A/N: And here, we have the first part of the 1st season finale, involving none other than... DUN-DUN-DUN! The Lich... Rest assured, though, this 2-part season finale will be radically different than originally.

Adventure Time with Finn, Jake, & Rachel

Chapter 23: "Mortal Folly"

One dismal-looking day at Princess Bubblegum's castle, she, Rachel, Finn, and Jake were meditating.

"Ommmmm...", Jake chanted.

"Jake! What am I supposed to be meditatin' about?", Finn whispered.

"Don't know. I'm thinking of pillows stuffed with spaghetti.", Jake replied.

"Why would you think that?", Rachel asked.

"Clear your minds.", P.B. urged.

Then, the four inhaled deeply. When Finn exhaled, his thought bubble showed himself as a heroic adult. When Jake exhaled, his thought bubble showed Lady Rainicorn riding a horse. When Rachel exhaled, her thought bubble showed her as a sort of Ice Elemental, surrounded by legions of loyal ice people, ice warriors, and yes, even ice penguins, all in adoration, accompanied by a heroic adult Finn. But when Princess Bubblegum exhaled, her thought bubble showed the Lich muttering in front of flames chanting quietly.

In fact, she gasped in horror and opened her eyes in shock.

"What's wrong?", Rachel asked.

Princess Bubblegum replied as she stood up.

"I have to go check on something!"

"Can we go with?", Finn asked.

Princess Bubblegum was hesitant, but felt it couldn't be helped.

"...Perhaps you three are ready to go with."

Finn and Jake bumped fists in a bit of celebration.

"Guys, you'll need to put these on. Pull back your hat.", Bubblegum urged to Finn.

Finn then pulled back his hat as instructed, allowing Princess Bubblegum to put the jewelry on Finn's head. A protective sphere appeared around his head. She then put the same kind of jewelry on Jake, leading to the same result.

"Neat!", Jake beamed.

Princess Bubblegum then rubbed the gem on her crown; a protective sphere appeared around her head as well.

"Stay close to me.", Bubblegum advised.

She then clapped nine times (the specific rhythm is "1 & a 2 & 3 & 4 &"). Peppermint Butler appeared and blew a huge bubble which engulfed the group of four.

"Whoa!", Finn said.

"How'd you get your tiara to do that, PB?", Rachel asked as the bubble rose to the canopy of the castle tree.

"At the heart of this tree is an ancient evil, held in a prison of amber—the Lich.", Bubblegum said as mysterious chanting is heard.

Those sounds made Rachel gasp, her blood running cold.

"What's that sound?", Finn asked.

"He's casting spells—trying to get in your head and control your bod... but these gems are protecting our minds from his influence. If we lost the gems, we'd be defenseless. He would have full control over us.", Bubblegum explained.

"That's freakin' nuts!", Finn said.

Unfortunately, Rachel wasn't so lucky. Not being given a similar gem herself, Rachel fell prey to the Lich's spell and became hypnotized.

"Beyond Iceberg Lake lies the ruins of the Lich's tower, where he was converting the planet's life force into unholy power to destroy all of Ooo... but before he could, the Legendary Billy attacked him and pummeled him into the resin of this tree.", Bubblegum added, unaware that at that very moment, the hypnotized Ice Princess walked toward said resin.

Unable to resist, Rachel brandished her sword and then slashed at the amber, breaking it. This allowed the Lich to converts his body to dark energy and escape through the crack.

"I—WHAT THE NUTS?!", Bubblegum shouted in shock.

Finn and Jake turned and gasped in time to see Rachel finally come to with a groan, having yet to come to grips with what happened.

"What just happened?", Rachel puzzled.

But the moment she saw the Lich right there, lying on the ground, looking at the trio instead of the Amber, she began to register, much to her horror as she looked at the sword she was holding, what she had done.

"What have I done...?!", Rachel gasped.

"Dude, be a big sword!", Finn urged.

"Oh, okay! I'll try!", Jake agreed.

