I do not own Adventure Time. Man, Miss SCIK reviewing this story and marking it as her favorite is so awesome! I hope I met her expectation! Oh yeah, the title belongs to Silverstein.

~~o~~

Chapter 15 - Forget Your Heart

"Dang it, Flanna! Look what you did to me!"

No matter how he press down his blue robes on his long chest wound and the gaping hole in his left shoulder, the blood kept escaping his frail body. The long gash in particular, hurt the most because of the searing pain from the burns. Ice Prince found this unacceptable.

I was trying to help, okay? Don't you go blaming me.

"You always want things to be your way! I won't have it! At least Flame Princess tries to listen to me." Ice Prince nearly crashed into his bedroom mirror as he flew through the window. The cold atmosphere of his lair immediately soothed the burning sensations emanating from his wounds.

Oh, so now you're comparing me to that incomplete copy? She's nothing but a body, a vessel, but she lacked the one thing you really need. I am her memory. I am the memory of Flanna Hacksworth. I am Flanna Hacksworth!

Ice Prince closed his eyes and was shocked to see Flanna's face inches from his. Her hands carefully pushed down his metallic hand that held the Demon Blood Sword. He winced from the pain shooting up from his wounds.

"I can make all this pain go away."

The smile Flanna gave him sound so reassuring that he let his head lean on her shoulder. He was getting weak so fast that even the vivid image of his lady turned blurry. The edges softened, her words steadily became muffled, and her touches barely registered in his numbing skin.

"Look at me, Finn."

Ice Prince tried his best to look at her green eyes, even weakly reaching for her red locks of hair. Tears flowed freely from his cheek that became ice droplets before hitting the floor, promptly shattering upon impact. "I'm...losing you again, Flanna. I don't think I can bear losing you again..."

The red-headed lady leaned and kissed him full in the lips. Ice Prince barely managed to return the kiss, slowly feeling the warmth from Flanna's lips. Suddenly, she ripped his bloody robes and roamed her fingers across his bare chest. He was about to protest from the incoming pain when suddenly, Ice Prince felt every inch of skin that she touched felt pleasant and relaxed. The wounds closed, the burns healed, and even the physical fatigue faded a bit.

Flanna pulled away and locked eyes with him. "How are you feeling now?"

"I felt fine...but how? How did you do this?" His senses became normal again, finally seeing Flanna properly. She was more vivid than ever. He could already single out every strand of her red hair.

"This is just to prove that what I'm telling you is true, and that I'm not a figment of your imagination."

He was taken aback. Ice Prince was certain he had always believe in the girl, no matter how absurd the idea of having a separate person in his mind sounds.

"You can't keep anything from me. Deep down in your mind, there're some lingering doubts."

"I'm sorry, but you can't fault me for that. I had let an entity invade my mind for hundreds of years and look what it had done to me, what it had done to you." Flashes of Flanna's last moments in the blizzard surfaced, the very moments where he first turned into an Ice Prince. "You just can't expect me to let another entity gate-crash into my mind again."

Ice Prince pulled out the three rubies that once belonged to the Crown. The moment the demon halfling fled with these in tow, he felt more sane in a way. That was when Flanna's memories became prominent in his mind. That was the moment that the Crown fused with his metallic arm and the three slots for the rubies was instead filled with green gems. He was surprised that the rubies came back a moment later, homing on his new golden arm. The emeralds repelled the rubies easily, denying their rightful place. The whispers then ceased, the rubies' resident silencing himself.

"You could have shunned me away, but you chose me instead of that oldbag in that thing. Finn, I need you to trust me. I can bring back your memories, I can be with you in the physical world. All I need is your absolute trust, let me open your Vault. Just a little."

"But you'll just freeze the world! I can't let that happen!"

"I was just kidding you before, okay? Trust me."

Ice Prince contemplated her offer. He vowed to do everything just to be with Flanna, the real Flanna. "Alright. I believe in you."

"Let's have a deal, then."

"What deal?"

"Everytime you do as I say, I will unlock bits of your memories. You want to go back to being as Finn Mertens, right?"

