Wallflower meets a Red Lantern
Today, Wallflower has had it. She’s been ignored for far too long, and the weapons stuffed in her pack are going to make sure that she’s never forgotten again... Even if it killed her.
Today, the girl that no one remembers is going to die. She’s sure of it. Better to be dead than forgotten, she keeps telling herself. Besides, Wallflower’s living situation has been rough since both her parents were deployed overseas. With a father in Korea and a mother in Afghanistan, she’s been struggling to take care of herself. She’s always been rather shy, though not nearly as much as Fluttershy. Then again, Fluttershy still doesn’t screw up that much. Wallflower can only seem to get gardening right, and she’s actually spectacular at it... But none of that matters now. Only that she’s had a horrible eight months without anyone to care about her.
In the janitor closet that she chose to hide in, she’s going through everything.
Ten pipe bombs?
Check.
Her dad’s favorite over-under shotgun? The one Wallflower learned to shoot when she was little...
Wallflower brushes her fingers over the stock. Her fathers initials are engraved on it, with her own initials under it...
Check. Check! She has theshotgun!
Fifty shots for the shotgun? All quail shots, the kind commonly used in trap shooting... Her mother’s favorite sport... Wallflower got a letter in the mail. Her mother’s been critically injured by an IED. Rose Blush has been hit by at least three before, all not even leaving a scratch on Wallflower’s mother, but this one she might not walk away from...
Get back to the point, Wallflower! She’s got the shotgun shells.
You seem distracted. You want to kill, yes?
What the?
Wallflower listens for that voice. It wasn’t her’s, and she can’t hear it anymore. Must not be important. She returns to check the inventory of her pack.
Colt 1911, ammo included? The one her father got her as a birthday present on her tenth birthday? Wallflower picks up the pistol, and her hand starts to shake. And tears start to leak from her eyes.
Why didn’t anyone just spend time with me? The only two people in the world who care about me are on the other side of the globe, and they’re always too busy to call!
You not ready to kill. Mind not focused on rage or hate.
“Who’s there!” Wallflower yells out loud while pointing the pistol around until she sees a floating blue tabby cat in a red and black jumpsuit.
You want to kill, yes.
“W-what are you?”
I Dex-Starr of the Red Lantern Corps. The cat says telepathically, I have question. Why you want to kill?
“Why would something like you care?”
Because I killed many in name of vengeance. I sense your anger, but it clouded by sadness. You sure you want to kill?
Wallflower looks at the pistol in her hand, her hand still shaking. Thoughts about her parents begin to flood her mind, and she begins to tear up again while plopping on the floor.
“I don’t know anymore! My mom’s dying, my dad’s rotation’s been extended, and I can’t take care of myself! I’m not strong enough!”
Dex-Starr floats over to Wallflower and rubs against her chin while purring and wiping her tears away with his tail.
You strong. You just not know.
“H-how do you know?”
I read mind. You excellent gardener. You try to start gardening class, no?
“Y-yeah, but no one signed up for it. Everyone doesn’t want to learn about gardening when all they want to do is be on their phones and computers and eat fast food.”
They fools. Food best when fresh! And flowers make pretty colors and have good smells. You like flowers, yes?
“Of course, they’re the prettiest and most fragrant plants in the world.”
Why not plant flowers around school? People might not notice you, but they might notice flowers. You can keep flowers good, too.
“Why are you helping me?” WalIflower asks, holding Dex-Starr in her arms, “I was about to shoot everyone in this school, and then you come out of nowhere and decide to help me? Why?”
Because. Your parents are closer than you think. Dex-Starr shows off a red ring on his tail that starts to glow, I show you.
With a flash of red, Wallflower and Dex-Starr end up floating above a US Army camp in South Korea. Dex-Starr floats out of Wallflower’s arms and points a paw at one of the many buildings. It's a barracks bulding.
We at camp that your father at. You fear that his time extended.
Dex-Starr floats the both of them down to the tent that he pointed at, both of them passing through the top to see John Blush, Wallflower’s father, talking with other soldiers.
“I didn't think that the Marines give orders to an an Army NCO.” A Private First Class says before taking a sip of a Coke.
“Not exactly.” John Blush says, examining the paperwork in his hands, “The orders are coming from a commander in the Marine Corps, but they're being honored by our commander. Captain Shamus could’ve denied me.”
“That Marine commander must have a lot of connections to even be able to get around to sending back home with your wife.” A Specialist says as he goes from sitting in his bunk to lying down, “You’re lucky, you know that Sergeant?”
“How so?” John Blush asks
“Didn’t your wife turn out okay? She was in a Humvee that drove over not one, but two IEDs and came out fine. That makes her survival count to, what, five IEDs?”
It seems that things are not as they appear, no? Dex-Starr asks, looking at Wallflower. With no words to say, Wallflower just pulls Dex-Starr into a tight hug. Dex-Starr begins to purr, There there, I just bring comfort to young girl in need.
Dex-Starr’s ring stops glowing, and the two reveal that they never left the janitor’s closet.
“I-if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to ask something of you.” Wallflower says, finally able to speak.
You can ask me to do anything, I make time for you.
“C-can you stay? Until my parents come back?”
Dex-Starr smiles at Wallflower and floats out of her arms.
I stay as long as you want. I help you stay strong. I good kitty... Dex-Starr’s ring glows and picks up Wallflower’s backpack full of weapons and bombs, But I first bring weapons back to your place and get rid of pipe bombs.
“Y-yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” Wallflower says, rubbing the back of her neck and blushing.”
It good thing you listen to reason.
“Why do you say that?”
If you went through with plan... Dex-Starr’s smile turned to a damning stare filled with anger, hatred, and a hidden sort of rage, I would have shown you hellish hate.
A red portal made from what appears to be blood opens behind Dex-Starr, and he floats through it with the bag. With Dex-Starr gone, Wallflower steps out of the closet with a face that she hasn’t had for a while. She’s smiling. She hasn’t smiled for a long time.
“Wallflower, what are you doing in my closet?” A random voice asks, startling Wallflower.
“S-sorry Mr. Discord!” Wallflower blurts, trying to brush herself off and look non-suspicious.
“You weren’t planning on shooting up the school, were you?”
“N-No! That’s An Absurd Assumption!”
Discord breaks out in laughter, slapping his knee.
“Of course not, that would be ridiculous!” Discord laughs out, stumbling against the wall from laughing so hard. He soon regains his composure, “Though I will say, barely anyone remembers that closet. I always like to keep tabs on it, it would be the perfect hiding in plain sight. Oh well, off you go. School is almost over, you know. I’ll let you go early so you can enjoy your weekend sooner.”
With that said, Wallflower starts to walk towards the front doors of the school and heads home. She has a good feeling like someone is waiting there for her.