Finally the big day had come, the big horse with the dark red fur and bright orange mane had gotten tired, he could barely stand up on his own and the Captain grinned satisfied as he observed the proud and now rather starved horse.
Slowly people started to gather around the fold waiting in anticipation, Angelina among them though she wasn't nearly as excited as most of the others now watching the Captain walking towards the fold with a big whip in his hand which he cracked out in the air making most people jump in shock.
The horse as well turned to Monstrasio and tried to make itself stand as big as possible, though it was clear even that took great strength and Monstrasio smirked as he jumped over the fence.
Every citizen whom was there and every soldier was looking in quiet anticipation, Garzia was even lifting up in his hat to get a better view as Monstrasio starred down the big horse and cracked his whip.
The big horse let out a neigh only to get the whip over his mule and the Captains cold ice blue eyes never wavered for a second as he stood proud and strong, then he grabbed the rope tied to the horses head and pulled it down so he could stare the horse right into the eyes. "You belong to me now." he then said in a strong voice. "You'll do as I say and you'll get rewarded accordingly, disobey me and the punishment will be severe." he stated as he grabbed the horses mule and held it tightly. "You're just a beast, I have no reason to be afraid of you." he stated before finally letting go and then walked to the horses side, he grabbed its main and then swung himself up on the horses back.
Everyone gasped by the sight and Monstrasio smirked as he sat up there, holding the rope attached to the horses neck. "You see." he stated loudly. "This is how you break a spirit." he stated. "The beast just needed to know who his master is."
Angelinas fist tightened, she really had to fight the urge to just walk over there and hit the Captain in the face so he fell off the horse, but then her eyes widened as she realized! Lanky Embers legs were starting to slowly bend and his muscles tighten.
The Captain was to busy reveling in his victory to even notice but Angelina saw it coming as suddenly the horse rose up to his hind legs and neighed loudly, then jumped forward and send the Captain flying to much laughter of the onlookers.
Monstrasio how-ever sneered as he dried off his face with his sleeve and got back up on his legs, then jumped aside to avoid the horse coming storming towards him and grabbed the whip.
"CAPTAIN!" Garzia shouted.
"Do not interfere!" Monstrasio demanded in a shout. "This battle is mine!" he stated as he stood up and cracked the whip.
Angelina swallowed as she looked at it then turned around and ran away out of the human crowd then behind a building in a dark alley way where no one could see and removed the white dress with other clothes in a red colour.
People were far to busy to look at the Captain to even notice Angelina disappearing, and there was no one to see as the Scarlet Fox climbed a drain pipe up the tall building next to the fold until she reached the roof and had a clear view of the Captain having his battle of will with the horse.
Scarlet was looking as they circled around each other, sometimes the horse would charge for Monstrasio and he would jump aside then whip the horse in return sending the big beast into a rage. Monstrasio would grab the rope and pull in it making the horse even angrier, then suddenly a one of the whipping lashes left a big red gash on the horses side and Scarlet gasped as she saw a drop of blood falling down on the ground. "Stop…. Please stop it." she asked. "He's going to kill you. Lanky Ember!" she exclaimed and then she stood up on the roof, as tall as she was. She put two fingers in her mouth and she let out a loud whistle which made everyone halt, even the Captain whom turned and a big collected gasp sounded as Scarlets position was identified.
Scarlet though didn't pay any mind to any of the humans, only the big wild horse which she looked down at. "You have to escape my friend." she said. "Come on, i'll help you." she said. "Let's get out of here together." she asked.
The horse looked up at Scarlet and then he backed away, he backed all the way back to the fence the furthest away.
Then slowly the Captain turned back to the horse, and so did everyone else as they gasped suddenly realsing what the horse was about to do.
"You can do it Lanky Ember." Scarlet whispered. "I know you can, you're the king of horses. Your name is not lanky ember, not at all." she said. "Firestorm, you can do it! FIRESTOOOORM!" she shouted.
And the horse took run, wide-eyed Monstrasio looked at the horse and then had to throw himself aside as the horse came galloping and then finally he took a leap, a giant leap over the fence so he landed among the crowds that now spread as people screamed.
"COME BACK HERE!" Monstrasio yelled. "SOLDIERS! GET THAT HORSE!" he demanded.
"FIRESTORM THIS WAY!" Scarlet shouted and then whistled again as she ran to the left the horse following with her, then she saw soldiers coming from the left and she jumped to the right whistling again guiding the horse with her. She jumped from roof top to roof top, guiding Firestorm away from any soldiers and they were almost at the city exit though there soldiers were waiting making a blockade and Firestorm neighed as he stood on his hind legs.
In front of the blockade was Monstrasio with a pulled sword as he grinned. "You wont take this one Fox." he stated.
"WANNA BET?!" Scarlet shouted as she dropped down from above and hit Monstrasio right in the face, then she grabbed the whip he had dropped on the ground and cracked the whip at him forcing Monstrasio to back away. "Not so fun when it happens to you is it?" she asked.
Monstrasio hissed. "You made your mistake." he commented. "You're surrounded." he pointed out as true enough soldiers were now coming from all sides forcing both Firestorm and Scarlet to back up.
