Me, my-selves, and Fluttershy: The Story of the Firestarter

Chapters

Chapter 1: Starting some fires
Chapter 2: What is in my bed?
Chapter 4: Group meeting
Chapter 5: A good morning surprise
Chapter 6: Fluttershy's tale
Chapter 7: The world as I knew it
Chapter 8: Preparations
Chapter 9: A Fiery Deposit
Chapter 10: Aftermath And A Tired Terrorist
Chapter 11: The Red Room
Chapter 12: The Truth in the Lie......
Chapter 13: ......and the Lie in the Truth.
Chapter 14: Peace and Terror
Forward
Chapter 3: Things go swimmingly....

Chapter 1: Starting some fires

I remember it all started on the day I blew up the Statue of Justice. Now I had been doing shit like that before that day but the real story started then.

I was standing up on the hills that surrounded three-fourths of the Town looking down over it all with a clear view of my target. That's what I call my fair city, The Town. We aren't allowed to say it’s real name and I sort of didn't like it before anyway. I do remember what it was before the dark days; how it was bustling with business and was all around a nice place to live in. Now it was a dump, a cesspool, a broken shell of a city choking on its waste due to the malnourishment it has suffered. The ones responsible for this are the ones that a few years ago started what was known as the Chance Rebellion.

The only reason they were actually able to get the people to rebel was because of the failings of the democratic government. Prices were skyrocketing, crime was skyrocketing, and that led to civil unrest skyrocketing. It was just a bad decade for us but the people were still enraged by the government. And so this group of idealists and leaders who thought themselves the next Founding Fathers rallied the people against it all. They managed to knock down the doors of the capital and the White House and proclaim it all defeated and dead and now a new and better government could begin.

But right in the middle of the celebration the people were betrayed. The group of Chance turned their guns on them and began to spread terror throughout the country. They then revealed their real plan: to control everything in a totalitarian grip and rule the entire world. They saw it all as a broken system and this was the only way to bring true peace. They marched into Canada and Mexico and down into Central America all in their crusade to bring global peace. But this is no peace, this is murder and abuse and I was going to put a stop to it and put things back the way they were meant to be. I will bring back that philosophy that we lived by once again: Of the People, By the People, For the People.

Well.....that's what I wanted the people to believe about me. In truth, I was a monster seeking revenge against the ones who created me, who drove me into what I am today. I will see them burn and I will burn anyone who got in my way. But they don't want me to be consumed by this lust for death; they want me to stay in the light. Who are they? They are my voices, my selves, my guides, my only friends who keep me sane through the insanity of their existence. Only I can hear them and see them and only I can communicate with them.

Atop the hill where I looked over the town they stood with me eager for the show to start, invisible to all except me. One of them spoke, his deep, rolling voice easily identifying him, "Did you make sure it was primed?"

"Yes" I answered back and I took out the detonator, nothing more than a cylinder with a red button on the top which my thumb rested on. The wind picked up and blew through my auburn hair; I pulled my coat closer as I prepared for the show. Below, the town stretched out starting as simple run down houses and apartments to shops and bigger houses until it reached the center which held the capital and tall skyscrapers. But I was staring at the courthouses next to the capital and to the statue of the blindfolded lady holding the scale and sword. She was once a symbol of Justice that we could all depend on. Now the courthouses were never used instead people were arrested and just simply thrown into the dark cells of the prison and her once lustrous bronze is now covered in shit and graffiti. So I think I'll show them that I won't show mercy and give them a chance of being served Justice. Justice will come in the form of my flames and their skin will peel and burn in it....

"Easy laddy, don't lose yaself. Ya have ta stay in tha light. Ya can't become one of them."

The voice put me at ease and I hung my head in shame.

"Forgive me" I said.

"Man it's cool now press the button and start the show. Those clouds are getting scary."

He was right, a storm was brewing. I lifted the detonator up and after a pause pressed it. Below next to the statue, a briefcase seemingly left by some careless person right at the feet of the statue started beeping before a great explosion obliterated the area. Pieces of the statue were thrown in all directions in the fiery blast. What was left of the head was sent flying into the air as the sword was flung to one side and the scale to the other. All that was left now was a charred area with a fire smoldering in the middle and smoke rising into the air. Suddenly a firework erupted from the wreckage, the last stage in the detonation. It screamed into the air before going off with a mighty bang and red glowing orbs slowly drifted down to the earth.

All those who saw the spectacle saw this as a sign. They knew who had done this. Some cheered, others quickly ran to the safety of their homes and others just sulked back into the shadow of the ruined city not showing a care in the world.

Back up on the hill, a smile formed on my face as the sound of the explosion finally reached my ears. The Others were all cheering, pleased with my work.

"Now that was awesome. Let’s do it again!"

"Yeah I'm betting they got that message!"

Their celebration was cut short by thunder rolling through the sky above and drops of rain beginning to hit the ground.

"Alright we can finish the festivities later let's get inside quick." I said as I turned to make my way down the hill. In that instant they were gone and back in my mind as I ran through the trees towards the outskirts of the town. The rain was getting worse and worse as I ran; even the lightning and thunder were picking up a bit. I ran through the now incredibly thick curtain of water, I was soaked and I hated getting wet.

I was almost at the bottom when it happened, there was a bright flash and a deafening crack as a huge bolt hit the other side of the hill. The force shook the ground and trees and I was knocked down and rolled a bit down the side of the hill. I stopped on my back and I just laid there as the rain pelted my face. I could hear nothing save for a loud ringing and after a minute I hauled myself up onto my knee and I waited for the ringing in my ears to stop. I could feel the hairs on my head and arms standing on end. Slowly the ringing stopped and my senses came back as the voices became clearer.

"Wot tha bloody hell was that?!"

"Jesus it felt like a nuke just hit the mountain!"

"That wasn't a nuke Sam it was a bolt of lightning but it was like a super-charged strike. Never seen anything like that before."

I got up on my feet and looked back towards the point of impact. I could see smoke rising from the other side of the hill where the bolt hit. I was curious to check it out but the rain and wind were hitting so hard I just wanted to get home. Plus I didn't want to be around for another huge hit should it happen.

"Alright listen up," I addressed the guys, "We can go and check out the spot as soon as this storm goes away but right now let’s just get indoors."

I began to run again but this time I was a little slower. As I cleared the trees and came to the bottom I could see my home. It was nothing more than an abandon apartment complex. It was small and shaped like a U; mine was at the bottom level right in the middle. I was the only one that lived there but it was a good place to be. I climbed over the fence and hauled ass towards the door.

I took my key and unlocked ever lock one by one and then threw the door open to get inside but in my haste the wind grabbed the door and kept me from shutting it back. I threw myself at the door and struggled to get it closed.

I was halfway to victory when I felt something run by my legs and into the apartment.

Author's Note

S.M.Wilde presents.....

A FimFiction original story
Prequel to The Wilde Series
A tale of love, justice, kindness, revenge, and redemption

Me, My-Selves, and Fluttershy
The Story of the Firestarter

Chapter 2: What is in my bed?

I slammed the door shut with a triumphant *WHAM* and stood in the entry way panting heavily. Water dripped off my coat, face, hair, and fingers onto the rug and tile floor. I turned around to survey my home, my eyes searching everywhere for the thing I felt earlier.

"Jeez glad that's over. Now we....hey you ok there man?" They obviously felt my uneasiness as I scanned the apartment.

"Yeah I'm fine. I just swear I felt something brush by me and into here when I was forcing the door close. It felt like some kind of animal or something."

I could feel the disbelief coming from them and I imagined them all looking at each other with skeptic looks.

"We didn't see anything. Sure it wasn't the wind?"

"I'm sure John."

"Well then you better make a sweep of the house and keep your eyes peeled."

I agreed but first I took my boots and coat off and left them by the door to not get anything dirty as well as my socks which were soaked. I made my way slowly through the small apartment coming into the living room and noticing nothing out of place. The couch, coffee table, shelves, and TV were all still there. I turned to my left to look into the kitchen and dining area, nothing there either. Then I looked ahead to the door that led into the bedroom. I suddenly felt an uneasy feeling as I looked into the dark interior.

Slowly, I approached the room being careful to not make any noise. I stopped right in the doorway and listened for anything out of the ordinary. At first I heard nothing but then....

"You guys hear that?"

I could have sworn someone was crying in here, like a child who had gotten lost. Slowly I reached out to where I knew the light switch was and after feeling the shape I took a deep breath and readied myself before I quickly flipped it on.....

And saw that my bed was occupied by something. Whatever it was, it was hiding under my sheets and seemed to be cowering in fear. The whole bed was shaking from its shivers of either terror or cold or both. I had no idea what to do and the guys were just as surprised.

"Holy crap something DID run into here. What do you think it is?"

"An animal that's what and it’s under our sheets. We need to try and catch it and through it out quickly."

I, however, felt differently about this "animal". For one thing, it didn't seem to look like or act like any animal I know of. It was just hiding under there and acting like it was trying to get away from something. Another thing was....I kept feeling like this wasn't an animal at all.

Slowly I crept forward to the bed, one arm out in front of me and the other behind my back held in a fist ready in case I was attacked. The guys protested a little but fell silent as I stopped right at the side of my bed. I began to wonder what my next move was when I heard something from the thing in my bed and it sounded like...

"A whimper for help....and it sounded like a girl!"

"Can't be....it just can't be."

"Jacob say something; try talking to it."

I began to try and find my voice and I croaked out, "Um....hello?"

Instantly the shivering stopped and the thing lay motionless in the sheets. I pressed on, my deep voice not really the best sounding but I tried to sound as gentle as possible, "Hey, can you understand me?"

What kind of question was that? I was kicking myself for saying such a stupid thing right at the start when it made a noise, it sounded like a very small "yes."

So it wasn't an animal I was right again. From what it sounded like it was most certainly a young child, possibly a girl. I unclenched my fist and got down on one knee next to the bed. I felt bad for the little thing, lost out there in that storm and so scared it just ran into the first sign of shelter which was my apartment and had no idea I was also here. My hand reached out and I began to try and calm it down again, "Hey, it's alright. I promise I won't hurt you. You're safe from that storm now and nothing's gonna get you."

I kept my voice as calm and soothing as I could in order to try and convince it that everything was ok. This was someone who needed my help and I wasn't going to just stand there and do nothing. It was my job to help people that was one of the reasons I do what I do now. Sure a part of me was saying no to the fact that I had to take care of something like this but I just shoved it away. I was certain this was a kid that needed my help.......

Boy was I in for a surprise....

I could hear more whimpering coming from the lump in my bed but it looked like it was relaxing a little. I continued to talk to it, "Don't worry. There's nothing to be scared of here. I promise I'm not going to hurt you. How about you come out of there and let me take a look at you? You must be filthy from the storm."

At that moment my hand rested where I thought the kids head was but instead.....

"Whoa hold the phone.....t-that doesn't feel like a human kid man."

"He's.....he's right! What is it?"

There was no denying that wasn't a kid, the shape just felt off. It sounded like a child and yet I swear it felt like something else entirely. I became so confused I abandon all hopes of trying to coax it out and grabbed the edge of the sheets and lifted them up.......and.....

Yeah.....

It wasn't a "human" kid....

Chapter 4: Group meeting

As I laid back in the chair I decided it was time for a group discussion on what the fuck just happened here. I closed my eyes and delved in to where I knew they would be waiting for me. Sure enough everyone was there and seated at our usual meeting table. I looked around at them and saw they were eager to talk about our newest roommate.

"Well?" I said, "What are your thoughts on this guys?"

The first to speak was the one I've always considered to be the leader of the bunch. He goes by Guard and he is definitely the most outlandish one of the bunch. For one thing his skin is black like coal and his face is hidden behind a even darker skintight black mask. His voice is deep and rumbles as he speaks.

"Hmmmm...." he started, "I honestly do not know Jacob. She is not from this world I think we can agree on that but she seems to act like a human even though she is a pony. There are many questions which needed answers. I think the best we can do is get as much information out of her as we can and go from there."

Everyone else nodded their heads in agreement and even I thought this our best choice.

"I agree Guard; maybe taking this one step at a time is our best option. But does anyone else have anything to add to this or would like to bring up something that should be discussed."

The one I identified as Sam raised his hand. He was a skinny pale figure with nerdy glasses who loved to analyze things and is mostly just your average nerd. His voice was similar to mine yet it was lighter. He is obsessed with details and questions and never misses anything. Well almost.

"I have something I think should be taken care of. How are we going to take care of her? Do we know what she eats? Or drinks? How are we going to get this? How are we going to afford this? These are things we must discuss if we are going to keep her and care for her until everything gets sorted out. I know our priority now is getting her home but-"

Guard interrupted him knowing he would go on forever.

"Yes Sam these are important things and we will come up with the means but we need to take this, as Jacob said, a step at a time." he said with a stern voice.

"Sorry" said Sam realizing he was overdoing things.

I smiled and said, "It's alright Sam I'm glad you brought all that up. I must admit I didn't think about that."

I looked around the table to see if anyone else wanted to speak. Mostly everyone was silent except for two to my left that sat next to each other. One was bouncing in his chair and the other was wringing his hands.
"Hank? Angus? Do you two have something to share?"

Hank or just H as we called him was the smallest of the bunch but quick witted and all around he was just a comedian. His bald head was usually hidden underneath a blue hoodie, His voice reminded me of those hyper active stand up guys who talked too fast. All in all he just liked to make us smile with his antics.

"No no not me man, not me. I'm just excited, really excited, and anxious about this. I'm as lost as you man. That's it. Don't mind me y'all." he said still bouncing up in his chair. Angus, the giant next to him, had to put a hand on his shoulder to get him to calm down. Then he turned to me. Hank had made him lighten up a little but I could still see the worry in his eyes.

Angus was an odd one, he had blonde spikey hair and a goatee of the same color on his angular face. He liked to wear huge coats and for the most part just seemed to be a jolly giant. Why he was one of my selves I didn't know but I always listened when he spoke.

"Wha I've got ta say is mighty important fellas." His voice had a thick accent to it making him very distinct in arguments. Everyone leaned in to hear him.

"I'm a tad worried about how this is gonna affect ar fight against tha Republic. How are we gonna pull anathing off with her ta take care of? I know she is rather important to us but it would be a huge disappointment to cease ar exploits. How could we do this without putting Flu'ershy in any danger?"

For a moment I was stunned. I had not thought about that. Everyone, even Hank, sat still and silent in deep thought. I ran a hand over my eyes and at the same time open them outside to check on Fluttershy. She was still asleep in the same way I had left her. I wondered if she was dreaming at the moment of home.

I closed my eyes again and returned to the meeting, still silent and still. Until a smoky voice said, "We can pull this off still if we try."

