//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: The Legend of El Bombero // Story: Where's the Fire? // by Vin Diesels Go-Kart //------------------------------// Once the creatures began to charge, it didn't take long for most of the crowd of townsponies to vacate the area, sprinting in the opposite direction. Those that remained included Thomas, The Elements of Harmony, the princesses, and their guards. The Cuties Mark Crusaders remained as well, hearing no objection from their distracted siblings. The guards quickly sprang into action, running out and meeting the beasts half way, while Thomas ran out as well. He didn't know how many creatures there were, but there were enough to make this fight interesting. As he approached one of the flame spawns, he chucked a grenade at the beast, which hadn't identified him. The fireball exploded, but didn't effect the creature in the slightest, only resulting in getting its full attention. "Yeah that figures." he muttered. "I need a weapon." Quickly looking around, he saw most of the guards already engaged in battle with the flame spawns. They managed to overpower a few of the beasts, but didn't have time to celebrate as more joined in the fight. Thomas shouted to the closest one, who hesitantly ran over to the Fireman. "Listen, I need your spear." he promptly ordered. The pegasus almost laughed at his request, so Thomas turned the pony's attention to the other guards. They were still putting up a fight, but the creatures had started outnumbering them and the tides were quickly turning. "See that? I'm gonna stop that from getting any worse, so give me your goddamn spear and then fly back to wherever you came from and tell them we need reinforcements!" Thomas commanded. The guard gulped and handed his spear over, then promptly flew off to get additional help. The Fireman turned his attention back to the attacking monsters. There were quite a few spread out over the field, doing battle with the guards. At this point it was about two guards fighting every one beast, but that was changing as more flame spawns reached the battle. Thomas acted quickly, running at one of the creatures and piercing its head with the spear. The spawn roared weakly before falling to the ground and bursting into ash. The Fireman continued his assault, felling two more beasts in the same manner. The creatures quickly identified him as the most immediate threat and began refocusing their attention. The flame spawns surrounded the Fireman and unleashed a barrage of fire based attacks, the heat alone causing many of the nearby guards to back away. After a moment, they stopped their attack, allowing the flames to die down. As the fire went out, Thomas stood in the center, uneffected by the attack. Scorn watched as the Fireman retaliated, stabbing his minions with the spear and defeating them easily. Some of the flame spawns continued to try and defeat Thomas with fire, while others gave up on flames and quickly switched tactics, getting in close and engaging the Fireman in melee combat. The former bandit leader cursed under his breath, recognizing the armor and realizing who this stranger was. Fire attacks wouldn't do any good on this one. Scorn would have to deal with this annoyance himself. He flapped his wings, causing sparks to shoot out, and quickly flew up into the sky. Meanwhile, Thomas continued battling the flame spawns, who had all gotten wise to his fire affinity. They had all begun using claws and horns in an attempt to stop the Fireman, but Thomas had plenty of training in close combat. He blocked an incoming claw with his spear, pushing it to the side and stabbing its owner in the face. Another creature came at him from behind, but Thomas dodged the attack and pierced the beast in the chest. Two more flame spawns tried overpowering the Fireman, but he managed to dodge the attack of one which accidentally hit the other. Thomas took advantage and plunged the spear through both creatures, causing them to burst into ash. The guards quickly rejoined the battle, covering the Fireman's right and left flank as he continued to cut his way through Scorn's waning forces. Thomas noticed one of the guards carrying a sword. "Hey wanna trade?" he asked. The guard didn't argue and quickly traded weapons with the Fireman, who then changed attacks from stabbing and jabbing to slashing and slicing. Thomas swiftly beheaded the beasts that were more his height and slashed through the middle of those that were larger. The monsters' attacks that the Fireman didn't manage to dodge were stopped by his armor, causing little damage. Soon ashes began raining down over Thomas and the guards as they continued to advance. The few remaining flame spawns suddenly stopped their attack and began retreating, running away from the fight and then disappearing into the ground through fiery holes. The guards began to cheer, raising their weapons into the air as Thomas caught his breath. He didn't see Scorn flying down at him until it was too late. The stallion tackled the fireman to the ground and heated himself up, keeping the surrounding guards at a distance. The Fireman looked up at Scorn in time to see his claw coming down, quickly blocking the attack with his sword and kicking the flaming pony off. The two stood up and faced each other, contemplating their next move. "You have become quite the pain. This was supposed to be a quick battle." Scorn hissed. "It was a quick battle." the Fireman retorted. "Well I really must thank you, outlander. After all, it was you who gave me access to that bottle of Devil's Kiss and allowed me to enter into a new stage of divinity." Thomas' eyes widened. "Wait a minute, you were the one who took the vigor?" "Of course, and I must say...." Scorn said, looking himself over. "It really packs quite the punch." "Well then I reaffirm what I thought earlier. Ponies and vigors don't mix well together." "On the contrary, I believe it worked much better on me than it did on you." Scorn grinned. "It