Old World Blues.
It was a day of much beauty in the Land of Ooo. The multi-formed birds were raucously singing their afternoon chorus whilst for miles all around their enchanted glades the sun's benevolent rays seemed to bless each blade of gently swaying grass. To the far east, beyond the rolling hills of moorland, lay the Candy Kingdom on its painted horizon of strawberry pink and fire-burst red. From afar, the high towers caught the sunlight and seemed to pulse out into the world, a beacon of civilization to those with a sugar content above eighty six per-cent. (Princess Bubblegum's orders, excluding friends and relations of course.)
However, the addition of this dream-like kingdom neither helped nor hindered the natural world. It knew the peace of the babbling brook and fertile soil and would get by very well, just as it had since the dawn of Ooo, without interruption from strangers.
Yet on this particular afternoon, the land of Ooo got both.
A small family of daisy's sat over-looking a mellow pond when suddenly several ripples began to dance on the surface of the water.
"Daddy!" said one of the smaller flowers, swiveling its petals and looking over to the direction of the pool.
"Daddy look, something's making the water go all splashy!"
The father daisy merely laughed heartily, and looked fondly at his offspring with simplistic black eyes.
"Ha! Now how would you know that Rodger, we're blind!"
But the pleasant conversation of the flowers was soon cut short.
The rumbling soon increased to a peak, whereby there was a bright flash of light, instantaneously replaced by a man. At least it was a creature that resembled a man.
A set of shimmering full plate armor flashed from beneath a grey leather trench coat, yet the brow above it was complete with at least as many creases as the garment. Slowly the humanoid turned its head toward the chatter of intelligent plant life, revealing an ashen grey face complete with many scars and bandages.
Although this sight was lost on the daisy family, he stood out as a warrior of much power.
"Who…who's there", asked the father flower hesitantly.
The man in grey's tattered ear twitched, zeroing in on the plants fifteen feet away.
In the next moment he was crouching over the daisies, yet to an observer, no time had passed at all. The breeze created by his incredible speed caused their petals to flutter haphazardly as the man adjusted his moth eaten New York Yankee's baseball cap, a relic from a by-gone era.
"You…" Came a voice as gnarled as bark, yet as calm as a sea breeze.
"You will direct me to the greatest hero's of the material plane. I am in a great hurry to stop a clear and present danger, and shall require their assistance."
The daisy family, more relieved now that they were talking to a do-gooder of sorts, smiled up at the stranger and offered what little advice they could give.
"Ooohhh, well that would be Finn the human and Jake the Dog. They're pretty cool guys. They've saved us lotsa times before. In fact, they live rather near here."
The stranger delivered a curt nod. It was time for introductions.
"I am Solomon of the Aries clan, and hail from the Twin Paradises of Bytopia. Who pray tell are you, flower?"
The father daisy, slightly shaken, answered as best he could.
"Er…I'm Tim, and this my wife Agnus, and our son Rodger, and we hail from…this nice tuft of grass. Oh, say hello everyone."
"Hello..." cooed Angus and Rodger together, never once forgetting their manners.
Solomon simply nodded to show his respect.
"Your knowledge of the local area has proved most valuable, Tim flower of Grass tuft. But alas, I will need your services a while longer."
In the next millisecond, Tim the daisy was pulled up from the soil by the clump of earth that Solomon cupped in his palm. Before Tim could make any protests, Solomon had already presented a clay flowerpot from the folds of his trench coat and tenderly patted Tim down into his new digs.
"TIM!.." Shrieked his wife.
"Honey, your roots aren't entwined with mine anymore! Wh…where ARE you!"
Rodger was starting to cry, prompting a response from the stranger.
"Have no fear. Your father shall return presently. In the meanwhile, I swear by Elysium that not one iota of harm shall befall him whilst he serves as my guide."
Tim, after hearing this job opportunity, took to his new role with an enthusiasm that surprised even him-self. He bristled his white petals and looked up into the worn eyes of the vigil.
"It's alright everyone. I need to help Mr Solomon save the world. Rodger, you're man of the tuft until I get back, okay."
"O...okay…" Rodger sniffled, putting on his brave face.
"Time grows short." Said Solomon frankly. "We must be away…"
"Lets go." answered Tim in a harsh whisper. "I am soooooooo ready."
Solomon backed up a few steps, widening his stance as he did so.
"Farewell flowers, and know that you have my gratitude."
Then Solomon, with Tim's flowerpot tucked safely beneath his arm bolted across the hills, sending a fine spray of earth up into afternoon sunshine. The resulting air pressure would most certainly have crushed the daisy, if Solomon had not expertly tilted the pot to receive the brunt of this force.
In six seconds, they were out of sight.