Scarlet swallowed, then did the only thing she could do, she grabbed Firestorms main and swung herself up on his back. "HIYA!" she shouted kicking his sides and Firestorm neighed as he stormed forward forcing the soldiers to throw themselves on the ground to avoid the horse, only Monstrasio launched forward trying to grab Scarlet but she just managed to kick him off and finally they were out in the free where Firestorm ran across the field.
Scarlets eyes widened as she looked behind herself and saw the city and soldiers disappearing in the distance. "Woah." she breathed. "Firestorm, it's like we're flying! THIS IS AMAZING! WAHOOOO!" she shouted happily. "HAHAHAHAHA! YOU REALLY ARE THE KING OF ALL HORSES! HAHAHAHA!" she laughed and Firestorm neighed almost as if he was giving his agreement.
It truly did feel amazing as they galloped over the hills and landscapes, the wind pressing towards Scarlets face and the freedom in front of her.
Only way to soon did they arrive at the cave entrance where Bernadette gaping looked at the big horse trotting towards the entrance before he stopped and Angelina sighed as she jumped down, then she turned to Firestorm and pulled off her mask to reveal her real smiling face. "Thank you Firestorm, i'll never forget what it felt like to ride on you." she said as she tiptoed and finally undid the rope around his neck before she stood back with the rope. "There, you're free now. Just as you are meant to be."
The horse though didn't move, he just stood there looking at Angelina.
Angelina blinked confused and then Firestorm took a step towards her and pressed his mule into her chest.
"Hey!" Angelina exclaimed. "What's this all about?! don't you have a pack to return to? You must be the alpha male of that pack!" she commented pushing him back, but he only went right back to her, rubbing his head towards her body. Then he looked up and their eyes met.
Angelina blinked then she gasped. "No… You don't mean?" she asked. "You… You want to join forces? You want to stay?"
The horse of course didn't exactly respond, just let out a slight breath.
Then a smile spread across Angelinas face, a grin in fact as she held up her hands and let out a big. "EHHHHHHH!" in excitement. "FIRESTORM YOU REALLY MEAN IT?!" she asked as she grabbed his mile and hugged him as she cried. "OH MY GOD! Firestorm! You'll really really stay?! I'm so happy!" she cried as she finally let go. "Eeeh! This is the greatest! Firestorm! BERNADETTE LOOK!" she shouted. "Firestorm is going to stay with us!"
Wide-eyed Bernadette looked at the giant horse then looked at Angelina.
"Come on Bernadette, come say hallo to Firestorm." Angelina invited. "He's part of our team now! A comrade."
Bernadette swallowed clearly intimidate, then she walked forward shaking lightly.
The horse looked at Bernadette and then nieghed making Bernadette jump in shock.
"Hey it's okay." Angelina said. "Firestorm, this is Bernadette she's my best friend!" she beamed. "She's going to help taking really good care of you." she said padding Firestorms mule.
And Bernadette swallowed as she gathered courage then slowly approached him again, she squinted her eyes as she reached forward a shaking hand, an then finally touched his mule her eyes opened wide and she looked up at the horse whom didn't even move to touch her.
"We have to take really good care of Firestorm Bernadette." Angelina smiled. "We don't own him, he's going to help us of his own free will. Firestorm is a free horse, he'll always be free." she said fondly scratching him behind his ear. "The Captain would never have been able to tame him, he would die before he got tamed. And we can't tame him either, he'll come and go as he pleases. So we better just keep him happy so he'll help us when we need it." she grinned. "Fortunately for me Firestorm also have beef with the dear Captain, you hate the guy don't you?" she asked Firestorm. "Yes you do! Yes you hate that slimey snake, we got so much in common you and I yes we do." she blabbered to the horse talking to him like he was a little puppy dog. "Together we'll humiliate that Captain so much yes we will. Yes we will, he shouldn't go around whipping sweet things like you. No he shouldn't!"
Bernadettes head fell askew as she looked at Angelina and her pretty odd antics, but then she smiled and she to padded the horse and she smiled.
And Angelina smiled to. "Ah! First of all you must be so hungry Firestorm!" she stated. "And thirsty! Boy, it's going to be days before you'll be ready to ride again." she had to admit. "It's going to be okay now I promise Firestorm, we'll take good care of you!"
The next few days Angelina and Bernadette did their best to take care of Firestorm, they fed him, cleaned him, gave him water, treated his wounds. Really there wasn't the thing the horse didn't get.
Finally just six days after he had been freed was Firestorm standing again, looking strong and ready to stretch his legs.
Angelina swallowed as she saw him like that, she was wearing her scarlet defende costume and in her hands she was holding a large saddle.
Slowly and feeling pretty damn nervous she approached Firestorm with the saddle in her hands then looked up at him, firestorm however didn't even move and allowed Angelina to put the saddle on him. As well as the bridle and everything else.
Then finally Scarlet swung herself up on the horse and for a moment it felt like her heart had stopped, then she smiled as her heart now felt like it was beating twice as loud as before and she kicked Firestorm setting him in a trove out of the cave and finally they were out on the cliff, then she smirked. "Well Firestorm, how fast can you really run?" She asked. "Show me." she asked and the horse neighed as he rose unto his hind legs and then he galloped.
Faster than any other horse, over the big terrain both flat ground and cliffs and Scarlet was screaming in delight.
Freedom! It truly was a wonderful thing.