//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Out of the Frying Pan.... // Story: Where's the Fire? // by Vin Diesels Go-Kart //------------------------------// Thomas looked up at the moon silently as he sat on the balcony of the library. The sky was completely clear, with the exception of a few small clouds dotting the star lit canvas. One of the many things the Fireman loved about Columbia was that it would often be higher than most clouds, making the moon and stars visible just about every night. He always made it a point to climb to the tallest structure he could find just to get the best view of the sky and surrounding city. Something about the view just seemed to put his troubled mind at ease. Some nights he would even see the Song Bird glide across his view, its strange and distinct howl always attracting onlookers. Thomas occasionally wondered why Comstock had need for such a creature, but now with Elizabeth taken and DeWitt likely causing havoc in the city, he was less inclined to ask that question. The Fireman went through the day's events in his mind. After the mess with those bandits, he had been introduced to two more of Twilight's friends. Pinkie Pie didn't have to say much before Thomas got annoyed. Her voice was the sort that just struck a bad chord with the Fireman and when she learned about his fire wielding abilities, it made her almost unbearable. The pink earth pony constantly asked him to help her bake treats for the "Thanks for saving Ponyville" party she wanted to throw him, but eventually Thomas was able to quiet her down by agreeing to the party once he had reclaimed his stolen property; an easy promise to make considering he wasn't planning on sticking around very long once the princess arrived. The other mare, Fluttershy, was much easier to be around than her confetti throwing companion. The yellow pegasus was about as enthusiastic to start up a conversation as he was, but eventually the two made a bit of small talk. She apparently took care of animals at her cottage next to the Everfree Forest, which was home to many of the strange creatures he'd read about in the library. Thomas didn't know how such a shy pony could stand living near a dangerous place like that, but he supposed it made sense considering she probably didn't have to deal with visitors very often. After the introductions had been made, the Fireman helped the ponies clean up the market square before retiring to his guest room for the evening. Thomas tried sleeping for an hour, but his mind kept thinking back to all of the problems he was dealing with: like being stuck in a different world, his armor and salts being stolen, and the fact that Columbia was under threat of destruction from a civil war and a visit from the false shepherd. At around midnight, the Fireman finally gave up on sleep and went out to the balcony to think about things and get his head straight. He could hear the crickets chirping and a slight breeze rustling the nearby tree branches. "Mind if I join you?" he heard a voice ask. Thomas turned to see Twilight standing at the doorway leading back into the library. The Fireman simply shrugged his shoulders and continued to admire the evening scenery. Twilight took that as a "no" and walked out onto the balcony, sitting next to the Fireman and quietly looking up at the stars with him. The two sat in silence at first, just staring at the sky. "They're beautiful aren't they?" the princess finally commented. Like Thomas, she too enjoyed star gazing. "Yes they are." he replied, slowly warming up to her presence. "Is this sky similar to your world's?" the alicorn inquired. Thomas nodded. "Almost a spitting image." he admitted, grateful for this fact. "So do you really think this princess is gonna know how to send me home?" "I honestly don't know." Twilight responded, shaking her head. "But she's the only pony I can think of that would even have the slightest idea." Thomas had figured as much. He didn't know how anyone here would be able to help him when not even Comstock knew the full extent of his daughter's powers. Why else would the Prophet keep her locked up in that tower under constant guard by a giant mechanical bird? The Fireman had a feeling no one would know how to send him back, if that was even possible. "So you mentioned you had a brother?" Twilight asked, sensing the Fireman's troubled thoughts and attempting to change the subject. "Yeah, an older brother. He helped me get into Columbia about half a year ago." Thomas repeated. "So does he have powers like you?" "Yes, but not Devil's Kiss. My brother is part of an order. He specializes in a different vigor that allows him to....." Thomas cut himself off. He had to think about the answer to such a simple question, but he truly didn't understand his brother's abilities. Murder of Crows, was a well known vigor, but the way his brother used it, the way he'd mastered it. Before Thomas had even gotten to Columbia, his brother had joined a strange group called The Fraternal Order of the Raven. It was a bunch of nuts in the Fireman's eyes, dressing up in strange robes and carrying coffins on their backs, but his brother had quickly climbed their ranks and was one of their more elitist members. He lived with his brother in Columbia, and though their bond as siblings never wavered, Thomas rarely saw his older brother anymore. He was often away doing God only knew what, but regardless, the Fireman's loyalty to him was only rivaled by his loyalty to Comstock and he was sure his brother felt the same way. Thomas began to wonder if his brother had noticed his absence by now. Did time even move the same way across different worlds? "Thomas?" Twilight asked, concerned. "Oh sorry. My bother has the ability to control birds, like crows and ravens." the Fireman replied. "Oh, Fluttershy