The magic dog more or less took on a sword shape and Finn grabbed him, using him to attack the Lich. But the Lich turned into dark energy again before the sword-shaped dog could hit and escaped through the wall, leaving it to decay into a hole for him. The Lich laughs evilly as he begins searching for Iceberg Lake, to relocate the Well of Power and finally finish what he started.

"What do we do now...?!", Rachel asked, still terrified over what she had done.

"Quickly! To the other secret room!", Bubblegum urged.

As the four ran there, Rachel spoke to PB.

"Oh, PB, I am so sorry...! I didn't mean to free him...!", Rachel apologized profusely.

"There's nothing to forgive of you, Rachel. Your mind wasn't your own. If anything, it was my B. I didn't think you needed another gem like they did.", Bubblegum apologized.

"Okay, look. We can blame ourselves later. One thing's for certain. We have to stop the Lich.", Rachel urged.

The four then finally arrived in the secret room.

"There's only one known weapon that can harm the Lich. The Gauntlet of the Hero.", Bubble gum stated as she opened a cabinet with a key, revealing said weapon.

"BIIILLYYYYYYY!"

"Billy's big ol' beef fingers!", Jake gasped in awe.

"Here. Sorry I didn't get this one to you.", Bubblegum apologized, handing Rachel a blue gem necklace, similar to what Finn and Jake were given.

"It's okay. I don't hold any blame on you.", Rachel assured as she put hers on, a barrier cast around her head before it went invisible. "So what now?"

"You all have but one chance. While the Lich isn't at full power, you must smite him with this gauntlet!", Bonnie said as he equipped the gauntlet to Finn with it becoming smaller to fit Finn's hand.

"His only desire... is to destroy life. If you fail... he'll kill everyone.", Bonnie whispered in fear as she picked up a crystal ball, which showed an image of the Lich standing in a large fire.

"No. That will not happen.", Finn vowed.

"Yeah. We're gonna make him pay for using me.", Rachel agreed.

Princess Bubblegum smiled and blushed.

"Oh, and there's something else that I want you to have. The Lich's lair is supposed to be cold. ...I just don't want you to get sick. Take this sweater. I made it myself.", Bonnie said, handing Finn a pink sweater, which Jake sniffed at.

"I'm not great at knitting, but please wear it. I care about you, Finn.", Bonnie added fondly.

With that, Finn heroically donned the sweater.

"I love it.", Finn said boldly.

With that, Princess Bubblegum came over and helds Finn, who responded by hugging her.

"Me, too!", Jake said, making it a group hug with Rachel joining in, too.

Suddenly, the window seal shook and opened. The four gasped in surprise as Marceline, Simon, and Betty entered.

"Hey, guys. What's up?", Marceline asked.

"Mar-Mar...", Rachel said in surprise.

"Hey, hey, hey!", Simon said.

"Mom? Dad? What are you guys doing here?", Rachel asked in genuine surprise.

"We came to pay you guys a visit.", Marceline responded.

"But it seems like you guys are going on something super-important.", Betty responded.

"I'll explain on the way, Mom.", Rachel responded.

"Quickly now, guys! Track the Lich by his trail of death.", Bonnie urged.

"The Lich?!", Marceline, Simon, and Betty exclaimed.

"Like I said. I'll explain on the way.", Rachel responded.

"Here we go!", Finn shouted as he and Rachel left.

"Here I go!", Jake added, following after them.

"Be safe!", Bonnie said in worry.

"Hang on, Bonnie. You're coming with us.", Marceline said urgently.

"What?"

"Come on. You think I'm gonna let you stress-eat while worrying about us?", Marceline asked, making Bonnie blush.

"That seems fair."

Later, everyone was out, hurrying toward their destination.

"So, the Lich brainwashed you into releasing him and dooming all of Ooo as we know it?!", Betty asked.

Rachel sadly nodded.

"Ugh, that skull-faced jerk!", Marceline vehemently shouted.

