The Prince & The Two Sisters

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a foreign prince and his 2 wives were caught in a snow storm. They were on a journey but winter had come early that year and the group was caught unprepared. Luckily, the group found a small little cottage at the edge of a forest.

The prince knocked on the door and when a poor widow opened it, he asked, “Dear lady, don't be afraid for I won't hurt you. I and my wives, Cinderella and Briar Rose, are caught in this terrible snow storm and I will pay you if you allow us to stay for the winter.” The widow quickly agreed for she was poor and life was hard for her and her daughters.

The poor widow lived in the small cottage with her two daughters; one was called Snow-White and the other Rose-Red. There was a garden in front of the cottage in which grew two rose trees. In summer, one tree would bear white roses and the other tree bear red roses. The poor widow named her two daughters after the trees.

Though they were sisters, the 2 sisters could not have looked more different. Quiet, gentle Snow-White had blond hair while Rose-Red had red hair and loved to run about the fields and meadows.

The prince and his wives found the 2 young girls to be a delight, always diligent and always cheerful. As different as they were, the two children loved each other dearly and they always walked about hand in hand whenever they went out together. Rose-Red would pick flowers and catch butterflies for her sister; while Snow-White loved to cook and read stories aloud to her sister.

When the prince marveled at how close the sisters were, Snow-White said, “We will never desert each other,” and Rose-Red answered, “No, not as long as we live.” The mother added, “Whatever one gets, she shall share with the other.”

When Briar Rose said that it must be great to be as close as they were, the sisters agreed but Snow-White said, “If only we looked similar,” and Rose-Red finished, “Yes, then everything would be perfect.” When Cinderella said she had an idea to that problem, both sisters immediately asked what it was.

When their mother saw the sisters next, both sisters were in a black niqab with their eyes showing. Both sisters were of the same height and in matching robes and gloves, they looked almost alike. The mother said, “Oh Snow-White; Oh Rose-Red; you two looked totally the same now.” A puzzled Snow-White said, “We looked alike dear mother but you could still tell us apart.” Rose-Red asked, “How did you do that?”

“Oh that’s easy,” the mother said. “Snow-White has black eyes and Rose-Red has green eyes.”

So the sisters asked Cinderella to sew something to cover the front of their niqab. When their mother saw the sisters next, both sisters were in a black niqab with a veil that hung from the top of their head down to their waist. The veil totally covered the eyes and when the widow couldn’t tell them apart, both sisters jumped in delight.

For the rest of the winter, both Snow-White and Rose-Red did their chores in their niqab with only their front veil pushed up over their head. However when they were not doing chores, both sisters had their veil covering their eyes, looking perfectly the same.

In the evenings when the snowflakes fell, the widow would say, “Snow-White, go and close the shutters.” Snow-White closed the shutters while her sister lit the fire and put on the kettle. They drew round the fire while the widow put on her spectacles and read aloud from a big book filled with stories. The Prince, his wives and the two girls would sit and listened. When the widow finished her story, the prince would take over and tell a story from his own lands. The stories captivated the sister.

It was a most wonderful winter.

One evening as they sat thus cozily together, there was a knock at the door. The widow said, “Rose-Red, open the door quickly. It must be another traveler seeking shelter.” Rose-Red unbarred the door, and into the cottage walked a bear. “Oh, Mister Bear is here!” The girls shouted as they went and hug the bear.

Seeing the prince, the bear began to speak, “Don't be afraid my prince for I am an old friend of the family and I won't hurt a guest of theirs.” “My poor bear,” said the widow. “Lie down by the fire, but take care not to burn your fur like the last time.”

Snow-White and Rose-Red beat the snow out of the bear’s fur, and as they scrubbed the bear dry, the bear told the prince his story. “I was once a rich merchant,” he said, “but was cursed by an unholy little dwarf, who wanted to steal my gold. I roamed about the woods as a wild bear hunting him, thinking that with his death I would be freed of his curse. With Snow-White’s and Rose-Red’s help, the little dwarf got his well-merited punishment and I got my gold back but alas, the curse has not broken and I am still a bear.”

Hearing the old bear’s story, the prince said, “You are a good, honest creature Mister Bear. I will ask a friend if he can help you."

Standing up, the prince clapped his hands and said, “Oh! Child of the wind, Dancer in the sky, Come aid me in my time of need!”

There was a burst of light and smoke filled the cottage. When the smoke cleared, there stood in the room a most strange man. “Mister Bear,” the prince said. “This is the Jinn. He is a magical creature and could help you on your curse.”

The bear told the jinn his story and the jinn said, “Since the one who cast the spell is dead, I can break the enchantment Mister Bear.” The jinn waved his hands and the bear’s skin suddenly fell off, and an old man all dressed in gold stood in his place.

For the rest of the winter, the old man stayed with the family and when spring was in the air, the old man proposed to the old widow. The old widow accepted and the old man promised to take care of the family with his fortune. 