Ice Prince was yet again faced by uncertainty. Grod knows how he hate uncertainties. But this time, Flanna proved herself as the real deal by healing him. Although he might not be sure if healing was just another of his abilities as an Ice Wizard.

"You can't heal yourself, okay? That was all me."

"Prove to me one last time, and we'll talk. Bring back one significant memory of Finn Mertens and Flanna Hacksworth. After that, I'll do everything as you say."

Flanna broke into a wide smile. Everytime she does that, her face seemed to radiate kindness and pure compassion for him. Like somehow, that single gesture told him everything she felt for him; her love, pity, respect, care, and understanding.

"Open your eyes and get back to the real world. Get some rest and let me do the rest."

"Okay."

"I love you, Mertens. I swear you won't regret this."

It took him a second to reply at that. "I love you too, Hacksworth."

They exchanged one last kiss for the time being and Ice Prince opened his eyes. Flanna disappeared and he found himself standing alone in his ice lair. He checked all his wounds and there weren't any. His blue skin felt smooth and cool to touch, not even a scar was spared from Flanna's healing ability.

"Thank you."

You're welcome! Now go get some sleep.

He obliged and sat on his bed. Jake, the penguin, instantly landed on his lap. "Wenk!"

"I miss you too, Jake! Now go down the kitchens, tell the others I'm home, and go prepare me some meal. Is that understood?"

"Wenk!" The little penguin hopped off him and waddled towards his destination.

I hate that penguin... Now, go to sleep.

Ice Prince removed his bear hat and plopped down on his pillow, trying to relax himself. His aching muscles was soothed by the naturally cold bed, his bones popping much to his contentment. It took him a few minutes to drift off to sleep, his worries about the hooded boy and the bear hat boy impending him from doing so.

~~o~~

"I'm always getting detention because of her! Yesterday she was attacked by the Robinsons' dog and she tried to use me as a shield, then I said that she was nuts and she yelled at me! And Miss Bonnie punished us! And we fought again! And she punched my nose, and smacked my hand with a ruler!"

That voice...is that me?

We have to go further, Finn.

An explosion of colors clouded his mind. If it was a dream, it sure felt real.

"It ain't my fault Miss!" Finn Mertens answered. He was a twelve-year old boy with a white bear hat, tattered blue pants and a long sleeved-cyan shirt. A brown sash buttoned onto his pants helped him to keep them in their place. "Flanna's always mocking me!"

"That's because you always treat me like a piece of garbage!" Flanna Hacksworth cried in response. She was the same age as Finn; she was wearing an orange T-shirt and a brown vest. Her blue jeans were ripped on her left leg, letting her scraped and dirty knee uncovered, and her bright red hair was tied into a long braid at the level of her waist.

That was me alright, I guess. The girl was you?

Further, Finn. Let's hurry! I can't hold The Vault open for too long, and I have to merge my memories with your memories.

Another explosion erupted from somewhere. The sound of heavy double-doors opening greeted him to their destination.

~~o~~

"Alright, kids! Enjoy your lunch break!"

Finn Mertens was in a good mood. Nothing like pulling at Flanna Hacksworth's hair can send him to bliss. Those nice, silky, red-locks...Get a grip, Finn! You hate her, there's no business for you to like her hair! That's sick!

"See yah later, Miss Bonnie!"

The teacher smiled at him. "Behave yourself, Finn. I don't want you getting into trouble again with Flanna!"

He frowned. "Of course, Miss Bonnie."

Finn excused himself and got outside of the classroom and into the sunlit schoolyard. It was a nice time to stretch his aching back after a long lesson about States of Matter - the solid, liquid, and gas. There were other two lesser known states that he only recently learned that morning, but quickly escaped his tired mind.

"Something about, Bose? Whatevs."

He casually walked farther into the schoolyard, enjoying the clear skies as he did. The grass tickled his bare feet as he went to his favorite spot to have his lunch, a large tree of unknown kind that sprouted on the yard sometime years ago. Well, Miss Bonnie already explained them what kind of tree it is but it always escaped his mind. Finn chuckled at the memory of him chasing Flanna up the tree with a dead frog six years ago. They were just six year olds by then, but they were already at odds.

