Disclaimer: I do not own Adventure Time.

Ice King sighed, burying his face in his hands as Fionna ran off. He'd ruined any chances he had at gaining her love. Not that she would have ever loved him. He was a beast. A monster that could never touch her freely. He couldn't even control his temper. He looked over at the now open door before resolving to find the girl. The least he could do was apologize.

Finn sobbed as he ran. He was still lost in this maze of a castle but he couldn't care less where he ended up. As long as he was away from the Ice King he would be fine. He stopped for a moment at a stair case, finally looking down at his arm. It had blackened considerably and spread from where the Ice King had touched him. His left arm was now nearly entirely black with frostbite and spreading quickly. The crown was screaming, had been ever since the Ice King touched him, and Finn took a moment to run a shaking hand over the crown trying to calm it.

"S-sh-shhh. W-we'll be fi-ine. I promis-se."

"Fionna?" Finn's head snapped up to see Flame and Tree Trunks a few steps below him. He tried to push his frostbitten arm behind his back but only served to agitate it and draw attention to the wound. Both Tree Trunks and Flame gasped when they looked at the girl's arm.

"Oh dear! What happened?" Only one person could cause such damage. What had the Ice King done?

"Nothing. I have to go." Finn whimpered softly and shook his head, eyes darting between the two before him and the end of the stairs.

"Fionna please-" Flame reached out to the girl. He needed to see how bad the damage on her arm was before he could heal it. Fionna jerked away before he could touch her.

"I can't stay here!" Finn shoved his way past the two, hurrying down the last of the stairs and continuing on through the maze of the castle. Finally he could see the large doors he had first entered in and let out a sob of relief. His bliss was cut short by the Ice King stepping before the front door. Finn skidded to a stop, nearly falling. He could hear the other servants coming closer and whispering loudly. He ignored them, deciding to focus on the Ice King. The man had the decency to at least look contrite.

"Please let me go." Finn whispered softly. He lowered his eyes, unable to look at the Ice King anymore. The man sighed.

"Fionna, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Ice King let his gaze be drawn to the wound on Fionna's arm. The frostbite had traveled to her neck and peaked out of the collar of the girl's dress. The girl finally rose her eyes and looked at the Ice King.

"I wish to leave." Finn shuffled and pulled his bag closer to himself. He just wanted to be home with his brother in their little cottage. Why couldn't life be that simple again?

"Fionna-" Ice King reached out to touch the girl, to pull her closer. She jerked back in fear and sadness washed over the Ice King's face. "As you wish."

The door opened behind the Ice King, wind slamming onto the hard wood. "Before you go let Flame heal you."

Finn shook his head. He couldn't stay here another minute.

"There is a healer in my village. She can fix me." Ice King sighed and stepped aside. Finn took a hesitant step towards the door. Ice King nodded to him and Finn scurried past the man, taking his first step out into the snow. He turned back at the sound of Ice King clearing his throat.

"You are always welcome here." Finn gave a weak smile and nodded. They both knew he would not be returning.

"Thank you." The doors began to close as Ice King watched Fionna walk out of his courtyard. Once they shut the Ice King slumped against their frame. A gentle hand fell on his back and he looked down at Tree Trunks. The man turned into the woman's embrace, body rigid.

"What am I to do, Tree Trunks? This was my last chance." Tree Trunk gently rubbed at the Ice King's back, silently shooing away the other servants. They did not need to see their king in such a state.

"I'm sure you'll think of something Simon." Ice King sighed, pulling Tree Trunks closer to him. How was he going to fix this?

Finn panted as he ran out of the courtyard. He slammed himself against the exit gates, groaning as the cold metal pressed against his skin. The gates creaked open at his frantic pressure and Finn stumbled out of the courtyard. He was free. The blonde ran as fast as he could into the forest, stumbling over roots and snow as he made his way back to his village.

After a few hours of walking the blonde sighed. He had passed that same light post at least 9 times already and it was getting dark. Finn whimpered and let himself fall to his knees. He was lost. The blonde sat himself underneath the lightpost, pulling his thin shawl closer to himself for cover. The crown had quieted down after they left the castle, though the silent but steady pulsing it now gave off concerned Finn. The crown glowed a soft white and was surprisingly cold to the touch. He bit his lip nervously and pulled the crown out of his bag, taking care to place the freezing metal in his frostbitten hand.

"Hello?" The crown stayed silent. Finn painfully moved his frostbitten arm to hold the crown closer to his chest. He had felt safer with the crown close by and knew the crown liked to be near his heart.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone in his room." Silence again. Finn sighed and let his head fall back against the light pole. What had he done wrong? Why was the crown ignoring him? He felt tears slip down his face and Finn pressed his good hand against his mouth to muffle his sobs. He felt ill and everything was so wrong. Why couldn't things just be like they were before?

"Miss?" Finn's head snapped up in surprise. There was a man before him, dressed in a dark fur coat that wrapped around him and protected him from the cold. A pair of torn and faded yellow pants peaked out from underneath the dark coat. Finn shook his head and blinked up at the man. "Are you alright?"

"I... I'm fine." The man frowned and Finn felt his eyes grow heavy with snow. The crown was angrily pulsing against his frostbitten hand and Finn shivered. He was so cold. "I just... I just-"

Finn let his head droop slightly. Just a moment of rest, then he could speak with the man.

"Miss? Miss!" The man caught him just as Finn fell over. Darkness spread along his vision and Finn smiled. Maybe things would be simple again.