The Tunnel of Fate
Welcome back people of the internet. It has been quite some time, I know… but please pardon my absence. School has been a huge jerk recently. Anyways… anyone catch the newest episodes? Escape from the Citadel and …uhh, I can't remember the other one. Anyway… It was kind of really sad. I don't wanna spoil the episode for anyone but it was just filled with so much underlying sadness. I was also a little upset to see the Lich go. It would have been interesting to end the series with some sort of awesome final battle years in the future. So here's the next part of the story…
Note: I don't own A.T.
Chapter 7: Grit and Blood
Although Finn had not been present to see it, one fighter had dared to use magic while combating his opponent. From what the people in the bar had told him, this magic-user must have been caught shortly after beating his opponent into submission. It was a strength spell. People had their suspicions but it wasn't blatantly obvious until to spell wore off. Some magic spells like this one, radiate a sudden and bright flash of red color to signal a dying ability. The crowd was outraged. The bouncers had never even had a chance to escort out the shamed combatant. Finn had been too deep into his own thoughts and had not even taken notice to the increased noise from the other room. Last that he heard, the poor man was up in the surgery ward at the clinic. A shiver ran down the young man's back just thinking about what his own outcome could have been like had they rioted on him. The crowd was blood-thirsty and ruthless. Finn resolved to never… ever… return to this place after he left the town of Saar-Sven.
Finn's luck could not have rewarded him better, though. According to the wooden set of brackets hung from the far wall, it would have been Finn's turn to fight the magic user in the next round. However, since the man was now… uhh… incapacitated as well as the man's previous opponent, Finn was left with no one to fight. Automatically, the young hero would be advancing to the semi-final round. Although he was happy to be able to leave the bar sooner, the young man could not shake the slight bit of disappointment of not being able to earn his next move on the bracket fairly.
Looking over at the burly rock man, Finn was quite intimidated to see that the man was still staring back at him. Unflinching, unmoving, the rock man had been glaring at the hero since he had entered the room. The malice in his eyes and the fire erupting from his nostrils was nothing less than a wordless threat. The two had already picked the final fight before anyone else in the room. The granite man intently glared at the young man. Finn glared back while reciprocating the hate and irritation in his own eyes. After about a half hour, the rock man began to grind his teeth while cracking knots out of his neck. Finn followed the silent threat with his own. Leaning forward and cracking his knuckles against his legs, he gave a piercing glare that told the burly man everything he needed to know. That was all it took, the burly man took the silent threat and stood up from his chair. Finn was ready, he had planned for this. When the man attacked, he would do not attack but dodge. Attacking a fighter when it was not his time could easily get him disqualified. This would make Finn's life so much easier. However, fate would not have it.
"Gavril Anantha!" A yellow man stood up. "…and Sire Cassius Coquilles!" the announcer shouted, "Make your way to the center to prepare for your match! We will now be starting the semi-final round. For those of you not out of your brains on alcohol yet, we will start serving at half price!" A shout of approval was heard throughout the building.
The man of granite stopped his pursuit yet continued to lock his eyes into the hero's. The man's maroon eyes bore into the hero's blue ones. Before now, the hero could not recognize it completely. From his attitude, to his fighting style, and even down to his mannerisms, Finn could see an underlining feature that highlighted his entire being. It was an aurora of pure evil. It almost radiated off of him like a black cloud, almost obscuring the features of a real creature underneath. This creature though, no longer held compassion, companionship, or integrity. What it had become was a monster, powered by absolute anger… anger and evil.
"Sire Coquilles! He is not your target right now, get into the ring!" The announcer must have taken notice to their dueling stares and observations. Finally, the newly-identified Sire Coquilles broke his murderous gaze and turned it onto the lightly-armoured man standing in the ring. Finn watched as the man of granite walked away to satisfy his bloodlust through the means of his next victim.
"So, his name is Cassius Coquilles… and he is a Sire?" Finn asked himself, "A man of his type should not ever have a title of nobility. That man is evil… he must be stopped."
For the next fifteen minutes, Finn studied every detail of the horrible man's fighting technique. Sire Coquilles seemed to morph his fists into compact balls of rock between impacts. The yellow man opposing him stood no chance. The man's fists reminded the hero of the old wrecking balls that were used in the Old World. Punch after punch, the yellow man would finally succumb to his opponent and fall just like so many others had. Finn had cheered for the yellow man the entire time, but in the end, it was a useless effort. The yellow man hit the floor unconscious while the ruthless Sire Coquilles was escorted back to his seat at the bar. The crowd cheered even louder than before. The prospect of reaching a tournament champion was now closer than ever. Finn and the granite man once again locked eyes. This time however, Sire Coquilles threw a very perturbing sneer at the hero. Finn internally shuddered at the crazed look of the man. For the first time in a very long time, he was genuinely scared of his opponent. The hero knew that when it came time for him to battle the wicked man, nothing would be held back. Sire Coquilles would not stop his assault until the hero had breathed his last. Hopefully, with the grace of Glob and the skills perfected by mentor Rattleballs, the hero would prevent such a grotesque outcome.
"Here is the last match of the Semi-Final round! Finely Jacobs and Kybur Leren, report to the center and prepare for combat!"
