**POV: FINN THE HUMAN**
Finn contemplated telling Jake about the Ninja Nomicon and the training he would be getting from it. It wasn't much of a secret; Jake was his brother and incredibly understanding.
Finn knew that if he explained it well enough, Jake would understand. It was likely that Jake would want to join in the training. After all, who would pass up the chance to learn about ninjas?
Additionally, he would be using the powers he gained during their adventures, so Finn decided it was better to rip off the bandage all at once. He trusted Jake, both as a friend and as a brother, despite Jake's not-so-secret background in thievery. They would address that issue eventually, one step at a time.
While Jake played his violin, attempting to harmonize himself (and surprisingly succeeding), Finn decided to interrupt.
"Hey, Jake, I want to tell you something about the book." Finn had noticed that the book kept following him, and he was unsure how to resolve this situation. Was it even a problem? He wouldn't have to carry it around everywhere he went, and it would be available to him whenever he desired it. Now that he thought about it, this seemed like a win.
"What did you find out, Finn? You can tell me anything!" Jake quickly put down his violin and approached Finn, looking every bit the extremely cute dog he was. Unable to resist, Finn patted his furry companion, whose ears flapped happily. However, Finn noticed that Jake's attention was still on him, ready to offer solutions and comfort for any of his problems.
"I figured out some things about the book." This caught Jake's attention, but his ear continued to wiggle in enjoyment from the petting. What a cute gesture for such a serious moment.
"So..." Finn shared most of what he knew: how the book was about ninjas, how it would provide him training in the mind-conscious realm, and the possible abilities it could grant him. Why lie when Jake would ultimately see him use those abilities? He was Finn's best adventure buddy.
Jake was silent for a moment until his eyes widened with awe, sparkling like stars. His mouth fell open in amazement. "So, so, you're a ninja now? So cool!" Jake was genuinely excited. Now that he knew, he wished that a boulder had hit him. He could have become a ninja too. What a missed opportunity!
Jake envisioned all the possibilities: wielding cool swords, using stealth abilities to sneak into maximum-security places, utilizing awesome powers, and most importantly, wearing an extremely cool ninja costume. The possibilities were limitless!
"Ouch! What was that for, Finn?" Jake rubbed his hand, which Finn had just pinched in discomfort, looking at his pouting little brother.
"You were thinking something rude and drooling," Finn replied. Somehow, as he looked at Jake's betrayed expression, he felt he had been insulted, and he wasn't one to let it slide. He could be petty like that.
"Hehe," Jake laughed sheepishly, wiping away the drool, and Finn couldn't help but smile, letting the tension melt away.
"Hey, Jake, maybe I should start training... and then we can go on an adventure!" This was a spontaneous decision from Finn. He knew there was danger in acting without sufficient preparation, but the thrill of adventure coursed strongly through his veins.
It filled him with adrenaline, making his heart race. Was it just excitement, or was it fear—fear of death, fear of not living up to his full potential? Finn believed it was both. But he promised himself something with this new life: he would not let fear control him. That's why he wanted to go on an adventure—to feel the wind on his face, smell the grass, experience the excitement of battle, and savor the satisfaction of victory.
He could see the excitement in Jake's eyes, and he knew his brother was completely onboard. Maybe they could even embark on a safe adventure. They didn't have to do anything dangerous; they could start small and work their way up. That idea, for some reason, made him feel slightly more at ease, as if he had something to look forward to…
But he saw Jake's eyes suddenly dim, a realization dawning on him. Jake held back from trying to support the idea too much. First, wasn't Finn still injured from their previous adventure? Jake thought they should take a break for a few days—enough time to ensure Finn was 100%.
"You're still injured, Finn. I won't let you go anywhere like that!" Finn could see the finality in Jake's words, and he appreciated the concern. But it was unnecessary.
He had noticed earlier that his headache had disappeared, and the throbbing in his head had lessened significantly. Was this a form of healing that came with being a ninja, or was it just a benefit of being the main character? Finn didn't know, but he was sure of one thing.
His earlier headache was most likely caused by the merging of memories between the two souls. He couldn't say the process was finished, but now that the bulk of the memories were mostly stable, he felt calmer.
He felt more like himself, yet he was also aware that he was now a new version of himself—someone who wished for adventure and fun. Or could it be that his new body affected his mind? Children were always known to be more energetic, and the current Finn was a child.
Finn figured he should probably investigate that later.
"I'm fine, Jake. You know I'm a strong kid! How about this: we won't walk far from the treehouse. If we find something interesting, we may or may not pursue it! And you know that walking around helps the healing process, right?" He said this convincingly, like a doctor urging an unwilling child to drink their medicine.
To his surprise, he felt more excited than he had expected. The longing for exploration was strong within him. It would also give him a chance to find parts for his lab and future inventions. Maybe a junkyard could fulfill his purpose. There was also that cave at the back of the tree fort; he remembered it having a variety of machine parts. He decided he would check it out.
He could see the gears of acceptance turning in Jake's head, a growing struggle within him until the excitement finally beat out his worries. Jake was also an adventurer at heart, and it was obviously not difficult to convince him. It was simply a matter of being persuasive.
"Okay, but you must always remain close to me. Deal!" Jake's hand enlarged as a business suit formed on his stretchy body, and Finn looked on in both amazement and curiosity at the ability. It truly had countless possibilities.
"Deal!" Finn quickly replied, shaking the offered hand. He did so quickly to prevent Jake from backing out, and with the wide smile on his face, Finn was sure Jake was excited about the possibilities that lay ahead. They both smiled widely at each other, but Finn noticed something unsettling about the way Jake was smiling at him.
"Let me get your sword." Jake hurriedly stretched back into the bedroom where he remembered last placing it, and Finn smiled like a mastermind while rubbing his hands together.
"All according to plan!" he jokingly said, but Jake called back, "I can hear you!"
As Jake returned with the sword in hand, all Finn could say was that it was perfect. A perfect blade for his first journey as this new version of himself.
The blade was golden, sharp on both edges, and of considerable length. The hilt was entirely black with a leather grip strap, and it had a red gemstone on the pommel.
It might not have been the strongest or most durable, but to Finn, it was the best because it was his first blade. Perhaps it could even be upgraded! He wondered about the material it was made from; maybe it was an alloy of gold.
He named her Scarlet, and he was sure they would do great things together!
Finn contemplated whether he was ready to take on the responsibility that came with wielding such a weapon. He understood what it meant; at some point, he would have to spill blood with it. Would he be ready for that moment?
But what was this? Why were his hands shaking as he held his sword? Why did a sudden sense of loss wash over him as he saw his reflection in the blade? Could it be that…
No. It had to be excitement! Right?
.........Adventure Time.........
**A/N**
I hope everyone appreciated the ending—I'm aiming for it to be good enough!
Now, the big question: Will Finn be able to slay evil as he's supposed to, or will he hesitate and find himself in even more trouble? It's a true paradox for Finn/Leo.
So far, around 1,000 people have saved this book in their libraries, and we're close to reaching 100 power stones, which calls for a celebration! That's why I'm releasing this book early as a thank you for all the continuous support you've given me. Now, all we need is even more reviews to make it perfect!
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As a fun incentive, for every 10 people who donate to my Ko-fi, I will drop a new chapter! [HAHAHAH] [EVIL LAUGHTER]
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Thank you all for your ongoing support!