However Snow-White said, “You take care of our mother Mister Bear,” and Rose-Red finished, “Because the two of us are marrying the prince and returning to his homeland.”

“Why would the two of your want to marry the prince?” Mister Bear asked.

 “We can always wear the niqab in his kingdom,” Snow-White said. “We can always be the same in his kingdom.” Rose-Red finished. 

“You can also wear them in this cottage,” Mister Bear said.

“His stories of his homeland were wonderful,” Snow-White said. “And we want to see his kingdom for ourselves.” Rose-Red finished.

“So both of you want to marry the prince?” Mister Bear asked.

“We will never desert each other,” Snow-White said, “No, not as long as we live.” And Rose-Red added, “And whatever one gets, she shall share with the other.”

And so when spring finally came, there were 2 weddings at the small cottage. The widow married Mister Bear while her two daughters married the prince. All in the garden below the two rose trees.

And the prince and his 4 wives lived happily ever after.

The Prince & The Enchanted Princess

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a prince came upon a small forest. It was the strangest forest the prince had ever seen and he asked an old woodcutter nearby about the forest. The old woodcutter told him a most wondrous tale.

“A long time ago there was a queen who wished for a daughter. Her wish came true and a year later, the king and queen had a beautiful baby girl. The king and queen were so happy they invited all their kindred, friends and acquaintances to a great feast. Among the acquaintances invited were 13 witches, the most powerful women in the kingdom.

They were not friends of the kingdom but the king had hoped that they would be well disposed towards the child. The king ordered all manner of splendor for the feast; wondrous acrobats, great musicians, the best food for the banquet, and 13 golden plates for the witches to eat out from.

When the feast was over, the witches were so happy they bestowed magical gifts upon the baby; one blessed the child with beauty, one blessed the child with good luck, one blessed the child with virtue, one blessed the child with riches, and so on with everything in the world one can imagine.

When eleven of the witches had done their magic, the twelfth witch stepped forward and cried, “The day the king's daughter prick herself is the day she shall fall down dead."

Without saying a word more, the evil witch disappeared from the room, never to be seen in the kingdom again. Everyone was shocked, but then the last witch, whose wish still remained unspoken, came forward. She was not powerful enough to undo the evil curse, but she could soften it. She said that it shall not be death, but a deep sleep into which the princess shall fall and the curse would be broken by the kiss of a loved one.

So began the life of the enchanted princess; blessed by 11, cursed by 1, and saved by the last.

To keep his dear child from misfortune, the king ordered that that no sharp objects must ever be shown to the princess. No knife or sword, no pin or scissor, was allowed in the presence of the princess. As the princess grew, the blessings of the witches were fulfilled. The young princess was so beautiful, modest, good-natured, and pure, that everyone who saw her was bound to love her.

As the princess grew older, she was happy but also bored for she found she was not allowed to do anything. Womanly pursuits like cooking and sewing required her to handled knives and sharp pins which she was not allowed. Servants did her cleaning and washing as a princess was beyond such tasks. And so the day after her eighteen birthday, the bored princess went exploring in the castle.

The princess went into all the rooms in the castle and in the highest room in the highest tower of the castle; she found something she had never seen before. After climbing a narrow winding staircase, and opening a small little door, the princess saw a small table in the middle of the room. On the table lay a single flower, a red rose.

The princess stepped forward and touched the beautiful rose. But as she tried to lift the rose, the thorns of the rose pricked her finger and the curse was fulfilled. The very moment when she felt the prick, she fell upon the chair that stood there and fell in a deep sleep. And this cursed sleep extended over the whole palace, the king and queen, the whole of the court, even the animals and pets in the castle all fell into a deep sleep as well.

Around the castle was a hedge of thorns, and every year it grew higher and higher. Soon it grew over and beyond the castle. Magically, roses began to grow on the thorns and the castle soon became known as the Rose Forest.

The story of the beautiful enchanted Briar Rose, for so the princess was named, went across the land, and from time to time kings' sons and brave knights would come and try to save the princess.

However they found it impossible to get through the thorny hedge and those who tried died a miserable death caught in the thorns of the hedge. So for a hundred years slept Briar Rose and the whole court, only to be awakened by the kiss of one who love her.”

The old woodcutter finished his story and the prince said, "I am not afraid, I will go and break the curse of the beautiful Briar Rose."

The old woodcutter tried to dissuade him, “It’s too dangerous my prince. Why risk your life for an unknown woman?”

“Because it is the right thing to do,” said the prince. Giving the old woodcutter a wink, he added, “and because she is the second of my wives. Isn’t she, my jinn?”

The old woodcutter looked at the prince in shock and then burst out laughing. A wave of the hand later, the old woodcutter was gone and in his place stood the jinn. “Very well-played my prince,” the jinn laughed. “How did you know it was me?”