Finn got up from his bar stool and made his way toward the center ring once more. Kybur, a large man composed of… sand? …also made his way to the center stage. Finn had thought it was sand. His face and body were wrapped in a large white cloth that almost gave him the appearance of a ghost. His body seemed to float as his only legs were trails of sand that slid across the wooden floorboards. Finn had watched this man fight earlier. As it had turned out, Kybur loved to dematerialize into his elemental form and trap his opponents in large tombs of sand until they passed out from suffocation. The crowd itself moved to allow for the movement of the sand man. No one had wanted to provoke his wrath for fear of their life. Finn noticed the hint of jealously that overtook the granite man's face when the sand man hovered passed. Hoisting himself onto the fighting stage, Finn took a fighting stance as his opponent rematerialized in front of him.
"You ready?" Kybur asked. The words almost drifted away with the wind.
"Always" the hero stated confidently
The bell rang, the crowd roared, and the two combatants rushed each other.
oOo
Finn's fist had reached its target first. Instead of Kybur's body jerking from the impact, it dissipated and the sand crashed over his arm like water. The sand man quickly materialized at his back and sent a painful punch into the hero's spine. Finn fell onto his knees from the impact and swung his foot backward in an arcing motion into the sand man. Once again, his foot sailed through the material like water. Kybur, in turn, materialized two fists and beat the hero in the stomach.
Finn grunted from each relentless blow. How could he hit an enemy that disappeared under the force of his fist? Suddenly, from the crowd, a large silver canteen was throw. It found its mark and collided with Kybur's white covered head. Disoriented, Kybur briefly paused his assault and allowed the hero to grab the canteen. Finn quickly examined the object, it was so familiar.
Suddenly, he had an idea.
Swinging the canteen in his left hand, his arm passed once again through the skin of the sand man. The sand man spread his form into a thick cloud as the hero stood up. He had one shot at this. If he missed, the match might be lost for him. Closing his eyes, the hero grabbed the cap and ripped it clean off of the canteen. His eyes were not much help to him this time. He focused instead on his hearing. It was no good, the crowd's raucous shouts made hearing the man impossible. He felt the air move around with the sand particles.
Perfect.
He felt it… the air was sucked into a materializing form behind him. Finn took his chance and whipped the silver canteen at the materializing man. Water sprayed like a whip from the canteen and collided with his opponent. The sand man shouted in surprise and Finn mouth gave way to a relieved smile. The water had soaked a majority of Kybur's form. The sand stuck together into clumps and the extra weight made dematerializing impossible. The hero looked down at the floating mass of wet sand and released punches of his own. Wet sand flew everywhere as each fist connected with Kyber's form. The sand man finally fell backward onto the wooden floor of the bar. Finn watched as each particle of sand returned to their master like loyal pets. Kyber rematerialized on the floor; wet, and gripping his stomach.
The hero noticed the medic Daron running toward the center of the stage. They shared a brief smile before the hero casually walked back to his seat at the bar stool. The announcer shouted something over the speakers, but Finn had stopped caring. Sitting next to his seat at the bar… was Marius.
"Glad to see you back on two feet" The hero smiled under his hood.
"Glad to see you still standing on two feet!" the man replied. The two shared in some joyous laughs. Marius turned to the now sitting Finn.
"That was quite a show of ingenuity! Although, how did you ever happen across such luck?"
"I don't quite know" the hero said while realizing that he still held the canteen. He held it up to examine the silver gleam that shown from the light of the bar. "Someone from the crowd must have thrown it. I wish I knew w…" the hero lost his train of thought. Looking down, he noticed a name crudely carved into the side…
Marius Portorello
It suddenly occurred to him why the canteen had looked so familiar. The hero looked up at his savior with wide eyes. The man made of vines simply burst out into laughter.
"It was the least I could do for the best mentor and pep-talker I have ever had."
"I cannot thank you enough." the hero replied. Quickly, he pulled Marius into a friendly embrace. Marius just laughed and pushed the hero away.
"Alright, I get it… You're grateful. Now, you've got one more fight left Finely. I haven't seen this man fight, but I've been talking to his victims all day. He is absolutely ruthless." the man stated with concern.
"I know… I have been watching him all day. He is wild and unpredictable. This will definitely not be an easy fight… but I know I can win."
"Listen, the odds are against you right now. But perhaps I can offer you some knowledge before you enter the ring? I believe someone once told me that a wise man prepares for his match before he feels confidence, isn't this correct?" Marius said. Finn just laughed.
"Of course, what information do you have?"
"Many of the men who have fought this… Sire Coquilles… have agreed that he subtly uses his natural abilities to strengthen his blows and defenses. Wherever he is exposed, he will try to reinforce with extra stone. This is all they were able to gather, however. None of them could identify a specific fighting technique either."
"Thank you Marius, this information is invaluable." the hero said with a smile at his new friend.
"Of course, now you might wanna take some time to yourself soon. The next match will proceed in the next twenty minutes."
"Alright, I guess I will retire to the backroom until then. Goodbye Marius, we will talk after the match" the hero said. Finn handed Marius the busted canteen. He took it without argument.
