Now we're coming close to the climax of the sub-volume, and it will be up in three parts! Here's part one.

Sub-Volume 2 - Heroes and Villains

Chapter 11 - Run Devil Run (McCartney, 1999)

Written by Zack Wanzer, James Riddle, and Rachel/TobyandMavisforever

FEBRUARY 27, 2014

It was early in the morning when Vincent first awoke. The alarm hadn't gone off yet, but right now, Vincent was looking at Sunset as she slept.

She looks like such an angel when she's asleep, he thought to himself. Suddenly, he looked down her body and noticed that part of her pajama shirt was raised, partially exposing her midriff, and more importantly, her navel. With a cheeky smirk, Vincent brought his index finger closer to his girlfriend's partially exposed abdomen and began to poke around Sunset's navel.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Sunset shrieked with laughter as she woke up, feeling her boyfriend's finger inside her navel. But Vincent didn't stop there, for he started to tickle her belly as well.

"Tickle tickle tickle!" he cried playfully.

"You little stinker!" Sunset giggled. She reached out and began tickling Vincent back, making him laugh too. Their laughter attracted Celestia's attention.

"What on earth is going on?" she asked.

"Vincent was tickling me!" explained Sunset, covering her midriff with her pajama top in embarrassment. "And he started it by poking inside my belly button..."

"I was just giving her a little wake up call," insisted Vincent innocently.

"You're so mean sometimes," teased Sunset, pushing him back onto the bed. "It wasn't funny since you know my belly is ticklish."

"I know what that's like," said Celestia. "When Lullaby and I were younger, she'd show off her midriff a lot, especially during the summer months, and sometimes on the beach, she'd play with my navel when I didn't expect it."

"I guess that runs in the family," Sunset grinned at Vincent, who blushed madly.

"That being said," continued Celestia, "let's not make this a recurring thing each morning, okay?" Vincent nodded in understanding, and Sunset kissed him on the cheek.

After breakfast, Vincent and Sunset decided to head to school early.

"Mom sometimes allows me to do that," said Sunset. "You get some nice quiet time before the bell rings."

"And nice to have some company as well, right?" asked Vincent.

"I'd like that very much," smiled Sunset. "It gets a little lonely sometimes."

"Understood," said Vincent. The two raced off to catch the early train. When they got to the school, they decided to check out the library.

"I love relaxing here," said Sunset. "I can see why Twilight enjoys going there."

"Yeah, I see her often with Moon Dancer reading books during break," chuckled Vincent. "Those two are like sisters."

"Maybe Moon Dancer and Twilight are long lost relatives," said Sunset jokingly.

"They probably are," chuckled Vincent. The two quickly chose some books to read. Vincent picked out a book relating to rock music history.

"That's always fun to learn about," said Sunset.

"Yeah," said Vincent. "It's even great to learn about some details of our favorite songs." Sunset nodded, and looked through the shelves of books.

"What could I find?" she said to herself. She then stumbled across a how to draw book.

"This looks interesting," said Sunset. She slid it off the shelf and sat down beside Vincent.

"Planning to learn how to draw me like those French girls?" Vincent asked jokingly. This earned him a snorted chuckle and a playful shove by Sunset.

"Cheeky boy," she giggled.

"But you love me anyway," grinned Vincent.

"Of course I do," said Sunset.

"Is there a particular reason you checked that book out?" asked Vincent.

"I... I guess since I drew that picture of Thomas and Emily for you, I wanted to try more drawing," Sunset said shyly. "But there's no way I'd be as good as you."

"Oh, don't be so modest," laughed Vincent. "I think you'll do great."

"Aw, thanks," Sunset blushed. Then she leaned over and kissed her boyfriend on the lips.

"I'm so glad you decided to come with me this early," Sunset said sweetly.

"Same here," said Vincent.

Meanwhile, Starlight and Icy Heart were walking down the street. Since encountering the latter, the former had been living at the house Icy Heart and Noble Shield used to reside prior to Icy's arrest. Now the wanted murderer was wearing a disguise so nobody could recognize her.

"Starlight," said Icy Heart, "you say you never met your parents."

"Not my mother," said Starlight. "I have vague memories of my father, but they're not the most pleasant I've had."

"And, would they still be living, per chance?" Icy Heart went on.

