The two adventuresses carefully stepped on the stone floor, the eerie silence not bothering their determination. At last. They were finally at the end. Any minute now they'd find out the mystery of this horrible dungeon. Not horrible, mind you, but it was the best experience for Fionna and Cake. An eight-legged lady monster who tried to eat them? Sure. A forty foot humanoid who tried to smash them flat? You bet.
Prince Gumball had told them that a powerful and old force was at work in this very location they were in. Ever since the risky expedition they had in the Mountains of the Damned, the prince was determined to find and shut down the source of magic in the most dangerous dungeons, believing it would be the best for all of Aaa. So he sent three guys on the job, but the other one, namely Marshall Lee, ditched them. Fionna didn't know if he really wanted to help but was busy with something or he was just plain lazy today. She'll stick with the first one, of course because she was a good friend and would give a benefit of doubt to him.
They descended into the darkness, and Fionna had to bring out that magical glow stick Gumball gave them. The ceiling started to get lower, the path narrower. Cake shrank until she could move freely, but for Fionna, not so much. She had to get down and crawl.
On the floor were elaborate carvings. Each carving depicted some sort of scene, but Fionna didn't pay attention to them much. Their little faces creeped the biork out of her.
The path started to get larger again, but there was hardly any air. Just as any other dungeon they'd been to, the closer you were to the center, the stuffier it became.
Cake paused and Fionna bumped into her. "Oof!"
"I'm sorry, but do you sense that? Gives me the creeps about this place." the cat said. Her white and brown tail was already puffed out, just like when she was scared or nervous. Or angry.
It was true. The whole place seemed to vibrate, as if warning them that if they got any closer. . .
Too late to back out now. Fionna trudged forward, motioning for Cake to follow her.
With every step they took going forward, the carvings glowed like they were somehow activated. Fionna was starting to wonder if it was somehow an alarm.
She walked without lighting her way, and she fell into a deeper part of the dungeon. She barely had time to think, uh-oh.
Her heart pounded inside her chest as she went into free fall. She just had time to tuck and roll before she broke anything. Yep. She was seriously gonna punch Marshall next time they meet.
The fall wasn't that high, but she had to draw deep breaths so she wouldn't suffocate. Fionna raised her glow stick. Then Cake fell on top of her.
"Ow!" she yelped. The cat's weight was something she could not take for long. Hmm. Cake had been eating a lot of sandwiches lately.
"Sorry, honey," the cat apologized. Cake got off her and brushed the dust off of her fur. Her tail was still puffed out.
"It's cool." Fionna replied, lacing her fingers through her friend's paw.
The sound of stone grinding made Fionna feel excited. But also, for the first time, there was something heavy and annoying building up inside her; fear. She didn't know if it was the magic or really her. Probably both.
She took another step forward, the floor tile surprising her once more as it sank to the ground like a button.
More rumbling.
"What the--"
A large, glowing sphere appeared in the middle of the room. The whole chamber was suddenly filled with light from the carvings on the wall, which, too, were glowing in a soft, blue light.
The orb was giving off the brightest, harshest light, though it didn't manage to illuminate the dark room. The two adventuresses could almost see a form suspended inside the sphere as the light started to subside a little.
"You think we should approach it? Pop the bubble or something?" Fionna asked Cake. The cat frowned.
"Bummer. I thought it was leading to some good treasure!" Cake complained, her tail puffing up more. "I don't think it's a good idea, Fionna."
The girl blew a loose strand of her blonde hair aside. She was starting to feel a bit rebellious. And very curious. "We definitely should check it out."
Cake only had little time to mutter, "Thanks for the warning, Cake." before getting dragged by Fionna.
As they got closer, the suspended figure started to get more discernable. The thing inside was shaped like a female, with tendrils that floated around its head like tentacles.
"Woah."
A weird feeling was starting to overwhelm Fionna. A funny feeling she never had since she met Zeus the Strong, a human like her. Or otherwise, like those fish people he lived with. It was never really clear to her, but the moment before Zeus left the Candy Kingdom for good gave her hope he really was.
"I think I should touch it, " Fionna said, her tone sleepy as if in a trance.
Cake held her back. "No. We don't know--"
But Fionna already slipped her hand in the sphere, a shockingly cold feeling met the tips of her fingers that the sensation kind of burned. Images of things flooded Fionna's mind, along with a sharp pain in her head.
Cake panicked when she saw her friend on the floor, writhing and clutching her head. The sphere started to disappear, and Cake swore she saw a human foot.
Fionna stopped as the girl fell to the ground. The symbols grew brighter by the minute, like they were going to implode.
"Who--how--" Fionna spluttered as they stared at the girl.
She had (H/C) hair flowing down her back. Her (S/C)-colored skin was bare and raw. She looked human enough, with actual ears and body parts.
But she didn't move. She was an unconscious heap on the floor. Fionna came closer to check her pulse.
Fionna moved back and as her fingers made contact with her seething hot skin.
She shook her hand. "Ouch."
"How do we get out of here?"
Fionna brought out a small, bright blue pendant. "I'll contact PG. Did we bring aluminum foil or something?"
"Got it."
=*=*=
There was a field of flowers. She can feel the wind on her face, gentle and soothing. She felt good, ready to rest. Then her eyes slowly fluttered open.
Suddenly, she was staring at something with the color of the most beautiful shade of blue she had ever seen.
Everything was still a blur, and the sounds around her seemed like it was coming from underwater.
She heard a faint voice saying, "Can you hear me?". She wanted to know who was saying that and wanted to reply, but her whole body rebelled against her.
(Y/N) (L/N). She can still remember her name. Her past. Everything that made (Y/N) her.
Her throat felt dry. As much as she wanted to speak, she doubted she could.
Her vision cleared up a little. Her hearing did, too.
"What if-- are you sure she's human, Gumball?"
"I'm very sure of it. And of one thing, too. Fionna, you're not the only human in Aaa anymore."