"Good luck Finely"
Finn walked away from Marius and made his way to the backroom. The entire way there, he felt a certain set of red eyes following his movements. Reaching the room, the young hero took a seat on a nearby bench and closed his eyes. Slowly, the commotion from the bar and the world around the hero faded. Time slowed down and eventually, his mind was free to relax and rest. Finn had not always been one to meditate. When he was younger, he did not have the patience to simply sit and relax for the time needed to reach the mental state. It wasn't until one day at the Fire Kingdom that he truly started to appreciate meditation.
oOo
It was about six months after they had broken up, yet Finn still had made it his business to check up on the situation of the Fire Kingdom at least twice a week. Although Finn was not entirely satisfied about his position with the kingdom's new queen, he was much too worried about her to stay away.
Finn trudged his way through the deep snow that had collected on the grasslands. This particular winter had been brutal to the creatures of the land. Even after countless investigations into the affairs of the Ice King, no one could offer any explanation for the intense display of weather. The falling snow was relentless. Many of the forest creatures even had to be rescued from their frozen homes by the hero and his brother because of the frigid temperature. Finn was quite sure that he had been wearing his temperature insulated suit since the colder months had begun. The young man quickly thanked Glob for Princess Bubblegum's knowledge of Old World tech.
Upon reaching the crest of the snow-covered hill, Finn laid his eyes on the border of the Fire Kingdom. The kingdom itself did not look any different than it normally would because the snow abruptly stopped with the border as if there was a massive wall. Although he could not see it, there was indeed a massive wall of heat which repelled any and all sorts of weather. Seeing clear land for the first time in weeks, Finn decided to run into the kingdom. It felt great to run free again. The deep snow had made travel almost impossible throughout the land. The heat of the kingdom instantly melted the snow from the hero's suit as he ran toward the approaching city. People shouted at him, but the hero was too lost in his own activity to pay them any mind. Guards and citizens whizzed by the young man as he made his way to the front doors of the castle. His lungs heaved for more air, but this was hard not easy to get in his heavily insulated suit. He was hot, tired, and sweaty from his dash through the kingdom; he could not have felt better. He was oddly calmer, more at ease from releasing his pent-up energy. However, from the surge of soldiers and guards that rushed him from behind, not everyone was as relaxed as the hero. Finn the Human was quickly apprehended and dragged into the throne room by flame guards. Upon seeing the bound hero, Flame Princess almost had a conniption.
"What are you doing to him?! Release him at once!" she shouted to her flame guards.
"B-But… my queen! He was caught sprinting through the kingdom like a madman. He did not stop for anything and we thought that he had meant harm to the kingdom!" the guard explained. Finn looked at the man.
"Oh, I'm sorry." the young man laughed nervously, "I did not mean to rile up the whole kingdom, I had just not been able to exercise recently with all of the freakish weather. I guess I just needed to blow off some steam."
The ruler looked visibly exhausted. She lowered her face into the palms of her hands. Slowly, her fingers dug into her radiant hair as she let out a sigh.
"Please… just release him."
"Yes, your majesty." the lead guard said
Finn was unshackled. He began to rub his liberated wrists through the heavy suit. Suddenly, the fiery ruler lifted her head to look at the distracted hero.
"Finn" she said. Finn jumped at the sound of his name.
"Y-yes, your majesty?" he said hesitantly. Many times Finn had visited the queen of the fire kingdom, yet he could never remember her true title. Could he call her Flame Princess any longer? He had heard some people refer to her title as the new Flame King. But she was still a girl so shouldn't she be the Flame Queen? He usually went with 'your majesty' when visiting to avoid discrepancy. She had not corrected him thus far. Hearing this from the boy who used to be so close to her, she always responded to him with a simple sigh before letting it go. This time however, Finn noticed something different in her eyes.
"Finn, please come with me." With that, the woman stood up and walked through one of the many doors leading into the castle. Looking at the flame guards, the young man deemed it safe and took off toward the burning woman.
He caught up to her but she did not turn around. They continued to walk in silence. Finn grew uneasy. It was always so easy to talk to her before. Why was now so different? Finn knew the answer, but he had been hoping that time would have healed him and allowed him to steady his emotions. The exact opposite was true. Finn was so conflicted, there was no way he could initiate the conversation. Luckily for him, it was the fiery woman who broke the silence.
"You need to stop calling me 'your majesty'." she spoke with no malice whatsoever, "My name is still Flame Princess until the day I die."
"Well I understand that. It is just that I thought maybe you would like to be called something different now with your "kingly" status." the young man explained. He was still a bit tense at having this conversation. Their conversations had never gone much further than formalities during the past several months.
"Finn, if we are still friends than you will call me by my name, not my title. What if I addressed you as 'Finn the Human, Adventurer and Hero of OOO' every time I saw you?" If it had been meant as a small joke, the young man did not catch it.
"Alright, as you wish… FP." The young man could still feel the tense atmosphere strangling his lungs like smog. He decided that it was his turn to start the conversation.
"Where is CB?" The young man mentally face-palmed. He did not appreciate where his mind had led him.
"Sire Cinnamon Bun is out on a diplomatic trip with several important advisers at the Wild Berry Kingdom. He will not be back for some time." she stated almost emotionless. The two had finally reached the end of the hall and turned into a large room with black obsidian walls.
"Really? I have not seen any Fire Kingdom convoys in my recent travels." The young man was genuinely confused. Why would the Fire Kingdom even send a convoy in this weather anyways? Judging from the look the ruler gave him, he instantly regretted his words.
