//------------------------------//
// Episode 13: Hero Worship 
// Story: EoH Evolution: Season 3 
// by Bahamut0 
//------------------------------//

Dark Ice hummed to himself as he got dressed. As soon as he was done putting on his usual outfit, he grabbed a train ticket for the Crystal Express that he'd purchased online. "Time I take up Indigo Zap on her offer." Ice grabbed his wallet and phone, and was quickly subjected to teasing from his youngest brother Shadow Thunder.

"Hey Ice!" Shadow Thunder called out as his eldest brother began to walk out the door. "Have fun on your date today!"

Dark Ice rolled his eyes at Shadow's teasing, and flew over to Unityville's station. Sure enough, the Crystal Express arrived and Ice was on his way to the Crystal Empire. "It's my third visit here, and I still don't get tired of how cool this place looks." The second Dark Ice exited the train, he was mobbed by grateful Crystal-Sapiens! "WHAT THE-?!" Ice was wondering what everyone was making a big deal of when he saw it. A crystal statue of him standing victorious alongside Arctic Ace. There was even a statue of Spike holding the Crystal Heart! An engraved writing read: Heroes of the Crystal Empire.

"O-kay." Dark Ice said as soon as the crowd set him down. "I was not expecting this. Could you all, leave me to process all this?" The crowd nodded, and soon dispersed to carry out their daily lives. Dark Ice let out a sigh of relief. "Ohhh boy. They're really giving me and my brother the hero treatment."

"Well who could blame us?" Indigo Zap called out as she landed next to Dark Ice. "You burned bright during what was our darkest hour. In the face of fear, you showed none! The Element of Courage! He who has ever-burning bravery! Or at least, that's what some of the kids call you."

Dark Ice smirked. "Never thought I'd see the day when there would be people looking up to me. I didn't exactly start out being hero material. Honestly, I was in a pretty dark place before my family snapped me out of it." He then looked at Indigo Zap. "Seeing you all living in fear kind of reminded me of that feeling. Blocking out all memories of the past, even the happy ones. Because that only reminds you of what was taken away."

"I guess that explains why you fought so hard." Indigo Zap said with a smile as she grabbed onto Ice's hand. "Because you didn't want anyone else to know that kind of fear. You'd already known it for far too long." She then rested her head against Ice's shoulder. "My Hero."

Dark Ice blushed. "That's me. Always courageous and flying forth to save the day."