Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a normal day for Jake. Saying hi to Lady, getting ready for the party tonight, as well as getting groceries for Finn and BMO. A typical morning. But Jake still needed some stuff for the party, like streamers, and maybe some lights. Then he saw it. Tree Trunks's house. He thought to himself "Pies would be great for the party." Jake knocked on her door. When Tree Trunks opened it, she had a worried expression on her face. As she saw Jake her expression softened.

"Oh, Jake, come in." Tree Trunks stepped aside. "Would you like an apple pie?" Jake nodded. He walked inside and looked around. It seemed like Mr. Pig wasn't home, and something didn't feel right in her house. It felt cold, freezing even, it was so cold you could see your breath.

"Why is it so cold?" Jake asked.

"Sweet P, he said to keep it as cold as possible. He hasn't been feeling well lately." Tree Trunks said. Jake thought it was weird, but shrugged it off and sat down. As Tree Trunks put the pies in the oven, Sweet P's door made a creepy noise like floorboards creaking, and then suddenly a banging noise happened. Constantly banging on the door until it just stooped. Jake stood up. "What was that?"

Tree Trunks walked to the door and opened it. "Sweet P, are you okay?" She stood there for a second or two, then she walked in. Nothing happened at first until all Jake heard was Tree Trunks yelling. "Oh, dear!" Then silence. It felt like an eternity before Jake dared to do something. He walked out of the booth and stood in the middle of the room wondering what he should do. He knew what he had to do, but he didn't like it. He hesitated, but Jake followed in shortly after.

The room was dim. It felt like the colors were unsaturated, and there was a figure in the middle of the room. It looked like Sweet P, but it was hard to tell. There was no sight of Tree Trunks. Jake stepped forward in a cautious stance. "Hello?" Jake continues to walk forward. The figure looked up towards Jake, it had piercing green eyes. Jake got a shiver down his spine. Those eyes. He knew those weren't Sweet P's.

Those were the Lich's.

The Lich's jaw opened and with an eerie whisperer he said "Fall." Immediately the world around Jake went pitch black. His eyes rolled up into his head, and he collapsed onto the floor.

The next thing Jake knew Tree Trunks was looking down at him. He stood up and brushed his legs off. Looking around the room it was brighter, more saturated. The door was creaked open and the light was on. Jake looked at Tree Trunks.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Sweet P fell out of his bed." Tree Trunks said with concern in her voice.

That answered most of his questions, but why had Jake seen the Lich? Is Sweet P evil? No. Sweet P can't be evil, right? Behind him, the oven beeped the pies were done. Jake gathered himself and grabbed his bag of party supplies. Then Tree Trunks put the pies in the bag. When Jake was leaving, he turned around to say goodbye to Tree Trunks who was standing behind him. But in the corridor that led to Sweet P's room, he saw the Lich, who waved toward him. Jake rubbed his eyes in shock. When he looked back at the corridor all he saw was Sweet P. Jake's jaw dropped in fear. He was being haunted by the Lich. He turned around and ran home screaming.

Finally, Jake had made it. The tree house. Stone paths lead around a pond to a massive tree hollowed out to make a home for him and Finn. A shed had been haphazardly slapped onto the front to make a makeshift front door that they didn't feel needed any improvements. A balcony wrapped around the waist of the tree provides a view of the Ice Kingdom. Bridges spanned the upper layers of the canopy leading to other rooms in the house. At the top of the tree, a boat sat with a telescope, looking out for their next big adventure.

He stood there in front of the house trying to catch his breath. When he gathered himself, he walked to the door and opened it. Jake made his way up the ladder into the living room where Finn and BMO sat. Jake was out of breath. He walked up to Finn and grabbed his shirt in a panic pulling him down.

"Tree Trunks- Lich- Sweet P- PIES!" Jake had said all at once.

Finn looked at Jake. "What?" Jake let go of Finn's shirt calmed his breathing and started over.

"I was getting the party supplies when I saw Tree Trunk's house and thought pies would be great for the party." Jake continued telling Finn about his experiences with the Lich. Finn nodded, then he sat up stomped his foot on the table, and said "Let's go on an adventure!"

It was sunset which meant only a few hours left until the party. They walked to Tree Trunks's house again. Finn knocked on the door and waited for Tree Trunks to answer. When she opened the door, she had the same soft expression as before. "Oh, hi Finn and Jake," she blinked three times. "What, brings you here on this fine evening." Finn and Jake looked at each other.

"Uhh, yes?" Finn said at last.

"Where is Sweet P!" Jake said angrily as he pointed his finger at her. Finn put his hand on Jake's hand lowered his finger down and smiled.

"We are here to see Sweet P. If you couldn't tell." Finn continued, telling her what Jake had told him word for word.

"Oh, okay." Tree trunks said.

"HE'S EVIL!!" Jake said. Finn hit his arm against Jake's.

"We just want to see him," Finn said. Tree Trunks looked at both of them back and forth her eyes bouncing between them. Finally, she said. "Okay." She turned around and walked away leaving the door open and Finn and Jake followed in.

"Would you like a pie?" Tree trunks said, looking away from them.

"No thank you." Finn replayed. She grabbed two pies out of nowhere and set them down at the table. "Uhh, okay." Finn and Jake took a seat and ate pies.

When they finished, Tree Trunks walked to Sweet P's door and knocked on it. Nothing happened at first, then a faint sound of a person saying: "Come in." Sweet P's voice sounded ill like he had a really bad cold. Tree Trunks walked in and soon followed Finn and Jake. The room was still dim and icky like the last time Jake was here. There was a trashcan in the corner of the room filled to the brim of tissues, which was kind of gross. Finn and Jake stood in the door frame awkwardly.

"You said that the Lich was here but all I see is just sweet P." Finn raised his eyebrow at Jake.

"I know what I saw," Jake said, or that's what he thought he saw. No, he knew he saw him.

When Tree Trunks was done tucking Sweet P in she turned to Finn and Jake. She brushed them aside and walked through. They followed her to the front door.

"Very sorry about the disturbance," Finn said, but Tree Trunks didn't reply, or didn't hear him.

They made it to the tree house. It was almost dark and the party would start soon. Finn went to get the streamers and lights, while Jake and BMO decorated. By the time they put up the streamers and lights the guests arrived, and the party started.

Chapter Text

The time had just turned 11, and everybody was getting ready to watch a movie for their party (now a movie marathon). Princess Bubblegum and Marceline were the first to show up. PB was wearing a pink hoodie with purple sweatpants, and Marceline was wearing her usual style with a bluish-gray tank top, and pair of blue jeans. Then it was Muscle Princess who had her blue dress. Next was Lumpy Space Princess, Turtle Princess, and Slime Princess who all showed up at the same time. They all usually didn't wear anything. The party had started as a typical party, with drinks and chips with dip and some triple flips. (Which were hip!)

Until LSP jumped onto the table and screamed: "YO I'M BORED, LET'S WATCH A MOVIE!" All 12 people looked at each other. Some slowly nodded, and some whispered still talking but eventually they nodded, even Finn nodded. And Jake was happy with his chips, but it was more of a vote than a preference so they made their way upstairs. While Jake and Finn had to move most of their chairs and sofas up an entire story. (Which was not easy. Especially not for Jake, who did most of the work.) Finally Jake got to relax, of course, that didn't last long, but it was nice. LSP looked around the room, her eyes scanning, looking from person to person. Until she stopped on Jake.

"JAKE! WE NEED A MOVIE!!" She yelled.

"What kind of movie?" Jake said, knowing this was going to take a while. LSP stood there for a good second or two until she looked up like she a an idea.

"Let's hold a vote for which movie." She said with a glimmer in her eye. She lifted a finger towards the ceiling and smiled. "Where are the good movies?"

Jake sighed. He pointed to a box in the corner. LSP floated to the box and ripped it open. She threw every movie she went through. Until she stopped on one, a movie called: 'Just More Than Us Two'. An interesting movie title. But the cover was a lot more cursed than the title. The cover had two people, one male and one female, their shoulders touching together as babies rained down on them. LSP nodded and turned to the group.

"This one looks interesting," she stood there and waited for people to vote. Jake, Finn, PB, and at least 5 more people had voted for no. Slime Princess, Muscle Princess, LSP, and Turtle Princess voted for yes. LSP narrowed her eyebrows in anger.