"Flanna, how the heck did ya get up there?!" A six-year old Finn shouted in annoyance.

A young Flanna Hacksworth of the same age was weeping desperately as she tried to keep herself on a small tree's branch.

"I climbed, you donk!" The girl replied in between sobs.

"Get down here, dump-head! Miss Bonnie is going to get mad if you fall and break your leg! W-why would you even climb that tree in the first place?!"

"This is all your stupid fault! Why did you have to chase me with that ugly frog?!" Flanna cried.

"My fault?! Is not my fault that you're so coward! Who's afraid of a dead toad anyway?! Get down here, fool!"

"I am and I can't! I'm stuck!" young Flanna cried.

"Then let yourself go! I'll catch you!" Finn yelled as he stretched his short arms upwards.

"No! I don't trust you! You will let me hit the ground!"

"I won't, I swear! Just let yourself go! Let yourself go, Flanna!"

"Fine! I will do it!"

The small girl released her grip on the thin branch and landed on top of the young Mertens boy.

"You see, I got ya!" Finn yelled, "And now your heavy butt is crushing me, get off me!"

"That's what you get for chasing me around with a dead toad, you idiot!"

"Man, that was fun! Although it seemed a bit rude of me too."

He pulled out his egg sandwich, unwrapped it, and took a bite. Finn took his time in chewing his lunch, for they were always given an hour-long lunch break. Some of his blonde hair escaped his bear hat and as the warm autumn wind blew, they swayed with it. The leaves of the tree danced with the wind as if trying to join the latter, and the grassfield dipped down as if bowing to a greater force. Finn admired the effect, even the shrill sounds of his classmates playing in the distance calmed him.

"This is sure a nice day. Cecile's doing fine, Lorraine layed a lot of eggs, Mom's in a good mood and Flanna's not around to bother me!"

He finished his lunch and pulled out his wooden flute. His new backpack was a lot smaller than his old one, so his flute always stuck out. Ever since he learned to play it a couple of years ago, Finn always tried to string together notes whenever he have the time.

A rustle behind snapped him back to his senses. "Ugh! You're awful, Mertens! Stop that."

"Flanna?"

"Who else, dum-dum?"

"You're spying on me? What the heck, Flanna?!"

"So what if I am?"

"Scram! Go flaunt that freckly face somewhere! Anywhere but here, nosy little-"

Finn heard hurried footsteps as Flanna went to stand in front of him. "That's not he right way to treat a girl! How many times Miss Bonnie told you that, you knob-head?"

"Well...I-" Flanna's flushed face was inches from him, their breaths mingling with one another. Her face was bathed with the usual red glow because of her hair being struck by light. "Look, I'm sorry, but you're annoying me!"

Flanna pouted her lips and smiled deviously. "Like now!"

Finn wasn't able stop the red-haired girl from snatching away his flute. Flanna danced away from his reach as he tried to get up fast. "You soul-less ginger! Get back here!"

"Catch me if you can, you sissy butt-face!"

Finn broke into a furious run after the red-haired girl. He could see her carefully braided red hair shining in the distance, the sun glinting off the strands and giving her hair the illusion of swaying flames. Finn could hear the usual jeers and cheers from their classmates, apparently excited to see what are they up to again.

"No, no, no, no, no, no! Don't go there, Hacksworth!"

Too late. Flanna jumped over the Robinsons' fence, where the large dog, Crunch, permanently set as his territory. Finn reached the fence in time to see Flanna mock him with his flute, blowing it to produce discordant tunes. He cringed at the thought of Flanna's spit on his wind instrument.

"Give it back, Flanna! Let's get out of here! Miss Bonnie warned us from breaking into Mr. Robinson's property!"

"You're such a wuss! You're not afraid of that dog, are you?"

He held out his fist indignantly. "I'm not afraid of no dog!"

