//------------------------------// // Chapter 1, The Fire Inside // Story: The Elements of Nature, Book 1 // by The Avenger //------------------------------// My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic belongs to Hasbro and the Hub. Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to Nickelodeon The Elements of Nature trilogy originally belong to Superior-Doc-Fossil, whom I asked and gained permission from to repost and update. For original story, click here. All right belongs to them Story by: Superior-Doc-Fossil Cover art: Robsa990 Posted and edited by: The Avenger  ******************************************************************************** The Elements of Nature, Book 1 Chapter 1, The Fire Inside Lightning, Air, Water, Earth, Fire Long ago, before the regal wing unicorn sisters were born, the world was protected by a powerful being called the Avatar. The Avatar was the only one able to control all the Elements of Harmony at once, but he is also able to control their counterparts, the Elements of Nature. Only five of the Elements of Nature are known, the known ones being fire, water, earth, lighting, and air. Like the Elements of Harmony, the Elements of Nature have a physical form, but they are also part of the Avatar’s spirit. Because of this, he or she is able to control each element with relative ease, even if they are thousands of miles apart. The Avatar is also the only one who can communicate to the Spirit World, listening to the Spirits’ guidance to keep balance in the world. Whenever the Avatar dies, his or her spirit is reincarnated into a new body, each time he becomes one of the 4 types of ponies in a cycle in this order: Unicorn, Earth Pony, Pegasus, and Alicorn. Then one day, for no clear reason, the last Avatar, vanished ... with no trace. No one knows what happened to him. An ancient prophecy states that he will return, but in five different bodies, each representing a different element. Most have considered the Avatar and benders, creatures who are able to control one of the elements only, as a bedtime story, but some believe he will return one day to return balance ... and that day has finally come. In the Ponyville library, and Unicorn turned Alicorn named Twilight Sparkle is busy packing. It has been a day since her coronation, and both her and her friends are still shock at the recent turn of events. Twilight is putting away some photos of her and her friends when suddenly, Rainbow Dash comes flying in. “Twilight, how’s your packing coming along?” “Good.” Twilight answered her friend as she lands. “We’re almost done with your Going Away Party, and we even got some entertainment.” “Really. What?” “Well, you are not gonna believe this. This magician, who’s a Unicorn, is from a town in a place called Abysus.” “So?” “So? He can make fire do whatever he wants. He can actually be in an inferno and not even get signed.” Rainbow said, impressed by the newcomers abilities. “Okay, now I'm interested. Let’s go.” Twilight and Rainbow then head to the outdoor theater, where they're joined by Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Almost every other pony in Ponyville is also there attending the party, along with Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Twilight’s father Night Light, Twilight’s stepmother Twilight Velvet, Shining Armor and Cadence, are waiting for the guest of honor. “Cadence!” A very excite Twilight said as she sees her old foulsitter. “Twilight!” Cadence said as the two do a quick hug before ... “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” The two said with a little laugh. Just then, Twilight gets a big hug from her family, which she returns. “Twilight, I'm so proud of you.” Night Light said to his daughter, on the verge of tears. “And I know that your sister would be proud too.” “Thanks dad.” Twilight said as she begins to cry, remembering her now deceased older sister. “Allll righty then.” Pinkie said as she heads for a DJ table and pulls out DJ Pon-3 from underneath. “Let’s get this party started!” Pinkie said as the two play some music, which everypony dances too, except a flame red Unicorn on the stage, who just looks at Twilight as she dances with her friends and family. “She’s beautiful.” He said as he stares at the Unicorn turned Alicorn. ================================================================== “So, y’all know who this colt is?” Applejack asked after most of the festivities were over, with it almost being dark. Rarity then takes a look at the poster. “According to the poster for his act, his name is Firebrand the Firebender. Huh, catchy.” “Oh, I bet he’s Spitfire’s cousin.” Pinkie said in her own crazy way. “I don’t think Spitfire has a cousin from a country called Abysus.” “Rainbow has a point there.” They all turn around and see