"This is unacceptable! Nobody brainwashes our daughter and gets away with it!", Simon spoke boldly, if not angrily.

"Whoa, guys. Easy. I want a piece of him for what he did to me, too, but we have no idea what he's capable of.", Rachel warned.

"You kiddin'? This is our first fate-of-the-world deal!", Jake responded.

"Yeah, man! We gotta shut this fool down hardcore!", Finn added.

"Running this fast makes my stomach hurt!", Jake panted.

"Then just hold on to me. It'll be easier.", Rachel urged as she picked Jake up and he held on to her.

"We gotta get beyond Iceberg Lake before the Lich!", Finn urged.

Sure enough, they caught up to the Lich just as he was getting closer to Iceberg Lake just near the gauntlet dock.

"There he is!", Rachel shouted.

"And he's already made it to the lake!", Marceline added.

The Lich turned around and growled softly.

"Hold it right there, Lich.", Finn shouted boldly, aiming at the Lich. But nothing seemed to work. "Hmm? How does this gauntlet work?!"

Finn banged on the gauntlet by the eye, causing it to activate, shooting a laser.

"Whoa!", Jake exclaimed.

Finn flailed it around uncontrollably. Bonnie, Marceline, Rachel, Simon, and Betty ducked to avoid being cut in two, especially while the Lich was unimpressed.

"I can't turn it off!", Finn exclaimed.

"Aim it toward the Lich!", Rachel shouted before Finn did so.

Of course, even if it was aimed at the Lich, the villain just simply ducked underneath as he went towards Finn and Jake, spooking them.

"Oh, man, oh, man, oh, man, oh, man, oh, man...", Jake said in worry.

Quickly, the Lich blasted Finn and Jake back with his flames, which only lasted for a moment, especially when said flames hadn't affected Finn much at all. All the while, the impact hit the gauntlet in the eye, making it give an angry look as a tear was shed before it powered down.

"Finn! Jake! Are you okay?", Bonnie asked.

"The sweater... it's keeping me safe.", Finn responded.

"Hey! Skull-face!", Marceline shouted, prompting the Lich to turn to her with a hiss.

"Hope you like getting 'axe'd'!", Marceline shouted, swinging her bass axe.

But the Lich caught it like it was nothing and then tossed it and Marceline aside toward a bush.

"Mar-Mar!", Rachel shouted.

Furious, she, Simon, and Betty all blasted the Lich with their ice powers, only for him to cast his flames again, this time to dispel their ice magic enough for it to not touch him. With that, Marceline recovered, thanks to Bonnie, who helped her up. And all 6 charged toward the Lich, only for him to make a sweeping motion with his arm, creating a green firewall of flame, preventing them from getting any closer.

"Donk you, Lich!", Rachel shouted.

She went up past the wall as her hair started to grow longer and saw the Lich escaping.

"Guys? The Lich is making his way to the Well of Power!", Rachel shouted.

"NO!", Bonnie shouted in panic.

"Let's blow this stand!", Jake shouted.

"But how? This wall of fire is impenetrable.", Betty said in worry.

"Still, since the Lich isn't at full power yet, this firewall may not last long.", Simon assured.

Sure enough, the firewall vanished, revealing only a trail of death left behind by the Lich.

"See?"

"He couldn't have gone far behind.", Marceline said.

"After his butt!", Finn urged.

"I'm your dingy dog!", Jake shouted before going over the lake in boat form.

Finn then started to ride on him as Simon, Betty, Rachel, and Marceline, who carried Bonnie, started flying alongside them. But it was slow-going.

"Here! I'll help paddle!", Finn assured.

Then, he turned to the gauntlet.

"Hey. It's me.", Finn said before the gauntlet looked at Finn for only a second.

"Aw, come on. I'm sorry you got hit in the eye.", Finn apologized before kissing it.

With that, the gauntlet activated and they started to move much faster across the lake in hot pursuit of the Lich.

"Waaaah!", Jake exclaimed.