I looked up at the being who had spoken. It was Tom. Now Tom was that side of me that I wished wasn't there but I knew he was important. He was my reminder why I fought and every day he made sure to do his job.

"We can continue our activities but we must be more careful than ever. We can do it at night while she sleeps. And as for supplies we need only ask what she desires and make sure we stay stocked on it. We will adapt to this in time. Once everything has been situated will be the best time to pick our activities back up. Agreed?"

For once I was glad he was here. I smiled and nodded as did everyone else.

"Agreed." I said.

Both Guard and Angus said, "Aye!"

All others nodded, their faces showing a mixture of emotions. Hank seemed even more excited. I was afraid he was going to fall out of his chair he was shaking so hard.

"Very well then. We will find out more in the morning and go from there. And once all things have been set up we will start our crusade again with the safety of Fluttershy in mind. Thank you all for your words. It has helped greatly. Meeting adjourned."

After everyone stood up and started to leave to wherever it was they go in my subconsciousness, one of them came up to me. It was Jay. He was by far the wisest of them all with his fancy suit and tie and his voice sounded like a teacher, full of wisdom and kindness. "Jacob. A word please?" he said.

"Of course Jay. What is it?"

He looked around to see that no one was eavesdropping and leaned in to whisper, "I'm concerned about how this will affect you being around her. You've already showed signs of major change. You mustn't get too attached to her. You don't know when she might be taken back home. Just take this advice and choose your next decisions wisely my friend. We are all here for you but this is all you now."

I was silent for a while as I took in his words. He was right but I couldn't imagine not getting fully attached to her.

"Thank you Jay." I said, "I will remember your words in the future."

"Good" he said, "Now you best get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day."

"Ok....... Jay do you think that whatever brought this creature here might be able to take me back with her. It might be our way out of this world."

Jay put his hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes.

"I know Jacob but you can't think like that now. You don't know if you can. You don't know what will happen. Guard and Tom are right. We need to take this a step at a time. For now you need sleep. We will talk more tomorrow."

"Oh" I said, "Ok.....thanks Jay. I guess I should sleep. Good night. Talk to you tomorrow."

"Good night Jacob."

And then they were all gone. I opened my eyes one last time to check on Fluttershy. Still asleep. Good. I couldn't keep awake any longer. I shut my eyes and fell into a deep slumber filled with dreams of fire and smoke.

Chapter 5: A good morning surprise

My eyes slowly open to reveal the sunlight seeping through the blinds of my window. I slowly start to move as I check the time on the clock. 9:47. I look at where I'm sleeping with confusion. Why am I in my chair? And why am I gripping my magnum? I stood up and took off the heavy coat and reach in to carefully take out the guns and set them back where I got them. I was so tired I made a beeline straight to the coffee maker not noticing the lump in my bed. I stumble into the kitchen rubbing my eyes trying to remember what happened last night. I start my coffee and lean against the kitchen counter as I hammered my brain trying to remember everything.

"Something happened last night but I can't recall what it was. I remember a storm and a meeting but.....agh there's something missing."

Soon my coffee had finished and I tried to take a sip but like always it was way too hot for me. I set it down and feeling cold start back to the bedroom to get dressed.

The minute I'm in the doorway I look up and suddenly I'm face to face with two huge eyes. Now I wasn't expecting it and neither was she so our initial reaction was along the lines of loud screaming. She dashed under the coffee table and I ran and ducked behind the kitchen counter, instinctively reaching for a weapon but there was none to be found. At that moment those eyes started to trigger the rest of my brain to wake up and I remembered everything. So I stood and peeked over the counter at the coffee table. I could see her pink tail poking out and the table was shaking. Then it occurred to me what happened. She must have woken up and seeing that I wasn't in the chair she wanted to find me so she decides to fly to the living room. I wasn't expecting her to be flying and she wasn't expecting me to be right there behind the door. She must be one of those types who is easily startled. I walk over to the table and reach down and yank on her tail saying "Gotcha!"

She squeals and zooms up from underneath the table to the ceiling and looks down at me. My theory has thus proven correct. She suddenly realizes it’s just me and sighs a breath of relief before blushing with embarrassment. I'm giggling like a little two year old and wave her down to eye level.

"Sorry Fluttershy. I didn't mean to scare you. But that's one way of waking up huh?"

She slowly flew down to land on the couch as she started to laugh a little too.

"Yeah..." she said in a whisper, "Sorry I ran into you. I just saw that you weren't in the room and....... wanted to find you......"

Hmm interesting....

"It’s ok Fluttershy. I must admit I didn't know you could fly plus I'm always slow to start in the morning." I said with a small chuckle.

She smiled at me and the sight of that filled me with this strange feeling again. I had no idea what it was and surprisingly I didn't want it to go away.

The screams had awoken the guys inside and they came bursting out in full force.

"What happened?! We heard screaming is everything alright?!" Guard asked worriedly.

I sheepishly explained what all had gone down and after a few moments of silence they began to laugh hysterically. I just sneered and swallowed my embarrassment while I returned to to my living room. I looked down at Fluttershy who was still staring up at me. I did my best to smile and try to put her at ease.

"Did you get enough rest then? Were you comfortable?" I asked.

"Yes I feel much better thank you. You have a very soft bed."

I laughed a little and then asked if she was hungry. She said yes and I asked what she would like.

"Um well.....what do you have?" she asked.

I suddenly realized that I probably didn't have anything that a pony could eat. I also had to make sure to stay away from meat. That would not be a good thing. I walked to the refrigerator and looked around inside for a minute. Not finding anything I checked the freezer. Then I saw that I had some waffles left.

"Do you like waffles?" I asked with an awkward smile.

She giggled a little at this and said, "Yes actually. I like waffles." And then she started giggling again. "What's so funny?" I asked.

"I don't know. It's just that waffles is a funny word to me." She said and started to laugh again.

Her laughter took me away again and I couldn't help but join her. I suddenly felt something in me that I've never felt before. It was a new feeling and it felt good but it scared me a little. Was this what Jay was talking about? I had no idea but it was a feeling I wanted to hold on to and not let go of. I shook myself and grabbed the box out of the freezer. As I walked over to the toaster I asked, "How many would you like? You can have as many as you want. I'm sure you're very hungry."

Even as I said this I heard a growl come from her stomach. She blushed from embarrassment at this and said, "Sorry. I am quite hungry. Is four ok?"

Her blushing face and growling stomach made me chuckle a little and the feeling came back. Again I had no idea what it was or what to do about it so I just tried to force it back.

"Of course it is." I said, as I took out four frozen waffles and stuck them in the toaster. As they were cooking I asked if she wanted anything to drink. She said milk would be fine so I poured her a glass and set it down in front of her with a straw.

Then her waffles popped out of the toaster and I got her plate all set up with butter and syrup on them. I wasn't that hungry so I simply grabbed some pop-tarts, which were on the illegal food list by the way, and set her plate down on the table in front of her and then I took my place on the other side of her and as she started eating I sipped my coffee and said, "So Fluttershy, how about you tell me how you got here?"

Her mouth was full of waffle at the moment and she just nodded her head and swallowed. She wiped her mouth and took a sip of milk as she began, "Well......it was because of that storm...."

Chapter 6: Fluttershy's tale

The waffles smelled really good as the human Jacob placed them in front of me. He had given me a generous amount of syrup with it too. I was so hungry I just dug right in. I heard a faint chuckle escape from Jacob but I paid it no mind, I was way too hungry. I devoured two waffles before allowing myself a break to wipe my mouth which was covered in syrup. I felt my face blush red as I became embarrassed by my lack of manners. I tried the milk which was very delicious and refreshing. Jacob sat down across from me with a cup of coffee and two weird looking pastries. He looked at me with a smile and said, "So Fluttershy, how about you tell me how you got here?"

I nodded as I realized it was time for me to keep my promise to him and tell him everything that had happened to me. "Well...." I began, trying to find the words to begin. I was never any good with words. "It's because of that storm......and of something that I don't really know about. It's all really hazy but I remember I was having a picnic with my friends in a field not far from the Everfree forest back home in Equestria. We were near a part of the forest we've never been to but we were keeping our distance from it."

The picnic was going well and the food was quite good. Rarity was a really good cook and Pinkie Pie could always be counted on to bring the most delicious desserts. After we had finished eating we all just started chit-chatting or in Rainbow Dash's case just lounging in the grass soaking up some sun. Angel was playing in the grass beside me as I listened to Twilight talk about a bunch of good books on rare forms of magic she found and Rarity was telling us all about her newest line of outfits. Pinkie Pie would ask many questions so me and Applejack just sat and listened. I would occasionally check on Angel as Twilight was starting to tell us about one of the more interesting forms of magic she read about.

"Um Fluttershy?"

Jacob's voice made me go back to the table as I looked over at him, "Yes?"

"Who are these friends of yours?"

"Oh!" I couldn't believe I forgot to tell him who my friends were, "Their names are Twilight Sparkle, who is very smart, Rarity, who is kind of dramatic but a very good fashion designer, Applejack, who has an apple grove, Pinkie Pie, who can throw amazing partied, and Rainbow Dash, who is a loyal friend and a really good flyer and Angel is my pet bunny."

A sound made me look back at Jacob; he was covering his mouth and his eyes were scrunched up as he appeared to be holding back a cough or something. "Are you okay?" I asked.

He waved his hand as he wiped off a tear and said, "Oh I'm fine Fluttershy please continue I'm sorry I interrupted you."

"Oh uh that's okay." I said. I was a little confused but continued where I left off with Twilight explaining her new magic.

"It's this sort of communication spell that can be used to transmit your image and voice through any form of a viewing device like a mirror for example or even a bowl of water but the water has to be extremely calm and clear. I'm guessing mirrors would work best. I'm gonna start experiments soon and I'm gonna see if Princess Celestia will help me."

"Who?" Jacob asked again.

"The ruler of Equestria." I explained.

"Oh okay. Cool."

Twilights eyes sparkled with excitement as she explained the workings of it to us as they always do. Pinkie Pie was even more excited.

"Oooo so it's like we don't need to use scrolls anymore? What about Spike? What would he do? What if we could find a way to actually walk through mirrors to the other side?"

Pinkie Pie was talking up a storm as she pestered Twilight with questions. It was then that I checked on Angel again but to my surprise he wasn't there anymore. I stood up and started searching around until I saw him chasing a butterfly some ways off. I suddenly gasped in horror as I realized he was heading straight towards the forest.

"Oh no" I said as I started after him, "Angel! Wait don't go in there! We don't know what's in that part of the forest!"
He was too far away to hear me so I ran faster to try and catch up with him. Behind me my friends were also following me.

"Fluttershy wait!" I heard Twilight say. I ignored her and continued to run to Angel. He suddenly jumped into the forest and disappeared. I jumped in after him and landed inside the forest.

I started forward when I heard my friends yell behind me, "Fluttershy! Watch ou-" but their voices were cut off suddenly. It got really dark all of a sudden and I turned around to look back at where my friends should be. I gasped and my eyes widened as I stared at a wall of black where the forest should have ended. It looked evil as it writhed between the trees. The black was everywhere, even blocking the sky above me. I became filled with fear as I looked around for a way out but it was dark everywhere.

"Girls?" I called out. "Angel?"

I only heard silence in the darkness. I didn't know what else to do so I slowly crept towards the wall where I entered the forest. I listened for anything on the other side but I couldn't hear anything. Then I slowly lifted a hoof up and lightly touched the wall. The minute my hoof made contact the wall started thrashing about wildly and an awful roar echoed from it. I screamed and turned back around and ran into the forest. I kept running and it felt like there was something chasing me. I screamed louder and put everything I had into my legs as I ran deeper into the forest.

As I ran I kept telling myself not to look back at whatever was chasing me. I could hear something huge crashing through the forest trying to get at me. I ran and I ran hoping that I would find a way out of the forest but there was nothing but black all around me. I could feel myself start to panic but then I saw something small and white quickly moving between the trees. I thought it was Angel so I ran after it, following it through the thick brush until I stopped and found myself standing in the middle of a clearing in the forest. I had no idea where I was and the darkness was closing in around me. Even the sky was blocked up. Fear began to take control of me as I cowered down and whimpered for anyone to save me.

But then the darkness came down like a tornado in the middle of the clearing and it began to take the form of a monster. I screamed and shut my eyes as it grabbed me and I felt myself start to fly up into the air with it. I screamed and the monster roared with me as it carried me higher and higher. Finally it stopped and I saw it's face appear in front me. It was horrible and it flashed it's long awful teeth at me. I feared it was going to eat me when a bright flash blinded me. I felt a burning feeling as a flash of what looked like lightning hit the monster in the face. It screamed and suddenly there were more flashes of light as I suddenly started spinning around in the whirlwind of black. I couldn't see the monster anymore but I kept spinning faster and faster. Finally there was one final flash of light and the spinning stopped. I fell and landed on the ground rather hard. I kept my eyes closed and huddled on the ground, beyond frightened at that point.

I slowly started to relax as I felt that nothing was about to hurt me anymore and I opened my eyes. What I saw wasn't the Everfree forest at all. It was all different and it felt wrong. I knew somehow that I wasn't in Equestria anymore. To make things worse the sky was dark with clouds and lightning flashed everywhere. Rain was starting to fall too. I didn't know what to do I was so scared. I thought I could probably find my friends somewhere, that they too were here but I couldn't find anything or anyone. I slowly made my way through the unfamiliar woods and I saw a strange building ahead of me. At this point it was pouring rain and I was filthy. All I wanted was to find shelter. I ran towards the building and hid underneath some kind of awning. I let myself rest but then lightning struck just in front of me and I ran, terrified along the wall of the building. I saw several doors along the way and prayed for an open one. Then I saw one and dashed inside, unaware that I wasn't alone.

"And then I just found myself in your bedroom and hid under the covers I guess." As I finished my story I looked back up at Jacob and saw that he was deep in thought, his hand rubbing his forehead as his brow clenched together in thought. I wondered what he was thinking about until he opened his eyes and looked at me.

"That's quite the tale Fluttershy" he said, "I have no idea how you got transported here. I'm just glad you choose my home to hide in. This world isn't exactly a nice one."

I had finished my breakfast by then and looked at him with confusion.

"What do you mean?" I asked, afraid of the answer.

"It's better I show you." he said and he turned to a black rectangular screen on his wall and said, "TV on."

Chapter 7: The world as I knew it

I took in every single word of Fluttershy’s tale and never once interrupted her. The story she told had me ringing with questions. What in the world was this “Shadow” thing that tried to kill her? What was the strange lightning and how did it all cause her to appear here in my world?

