Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.
Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.
The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.
"Speech"
Arc 6: Drama In Life - Chapter 3
"Jin-sama, someone is trying to get your attention." Shirahoshi said nervously, her large, expressive eyes flickering between me and the Zombie Candy People floating eerily in midair. Her pink hair shimmered slightly in the dim light, her mermaid tail twitching anxiously as the unsettling figures bobbed in place.
"I'm sure they're fine with waiting." I replied casually, my voice dripping with nonchalance. I didn't spare the Zombie Candy People another glance, too engrossed in the glowing book before me.
The cheat? Kido from the Bleach series. And boy, am I in disbelief at how many changes Boss made with this one. The sheer range of spells, from binding incantations to destructive blasts, is ridiculous. Bboss even tweaked the mechanics to make them more dangerous than they were already, to begin with.
"Hey!"
The sharp call broke my concentration. I turned just in time to see Princess Bubblegum and Finn the Human stepping through the massive front doors. The Candy People inside peeked curiously through the narrow crack before the doors closed with an echoing thud, leaving the horde sealed within.
Princess Bubblegum stood tall and slender, her bubblegum-pink skin complemented by flowing magenta hair that shimmered like stretch-out gum. She wore her signature floor-length, puffy-sleeved dark pink gown with a purple scoop-neck collar. A matching purple sash hugged her waist, adding a regal elegance to her appearance. Her usual purple ballet flats peeked out from beneath the hem of her dress. But today, she also sported a white lab coat over her regal attire, the pockets bulging with mysterious gadgets. A pair of large, round goggles perched atop her head, the lenses tinted with a faint green glow.
Beside her, Finn strode forward with his usual boundless energy. The teenage human was easy to spot. His Munsell blue T-shirt and denim shorts were as iconic as ever. His lime green backpack jostled with each step, and his rolled-down white socks barely held on above his black shoes. But it was his hat that drew the most attention. A white, bear-eared cap that concealed all but his cheerful, determined face. Black eyes gleamed with concern as he sized up the Zombie Candy People, still hovering ominously.
I extended my index and middle fingers, aiming directly at the pair. Without uttering a word, the air crackled with a faint surge of energy. Sai (Restrain)—a simple yet effective Kido spell. Instantly, Princess Bubblegum and Finn's arms jerked behind their backs, locking firmly in place.
"What the cabbage?!" Princess Bubblegum shouted, her voice tinged with disbelief. Her magenta hair bounced with the sudden movement, but she could do little else except glare at me in frustration.
"You gotta be flipping kidding me!" Finn growled, thrashing in vain. He tugged at his arms, attempting to break free, but the invisible force held him like iron chains. The teenager stumbled, falling face-first onto the polished floor made out of candy with a grunt. Still, he didn't stop struggling, his legs kicking wildly as though sheer willpower could shatter the spell.
Meanwhile, Shirahoshi stood to the side, her long, flowing pink hair trembling with her growing anxiety. Her large eyes darted nervously between me and the restrained duo. She fidgeted, with her hands to her chest. "Um, Jin-sama… Is this okay…?" Her soft voice wavered, the sight of the restrained guests clearly unsettling her.
"It's fine." I replied coolly, barely paying attention to the commotion. The glowing book down into my shadow. Sai wasn't exactly a high-level Kido; I could maintain it effortlessly while focusing on other things. Besides, a little restraint was necessary. "Calm down. It's just a precaution. Besides, those two were getting a little too loud."
Princess Bubblegum scowled, her teeth gritted. "A precaution? We didn't even do anything!"
Finn groaned from the floor, still squirming. "Let us go, dude! This is so not cool!"
Their reactions were almost amusing. Almost.
"Right then. Introduction time." I said, lowering my hand but keeping the Kido in effect. "I am Sho Jin, the caretaker and guardian of Princess Shirahoshi of the Ocean Kingdom."
At the sound of her name, Shirahoshi shyly raised her hand, offering a small, hesitant wave, and blinked nervously at the two restrained figures.
"And before you ask, no." I continued, already catching the puzzled expression spreading across Finn's face. "I am not a Merfolk or a Fish-Man."
"A… fish person?" Finn repeated, still visibly confused.
"Exactly." I nodded. "Anyway, I'm human."
That little revelation struck a nerve. Finn's eyes widened in disbelief, and even Princess Bubblegum's skeptical scowl faltered.
"We just came here for a quick visit before finding a place to stay.," I added. "However, before we could settle down, we stumbled upon a problem of yours."
I shifted my gaze past the two of them, my eyes locking on the eerie sight that still lingered, the Zombie Candy People floating unnaturally in midair. Their soulless, candy-coated bodies twitched slightly, mouths slack and eyes glowing with a dull, ominous light. The sheer wrongness of it all lingered in the air like a sour scent.
"Got to say." I mused, letting the words hang with an edge of dry amusement. "Whoever caused this must not have thought with a cautious mindset."
Even without turning around, I could practically feel the way Princess Bubblegum's expression tightened. Her shoulders stiffened, and though she was still bound by the Kido spell, her glare burned with irritation. Whatever guilt or frustration she was trying to suppress, my words had undoubtedly struck a nerve.
Finn wriggled on the floor, his face a mixture of frustration and lingering disbelief. "Okay, dude." He huffed, "You can't just tie us up and throw accusations like that! PB's been working her gum off trying to fix this mess!"
"Mm-hmm." I hummed, unimpressed. "And how's that working out for her?"
No response.
The silence spoke louder than words.
"Anyway." I said, brushing a speck of dust off my sleeve. "I think you two are out of your minds, doing something as reckless as bringing the dead back to life."
