I'm a monster… no, they wanted a monster, so I'll show them one! Blaze thought as he clashed with Bill.
Fist of ice and fire collided, sending warm steam swirling into the air. Dark clouds painted the sky, and lightning carved life into its shadowed canvas.
"Blaze, calm down! Don't let your emptiness control you!" Bill shouted, his voice almost louder than the thunder as they locked hands in a vice-like grip.
Blaze's head burned. Bill loosened his grip just long enough for Blaze to deliver a brutal uppercut. As Bill rose, he saw Blaze walking slowly toward him. Flames danced around him, mirroring the fire in his phoenix eyes. And through those eyes, Bill saw a boy surrounded by flames, crying for help.
Bill summoned the rain and shaped it into a glistening ice sword. Blaze continued his slow approach. The ground cracked beneath him, and a stone sword erupted from the fissure. Blaze seized it, and in an instant, the stone ignited into a blazing weapon.
They clashed, their movements a blur as their eyes locked—blue and white, fire and ice, brother against brother.
"Is this all you've got?" Blaze shouted, pushing Bill back with every strike.
"I don't want to hurt you, Bl—"
"Don't try to tame me!" Blaze roared, shoving him further.
He's a monster… "They called for the devil, and that's what they'll get!" Blaze's eyes burned. Bill's sword cracked.
I heard Rebecca was next…Blaze's voice shook with rage,
"I'll burn them all!"
"Will you let that happen, hero?" Bill's sword shattered, sending him crashing into a burning tree.
Blaze hovered over his brother, raising his sword.
"What are you staring at?"Bill asked.
Blaze held out the stone-shaped heart Rebecca had given him.
"It's a heart—a symbol of love," he said.
Bill punched him in the chest.
"You have one right here!" they laughed together, sharing a fleeting moment of brotherly bond.
Blaze's hand trembled for a second, and in that moment, Bill placed his hand on his brother's chest, tears streaming down his face. He whispered, "I'm sorry," before impaling him through the heart, lifting his body above the clouds as Blaze struggled to melt the ice.
"I promise I'll protect them," Bill thought, wind whipping his tears as he glided over ice toward his brother.
"Bill, wait! Blaze has become a monster! You can't save him! Let him go!" Rebecca grabbed his sleeve.
Bill shook her off, wordless, determination blazing in his eyes.
Blaze hovered, frozen midair. His heart glowed orange as lightning struck,his phoenix powers awakened instantly healing his wound. His phoenix eyes burned brighter, tears of blood streaking his face.
Bill stared, pleading, "Blaze, that's enough! Come back home!"
Blaze spread his arms and conjured a glowing sphere that resembled a star. He expanded it.
"Ancalagon!" he called upon the flame dragon.
Bill summoned the rain clouds and contained them in a sphere, mirroring Blaze's actions. I hope this works, he thought.
"Sis, Tana, look! The dark clouds are gone! We can play ball again!"
Tana stood frozen, horror etched across her face.
"Ice dragon Viserion!"
They clashed again. Bill saw the boy surrounded by flames and reached out. The boy met his gaze, reaching back… then withdrew.
A deafening thud echoed in the sky, and the children dropped the ball in fright.
Bill hovered, falling, tears streaming upward as he thought of his brother. Some people can't be saved, he remembered his mother's words.
He opened his eyes to see Blaze's fearsome gaze and was struck in the stomach. Blood filled his mouth as he crashed to the ground.
His vision blurred. He hallucinated the war, hearing bombs, landmines, and the anguished cries of comrades.
"Stop!"
A child ran for the ball they had dropped, but Tana pulled her back. Ice froze it in place, along with the hovering flies.
Blaze walked slowly, pushing through the ice. Bill stumbled but rose again, determined, moving toward his brother.
The force of their ice and flames pushed them apart, like two magnets repelling, yet they kept advancing, drawn to each other by some invisible bond.
Blaze raised his flaming fist to strike. Bill mirrored him, ice forming around his own hand.
"Bill!"
"Blaze!"
Blaze swung, but Bill dodged and grabbed him, holding him tight. Blaze's fist hung frozen in the air, stunned.
"Let go of me!" Blaze shouted, flames erupting around him, but Bill did not release him—just as Tana had once held on, refusing to let go.
"Let's go home, Blaze," Bill whispered, tears streaking his face.
"I have no home to return to," Blaze said, his voice breaking, the fire around him flickering like a wounded heart.
A rainbow arced across the sky, its colors reflecting in their eyes, bringing life and hope into the chaos.
"Those who have a heart for you make that home. That's family. Even if unwanted… even if broken…I...I" Bill's words trailed off as his body went limp. He fell unconscious in Blaze's arms.
Blaze looked down at his brother, the flames around him softening, and for a moment, the monster inside him trembled.
The priest stood on the iceberg, looking down at them, tears glistening in his eyes.
"Absolute cinema," he murmured.
Bill woke to see Rebecca's eyes staring back at him.
"Are you okay?" Bill asked.
Rebecca punched him repeatedly in the stomach. "I should be asking you, dummy!"
"Where's Blaze?"
"Oh, he's living. The priest arranged a portal for him—to the world we used to dream of. I'm jealo—"
Bill tried to rise but stumbled. "How could he…"
"Bill, don't push yourself," Rebecca said, steadying him.
Blaze had packed everything he needed. The priest opened the portal for him.
"Are you sure about this?" Tana asked.
"Yeah. I'll conquer the world, become a hero, and make sure you never struggle again," Blaze said.
Tana cried, "My son, please… please be safe."
He gently touched her head. "I will. Don't worry. Tell Bill I said goodbye."
"Why don't you tell me that to my face?" Bill said, stepping in front of him.
Blaze walked slowly past him, without a word, toward the portal. He stopped behind Bill, allowing himself a moment of tears. Bill did the same. Then Blaze punched him lightly in the chest, a silent acknowledgment. They both nodded.
The priest stepped into the portal, and Blaze followed. Everyone else stared, confused by what had just happened. Tana smiled softly.
Rebecca ran to Bill, embracing him, tears streaming down her face. The memories faded as Blaze brought himself back into reality.
drops of blood fell like raindrops from Bill's tail—the same tail that had impaled Rebecca.
Yet Rebecca remained frozen in the embrace, her face still carrying a delighted, serene smile, a moment suspended in time.