As she finished her story and her breakfast I quickly dove inside my mind to seek the advice of my eight friends who were neither real nor fake but always there. I appeared before them and each of their faces was wrought with confusion and apprehension. I looked at both Jay and Guard as they were usually the ones to give the wisest advice and knowledge.

“Well guys…..anything?” I asked, hoping they could shed some light on this mystery.

Guard could only shake his head, his hands rubbing his temples as he nursed a bad headache. Jay looked at me, his face one of shock, “I am sorry Jacob. I am truly stumped on this. For one thing we know absolutely nothing about where she comes from and I know nothing of any shadow monster. I say we be as cautious as possible and hope that we find some answers soon, somehow.”

His words disappointed me as I was hoping that someone here might figure something out. But we were all lost on this. Then one of the figures approached me, recognizable by his long brown hair and aviators he always wore, and put a hand on my shoulder. I knew then that it was John; the one I always felt was an older brother to me.

“Jacob, listen” he said, “I know this is all confusing and all but you have to realize that Fluttershy is now here in our world which is not a nice place. In fact, it’s probably the exact opposite of her world. We need to get her out of here one way or another.”

He was right of course, as he usually always was. I nodded and went back into the real world where I found Fluttershy staring at me from across the table, her plate clean and her glass empty. I knew she was waiting to hear my word on everything.

I sighed and said, “That’s quite the tale Fluttershy. I have no idea what to make of it though. I don’t doubt your honesty at all but I have no clue how you got here and what all that was. I can only say I am glad you choose my house to hide in. This world isn’t a very nice place.”

She gave me a confused look, her head tilted at an angle, something I found rather cute. “What do you mean?” she asked.

I knew then that I had to show her just how bad things really were here. I was just nervous of her reaction. “It’s better I just show you.” I said.

I turned in my chair to face the large flat-screen on the wall in the living room not far from the table and said, “TV on!”
The black screen instantly glowed to life as images began to show across it. I motioned for her to follow as I walked over and sat down on the couch across from it. She flew over and lighted gently next to me. I took the remote and hit a combination into the number-pad and the TV turned to a secret channel known only to those who have received the code through certain back alleyways. It was a rebel network, the only rebel “thing” in this nation. The reporter in charge of it all was a man named Barry Shenfold who reported everything that the government was doing and didn’t want to be known. Most of the time it was on the war with the rest of the world and others it was about the conditions back here at home. He was always urging people to try and stand up to the government but so far no one was listening.

This time he started with the war front in Asia. He had images and clips of the fighting flash across the screen as he talked, I never could figure out how he got those. Both me and Fluttershy listened intently as he delivered his report.

“In recent outbreaks of fighting, the Republic of Chance army has moved deeper into the Asian mainland leaving nothing but destruction and death in their wake. They burn down every building and have so far, taken no prisoners, choosing only to slaughter anyone they capture in the most brutal of ways. These images are some of those graphic killings and I implore you to look away now if you are of weak stomach.”

Then several pictures appeared showing disturbing images of Asian men and women with their limbs chopped off or burned to a crisp. There was even one of a small child clubbed to death in the middle of a street while soldiers in black and red uniforms laughed and toasted each other with alcoholic drinks. The chaos and destruction that was now Asia was shocking; and I felt a rising anger at the cruelty of these soldiers. “These men will all burn” I vowed silently.

Beside me, Fluttershy had her mouth covered and tears in her eyes as she took in the horror that was my world. Disbelief flashed across her face and she kept shaking her head as more images of the war appeared.

“T-this is…..it’s horrible…..h-h-how could anyone be so cruel and evil.” she said.

“I’m sorry, Fluttershy” I whispered, “But now you know why I need to get you out of here and back home. You have my word that I will protect you from this and never stop until you are home.”

Having seen enough, she turned and buried her head in my chest which caught me off guard. I just sat there awkwardly before Jay directed me to hold her back. I held her close as Barry continued his report, now talking about the condition of those living under the government.

“Life here has not been getting any easier. Violence has become more and more common and the number of unemployed and homeless has skyrocketed. The government continues to do nothing about this great catastrophe and the once great Americas still continues to fall into poverty, violence, and chaos. I ask you good people: how long must this go on? Will we allow ourselves to fall to destruction and chaos until we are nothing more than savages reduced to the lowest form of life? Or will we stand and take back our lives and put back the good life we had before? We need to stand up and strike down those who seek to watch us be destroyed and killed and starved. We need to rip out the parasites that now occupy the capital and drain us of everything we need to survive. Those men in the Senate and in the Cabinet and especially the man in charge: Chancellor Eli Barlow!"

It was at that point a picture of a man standing at a podium appeared. He was dressed in a three piece suit and tie, his head was bald save for a beard that was tied in a braid. His skin was the color of caramel and his hair that of night. His eyes were a light blue and they stared at the camera with malice and hate. This was the man that I hated, the man that I would bring down. He was my ultimate target.

Then the newscast suddenly changed, Barry’s voice seemed to take on a lighter tone and a picture of the Town appeared which surprised me until the subject of the next story was revealed, “On a brighter note, the vigilante known as the Firestarter has once again spat in the face of our oppressors with a stunning demolition of the Statue of Justice that was once centered in the courtyard of the City Courthouses. It’s no secret that this once proud building of justice is no longer in use and by destroying the statue and setting the courtyard ablaze, the Firestarter has once again sent a clear message to the cowards in the Capital. He will not stop until Justice has been brought to those who have defiled our once great nation. I urge all of you now to lend your support to this great man who is fighting for freedom. With these words may you all have hope again in your hearts. I'm Barry Shenfold. Good night and God bless America/”

The broadcast ended and static now filled the screen. I looked down at Fluttershy who was covering her head in my arms and holding her hooves over her ears. I held her tight, apologizing over and over again. She finally calmed down and brought her head up to look at me. Our faced were inches from each other and I could see tears falling down her face.

“I want to go home…” she said. I couldn’t blame her; I would want to leave too.

“I know. I know.” I said in a soothing tone. “And I will get you there. You don’t need to fear anyone as long as you are with me. I promise that you will make it home, I won’t give up until you are.”

She sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Thank you. I know you will. I’m so thankful that you found me.”

I gave her a warm smile as I wiped another tear from her eye. I then asked her if there was anything she would like to do to take her mind away from the ugliness she had seen. She shrugged and looked around my apartment for something. I then got an idea and I stood up from the couch and walked over to the bookshelf. I had several photo albums and choosing a green one, sat back down next to the little yellow pony.

I opened it up to reveal that it was full of photos of animals. I had taken to collect old photos and all the ones of animals were in this one. There were many dogs and cats but also some more exotic animals from Africa and Asia. Fluttershy smiled as I showed her the photos, her love of animals washing away the sadness that had been caused by the gruesome broadcast.

Suddenly she turned to me and asked, “Who’s the Firestarter?”

The questions caught me off guard as I quickly searched for an answer. Finally I found one, “He is this man who is fighting back against the dictators. Some call him a terrorist but others a vigilante. He specializes in using explosives and fire in his exploits to bring down the Republic.”

“He sounds scary. But I guess it’s good that he wants to fight back…”

“Don’t worry Fluttershy he won’t hurt you.”

As I showed her all of the photos and told her facts about each one I secretly delved back inside my mind and found the Eight sitting back at the table, their expressions grim. They had seen the broadcast too.

I looked at them as anger filled within me again and I said, “I think it’s time we start burning some bigger bridges lads.”

They all looked at me and smiled as they agreed it was time to act. “What did you have in mind?” asked Guard.

I knew immediately what I wanted to do. The government’s biggest obsession was money of course.

“Start coming up with ideas and plans for a night operation, stealthy yet destructive. In two nights……….we’re robbing us a bank.”

"And then destroying it?"

"But of course" I said with a smile.

Chapter 8: Preparations

Two days have come and gone now and in that time I've learned a lot about my new roommate. She is quite the shy one and seems to jump at the slightest thing. Makes me worry about how she would react if she met the Firestarter.

"Well technically she has met him just not seen him in his mask and stuff."

"Yes thank you John. Technically she has now please I'm trying to concentrate."

"Kind of a futile fight isn't it?"

"Hank. Quiet. Now."

"Eesh sorry sorry."

I tended to get snappy whenever I was deep in my work and others were bothering me. I slowly moved the wires into position and set them into their rightful place. This bomb of mine was going to have to be very complex for what I had planned. In short it was the combination of a breach-bomb/cluster-bomb/new year’s eve firework show and was to be placed on the roof. All in all it was designed to destroy a medium sized bank in a rather spectacular style. It was the size of a normal cardboard box; around the borders were the fireworks which would be triggered in a certain order by a timer before the main unit was activated by me. At the bottom was the breach which would blast through the ceiling into the middle of the bank then several smaller bombs filled a mixture of phosphorous and other chemicals which would quickly weaken the structure itself before the main bomb blow the whole thing sky-high in a glorious fireball. Of course it’ll also be getting help with several bricks of C4 that I’ll put along the outside.

I was putting this all together in my headquarters which is the apartment directly next to mine. I’ve done a lot of remodeling to it and now it consists of a crap ton of computers and monitors for surveillance and spying, storage for weapons and materials, several workbenches and a stand for my mask and armor. The walls were reinforced and had several scorch marks from past experiments and the door was welded shut. The only way in or out is a secret door in my apartment which I hide behind my bookshelves. I had in here a wide variety of chemicals and hardware, all more than enough to rob and blow up a bank.

The bank in question wasn't that big. It was just a regular sized bank but it was the only one still being used and the vault was said to hold enough money to buy the Louisiana Purchase three times over again and I was going to burn it all. If we couldn't have any money, they couldn't have any money.

I had surveyed the building the day after I showed Fluttershy the dangers of my world. I was out finding food for her and other supplies. Shopping for her was easy as she eats what any pony would eat as I had expected: vegetables and fruits but surprisingly she'll also eat eggs. She even said she would help to show me how to make these things called hay fries.

When I was out I had taken note of the security of the bank. Over the years the law force had been growing lazier and lazier due to the fact that they trusted the terror inducing threats of the Republic military to deter any citizen from trying anything. Well they were about to get a rude awakening.

I sat on a bench across the street from the bank next to a snoring dude who I presumed was homeless and watched the bank and all it went through in a day. I was pretty sure that the only security forces were two fat cops.

"Only two are you kidding me? Are they trying to make this easy for us?"

"Now wait a minute Guard. There may only be two but more will be on us the minute they found out what we're doing. And we can't forget the cameras."

Jay was right, what the bank lacked in manpower it more than made up for it in cameras and sensors. They were bloody everywhere on the outside and inside and you had to have a pass card in order to open doors and shut off the alarm system which I was sure consisted of laser sensors. Typical. And because it was the only bank in the city it was busy during the day. Mostly because of all the armored trucks that would pick up and drop off money.

“Hey I was wondering what are we going to do with the money when we get it?”

“I don’t know” I answered.

“Are we even going to get a lot? How much are we going for?”

“I don’t know” I said again getting annoyed by these questions.

“Well we need to know. They’ll be looking for it. And we need to figure out how to do it all without alerting Fluttershy. How are we going to do that?”

“I DON’T KNOW DAMNIT!” I screamed out loud. Having seven voices in your head could push you a little over the edge especially when they started throwing doubts at you.

People were staring at me as they walked by when I had my outburst. I just ignored them but the old dude next to me snorted awake and looked at me with bloodshot eyes and after a minute cracked a grin with only three teeth showing through his dirty facial hair.

“Voices givin ya a tough tahm?” he asked with a wheezing laugh.

“Yep” was all I could say as I pinched the bridge of my nose. Another headache was preparing to run rampant again. The old dude laughed and then instantly fell back into his God-knows-what induced sleep. Jeez this place was a mess…

“Sorry Jacob” Guard said.

“It’s fine” I replied as I hauled myself off the bench and back home.

Back at the complex I put the finishing touches on the bomb and smiled at my work. I felt like doing an evil laugh but I would probably just wake Fluttershy. I put it into a big duffel bag already filled with small bricks of C4 and some electrical equipment. I then put it into a steel vault just in case.

I walked back to the secret door and opened it to reveal my dark apartment. I shut it as quietly as possible and put the shelves back in place then slowly walked over to look into my bedroom.

I could see Fluttershy sleeping peacefully in the soft glow of the nightlight I got her. As I looked upon her I suddenly felt that strange feeling again. It felt like a great mixture of emotions. It scared me to see such an innocent creature here in this cruel world and I grew fearful of what it might do to her. She had shown me nothing but kindness since she got here and I was a complete stranger to her. I wasn’t even one of her kind. I was big and scary looking yet she still was nice to me. As I thought all this, that fear was replaced by anger and I swore that I would not let any harm come to her.

"Heaven help he who should ever lay a hand on her and seek to hurt her."

I was surprised by my words.....what was this feeling and why was it making me act this way? I had always believed that I would strike down anyone who stood in my way of revenge. How life had come to mean so little to me but......I never thought I would have to protect a life.

"Maybe she is here to show you that life is still worth protecting and cherishing, especially your own. There is much you can learn from her Jacob."

Guard’s voice startled me and I turned and saw him standing in the living room by the window. He stared at me though I could not see his face behind his black mask.

"This is what you believe?" I asked.

He nodded, "I feel it to be true. She is what you are missing in your life and the key to unlocking that. You must protect her Jacob. She will help you and give you power to finish your goal. You must believe in her."

I thought hard on his words but my thoughts were slow from fatigue. I looked at the clock and saw how late it was: 1:25.
Was I working that long?

"You must rest now Jacob. You may not be able to for a while after tomorrow."

I silently agreed and he faded away back into my consciousness. I lay down on the couch slowly and allowed myself to relax and after a while slipped into the embrace of sleep. All the while I was both excited and dreading tomorrow.

Author's Note

In the next chapter:
Witness the first of the Firestarters biggest acts against the Republic as we finally get to blow something up!

Chapter 9: A Fiery Deposit

Chapter 9: A fiery deposit

Dreams.....
Awful dreams...
That's all I remember that night....

I woke up with a start and looked around with wide eyes as sweat fell down my forehead. All I could see was darkness barely lite by the crescent moon through the window but I could feel my heart beating heavily in my throat. It was the same dream I've always had: trapped in a burning house watching these four people burn to death in front of me while I could do nothing to get to them and save them. I had no idea why that dream kept haunting me but I freaking hated it.

I hauled myself to a sitting position on the coach I had been sleeping on the past few nights. I steadied my breathing for a few minutes and stared at the clock. It was 11:33, a whole 27 minutes before I was supposed to get up. I sighed heavily and held my head in my hands. Oh well, like they say the early bird gets the worm.

"Or in this case the mounds of cash and a chance to blow up a bank before sunup."

"Fantastic, you're all up too."

"Yup wouldn't miss this for the world."

"Well alrighty then. Let’s get this over with."

I stood up and turned to go into the headquarters but I stopped and instead turned back to look at the bedroom entrance. I couldn't help but worry about her. What if she woke up while I wasn't here....?

"She'll be fine Jacob. We'll be back before she notices."

I hesitated for a few more minutes before nodding and quickly making my way to the shelves and pushed them aside. I opened the hidden door and walked right up to where my armor was, time to get ready.

It always takes a while to get all of this shit on but each was special designed to be fire and bullet proof. I wore under-armor beneath it all to avoid being chaffed by the rough material of the black pants and thick shirt. I slipped on the bullet proof vest that looked like a set of roman armor. Steel boots and leather gloves with hard knuckles were the next to go on and finally the coat. It was a heavy, long, and black coat that was fire proof but also could hold a fire on it for a time without being harmed. It had many hidden places for weapons, inside its folds and in the sleeves. Finally I picked up my mask, my most important piece. It covered my whole head and had two respirator prongs at the mouth and the eyes were mirrored. This is what I chose to be my symbol and for my enemies to fear and the people to find hope in. A tactic used many times before me and now it shall be used again.

I put the mask over my face and sealed it in the back. My breathing sounded heavy and ragged through the respirators but it was all filtered and kept me from choking in smoke and other hazardous gases. It also warped my voice making it dark, metallic, and muffled.

Finally I flipped the hood of the coat over my head and hauled the heavy duffel bag over my shoulder. I was ready at last.

"Alright boys," I said as I stepped outside in the dark night, "Lets burn shit."

It was foggy that night thank God so I was even more concealed as I ran through the woods of the hills around the town. I stopped and looked down through the fog and I could make out the silhouette of the bank. A fence protected the back of the building where the electric box was. I had to get to that if I wanted to shut off all of the security. But first I needed to get rid of the guards and I had a nasty plan for that.

I snuck closer and saw a locked gate in the fence; I just had to lure them out. I reached into the bag and took out two devices: one was a small box and the other was an MP3 player. I hit a button in the box and tossed it over the fence. A small whining noise sounded from the box as it activated. The box was an EMP that would cause the cameras close to it to partially lose picture. I just had to wait for the guards to notice.

Sure enough two flashlights appeared in the fog as the two security guards walked around to the back of the building. They stopped right by the box and began to argue with each other, "I told you to get this damn thing inspected!"

"It’s fine Bill it's not like anyone's robbing us. Who would be crazy enough to do that?"

Gee I wonder.....

I turned on the MP3 and selected a track titled “Decoy 1” and my voice altered to sound like a person in pain came out of the speakers, “Help…”

“What was that?” one of the guards said, turning around and shining his light in my direction but the fog kept me well hidden.

“What was what?” the other one asked.

“Help…”

“That! Did you hear that?”

“Yeah I did. Come on we better check this out.”

The guards walked over to the gate and unlocked it; swinging it open on rusty hinges that screeched in the night. They walked over to stand right in front of the fence just in front of me. They shone their lights in vain trying to see anything in the fog. I waited a few seconds before tossing the player through the air and it landed right between them. They started and looked down at the small MP3 wondering what it was when it sounded again, “Help…” and their looks changed for ones of confusion to shock.

I then stood and slowly began to walk forward in a menacing fashion. They both heard me approaching and when they looked up they could finally see me. Their faces became twisted in fear as they beheld me. Good, that meant the mask was working. They both dropped their torches and brought out their pistols, aiming them at me in shaking hands.

“Don’t c-c-come any closer!” the one called Bill said.

I took another step forward and then a bigger one; quickly closing the gap between us as I grabbed the guns and twisted their arms. They yelled and dropped the pistols as I bent back their arms painfully. I then grasped their heads and banged them together, knocking them out cold. They fell against the fence and slid down it together and a clinking noise could be heard.

Now that those two were out it was time to set up. I immediately went through the gate and to the electric box. The idiots had left this open too and all I had to do was make sure all the appropriate wires were cut.

There we go. I could now step out to where the cameras were and past security. Now came the easy part, I walked along the building placing the C4 bricks all along the sides. I spaced them out and made sure to keep a few for the inside. I then hauled myself onto the roof and set the big bomb right above where the vault should be. I set the timer on the fireworks for 15 minutes and placed some more C4 and made my way to the entrance where the guards came from. I pushed open the door slowly and waited to make sure nothing went off. Silence was all that greeted me and I made my way inside. I set bricks all throughout the lobby and in the back. Soon the duffel bag was empty and ready to hold some wads of cash.

I stood in front of the big vault door and used the guards’ key cards to open it.

“How much do you think is there?”

“I don’t know. Could be a lot or not that much at all.”

“Just grab as much as we can carry and get out of there.”

“I know guys I know.”

The vault light clicked green and the mechanism unlocked itself. I spun the huge handle and pulled the thick door open. I pulled a small light out of my pocket and turned it on, illuminating the room.

“Holy Benjamin Franklin….”

The room was literally overflowing with cash, the shelves were jammed with the green paper and it covered the floor hiding it underneath it all. In the corners were mountains of hundreds and fifties. The tables in the room were stacked high with money and a single breeze could topple them over. They had just dumped it all here without even bothering to organize it.

The guys all appeared next to me and we all stared at the great amount of dosh. Everyone had their jaws on the floor save for me, Hank, and Tom. Tom and I were grinning devilishly while Hank….

“CANNONBALL!” he yelled as he ran towards a pile and jumped into it only to completely phase through it. “DAMNIT!”

“Sorry Hank, maybe tonight in your dreams.” said Tom smartly. I rushed over to the same pile and began to stuff as much as I could into the bag. Hundred dollar bills all wrapped together were stuck as neatly as possible in the bag and Hank poked his unreal head out of the pile and said, “Oh man, I wonder how much we’re getting out of this and how much we’re burning. I mean look at this!”

“Yes Hank,” I said as I forced the zipper shut on the bag. It was almost about to burst with the money inside. “We will count all this later and this is certainly a big score for us but now I suggest we leave as we have ten seconds before the bomb goes off.”

His eyes widened and he disappeared back into my conscience as did everyone else. I stood and ran out of the vault and back outside. I walked out of the gate and made sure to shut it behind me. As I passed the guards a voice made me stop, “Jacob? The guards?”

I sighed and said, “What about them?”

“They are in the blast radius. They haven’t done anything wrong and we need to move them to a safe distance.”

“Grrrrr fine!”

I walked over and grabbed the two blundering idiots by their collars and dragged their heavy asses a safe distance up the hill behind the bank and set them down against a log. I took their handcuffs and locked them onto the log together. I also stole their guns.

Now we had a good view of the show and not a moment too soon. The counter hit zero and the fireworks began shooting up into the sky. They exploded together and the sound they made came together to form a song. It was a song the people of this nation had sang together for a long time and now was no more but today it was coming back with a vengeance.

“Oh say can you see? By the dawns early light?” I sang with it and the guys all joined in.

“What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave…….”

At that time the guards started stirring and they woke to see me and the fireworks shooting overhead. The show hit a pause and I brought out a small cylinder with a latch on top. The guards saw this and a horrified expression came on their faces as the song came to a close.

“For the land of the free….”

I flipped open the trigger and rested my thumb on the button.

“And the home…..of the….”

“NOOOO!” the guards yelled.

“Brave.”

*click*

Down below several explosions began going off as the C4 bricks went off one after another along the walls of the bank and on the roof the breach bomb on the big boy blasted a good hole in the roof and the box containing the bomb fell through landing amid the mounds of cash and tiny clusterbombs all shot out of their tubes and rolled around before going off in fiery explosions lighting the paper up and eating through it more rapidly than Fluttershy with her waffles. The fire engulfed the whole building and the C4 bricks began to topple the foundation and the building began to sag.

Then the main bomb detonated and the building swelled before bursting out in a bright fireball that reached up several meters into the air and rubble went everywhere as the whole building was obliterated. The fireball faded slowly and the sound of the explosion echoed for several minutes as pieces of the bank fell back down. Where the building was there was only a fiery ruin. You couldn’t tell what was there once and not a single dollar survived.

I looked down at the two guards who still had those horrified expressions as they saw their bank destroyed. They were speechless and would probably be in shock for several days. I took out an envelope and dropped it between them and said, “Pleasure doing business with you boys.”

I then slung the bag on my shoulder and sauntered away whistling the tune of the AC/DC song “Money Talks” as happy as I have ever been. Now all that I wanted to do was get home and check on Fluttershy and count my prize….

Author's Note

HI.
Hey.
Yeah I know kind of late with this.
Sorry.
Been busy,
Really busy
Working on something big.
I'll fill you all in later.
For now enjoy the explosions.
Thanks for your patience
Sorry again

Chapter 10: Aftermath And A Tired Terrorist

The scene before me is something I was sworn that I would never see again. It is the scene of a nightmare. I have seen it many times before the uprising: Oklahoma City when I was a young lad about ready to graduate, New York when I had just started out working for the CIA and Boston…….the most recent bombing until now.

He has really stoked the fires now. This Firestarter, whoever he is, has no earthly idea who he is really dealing with. We are the most powerful group in the world and he just destroyed almost 40 percent of our most important asset. Without that money we wouldn’t be here and now it really is gone. Not spent like it should be but destroyed, reduced to a pile of ash. It sickens me. Doesn’t he know we could have used this money to help the people?

“Sir!”

My thoughts were interrupted when a young officer walked over. He tipped his hat and said quickly, “Seer Michelson. We found something. Out of the money that was in that vault, there was evidence that the Firestarter might have taken some of it.”

“How much?” I asked patiently.

“We can’t be sure. A lot of it is completely gone due to the fire. But we put it around $10,000.”

“Christ…” I said under my breath. I thought hard on what to do now but my mind drew a blank.

“Can we trace it?” I asked desperately.

“I don’t know sir. Unless someone suddenly uses $10,000 very soon there is no way to trace it. Did the Eye not see anything?”

“No it didn’t.” I said angrily, “The bastard used a device to blur out the cameras to the point where we couldn’t see shit and then he cut off the connection. We were blind and ripe for the taking.”

“Oh…..well…..the Hand should be here soon. Maybe they can help sniff him out.”

Oh God not the Hand…..more like the Crowbar…..those dumb, big fools only care about scaring people and killing to get what they want. Still they might be of some help in getting information. I just pray to anyone who they grab a hold of.

“Very well,” I said finally, “Notify me when they arrive and you might want to tell the Sniffers as well. What about the Voice?”

“The Chancellor is taking care of them.”

That surprised me, the Chancellor never got involved. Maybe he had had enough of this goon like I had. Being the head of the Eye isn’t easier. We monitor all surveillance alongside the Sound. Sight and hearing together trying to be the perfect instrument of spying on the people. Only we aren’t exactly doing a very good job of it.

I turn back to the still burning wreckage of the bank and think on what has happened and what might happen in the days to come. What I do know is that once the Hand gets here it’s all them. Anyone even walking outside around the time of the explosion might as well start making a coffin or at least bury themselves to escape them.

If I ever meet this Firestarter I will found out one way or another why he’s doing this and what he’s fighting towards…..hopefully it won’t get me in a grave of my own.

I take one last look at the piece of paper he left behind in an envelope……a picture of a gas mask…..an evil gas mask….

************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The door opened to reveal my apartment. Nothing had changed; all was as I had left it. I immediately shut the door and dropped the bag of cash on the floor and made a beeline to the bedroom. As I entered I could barely make out the sleeping form of Fluttershy in the light of the moon coming through the window. She was still breathing calmly and sleeping peacefully. I let out a breath of relief now that I knew she was okay.

I walked over to the chair I slept in not a few days ago when she first got here. Actually, it had been almost a week since she got here. I sat there and watched over her, her masked guardian, ready to kill anyone who threatened her. I began to think, on her, on me, and on the world she came from. Did she have friends or family? Did they know that she was no longer on their world? Did they worry and fear for her?

I started wondering if there was a way to contact them. Maybe tell them she was alright and I was protecting her. Then another thought entered my mind: why was I protecting her? Why did I care so much?

The answer eluded me....

I sat there in thought to the point where it was a whole minute before I realized someone was talking to me, "Mate ya alright?"

"Huh? Oh....hey Angus. Yea I'm fine, just thinking." I said to the disembodied voice from my broken mind.

"Whotcha thinkin about?" He asked.

I knew that Angus was worried about me, they all were, and he wanted to help.

".............her...." I said in a voice that even they had trouble hearing but Angus heard it nonetheless.

"Aye..." he said, "She is quite tha mystery. But she is a very kind soul."

"Yea....but I'm afraid that this world might break her. She doesn't belong here."

"That she doesn't. But she's got you. There isn't ah evil soul in tha world tha can touch her now."

"Angus...." I said slowly, "If there isn't an evil soul in the world that can touch her..........then why can I?"

Angus did not answer; he was stumped by my words. My soul was beyond evil, I killed and burned and tortured. The only souls more evil than mine were the ones in the Capital.

I stood and walked over to the bed. I looked down at her and wondered... is it fate that I should be her protector and was she in fact here as my salvation? I had no idea but I knew that in the next few weeks things would start unfolding and I was afraid of what might be unveiled.

I reached out and ran a gloved hand over her hair. She sighed and an eye opened a little but quickly shut back down and she fell into a very relaxed sleep. I continued to stroke her hair and stare down at her.

"Um Jacob?" Guard was speaking, "You do know you're still wearing your mask right?"

"I don't care." I said back, though I knew he was right. This mask was getting annoying to wear.

I pulled down the hood and slowly undid the seal in the back. It came undone with a small hiss. I froze to make sure it didn't disturb Fluttershy. She never moved. I pulled the mask off of my head and once it was off I held it in both of my hands. My hair was flattened and I had dark imprints from the eyepieces and around my mouth.

I looked down at the mask and then at Fluttershy one last time. Before I walked, out a question escaped my lips, "What are you?"

I didn't know where it had come from. But I pushed it away and went back to the living room. I opened the secret door and got out of my armor. Soon I was just down to my pants. I walked back into the apartment, sealed the door to the secret room, and flopped on to the couch my body screaming to sleep.

As I fell into the realm of the sleeper, a voice once again sounded from my head....

"You look like a clown."

I just flipped off the air and then I was gone.

Author's Note

Hello governor.
Finally getting a chance to work on this story. Moving along very quickly now. Finished with that project I told you about....well mostly anyway. My and two of my friends are doing this collab self-insert fic and we have a group up and running. It's called The Storyteller's Clan. Go and check out it's really cool.
Anyway, new character and a very important one I can tell you that.
Also a quick warning: the next chapter is going to be a bit bad......gore is to be expected and it is not for younger viewers.
You have been warned.
See you next time,
And thank you
Wilde man out

Chapter 11: The Red Room

“THE EDGE, there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.”
― Hunter S. Thompson

I don't remember ever sleeping that well. My mind felt clear and my body relaxed. I didn't even have any bad dreams. For once in my life, I felt rested.

However I knew I would have to wake up soon and the thing that actually woke me was a sound. It was light and soft and soon I realized it was humming. Someone was humming a tune in my home. I slowly opened my eyes to see it was incredibly bright in here. My eyes squinted shut and I groaned at the light. How long did I sleep!?

In my mind I could see everyone else also having similar reactions:

"Argh! Turn off the lights!"

"Christ....what time is it?"

"Aw bugger..."

"Bugger? Did you just say bugger?"

"....................no?"

"THE LIGHT! IT BURNS!"

I rubbed my eyes and willed everyone quite as I slowly adjusted to the daylight. My eyes opened back up, slowly this time, and I looked around at the place trying to find the source of the sound. The first thing I noticed was the blanket that covered me. I don't remember having one last night....

Then I noticed how remarkably clean the apartment was. Everything was dusted and shining and there was literally no clutter on the floor now.

"Oh so that's what color the carpet is. Cool."

I noticed the duffel bag of cash was on the coffee table. It was still ready to burst with the amount of green in it. I was beyond confused now; even for being slow in the morning I felt like I was gonna have a migraine.

"What in the..." I began to say before noticing something flying above me.

I looked up to see Fluttershy hovering near the ceiling fan with a duster, cleaning the wooden blades. She had heard me and looked down to see me awake.

"Oh um....good morning Jacob. I uh....thought I would clean up a little. I hope you don't mind."

She landed on the other side of the couch as I sat myself up on my elbows and looked at the whole place and then at her.

"You did all this? The blanket? The cleaning?"

"Yea...." She said with a blush.

"Wow," I said, "I don't know what to say....thanks Fluttershy. This is pretty neat."

She smiled and blushed some more at the compliment. For a moment it looked like she was about to hide behind her mane.

"Thanks," she said in a whisper before speaking a little louder, "Um.....can I ask? W-what's in that bag?"

I turned to look at the full duffle bag and realized I couldn't really tell her where I got that cash. She probably doesn't even know what the stuff is but I'm pretty sure she knows what robbery is.

"Guys? Ideas?" I asked in my head.

"Ummmmmm...." said Sam who everyone knew was better at making up cover stories, "uh payment for a job you have. That you work at night. Sometimes. That might work."

"Might?"

"Well I'm sorry I didn't know I would have to be making up cover stories and alibis and shit for a talking horse!"

"Relax Sam it will do. Jacob repeat after me..."

The next words to come out of my mouth were from Jay and followed as thus:

"Well," I said laying a hand on the bag, "this is my paycheck for my job. The green paper is our currency in this country and it’s called cash. The numbers in the corners indicates the amount each bill is worth."

"You.....work?" she asked, "When do you work?"

Again I repeated after Jay, "At night. But not all the time, only sometimes. And last night was pay day."

I smiled as I finished and thankfully she seemed to believe me. I felt a little bad lying to her but I had to keep her safe and I needed her to trust and like me. Not an easy thing if she knew I was a psychotic, pyromaniac, mask wearing, killer terrorist.

"Oh okay," she said causing everyone to breathe out in relief and Sam to do a fist pump, ".....but do you work tonight?"

She asked that with a pleading look in her eye that kind of worried me.

"No I don't." I said with absolute honesty, "I don't have to work tonight so I'll still be here."

"Okay good....," she said in relief, "because.....there's another storm coming tonight."

"Wait what? How do you know that?" I asked.

"I can feel it...." she said.

I decided to believe her because of the way she said it and the way her eyes held this kind of fear. I reached over and hugged her.

"If it does storm I will be right here to protect you from it alright? I promise."

"Good.....thank you." she said finally, I could see a smile start to form again on her lips.

She flew up again and made her way to the kitchen. She came back with a plate and set it down in front of me. It was an omelet, freshly made with some fruit and a glass of milk. She had made me breakfast......as well as clean the apartment....

"Dude, fucking marry this female creature I fucking love her."

"I can't marry her! She's a....well not a human."

"I don't care! She's female, she's intelligent, she's basically a human but in pony form, and she can cook and clean! Marry her!"

I hushed him up and continued to stare at the plate. It felt weird being served like this, to be shown this kind of kindness.

I looked up at Fluttershy and struggled with my words but finally managed to speak, "I....I don't know what to say. You didn't have to do this."

"It's ok," she said with a smile, "It's just my way of saying thanks for taking care of me."

She then flew back into the kitchen to finish her cleaning and I began to help myself to my breakfast. The guys were beginning to come out and mingle around, relishing in a job well done and a much deserved rest. Naturally Fluttershy couldn't see or hear them so I had to keep speaking to them in my mind.

I must sound like a real psycho to you right now don't I?

Anyway, Guard and Angus both flopped onto the couch on either side of me. Angus nudged my left side and said, "Eh? Whot ah tell ya? Lass is great ain't she?"

"Yeah alright I admit it," I said back to him in my head, "She is pretty neat. I'll give you that much."

Angus just gave a sly grin like he knew there was more to that and I just stared back trying to keep a straight face. I finally looked away going, "Oh shut up," causing both him and Guard to start laughing.

Everyone was enjoying themselves and overall it was turning out to be a good day. Hank and John were in the kitchen observing Fluttershy work while Sam was looking over the whole place, admiring the thorough cleaning of the apartment.

I was just content to finish my breakfast which wasn't so bad. I wondered if they would have something on my heist on the TV by now. Fluttershy finished cleaning in the kitchen and walked (or is it trotted?) over to me.

"H-how is it?" she asked.

I nodded and swallowed a bite as I said, "It's pretty good. I have to admit you are really damn good at cleaning and cooking."

She smiled and sat down next to me, which would have been right in Guards lap had he been real. But she just passed right through him causing him to awkwardly stand up rather quickly.

"I hate when that happens..." he said.

I finished and pushed my plate away as I leaned back and looked over at Fluttershy.

"So....what are we going to do today?" she asked with a small hopeful gleam in her eye. I knew what she was hoping for. She had wanted to do it for days but it’s just too dangerous. I don't really know what would happen if we did do it. I had to make sure we would be absolutely safe.

"Well I was thinking we just have a nice peaceful day. Maybe watch some TV or play a game...."

I then looked over at her out of the corner of my eye with a sly smile and said more quietly, "Or maybe go outside?"

At this she actually jumped up into the air and said, "Oh yes please can we do that?! Can we can we??"

She then suddenly caught herself and came back down with a blush and said more quietly, "If that's okay with you of course?"

"Awwww....come on Jacob. A little fresh air never hurt anyone?"

"Aye come on laddie, let the girl have some fun."

"Well.....Guard what do you think?"

"I'm sure it's fine Jacob. As long as we just keep out of sight of the Town and maybe stick to the other side of the hills we should be safe."

I thought on it some more and finally said, "Oh......alright I guess we can."

Fluttershy jumped up again and said in a surprisingly soft tone, "Yay!"

I laughed a little at the display before saying, "Let me just check the news real quick."

I then reached for the remote and-

*BANGBANGBANG*

Gunshots....

Three of them...

Right outside...

Instinct immediately took over as I grabbed Fluttershy and flung ourselves into the bedroom and hunkered down on the wall next to the door. Needless to say everyone was freaking out in their own way, Fluttershy was hyperventilating and asking over and over again what that was, Guard had immediately began herding everyone back inside as Sam and Jay began trying to figure out what that was and Hank well....

"God damnit Murphy!"

"Hank shut up and get back inside!"

The instant everyone was inside my mind, Sam talked me through what it could be that we were up against, "Okay those shots could only be from high caliber assault rifles so we could be dealing with the military. No idea how many there are or what they are doing here. We might be compromised."

The fact we were probably dealing with the military was not a reassuring thing. It was broad daylight and I was ill-prepared. I began running through possible escape routes while trying to keep Fluttershy calm. If worse comes down to worse I would have to set off the self-destruct on the apartment which meant triggering the multitude of bombs I had rigged underneath the floor of every apartment block. But what I heard next blew those plans out of the window....

"AAAAAHHHHHH!"

It was screaming. And it sounded female.....in fact it sounded very similar to Fluttershy's scream....

Said pegasus was absolutely silent and still after that scream. She was terrified and rightly so. But those gunshots and that scream got me curious.

I moved out of the room still holding Fluttershy until I was able to see the television screen. Of the many adjustments I had made to this abandon place was a camera system which I could view through the screen here or in the bunker.

"TV. Cameras." I ordered to the black box which promptly turn on to a field of static before showing a view through the camera outside my door into the lot. I could see at least six uniformed men trying to get over the gate while a young girl in a tattered black dress was running towards the stairs to the second level.

I got a closer look at the men and saw they had light machine guns and were wearing uniforms with armor colored grey and a dark red with insignias on their chests that I easily recognized, "It's the Hand..."

"The Hand?! Well we're boned!"

"What's the Hand?" asked Fluttershy.

"Private police for the Capitol. They're worse than the military could ever be." I answered to which she whimpered into my arms.

"Alright that's it we are leaving!" Guard shouted, "We have no chance against them. We have to leave until they're done with they're business and hopefully they'll leave without searching the place."

I was about to answer when I heard something above me. The floor between the second and first floors were just thin enough you could hear it when someone was moving in the apartment above you. The girl was trying to hide right above me. I knew this wasn't going to be good.

I hunkered down again with enough room to see the cameras still and I could see the men had cleared the fence and were running up the stairs quickly. I prayed they wouldn't find her but through another camera I could see they were busting down every door and searching the rooms.

"No no no they're going to find her!"

"Jacob do not engage there's too many of them and we don't have any way of actually fighting them!"

"I can't just sit here and let them kill her! They are the very men I vowed to kill!"

"Jacob there is a one in five thousands chance of getting out of that fight alive!"

"NEVER TELL A SCHIZOPHRENIC TERRORIST WITH FIRE WEAPONS THE ODDS SAM! IT JUST MAKES THEM MORE DETERMINED!"

".........what he said."

This argument was pointless because at this point I didn't care what my chances were; I wasn't going to let that girl get killed. I had taken a vow to protect people like her from men like the Hand. And I wasn't going to just sit here.

I could hear the men getting closer to the room she was in and I just prayed she was well hidden.

"Look," I started to say, "What would you guys do? This girl is about to be killed and we can't just sit here and hide."

"Yes we can."

"Shut up!"

Let me ask you something, you ever had an argument with yourselves? It can get pretty frustrating.

"Jacob what about Fluttershy? What would we do about her? There's too much at risk here."

I stopped and tried to think about that and what would happen to her. If she saw or heard what I would do to those men I don't know what it would do to her. But my thoughts were interrupted by a crash followed by a scream above me. The Hand had found her. I could hear them shouting and beating her and she was screaming at the top of her lungs. I had had enough.

I put down Fluttershy and started to move to the door, "You know what fuck this! Fluttershy stay here and stay hidden."

"Jacob what the hell are you doing!?"

"Jacob wait!" Fluttershy called out. I forced myself to keep moving. The struggle above us was getting worse.

"Jacob stop right now and think about this!"

"This is not a good idea man!"

"Jacob no!"

"Jacob!-"

*BLAM!*

My hand was frozen on the doorknob which I was halfway through turning. No one made a noise or moved a muscle. We all knew what that was....

It was a gunshot....from the room above.....and the girl had stopped screaming....

Fluttershy began to silently cry...

Above me I could hear the men speaking, "What the hell man? I almost had her in the right position!"

"She was yelling too loud and giving me a headache. Don't worry she's still warm."

"No damnit you know I don't swing that way!"

"Well I do. Move over."

At that point, my vision started turning red and a sound like rushing wind filled my hearing. My heartbeat began to thud like cannons in mid-siege. I had entered what was called "the manic state" where I felt nothing but pure rage and a vicious bloodlust. None of the guys spoke and I could see them all backing off save for Tom who was just as angry as I was.

After that I remember telling Fluttershy to hide under the bed and close her eyes and cover her ears and to never come out no matter what happens. She did just that the minute she heard my voice. For it wasn't mine, it was something else. I shut the bedroom door and then opened up the bunker.

I remember putting on the armor and coat and gloves and mask.....

I remember grabbing a gun and my sword.....a single edge katana......very sharp....

I remember walking outside of my apartment in the rain and climbing up to the second level. I stood in the entrance and beheld the scene. There were six men; one was standing close to the door with his back to me. Another was in the kitchen and one was lounging on the couch, presumably asleep.

The other three were in the bedroom, two of them were watching the other doing unspeakable things to the dead girl’s body.....

I could see her blood on the wall......it was a nice apartment with wooden floors and nice carpet and clean furniture......there were beautiful vases on shining tables......and picture frames adorning the walls with smiling faces in them.....

But all I saw was red.....

The sword was in my right hand and I slowly walked over to stand directly behind the man in the doorway. He must have felt like someone was standing behind him because he slowly started to turn around. His face went from confused to shock to fear as he saw my mask beneath the dark hood. He let out a cry and raised his gun up but I was quicker. My sword went up in a swishing blur and his hands came off, cleanly sliced at the wrists. He cried in pain and fell to his knees as he saw his hands fall. The others all turned in surprise at the sound and the one on the couch was jolted awake. They saw their comrade on his knees with blood spewing from the stumps where his hands used to be, crying out in pain.

Then the sword came down and across his neck. There was very little resistance and his screaming ceased. He had a shocked expression frozen on his face as his head slowly tilted backwards and fell off his body onto the floor. The others all stared at his disembodied head as his body became a fountain of red that slowly tilted over and fell.

So much red....

The two in the doorway of the bedroom started to raise their guns as the one on the bed started to scramble out. I threw a small cylinder that went off with a flash and a bang, blinding the three. The one in the kitchen looked over to his gun that he had left on the counter while the one on the couch was slowly reaching for his.

Through my eyes, which were bathed in red, everything seemed slow to me. The soldier in the kitchen lunged for his gun but I just threw the sword. It sliced through the air and caught him in the shoulder, pinning him to the wall. While he wailed, I turned to the one who was trying to get off the couch. I pulled out my gun and proceeded to empty the seven shot magazine into him. I felt the numbing recoil only as a small vibration and the sound like it was under water. The casings all fell on the floor and made a beautiful clinking noise on the wood. The man’s body was blown back onto the couch by the blows and he was rocked back and forth as red explosions appeared with every impact. The final shot entered his nasal cavity and exited out his brain stem.

