I've been busy, and I'll probably end up updating once a week. I was supposed to update yesterday, but I'm using my sister's computer, and it was giving her problems with her security system. Long story short, I stayed off it because I didn't want to mess anything up. Okay, here's the next chapter. Thank you for the wait :D
Finn was sure that he was ready for a rest. He nearly drowned… for a popcorn piece. These trials were getting ridiculous. And by ridiculous, he meant life threatening. But Finn didn't want to tell Magic Man he was afraid of getting hurt (he'd sound wussy) but he decided to say something anyway. "Magic Man," Finn moaned, still recovering from his previous trial, "This has got to stop."
"Now now human, there are only two trials left and you're free," Magic Man replied. "Wouldn't you like to follow through with your promise, with honor and pride?"
Honor and pride. Ha. More like pain and heartache.
You made a promise Finn! Follow through on your promise, even if it kills you!
Finn heard the voice inside of his head. Who is this? My conscious?
No! I'm your heart! Remember, I'm the one who told you to do the flipping trials!
Oh. Right. But heart, what if I end up get-
No! Finish the trials! And improve your cholesterol! For heaven's sakes, IMPROVE YOUR CHOLESTEROL!
"Okay jeez! You don't have to yell!" Finn cried. He realized he said that part out loud. Marceline and Jake gave him a look. "Uh… I was talking to my heart," Finn stammered awkwardly.
"You're so weird," Marceline said, rolling her eyes. She then turned to Magic Man, and decided to try and help Finn. It was partly her fault he was in this mess to begin with. "Look Magic Man," she began to say, her voice serious, "It's clear Finn and Jake need to some time to cool down. So whatever your fourth trial is, you better tell us now, so that we can prepare for it."
A cold laugh was all she received back. "And what makes you think I'm going to do that?" Magic Man laughed.
Marceline showed him a dangerous glare. "Because I know something you don't want them to know," she told him tauntingly, "And don't think I won't tell them." She did a crooked smirk when she saw Magic Man's pride go down a notch.
"Very well," he said. Magic Man then snapped his fingers, and the four were transported into a medium sized room, with violet carpeting, white walls, and no windows or doors.
"Seriously dude, you need to redecorate," Jake commented. He then shrieked. "THERE'S NO COUCH!"
"Yes silly dog, there is no couch," Magic Man confirmed. "However, there is your fourth trial Finn." He snapped his fingers, and suddenly a six feet wide six foot long television appeared, hanging up on the wall (as if by magic) and there was also two multicolored dance pads with arrows going in four directions, and a bar between the two pads.
"YOU GOT DANCEY DANCE STEPPY STEP REVOLUTION!" Jake exclaimed. "This isn't even in the stores yet! How did you- oh right, magic." (A/N Just imagine DDR. I didn't call it that because I don't know how up to date in technology the land of Ooo is)
Magic Man chuckled. "Finn, as your next trial, you have to beat my high score."
"Now?" Finn asked.
"No, not now," Marceline then intervened. "Magic Man, give Jake and I one hour to train Finn." Jake cringed when Marceline said his name.
"Fine, you two can train him. But he has to complete my high score on 8 speed, on heavy." He winked. "Good luck, you'll need it." And with that, he was gone from the room, leaving our three heroes.
Finn started laughing like crazy. "T-train m-me how to d-dance? HA HA HA! What's so hard about dancing? I happen to be a pretty good dancer anyway."
"Taught by the best," Jake grinned. "I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE'S NO COUCH!"
"Look," Marceline growled, her patience wearing thin, "You better shut up and let me train you. Because without me, there's no way you're going to complete this trial."
"Oh really? What makes you so sure?" Finn shot back.
"Go on Finn, step on the dance pad," Marceline answered. Finn nodded and stepped up on it, and Marceline took the remote and started selecting options. "You think you're so good? You've got to be able to complete this." She pressed start as soon as she said that, and the song started. Finn braced himself.
Suddenly arrows started flashing up and down the screen, going too fast for poor Finn's brain to register! "Ah!" he exclaimed in fear and frustration. Hundreds of arrows, passing by in mere seconds. "I can't do this!" Finn exclaimed.
"Not yet," Marceline said confidently. "But just wait until I'm through with you."
"Sucks to be you man," Jake laughed. "WHY IS THERE NO COUCH?"
~X~X~X~
"Faster Finn! You must anticipate the arrows before they happen! Remember, left, right, right, up, then up and down, then left, left, right, down, down, up, left, up, right, then double left right. Got it?"
"Uh… okay right-"
"LEFT!"
"Left! Left, right, up-"
"RIGHT AGAIN!"
"Ugh! This is some messed up cheese! I can't do this!" Finn exclaimed, stepping off the dance mat. "This is too stressful! I'm only twelve! Next you're going to tell me my body is going to go out of whack!"
"That's called puberty Finn. We'll talk about that later," Jake said.
"UGH! There are too many arrows and they are going to fast!"
"You can't just quit you weenie," Marceline spat. "At the very least, try until you can't move your legs."
"Okay look Finn," Jake said, deciding to get off his couch rant and help his brother. "You can dance. You can bust moves like I've never seen a human do. That's partly because you're the only human I've seen dance, but that's beside the point." Jake dramatically put his paws on Finn's shoulders. "Unleash your inner awesome my brother," he whispered. "Unleash your inner awesome."