"Aunt Abacus said that my mother died giving birth to me," said Starlight, "but I don't know where my father is, let alone if he's still alive."

"Hmm..." Icy Heart said, more to herself than anything. "How about I help you find your father?"

"You'd do that?" asked Starlight.

Icy Heart gave a nod. "But on one condition."

"What condition?"

"You help me get revenge on Sunset's family," she said. "She is your nemesis, am I correct?"

"Erm... yes, she is," said Starlight, albeit reluctantly.

"I figured as much," Icy Heart grinned. "And I've heard across the grapevine Sunset has a boyfriend now."

"Yes, and he goes by Vincent van Colt."

"I take you don't get along with him either," Icy Heart pressed.

"He's a right goody two shoes," snorted Starlight. "Acting like he was better than everyone else, putting people down just because they didn't live up to his standards. It was he and Sunset that caused me to get kicked out of that awful school cause they brainwashed their principal, Sunset's mother."

Icy Heart remained quiet; it seemed like Starlight didn't know Sunset's true birth mom.

"That Vincent... he's Lullaby Strings' kid, isn't he?" she asked at last.

"I do believe he is," Starlight said. "She was hit by a drunk driver and his brother barely survived."

"I think I heard something like that along the grapevine too." Icy Heart wasn't going to mention she had met the person who had hit Lullaby Strings in prison.

"Why are we bringing all of this up?" asked Starlight.

"I guess I have the curiosity of a cat," Icy Heart said simply.

"Okay then," said Starlight, choosing not to push the issue any further. "Anyway," she went on, "do you have any idea on where to find dad?"

"I don't have a clue," replied Icy Heart. "But that doesn't mean we can't look around together."

"Maybe use a phone book?" suggested Starlight.

"Good plan; let's see if there's one near us."

"Maybe they're in a phone booth," said Starlight. "But where can we find one?"

"Photo booths are usually at carnivals," Icy Heart replied. "Do you know if there's one about?"

"I meant a telephone booth."

"Oh... my mistake." Icy Heart sounded sheepish.

"Where can we find a telephone booth these days?" asked Starlight. "Most people just use a cell phone."

"Surely there's one around town," Icy Heart reassured. "Sometimes there's one outside of a milk-bar."

"You mean like that one over there?"

"Huh, how did I miss that?" Icy Heart scratched her head.

"Well, at least we can find a phone book inside," said Starlight. The two walked into the telephone booth and found the phone book inside. Starlight then flipped through the pages until she found names starting with "Fire".

"Hmm, not that, not that, no... ah, Firelight!" Starlight cried. "That's him." After putting in some money, dialed the number. After a few rings, she heard a voice.

"Hello?"

"Is... this Firelight?" asked Starlight nervously.

"This is. Who may I ask is calling?"

"It's your daughter... Starlight Glimmer." Firelight's voice seemed to get softer.

"Starlight?"

"Dad...?"

"I'd never thought I'd hear your voice again..." Firelight's voice was almost hoarse. "You've grown up; how long has it been?"

"Long enough for me to have gone to high school," Starlight explained. "But to be more specific, I'd say fifteen or sixteen years."

"Oh, Starlight..." sighed Firelight. "I wish I could have been there with you."

"You've no idea how much given what I've been through," said Starlight.

"Do you want to chat with me about it?" asked Firelight gently.

"I do," said Starlight. But before she could say more, Icy Heart took the receiver, called out "I'm sorry, but Starlight's not there," and hung up.

"What was that all about?!" shrieked Starlight. What was Firelight going to think of her now?

"You took too long on that phone," snapped Icy Heart. "We agreed that you'd find daddy, not go home to him."

"So I'm not allowed to see my own father?" argued Starlight.

"I've filled my end of the bargain, and now you have to fill out yours. Come on!"

Starlight shakily followed. Oh, dad. If I could stay on the phone, I would... I wish you raised me instead of my aunt...

Later that night, they arrived at Celestia's house. Starlight noticed that Icy had a gas can in her left hand.

"Here's the place," said Icy Heart.

"Looks rather nice from the outside," remarked Starlight.

"I suppose it does look nice," Icy said to herself.

"I wonder what it's like on the inside," Starlight pondered. "I guess I'll never know because..."

"Because they'll be nothing left but ashes," Icy Heart smirked. She lit a match, and before anyone could say "burn, baby, burn," she threw it where the gasoline had soaked.