"Ah, yeah, haha!", Finn spoke excitedly.

"They're catching up!", Rachel said in surprise.

"Oh, boy.", Marceline grinned before she and the others all dashed after Finn and Jake just as the Lich arrived at the island housing the Well of Power.

"Oh, no! He's made it!", Bonnie shouted in worry.

"Don't worry, Princess!", Finn shouted.

With that, he and the others sped up faster.

"Closing in... Gonna get you, man!", Finn shouted before readying his gauntlet and raising his gauntlet up higher enough to hit the water.

With that, he blasted the water, causing him and Jake to propel himself and Jake high into the air and dash toward the Well of Power.

"Oh, no.", Simon said in worry before Rachel made an Ice umbrella to block out the water that fell on her, Simon, Betty, Marceline, and Bonnie, hitting the umbrella instead.

"Thanks, Rae-Rae.", Simon thanked.

"Don't mention it.", Rachel responded before catching up to Finn and Jake just as they fell through the entrance to the old subway station. When they did, the trio were greeted by Skeletal Guards possessed by the Lich. Finn blasted them all with the gauntlet while Rachel did so with her own ice blasts, freezing them in place.

"We don't have time for this!", Rachel shouted.

"Then let's go!", Jake urged.

But suddenly, the skeletons rose up behind Finn and grabbed his pack, ripping it open.

"My pack!", Finn exclaimed with Jake then latching onto Finn like a backpack.

"It's okay!"

"We'll come back for it later!", Rachel assured.

So, Finn and Rachel ran, But suddenly, a big skeleton rose under his feet. Finn blasted it, accidentally blowing a hole in the ground, which sent him and Jake falling down.

"Waaaah!"

"Finn! Jake!", Rachel shouted before flying down the hole.

Meanwhile, above the station...

"Okay, that's the old place you mentioned about the Lich before, right?", Marceline asked.

"That's right, Marcy. How I prayed we wouldn't have to go down there...", Simon shivered.

"But Rachel's down there with Finn and Jake, fighting the Lich. We have to stop him.", Betty urged.

"I know, my love. And for her sake..., we will.", Simon spoke determinedly.

"You gonna be okay there, Marcy?", Bonnie asked.

"I don't know, Bonnie. All I know is that Rae-Rae needs help. So, we're gonna give it to her.", Marceline responded.

As for the trio, Finn and Jake fell through the station until Rachel caught them and lift them up.

"Gotcha, guys!", Rachel grunted before then setting them down near the hole, from which they saw the Lich.

"The Lich!", Finn and Rachel gasped in unison.

The Lich, after casting his spell, put his hands into the well of power.

"Oh, no...! He's getting his powers back!", Rachel said in worry.

"No!", Finn shouted before firing a blast at the Lich, who dodged it. Finn, Jake, and Rachel heroically went down to him, Jake shaping his ears into a wing shape and Rachel flapping her long hair.

"Prepare thyself... to get smote in the name of Bubblegum!", Finn shouted.

But surprisingly, the Lich effortlessly grabbed a hold of Finn by the gauntlet. He then shushed him and then destroyed the gauntlet, much to the heroes' shock. The monster then threw the trio to the far side of the well just as Simon and Betty entered with Princess Bubblegum.

"Are you guys okay?!", Betty asked.

"We're all here to help you, and... NYEH!", Simon reacted as he noticed the Lich, who fired a green fire ball at the heroes.

"Look out!", Rachel shouted, firing her snowball at the fireball to cancel it out.

"That's it! I'm gonna bark 'im!", Jake spoke angrily.

"Jake, no!", Rachel said in worry.

But with Finn on his back, he stretched towards and angrily barked at the Lich like a common dog. But the Lich simply burned his face with green fire.

"Whoa!", Finn exclaimed.

"Finn, Jake!", Rachel shouted as Princess Bubblegum screamed.

Rachel tried to get Jake to make sure he doesn't collapse, but upon doing so, she wound up getting collapsed on herself, causing the protective jewelry on her head to be smashed in the process.

