//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: Starting some fires 
// Story: Me, my-selves, and Fluttershy: The Story of the Firestarter 
// by SMWilde 
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I remember it all started on the day I blew up the Statue of Justice. Now I had been doing shit like that before that day but the real story started then. 

I was standing up on the hills that surrounded three-fourths of the Town looking down over it all with a clear view of my target. That's what I call my fair city, The Town. We aren't allowed to say it’s real name and I sort of didn't like it before anyway. I do remember what it was before the dark days; how it was bustling with business and was all around a nice place to live in. Now it was a dump, a cesspool, a broken shell of a city choking on its waste due to the malnourishment it has suffered. The ones responsible for this are the ones that a few years ago started what was known as the Chance Rebellion. 

The only reason they were actually able to get the people to rebel was because of the failings of the democratic government. Prices were skyrocketing, crime was skyrocketing, and that led to civil unrest skyrocketing. It was just a bad decade for us but the people were still enraged by the government. And so this group of idealists and leaders who thought themselves the next Founding Fathers rallied the people against it all. They managed to knock down the doors of the capital and the White House and proclaim it all defeated and dead and now a new and better government could begin.

But right in the middle of the celebration the people were betrayed. The group of Chance turned their guns on them and began to spread terror throughout the country. They then revealed their real plan: to control everything in a totalitarian grip and rule the entire world. They saw it all as a broken system and this was the only way to bring true peace. They marched into Canada and Mexico and down into Central America all in their crusade to bring global peace. But this is no peace, this is murder and abuse and I was going to put a stop to it and put things back the way they were meant to be. I will bring back that philosophy that we lived by once again: Of the People, By the People, For the People. 

Well.....that's what I wanted the people to believe about me. In truth, I was a monster seeking revenge against the ones who created me, who drove me into what I am today. I will see them burn and I will burn anyone who got in my way. But they don't want me to be consumed by this lust for death; they want me to stay in the light. Who are they? They are my voices, my selves, my guides, my only friends who keep me sane through the insanity of their existence. Only I can hear them and see them and only I can communicate with them. 

Atop the hill where I looked over the town they stood with me eager for the show to start, invisible to all except me. One of them spoke, his deep, rolling voice easily identifying him, "Did you make sure it was primed?" 

"Yes" I answered back and I took out the detonator, nothing more than a cylinder with a red button on the top which my thumb rested on. The wind picked up and blew through my auburn hair; I pulled my coat closer as I prepared for the show. Below, the town stretched out starting as simple run down houses and apartments to shops and bigger houses until it reached the center which held the capital and tall skyscrapers. But I was staring at the courthouses next to the capital and to the statue of the blindfolded lady holding the scale and sword. She was once a symbol of Justice that we could all depend on. Now the courthouses were never used instead people were arrested and just simply thrown into the dark cells of the prison and her once lustrous bronze is now covered in shit and graffiti. So I think I'll show them that I won't show mercy and give them a chance of being served Justice. Justice will come in the form of my flames and their skin will peel and burn in it....

"Easy laddy, don't lose yaself. Ya have ta stay in tha light. Ya can't become one of them."

The voice put me at ease and I hung my head in shame. 

"Forgive me" I said.

"Man it's cool now press the button and start the show. Those clouds are getting scary."

He was right, a storm was brewing. I lifted the detonator up and after a pause pressed it. Below next to the statue, a briefcase seemingly left by some careless person right at the feet of the statue started beeping before a great explosion obliterated the area. Pieces of the statue were thrown in all directions in the fiery blast. What was left of the head was sent flying into the air as the sword was flung to one side and the scale to the other. All that was left now was a charred area with a fire smoldering in the middle and smoke rising into the air. Suddenly a firework erupted from the wreckage, the last stage in the detonation. It screamed into the air before going off with a mighty bang and red glowing orbs slowly drifted down to the earth. 

All those who saw the spectacle saw this as a sign. They knew who had done this. Some cheered, others quickly ran to the safety of their homes and others just sulked back into the shadow of the ruined city not showing a care in the world. 

Back up on the hill, a smile formed on my face as the sound of the explosion finally reached my ears. The Others were all cheering, pleased with my work. 

"Now that was awesome. Let’s do it again!"

"Yeah I'm betting they got that message!"

Their celebration was cut short by thunder rolling through the sky above and drops of rain beginning to hit the ground. 

"Alright we can finish the festivities later let's get inside quick." I said as I turned to make my way down the hill. In that instant they were gone and back in my mind as I ran through the trees towards the outskirts of the town. The rain was getting worse and worse as I ran; even the lightning and thunder were picking up a bit. I ran through the now incredibly thick curtain of water, I was soaked and I hated getting wet. 

I was almost at the bottom when it happened, there was a bright flash and a deafening crack as a huge bolt hit the other side of the hill. The force shook the ground and trees and I was knocked down and rolled a bit down the side of the hill. I stopped on my back and I just laid there as the rain pelted my face. I could hear nothing save for a loud ringing and after a minute I hauled myself up onto my knee and I waited for the ringing in my ears to stop. I could feel the hairs on my head and arms standing on end. Slowly the ringing stopped and my senses came back as the voices became clearer.

"Wot tha bloody hell was that?!"

"Jesus it felt like a nuke just hit the mountain!"

"That wasn't a nuke Sam it was a bolt of lightning but it was like a super-charged strike. Never seen anything like that before." 

I got up on my feet and looked back towards the point of impact. I could see smoke rising from the other side of the hill where the bolt hit. I was curious to check it out but the rain and wind were hitting so hard I just wanted to get home. Plus I didn't want to be around for another huge hit should it happen. 

"Alright listen up," I addressed the guys, "We can go and check out the spot as soon as this storm goes away but right now let’s just get indoors." 

I began to run again but this time I was a little slower. As I cleared the trees and came to the bottom I could see my home. It was nothing more than an abandon apartment complex. It was small and shaped like a U; mine was at the bottom level right in the middle. I was the only one that lived there but it was a good place to be. I climbed over the fence and hauled ass towards the door. 

I took my key and unlocked ever lock one by one and then threw the door open to get inside but in my haste the wind grabbed the door and kept me from shutting it back. I threw myself at the door and struggled to get it closed. 

I was halfway to victory when I felt something run by my legs and into the apartment.