has a similar ability!" the alicorn said excitedly. Thomas laughed slightly. Yeah, I'm sure Fluttershy also commands those animals to rip her enemies apart, he thought. "So why did you go to this floating city in the first place?" she asked. "I got into some trouble down in the Sodom, er, America." The Fireman replied. "I was a bit of a hot head and would usually get into bad business deals. One time was bit worse than the others and it ended with me on the run from some bad people. One day my brother somehow found me and we talked for a bit. I told him about my troubles and he offered to get me into Columbia." "I see." the princess responded. "Well judging by your power, I'd say you must be pretty important in your world." she concluded. The Fireman laughed again. "Not really. Sure I'm a higher rank than the average soldier and Firemen are generally well respected, but I'm still pretty low on the totem pole." he admitted. "No one's gonna miss another soldier who died for the cause, except maybe one person." Thomas said, watching a crow silently make its way across the moonlit sky. "Well that's unfortunate. Nopony is expendable here. We are all equally valued and unique." Twilight said with a bit of pride. "Our cutie marks don't just display what special talent we possess, but also who we are as a pony, as an individual. We all strive to be the best that we can be and help each other along the way. Happiness is something that must be earned and cannot be granted. The pursuit of that happiness is what drives us forward. And of course with the magic of friendship, this goal is easily achieved." Thomas didn't respond. He just thought about what she said. Surely this world wasn't as sugar coded as the princess made it out to be. He was sure there was always a darkness in every world, another side of the same coin. The bandits were a testament to that. However, if what Twilight said was true, then this world was much like his own in more ways than the Fireman originally suspected. The pursuit of happiness was one of the founding principles that forged the United States. It acted as a beacon of hope to those who were without. These principles then led Comstock to create Columbia, where people could be free of the oppression of the Sodom below, but does that mean that there is also darkness in Columbia? Could there still be corruption within the floating city that no one noticed, either because it was so well hidden or perhaps because no one wanted to see it? And is it possible that this darkness existed before the false shepherd or the Vox Populi? Maybe even existing in the Prophet himself? Thomas shook the thought from his head. He hated when his mind started running away with philosophy. Nothing good ever came from a man who had too much free time and not enough work. Best if he just kept his eyes on the prize. He still had to get back to the city he loved and the Prophet he served, and until this Celestia character looked him dead in the face and told him there was no hope of him returning home, the Fireman would continue to fight until that dream became a reality. "Well I'm gonna hit the hay. You should probably get some shut eye as well, Thomas. I have a feeling it's gonna be a long day tomorrow." Twilight said as she got up and walked back inside. "Yeah I'll be in soon." Thomas called after her. His heart began racing with a rekindled determination to get his armor back and go back to his own world. If Firemen were known for anything, it was that they never gave up until death's cold hand had them by the throat. He would continue to fight and would never stop until there was nothing left of him but ash. That was his vow to Comstock, to his brother, and to himself. The Fireman was about to head back inside when the sound of flapping wings followed by a rustling of branches caught his attention. He looked up to see Rainbow Dash in a nearby tree branch. The pegasus wasn't looking at Thomas, but he could tell that she wanted to talk. He continued to look out over Ponyville in silence as the rainbow mare did the same. Surprisingly to Thomas, he wasn't angry at her for what she did earlier. Normally if someone took a cheap shot at the Fireman and then ran away, they would wake up on fire. For whatever reason, he just didn't feel that kind of hatred, even though he had every reason to. Both he and Rainbow Dash sat in silence for a few moments longer, until the blue pegasus finally left the branch she was perched on and joined Thomas on the balcony, almost exactly where Twilight had been sitting. "Hey." she said, a little awkwardly. "Hey yourself." the Fireman responded casually. "Look, I don't normally do this, but I wanted to apologize for bucking you like that earlier." Rainbow started. "Twilight was right about you protecting us. I see now that there was no other way out of that mess, but with violence." "Listen, you don't have to apologize. I can understand you getting upset over seeing that kind of thing for the first time and getting scared. I guess not everyone has the guts to handle seeing what I do." Thomas answered snidely. Rainbow Dash turned to him. "What'd you say? I have plenty of guts! I'm the bravest pony in Ponyville; maybe even all of Equestria!" she countered. "Oh? Well you could have fooled me. I mean Iv'e seen kids back home handle that kind of violence, and with a better attitude too." he said, a smirk appearing on his face. "Oh yeah? Then put em up mister tough guy! I'll show you who the real sissy is!" the pegasus demanded, putting her hooves up. Thomas started to laugh. "Damn, and I thought us Firemen were hot heads. You should think about coming back with me and joining the regime. You definitely have the attitude for it." he said jokingly. Rainbow Dash put her hooves down and a smile slowly formed on her face as