"What have you done?!" cried Starlight.

"I've set the house on fire with Sunset and her new family inside," Icy Heart replied simply.

Starlight goggled in horror, and realized the last bit of what Icy Heart said. "New family... what do you mean, new family?"

"I'm shocked it took you this long to figure it out," said Icy Heart.

"Y-you... you're Sunset's birth mother, aren't you?" gasped Starlight.

"Yes." Icy Heart gave a malevolent grin, which made Starlight wince in fear.

Meanwhile, Sunset and Vincent were sleeping with Jiji between them, when suddenly, Sunset smelled something.

"It's late to be having a cookout..." she muttered in her sleep.

"Wait," said Vincent. "That's not a cookout..."

Sunset jumped up and looked outside her bedroom window. "Fire!"

And indeed it was; a fire had started outside. Sunset and Vincent raced out of the room (Vincent still holding Jiji).

"Solar Crystal, mom, dad!" cried Sunset, knocking on their bedroom doors. "There's a fire outside!"

"A fire?!" cried Solar Crystal from inside her room.

"Kids, let's hurry outside," called Celestia, getting her mobile phone. "I'll call the fire department." Sombra and Celestia ushered the teenagers toward the door first.

"Hurry!" called Sombra, and they raced out with no problems. Sombra followed, but before Celestia could, a spark of fire hit the floor near the door, and it blocked Celestia in.

"MOM!" Sunset sobbed. "No!"

Vincent saw tears begin to form in Sunset's eyes. Celestia had taken Sunset in as her own when Icy Heart abused her and killed Noble Shield, and her suffering had gone. Now it had come back in full force. He couldn't bear seeing her like this.

"You go to my family's house to tell the fire department," Vincent called. "I'll try and save Celestia." He handed Jiji to Sunset and charged into the house.

"Vincent, what are you doing?!" cried Solar Crystal.

"Something potentially stupid!" he replied, not looking back. Fortunately, the fire had attracted attention from some of the neighbors, and they started grabbing buckets of water.

"Come back!" called Sombra, gesturing for his daughters to go toward Vincent's house.

Back inside the burning house, Celestia was trying her best to find another way out. Unfortunately, she was on the verge of losing consciousness.

"Oh..." she coughed. "Must... be with... my... family." Then she heard a male voice calling out her name.

"Celestia!" It was Vincent.

"V-Vincent?" gasped Celestia. "What... are you... doing?"

"I've come to get you out of here," said Vincent.

"Y-you should be with the others..." Celestia coughed again. "You'll be... safe with them..."

"No!" said Vincent. "For Sunset's sake, I'm not leaving you behind."

"Y-you'd make a good son-in-law..." At this point, Celestia had lost consciousness. Wasting no further time, Vincent put Celestia on his back to try and carry her. Unfortunately, her tall frame made this a bit tricky.

I didn't think this through, he thought to himself as he headed for the nearest opening. Just then, he spotted a window in the dining room.

"That'll work," he said to himself. "But I can't do this alone..." He made his way to the window and poked his head out.

"Sombra!" he shouted. "I need your help to get Celestia out through the window!"

"Okay!" called Sombra, reaching his hands into the window. Vincent carefully positioned Celestia so Sombra could grab her from underneath her arms. Sombra gently pulled Celestia through the window, and Vincent followed after him.

"We may need to call an ambulance for her," said Sombra.

"You think she'll be alright?" asked Vincent.

"I hope so," said Sombra. "We better get to your house. Your dad will be able to call one up." Sombra and Vincent started trekking toward the latter's house, carrying Celestia between them. They heard the sound of sirens driving toward their street.

"Think we should probably stay there in case the department questions us?" asked Vincent.

"That may be a good idea," said Sombra. Both males heard a coughing from between them, followed by a groan.

"Wh... where am I...?"

"Celestia!" Sombra glanced at her, a tear running down his face. "You're awake."

"Of course I'm awake." Celestia tried to chuckle, but coughed some more instead.

"It's alright, dear," whispered Sombra. "We'll get you to a hospital, don't worry."

FOOTNOTES

The first scene with Sunset and Vincent was originally written for chapter nine, but later became the start of chapter eleven. Similarly, some elements initially written for this chapter were held back for the next chapter.

The phone booth/photo booth joke was an accident made when Rachel was helping me edit the story.