I then dropped the gun and walked over to the one in the kitchen. He was desperately trying to reach his gun which was just out of his reach. I grasped his throat and took hold of the hilt of the sword. There were tears in his eyes as I rotated the blade and stared at him with my expressionless and horrifying gaze that only a gas mask could deliver.

I finally yanked out the sword and took a step back as he staggered from the pain. I then slashed diagonally down his chest, cutting him wide open. He fell to his knees and started to scream. But as his mouth opened I plunged the sword down his throat with all my strength. I felt it cut right through the spinal cord, as quick as a bullet.

There was a choking and gurgling noise from his throat as blood began to flow from his mouth......I pulled the sword out and let his body fall forward onto the floor.....from his twitching body came rivers of red that flowed over the tile.......and Tom began to laugh.....

The two in the doorway were beginning to recover as one raised his gun and aimed at me with red eyes filled with tears and barely able to be opened. His gun let a small burst as five bullets came at me. I ducked and rolled on the floor out of the kitchen and stopped right in front of them. He turned to fire again and his comrade was still trying to get his eyes to focus. I ran full tilt as bullets began to fly by me, like trying to stop a raging bull but I somehow came out unscathed. I held the sword out and thrust it forward, applying my momentum and strength to stab the man firing at me with enough force to have it exit out the other side. I knew I hit his heart when he began to choke in blood.

His friend let out a yell as he turned and aimed at me. I simply grabbed the man on my sword and turned to put him in front of me. The other then decided to empty his clip into the meat shield. The body convulsed violently as he absorbed all the bullets with only a few exiting to bounce of my armor. Soon a clicking noise sounded that signal the other ones doom. He stared dumbfounded at his empty gun as I pulled my sword out and pushed the dead and mangled body out of the way. He tried to say something but I wouldn't let him. I sliced cleanly though the air as he stopped and slowly felt his throat. A small trickle of blood began to run down the cut as he started choking. He slowly fell down, grabbing my coat as he fell. He lay on the ground trying breath as more and more blood flowed through his fingers. I then brought up the sword and jammed it down through his chests. He finally died with a last gasp....

Now all that remained was the one who killed the girl. I slowly turned my head to stare at him. He was frozen halfway through pulling his zipper up. He decide it wasn't important as he pulled out a sidearm. He fired and the small round impacted on my armor. It made me take a step back but I felt nothing. He stared with an open mouth as he pulled the trigger two more times. One hit the armor and the other missed and I decided not to give him another chance. I stomped on the butt of one of the assault rifles and sent it flipping in the air. I caught it and pointed it at the man with one hand. He tried to fire again but I shot at the hand holding the gun and blew his fingers off. He yelled but I silenced him by placing another shot in his groin. He grasped the bleeding area and staggered as he looked down at his destroyed nether regions. I dropped the gun and walked over to him. He looked up into my mask and said in a small weak voice, "Mercy!"

I then place a foot on his chest and pushed him over on his back. I walked over and sat on chest, pinning his arms under my knees. I looked down at him and heard my voice again, "MeRcy? YoU dArE ASk fOr mErCY AFter yOU ShOwED tHis gIRl NoNe? AFtEr YoU bEAt Her anD kILLed hEr aND NoW dESeCraTe HeR bODY?"

The man began to whimper as he realized he didn't have an answer. I laid my sword down and clench my fists.

"SoRRy," I said as I raised my arm up and cocked my elbow, "No MErcY foR yOu ToDAy."

I brought down my fist with enough force to create a bang and shake the floor. The man started wailing as I began to pound his head ruthlessly. Each hit caused the furniture to shake and the floor to creak. His wailing changed to groaning then to a sickening moaning as his skull continued to cave inward. He was dead after the first six hits but I kept going, his body twitching with each one. I finally brought my fist up one last time and with a roar slammed it into him. The result was his head bursting like a melon being hit a hammer. Grey matter and blood exploded outward covered the room.

I sat there panting heavily as I felt myself become exhausted. I fell over and lay next to the body. While I laid there I heard something from the floor underneath me.

It was crying....

I don't really quite remember what happened then.....I think I walked out of the room....my boots splashing in the blood....but it was like I was watching myself walk.....then I was outside.....and it was raining.....the blood that splashed on me began to wash away.....I walked down the stairs and stopped in the lot.....

And then it all just faded into black....

Author's Note

You were warned....

So this is my first gory violence scene and it wont be the last. So I wanted to ask if I did a good job and if I should fix anything. I just want to know if it was violent enough and with enough detail and all.

I know its kind of late but the reason for that is well.....kind of been a bad week but I'm still moving along and the self insert collab is almost done and the next two chapters are gonna be put out at the same time because their gonna be short. So yeah that's happening and also if you can I would appreciate it if this story got promoted a little. Just to make me feel better you know.

Hope you enjoyed it and I haven't ruined your lunch. Heh
Wilde out.

Chapter 12: The Truth in the Lie......

Evil on the mind and blood splatter in the air

Lying on the pavement, beating in despair

Cruel were the blows as they battered and impaired

He was shown no sympathy and he wouldn't be spared

And all the townspeople were gathered and stood there

Watched the punishment get delivered with no care

But when he looked around at the faces that all stared

He saw his own face, that's when he became scared

I awoke with a gasp and a heave as rain pelted me and the asphalt I apparently passed out on. I could feel the sweat falling down my face and suddenly found the mask to be stifling. I struggled with the seal and finally yanked it off as I breathed in deep as rainwater soaked my hair.

"Great..." I said wearily, "Caught in the rain again..."

It wasn't like I forgot about what I did, no the pictures were all coming back. And so were the voices...

"Jacob?"

"Hey you alright son?"

I laughed a little and looked down at the mask that looked new thanks to the rain, "What do you think?"

They were all silent but I could feel their concern radiating from each of them. I looked down at my sides to see I still had the sword and gun. It was strange.....I had done this before but....why did this one time make me feel all wrong about it.

I slowly began to stand when pain sent me back down with a yell.

"Easy man!"

"Hank is right. You're hurt. You're bruised in your chest and shoulder from those bullets. And you twisted your ankle. It's a miracle you were never hit with anything where you weren't protected."

I held my side and breathed fast for a minute before the pain finally faded to a dull throb. I looked up into the dark sky as rain pelted my face.

"How long was I out?" I asked.

"Around fifteen minutes. Not long,"

"Ah shit....Fluttershy." I said as I stood back up and turned to the apartment only to have Guard appear in front of me.

"Wait a minute Jacob. Now I am not gonna lie, she is probably beyond scared of you right now. But you have a chance to fix things. You need to make her see that what you did was the right thing. And above all else you cannot reveal that you are the Firestarter."

"What? Why not? She already knows I'm a murderer. Let’s just get this out of the way and be done with it."

"No damnit!" Guard said while trying to push me away from the door, "You're not listening to us!"

"Guard, get out of my way!"

I walked around Guard angrily and approached the door.

"Jay, talk some sense into him!" Guard said while turning the one voice that he knew for a fact had a chance to get through to me.

Jay loosened his tie in a nervous manner before walking to me and laying a hand over mine as I was trying to unlock the door.

"Jacob, listen please, listen to what we are trying to tell you."

I let out a sigh before turning to look at him.

"Fluttershy fears the Firestarter more than anything on this world. Even more than the Republic. If she finds out that the only person she trusts and loves the most on this planet is in fact the terrorist she fears, what do you think that would do to her? It would tear her apart and she would run. She would run away and I believe that no one else here would treat her with as much kindness as you have shown her. That is a fact Jacob."

My hand fell off the doorknob and I slouched down as I looked at him and realized he was right.

"So what do I do?" I asked wearily.

It was then that Sam spoke up, wringing his hands like he does whenever he's uncomfortable, "Well....I do have this idea and it’s another one that might work. We don't have to tell her the whole truth but we can tell her half of it."

I turned to him and said, "What are you saying Sam?"

"Well......we could tell her that you are a.....well murderer but you only kill the bad people. You do it to protect and to liberate. You're not a terrorist but a rebel. You're a part of the Firestarter's group and you only want to free the people from the Republic. Just something along those lines you know?"

Everyone nodded as they understood what Sam was getting at.

Guard approached me again, "Like I said, you have a chance to fix this. We can help. Just show her that you are not a bad person Jacob."

I looked at every single one of them and then back to the door. I thought long and hard about everything and I decided that I could not lose her.

"Ok." I said and Jay removed his hand and everyone began to fade into my mind.

"Ready?"

"Here we go again."

For the second time, I opened the door and stepped inside soaking wet and from the depths of my home I could hear someone crying. I removed my coat, boots, and armor now riddled with bullets embedded in the Kevlar. I hid them all, including the mask, in the hall closet and slowly approached the door to my bedroom.

I gently pushed the door open and saw a small lump in my bed like someone was hiding under the sheets.

"Wow....deja vu anyone?"

"Yea..." I said.

I walked up to the bed and stood on the same side as when I first found her. The lump that I knew was Fluttershy curled tighter as if to escape me. Like when she would come out that she would be back in her world. But I knew that wasn't going to happen no matter how much she wished it would or I prayed for it to be. That thought is what truly made me sad....

I gently sat down on the side of the bed next to her and calmly waited. I clasped my hands together and waited for her tears to stop. Finally, the covers moved and I saw a pearlescent green eye staring up at me. As I stared into it I could see her fear as clear as a crystal lake. I looked back at her and felt my own tears start to form.

"Hey..." I said wearily, as if talking to her would somehow make the fear go away. But it was still there and it wasn't going away for a while.

To my surprise, she spoke back, "H-h-hi..."

I turned back to staring at my hands, too ashamed to look at her anymore.

"I'm sorry..." was all I could manage to say even though I knew I had to say more.

She began to move her head out of the covers a little more. Her mouth was trembling as she tried to speak again, "D-did you......."

She was having trouble saying the next word and I wasn't surprised. Perhaps this would be the first time she would ever say it. She took a deep breath and spoke again more clearly, "Did you kill them?"

For a moment I was afraid to answer, what would she do if I said yes?

"I...."

I tried to speak, I really did. They told me what to say and that everything would be ok. But now that I was here.....the words would not come out.

I just sat there in silence with a pained look on my face, causing her to come out even more out of concern or something else I did not know.

"Jacob?"

I finally hung my head in defeat as the word that could end everything came out in a whisper, "Yes..."

There was a flash of shock across her face but she hid it behind her mane.

She spoke again, "Why?"

At that question, the voices in my head began to encourage me.

"This is it. Just say what we told you and this will be fixed."

"This will work Jacob."

I sighed as they quieted down again and instead of just staying quiet, I just blurted it out, "Because it's my job. Because they killed that girl and because they could have killed you. I couldn't just let them go and kill again."

I felt a rush of emotion boil up from my gut as I felt the words just come out. Fluttershy started to reach out to me and comfort me but the fear in me just would not let me shut up.

"Jacob its ok..." She tried to say but I kept going, "No it's not! I lied to you about what I am and what I do. I'm a rebel and a terrorist and a murderer. I should have told you but I was too afraid you would run away in fear of me. I did it to protect you, not just from the world but from me as well. I'm every bit of evil as those men upstairs but when I found you I felt that this was one good thing I could do. If I protect you and got you home then at least I would have done one good thing in my life. I had to kill those men because they kill innocent people who don't deserve to die. That's the way this world is, that's how it works! You kill or be killed and up until now I didn't care if I died! I joined the Firestarter to bring down the Republic because I lost everything when they took over. I felt that the only reason to fight was to get revenge. Then you showed up...."

At this point I was standing up and staring out the window next to the bed, watching the rain pelt the glass and slowing fall down the pane. Fluttershy was sitting up on the bed with the covers over her like a hood with tears forming in her eyes.

"You changed everything when I found you. You changed the way I saw myself and why I was really fighting. I'm sorry I lied to you.....I'm sorry I'm not the good guy you thought I was. But I kill not because I want to but because I have to in order to protect you and everyone else who is hiding in fear."

I turned my back to her and finished with a last sentence, "I am not an Angel, I am a Devil but I will always ever be your Guardian."

The room fell silent again, save for the rain and thunder outside. I could see every one of the guys standing in the corners of the room, watching to see what would happen. Fluttershy said nothing, her head was hung low and small streams of tears fell down her face. After a while, I thought that she had nothing to say at all and I turned to leave the room. But as I neared the door, I suddenly heard a rustling of wings and a light weight landed on my back as two hooves wrapped around my neck in a tight hug.

Fluttershy held onto me as she cried, it wasn't an angry or frightened cry like I had expected but she was crying....

I reached around and got her to my front and I held her in my arms. She said nothing, only wept quietly in my arms and I held her as tight as I could. I walked back to the bed and sat down. I held her close as my own tears began to fall. Her fur was very soft against me and her body was racked by huge sobs. I held her as tight as I could without hurting her. In those moments there was nothing but me and her and the rain.

Finally, she started to calm down and when her sobs turned to small sniffles I loosened my grip enough to see her face. Her eyes were red and puffy and her lips continued to tremble. I placed my hand against her face and gently wiped away her tears.

"Are you okay?" I ask cautiously. I had no idea why she was crying like this.

She nodded her head and gave me another hug around the neck. I returned it in kind and then I heard her whisper something in my ear.

"I'm sorry...."

"Wait what?"

I released the hug and brought her to where I could look at her again, "Why are you sorry? You've done nothing to be sorry for."

"I know," she said, "I'm sorry that you have to live like this. I'm sorry that this is how your life is. No one should have to live like this."

"I know," I said, "But I'm lucky now to have found you. I don't have to. Because I have something that can make life here more bearable and happy. I promise this dark world will not hurt you in any way Fluttershy."

"I know." She said. She knew I would never bring harm to her and if I was a murderer then so be it. I would do it for her and anyone who needs my help. I am a killer but I am also a protector. And so long as I kill the guilty who prey on the innocent......then it is just.

Outside, the storm grew in intensity and the windows shook with the boom of the thunder. Fluttershy held onto me and said, "Please don't go..."

"Never." I said back as I held her against me. The others all came closer from the dark corners and, one by one, embraced us. Together, they formed a protective huddle over us both and for one single moment, we were one.

As the entities from his mind embraced their friend and charge, there was one who stood away from it all. He watched Jacob and the others from a dark corner and was actually smiling. He watched with dark eyes hidden past dark, lengthy hair with a sallow and pale face. His name was Tom. He knew of the reason behind his existence to Jacob and had always felt guilty but it was his job. Now, however, he could feel it all changing. Even now it was starting to affect him as he looked down at his hand to see it fading away with pieces of it flaking off and scattering into nothing. He actually smiled at this and looked up again to see the others fade into Jacob's mind as his friend began to lie on the bed with her in his arms. This small, strange creature from another world that was changing everything and solving all their problems even if the others did not see it. She laid in the arms of her protector, the man who wields fire like a god and would bring a republic to its knees. He looked over them and smiled: the American Devil and his Healing Angel.

