Firestorm
Chapter One- Old Self
Author's Note- This is what happens to John/Pyro just after the events of X-men three. Running along the same timeline/events as Xavier's Rose just because...well you'll have to wait and see ;)
John ran from Alcatraz Island like everyone else. He didn't know who was still on it and frankly didn't care. His former best friend (Bobby), if he could have ever have called him that, had just beaten him in a power fight. John had decided to take a stand and fight while little old Bobby stood by Xavier and the other wimps choosing to take the homosapien view of things. He saw the people who had seen him as a betrayer run with him away from the true danger, the Phoenix. Even Magneto was afraid of her now. There was no way that Doctor Grey was her, she was too different, she was the other side of the coin. The night engulfed the crowd as they ran, making it hard to see and he heard many people crying and running into cars. He didn't go back and help them, he just kept running. He kept running over the bridge feeling the fire burning within him like it had never done before. It felt like it was driving him on, even though his legs were full of cramp and stitch attacked his sides he kept running. Suddenly the hard tarmac beneath his feet changed into soft soil. He couldn't stop though. He kept running, away from everyone else, away from everyone he had ever known. He felt the fire wanted a fresh start and it pushed him deeper into the Californian country side. It wanted a place to burn unhindered.
John ran for another two hours straight, he didn't take any notice of where he was going. He didn't look at the signs or the scenery as he ran past them, he just kept running. He finally came to a stop near a stream; he looked around at the little woodland scene he was part of. It was still dark but the blazing sun was starting to disperse the fleeing night in the east, the lightly forested area was silent apart from the trickling of the shallow stream. The lactic acid stinging his leg muscles was starting to get to him, he kept taking deep breaths and sat down on a rock close to the brook. After a few moments when the pain ceased to more of a dull ache, he ran his hand through his hair and looked at the water. He realised just how badly he needed a drink and rubbed at his parched throat. He looked at the cool water again and dipped his hand in pulling the water to his mouth. He swallowed it gratefully and reached in his pocket to find his favourite lighter. The one he always had with him. The one he was messing around with in his mother's living room when he first realised he was a mutant. He held it at eye level and stared at the cruel and mocking face of the shark. He felt the firestorm well up in him as he thought of everything that had happened to him in the past. His parent's disownment, his friend's betrayal, his weaknesses against Bobby. For one moment it got too much for him and he lashed out at the entire world. He flicked the lighter open and stood up quickly stretching his arm out and turning the trees, leaves and other forest debris to ash. It only lasted a second but it worked. Everything was better now, the inferno was gone, he was neutral again if only for a short time. He put the lighter back into his pocket and he turned back to the east. He stared into the sun's burning heart and knew at that moment he'd always rather be fiery, untameable, full of fury and a god dam pain in the arse than tranquil, comforting, balanced and everyone's best friend. Like Bobby.
During those few seconds he realised that John Allerdyce was well and truly gone…he was Pyro now. Always would be. No matter what anyone said. His old self was gone and there was nothing anyone could do anything to make him turn back now.
He saw that the night had nearly fully disappeared. He turned and walked west, through the destruction he had caused, his feet making almost no sound as they stood on the life he had turned to ash.