turned you into an abomination." Thomas shot back. The stallion flapped his wings angrily. "It turned me into a GOD!!" he shouted, lowering his head and breathing fire through his nostrils. "If you want to meet God......" the Fireman held his sword at the ready. "I'd be happy to send you his way." Thomas didn't know how the vigor had turned the pony into such a powerhouse. Summoning demons and turning into a gargoyle were definitely new to him. Of course he was in the land of talking equines and mythical creatures, so the Fireman didn't feel he could question this new development. One thing that did have him incredibly confused was the fact that the stallion didn't seem to be using any salts. Thomas was sure there were none missing when he got his armor back, so how the hell was this bastard sustaining his power? The Fireman didn't have time to figure it out as Scorn charged at him, baring his claws and fangs. Thomas held his sword up and parried the attack, quickly shouldering the pony in the jaw. Scorn came back with a left hook that would have taken Thomas' head off if he hadn't ducked. He quickly swung his sword at the pony's head, but Scorn backed away just as it was about to connect. Thomas followed through with several more swings, all just barely avoided by the burning stallion. Scorn used his wings to thrust forward and tackle the Fireman once again, but this time, he held both of Thomas' arms down with his front hooves and began biting his head. Luckily the welder's mask was enough to stave off that attack and Thomas quickly used his knee to push the pony away. He then grabbed the sword and swept his foot under Scorns' legs, causing him to fall to the ground. The Fireman got on top of the disoriented pony and raised his sword up to finish him off. "Thomas!!" he heard three voices call out. Thomas looked over to see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo running towards him, concerned for his well being. Scorn took the opportunity to make one of his claws into a crude fist and punch the Fireman hard in the face. His helmet flew off as he was sent flying backward. Thomas landed on the ground several feet away, his helmet bouncing past him. Scorn turned to the three fillies and pointed a claw at them, charging up a flamethrower attack. The Cutie Mark Crusaders hugged each other as they cowered in front of the fiery figure. Thomas recovered from the sucker punch and saw what was about to happen. He sprinted towards Scorn like hell on wheels. "Don't you touch them you bastard!" The Fireman tackled the pony just as the flames were let loose, shooting up in the air harmlessly. The fillies scurried away while Scorn and Thomas struggled with each other. This time it was Scorn who gained the upper hand and pinned the Fireman on the ground with a claw around his neck. "Your weakness is displayed by your compassion for these lesser creatures." he laughed, still choking Thomas. "It's quite pathetic really, you have the potential to rule over this land, but instead you waste your time with some misguided attempt at playing the hero." The stallion lifted his free claw a final time, making sure to aim correctly so he would not miss. Thomas began losing consciousness as his brain was deprived of oxygen. "Once you are out of the way, outlander, there will be no one left to stop me from torching this entire world. Everyone will know terror, they will know Scorn before the end." he smirked. Darkness began to surround the Fireman's vision as he fought to stay awake. He could see the claw hanging in the air like the headsman's ax. "Now you die!" he shouted, bringing the claw down. Suddenly, before Scorn could finish his attack, he was struck with a bolt of magical energy. The stallion looked up just as another bolt hit him square in the face. Thomas turned his head as much as he could and saw Celestia, Luna, and Twilight casting spells at the flaming pony. Scorn roared in anger as he was hit by more bolts. He released his grip on the Fireman's neck and backed away, unwilling to flee. The stallion raised his claw at the princesses, but was struck several more times before he had a chance to retaliate. He cursed in annoyance and quickly flew away, unable to counter the magical bombardment. Celestia and Luna continued to fire at the retreating pony while Twilight ran over to Thomas' aid. The last thing Thomas saw was Twilight's concerned face before unconsciousness finally took hold and the Fireman drifted off into blackness. * * * "Tommy? Tommy, can I come in?" "No, leave me alone!" "Tommy what's the matter? Why are you upset?" "I heard you and dad fighting. I heard him say that you weren't getting better, that you were dying." "Oh Tom, your father says a lot of things when he's angry, you know that." "So your not getting worse?" "I'm.....listen Tom, can I come in?" "Yeah." "Thomas, there are going to be times in your life when things don't always seem fair. You're going to have to go through things and it's going to feel like you can't handle them. But I need you to know that no matter what happens, no matter what happens to me, or your father, or your brother.....you need to know that we will always be with you." "How? How will you be with me if I can't see you? I don't want you to die, mom." "Oh honey, everyone dies eventually, but that doesn't mean their gone, it just means they've moved on." "But I don't want you to move on! I want you here!" "Thomas........would you like to hear a story?" "A story? Sure." "This is an old story that I heard when I went to South America." "You mean where you got sick?" "Yes, but that's not important. This story is called The Legend of El Bombero. There was once a small village in Peru that sat right at the base of the Andes mountains. An old hermit lived high up in these mountains and everyone called him El Bombero. He would rarely come down from the mountains and when he did, the locals from the small village would run away and hide from him. Everyone in the village despised this