The Scars of War

By: Phoenix Ride

Ch.1: A Single Spark

In times of darkness, pressure can build until only a single spark can light the resentment burning within one's soul, bringing out endless destruction and rage. The Fire of Hate was the spark that lit up the red monkey's rage, unchaining the darkness that he kept bound, and causing him to move free on his dark desires.

Sparx shivered in memory of what he had done, to Nova, his team. All of Shuggazoom now had to pay for his mistake, because he couldn't control the monster within.

Wordlessly, Sparx sat down in his room, staring at his hands. Hands that contained the very weapon that could literally rip the other members of the Hyperforce apart. He had never realized how much control he had issued while using them before, being careful to tap into only low orbs of energy so the electricity wouldn't get out of control.

But the scary part was just how much power he could generate if really pushed himself to its limits. When the Fire of Hate consumed him, Sparx had delivered more power than he had ever dreamed. The staggering strength of the electricity was frightening, yet addicting with its strong taste.

Silently Sparx berated himself because there was a part of him that wanted to feel that kind of power again. Where he no longer had to hold back and worry about the safety of his team.

The recent fight with Mandarin hadn't helped improve Sparx's feelings either. Sparx was on a routine patrol with Quint and some other allies who had joined them in this war when they were ambushed and shot down by a formless assault.

Instantly, a battle raged, and Sparx found himself outside of his cockpit, beating up formless left and right. As the battle rolled on, it looked like the good side stood a pretty good chance. Sparx was about to leave his own fight zone so that he could help his friends, when suddenly a sinister voice spoke out from behind him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Heh, heh, heh" laughed the voice " Still playing the hero huh Sparx?"

"Mandarin!" Sparx growled, turning back to glare at the orange, skeletal monkey as he activated his magnets for the coming fight.

Quickly, before Sparx could even think of firing a shot off, Mandarin jumped out and kicked the red monkey hard in the head, making Sparx fall down, landing in the dirt.

"Relax my brother" said Mandarin calmly, his red eyes gleaming with wicked pleasure " I have no need to fight an ally of the Skeleton King."

"I am not his ally!" Sparx yelled as he stood up, eyes narrowed with rage.

"Ah" said Mandarin " Then who pledged himself to serve him? Who's responsible for starting this war? And who almost tore his dearest Nova apart?"

"Enough!" Sparx yelled, firing his Manga Bolt Beam Splitter at Mandarin, which the orange monkey deftly dodged.

Avoiding the dangerous red bolts of energy, Mandarin twirled his way behind Sparx's back, and placed his bone claw lethally on the red monkey's back.

"You always were the most powerful Sparx" said Mandarin, close to his brother's ear " but you chose to withhold your strength instead of harness it. On the evil side you had no limits, it could happen again."

"Never!" said Sparx, twisting around to face Mandarin with a glare. The orange monkey withdrew his claw.

"Don't be so sure brother" said Mandarin with a grin " That fire might as well still be burning inside of you, ready to turn you evil any second you lower your guard. Perhaps if you had accepted my offer long ago, you wouldn't have had to suffer this fate. Go on and live the rest of life in fear Sparx. Fear for the monster you can become."

Before Sparx could even respond to Mandarin's statement, the sound of reinforcements soared in to help in the fight, and Mandarin retreated from whence he had come. But, before the orange monkey completely vanished from sight, his red eyes locked with Sparx's orbs, and evil smirk plastered on his face.

"This isn't over Sparx," and Mandarin left.

Later, after the patrol unit was checked over for injuries from the battle, Sparx walked out of Gibson's lab and headed straight for his room, barely saying anything to the others as he walked by. He wasn't really in the mood to talk right now.

Mandarin's words had flared up all of the guilt and fear boiling within Sparx, and made it flow out through all of his brain.

"It's my fault!" Sparx yelled in his mind " It's all my fault!"

Bam, Bam, Bam! Suddenly sounded a pounding upon Sparx's door.

The red monkey was immediately ejected from his negative thoughts as the door swished open and Otto stepped in.

"Hey, are you okay?" asked the green monkey concerned.

"Never felt better," whispered the evil voice inside of Sparx's mind. Sparx quickly shook his head to clear it out.

"Ugh!" said Sparx, grabbing his head "I'm fine Otto….just fine,"

Otto didn't seem like he believed that, but the green monkey was willing to let it slide.

"Okay" said Otto cheerfully, walking out " the others are waiting down in the briefing room. Soup's on, so hurry fast."

As the door once again swished closed, Sparx allowed a small smile to grow on his face. Time to go back out there and fake the mask…be as normal as he possibly could be.

A brief flash occurred as Sparx's head turned to glance at mirror to his side, making the red monkey gasp in shock. For a moment, Sparx could have sworn he had just seen the evil version of himself glaring back at him, burning through black eyes.

Sweat started to pour down Sparx's fur as the red monkey breathed hard to regain his shattered nerves.

"Normal" Sparx breathed out loud "…right."