I paused, deliberately letting my words linger in the air. Then, with a slight tilt of my head, I corrected myself.
"My mistake. I meant you."
My gaze shifted sharply to Princess Bubblegum, who stiffened under the weight of my accusation. Whatever justification she thought she had, it didn't matter. Messing with the cycle of life wasn't something to be taken lightly, and now, the evidence of her arrogance floated lifelessly around us.
"Now look what you've caused."
Princess Bubblegum's expression twisted into a glare, her teeth gritted in frustration. That sharp, cold intelligence she usually wielded was now shadowed by the weight of her failure. I half-expected some sarcastic rebuttal, but none came.
"Let us go already!" Finn's shout broke the tense silence. His voice rang with that typical heroic rage, the kind that was more bark than bite when the odds were this skewed. "This is so unfair!"
I ignored him, pushing myself up from the stairs. With a casual motion, I patted the dust from my pants and rolled my shoulders. A satisfying crack echoed as I stretched my neck.
"Anyway." I continued my voice even. "I think it's best to put the dead back to rest."
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Princess Bubblegum's panic broke through her composure, her voice trembling. She lurched forward instinctively, though the Kido spell held her arms firmly in place. But that doesn't mean she can't move her legs. "Just give me time! I can crack the formula to bring them back to normal!" Her eyes, usually calculating and confident, now pleaded desperately. "Don't kill them! Please!"
There it was. The moment her pride crumbled. She wasn't the cold, calculating ruler now—just a scientist begging for a second chance. But the question remained: did she really deserve it?
"Hm. I don't know." I took a leisurely bite of the Newtonian Apple; the crisp fruit is tasty as I kept the Universal Gravitation in effect. "I mean." I continued, chewing thoughtfully. "They're technically already dead. Why make them live again, just to go through the process of dying a second time?"
The weight of my words hung heavily. Princess Bubblegum lowered her head, her pink hair falling over her face. Guilt gnawed at her, and the once-confident ruler stood completely silent.
"Hey! Leave PB alone!" Finn's voice broke through, his frustration unrelenting. Even while restrained, his fierce loyalty never wavered. "I bet she can solve this mess in no time!"
His words carried an unwavering trust, and sure enough, that simple display of faith was enough to bring a soft smile back to Princess Bubblegum's face. Even after everything, Finn still believed in her.
I glanced over at Shirahoshi, who stood nervously to the side, her large eyes flickering with uncertainty.
"It's 4." I said, turning my gaze back to Princess Bubblegum.
She blinked in confusion. "What?"
"The answer is 4." I repeated nonchalantly, taking another bite of the apple. "To solve your formula. That's what you're missing."
There was a beat of silence. Then, Princess Bubblegum's eyes widened in shock.
A sharp gasp escaped her lips. "W-What?!" She jerked against the invisible force of the Kido spell, struggling in vain. "No! That's impossible! How did you—let me go!" She pleaded, desperation breaking through her composure. "I can cure them now! Please! Just let me go! And don't kill them!"
The raw sincerity in her voice was undeniable. Despite her arrogance and misjudgment, I could see her overwhelming desire to fix what she had broken. The question now wasn't whether she could solve the problem. It was whether I'd let her try.
"Jin-sama, maybe we could give her a chance?" Shirahoshi asked nervously, her delicate hands fidgeting at her sides. "She seems to really want to help out."
I exhaled slowly through my nose, the weight of the decision settling over me. The rhythmic hum of the floating Zombie Candy People was the only sound that accompanied us, an eerie reminder of the situation.
"Princess Shirahoshi." My gaze sharpened as I locked eyes with her, the intensity of my stare making her flinch slightly. "Do you truly wish to let her do this?"
Her large eyes flickered with uncertainty, but beneath that, I saw something else: kindness. That unrelenting compassion of hers, even in the face of something so unnatural, so reckless. She may have been sheltered most of her life, but her heart remained untarnished.
"Yes." Shirahoshi nodded quickly, her pink hair bouncing with the motion. "I do."
That simple affirmation caused Princess Bubblegum to gasp softly. Her lips parted, and a visible wave of relief washed over her face. Whatever sliver of hope she had clung to now bloomed fully. A grateful smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Finn, still stuck to the ground, grinned triumphantly. "Yeah! See? PB's got this!"
I remained quiet for a moment longer, the Newtonian Apple still in my hand.
"Hm. Alright." I shrugged my shoulders, releasing the hold of the Kido spell. The invisible force binding them vanished in an instant.
Finn sprang back to his feet like nothing had happened, his boundless energy on full display. His fists clenched in determination, as though ready to jump headfirst into the situation once again. Princess Bubblegum, though more composed, brushed herself off and gave me a wary glance. The gratitude in her eyes lingered, but so did the tension.
On another note, I couldn't help but wonder if I might have messed up by not letting Finn learn the importance of a promise, especially a royal one. After all, Finn's unwavering sense of justice often ran dangerously close to stubbornness. Teaching him the gravity of keeping a royal promise, even when he believed it no longer mattered, could have unintended consequences.
He was the kind of person who clung tightly to his beliefs, rarely budging. If he ever found himself bound by a promise he felt was unjust or unnecessary, what then?
For now, though, it wasn't my problem.
"Well." I said, tossing the Newtonian Apple over my shoulder. It floated lazily in midair around me. "Better get to it, Princess Bubblegum. The sooner you fix this mess, the better."
The pink ruler gave a determined nod, her hands already moving as if working through mental calculations. Finn stayed by her side, his confidence in her unshaken. And Shirahoshi, ever the gentle soul, watched on anxiously, clasping her hands together as though silently wishing for the best.