I have known Ava for as long as my memory stretches back. We practically grew up together, although I must admit that I rarely got to see her while I was awake.

Two toddlers, a boy and a girl, were playing joyfully in the lush green grass of the meadow. The little boy scooped up handfuls of grass, watching with delight as it cascaded through the air like confetti, showering the giggling little girl in front of him. Their laughter echoed through the meadow.

As a child, I had never understood why my best friend wasn't around most of the time; I would just wake up and she wasn't there anymore.

The two brown dogs, a male and a female, stood side by side, their furry faces creased with concern as they cradled the sobbing toddler in their arms.

My family simply brushed it off as part of my growing imagination. Referring to Ava as an imaginary friend. And As I got older and started making other friends, I began to believe it.

A young boy, who looked to be around 8 years old, was coloring his picture of his dream friend. He was just about done when a brown dog caught his attention. The dog wagged its tail and playfully signaled for the boy to come outside. The boy's face lit up with a big grin, and without a moment's hesitation, he hopped out of his chair and dashed towards the door, leaving behind his half-finished drawing on the floor, forgotten in the excitement.

Ava had a special place in my heart that I never quite managed to shake, no matter how hard I tried to move on and immerse myself in the real world. Despite having my first kiss and a girlfriend at one point, those relationships ended in disappointment. Reflecting on them, I now see that I always found myself comparing these girls to Ava, and unsurprisingly, they never quite lived up to her memory in my heart. It eventually dawned on me that Ava was always going to have a hold on me, leading me to make the decision to swear off dating altogether after a failed attempt to win back my first girlfriend. That was until a month ago with our encounter with the Litch and Prismo, the wish grantor.

After Jake and I were deceived into aiding the Litch, a mysterious entity hell-bent on obliterating the world, we trailed him through a portal that led us all the way to the outer bounds of space, heading towards the domain of Prismo, the time room. Sadly, we got there just a bit too late - Prismo had already granted the Litch's wish. The Litch had wished for the annihilation of humanity, which created and transported him into an alternate dimension where he journeyed back in time to a point when humanity was at its most vulnerable, leading a fearsome army to wipe out everything and everyone in sight.

Thankfully, the protective aura of Prismo's domain shielded us from the catastrophic effects of the Litch's wish. The only way to counteract a wish, it seemed, was with another wish, as Prismo cautioned us about the unpredictable nature of wish fulfillment. After much deliberation, I resolved to wish for the Litch to be erased from existence. The aftermath of my wish is a blur to me now, as it was Jake who observed the repercussions, delivering a revelation that shook me to my very core.

After our adventure and recounting the events to the princess, we found ourselves strolling back home as the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold.

"Hey Finn, are you tired?" Jake's voice broke the quiet morning air, his fingers restlessly toying with each other.

"Yeah, man," I replied wearily, stifling a yawn. " It's been a bizarre night. Dealing with the Litch and all. Hopefully, we can catch some sleep and maybe talk with Ava before who knows what else pops up."

"So, still dreaming about Ava, huh?" Jake chuckled awkwardly.

"Yeah, I never really stopped," I admitted, giving him a suspicious glance. "Why do you ask?"

Jake shuffled a piece of paper in his hand before taking a deep breath, his arm extending to encircle my waist twice.

"There's something you have to see," he stated, pointing to the large 'P' inscribed on the note.

In a rush of swirling pixels, we were transported back to the mysterious time room.

"Hey, Prismo!" Jake greeted his shadowy companion with a grin.

"Hey there, Jake, Finn. Back so soon?" Prismo welcomed us, conjuring two chairs for us to sit.

"Yeah, remember that thing we discussed?" Jake prompted.

Prismo's gaze briefly flickered to me before returning to Jake. "Say no more," he replied.

With that, a large screen flickered to life on the wall beside us.

"Is that... me?" I marveled at the sight of another version of myself, being directed by his mother to sell their family's horse. This alternate Finn appeared somewhat peculiar, with wide eyes, a pointed nose, a sleek metal arm and appeared slightly older.

"Yep, this was your wish." Prismo confirmed. "that's a reality where the Lich never existed,"

"Pay close attention, Finn," Jake urged, his eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.

The other Finn, accompanied by Jake the dog, led the horse, Bartram through the dense forest. Suddenly, a noise grabbed the horse's attention, causing it to bolt away. The alternate Finn and Jake attempted to follow but despite their best efforts, the duo lost sight of the horse amidst the foliage. After searching for a few tense moments, the sound of joyful laughter floated through the air, drawing their attention.

"Bartram, what are you doing here?" a melodious voice giggled, its sweetness echoing through my ears.

The sound of the voice sounded so beautiful, so calming, so familiar that my heart ached with anticipation.

The voice was so familiar and comforting that it stirred deep emotions within me. I witnessed as the other Finn peered through the bushes, smiling affectionately. There she stood, feeding Bartram tenderly with a handful of grass. Though her eyes were wider, her nose slightly more pointed, but with her long, luscious brown hair, soft peach-like skin, and a sweet smile directed at the other Finn, it was definitely her and she was undeniably real.

"Hey Ava," the other Finn greeted, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek.

A tinge of jealousy crept into my heart as I struggled to hold back the prickling sensation in my eyes.

"Hey Finn," Ava blushed lightly, her cheeks flushed with warmth "Are we still on for tonight?"

"A Finn and Ava sleepover?" The other Finn wrapped his metal arm around her waist, drawing her close before giving her a quick peck on the lips. "I wouldn't miss it."

Their interaction was filled with tenderness and warmth, leaving me yearning for what I've only been able to receive in my dreams. As they discussed their plans for the night, a sense of longing engulfed me, reminding me of the void that Ava's absence had caused over the years.

"That's enough, Prismo?" Jake said, before the screen suddenly disappeared, leaving us in a moment of eerie silence.

"Why did you stop it?" I asked, my voice came out calm yet strained.

"Finn, you're crying," Jake observed with a tinge of sorrow in his voice.

Pushing aside his statement, I hastily brushed away the tears that had escaped, my mind racing with questions and worries. "Where is she?" I demanded, my gaze fixed on Prismo, hoping for a glimmer of hope in his response.

"I know she's somewhere in the land of Ooo but without a wish, I'm unable to do much." Prismo stated, a sense of frustration washing over me.

Currently, Finn was studying the map of Ooo laid out on the table, clutching the only image he had of Ava—a drawing he had started at eight years old and recently completed with vibrant colors. Though the paper was weathered and the drawing slightly childlike, Finn held it with reverence.

As six locations were already marked on the map, signifying places they had already searched, Finn muttered to himself, "Where are you, Ava?" He circled a desert area on the map, designating their next destination in their quest to find her, holding onto the flicker of hope that guided me towards our eventual reunion.

🌹~~~~~~~~~~🌹

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