“A woodcutter at a forest of thorns?” laughed the prince. “You have a lot to learn about cutting wood my jinn.”

Both the jinn and the prince laughed together like two old friends. “You are quite right my prince,” admitted the jinn. “I always use magic, guess I got a lot to learn about woodcutting.”

“That you do jinn,” agreed the prince. “Can you clear a path for me to the princess?”

“I’m afraid not my prince,” said that jinn. “A prize is only worth having if you put effort into getting it. You need to figure out this yourself.”

The jinn waved his hand and disappeared, leaving the prince to wonder how he would enter through the Rose Forest. For 2 days and 2 nights, the prince sat at the edge of the forest and wondered.

Then on the third day, his wife came to him and said, “My lord, I know my future sister wife is in the castle beyond and if I may be so bold, I have an idea on how you can enter the castle.”

The prince was shocked and intrigued. His wife almost never suggested anything to him as she believed a wife’s only duty was to hear and obey orders from her husband. For her to say these words…

“Of course my dear Cinderella,” the prince said. “Please tell me your idea.”

Cinderella showed a piece of cloth to the prince and said, “For 2 days and 2 nights I have sew this garment out of the smoothest silk we have. I believe this would help you avoid the thorn.”

The prince put on the garment his wife made and discovered that from a skullcap, the garment was a long piece of cloth that covered the wearer from the top of the head to the bottom of his feet. It covered him totally with only a mesh for him to see through. 

The prince entered the Rose Forest. The prince soon discovered that the thorns of the forest were unable to hook the garment as it was too smooth, and easily went through the Rose Forest.

After he passed the castle gate, the prince saw the horses and stable boy lying asleep in the castle yard. As he went further, he saw the king and queen lying asleep in the throne room. The prince then remembered the story of Briar Rose and climbed the highest tower in the castle. In the highest room in the highest tower of the castle, he saw her.

As the legend said, Briar Rose was sleeping in the chair and she was a picture of innocence. The enchanted princess was so beautiful the prince could not turn his eyes away. Finally he stooped down and gave her a kiss. The moment their lips touched, Briar Rose opened her eyes, and smiled at him.

Together they went down the tower and found that with the breaking of the curse, the whole castle had awoken. The king was delighted and asked the prince to name his reward. The prince asked but one thing; the hand of Briar Rose in marriage.

However the king said, “My daughter is beautiful and many had come to me asking for her hand, but I shall tell you what I told them. My daughter is cursed. Though you had broken the curse now, the next time my daughter pricks herself, the curse will return and all around her will fall asleep.”

“I do not worry about that Your Majesty,” said that prince. He then showed the garment he wore to enter the Rose Forest and said, “In the future, Briar Rose will always wear this garment made and designed by my first wife. It is made of the finest silk and any pins or thorns would slide off the garment. She will also wear think cloths beneath this garment. A thick dress covering her from her neck to her feet and on her hands and feet, she would wear a pair of thick boots and tight gloves. She would wear these at all times and thus protected, she will travel with me on my journey in safety.”

“What is this garment called?” asked the king.

The prince looked at Cinderella and said, “I shall call it the burqa Your Majesty.”

And so it was decided that Briar Rose would be married to the prince in a ceremony filled with all splendor. On the day of her departure, Briar Rose hugged her parents and promised to remember them always. As she hugged her crying mother, Briar Rose gave the queen a gift to remember her by. It was another burqa sewn by Cinderella.

From that day on, the king proclaimed that the returned kingdom shall be called the “Rose Kingdom” in memory of her daughter and the queen always wore the burqa in public. Soon all women in the Rose Kingdom wore the burqa and as for Briar Rose and his prince…that’s a story for another day.

The Prince & The Jinn

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there was an unhappy young girl named Cinderella. Unhappy she was as her lovely mother was dead and her father had married another woman.

A widow with two daughters, her stepmother didn't like her one little bit, saving all her love for her own daughters. That Cinderella can understand. Her stepsisters were 2 of the most beautiful young maidens in the kingdom and countless suitors had come to their house asking her father for their hands. All were rejected. The men left disappointed but Cinderella considered them lucky. Though her stepsisters were beautiful, they were also haughty and vain creatures and they do not have the humble personality needed to be good wives.

However Cinderella could understand why her stepsisters were full of themselves. They were beautiful and wore the best dresses, shoes, shawls that money can buy; they ate the most delicious food, and slept on the most comfortable beds in the kingdom. At home, they enjoyed every home comfort.

But for poor Cinderella, there was none of these luxuries. Her dresses were her stepsisters' hand-me-downs. Her meals were nothing but scraps and leftovers. No nice bed and comfort for she as she had to work hard all day cleaning, washing and cooking for the whole family. For Cinderella was a plain girl and it was believed that splendid and elegant clothes would be wasted wore by a girl as plain as her. