They were climbing into the pod when Kray Foresight regained consciousness.
"What are you doing?" He questioned, his flames still inactive after the encounter with the Promare. "There's no way to stop the world from getting scorched."
Galo gave his former hero a self-assured smirk.
"Who said we were going to stop the Promare?"
"You'd let them destroy the planet?"
He shook his head. "That's not it either. Lio and I here," he wrapped an arm around the blonde's shoulders, "are going firefighting. Just sit tight until we're done. I promise we're going to save everyone; that includes you too."
Lio shot his friend a look of annoyance.
"You're too kind for your own good. After all he's done he doesn't deserve saving."
"Everyone deserves saving, Lio. Besides, we need him alive pay for his crimes and help us rebuild."
"Maybe," he admitted softly before filling the pod with fire.
Seconds later they were shooting up into the sky. It was only when they were miles above the ground overlooking Promepolis that Galo withdrew his arm, a funny look on his face as he watched Lio call for the help of the other Burnish. As plumes of flame burst forth from the Foresight Foundation building the look turned into one of admiration.
Magenta eyes met blue, a similar look of respect coming from Lio.
"Do you hear them, Galo?"
The firefighter closed his eyes. He had to focus very hard, but he could just make out their thoughts and feelings.
"I do. They've got something they want to share with everyone."
"We've synced with them now. Whatever they want to say has to come from our hearts as well."
"I suppose I can do that. Up for a little karaoke, Lio? A duet if I may."
"I hate you."
"Aw! I hate you too~" He sang lovingly.
When a symphony of voices assaulted his mind he quickly sobered up. It was now or never.
Stretching out a hand, Lio intertwined his fingers with Galo's. Matching blushes ran across their faces as the flames around them intensified. Lio's desire to burn the entire Earth and Galo's wish to save lives from fire mixed with the Promare's wish of being free, and something beautiful happened.
"Trails of fire you always knew, they would carry me home; they'd lead me to you." A choir of voices reached the minds of every human within Promepolis. The Promare spoke in chants, leaving gaps where they relied on Lio or Galo to carry their words. "Trails of fire you always knew, they would carry me home; they'd lead me to you."
Sapphire flames flooded the land around them like a tsunami. They stretched as far as their eyes could see, and they knew their combined will would make sure the flames were carried everywhere.
Galo grinned at Lio before picking up where the Promare left off.
"Though you can't see the sun a new day has begun, and I fall out of bed to a siren call," he belted, voice jovial. As he continued he thought about Aina and the other members of the Burning Rescue Team. "In the frame on the wall see you in fire. You guys are smiling at me, and you inspire."
"Is it me or does that sound like Galo?" Aina asked Lucia and Heris. The other member of the Burning Rescue Team were wondering the same thing.
"I'm pretty sure the Promare are the one's broadcasting their thoughts," Lucia reasoned. "However, from what we saw it seems like Galo and that Mad Burnish have something to do with what's happening."
"Not good enough if I just let them get away. Not satisfied until I'm making 'em pay!
I'm a fool for adventure, you know? Inside my heart feelin' the Inferno!"
"That's definitely Galo."
Heris smiled at her sister. "They were in the pod Kray was using to power the ship. They might very well be the ones controlling the flames, letting them burn freely but making sure they aren't harming anyone."
They listened as the song went on, but this time Lio was singing.
"Barely catchin' my breath, lay my eyes on the crest. Gonna square up to all of the heat that is left." The Promare rose up in the background to join in with a chant. "So, I carry the torch to inferno! Inferno! It's out of the park, and I'm smilin' again. Here we go!"
Galo joined in, grinning at Lio as they harmonized.
"I know I know, I know I know," they couldn't help but stare at each other as they sang. It didn't take long before Lio was forced to look away, his face pink. The tips of Galo's ears on the other hand were red. "I will be here for you wherever you go. Yeah I know, I know I know, I know I know. I will be here for you wherever you go. Yeah, I know."
At this point the entire Earth was drenched in flames. They could feel it. They could also feel the Promare urging them to burn even brighter. Without speaking to one another Lio willed the his fire to construct a mech bigger and better than anything he'd ever attempted, Galo's will merging with his own to form a creation they would dub Galo de Lion.
"Say I don't understand, but I don't give a damn," Galo started.
"Even told me that I wouldn't reach the top." Lio finished. They alternated back and forth like this for some time, their mech setting other planets on fire across the solar system.
"But I follow my grandfather's journey."
"I know I can be the man that I should be."
"I down a coffee, grab my axe and then I'm out."
"I got a rage inside that's making me shout."
Galo met Lio's eyes once more. "I get high on the fighting, you know?"
Lio smirked, nodded in response before continuing. "Inside my heart feelin' the inferno!"
Fire was being pulled from the sun itself as the Promare burned. Across the world people listened as they continued to sing verses of a song only they would ever know, and eventually the flames began to recede. Slowly their mech broke back through the atmosphere in order for Galo and Lio to survive the landing back in Promepolis before the Promare burned out.
The Burnish and firefighter touched the ground, tri-colored flames swirling around them like dual twisters.
"All my life been searching for the place I lost," Lio soft voice sang. He held up a palm as a ball of fire burned brightly. "It's what I adore."
Galo gave him a tender look. "And all my life been hoping for a happy life for me."
More words flowed as the flames burned out across the globe. People reveled in the fact as the flames disappeared there appeared to be new growth. Areas that had been scorched to ash grew green again, and cities that had been cover in dust shone like new. It seemed the Promare could create just as easily as they could destroy.
When the final tug came, the rip between their worlds closing, Lio felt his chest ache.
How can I be me if I'm no longer a Burnish?
Still linked, Galo heard his question and frowned.
"You were always Lio, flames or not."
"I grew up with the Promare, Galo. My identity revolved around them. I fought wars for them, I saved for them, and I nearly killed for them."
The firefighter shook his head.
"Sorry, I think what I said came out wrong. Promare or not you're still a Burnish at heart; you're still you. And it's not like you'll forget them, right? They shaped who you are."
As if listening to their conversation they caught one last whisper from the aliens.
Thank you, Lio, Galo. Burn always. Farewell.
And then the Promare left. All at once. Completely.
Galo broke the silence with a shout. It scared the crap out of Lio, who nearly punched the blue-haired idiot.
"Why the hell are you screaming?"
"Because setting fires is actually sort of fun! You've ruined me, Lio. A pyromaniac can't be a firefighter!"
Lio lifted an eyebrow. "So you're saying I can't join the Burning Rescue Team?"
"Huh? You want to become a firefighter?"
"After I help make sure the ex-Burnish are going to be okay. Rehabilitation might be a long process, and I'm going to need to find housing, food, and clothes for a large chunk of the population. Jobs will be another hard task. And—"
"You know I'll help you with that! Not to mention the funding you'll get from the Foresight Foundation for all the harm they've done to your people. My team will make sure Kray is sentenced and rightfully forced to help clean up the mess he made. I promise."
"You promise?"
"Of course! Much like my manly burning spirit my promises never waver!"
The blonde chuckled. "I suppose I'll hold you to that then."
Song used: Inferno by Benjamin Anderson
Song I wanted to use but didn't feel like writing an after-scene for: After the Fire by Nai & Celeina Ann (Carole and Tuesday)