"That is because they have been stranded in the kingdom due to that horrible snow!" the ruler yelled. For a split second, the hero thought he saw the reflection of a conflicted girl in her auburn eyes. "The wagons won't move through the heavy snow and the flame horses cannot take this cold weather. I am worried about my people Finn."
Finn turned slightly distraught at seeing this new side of FP. She always looked so powerful… so noble… but in this moment, she let him see another, more secret side of her. Seeing her distress, the hero got down on one knee and grabbed her elegant hand.
"FP, if you would allow me. I would like to just try to retrieve your men and bring them safely back to the kingdom."
FP was shocked at the notion. The determination in the young man's blue eyes were almost enough for her to unquestioningly agree. However, she was much too intelligent.
"Finn, how could you possibly relocate an entire platoon of soldiers and several high-ranking officials through that terrible storm?" her voice sounded incredulous, but it was also laced with renewed hope. Finn smiled a humble smile.
"With determination and willpower" he responded. The ruler didn't look entirely happy with his vague answer, yet she didn't press him.
"Finn… if you can actually return all of my soldiers alive and well… this kingdom would be indebted to you." she said. Finn was ecstatic on the inside. He chose to simply bow his head on the outside like a proper knight.
"By your word, it is done." he responded with confidence.
"Not quite yet, I need to know something first. You need to answer with absolute honesty." She stared him directly in the eyes, "This cannot be a desperate attempt to win my heart. It would be much too risky to allow you to complete the task. You need to tell me that it won't be that way."
She stared right at him. It was as if she was waiting for him to lie to her face. Finn knew he couldn't do that, not again. Finn understood her reasoning perfectly. He had seen during his previous attempts at what disaster he could create if his heart was not in the right place. For a second, he almost wasn't sure if he could accomplish such a task. It was looking right into FP's eyes that he saw the true desperation in her plea. She knew that he liked her; that was obvious. But she also knew that he could potentially get people killed if he messed up. Finn found it. He found the conviction in himself. He was a hero and he knew that he could not let his emotions win. This time, Finn was able to mask his emotions… for the good of the kingdom.
"I will be completely honest. I understand and I believe that in order for you to trust me, I must trust you with my feelings. The truth is… yes… I still like you, but… I am a hero first. I promise to you that this is not an attempt at your heart. I live to serve kingdoms in need, this is my goal." Finn stated. Although FP noticed some his speech falter at times, she found the conviction in his words. He really did seem to mean what he said even though his emotional mask was apparent.
Thank you Finn, it takes bravery and honesty to admit such a thing. I do trust you with this quest. Please, be careful and bring my men home."
"Of course" The hero looked ready to bolt out of the room from embarrassment, but the queen of flames knew that she couldn't let him go just yet.
"Before you leave, you must do for me one last thing."
"Anything"
"Finn… I cannot just allow you to run through my kingdom and scare every living thing without repercussion." she said. Finn's looked visibly intimidated at the woman's words. He even closed his eyes as if he were expecting to be hanged for his crime. During this time, the young man missed her beautiful smile. Such a shame, he had not seen it in the many weeks before.
"Open your eyes." she commanded. He complied.
"I am ready for whatever you have to throw at me, FP." he replied with his eyes downcast. She reached her fiery hand out to the glass on his visor and lifted his shielded head.
"Your punishment is to learn how to meditate." she said staring straight into his eyes
"Wait…What?! You're not mad?" he was confused
"Of course I'm mad, that is why I am going to teach you how to release your excess energy through your mind. Maybe then you won't have to dash through my kingdom like a feral animal." she said jokingly. Finn nervously rubbed his neck and laughed.
"Alright, so when do we start?"
"Now… come with me."
She led him over to the center of the obsidian room. Now that he had more time, Finn observed the decorations lying about the room. Candles and melted wax covered the floor. Scrolls with Fire symbols where scattered on walls and stone tables. In the center sat a large bonfire. It was on this bonfire that the ruler sat down. Finn was about to join her until he was pushed away from the burning flame by her hands. She scowled at him while Finn proceeded to rub his neck again feeling stupid. His suit may allow him to stand intense heat; however, the suit would probably not stand up well to prolonged contact with flames.
"Just sit" she sighed exasperated. The hero complied.
"Now… empty your mind" she took a calm position and relaxed her facial expression, "You need to calm yourself and separate your mind from your physical body. It is not the easiest thing to do, but with practice, it will become natural." Her words soothed the young man. He had never been able to meditate before, but something about this room… about her voice… allowed the hero to relax his body and enter his mind.
"Remember Finn, when you mediate, time will slow down, physical feelings will subside, and thinking will be much clearer. Remember to use it often; meditation is one of the most powerful mental skills."
oOo
Meditating always helped clear the hero's mind. Afterword, he felt fresh, energetic. It was like being rebirthed into a new mind; one clear of trouble and turmoil… at least for the time being.
Finn floated in his sub-conscious. Although he could not actually see anything, he could clearly identify his surroundings. The landscape was pure white, the sky… a deep cyan. Gray pillars with pulsing yellow symbols floated around in a circular pattern. The open center flashed with memories ripe to be observed and reflected upon. Here, Finn existed in suspended animation; reliving, relaxing, and re-evaluating. It was not until he felt a pull that he noticed that something was wrong. With force, he felt himself falling back to reality.
