Around the Barrios, life was hard for those situated there. Turf wars were practically constant. It wasn't even safe to walk across the street alone!
To wit, Enrico Ricardez and his gang. They protected their home territory wiith all of their might. For them, this was the way life was.
As it happened, on this night, there was going to be a rumble with another gang who had invaded their territory. Enrico's girlfriend, Ysabella, came to give him a piece of her mind on the matter.
"Enrico! Why must you do this?"
"Those men invaded our turf. We must protect our territory; defend our barrio."
"You haven't ever even set a tippy-toe outside of this neighborhood! The world is vast! Are you really so willing to die to protect this tiny dot of a place?"
"Bah! You wouldn't understand." Enrico said.
Without their knowledge (so focused were they on the task at hand!), they were struck simultaneously by a bolt of energy. It spread from one to the other. Before either could note the happening, they had separated again.
"How i wish he could understand." Ysabella lamented, before going after Enrico.
Perhaps we can make him understand together?
Enrico considered Ysabella's words "Bah! What does she know? She's but a woman. We have to defend what's ours, or someone will take it."
Little did he know that he was going through some strange changes. Again, so focused was he on his brooding and the task at hand, he didn't realize what was going on. Suddenly....
"Dios mio! My hands! They're ablaze! I'm burning alive! Wait, no... It doesn't hurt. Wait, i'm rising into the air!"
Shortly after that, he was able to see what he'd missed from the ground below,
"Ay dios mio! The barrio... our home... It looks tiny from up here!"
"You haven't ever even set a tippy-toe outside of this neighborhood! The world is vast! Are you really so willing to die to protect this tiny dot of a place?"
"Ay, Ysabella. I couldn't see what you did."
Suddenly another voice rang out clearly. "Enrico! Do you see now what i meant?"
Enrice spun around, and was quite startled by what he saw. "Ysabella? Is that... you? You've changed!"
In front of him was a half-equine woman, who clearly had Ysabella's voice. She was a brilliant red colour, rivalling that of the hottest of peppers. And judging by the flames streaming from her, she could back that up! She had rich velvet red hair that went halfway down her back
"You've changed too, Enrico. Look!"
Looking down at himself, he found himself in a similar state.
He, by comparison, was a vibrant golden hue, with hair the colour of an open fire., "Asombroso..." he marvelled at his changes.
"What was that about me being just a woman?" Ysabella smiled snarkily.
Upon further inspection, Enrico found that he had paid a price for these powers he was using.
Distracting Enrico from her plight, Ysabella turned her partner around, They then looked over at the city and their home, their tiny spot of land. Ysabella took Enrico's hand. "Together, we can stop the fighting and bring peace to our home!"
Enrico nodded, and they both flew back toward the ground.
The fight was already in full swing. Various kinds of wounds had already been dealt on both sides, but nobody was willing to back down.
Suddenly, two strange looking creatures hovered overhead, each sending a bolt of flame to disarm the two who were closest to each other.
"Stop this madness!" they exclaimed in unison.
One man was clearly stunned by the sight. "Are those... angels?" he queried.
No, No... I think it's Enrico! And Ysabella! They look WAY different, but I can tell Ysabella's voice from a mile away!"
The two half-pony characters landed, one saying, "My friends, hermanos! We've been given these wondrous powers for a reason!"
The other nodded, adding, "Si! And together, we'll fight to end this struggle and bring us together!"
Then they said, united, "Such is the vow of Flicker and Flare."