well. "You think so? I'd probably get promoted to captain on the first day." she responded pridefully. "Not with me in the ranks. I'm sure you'd settle for captain's lackey." the Fireman retorted. The two laughed together for a while longer, until Rainbow Dash got up and stretched her wings. "I should probably get going." she said turning back to Thomas one final time. "See you around?" "I'm sure you will." he answered reassuringly. The pegasus flew off while the Fireman got up to go back inside. As he stood up, Thomas felt something trickle down his nose. He put a hand to his upper lip and then pulled it away, examining his fingers. Blood? That's weird, I haven't had a bloody nose since I was a kid, the Fireman thought. He quickly went inside to stop the bleeding and get some sleep. * * * "Devil's Kiss." Scorn said out loud. He'd read the tag on the bottle about fifteen times. It was filled with a strange liquid that smelled awful to the earth pony, but he had no idea what it could be. The design of the bottle itself was baffling to him as well. It was different shades of red, featuring a strange naked creature on the top. It looked like the demonic creature was blowing fire. Could this be some type of potion that grants incendiary powers to the drinker? Is that where the thing in Ponyville got its abilities from? Scorn was hesitant to try it. For all he knew it was just poison, but the bandit couldn't let the raid be for nothing, and thus far, the armor hadn't yielded any other treasure. The blue chemical he found was still a mystery to him as well, but he was sure there was a connection between it and this Devil's Kiss. Light Streak entered the tent as Scorn continued to study the bottle. "Sir, the ponies are getting restless. They want to go back into Ponyville and finish things with the creature." the pegasus informed. "Tell the ponies that they will do nothing, unless I have given the order." Scorn replied defensively. Light Streak shook his head. "With all due respect Scorn. We all think you're becoming a bit....obsessed with the stuff we found in the library. Perhaps we should just be rid of it all, I don't think any good will come of it." Light Streak admitted. Scorn looked at the pegasus. "Your opinion is noted, Light Streak, but I am not going to just throw this away when it may be the key to my success." "Success? Those bottles can't bring you success sir, only the trust of your subordinates can. I must advise you to toss out those chemicals." the pegasus repeated. Scorn didn't like the attitude his second-in-command was giving him. He uncapped the bottle of Devil's Kiss, looking at its contents with curiosity. "Sir, your not going to drink that are you?" Light Streak asked, noticing his actions. "Do you know how I got to where I am today, Light Streak? Do you know what it takes to lead a group of cut throats and mercenaries?" the leader inquired. "Sir?" the pegasus responded, confused. "Its all about the risks one is willing to take to remain on top." Scorn replied and with that, he tipped his head back and ingested the bottle's contents. "Scorn no!" Light Streak pleaded, but it was too late. The earth pony stood there for a moment, waiting to see what the consequences of his actions would be, when he suddenly began screaming as his mane and tail caught fire. The pain was excruciating, like his head was being attacked with a blow torch. Then the pain began to spread, as the fire made its way around his body, not just burning the outside, but internally as well. He could feel his organs as they combusted violently. Scorn looked at his hooves, which were already blackening from the intense flames. Light Streak looked on in horror as his leader began to disintegrate before his eyes. Skin quickly burned away and exposed inner flesh, which soon followed suit. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments snapped as they were charred and shriveled. Soon the screaming subsided and the only thing that remained of the leader was a flaming skeleton. The pegasus watched with even greater fear as Scorn began to accumulate before his eyes. The ashes quickly collected unto the bandit's skeleton, changing into something completely new. Fire spat from his body as his very being was shifted into a burning monster that looked like it came straight out of tartarus itself. Smoke billowed from the creature as the final bits of ash took there place and hardened on the newly formed pony. "Scorn?" Light Streak asked, fear gripping the pegasus. The creature looked at him through burning eye sockets. Black crust fell from its mouth when it spoke. "This is why we take risks, Light Streak. This is how I maintain dominance." Scorn said, examining his new form. He was now entirely black, with deep red cracks running along his outer core. Heat radiated from his very being as fire internally raged throughout his body. The pony's mane and tail were still consumed with fire and the bandit leader laughed as he held a hoof up and formed a fireball. "This is true power!" he declared, extinguishing the ball of flames and putting his hoof back down. "Sir, we have to get you cured. There must be a way to reverse the effects!" Light Streak pleaded. The flaming Stallion turned and looked at his second-in-command with annoyed rage. "There will be no curing this, you coward! You've always second guessed me Light Streak, disagreeing with me at every turn." he said in anger, the flames surrounding his body growing brighter. "Your weakness and lack of imagination have always been a nuisance to me, but I will not allow you to impede my rise to divinity!" Light Streak didn't get a chance to respond as Scorn raised a fiery hoof and shot a wave of flames at the still frozen pegasus, who couldn't even scream before the deadly inferno silenced any further objections.