that the Wonderbolts are standing right behind them, Spitfire among them. “OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh” Rainbow said before fainting. “What are y’all doing here in little o’ Ponyville?” Apple Bloom asked. “We were flying nearby when we heard about the party and show and decided to check it out.” Spitfire answered. “Hey, everypony!” Sweetie Belle cried out “The show is about to start!” Soon all the ponies in the area turn toward the stage. Rainbow gets up just in time to see what's going on. On the stage, fire begins to envelop it but it suddenly disperses revealing a stallion unicorn, at least a year older than Twilight, with a flame red coat, his mane and tail are orange and charcoal black eyes. His cutie mark is a ball of fire. “Mares and gentlecolts, I am Firebrand, the Firebender.” The red Unicorn said as he takes some fire from a torch, condenses it into a ball, and as it explodes, three white doves fly out, completely unharmed. This causes the crowd to applaud, even Celestia whistles at this. A few hours later after dusk, Firebrand finishes his performance with taking some fire and shooting them up at the sky making fireworks. ================================================================== Later at Sugarcube Corner, Twilight, her friends, her brother, Cadence, Celestia and Luna are having dinner (on Pinkie’s treat of course), talking about the party. “That was the best party ever!” Twilight said as she has some leftover cake. “It was super-duper-awesome-rific!” Pinkie said, getting stares from the others. “Oh, oh, there's Firebrand!” Pinkie said as she pointed out the window, to see Firebrand starting a fire in front of the theater. At this, Twilight quickly gets up and heads for the door, but stops when she hears ... “What are you doing, Twiley?” Shining Armor asked. “I want to talk to him.” Twilight answered. “And I’m sure I'm not the only one intrigued by his firebending.” She said as her friends get up also, until all 10 of them are outside, walking toward Firebrand, who has just finished. “Ugh ... Hello.” Twilight said, slightly startling Firebrand. “Oh, hello.” He said, not at all fazed by the fact he is talking to four Alicorns. “Is there something I can help you with?” “Yes, mister Brand.” Rarity said. “Please, call me Fire.'” “OK, Fire.’” Twilight said, liking Fire’ more every minute. “Tell us about yourself.” She said as they all sit around the fire, excited to hear how he does his firebending. Fire’ hesitates for a moment, but decides he needs to tell someone his life story eventually. “Isn’t much to tell really,” Fire’ said as he begins his tale. “My family lived in a small town in Abysus called Bellwood. My parents were both blacksmiths who lived in the forged. When I was born, I was named Firebrand, while my twin brother was named Black Cloud. My mom then just disappeared a day later, and my father never told me way, then, my brother was kidnaped.” “Kidnaped, by who?” Celestia asked. “I don’t know. Those were the first two losses in my life, and they won’t be the last.” Fire' sadly said. “What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “Well, when I was 11, I lost my older sister to a psychopath. Not long after, I became fascinated with fire, as a way to help filled the void. I wanted to know everything I could about it. Eventually, I discovered that I can actually control fire just by concentrating and moving my limbs.” He said as he demonstrates by taking a small spark and enlarging it. “Then my cutie mark showed up the next day. Eventually, when I was 13, the village elders discovered what I can do and called my father to a meeting. I wanted to know what they were talking about, so I went to a window and listened to what they were saying." ================================================================== "Firebrand needs to have freedom and fun. He needs to grow up as a normal colt." Firebrands father augured. "He needs to be taken to the capital so we can know if he's a mutant or not." "Calm, Draco, you to Garth. I agree with both of you. But Draco, I know you mean well, but you are letting your affection for the colt cloud your judgment." "All I want is what is best for him. He's my only son, and all the family I have left." Draco defended. "I’m sorry, but you and Firebrand must be separated! The colt will be sent away to the capital to see if he's a mutant." The elder said, not at all aware that a completely shocked Firebrand is outside the window. ================================================================== “That's awful, Fire.' I don't know what to say.” Twilight replied. “I couldn't believe it either.” Fire’ said as he stands up and turns around. “How could they do that to me?! They wanted to take away everything I knew and everypony I loved!” The fire then becomes extremely intense and anyone near it nearly catches on fire. “Whoa! Hot cinders!” Rainbow said as she puts out some smoke on her tail. “I'm sorry I got so mad.” Fire' said. “You have the right to be angry after the elders sent you away like that.” Shining Armor said. “I know I would be.” “Well, that's not exactly what happened.” Fire’ admitted. “I was afraid, confused. I didn't know what to do.” ================================================================== Firebrand is looking out the window of his bedroom as Draco walks to Firebrand’s bedroom and opens the door with his magic. “Fire,' I'm not going to let them take you away from me. Firebrand?” Draco opens the door some more, and spots a scroll on the bed and opens it. The scroll says, “Father, I’m sick of being treated like a freak.” He then gasps, and sees a storm coming outside the window as a storm begins to form, while in the nearby forest, Firebrand is running toward a train and gets on before it gets too fast while the rain pores. ================================================================== “I never saw him alive again.” Fire’ said as he sheds a tear. “So, you ran away.” Cadence said. “Yeah, and after a whole year, I returned home out of guilt. But when I got there, everything was in ashes. I searched for somepony I knew, but I only found bones. I went back to the forged. It look like it was ransacked. When I went to my father's room, I found his body. I found his diary and went to the last entry. A month before I went back, everypony in town got a strange black letter. It said to turn over the firebender. Then a few days later a small army arrived and destroyed everything in its path. My father’s last entry was to me. It said that he was proud of what I am, and told me that with great power comes great responsibility. Eventually I became a sideshow going to different countries and kingdoms. I adopted the name Firebender because it seemed to fit. While I was in a country called Hoenn, I was informed that Abysus, my home, was destroyed by the Fire Nation. I realized then that they must be looking for me.” “Wait, does that mean you're the last of your kind?” Twilight asked. “In a sense, yes. I am the last pony from Abysus.” “Whut about yer firebendin'? Kin yo' tell us how it wawks?” Applejack asked. “Sorry, but that's just as much of a mystery to me just as much as its to you.” “You don’t know how it works, despite the fact you had it for your whole life.” Rainbow said, slightly shocked. “I know its hard to explain, but I just know when I'm using it and when I'm not.” Fire’ said as he begins to cry. “Are you all right?” Twilight asked. “No. You don’t know what's it like for me. Can you even imagine what's it like to be a freak! To know that your whole family is dead! I don't even know who or what I am! I never have.” “I can help you figure that out.” Twilight said, getting stares from the others. “You ... you can?” “Yeah. We can all look at the royal archives tomorrow and try to find something.” “All right.” Fire’ said as he walks up to Twilight. “We haven’t been properly introduced.” Twilight said. “I’m Twilight Sparkle. This here is my older brother, Shining Armor.” Twilight said as she gestures to Shining Armor, who gets up and gives Fire’ a hoof shake. “Nice to meet you. This is Cadence.” Shining said as Cadence does the same. “Right, and these are, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie.” Twilight said and she gestures to her friends. “And finally, his is Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” “Nice to meet you.” Celestia said as she and Luna get a respectful bow from Fire.’ “It’s an honor. Thank you for your help.” Fire’ said as he gets out some marshmallows. “Oh, marshmallows! Time for s'mores!” Pinkie said as she pulls out some chocolate from a nearby tree, causing the group to laugh. ================================================================== The next morning, at the town square, Fire,’ Spike, Twilight, Celestia and Luna are waiting for the others. “Where are they?” Fire’ asked. “Who?” Twilight asked, pretty sure he’s not talking about Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity. “Your brother and Cadence.” "Oh. There probably back at the Crystal Empire by now.” Twilight said. “Oh, I have heard of that place.” Fire’ said as Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack arrive, accompanied by Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. “Why are they here?” Twilight asked. “They kind of heard us last night and they wanted to come along.” Rainbow replied. “They want to come.” Fire’ said. “I think they might be a big help.” Fire’ said as he gets onto a chariot. The others soon get on and they all fly off to Canterlot. “Finally,” Firebrand thought to himself. “I’m getting some answers.”