Fight Fire with Fire

Firebug, once villain, now hero.

Real name: Frederic Fire.

Mundane job: Firefighter.

The alarm had gone off, and the firetruck was en route. Frederic was sitting with the crew. None knew of his criminal past. It took some time, and a lot of hard work. But the once villain was able to put his past behind. He was even able to get a job, which enabled him to get a degree. Frederic, ironically, chose: firefighter.

" Hey, you good? " asked one of his comrades.

" I'm fine. "

The comrade was not convinced. Frederic gracefully accepted the bottle of water held out to him. He could feel the cold liquid down his throat. His nerves seemed to calm, and his mind a bit clear.

" Thank you. "

" Anytime. "

" We're here! "

The firetruck halted near the site, and the men all jumped into action. Hoses were loosened, and the water was unleashed. The building was in bad shape. It wouldn't be long before it collapsed in on itself. Frederic looked, but did not believe his eyes.

" I must be mad… " said Frederic, as he cleaned ash from his visor. He looked again. This time; there was no figure within the complex.

" Everyone within had been rescued... right? "

" Ahhh! "

Frederic, along with everyone else, looked up to see where the cry had come from. It was a little girl. She could be seen from one of the top windows.

" Help! " yelled the girl, waving her arms in desperate plight.

" Where are the heroes?! " thought Frederic, as he looked around. But there was no cavalry in sight. Something did, however, catch his sight. It was the vague figure from before. Frederic watched as the figure calmly made its way up the stairs - towards the girl. Frederic was delighted.

" The girl was saved! " he thought. His heart sank, as he caught a clearer sight of the stranger.

" Red skin… black tattoos… devilish eyes… "

The figure was no savior, but an Ifrit. Jirjis Ibn Rajmus. Jirjis grinned devilishly at Frederic, and Frederic knew what he had to do. For he had put two-and-two together.

" What the hell do you think you're doing?! " yelled a firefighter, as Frederic ran into the burning building. The intense flames ate away at his suit. His heart beat faster as he ran up the shaking stairs. Frederic was now standing before the first cousin (mother's sister's son) of Iblis.

" Demon! " said Frederic.

" Djinn. " said Jirjis, as he calmly turned to face Frederic.

Frederic glared at the Ifrit.

" Why would you do such a thing? " asked Frederic, as he was referring to the burning building.

" Why? "

Jirjis paused for a moment. He then gently ran his hand on the burning wall to his left.

" Fire is all-consuming. "

" Fire is meant to bring warmth. "

" Do not speak to me of fire's warmth. Thou villain who used fire for destruction… and death. " That last bit was said with a grin.

Frederic paused. Jirjis knew of his past. Frederic had gone to therapy; wanting to deal with his troubled past. It was not easy to talk with someone about his former crimes… about the people he had killed. The little girl's cry echoed throughout the building.

" I know that hell awaits me… "

Jirjis looked on, Frederic started commanding the nearby flames.

" But… I can at least save her! "

The firefighters and civilians all looked on, as a pillar of fire shot out from the building.

" Get to safety! '' yelled a firefighter, as the building was collapsing. The building came crashing down, and that was when Frederic landed safely on the ground, as he had used a fire-board as a means of travel.

" My child! " yelled a woman, when she noticed the little girl within Frederic's jacket.

" Mommy! " yelled the child.

Mother and daughter embraced.

All the firefighters turned to look at Frederic. They all saw how Frederic's body was on fire, but he did not seem to be in any pain.

" You're a hero! " said a firefighter.

" A hero in disguise! " said another.

" I mean… heroes do have to make a living. " said a third. Frederic was not sure what to feel… It was the first time he had been called a hero. Everyone froze, as laughter could be heard; coming from the rubble. Frederic turned to see Jirjis ascending from the ashened building.

" A demon… " said a horrified firefighter.

" A djinn, if you please. " said Jirjis, as djinn did not like being mistaken for demons. Frederic could feel the malice coming off Jirjis.

" Go! " yelled Frederic; " get to safety! "

" What about you? " said one of his comrades.

Despite being nervous and scared. Frederic forced himself to smile. For heroes smile when facing villains.

" I will take it from here. "

Fire started to cover all of Frederic's body; burning off his firefighter suit. If this situation had taken place on our earth. Many would say that Firebug looked a lot like Heatblast from Ben 10. Oh! And we shall from now on refer to Frederic as Firebug.

Firebug let out a relieved sigh, as his comrades, and all the civilians, had all gotten to safety. It was just him and Jirjis. And it was high time to fight fire with fire. When Firebug and Jirjis clashed, the street itself melted. The air itself seemed to get hotter, as the battle went on.

" Panu Pow! " yelled Firebug, as he had gotten into the mindset of being a hero.

" Hello? Frederic, can you hear me?? "

Firebug paused, as a strange voice spoke from his earpiece.

" Who am I talking to? "

" Mr. Representative. "

" Mr. Representative! "

(The conversation took place, while Firebug was still fighting Jirjis.)

" Frederic, what is your status? "

Firebug wanted first to ask: how do you know my name? But he knew better than to ask a silly question.

" I am keeping the battle contained to an area with no civilians. " Firebug dodged, which made Jirjis melt a lampole; " but I can't speak for the property damage… "

Mr. Representative was silent for a bit, as he watched the battle unfold from within his office.

" Can you defeat him? "

Firebug paused for a moment. He was tired. His "shot" of adrenaline was wearing off.

" I can try… "

It was at that moment… that Jirjis decided to go all out. An overwhelming heat started to come off the Ifrit. The heat was so intense that even Firebug could feel it. Firebug also saw how the nearby buildings were melting.

" Well… he isn't related to Iblis for nothing… " said Firebug, sarcastically.

" Fire is all consuming. " said Jirjis with an eerie voice.

Firebug wanted to sweat nervously, but the heat made sweating impossible.

" Can you defeat him?! " yelled Mr. Representative, nervously.

Firebug swallowed the last of his spite.

" I can try… "

Using his fire-board. Firebug was hovering above Jirjis, getting ready to go all out as well.

" This might kill me… " thought Firebug to himself. He took a deep breath of the warm air. He then said:

" Please sir, just do one thing for me…"

Mr. Representative listened intently.

" Please, remember me as a hero! "

Firebug held out his hands, and yelled from the depths of his soul:

" Panu Prometheus! "

The heat of two gods came crashing down upon Jirjis. Even the Ifrit's skin burned by the fire.

" Is that all you got?! " yelled Jirjis, gleefully.

Firebug now yelled the one word, he had always dreamt of yelling:

" Excelsior! "

The fire, which Firebug sendt forth, was enough to burn the Ifrit to ash.

But this kind of heat came at a price, as Firebug collapsed on the ground. His entire body looked like the body of Bolvar Fordragon.

Firebug would live, but was this kind of sacrifice worth it?

Well. From that day onward. The citizens of New Orange would remember Firebug as a hero.