"Rachel...", the Lich echoed.

"Oh, no...! Not again...!", Rachel groaned, becoming half-possessed as her eyes widened with her black and green eyes seen again.

"Aren't you cold, my dear Rachel? Come now, step into the well. You will be reborn. A part of something greater."

But Rachel was not as quick to submit as before. In fact, she grunted as she placed her hands on her head with a grunt.

"Stop!", Rachel ordered.

"...WHAT?"

"I've already let you control me once...! Never again...! And so what if I AM cold? I've felt that way for over 1,000 years. This is nothing to me!"

The Lich's surprised look on his face gave way to maniacal laughter.

"Uh, what's so funny?", Rachel asked.

"You are a joke to me, child."

With that, he blasted his flames at Rachel, but surprisingly, her tiara produced a barrier that nullified his flames.

"Huh?", Rachel puzzled before looking up at her tiara.

"Huh. So, that's the kind of barrier my tiara can do.", Rachel said in surprise.

"This can't be happening... no, I refuse to lose!", the Lich spoke, beginning to lose his cool.

"Rae-Rae! Here!", Finn shouted, handing Rachel his sweater.

"Huh? But Finn, why would you...?", Rachel began.

But then, she got a crazy idea, considering the lich's massive size.

"Okay. I read you loud and clear, Finn!", Rachel said.

With that, Rachel bravely went up to the Lich and stuffed the sweater into his eye sockets. Rachel tugged the sweater and the Lich wailed in pain, thrashing about and bumping the walls. Princess Bubblegum, Finn, Jake, Simon, and Betty all watched in astonishment.

"It's over, Lich!", Rachel shouted, only to earn the Lich's maniacal laughter before he retorted.

"This has only... just begun!"

Regardless, the good news was, Rachel tugged the sweater, ripping the Lich's head apart, seemingly destroying him. But the bad news was, the lich used the last of his strength before he broke apart to knock Bonnie right into the well, making her scream.

"Bonnie!", Finn, Jake, and Marceline screamed in unison.

"Hang on!", Rachel shouted.

"Rae-Rae, no!", Simon and Betty shouted.

But it was too late. It was a matter of time before Bonnie splashed in and Rachel along with her in trying to save her.

"BONNIE!", Marceline screamed.

"RAE-RAAAAAAAAAEEEEEEE!", Finn and Jake screamed in unison

For a time, there was naught but bubbles in the well with everyone grieving the loss of their two friends.

"Oh, Rae-Rae...!", Jake sniffled.

But all of a sudden, the bubbles became more frequent.

"Huh?", Finn puzzled.

Suddenly, both Bubblegum and Rachel emerged, but both all gooey and darkened, panting and weakly laughing a bit.

"Whew...! We barely made it...", Rachel sighed.

"Bonnie!", Marceline shouted in surprised relief.

"Rae-Rae!", Simon and Betty shouted.

"Poibles! Rae-Rae!", Finn shouted.

Hurriedly, everyone else rushed to the two melted princesses.

"Are you two okay?", Marceline asked.

"Yeah... Just a little gooey...", Rachel responded.

"Oh, Finn..., Rae-Rae...! You two did it...!", Bubblegum beamed.

"Yeah. We did...", Finn said a bit solemnly.

"Now that this mess is over, we'd better take you two to the hospital immediately!", Simon urged, making an ice bucket with which to carry the two gooey princesses.

"That's a great idea, because right now? I can't feel anything.", Rachel responded.

"Okay, that's not a good sign.", Marceline responded, carrying the ice bucket with the gooey Rachel and Bonnie inside as they hurriedly left the well of power.

Little did anyone know that in the shadows lurked a princess bearing a mask and cloak similar to the Lich's appearance. However, unlike the Lich himself, she seemed more mysterious. If anything, resentful for what happened.

"I'm so sorry...!", the mysterious princess apologized under her breath.