//------------------------------// // Born Stubborn // Story: Angel of Fire // by memphisgurl //------------------------------// Alea looked surprised, as if she wasn't quite sure what to make of my defiance. She'd get used to it. “Do you expect me to believe you're really that stubborn?” I shrugged. “If stubbornness were a super-power, I'd be invincible.” “I can't believe you're being serious. You're really not going to help me?” I yawned. My bed was calling me. “You'll figure it out, I'm sure. When you do, you can come back to tell me all about it, and I'll pretend like I care.” I moved around to each lantern, carefully extinguishing the flames, tossing deep shadows all over the barn. When finished, Alea walked me to the wooden doors and swung them wide open. Standing in the doorway, silvery glow from a stray moonbeam illuminated her face, making her look ethereal. The effect took my breath away. As I continued to stare at her beauty, I amassed a wealth of questions. Hesitating for a few heartbeats, I finally said, “I just had a thought about something...” She smiled ruefully. “Don't hurt yourself.” Angel humor. Nice. I rolled my eyes at the sarcasm. “Does this mean my mom's a pyro?” She shook her head. “From a very young age, your mother always knew how to control her gift. She was never a pyromaniac.” She paused, thoughtfully. “And she doesn't know she passed on the ability to you.” I thought about that for a moment. “If I'm an angel...” “No,” she interrupted. “Not an angel, you are the Angel of Fire. There has never been, nor will there ever be, another angel quite like you.” As soon as the words escaped her lips, a flicker of regret flashed in her eyes. “Well, that's comforting,” I scoffed. “With all that genetic tinkering, leave it to me to be a scientific anomaly.” An unexpected bubble of excitement burst inside me. “Speaking of super-powers, what are mine?” She tilted her head to the side, face solemn. “You are quite powerful. Extremely dangerous, in fact.” “Yeah, you said that already.” I decided to try and play it cool. “What kinds of things can I do?” I asked, sounding as if I didn't care. But, truth be told, I did. I really, really did. Yes, even though weird things I couldn't explain had been happening to me, right now I honestly didn't feel an ounce of power. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I knew this to be true for the simple fact that I'd already run through a mental checklist, and failed miserably. I was hopelessly and utterly normal. Just a regular dork – nothing special. Maybe Alea had me confused with somepony else. As I continued to mull it over, my thoughts returned to Mr. Harper. I smiled inwardly. Could I really be responsible for what had happened to him? Part of me, a really small part, still thought it was all just a coincidence. “Scootaloo,” I jumped at hearing my name. “Do you remember when I admitted that I've been watching you?” “Of course.” How could I forget? “I thought you were a creeper.” She looked at me confused. “What's a creeper?” I opened my mouth to explain, but she held up a hoof, cutting me off. “It doesn't matter. What does matter is that you don't hurt yourself, or anyone else for that matter, until you have learned to control your abilities.” She paused to smile. “And that's where I come in.” “Let me guess. You're here to...how did you put it?” I paused, pretending to think. “Oh yeah, to make sure I don't run amok and scare the villagers.” She shook her head. “I'm afraid it's more complicated than that.” I folded my arms over my chest. “Enlighten me.” “As long as I am around you, your powers are negated.” That can't be good. “What do you mean...negated?” Her eyes held a glimmer of challenge. “It means my power cancels out your power.” I frowned. “Well, that sucks. How am I supposed to learn how to control myself with you blocking me?” “I have been sent, not only to put a stop to the Dark Ones' plans for world domination, but also to teach, as well as, to protect you until you are no longer...” she paused, raking her eyes over me, “so volatile.” I grinned. “So, that makes you what exactly? My Guardian Angel?” Suddenly, I felt giddy. Like a kid on Hearth’s Warming morning. “Do I get three wishes? No...wait, that's a Genie.” Darn. Alea ignored my ramblings. “Yes, I have been assigned as your protector, but I can't be with you every second of every day. You have to learn to be careful when you are around others. Especially at school. It's going to be up to you to protect the other students.” I glanced at her curiously. “Protect them from what?” “From you.” My anger spiked. “What's that supposed to mean?” I sensed a change in her – a tension that hadn't been there before. Alea cleared her throat. “It means, don't lose your temper.” “Why would I lose my temper?” I said, letting the anger spill out of me like an oil leak. “Are you afraid I might spontaneously combust?” That earned me an uneven smile. “No, I'm not. But, you just proved my point for me. Thank you.” A sound of disgust erupted from my throat. “I don't need a babysitter. I'm not a child!” “You are correct," she admitted. "But you do need to work on your attitude.” “What's wrong with it?” I said in a huff. “Some ponies find my attitude charming.” Ignoring me, Alea began listing my faults. So much for not being judged. “You are extremely mouthy, you have no respect for authority, you have anger management issues, and you are also stubborn to a fault.” I didn't bother to point out the fact that she wasn't so perfect either. But somehow, being beautiful to a fault didn't seem to be in the same league as all of my flaws. And when it came