"Then prove it to me! Jump over that fence and get your flute!"

On that moment, he really want to punch out the girl's teeth. Sweat dribbled from his chin as he tensed in anticipation of the dog. With a burst of courage, he jumped over the white fence and landed on the well-trimmed lawn of the Robinsons. Finn took a step towards the Hacksworth girl, who took a step backwards.

"It's right over here, Mertens!"

At that moment, a deep and low growl erupted behind Flanna. In her flight of fancy, she failed to notice that she already alerted Crunch into frenzy. The red-haired girl just managed to turn around before the brown mutt lunged at her. The two tumbled to the ground, displacing dust and little bits of rock. To Finn's horror, the dog managed to chomp on Flanna's left leg.

Flanna screamed in fright, spurring Finn into action. He swooped down on the dog and whacked him on the head repeatedly with his fist. The dog showed no sign of letting go even after all the strikes.

"Do something, Mertens!"

"Shut up!"

Finn decided to poke the dog in the eye, making it yelp in pain and pull away. He immediately helped the red-haired girl to her feet and pulled her into a run towards the fence. They were only a few feet from the wooden structure when the dog barked and started to go after them again. Flanna positioned herself behind Finn and used him as a human shield.

"What the- "

Finn barely protected himself as they both tumbled over the fence and out of the property. The dog kept barking at them so they broke into a run to put some distance. In a few moments, they were back at the base of the tree, chests heaving in exhaustion. When he finally regained his normal breathing, Finn snatched back his flute from Flanna's hand.

"Are you NUTS?! It's all your fault, Hacksworth! And you're going to tell that Miss Bonnie!" The red-haired girl did not replied, but looked at her with frightful eyes. Finn could see her green eyes well up with tears. "Don't think you can fool me with those tears!"

Flanna angrily burst towards Finn and slapped her across his left cheek. "I hate you!"

Finn cupped his sore cheek. "Well, excuse me, but I hate you too!"

"You're always mean to me!"

"I could say the same for you!"

"Inconsiderate slug!"

Finn reeled back, expecting another slap. "Crazy carrot-top!"

Flanna aimed a punch at his face but Finn backed away in time to avoid it. They stared at each other, eyes glaring poisonous daggers. He strode closer and raised the flute as if to hit her. "Look! You put dents on this hole! It will never sound the same again..."

"It's just a stupid flute!"

Finn was about to berate the girl again but Miss Bonnibel appeared out of nowhere and pushed them apart each other. He was struck by sudden realization on what will happen now that they were caught fighting again. Finn always despised disappointing his teacher, and it was all Flanna's fault.

"Miss Flanna Hacksworth! What happened to your knee? And look at that hole in your pants! What were you two thinking by trespassing on Mr. Robinson's property?"

Finn was confused at first on how Miss Bonnibel found out about that information, until Remy, one of their classmates, winked at him. "It's her fault, Miss! I have to go over the fence because she took my flute and run off to Mr. Robin-"

"I never forced you to come with me!"

"Yes, you did!"

"No, I didn't!"

Finn stole a glance at Miss Bonnie and immediately felt guilty. She was pinching the bridge of her nose and appeared to be tired of them fighting again. They became silent as they waited for what would be Miss Bonnie's next action.

"You two, I want you to stand in the corners of the classroom for the rest of the day. You're both getting out of hand lately and it seemed I have been too soft with you." Miss Bonnibel shook her head in disappointment. "Boys and girls should treat each other with care and respect."

His teacher did not looked angry. Just sad, the very reaction Finn feared for her to have. He can't bear making her sad. Sweet and kind and pretty individuals like her does not have any business being sad.

"I'm sorry, Miss Bonnibel." Finn shot a glare at Flanna, who returned the same gesture.

They spent the rest of the walk towards their classroom in silence. Finn was boiling in anger inside for the red-haired girl beside Miss Bonnibel. Now, he would be punished because of things he never caused. This is so unfair.

"I want you two to stand in the opposite corners. And no talking! I won't tell these to your parents if you managed to stay behaved for the rest of the class."