He saw what they could do....

He saw what was happening....

He saw what would happen...

He saw their future...

And it was bright....

Like candle fire.....

Author's Note

I love making this story.

Chapter 13: ......and the Lie in the Truth.

Elsewhere....

At an undisclosed location somewhere in the Capital....

Around the same time as the previous chapter....

Several important men are preparing for a meeting....

I hate this place.

I hate the walls, I hate the floor, I hate the ceiling, and I hate the air. It's all cold with no color. This whole hallway is like a corridor right into hell. And with one trip of an alarm it could very well be hell for an intruder. But I was not one as I swiped my badge to open the big, sliding glass doors that led into the main entryway to the hallway.

This place is located in a bunker under the ruin of a building that was once called The White House. In our uprising we destroyed it by smashing it with the Washington Memorial Statue. That big pointy thing that always confused the shit out of me as to why it was memorialized to Washington. In the end though, it made one pretty good wrecking tool as it flattened the White House. Everyone inside, including the President, never stood a chance. But that was then....

And this is now...

Now we are facing what could be the same threat that we brought onto the old democracy. This terrorist is actually doing the impossible. He's hurting us and I'm pretty damn sure the chancellor is not going to be happy about that.

As I wait for the doors to finish opening I look to my companion next to me. His name is Charleston, head of the Sound and my cousin on my mother’s side. He's a smart man and a wizard with technology. He's also able to hear the most minuscule of sounds in recordings full of noise. I was the one who talked the chancellor into giving him the position of chairman at the Sound. At first I just wanted to make sure he got a good place here because he's the only family I have left but that doesn't mean I don't feel bad about it.

He's a nervous man and this stressful job isn't for him but so far he's done it ok.

We begin out descent into the bunker and our footsteps echo down the long hallway. Several doors line the sides leading to labs or prisons take your pick. The farther we go the colder it gets and the more my cousin sweats.

"For god’s sake, calm down Charles." I say trying to get him to relax, "It's just a meeting."

"Yes but do you know what's it about? It's about him." He said that last word very quietly and I didn't have to guess as to who he was talking about.

This terrorist was giving everyone a headache and I was pretty sure he was going to give my cousin a stroke, "The chancellor is a-angry at us. He's upset that he was able to silence the Eye and Ear so easily. He's going to yell at us..."

I sighed heavily and turned to him as we finally reached the two big doors to the meeting chamber, "He's not going to yell at anyone. None of what happened was your fault and no one was expecting it. All this meeting is for is to go over what we know and decide on a plan to deal with it."

"If it's a plan you want then I've got a good one?"

The voice that answered from the shadows sent a chill down my spine and caused my cousin to freeze up on the spot. I knew who that cold voice belonged to and I was never happy to see him. He came plodding out of the dark like a shadow and stopped once he was in the full light. His name is Orville Creet and he is head of the Hand and the most evil specimen of a man I have ever met in my life. He is a short and fat little monster with greasy red hair that is rapidly thinning and stuck in a dreadful comb over. He always wears the same three piece suit with a red bow-tie and a wilting rose. He reminds me of this super villain in the comics I would read as a child.......Penguin I think he was called. But Creet makes the Penguin look like the world’s greatest role model.

"Is that so? Well then tell us your wonderful plan, Creet. I'm sure it will be just awe-inspiring." I say with no small amount of sarcasm.

He takes a handkerchief and wipes the sweat from his large forehead and fat lips and double chin (which I swear is about to become a triple) and with a small smile says, "We blow up the entire city of course. He's bound to be in one of those buildings."

Perhaps I should have changed awe-inspiring to fear-inducing.

"B-b-b-but that's an important c-city!" my cousin cries out in a near panic.

"All the more reason to!" Creet says joyfully, always getting a kick out of scaring Charles, "The people would fear us more if they knew we were destroying whole cities!"

I was about to step forward when another voice, loud and deep says, "No one is blowing up any cities."

Relief floods my body as I see my friend Douglas McTavish walking down the hall with Robin Bard in tow. Douglas is head of the organization called the Nose which is basically a detective agency. Experts in all fields of criminal justice work there. Their jobs are to figure out who did it and then point them out to the Hand. Douglas still believes in a fair system though which is why I like him. He is a tall and intimidating man with black hair combed back and a huge beard dominating his face. He has dark eyes under a heavy brow and always wears a dark brown trench coat.

Robin is head of the Voice which is in charge of the television, radio, and Internet. They monitor all of it, film all of it, and decide when it airs. Robin is a mellow and carefree man mostly due to the drugs he partakes in. He is a skinny and pale figure with hair falling down his face and shoulders with large square sunglasses and gold necklaces over a black turtleneck.

"Oh look, the party pooper has arrived." Creet says while slinking back into the shadows.

I shake Douglas's hand and say quietly, "Please tell me you have something so we don't have to use Creet's fall back plan."

"Let's me guess," he said while looking over to where Creet was standing, "He wants to blow up the entire city?"

"And maybe the surrounding state." I add.

He scoffs and says, "Relax Mike. We're not that desperate."

At that moment, the doors to the meeting room open and out steps the man himself, the Chancellor. His intimidating stature immediately hits me and I find myself unable to stare into his eyes. I feel ashamed in myself for failing this great man. He led all of us to where we are and I've failed him.

"Gentlemen," he said in a quiet voice that's usually loud and booming, "Please come in. We have a lot to discuss."

He turned and walked into the dark room and we followed him. The room consisted of red carpet with a big, round table with high back chairs for each of us. The only lights in the room were above these chairs and the Chancellor would sit on the high podium overlooking the table.

Robin scurried over to the Chancellor and began his usual ass-kissing, "Chancellor you look amazing. Did you trim your beard? Pluck your eyebrows?"

"Not now Robin." the Chancellor said in a tense voice.

Robin had stopped, dumbfounded by the amount of stress the Chancellor was containing. He looked over to where Douglas and I were standing with a face that said, "We're dead" and I just nodded with a sigh.

We all took our seats and as usual, I was sitting right across from the podium next to my cousin and, much to my discomfort, Creet. The chancellor took his seat and we waited for him to begin.

"So, gentlemen, let me start by asking one question: How. Did. He. Do it?"

I felt myself flinching with every word.

"So who would like to start?" He asked as he looked around the table, stopping on all of us except for Robin.

"Douglas?"

My friend seemed to stumble over the words he was trying to say.

"Charleston?"

My cousin started to tremble as he stared at his hands.

"Creet?"

Creet just stared up at the Chancellor with a blank look. I'm surprised he isn't trying to talk the Chancellor into going with his horrifying plans.

Finally he turns to me, "How about you, Michelson?"

I decided to actually say something other than sit there in silence, "Well Chancellor...."

He leans forward on the podium waiting for me to begin and I can see his eyes now. Those dark eyes with that pinprick of light that always feel like they're staring into your mind and seeing everything.

"The terrorist managed to do it with a very well thought out plan. He covered every angle and took out our systems quickly and managed to steal and then destroy the bank quick enough to where by the time we noticed it was too late. The equipment he had with him was rather astounding and appeared to be homemade and the explosives he used were complex to say the least."

The Chancellor nodded and asked, "How did he take out our surveillance?"

Charles whimpered and I continued, making sure to keep eye contact with the Chancellor, "He used an EMP device to impair our systems long enough for him to cut the main power unit cutting the bank off from us. He also used an MP3 player to lure the guards into his trap. After taking both of them out and our cameras and security systems, he used a combination of C4 and firebombs to destroy the building after taking a portion of the money in the vault."

The Chancellor began to rub his temples as he tried not to get a headache from all of this.

"And we didn't get a single picture or sound sample of this man?"

I reached into my coat pocket and took out the envelope we found at the scene with the guards.

"The only thing we found was this," I said as I held it up before standing and walking over to the Chancellor. He took it and opened it up and took out the paper that was inside. It was burned around the edges and the emblem that was drawn in the middle looked like it was drawn with charcoal. It was a gas mask. A very intimidating one at that.

"Am I to assume that this is the terrorist's symbol?"

"Yes Chancellor. We believe he wears a mask like that to hide his identity. He is also very fond of fire and after asking some of the citizens we learned that the name they gave him is....."

"Yes?" The Chancellor asked patiently.

I sighed heavily and finally blurted out, "The Firestarter."

The Chancellors reaction was exactly like I had expected. He tensed up and crushed the paper and envelope in his fist before handing it all over to Douglas who took it from him and opened it back up. Both he and Creet took a look at the drawing and Creet's eyebrows raised up in interest.

"I think I like this one. He's very different." He said as he sat back down in his chair with a smile.

Douglas just continued to scan the paper as the Chancellor signaled me to sit back down.

"A Firestarter....we have a Firestarter on our hands gentlemen. Do you know what that means?" he asked to which we just stared.

"It means he intends to start the very kind of fire we started in order to bring down the old democracy. He intends to repeat history and bring us down. He intends to undo everything we have worked so hard to build. Our new government has been met with great success. Through harsh laws and stern hands we have brought forth a time of peace that the old government couldn't even dream of. We have liberated the people from the false hope of freedom and have finally given them a place where they can sleep in peace. We tried to spread this to the rest of the world but they resisted and so we had to destroy them. Anyone who tries to undo us deserves to die. Do you understand what I am saying? This man must die before his sickness spreads to the people and they become infected by the disease of revolution that he is trying to grow."

The Chancellor finished his small speech and took in several deep breaths. I was speechless. Was this man really trying to start a rebellion? But why?

Douglas finally looked up from the paper with a look that hid his emotions and said, "What do you want us to do Chancellor?"

The Chancellor turned to Douglas and said, "I want you to get as many detectives as you can and find out as much as you can about him. You find out where he is and what his plans are. I don't care how you do it or what you need just find him and then you point him out to Creet."

I saw a flash of something across Douglas' face before he said, "Of course."

The Chancellor then turned to Creet, "Creet I want you to send reinforcements to the city where he is hiding."

"Already have." Creet said smugly.

"Then send more! Double the security everywhere and patrol the streets at all times. Set a curfew for the people and lock it all down."

Creet nodded with a smile and an evil glint in his eyes.

"Michelson. Charleston."

I looked up and my cousin slowly followed my lead.

"Make a new system for surveillance in the town and install more hidden cameras and microphones. I want everything updated to its fullest. I want to see the detail in the gravel of the roads and I want to hear bugs sneeze understand? And make it to where he won't be able to take them out with a simple EMP and a wire cutter."

I immediately took out my notebook and wrote down some notes as well as a few places to get what we needed. I looked over to my cousin to see him trying to relax as I put a hand on his shoulder. He looks over and I give him a confident nod. He nods back and takes out his own notebook.

The Chancellor turns to Robin last, "Robin schedule a press conference for tomorrow and keep trying to locate that rebel reporter."

"Y-yes sir." Robin replied as took out his phone.

Before the Chancellor could continue, a phone started ringing. It was Creet's as the head of the Hand took out his cell phone and looked at the I.D.

He looked up to the Chancellor and said, "It's the captain I assigned to the town the terrorist is in. He's only supposed to call me if something goes wrong or they found him."

"Answer it." The Chancellor ordered.

Creet stood and answered the phone, stepping away from the table.

"This is Creet. What have you got?" he answered. I could faintly hear someone speaking on the other end rather quickly.

"Slow down captain!" Creet yelled into the phone, "Now what do you mean they're gone?.............captain an entire squad doesn't just vanish into thin air!..........well find out where they went and where their last location was now! Call me if you find anything."

Creet slammed the phone shut and stomped over to the table.

"What happened?" the Chancellor asked.

"The captain has reported that a squad of my men never returned to base from patrol. They've been gone since this morning. There were six men in that squad and they had an APC with them. I'm sure you will agree with me Chancellor when I say he has struck again."

The Chancellor nodded and said loudly, “Agreed. Go back there at once and find out what happened exactly and try to find him. You all have your orders. Now find this madman. Dismissed!”

The Chancellor then walked away from his podium over to Robin and starts talking to him about future plans. I look over to Creet to see him walking away, mumbling about the things he was going to do to that terrorist.

Boy I would sure hate to be him right about now…..

Author's Note

OK!
So I know its been awhile and you have college to thank for that. I have been working on this for a while and I almost lost it all so I really hope you enjoy this look at the new government of the usa and I will get the next one ASAP

Chapter 14: Peace and Terror

I couldn't sleep.

Even with the rain pattering against the window and the soft rumbling of thunder and the slow breathing of the one in my arms, I could not sleep. My mind, though the voices were silent, was nowhere near restful. Thought after thought raced across it: faces, lights, sounds. No matter how hard I tried I could not shut the faces of those soldiers out of my head. I usually can't remember what happened whenever I was in my manic state but this time....

Why is this time so different?

Fluttershy stirred next to me, turning to face away from me but still holding herself close. At least she was sleeping well, I can be glad for that. I can hardly believe that it was only a short time ago that I found her in this bed shivering and crying from being thrown from her world into mine. Now....well I don't even know what this is....or what I'm doing....it was just.....a feeling?

Or an impulse?

I look down at her and marvel at her. How could a monster like me find a place beside her? I've never seen so much innocence wrapped into one soul. She is perhaps the most perfect individual I have ever met.

And she's a pony.

I am suddenly reminded of a story I read as a child. About a beast that lived in a dark castle and a beauty that finds him and slowly breaks the curse upon him and returns him to his true self. Is that what's happening here?

God I hope so.

I close my eyes as I wrap my coat around Fluttershy in an attempt to find sleep and I wonder again: what could her world be like? It must be perfect living there from what she has told me, so different from mine but so much better. I feel myself yearning to just give up my exploits and find a way to escape with her to her home and just live out the rest of my days there. But I know I can't do that. Not until I'm done here and I've fulfilled my promise. I just hope when the time comes and she learns about everything, she will understand.

But I should stop thinking about the future. It's not helping me sleep. I continue to watch Fluttershy sleep and remember everything we've done since her arrival and slowly I can feel my eyes close and my mind begin to slow down and I fall into the realm of sleep to the falling rain and the rumbling thunder.

The minute Jacob had fallen asleep; a figure appeared in the door. He watched the two sleep ever so peacefully. His face remained unchanged behind his mask. The one known as Guard began to address the situation at hand. An alien appears in their home and through her kindness, does the impossible. Was this fate or something else? He had to find out...

He turned away from the door and walked into the living room where the shadowy figure of Tom stood with his hands in his pockets.