The young man eyes shot open. He was immediately disoriented from the disturbance. Where he had expected to find an obsidian room with a meditating queen, he found only a large brutish man. For a second, he thought that he had fallen asleep and missed his match. This was crushed when a loud voice rang out from the adjacent room.
"Now, get ready for what you've all been waiting for! It is time!" the announcer shouted with as much vigor as he could muster, "Finely Jacobs and Sire Cassius Coquilles! Report to the center and prepare for your final battle!" The crowd's roar was deafening even through the wooden wall. Turning his head, the hero finally identified the man in front of him. It was Sire Coquilles. The granite man surprised the hero with his first set of words that day.
"Today… you are going to die." he said. The Sire Coquilles' voice dripped with hatred and distaste. Finn found the ability to stay ahead of his nerve.
"If that is what you expect, then you will be sorely disappointed." the young hero responded. The granite man looked ready to attack the hooded hero, but Finn found the futility of fighting in the backroom. "Come on, there is no purpose to fight here. Let us go onto the stage and settle this once and for all."
After receiving an agreeing nod from the granite man, Finn stood up and made his way out of the door. If the crowd was not disorderly before, they most certainly were now. People shouted, food was thrown, and several people were even trying to tear up a wooden floorboard for Glob-knows what reason. The man taking bets was swamped with people trying to win it big on their choice of victor. Finn walked for the last time to the center stage and pulled himself up. Sire Coquilles followed suit. Each combatant took a corner of the ring.
"Welcome, everyone, to the final match of the Saar-Sven Fight Event!" the announcer yelled, "In this corner… we have one of the most powerful and intimidating men to ever walk this town … Sire Cassius Coquilles!"
The onlookers yelled in anticipation. They reminded the hero of hungry fire wolves.
"And in this corner… we have the shrouded and enigmatic fellow by the name… Finely Jacobs!"
Finn noticed a decline in the rowdiness of the onlookers. It was not hard to guess that some people had already counted him out. The young man looked over at the bar where he saw Marius sitting with a nervous-looking Daron. The medic looked back with two very concerned eyes while the green man shouted out words of encouragement. Finn just smiled at them.
"The winner of this tournament will be awarded the title 'Master Fighter of Saar-Sven', a secret weapon, and eight-hundred dollars!"
The granite man lowered himself and curled his fists. Finn relaxed his mind and spread his stance. Once they would start, both fighters would not stop until one of them had fallen.
"Ready… and… begin!" The fight bell chimed.
Blue eyes pierced through red. Red eyes bored through blue. Both fighters remained motionless, waiting for their enemy. Defense was important… mistakes meant death. Adrenaline rushed, hearts pumped blood, and fire erupted from the nose. Then, one movement… It was slight… a foot slid forward, but it was enough. Both fighters charged. Both were deep in concentration. Two fists were drawn at the ready. Two bloods were about to spill.
oOo
The rock fist met only air as the quick hero shifted right. The hero tried to counter with his own punch with his metal covered hand. However, a granite arm moved to cover the hit. As the metal fist collided, Finn felt reverberations shoot through his arm. It was painful, but it was also bearable. The granite arm suddenly flew out to smack the hero away.
Finn made his first mistake. He ducked under the hand to get another quick hit, but he missed an incoming leg. A rock knee made contact with his stomach as another hand grabbed his fleshy arm. The hero was swiftly launched through the air toward the back of the bar. He rolled but landed back on his feet, gasping for breath. A thin trickle of blood trailed from the hero's mouth. He suspected he had bit through his own tongue on the last hit, but he was too pre-occupied to find out.
"You bleed so easily." the creature said as he descended on the hero.
Finn acted fast and rolled out of the way of the granite man. He was pleasantly surprised to find that his opponent was quite slow when it came to moving his weight around… He needed a plan, but Finn could find none. The granite man charged him again with his arms spread wide. Finn watched as the rocks on his fists grew larger and denser. Fire spewed from the man's nose as he closed the gap between him and the hero. Dodging was inevitable, Finn saw that immediately. He only saw one opening and took it. As the creature got close enough, it swung its mighty arms downward to crush the young hero. The hero was too quick, however. He jumped backward into the crowd and used a nearby chair to redirect his movement. Finn leapt back into the stage and rolled into a defensive position. The creature just proceeded to turn and charge the hero again.
"He's reinforcing his hits somehow. It can't be magic. It must be a natural ability, but there are also no rocks to pull in for the increased mass. He must be pulling it from somewhere." the hero thought. His thoughts were suddenly disturbed by an incoming fist. Finn dove clear of the impact as it plowed into the wooden stage. With a roar, the creature pulled the flooring out with inhuman strength. Wood particles flew everywhere and the granite man threw his head back to laugh. Fire and small bits of lava shot from his mouth. Finn saw this from the ground and quickly regained his feet.
"Granite... it is an igneous rock. He still spews heat and lava… that means he is not hardened to the core. Only his outer-layer must be solid." the young man thought. A fist caught him off guard. The hero was not able to evade the granite fist and instead held up his unprotected hand to catch the blow.
The hero made another mistake. The fist plowed into his hand. A crack echoed through the roar of the crowd as the hero was thrown backward into the bar. Onlookers quickly moved as the body of the man was thrown their way. Marius, however, moved to intercept the flying man. Finn collided with the green man who grabbed his friend in an attempt to prevent more injury. Marius looked down at the man he had just caught and analyzed his wounded. Broken hand… broken fingers… possible dislocated shoulder… never mind, most certainly dislocated shoulder… When Finn began to stir again, Marius looked him in the eyes.