"FINE, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW GOOD TASTE!" She threw the movie onto the floor and crossed her arms. "Someone else pick a movie." She floated towards a chair, pushing a squirrel off of it, and sat.

Since when was there a Squirrel in our house? Jake thought to himself.

Turtle Princess walked to the box of movies and looked through it. Jake looked at the clock. It had just turned 11. He sighed. He was going to need some fuel for the rest of the night. He sat up and yawned, looking around the room for Finn sitting next to PB and Marceline. Jake walked to Finn knelt to his ear and whispered "I'm going to get snacks. Would you like some?"

Finn nodded. "Bring me some gummies if we have any." Jake got up from the floor and started to walk to the ladder when Turtle Princess pulled out a movie which was called: 'Back Back Into the Past Past the Movie'. Jake never heard of that movie or where they had got it. But, to be honest, who wouldn't want to watch a movie named "Back Back Into the Past Past the Movie." It did make Jake stop completely. Turtle Princess started to read the back.

"It says 'Jim, a 3-year-old baby goes to the past where the doc Sammy dies, and he needs to bring him back to the future.' Ohhhh, that sounds interesting." It felt like forever before someone said something.

"I mean, okay." Princess Bubblegum said while shrugging. No one was opposed to it, so it was decided that they were going to watch it. Turtle Princess walked to BMO who was perched on the table.

"May I?" Turtle Princess asked. 

"Okay," BMO replied. Turtle Princess put the VHS tape in, and the movie started.

Jake made his way down the ladder trying to be quiet. Sure, the movie had started, but Jake really wanted to get those chips. (Oh and the gummies for Finn.) The living room was dark and kinda eerie. He walked to the chip bowl he left when they had to move all the furniture up a level. Just thinking about it made Jake's back ache. The bowl had only five, no three chips in it. Jake opened a cabinet where the chips should have been, but there were none. He had finished them. What will he do now with no chips as well as no gummies? But the chips were way more important than the gummies. But still, what will he do? He heard cool and exciting movie noises above him. He needed those chips like he always says: "You can't watch a great movie without a great movie snack!" He looked out the window. It was dark, but maybe he could run to the store and get chips. Oh, and gummies.

Jake made his way out of the house slowly, closing the door behind him. He stood in front of the house wondering where he should go. The Ice Kingdom was next to them but there probably wouldn't be a chip store there. There was also the Candy Kingdom which was in front of the tree house. Jake thought the Candy Kingdom would be a good place to start.

The Candy Kingdom wasn't scary, it was just unsettling. The empty buildings were dark and - no, they were a little scary. He remembered what the streets looked like in the day. The daylight made it more cheerful all the candy people walking around doing some random thing but now it was a ghost town the buildings were dead the street lights lit the way Jake even heard a werewolf howling at the full moon - or maybe it was just a normal wolf he didn't know. Jake looked for store signs that said something like: "CHIPS!! Oh, and gummies 24/7." The streets were quiet, and it kinda felt like a ghost town. Jake made his way down the road looking from building to building, until he saw it. A small convenience store. It looked like all of the buildings here, but it had a sign that said "Convenience store, open 24/7." Jake opened the door and walked in. There was a front desk on the left of him, but there was no one inside it. There were 4 blue buzzing ceiling lights, all symmetrical to each other. Jake walked to the desk and dinged the bell. He stood there for a minute or two, but eventually, a candy man who was maybe 4 foot tall walked to the desk and jumped on some box which made him taller.

"What." The man said in a monotone voice.

"Do you have chips?" Jake asked. The cashier stood there for a second or three, looking into Jake's soul.

"No." The cashier said, a little rude. Jake frowned, standing there feeling a little stupid. "Yes." The cashier said. Jake smiled.

Jake, now realizing he was doing sarcasm, nodded and started to walk away. Well, that was awkward. Jake thought. He scanned the aisles looking for chips. Then there it was. A sign that said "CHIPS. And candy." Jake walked through the aisle, looking through each section of chips until he found it. Chips in a gray bag with no detail at all. Prefect. He thought. He picked it up almost tearing up. He turned around, now face to face with the candy aisle. Which one would Finn want? Jake thought there were maybe three choices. Jake walked closer to them reading each label. One said "Three pack of Gummies" and one said "One Pack of Gummies" and the last one was "100 pack of Gummies."

Definitely the one pack. He picked it up and started to walk to the front desk when something caught his eye. A man was in the fruit aisle. He was whispering some chant. The man slowly turned his head towards Jake, his eyes piercing green.

The Lich.

Jake's jaw dropped. His eyes widened with fear. "AHHHHHHH!" Jake screamed. He turned and ran out of the store without paying.

"Hey, you didn't pay." The cashier said halfheartedly.

Jake ran as fast as he could. Constantly feeling the Lich's breath on his neck. He whipped his head around to see nothing. A shiver went up his back. He stopped completely. He was paranoid. He could feel his heart pounding. He turned around, looking into the pitch-back trees that surrounded him. Anything could jump out and attack him. He needed to get back to the tree house. He started to run again, hoping nothing was behind him.

When he made it home, he ran into the door, fumbling with the doorknob. He turned it and opened the door closing it behind him. He sighed. Now he was safe. He got himself together. He climbed the ladder, making sure to make it sound like he never left. The lights turned on.

"Where have you been?" Finn asked. Jake turned around to Finn who was wearing a pink bathrobe.

"I got the gummies." Jake smiled awkwardly. Finn lifted an eyebrow.

"What kind?" Finn inched closer to see what Jake had got.

"I stole all of this stuff," Jake mentioned. Finn looked up towards Jake his eyebrow still up. "What happened to the party?"

"Do you know how long you were gone?" Finn said. Jake realized he didn't know how long he had been out. He looked at the clock.

"2 am!" Jake said alarmingly.

"Next time we should bye 10 bags of chips," Finn said smirking towards Jake.

"Fine. Do you still want the gummies?" Jake asked.

"Why not?"

They ate their snacks and caught up. Then they went to bed, where Jake got snugly under his blanket, resting his head on his pillow and closing his eyes.

Jake dreamed of pigs in a blanket dancing around him while a quartet sang to him. Jake looked at one of the quartets, their eyes were looking at something behind him. Jake followed their line of sight. Behind him, a figure stood there in the distance. Jake couldn't make out what the figure looked like, but Jake didn't like it. He turned back towards the quartet which was gone. In their place stood the dark figure, now clearer to tell who it was.

The Lich.

Jake stumbled back, almost falling, but caught himself. Jake looked up at the Lich, whose jaw was open. With the same eerie whisperer, he said "Waken."

Jake gasped for air. That was the worst nightmare I will ever have. Jake thought. The room was lit with sunlight. Jake looked towards Finn, but something was in front of him. Jake rubbed his eyes to get a better picture of what it was. When he looked his heart stopped. It was the Lich looking down at him.

"AH!" Jake screamed hoping Finn would wake up. Jake was frozen with fear. He looked as if the Lich was about to grab him. Jake closed his eyes...but nothing happened. He opened one eye to see what was happening. Finn was holding the Finn sword in a fighting stance. Using the Finn sword, Finn struck the Lich in the back, cutting him deeply. A roar of anguish belted from the Lich, causing Jake to cover his ears in pain. Turning to face Finn, the Lich left Jake alone.

Taking his hands from his ears, Jake watched as Finn battled the Lich in his PJs. My hero, Jake thought.

Jake needed to help too. He got the courage to fight. Balling his fingers into a fist, his hands grew. Now he could do some real damage. He stood up and faced with the back of the Lich. Jake jumped on his back and started to punch. The Lich groaned in pain. He grabbed Jake's back and threw him into a wall. "Umph." Jake moaned. The Lich whacked Finn aside and turned to Jake. The Lich raised his hand towards Jake and shot a blue beam at the wall. Jake was almost sucked in, barely grabbing the bed frame. He held on as long as he could, while Finn was still fighting the Lich.

Jake was slipping "FINN!" Jake cried.

"JAKE I'LL HELP YOU!" Finn said, still fighting the Lich.

Jake couldn't hold any longer. He closed his eyes.

And let go...