right down to it, I couldn't offer an argument for any of mine. In a rare gesture, I ended up doing the unthinkable. I agreed with her. “Yeah? Those are just a few of my charms. You forgot lazy, unfocused, and irresponsible.” As much as I liked arguing with her, I still wanted to know what I was capable of. “Are you ever going to tell me what kinds of powers I have?” She shrugged. “Remember that list I told you about?” “Yes.” “You have them all.” I grinned. “Really?” “No.” Way to burst my bubble. “But you do have many more abilities than you should," she admitted, reluctantly. "Most halflings have only one.” Halflings? She made me sound like a bird. I decided not to dwell on her habit for giving things strange titles, in order to concentrate on more important things. Like me. I'm nothing if not completely self-absorbed. “Give me the run down," I said, rubbing my hands together like a mad scientist with an evil grin. "What kinds of things can I do?” Alea glared at me. “This is not a game, Scootaloo. The Dark Ones took those God-given gifts like yours, and twisted them in order to use them against mankind. The combination of your mother's pyrokinesis and your father's powers of darkness, means your abilities are that much more destructive, not to mention deadly.” She gave me serious eye contact. “Which means...you possess unlimited powers.” I swallowed hard. “You mean, I can move things with my mind and start fire?” It took me a moment to let the words sink in. She nodded. “What else?” I asked eagerly. Alea shook her head and pointed to my house. “Bedtime.” “Bedtime? No fair!” I sulked, kicking the ground. “I'll never be able to sleep now.” She raised a brow. “What was that part about you not being a kid?” That earned her my best scowl. “Trust me, Scootaloo. There will be plenty of time for you to ask me questions tomorrow. Now get going.” “Why do you have to be such a fun sucker?” I shot back automatically. A sideways grin hovered over her lips. “Why do you have to be so cranky when you're tired?” I opened my mouth to argue, but she stopped me by saying, “Get some sleep. You're going to need it.” I narrowed my eyes. “I'm not going to get a visit from any more members of Land of the Living Dead, am I?” “No," she smirked. "At least, not tonight. The Dark Ones will have to go through me to get to you. Trust me, your safe.” She sounded perfectly confident, but something in her voice told me she was holding something back. I hesitated, not sure I wanted to know. Curiosity got the better of me. “So, as far as tomorrow is concerned, I can expect another visit from a zombie?” She nodded. “Great,” I moaned. “Scootaloo, there's something else you should know.” I rolled my eyes. “What else could there possibly be?” She lowered her voice. “The Dark Ones might not send another minion. Especially since the last one failed. They might send something else.” I was almost afraid to ask. “What do you mean...something else?” “Because the Dark Ones possess the power of deception, among other things, they also have the distinct ability to take on many forms.” “Meaning?” “Meaning they could come for you in the form of a trusted teacher, a loved one, even a friend to try and deceive you.” I interrupted him. “I don't have any friends. At least, not anymore. I don't trust any teachers. My only loved one, or whatever, is my mom and I never see her.” Alea didn't seem convinced. I rested my hands on my hips, sticking out a foot. “Don't worry, I'm not stupid. I'll know somepony is possessed if they suddenly start sucking up to me.” The thought creeped me out. I decided to change the subject. “Are the Dark Ones aware that I'm on your side now?” Alea gave me a knowing smile. “If you're asking me if the Dark Ones are aware that you have formed an alliance with a Guardian then, yes, they know.” “How? How do they know?” I asked, skeptically. The humor I'd seen on her face only moments ago, was now gone. “They need you, Scootaloo. Your supernatural abilities are just one of the ways the Dark Ones plan to exact revenge on ponykind. Their first attempt may have failed, but they are too cunning not to have a backup plan. Failure is not an option.” I frowned. “Why not? I don't want any part of it.” “I know, however, I'm afraid you are not being given much of a choice. As long as you are under my protection, they will never stop trying to get you back.” I tapped my foot impatiently. “But you still haven't answered me.” It was obvious she was trying to dodge the question. But why? Undaunted, I spurred her on. “How do the Dark Ones know I am on your side now?” She smiled grimly. I watched her striking hazel eyes darken as she prepared to surrender the truth. The worry, now plainly evident in her tone, fell from her lips like a prayer. “The fact that you are still breathing is a dead giveaway.” Suddenly, I wasn't so sure if that was a good thing, or not. “You are what's considered a disposable asset.” she paused, but only briefly to make sure she had my complete attention.” She did. “The Dark Ones would rather have you destroyed than to see you fall into the arms of their enemy and try to stop them.” The pain behind her voice consumed me when she added, “That's why I saved you.” I sucked in my breath. And then it dawned on me. She really was an angel! She was the one who'd held me in her arms when I passed out at school. I blushed furiously, shielding my face behind my hair and raced past her – mind swimming with emotions. As I headed back to my room alone, all I was left with was hope. Hope that the delusion of my situation was not as objectively bad as it seemed. Sometimes, hope is all you have.