They both nodded in unison. Finn saw some of their classmates snickering in delight. To them, he and Flanna were just afternoon comedic duo. Finn wanted to shove his fist up their mouths to silence them. Time crawled slowly. Finn already felt stiff for just the first hour and a half and the class still have another hour before Miss Bonnibel rings the dismissal bell. He glanced at Flanna at the other side of the room.

The red-haired girl stuck out her tongue at him. Finn found her a bit cute alright. The steadily dimming afternoon sunlight highlighted the deeper red undertones in her hair. He wondered how her braid managed to remain in place after all they've been doing earlier, and even the two clumps of hair that framed her face made Flanna more attractive. Finn shook his head, and noticed her bright green eyes. It was like staring into some passage that leads to lustrous grasslands, an entrance to another world...What the heck are you thinking?

"Psst! Mertens!"

The room was narrow enough and they were just separated by a few feet, making shouted whispers audible. Finn whispered back. "Shut up, Hacksworth! You'll get us to trouble again!"

"Ha! You're afraid of Miss Bonnibel? What a sissy."

Finn held back a retort, but was agitated when he saw Flanna slowly inching herself closer to him. "Flanna! No! Don't do this! I don't want any more trouble!"

"Finn, Flanna, I said no talking, please."

Finn nodded in apology and looked back to see the red-haired girl just within arm's reach. Miss Bonnibel did not seemed to have noticed though. "What are you doing, ginger head?"

"I came here just to say...I hate you, butt-face!"

"Wow, I'm so shocked! That's news, alright."

""You meanie! I know you always pulled my hair just so you could touch it. You're creepy, Mertens!"

"What the heck's wrong with you?" Finn blushed furiously at her insinuations.

"You're what's wrong with me! You always get me in trouble! My dad won't be happy."

"I hope he spank you good!"

Miss Bonnibel noticed them arguing again, her face steadily becoming sad for the umpteenth time that afternoon. "Mertens! Hacksworth! I swear, this is your last warning! I already told you earlier that boys and girls should treat each other with care and respect!"

"I'm sorry, Miss Bonnibel." They both replied at the same time again.

After the teacher looked away, Flanna punched his arm. Finn wished he had paid more attention, because it hurt. The red-haired girl sure knew how to throw a punch. Finn finally lost patience as the school bell rang and raised his voice. "Is this how you're going to pay me after I saved you from that dog?! I hate you, Hacksworth and I want you to leave me alone, you donk!"

Flanna was visibly hurt, but she came up with a lashing of her own. "I'm just being even with you for all the times you did me wrong!"

"Soul-less ginger!"

"Sissy butt-face!"

They strode closer to one another with the intention of dealing some pain but Miss Bonnibel intervened.

"Finn Mertens! Flanna Hacksworth!" His teacher called firmly, snapping Finn out of his blinded anger somewhat. "I was expecting more of you! Didn't I say a couple of minutes ago that boys and girls should treat each other with care and respect?"

"It ain't my fault Miss!" Finn quickly answered in his defense. "Flanna's always mocking me!"

"That's because you always treat me like a piece of garbage!" Flanna Hacksworth cried in response and took a step forward, further exposing her ripped blue jeans and scraped knee.

"That's not true! I don't even like to talk to her!" Finn waved his hands around in frustration.

"You see Miss? He just said that he doesn't like me!" The green-eyed girl yelled back.

"Enough!" Miss Bonnibel said. She grabbed their hands and forced them to stare at each other, the two kids frowned and stuck out their tongues in disgust. "Kids… you can't keep living like this. You're both classmates and you are gonna keep seeing each other everyday, wouldn't it be nicer if you treated each other as friends instead of enemies?"

"Well, it would…" Finn sighed, causing his teacher to smile "If Flanna wasn't so nosy!"

"And if you weren't so stupid!" Flanna's shrill voice irritated Finn to no ends as she yelled, lunging her body over him to punch his nose.

"Finn! Flanna! No!" Bonnibel cried in exasperation.

Both of them rolled on the floor, pulling each other's hair and scratching their faces. Finn used his knee to push Flanna away, but she somehow managed to grab one of his arms and bit it with all her strength while their distressed teacher fought to pull them apart.

"Boys are not supposed to hurt girls!" Miss Bonnibel yelled, struggling to hold Finn's fist away from Flanna's face "And girls are not supposed to attack boys!"

The red-haired girl pushed herself angrily towards Finn, making him hit his head against Bonnibel's desk. All her items fell over them, including a wooden ruler and a black pen. Flanna grabbed the ruler without hesitation and used it to smack Finn's hands.

"Auw! You pesky freckly!" Annoyed, he grunted after blowing his aching knuckles. His blue eyes spotted the black pen and he quickly snatched it to use it against her. "Let me make your face uglier!"

Finn was so enraged, that he didn't even care to think on the consequences of his following act. He sprung towards Flanna and stretched his arm to stab her right cheek with the tip of the pen. The green-eyed girl shrieked in pain as she stepped backwards, covering her hurt cheek with her hand.

Flanna shuddered a little and glanced at her hand, she flinched at the sight of her own blood and glared back at Finn with watery eyes. "You're a freak and I hate you!"

"Flanna!" Miss Bonnibel shouted, running towards her, but the girl simply reeled herself back and hopped through an open window "Flanna, come back here!"

Finn lay on the floor, sticking his tongue out at the already gone girl. However, a saddened sigh from his teacher made him change his facial expression. Bonnibel looked back at him with disappointment. Being close to the lady, Finn clearly saw the tiredness in her eyes. He didn't like to see her like that. Miss Bonnibel was a beautiful woman with blonde curled hair and pink cheekbones; she was known for being always nice and kind to everybody. She doesn't deserved this...

Every kid was happy around her and he, well, he once thought he had a crush on her. Finn loved how easy it was to make his teacher smile and how hard it was to make her angry, but this was the first time he had ever seen her this sad, and he didn't like it.

"Finn…" His teacher whispered, crouching down by his side "Your mother must have raised you better than this…"

Her words stung him deeply.

"It's hard to believe that a kind-hearted boy like you could have hurt a girl…" Bonnibel moved closer to him. "You could have pocked out her eye with that pen!"

"But…! Miss…! Flanna hurt me first!" Finn eagerly rebuked.

"I'm aware of what she did and believe me, her father will know about this." The teacher stated in an almost harsh manner. "But you shouldn't have hurt her back, you should've tried to calm her down…! I-I… I don't understand what's wrong with the two of you…! Why do you hate each other so much?"

Finn turned his face away and frowned.

"Won't you tell me, Finn?"

"I don't like her, that's all!" Finn yelled, facing his teacher again, but muttered the last bit. "I've tried to be good with her, but she keeps bothering me all the time! Maybe she's evil or something…"

"Evil?" Miss Bonnibel tilted her head in confusion. Finn could probably enumerate all the times that Flanna acted evil around him. But I acted around her like that too. Are we both...evil?

"Finn she is not evil! Have you ever tried to ask her why she's so bothered around you?"

"No…" Truthfully, he did. But Flanna never gave straight answers, opting to continue with her devious acts. I don't think I pressed her enough for answers though.

"You see? Finn, you should try to seek what's her problem with you and work it out." The teacher smiled. "Give her a chance…!"

"Mmmm…" Finn crossed his arms and stared at the ground. He sure have second thoughts with what his teacher was implying - being friends with Flanna. "I don't think so!"

"Finn!"

"No, miss! I don't wanna! I hate her!" Finn shouted, getting on his feet. "I'm going home, now!"

"Of course you're going home!" Miss Bonnibel grasped his shoulder and lightly pulled at the knob on his bear hat. "...With me! Your mother and I have a lot to talk about!"

Finn flinched, not his mother. He could take his teacher's look of disappointment, but not his mother's; she worked hard the whole day, expecting him to return home and brighten up her day. She didn't need to hear any of this. It would make her sad…

"Miss Bonnibel please, I beg you…"

"I'm sorry Finn, not this time."

A loud bang broke the silence and some force made a rend on the space. The sound of heavy double-doors opening brought the Ice Prince back to his senses, finally snapping him apart from the young Finn. It was now like watching from afar.

I can't keep The Vault open for too long, Finn! That's all I can do for now.

He opened his eyes. Ice Prince felt elated, but also sad. It was like drinking something sweet with a bitter aftertaste. For a long time, he was Finn again - the farmboy facing the innocence of youth. He relished in every moment of the memory, only to be pulled back hard into reality. Ice Prince have something to be happy though. That memory led to a lot more memories of Finn Mertens.

"So this is how you feel when slowly regaining your identity?"

I can tell you're not really satisfied. I swear we'll bring back all your memories.

Ice Prince smiled. "So we started out hating each other?"

That was just some petty childhood things. Deep down, we did loved each other all along.

"Oh..so, about the deal...what exactly do you want me to do?"

I need you to find Flame Princess and bring her back. I need my body to be Flanna Hacksworth on the real world, okay?

Ice Prince took a momentarily pause. That did not sounded right in all manners and respect. "What will happen to her though?"

C'mon...we're the same person. She's Flanna without my memories, and I'm Flanna without her body.

"Alright...I guess. Is that all?"

No. I also want you to make that Princess Bubblegum suffer!

"What? Why?" Ice Prince can't find it in his heart to attack the Candy Kingdom again. Now, more so because of Finn Mertens emerging within him.

Forget your heart! It's weighing you down inside as you confide your life to someone else. This is what you get for hanging out with Flame Princess - weakness. You don't even know half of what that Bubblegum did to her!

"I'm listening..."

Yes. From now on, I will only be the one you're going to listen to. All you really have is me, Finn Mertens.

"Flanna."

Ice Prince closed his eyes and stared right into Flanna's. It was like the deep blue sea meeting the vast green grasslands, the cold succumbing to heat, and Ice Prince slowly giving way to...

"Finn... I am Finn Mertens."

The rubies in his closed palm turned a little lighter shade of red, some of the color dispersing in a wisp of once potent magic. He watched in dazed fascination as the wisp was engulfed by the emeralds on his mechanical arm, the golden plating humming for some reason.

Tomorrow, we'll get Flame Princess...and I know where we could find her.

~~o~~

'Betty' sure was an amazing episode, and it made up for the lacklustre previous episode alright. It seemed a bit too fast paced though, and it also failed to reach the emotional heights of 'I Remember You' and 'Simon & Marcy'. One thing in common between those two episodes is the MUSIC. Given the situation demands quickness, it wouldn't have hurt if there was just a song to go by Betty and Simon's dynamics. It's a missed opportunity, I guess.

The Nephilim King Michael: Glad you liked the three sides of this story, dude! And yeah, you better watch out for the Truthsayer! It will be plot significant soon, I think. I'm still not so sure about the ending I've made but I hope all of you will be there when the last chapter hits!

Ooobserver: Haha, the least popular plot arc (based on views) was Sawyer's story during the early post-apocalypse but I really dig its atmosphere that I decided to do just one more. I'm delighted you found Bonnie creepy, I guess. That was what I was aiming for. Sawyer has the psychological side of the story, Finn - the fun side, and Ice Prince for the romancy but crazy stuff.

SCIK1012: Hey there too, I'm fine. How about you?

Wow! I don't know where to start! I'm really really really really happy that you found this story good! Thanks for the praise for Sawyer, I worked hard to distinguish him from his counter-part in your Amaranth. And...Stephen King? Gee, thanks! I wished I was really that good, though! I hope I met your expectation on this chapter...I really wanted to recreate the vibe and feel of your fantastic TAU. Did I nailed it, Miss SCIK?

Thanks for all the reviews!

Oh yeah, I was thinking if anyone is interested in making a cover for this story. If you are, please pm me for details.

~ Glaring error, fixed. I can't believe I actually over-looked something that important! Yeah, his mechanical arm came LATER, not before. Thanks for pointing out, dudes! ~