man because they thought he used black magic." "Black magic?" "That's right. You see, he was said to have strange powers, like the ability to produce fire from absolutely nothing. He could snap his fingers and produce the most magnificent flame anyone had ever seen. This scared the locals, so they usually stayed out of his way. Some of the nastier villagers would even throw things at him and call him names." "That doesn't sound very nice." "It wasn't nice at all. Anyway, one day a few children from the village decided to climb the mountains and find El Bombero. They climbed for days and days, searching for this black magic user. Unfortunately, the children got lost in a blizzard near the mountains' peaks. They found a cave, but it was so cold that the children began to freeze." "Oh no!" "Luckily, El Bombero found them in the cave, and right before the children's very eyes, he produced the beautiful flame that everyone spoke of. The man kept the children warm through the storm, and then led them down the mountain and back to the village, where their parents were waiting with grateful relief. When the children asked how the man made the flame, he simply said that the flame was the result of his departed family and friends. All of their spirits now resided within him, and he used these spirits to conjure the flames. He said that we all had this flame inside us, and with love and compassion, we could bring it out just like him." "So what happened to the man?" "No one knows, he went back up into the mountains and was never seen again, but from that day on, the village kept a flame lit in honor of El Bombero. He became one of their greatest and most celebrated heroes. You see Tommy, even when I'm long gone, I'll still be with you. That flame will always burn inside you, but only through love and compassion, through friends and family, can you truly set it free." "Okay mom, thanks." "Keep it in mind, sweetie. Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." "Hey mom?" "Yes Thomas?" "What does El Bombero mean?" "It's Spanish, for Fireman." Thomas opened his eyes, he didn't immediately know where he was, but after looking around, he realized he was back in the Golden Oaks Library. His helmet sat on a table next to the bed he was lying on. Without another thought, he put it on and exited the small room. Once in the main foyer, he looked around for the ponies, but didn't see anyone. "I'm glad you're alright." he heard a voice say behind him. He turned to see princess Luna step out of the shadows. "What happened?" he asked. "You were knocked out by that flaming creature, but you should consider yourself lucky. A few more seconds and you may very well have been killed." Thomas thought back to the battle, remembering that bandit leader having him pinned and almost ripping him apart. "Is everyone alright?" "Yes, thanks to you." she replied. "Some of the guards have fairly serious burns, but they are otherwise unharmed. I must say, your prowess in battle is astonishing." "Yeah well, a lot of training will do that to you." Thomas could tell the princess had other things on her mind. She kept looking at him so strangely, like she felt sorry for him, like she knew something he didn't. "What is it?" he asked, calling her out. "Nothing, it's just that....." she walked over to a window. "I don't want to anger you." "Oh stop beating around the bush and just tell me." he said impatiently. The princess sighed. "I have certain abilities that allow me to see into the dreams of those who are asleep." The Fireman's heart sank. He remembered what he'd been dreaming about before he woke up in the library. "You saw all that?" he asked angrily. "Y-yes, but please forgive me, I did not mean to intrude. I simply wanted to know more about you." she explained. He turned away from her. "Well congratulations, because you now know more about me than anyone else in either of our worlds." "I'm sorry, it was not my intention to upset you, but if I may, can I ask what happened to your mother? Did she........" "Die?" he finished for her. "Yeah, about a month after that conversation happened." The princess lowered her head. "I'm so sorry." "Yeah well don't be. Shit happens. I got over it." he harshly shot back. "After she died, my dad sent me and my brother to go live with my aunt while he drank himself to death. After a while my brother went off and did his own thing, leaving me to make trouble by myself." He turned back to Luna. "And you know what? I didn't feel a goddamn thing! No flame in my heart, no peace in my mind. The only thing I felt after losing my mother was the stinging pain of losing everything else!" the Fireman was steaming now. The machinery on his armor was glowing brightly and his back pipe whistled quietly as if afternoon tea was ready. Thomas saw genuine sorrow in the princess' eyes as he glared at her and after a brief moment of the two standing in silence, he started to cool down. "That story she told you......" Luna started. "What about it?" he inquired. "I just.....I can relate to it. I was once just as feared and shunned as that man in the mountains. Only when I showed my subjects that there was nothing to fear, was I able to make friends and learn the joys that came with those friendships." "Yeah that seems to be a common theme in this world." the Fireman replied, a slight smile forming on his face. "Maybe that is a theme you could learn more from." the princess suggested. "I feel you are growing much more as an individual by being around those who see you as a friend." she smiled at him. "And perhaps you are beginning to see some of us as friends too." Thomas chuckled. "Let's not go overboard here, sister." The two exchanged a small laugh just as Twilight rushed into the library. "Thomas, I'm glad you're awake. We need your help." she shouted. "What is it?" the Fireman asked, walking over to her. He could see the panic in her eyes. "It's Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo" she said frantically. "They're missing!"