The Sailor Scouts of Drama
Chapter Four: Flame on her Own
By: Flame Stardattir
A single figure snuck out of the living room over, past, and around the sleeping forms of her friends. She locked the door behind her and slipped outside. Her orange-red hair shone softly in the late afternoon sun as she walked confidently down the sidewalk.
Just minutes later she walked into the Crown Arcade. A young man with blond hair looked up as she entered and sighed. He took off his apron and handed it to another worker, said something to him and walked over to the girl.
"We need to talk," She said softly.
"I know. Lets talk in the park. Okay? Its more private."
"Sure," Flame replied softly.
They walked in silence, Flame reminiscing and Andrew thinking desperately. When they finally got to the park Andrew led Flame to a secluded bench and motioned for her to sit down, she complied and looked out across the park. There was an awkward silence, until Flame broke it.
"So Android… why Earth?"
"*Sigh* Must you call me that?" he asked.
"Of course! So why Earth?"
"Because it was far away, away from the memories and the pain of losing my best friend," He said softly, barely managing to hold back tears. "We grew up together and I couldn't stand that I'd grow old and he wouldn't so I left. My parents and sister were here… seemed like a good idea."
"Oh," She whispered softly in understanding.
They were quiet for a long quiet moment, remembering the deceased friend and brother. Flame broke the silence eventually, and attempted to change to a lighter subject.
"So how are your parents and Liz?"
"They're good. How are the rest of your siblings and your parents?" he asked.
Flame flinched and looked down, a tear dropping into the soil at her feet. She took a deep breath and spoke, "Dee and Karl are fine, they're living with their godparents. As for my parents…."
"What? What's wrong?"
"They were killed. They were assassinated while touring Star," she sobbed.
Andrew stared at her shocked, realizing that her parents' death had left Flame in charge of her parents Kingdom. "When?"
"The day after my sixteenth birthday," She said softly, tears still dripping down her face.
"I'm so sorry," he remarked quietly.
She continued to cry, and he pulled her into his arms in an attempt to comfort her. His heart ached for the teenager that carried the burden of ruling a world on her slim shoulders. After a long while she pulled away, and then she smiled up at him through her tears. Again she attempted to switch to a happier subject.
"So Android, what's up with you? Seeing anyone?"
"Well I was engaged, but she went to spend a couple years abroad studying archeology and she met someone…"
"Oh I'm sorry," Flame whispered.
"Its okay. It obviously wasn't meant to be."
"I suppose not," she replied thoughtfully. He didn't even seem all that upset in her opinion.
"So why are you here?" He asked.
"Sorry that's classified information."
"Don't give me that Sailor Starflame."
"Watch-it Android!" she hissed, looking around for civilians. When she found no people within hearing range she relaxed, but not much. "Please don't go around yelling my secret identity in public!"
"Yes almighty Queen Flame!" he said mockingly.
She winced at his tone of voice, and got up. She turned and walked away from him to hide her tears at her friend's harsh words.
"I'm sorry Flame!! Come back!" Andrew called after her.
Flame shook her head and continued walking. Andrew stood and ran after her, catching up to her at the sidewalk. He grabbed her arm, "Flame I'm sorry…"
She looked up at him, her eyes swollen and red, with the last of her tears trailing down her face. She was didn't say anything for a while, and when she finally spoke it was almost a whisper.
"I never thought someone I considered a friend, someone I grew up with, my deceased brother's best friend would have ever said anything like that to me…"
Andrew's expression became that of someone who deeply regretted his actions. He reached out with one hand and wiped away Flame's tears gently. He was silent for a moment before he spoke, carefully.
"I'm sorry, I really am."
Flame sniffled for a moment, before throwing herself at Andrew still crying. Andrew looked down at her, startled, for a moment, before hugging her back. He marveled at the burden placed on the slim shoulders of his young companion, wondering at how she had changed in just a few years.
'She is so strong… so beautiful,' he thought to himself. 'Wait a second… beautiful? Where did that come from?'
After a few moments Flame pulled away, riding herself of any trace of her tears she stood proudly in the late afternoon sun. She thought to herself as she looked at Andy.
'He is just as handsome as I remember! That Rita was an idiot to let him go! But at least I can have a chance at him.'
Flame grabbed Andy's arm and pulled him back into the park and out of the path of the pedestrians on the sidewalk. They walked in a companionable silence for a long while before the silence of the park was broken by screams.
Flame sighed, "I have to go Android."
"I know… but please be careful… I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."
Flame nodded and looking around to make sure they were alone took out her transformation wand.
"STARFLAME POWER!"
A minute later Sailor Starflame was dashing through the park toward the screams. When she got there she found a horribly ugly youma sucking the energy out of hapless pedestrians.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" She called jumping between the youma and a group of pedestrians.
The youma just laughed, "You think you can stop me? You look like a weak little flower. I like to squash flowers."
"Hey I may seem fragile, but I'm tough enough to take you on! I am Sailor Starflame, and in the name of the planet Star I WILL PUNISH YOU!"
"Yeah sure," the youma muttered.
"FIRE CRESCENT!" Sailor Starflame yelled. She held her arms straight out in front of her, the heels of her hands, and the inside of her wrists touching. Her elbows locked and her feet spread apart in a bracing stance. A crescent burning with gold and orange flames burst from her hands and burned the youma.
The youma was injured, but not beaten and so it lunged at her. She dodged easily and before she could retaliate a crystal-like voice intervened.
"AURORA SABER!" called Sailor Drama. She holds her hands like she's holding a two handed sword. Coldness descends from the atmosphere and is drawn to her hands. It condenses into a thin sword of ice, which is radiating multiple colors. Then she swings it at the enemy, and it shatters when it hits, freezing her enemy into place, while it's bombarded with the icicle remnants of the sword.
"RAGING INFERNO!" added Sailor Starflame. She holds one hand in front of her; palm facing outward, and her feet spread apart into a sturdy stance. Then from her palm comes a blazing ball of red, orange, gold, and deep blue fire that grows as it flies forward and by the time it reaches the youma it is almost twice the monster's size. The youma's frozen body is consumed by an inferno and melts into a gooey puddle.
At this point Sailor Drama walks over to Sailor Starflame. She puts an arm around her second-in-command's shoulders and starts walking with her to a private part of the park. "So how'd things go?"
"What do you mean?" Flame asks, stepping out of the sheltered clearing.
"Between you and Andrew…"
"They went okay I suppose," Flame started. She told Rei everything as they walked back to the condo.
"Well it sounds like it went okay. You can always talk to him later…"
"Yeah. Lets go home!"