"Finely, you don't have to continue this fight. You're hurt pretty badly already. You don't have to be a hero if it just gets you killed." the man of vines worriedly said. To his confusion, Finn just laughed softly.
"If I don't, who will?" he asked his friend as he rose to his feet. Marius was too perplexed by the hero's words to stop his friend from walking back onto the stage. Sire Coquilles was waiting for him.
"I can see it in you… honor and valor have left you weak and without power. True power comes from yourself, not others. How can you expect to be strong when you are also looking out for others? Sire Coquilles walked toward the wounded hero. The pain was awful, but Finn still commanded control of his feet. Taking off his scarf, the hero tied a make-shift sling around his wounded arm. The pain forced him to take a knee for a second, but soon, the hero pulled himself back up. Without the scarf over his mouth, the hero's words came out louder and fuller.
"You think that true power comes from self-preservation? You think you get stronger when you destroy the weak? What test of power could the weak possibly give you? …No, true power comes from self-sacrifice… it comes from loss and redemption!" the hero said. His words were bitter, unshakeable, and confident. The hero could remember many times in his past. Many times he had lost so much. He lost the Candy Kingdom… he lost FP. As much as he did not want to admit it… it was always when he lost the most that he tried his hardest and developed the most. This journey itself was just another attempt to right his wrongs and develop his skills. The hero would not lose, even in his dying breath, Finn would be smiling.
The granite man charged him again, growing his fists and arms to an even larger size. This time, Finn saw it. His legs… His legs grew significantly thinner as his arms grew larger. It was a risky move, but the granite man was no idiot. To strike his legs, Finn would have to get very low and up close to get a hit. He would be in an excellent position to get a concussion. The hero had an idea. Running forward, the hero watched as Sire Coquilles continued to draw material from his feet. If he missed his timing in the slightest, the granite man would surely make sure that the hero never returned home.
Time seemed to slow as Finn ran into a slide on his back. The necks of spectators stretched, yearning for a better view. Marius watched intently and Daron held his hand in his mouth. Everyone watched as Sire Coquilles brought down two massive fists to crush his enemy. Finn prepped his metal-fist and continued to slide across the wooden floor closer to the granite man. All around the room, jaws hit the floor and eyes went wide.
The hero saw his life flash across his eyes. From crying in the forest to his first adventure with his brother Jake; Memories flooded his brain. He saw friendly people and places. He heard their voices and their wisdom. He saw laughter, fear, companionship, and love. Family, platonic, and genuine. He could die in this moment a happy man. His life wasn't so bad. In fact, his life was better than most. Near the end of his flashback… the hero noticed a newer image. It was not one he could ever recount seeing before. A lone woman stood holding onto a photo. He could not see her face, but he could hear her sobs. Dull red locks of hair cascaded down her hunched over back. He noticed that the tear-stained photo in her hands showed a boy with a white hat and blue attire. A large goofy smile covered his face. The land around her even seemed bleak. The hero was suddenly overcome with sadness and guilt. This could not be his fate… this could not be his future… he would not allow it. He had to return home.
The hero's eyes shot open as two massive fists crumpled the floor directly above his head. Finn kept sliding and steadied his metal fist for a crippling blow. The crowd watched in anticipation as Finn leveled an intense punch into the granite man's knee. The thin layer of rock split and lava began to heavily leak out. Sire Coquilles screamed in pain and fell forward onto the busted floor. Because of its heavy damage, the floor could no longer hold the weight. Part if the stage collapsed and pulled the hero and the granite creature in together. Both hit another floor underneath until it too collapsed under the force. Finn and Sire Cassius fell into the basement of the bar.
Finn's vision was blurry. His mouth tasted of grit and blood. Dust clouded his lungs. He coughed several times to clear his airway. Everything hurt. His arm was still busted up, he couldn't feel his foot, and a large piece of wood on his chest made it hard to breath. Using his good arm, he slowly lifted away the timber and gasped in breathes of air. His vision had only barely improved when more people appeared in the room. A man in a light-blue outfit ran over to the hero. He heard words… but they did not entirely make sense. Finn watched as a two green arms wrapped around his form and lifted him away from the debris to lay him onto a clearing on the dirt floor. The hero used his good arm to reach up and rub the dirt from his eyes.
A needle jabbed into his arm… then another in his leg. A warm sensation ran through his body. Opening his eyes, the hero adjusted his vision on the man in light-blue above him… it was Daron. The young hero smiled at the sight of the doctor. Daron took notice.
"Finely, you're awake!" he said with happy relief, "Do you feel any pain?" The hero chuckled before coughing out more dust from his lungs.
"I was, but it is starting to subside." he said
"That's the medication. You're a lucky shit, you know that?" His voice still laced with relief, "I thought you died when you two fell through the floor like that… thought both of you might have died." The doctor admitted. "But here you are… didn't even pass out. You're one of the most resilient people I think I've even seen in my life."
"Thanks doc. Think you could help me up now?" the hero asked
"W-What?! You're much too hurt right now!" the doctor said. The hero chuckled again.
"Nah… I've been injured much worse before. Here, help me up."
The doctor reluctantly complied and helped the hero get to his feet. Looking around, Finn found that they had fallen into a wine cellar. It must be the basement. Suddenly, the hero noticed the form of Marius smiling at him from across the room. The green man was guarding the only exit to the cellar. It looked as if he was trying to keep the crowd outside from rushing the room. Finn was grateful for that. Suddenly Marius spoke out.
"Damn, I thought all you's were extinct." Finn suddenly blanched. His body began to shake as he reached his good hand to his head. Exposed… no scarf… no hood… just blond hair and fleshy skin. Daron decided to address him before the hero could get himself worked up.
"Relax, your secret is safe with us. Honestly, it is a miracle to actually see one of your kind. Humans must be pretty resilient if they are still surviving the ages." Daron said. Finn just smiled at his two new friends.
"Thank you… I really appreciate it."
"Aye, it is no problem, really." Marius responded. Almost immediately after, someone on the other side of the door knocked loudly.
"Open up!" The voice was very familiar. It was the voice of the announcer from earlier. "This is my establishment and you will open up now!" he yelled. Daron looked visibly aggravated.
"By the power of the 63rd law of the Undivided Kingdoms, this area has now been designated a 'hospital zone'! Failure to comply will result in jail time and the closure of your establishment indefinitely!" the doctor yelled. Finn smiled at his friend and pulled the hood back over his head. A familiar darkness fell over his face once more to hide the hero's identity.
Mumbles and curses were heard from the other side of the door until suddenly, a feminine voice broke through.
"Daron, I came when I got the news! Let me in!"
"Let her in Marius." Marius nodded and pulled the door open. A blue woman in medical scrubs quickly rushed in. It was Julia. She wore a serious frown.
"What's the situation?" she asked. Finn could tell she was definitely a 'no-nonsense' kind of person when it came to her job. He respected that immensely.
"Sire Coquilles lays over there. He is still unconscious and he could really use some medical attention." Daron said calmly. Julia rushed over to the granite creature and began to assess his situation.
While Marius had tried to close the door after Julia's entrance, a foot wedged itself between the door and its frame. It was the announcer.
"Let me in, now!" he yelled
"This is a hospital zone!" Marius yelled while pushing the announcer out with a hefty shove. The door slammed shut and all was quiet until a long sigh was heard from the other side of the door.
"Can you at least give me the winner? The people up-stairs are going ballistic." he conceded. Marius did not respond and just looked at Finn. Daron also looked at Finn and began to speak.
"How about it Finely?" A smile formed on his face. "Ready to give them their champion?"
Finn looked over at the unconscious body of Sire Coquilles. He was not quite sure how bad the man's condition was. One thing was for sure though, Finn had retained consciousness the entire time. A large victorious smile formed on his face as he nodded his head at the blue medic.
"Excellent. Marius! Julia might need some help with Sire Coquilles. Think you could help her move the man to the clinic when she is ready?" the doctor asked
"Certainly, but what of you?"
"I'll help Finely back to the clinic. He still needs medical treatment." With that, the doctor put an arm under Finn to help escort the wounded hero to the door.
"Wait… Daron, do you think that is a good idea?" he asked with concern, "He's pretty beat up. It would be bad enough putting him with the other fighters that he beat-up, but we'll be moving Sire Coquilles in as well. Don't you have somewhere safer to treat him?"
Finn just looked curiously at Daron. The medic sighed.
"You're right. I do have a safer place to take him. Meet us in the Pride's Clock Tower when you are done helping Julia, alright?"
"Got it, and Finely… congrats" Marius finished with a smile.
Marius opened the door for Daron and Finn as they made their way outside and into the crowd. The announcer was the first one to greet them.
"Is this my winner?"
"Yep, your winner… Finely Jacobs." Daron said. The announcer immediately led them up-stairs and out of a large wooden cellar door. Upon reaching the surface, the hero was immediately taken back by the sight. Absolutely hundreds of people stood all around the streets. Many of them held small torches for light. Finn was sure that there weren't this many people in the bar earlier. The announcer overtook the crowd once again with his booming voice.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! It is my honor to present the victor of this year's Saar-Sven Annual Fight Event… Finely Jacobs!"
The crowd roared with applause and celebration to the closure of the festival. Special lanterns were lit and launched into the air. The air around the town glowed as each lantern was lifted away by the winds. They reminded Finn of the fireflies that would dance around the grasslands on warm summer nights. Some people had begun to filter out of their homes to observe the commotion. Many of them stayed for the partying. Children danced in the street, mothers laughed joyously, and fathers merrily chatted with their neighbors. Though the night had been long and painful, Finn was happy that he could see this. These people… they were all so different, yet they all talked and acted like they knew each other. Saar-Sven, with all of its flaws, had one of the most valuable traits of a town… community. The celebration brought a tear to the hero's eyes as he watched. Suddenly though, an arm brought him away from his thoughts.
"Finely? Are you crying? I didn't think I saw any signs of a concussion, but I can look again." he offered
"No, I am fine. This town, it just makes me miss my own home is all."
"Ahh, I see. Well come on, I need to better wrap and treat your broken bones and wounds."
"Wait, Mr. Jacobs!" It was the announcer. "You can stop by tomorrow to discuss issues of finances and your rewards for the victory. You seem like you could use well some rest."
This caused Finn to stare off at the sky. The burning lights were still embracing the town in their radiance. The young man didn't know exactly what time it was, but if he had to guess, the sun was probably approaching daybreak. He turned back to the announcer.
"Yes… Thank you. I will be in later or I will send someone in if I cannot get around for a few days." The hero turned to Daron. "Let's go."
The two departed, hobbling through the streets packed with people. It was nice that the crowd did clear a space for the medic and the hero. With a steady arm to lean on, Finn broke from the crowd with his escort. The two stopped in front of a massively tall structure. The shrouded hero noticed it as the clock tower that he had admired when he had first discovered the town. It stood over every other building. The look up close was even more staggering than it had been when he saw it the day before. Daron quickly produced a golden key and stuck it into the lock on the door. A soft click was heard before he re-stashed the key and pushed the door open. Finally, Daron and Finn made their way in and shut the door behind.
"Welcome to the Pride's Clock Tower." the doctor said. The tower looked even more glorious on the inside. Huge iron gears and cogs linked together into some of the most complex machinery the hero had ever experienced. Freshly oiled chains moved around with the gears and large stain-glass windows covered a few of the walls. Even at night, the place was fascinating. Daron led the wounded hero onto a large wooden palette set at the base of the tower. Four large chains connected to each corner of the pallet and a large wheel rested on the side. Daron grabbed the wheel and began to turn it hard. Suddenly, the sound of moving gears started and the pallet began to rise into the air.
"This is incredible!" the young hero yelled. Daron just smiled and continued his work until the two had reached a small wooden square room at the tip of the clock tower. The room was bare except for a few turning metal gears sticking from the floor and walls, one pile of blankets, and one chest at the far corner. Daron led the hero over onto the pile of blankets where he would continue his medical work.
"Isn't this place nice?" the doctor asked, "This is where I come to meditate and get away from life sometimes."
"It is… the engineering that it must have taken to build this place… Daron?"
"Yes Finely?"
"What is my condition, and how long do you think I must recover?"
Daron sighed, "Let's start with your arm. Your fourth and fifth metacarpus in your hand is broken and your shoulder is heavily bruised. It appears as if it was dislocated and then was forcibly pushed back in… probably from the fall. Your foot is bruised as well. Nothing broken, but it will be uncomfortable to walk on for a few days. Finally, you have a detached rib. It is in no major danger of puncturing any organs but we should not just leave it there. All in all… considering your species and time to recover, I'd think… about 80 days, maximum."
Finn stared at Daron. It was not hard to tell that the hero was not happy with the number. Daron sighed again.
"However, there is an alternative solution." Judging by Finn's inquisitive look, he knew he had sparked the hero's interest. "We could do full body rehabilitation procedure. It would take about three days and you would be back to your healthy physical state by the end. But…"
"Daron, I cannot be waiting around Saar-Sven for the next several weeks. Whatever it is… I can do it." the hero stated
"Just please, let me finish… For two days you would be in immense pain. You would need to be constantly taking in nutrients and water. The third day, your body will be so exhausted that you will sleep for at least twenty-four hours. It is never recommended because many of the people who take it are too weak; they parish within the first day from the draw on the body and its nutrients. It is a terrible fate to experience." the doctor said. His voice almost sounded lifeless. Finn knew that Daron did not wish to perform the operation. Finn felt bad. He internally wondered if it selfishness that made him do what was next.
"Daron, I need that alternative. Being trapped in an area for such a long time where I can get lost in the deepest recesses of my mind is a fate worse than death. I know this from experience." Daron watched the hero's eyes darken slightly. He had no clue of what the young man was thinking, but his mind came to a realization. Daron nodded his head.
"Then against my better judgment, I will perform the operation." With that, the doctor stood up. "I must return to my clinic to receive some medicines. Marius and I will return soon with supplies." Daron looked into Finn's eyes. "Please, try not to move around too much while I'm gone. Your floating rib might not be in danger of poking any major organs, but I don't need you moving it around either."
With that, the doctor moved to the elevator and began his decent. Finn watched him until his head disappeared beneath the wooden floorboards. He felt guilty for making Daron perform a dangerous operation that he didn't agree with. However, there was too much at stake. Every hour, every second he was away from home, it was vulnerable. Too much could happen in the time for him to recover. He needed to get back… He needed to see her… healthy and alive.
Finn looked out one of the windows in the clock tower. The sun broke through the hills and drowned the valley in yellow light.
Hope you enjoyed! Please take the time to tell me what you think, what you liked? what didn't make sense? 'Til next time, farewell!
Ooobserver: Receiving your reviews are always nice to read. I know how you review a lot of people's stories so I'd like to say for all that your work is really appreciated. Thanks a bunch! Also, I didn't intend for my one of my character to turn out so close to one of yours from …ugh 'Fiery Alias'? I think that is right… Anyways sorry about that.
Kojh0124: Thanks dude, I was kinda hoping for something a little more different than Ooobserver's story. Your comment did give me something to think about though and I really appreciate that.
Fiery Crusader: You guys were the Crusaders? That's so awesome, mine were the Colonials. Not nearly as cool. With the weapon aspect though, unlike games like Fallout 3, Finn isn't just gonna find the best gear lying around the street. Makes more sense to work for it.
Rick: Thank you dude. Fights are never always about brute strength. You need a strong mind and a strong body. Great to see it lived up to your standard, twice!