//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 Part 1: Set the World Ablaze // Story: A Hero's Story // by TheBlackPanda //------------------------------// We moved back in the main city. It was losing that happiness that it had back when I first fell from the sky over 7 months ago. Under different circumstances this would be a time to laugh, but when your best friend basically just told you to fuck off, you're not feeling very jovial. We all said our goodbyes and went home. My mother, Celestia, Rainbow, Darkside, and I were the only ones left. "Do you wanna go back with her?" my mom asked me. I nodded, "If it's okay with you." "Then go ahead." She gave me a hug before her and her sister both flew into the night. Rainbow took my hand, "You think you can still fly?" she asked jokingly. "You know I can!" I accepted the challenge. We flew off toward her house, holding hands the entire way, with Darkside trailing us. --------------------------------------------------------- Once we got inside, Rainbow went upstairs to put her pajamas on. Darkside picked his leather jacket up off the couch and put it on. "Where're you going?" I asked. "A date." he said, grinning. I smiled "With who?." "Fluttershy," I started laughing, "Dude, NICE!" "You know she's hot." "Shut up. I'm fine with Rainbow, thank you." "Liar. You KNOW you want Fluttershy's tig ol' bitties." he said smugly. "Point." He had me there. I wanted 'em for sure. He just laughed, "See ya later, bro!" "Peace!" I yelled back, throwing up deuces. "What are you waiting for!" Rainbow yelled from upstairs. "Nothing!" I yelled back, leaping up the stairs. I fished my gym shorts out of my backpack and put them on. I climbed in next to her, and she nuzzled up next to me. "Hey, Rainbow?" I whispered. "Hm?" "I'm glad you're okay." She turned her head to look at me, then smiled. "Me too." "Goodnight, I love you." "Love you too." And I fell asleep, thanks to the party (minus the mishap) I slept well. But that would be the last bit of good sleep that I would have for a while. --------------------------------------------------------------- I woke up. The morning, while sunny, had that hint of cool air that I loved. Me and Rainbow went through our morning cleaning deal (shower, brushing teeth, making the bed etc.) Then I went outside to go to the store. Then I felt a familiar pang of energy. "Brandon..." I heard a voice that was bittersweet to my ears. Bitter, because she was a traitor. But sweet, because I missed her. I put my best rage face on and turned around. "What do you want?" I said, faking annoyance. She flinched at my words. "I... I... wanted to warn you about something." "Well?" She was kinda shaky, and that made me feel bad "Um, he's coming..." "What?" "He's gonna start making me burn cities." "And?" "I'm warning you to get the rest of our crew and get out of here..." "And you want me to just leave everyone else to die? That, I can't do." "Do you want to die? Look, I understand where you're coming from," She had gotten bold really quick, "But if you want to stay, he's coming fast! You won't get enough people in time." I cussed under my breath. She was right. "Fine." I turned and walked away. ---------------Kaitlin--------------------- I was scared as hell. I needed to warn him. Fast. With Apocalypse watching me, I didn't know if I could or not. Luckily, Brandon was right where I was gonna land. But when I called him, he sounded pissed off at me. I became nervous. I thought he was going to kill me. He was cross, and that began to piss me off. So I told him straight up. He cussed, meaning that I got him beat. He walked off. But, there was one thing I didn't wanna tell him. Apocalypse was making ME burn the towns. ----------------Brandon----------------- I knew Apocalypse wouldn burn this city first, so I procrastinated on it for a couple hours. Then Derpy delivered the mail. (She looks almost normal as a human. I also knew a lot of people with lazy eyes.) But regardless, I read the newspaper. BREAKING NEWS: Manehatten on fire! About two hours ago, Manehatten suspiciously caught fire. The estimated dead are over 3,000, with 1,000 injured. The rest had no clue about how it started. The Princesses themselves are investigating the cause for the matter. While they do not know the cause, they do know that it was caused by a power that may be able to transcend magic. More news later. I was scared, for the people. Then it hit me: Darkside and Fluttershy had flown off to Manehatten. Not good. ----------Darkside----------------- Me and Fluttershy were having a good time. She wasn't so shy around me anymore, which would save my ears the trouble of forcing them to hear her. Then I felt a pang of energy I didn't recognize right away. "Hold on, babe. I think something's happened," I said. A look of worry appeared on her face, "What's happened." "That's what I'm about to find out." I closed my eyes to allow them to focus more. Then I snapped them open, my sixth sense, made just for sensing stronger energy and finding it's source, was ready to go. I looked around the room. Red lines stretched as far as I could see, then I looked down. The lines all met right at our table. Luck is a fucking bitch. I was glad we were talking over the check, because the minute I recognized it, shit went down. A small fire appeared on the table. "Fluttershy?" She looked at me. "Let's get outta here." "Oh... okay." We got up, right when we did the table burst into flames. Then it spread. I picked her up, and flew out the door. The place exploded shortly after. I got high in the air, then looked down. A energy circle, with a star in the center that had 7 corners. The rims of the circle were covered in magic letters. And the entire thing was over the town. Then it burst into a large flame. Consuming everything. There was screaming. And I just needed to get outta here. "We gotta get outta here," Then I looked to my right. Kaitlin was staring down at the city. And she was glowing. I felt the same energy resonating from her. How had she done it? I had no clue she could use elements at all, let alone to that extent. But I knew that her heart was evil at that point. She wasn't the innocent little girl I had raised behind the back of an abusive father. She was a monster. --------------------------Kaitlin----------------------------- I wanted to scream. I tried to tell Apocalypse that I didn't want to burn Manehatten, but all I got for saying that was a knuckle sandwich. Great. So he sent me off. I had nothing on me. So I got there and floated above the city. Unsure of how to cope with this task. If anyone finds out, I thought, I'll be branded a murderer, among other things! I shook those thoughts from my head. Just end it quick, don't get caught. I stared down, then I felt a heating sensation on my left hand. I looked at the back of it. On there, was a shining circle with a star inside. Overreacting at first, I thought it was a pentagram (All you non religious people: The pentagram is a circle with a five angled star inside. This is one of the symbols of the devil.) Then I looked at it closer. There were 7 sides to it. And it was on my left hand. And I would only be damned if it were on my right. I was in the yellow. I put the palm facing the city and let the energy release. A small spark shot to the nearest building. But I needed more. I put my right hand on top of it. The symbol grew to that hand too. Then I shot the energy again. The spark expanded massively. Then the whole place was just swept up in a vortex of fire. I had no fucking clue I could use fire. Maybe this meant I could use other elements too! I was excited to tell Brandon, just for a second, then a heartbreaking thought hit me. I had basically drawn the line and put a wall up. I won't be sharing stories with him any time soon. Then I looked at the city. What had I done? I had killed thousands of people, maybe even more. I began to panic. I couldn't breathe. I burst into tears and cried floating around like a total dumbass. I was evil. I was heartless. I turned my hand to try burning myself. Nothing. This horrible person is just gonna have to live her horrible life. The last thing I remember from that day, was that feeling of wanting to die. ------------------------Brandon-------------------------------- I was wondering how fast Apocalypse was with this shit. Then I heard a knock on the door. Darkside ran in, a panicked look on his face. "Manehatten just got set on FUCKING FIRE!" He said, freaked out. "I know, it was on the news." "But guess who did it?" "Apocalypse, probably." "No." I looked at him, "Who?" "Kaitlin."