"My inner awesome?" Finn asked. "My inner awesome…" He closed his eyes and concentrated, thinking about the dance pad and the arrows flashing on the screen. His eyes fluttered to the back of his head, and he was suddenly transported somewhere dark and empty, the only thing he could see was a flickering candle in the distance. "Hello?" Finn asked. "Anyone here?"
"Like O-M-G I'm here," came a voice. Finn knew that voice. He knew it.
"Lumpy Space Princess?" he asked. He walked closer to the flickering candle and saw LSP floating on the opposite side of it, but she was oddly the color of his shirt instead of purple. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I'm your voice of reason."
"No, I'm his voice of reason!" came another voice. Out from the darkness stepped a blue colored Princess Bubblegum.
"Princess!" Finn exclaimed happily. "I'm so glad you're here! But I'm also really confused, where am I?"
"Inside your head silly," Princess Bubblegum answered. "I am your voice of reason, of course I'm not the real Bubblegum, and LSP isn't the real Lumpy Space Princess, but we decided to take up these forms of your friends so you aren't as freaked out."
"Okay, I understand why you're here Princess, but why is LSP here?" Finn asked.
"So I'm not lonely," Bubblegum answered simply.
"Cha Finn, so she's not lonely," LSP repeated for emphasis.
"So Finn, why have you come here?" Bubblegum asked, "Of course, you are always welcome here."
"I came to unleash my inner awesomeness," Finn answered.
"Oh my lumps, is he serious?" LSP asked.
"Yes! I'm serious!"
"Well then Finn," Princess Bubblegum smiled, "To unleash your inner awesomeness, you must first sign some paperwork."
"What? I don't have time for that boring cheese!" Finn cried. "Isn't there anything faster?"
LSP rolled her eyes. "Alright, here, eat this cracker."
Finn raised a brow. "So let me get this straight, in order to unleash my inner awesomeness I've got to eat a cracker that my voice of reason's friend gives me?"
"Pretty much smoothie. This isn't any cracker, this is the cracker of doubt."
"Cracker of doubt?"
"Doubt is what blocks all awesomeness," Princess Bubblegum explained. "Now eat up, and return to your friends."
~X~X~X~
"Finn. Finn? DUDE! Where'd you get that cracker?"
"Huh? What?"
Finn opened his eyes and saw Marceline and Jake standing over him. "You've been out cold for twenty minutes. Now we're only five minutes away from the trial, and you're going to fail," Marceline said angrily.
"Not today Marceline! Because I've eaten my cracker of doubt and now I'm prepared for awesomeness!"
"Dude, the cracker is still in your hand."
"Oh." Finn quickly munched his cracker. "Okay, NOW I'm prepared for awesomeness!"
~X~X~X~
"Okay Finn, this is it. I know you seemingly put all of your trust into a cracker… which makes you even more of a weirdo… but just try to remember what I taught you," Marceline told Finn.
"Thanks. I'll try."
She rolled her eyes. We're doomed.
"You can do this dude!" Jake encouraged.
"Are you ready?" Magic Man then asked, a smile on his lips.
"Sploosh yeah! Play that music Magic Man!" Finn exclaimed, stepping up on the dance pad.
"Very well." Magic Man selected the options, set the speed to 8, the level to heavy, and pressed start. And so began the fourth trial.
Everyone was in shock. Finn wasn't winning. He was DOMINATING. Every step was exact, landing on the exact second he was supposed to step, and he didn't even have to grab onto the bars for support. It would look as if he was moving super humanly fast if seen by the untrained eye. The normal human wouldn't even be able to see the arrows on the screen. Then again, the normal human hasn't unleashed his or her inner awesomeness, and eaten their cracker of doubt.
Finn was doing so well he started going into the combinations. He was halfway through the five minute song (Magic Man 'coincidentally' chose the longest song) and he already at 34 perfects. Things weren't looking good for Magic Man. But he kept his face confident, despite how badly Marceline wanted to see him freak out.
"Not bad for a human, eh Magic Man?" she asked tauntingly.
"Nope, not all," Magic Man answered coolly.
Marceline crossed her arms. He's a good actor.
The only thing that was zooming through Finn's head was left, right, right, up, then up and down, then left, left, right, down, down, up, left, up, right, then double left right. That seemed to be the main combination for the chorus of the song. When the song had a minute left, exhaustion started to pound upon our poor hero. His legs felt like led, and sweat was dripping from every pore. He gradually got slower, and started to miss steps.
"No Finn! Stay strong!" Jake barked. "You can do this brother!"
But Finn had reached his limits. "I can't…" he mumbled.
You can do it Finn! This is your inner voice of reason! You can complete this trial! Believe!
Oh my lumps, PB, where's the remote?
Not now! Hear me Finn! You can do it!
"I can do it Princess!" Finn exclaimed. With one final ounce of strength, he hit the last steps, completing the song, and beating Magic Man's high score by one point.
"You did it!" Jake cried happily, hugging Finn.
"I… did… it," Finn mumbled.
"Just one more trial Finn," Marceline whispered, "One more trial."
Author's Note:
Whoo! Long chapter! Seriously, wow, long one. I hope you enjoyed it! Please review, and thank you for reading! :D