"Show me." Guard said.

Tom obeyed and removed his hands and the sight of them surprised Guard. It was like they were disintegrating right in front of him. Pieces flaked off and floated away before disappearing altogether. Essence smoked out of Tom's fingers and despite the sight of his hands, Tom was smiling.

"It's happening Guard. It's actually happening." He said in an excited whisper.

"Yes," Guard replied, "The procedure is unraveling which means that Jacob is somehow curing himself. Or she is curing him through some unseen way. If Jacob is cured then he would be free. Free to make his own decisions and live his own life without his head being filled with voices and extra emotions."

"Free....I like that word and that's what I want for him. But....what about us?" Tom asked, "What awaits us when we go away?"

Guard walked back to the door to take one final look at his ward, his friend, and said, "Peace," before grasping the doorknob and shutting the door.

The storm was getting worse, the rain fell harder and harder as the wind began to reach dangerous speeds. Not only that but the lightning seemed to be striking more frequently than usual. On the other side of the town from the hideout of the Firestarter and Fluttershy, a multitude of bolts began to strike the top of a tall hill. Suddenly, with a loud crash and a bright flash of light that seemed to illuminate the entire state, a huge column of lightning struck upon the hilltop.

From the smoky ruin, a figure appeared. He stood up on two armored legs and breathed in the air. His skin was grey and his armor was black and sharp. His black hair billowed around him in the wind and in his right hand he held a red dagger. He then opened his eyes revealing them to be red and smiled revealing sharp teeth.

He began to laugh as he caught the scent of his prey. The one he had been searching for across multiple worlds. Finally he had found her. Now to finish what he had tried to do back on Equestria.

"Fluttershy," he said in a very dark voice that sounded like fire and cracking stone, "I have found you."

He then let out a howl that everyone in the town heard and they woke up in a terrible fear as parents grabbed their children and even the harden soldiers began to crawl on the ground with terror stricken faces as they tried to get away from the sound. And in the home of the Firestarter......Fluttershy began to scream.

For her worst nightmare had come true.

This place was no longer safe.

For Sombra had found her again.

And he was coming to kill her.

End of Part One

Author's Note

The first part of the story is complete and in the next part the rebels will be gathered and the revolution will begin.
Whose side are YOU on?

Thank you for all of your support and patience and I hope you all have a very happy All Hallow's Eve.

Forward

Forward
By
Doctor Magnum

Hello there, I’m Doctor Magnum another fanfiction writer and a good friend of Wilde and it’s my great pleasure to be writing this forward to his first story.

I have a question for you. Do you know who Deadpool is? How about the masked man V? Or Batman?

Of course you know who that is but what do they all have in common? Well the main man of this story is basically them all mashed together in one volatile basket-case. His name is Jacob and he is known as the Firestarter.

Now for those of you who have read this story in its rough draft phase there are some major changes that have taken place so it’s basically a brand new version of the same story. Some chapters are still here and have been altered a little and some have been redone entirely. For those of you who are new, welcome and allow me to explain this little story: This is an alternate universe of planet Earth where the failing government of the once great United States of America has caused severe unrest in the people who live under it. Life had pretty much turned into a tightly packed room of TNT and all it would take was someone to drop the match.

That someone is a group that called themselves Chance. They made the people rise up and rebel against the government and bring it toppling down in a pile of rubble. But those who had at first promised the people freedom and a better living were nothing but a pack of liars who only desired control and power and so they betrayed the people. They took over renaming the country into the Republic of Chance. They marched against Canada and Mexico and even South America in a movement of world conquest. They declared war against the other nations and began an unrelenting and unmerciful rampage all the while torturing and starving the people they ruled under especially the people of what was once the USA.

Now as for the hero of this story you might be wondering, “How does he play into this and how is he like those hero’s from the beginning?”

Well Jacob is a terrorist living in a city that was once great and proud now nothing but a pile of waste and despair. He once was a normal kid but when he was thirteen his home was destroyed in a huge riot. His home was consumed with fire and young Jacob witnessed his own family burn in front of him. It was at that moment that the boys mind broke and the Firestarter was born. His main goal is to bring down Chance and get revenge for the deaths of his family. His weapon of choice is fire, utilizing it in his explosives to send a message to Chance that they will burn for what they did.

But there is more to Jacob than just that: when his mind broke his psyche split apart into seven beings each representing a part of Jacob, either a desire or a trait. They have been his voices of reason and have done everything to keep him on the narrow edge of sanity as they try to save what little humanity he has left.

The so called Seven have become so real to Jacob they each have their own personalities, physical traits, and names. In the story their voices will be represented by the following colors.

Guard= Bold black. The one who represents the qualities of leadership that resides in Jacob, his voice is the voice of an experienced general and tactician.

Jay=Olive. The wise teacher who provides the voice of common sense and knowledge

John=Red. This being appears to be an excuse for an older brother for Jacob who provides unending support to his friend.

Angus=Brown. What this one represents is unknown but for the most part is just another voice in Jacobs head though he seems to listen to him the most.

Hank=Blue. The comic relief in Jacobs’s horror story of a life, his is the voice of laughter and comedy as he strives to make Jacob smile at least twice a day.

Sam=Orange. The brainiac who is the most critical thinker of all the voices, he gives Jacob options and ideas for his exploits. Tends to overreact a bit.

Tom=Silver. Jacob’s dark side where all the bad memories and tragedies reside, he is mostly there to remind Jacob every day why he fights for the deaths of those responsible.

Together they lend the support Jacob needs to maintain what little humanity is left and continue to strive towards his goals. After the incident he trained his body and mind in many ways and created the image of the Firestarter that would strike fear in his enemies and hope in the people. This image was a gas mask with two respirators and mirrored lenses.

But what does Jacob as a symbol represent?

An anti-hero? A crusader? A monster? A devil?

Let me ask you another question now: Let’s say that the American democratic government really did fall and those that brought it down began to burn everything away that we had by it: our freedoms and our liberties, and brought us down to the lowest possible level even those that were at the highest level. What would you do?

Would you hide in fear? Would you try to find a way to live in that world ruled by fear and tyranny? Or would you want to rise up and take back what was taken from you, those freedoms that you realize were more important than you believed.

Can you guess what Jacob is now? He’s the phoenix.

That part of us that wants to fight back and fight for our freedom from terror. We want to fight for Justice. But in that we risk losing ourselves to our thirst for revenge and turn into animals. Do you want to know another thing about Jacob? He was only sixteen when he made his first kill, and he was seventeen when he made his second and third and his fourth when he was eighteen. Now he is twenty and not afraid to kill again but the Seven fights to keep him from going too far so that he can still be that symbol of hope and justice to the people.

Now this is starting to sound like your average comic book but how about we throw in something unexpected, like a pony. Not just any pony but the Element of Kindness herself, Fluttershy. Now all of Jacob’s plans are torn apart as he has to not only fight the tyrannical Republic but now care for a creature he has never seen before and find a way to send her home to her world which is in a whole other universe. But Fluttershy unknowingly is the key that will unlock Jacob’s true self and heal his broken heart as well as provide the final piece to the downfall of the Republic.

So Jacob makes her a promise that he will protect her and get her home alive but that could come at a steep price.

So without further ado lets jump right in shall we?

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy this story.

Yours truly,
M

And now a quick word from the author, S.M.Wilde:

Chapter 3: Things go swimmingly....

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT THING?!"

"THA AIN'T A HUMAN!"

"HOLY SHIT!"

"BY THE STARS!"

"KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!"

............not really.

As the bombardment of voices bounced around my head at what I had just revealed to be under me bed sheets I was just staring dumbly at this........midget horse?

No it's a pony that's what it was but it wasn't really.....a pony that I've seen before. For one thing, its coat was a pale yellow color and it had a very light pink mane and tail that were rather long. Its head was big and kind of rounded with a small muzzle and big mouth. It also had the biggest eyes I have ever seen that were round and shaped like sad puppy dog eyes. I guessed that it was a female and I couldn’t tell its age but it was a……a pony!

She just stared at me with an extremely frightened expression as her mouth trembled and she stared up with shrunken pupils. She looked like she wanted to scream but all I was doing was staring with my mouth open like, well……...like anyone would do in this situation. I mean it was a pony that looked like it had been spewed out of my TV that had switched to some cartoon channel. I didn’t know what to say or do as we both just stared at each other.

“Oh my God………it’s fucking adorable!"

Several smacks echoed in my head as everyone did a facepalm.

“What?”

I was about to tell him what when the pony actually did start screaming…..

Her high-pitched cry blew me up and back as the sheer volume made me reel. I could feel my ears straining and I was worried that the windows would bust. She held her scream for an incredibly long-ass time and never stopped for a breath. I didn’t know whether this was a legitimate scream of terror or some sick defense mechanism. I couldn’t even hear the guys it was that loud. Finally I just snapped and said in a voice that easily drowned the scream, “STOP!”

Even I was shocked at the tone of my voice, didn’t really know I could do that. Silence filled the room once again ass the pony stared at me with a look even more frightened then before. It was one of pure shock and terror and after a while she started to cry……..hard…...........................…as in full out bawling….

Oops…

“Well ya handled that quite well jimbo.”

“Oh shit.” I said to them, “Shit I didn’t mean…..... What do I do?”

I was lost and had no idea how to approach the pony as she cried loudly into the bed. Jesus I felt like shit for that…..

“What do you think you have to do? Comfort her!”

“….what?” I asked stupidly.

“Damnit Jacob go over there and give her a hug and tell her you’re sorry! Now!”

I flinched at the stern voice and the horrible feeling got worse, “Alright ok I’m going.”

I summoned up my strength and went up to the bed and bent down before embracing the pony. She made a startled sound but didn’t struggle. Her coat felt soft and I held her tightly.

“I’m sorry…..I didn’t mean to scare you. Please I’m sorry; don’t cry I’m not going to hurt you.” I tried to calm her with these words as I held her. She was pretty filthy from the storm and my bed was dirty now as well. Lovely. But I didn’t say anything instead I just continued to try and calm her and show her I meant no harm. Then I heard something unexpected, “I forgive you….”

It was only a whisper but I heard it, I looked back up at her face as tears still fell from her face but she wasn’t crying as hard anymore. It was at this point I noticed the color of her eyes, a pretty green color that glistened with her tears. Man I felt so bad......

“You can talk….” I said in a small voice. She nodded and sniffled as she spoke again, “I-I’m sorry I screamed….it’s just…..I-I-I don’t know what you are and….I don’t know where I am….”

Couldn’t say you couldn’t blame the thing I mean I would probably be freaking out too if I ended up in another world and some scary creature found me. But I was going to help her.

“well, my name is Jacob and I’m a human. I’m guessing you’re not from this world at all. It’s called Earth and more specifically you’re in the nation of America. May I ask who and what you are?”

“Oh um….” She seemed to be a rather shy one, “My name’s Fluttershy and I um….I’m from Equestria.”

“…….Seriously?”
“Shhhhhhh!”

I looked her over and saw she was covered in mud and had a few scratches on her, “Are you ok Fluttershy?”

She hesitated before lowering her head and whispering, “I’m scared…..I don’t know how I got here….”

“I’m sorry Fluttershy but I don’t know either. You don’t have to be afraid though I’m not going to hurt you or let anything else hurt you. I want to help if you’ll let me? I can get you cleaned up and tend to those scratches then let you rest.”

She nodded and looked back up, “Th….thank you…”

I actually found myself smiling……something I haven’t done in a while.

“Don’t mention it Fluttershy. C’mon let’s get you cleaned up.”

I gently lifted her in my arms and carried her to the bathroom. She was surprisingly light and I felt like I had to be extra careful with her for she felt fragile in my arms. She laid her head on my chest and rested in my arms as I walked; at that moment as I was looking down at this innocent creature I felt something…..something I couldn’t explain. It was a strange emotion that felt good but at the same time it scared me. I had no idea what it was and I pushed it away.

I gently set her in the shower and asked if she needed any help cleaning up. She shook her head before actually turning on the water herself with her hooves. I raised an eyebrow at this.

“Interesting…..I wonder how she does that.”

“Later Sam.”

I smiled and made to exit to let her clean up but not before I took out a towel and set it aside for her.

“Is there anything else you need?” I asked.

“Um….” She said rather awkwardly, “Do you have a hairbrush?”

I reached into a drawer and pulled out one, I didn’t really use it but it would come in handy now. I set it next to the towel and turn to her again, “I’ll be right in the bedroom if you need anything.”

“Thank you…” she said again quietly.

I shut the door and let her have her privacy as I walked over to the bed and took all of the covers off to be washed. I placed another set and then brought the dirty sheets to the laundry room along with my clothes. I changed into a fresh pair of sweatpants and a white t-shirt. I then began to start my laundry the whole time waiting for what just happen to hit me.

It finally did and as I walked back into the living room I suddenly fell against the wall and stared at the floor.

“Guys please tell me whether or not that was real. Was that another part of my broken psyche? Was that real or an illusion?!” I demanded.

“Jacob I can assure you that was most definitely real we would know if it wasn’t trust us.”

I slowly steadied my breathing and tried to regain my composure, “Group meeting. After she’s asleep. Agree?”

“Agreed”

I walked back into the bedroom in time to see her exit the bathroom. She looked a lot better and happier but I could see her exhaustion as well. “Better?” I asked.

She nodded and then yawned, her mouth opening to a surprising size. “Yes thank you…”

“D’awwwwww”

“Can it Hank”

I looked out the window and was surprised to see darkness, it would be best to get her to sleep now. I walked over and knelt beside her, “Ready for some sleep then?”

She nodded again and I gently lifted her in my arms a second time and walked over before setting her in my bed and tucking her in. “You can sleep here Fluttershy.” I said.

She looked up at me with a worried look and said, “Are you sure? What about you? I don’t want to take your place….”

“It’s fine Fluttershy I insist. I’ll sleep in that chair by the window so I can keep an eye on you ok?”

“……..ok……Jacob?”

“Yes Fluttershy?”

She suddenly reached up and kissed me lightly on the cheek. My eyes were probably the size of car tires from the surprise of such a gesture.

“Thank you so much for showing me such kindness…..I’m sure no one would have helped me if I just ran into their home but you have and I’m so grateful. You’ve saved my life….” She said with a smile.

“Awwwwwwwwwww!” sounded the voices in my head.

“Shut up…” I told them silently but I placed a hand where she had kissed me and smiled.

“You are welcome Fluttershy. It wouldn’t be right to just abandon you. Now get some sleep. We can talk more in the morning.”

“Ok,” she said as she laid her head down on the pillow, “Good night Jacob. Thank you.”

She closed her eyes and before long was fast asleep while I just knelt there and watched over her….

My God………..what just happened….