"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you."

"Finn, I understand why you couldn't tell me… I don't care about that…"

Finn was holding her hands tightly in his, like he never wanted to let them go. She knew the feeling. It felt like if they let go now, they would never see each other again. They only had four short days left. It wasn't enough. It could never be enough.

"Finn, what are you going to do when I'm gone?"

Finn's face darkened.

"I…don't know…" He said softly.

"Finn… I want you to promise me something…"

"Anything…"

"When I die, don't hold on to me… Don't let my...Don't let my death hold you back. I'm not worth that. No love is worth that kind of pain."

"Yes, it is! How am I supposed to just forget you? I love you."

"If you do love me as you say that you do, you'll let me go. I don't want to hold you back, Finn."

"If you die, it wouldn't matter what was holding me back! I would have no reason to push forward!"

She jerked her hands away and pointed her finger toward him.

"This is what I'm talking about, Finn! You have every reason to keep pushing forward! You're brave, you're smart, you're strong-"

"None of that matters if I'm alone!" Finn sobbed, tears rolling down his face.

Flame Princess stopped and looked at him sympathetically. She put her arms around his quivering body. He was like Princess Bubblegum had been earlier. It was hard to imagine that a guy as strong and courageous as Finn could be so fragile. Of course, everyone has that side of them. A side so vulnerable, that only a special few are allowed to see it. Those special few are lucky.

"Finn… I just don't want to cause you any more pain…"

Finn lifted his head up toward hers.

"I'm sorry for yelling. I…"

"I know."

"I just don't want to lose you."

"It's life, Finn."

"I know. But, why does it have to take away what you love?" He said, hugging her.

"I don't understand it either, Finn…"

Miles away, Flame King was preparing for the fight. The people of the Fire Kingdom all worried about their king. He was attacking, but bringing no army with him. His actions seemed out of character. He looked sick. His face had a greenish color to it, as if he hadn't taken care of himself during a sickness.

"Three days, Finn the Human. Three days and you will pay for what you did to me…"

"Sire?"

Flame King lashed around and faced one of his subjects.

"What do you want, insect?! I have little time for games!"

"Sire, your people are worried about you. You haven't been acting right and your obsession with Finn the Human is borderline insanity. Frankly, sir it's…"

"It's what?!"

"It's like you don't care that your daughter is dying…"

"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!" Flame King roared, smacking the poor person with the back of his hand.

Flame King stood over his body yelling at him.

"IF YOU EVER SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT AGAIN, I WILL KILL YOU!"

"Y-Yes, sir…" he said before leaving the King's chambers.

Day 2

Flame Princess walked outside the palace. This was the last night that she would ever spend alive. It was disheartening, yes, and she felt a little scared that she was feeling weaker. But, she felt that she had spent her last days well. Finn had been by her side every step of the way. The only reason he wasn't now was because a monster had attacked a small village and she had urged him to go. Reluctantly, he had agreed to go. But, only if she stayed in the castle. He promised that it wouldn't take long and he would be back shortly to spend the night with her. She had enjoyed her time with him, but felt like she needed a little time to herself. After all, tonight was as good a night as any to be someone's last. The moon glowed brightly and shed beautiful glows across the land. She would miss that. While looking around, she heard the soft sounds of a guitar playing and looked toward the noise. Marceline was up on the roof, looking at the moon. Flame Princess launched herself up to the roof with a little fire and sat down next to her.

"What are you doing up here?" Flame Princess asked.

"What are you doing up here?" Marceline replied.

"Just having some time to myself…"

"Same here."

Marceline adjusted her hold on guitar and continued playing.

"Don't you usually have some sort of axe-bass thing?"

"That's at my house. I've been in the infirmary and this is the only thing I could get my hands on… I still have to be treated, but they let me have some fresh air."

"I see…"

"So, where's Finn? I would have thought he'd want to spend his last night with you together."

"He had to defend a village. He'll be back shortly."

"Oh."

They were both silent for a moment as Marceline continued to play.

"Does that hurt?"

"Huh?"

"Your eye. Does it hurt?"

"Not as much anymore. I still can't open it though. Bonnie said these scars won't heal."

"I'm sorry he did that to you."

"Don't be. Nothing you could have done would have changed a thing. Besides, now I look tough."

"How can you be so carefree about this? You can't see out of that eye and he scarred half of your face."

"I still have the other one, don't I?"

Flame Princess smiled a little and looked back at the moon. She sighed and looked down.

"I hope he doesn't try and fight him. If he really is evil… I can't let Finn be the one to kill him."

"We can only hope, I guess."

Marceline looked down and saw Finn approaching.

"Guess your ride is here, kiddo."

"Wow. That was quick."

Flame Princess turned to leave when Marceline put a hand on her shoulder.

"Flame… Don't worry. It'll all turn out alright."

"How can you possibly know that?"

"Lived for a thousand years… I know that things have a way of landing on their feet."

"Not for me."

"The end is never the end. It's the start of something new."

"We can only hope."

The Final Day

Bubblegum could see the fire coming at dawn. The forest was being burned down in a straight line.

"He's coming." She said softly.

The day had arrived. A horrible day. The death of a princess. Bubblegum knew she was holding on to false hope thinking that he would stop. In her heart, she knew he wouldn't. No man still good could do what he had done to Marceline. She was prepared for the worst.

"Peppermint Butler!"

"Yes, madam?"

"Ready my weapon."

"Right away!" He said, running down the hall.

"Uh, Peppermint?"

"Yes?"

"It's that way." She said, pointing in the other direction.

"Of course!"

Flame Princess was walking with Finn toward the castle. She knew Finn hadn't wanted her to come, but this was something that she needed to do. He was her father. She had to face him for what he'd done. They saw Bubblegum standing in front of the castle, looking serious and wearing a strange glove on her hand.

"What are you guys doing here?" Bubblegum asked seriously.

"I have to talk to him. I need to know why he did this."

Bubblegum looked sadly at her.

"You know he's not going to quit…"

"I know… I just need to know why… How could he do this?" Flame Princess said, crying a little.

There was a loud crash as the forest clearing exploded. They looked to where the explosion had occurred. Standing in the clearing was Flame King. His face looking ill and with a greenish look. He was obviously sick. Bubblegum stood firm.

"Flame King! We give you one chance! Leave now or face judgment!" She yelled.

"I will do no such thing, girl. Give me Finn the Human."

"I would rather die!"

"Death it is, then."

Flame King started walking forward. Flame Princess ran and stopped right in front of him, blocking his path.

"Father, stop! This isn't right!"

"What do you know of right? Out of my way!" He said, smacking her aside.

"Hey!"

Flame King turned around.

"I'm Finn the Human and you won't lay another finger on her!"

"Finn the Human. You will die for what you have done."

Finn charged forward, but was stopped by a bubble being put around him.

"Huh?"

"You can't hurt him, Finn. He's made of fire, remember?" Bubblegum said.

She moved him behind her and released him.

"How do we beat him, then?"

"Cut off his oxygen. I made this weapon to contain his exact power type. The more he struggles, the more oxygen he loses. His fire will be put out."

She shot a bubble and hit Flame King directly. He yelled and pounded it with his fists.

"It's no use! The more you struggle, the weaker you'll become!"

Flame King scowled and then smirked. He began to glow.

"What the-"

The bubble exploded violently, knocking Bubblegum and Finn back.

"FINN THE HUMAN WILL DIE!"

"No, he won't." A weak murmur came from behind him.

Flame King turned around to find his daughter in front of him. The flame on her head was dangerously small.

"Daughter.."

"I…AM NOT YOUR DAUGHTER!" She screamed, flying forward and crashing into him.

They both flew out into the forest and were heard landing with a loud crash.

"What is she doing?!" Bubblegum yelled.

"C'mon! We have to help her!" Finn yelled, already several feet ahead.

Flame King lay on his back and groaned in pain. Flame Princess stood over his body.

"How dare you try to hurt them!" She yelled

"They are scum for assisting him…"

Flame Princess grabbed him by the throat.

"Well…My time's almost up, "Daddy". And if I'm dying, I'm taking you with me!" She yelled, beginning to absorb his power.

Flame King started laughing. It was a deep, cruel laugh. This….This wasn't her father…. She tried to stop the flow of power, but it wouldn't stop. A black smoke began to flow off him and around her.

"What's happening?!" She cried in panic, pulling her hand away.

It was no use. The black smoke was closing in around her, choking her. There was no escape. It was everywhere.

"Is this death?"

She collapsed on the ground, the smoke absorbing in through her skin.

Flame King awoke with a gasp. The memories of the last thirteen days flying back to his mind. It had been inside him, controlling him. Where was she? He had to make sure she was alright!

"Where are you?"

"Right here." Her voice said darkly.

Flame King looked in horror at his daughter. Her eyes had a sickly green glow to them. Her face was twisted into a hideous smile.

"Get away from my daughter!"

"You old fool… I will do no such thing. This body will be much more efficient to my goal than yours. She has much power, but not much time to live. I will change this…"

"No!"

"Yes, she will be the perfect vessel…"

Flame King struggled to get up. He had to stop him! But, he was too weak and she was too fast. Her hand was back at his throat the minute he moved.

"I have no use for you anymore, Flame King. Die like a man."

"W-What do you want with her?" He choked.

"She will bring me closer to Finn the Human than you ever could. I will lie dormant within her sub-conscious until the time is right…She won't even know I am there."

"You can't do this…"

"You fool. You don't have a say in this. You can't stop me."

"He'll stop you, Lich…"

"I would like to see him try. I hold the body he holds most dear hostage. He will comply. The end will begin with your death." She said, grinning.

"I know you can't hear me in there… But… I love you, Flame Princess. I'm so sorry… I failed you…" Flame King said with tears running down his face.

"Shut up." She said, absorbing the last of his power.

His flame went out and his body turned to ash. Flame King was dead.

"The end begins today." She said before passing out on the ground.

"Is she ok?"

"I don't know, Finn. Give her some space…"

"She isn't moving…"

"What the..."

"What is it?"

"Her flame…It's…Normal again…"

"That's impossible…Isn't it?"

"I don't know…"

Flame Princess groaned and sat up.

"Flame Princess?" Finn asked.

"Finn? I'm alive?"

"Yeah. Get up slowly. You took quite a fall…"

Bubblegum and Finn helped her up.

"M-My father?"

"He's dead. He must have been killed in the impact."

"No. I had to absorb his power. It was the only way…"

"I'm sorry."

"No. He was pure evil. He deserved what he got…"

At the infirmary, they discovered that she had regained her full power. Almost as a miracle, her condition was completely gone. There was no trace of anything. She was not going to die.

"But, how?" Flame Princess asked in confusion.

"Hey, I'm just as puzzled as you are. By all means, you shouldn't be alive."

Finn and Flame Princess hugged each other tightly.

"I'm glad you're back." Finn said softly.

"Me too, Finn. Me too."

End.

Thanks for reading and for your support! I loved writing this.

I hope to continue this story. Until next time!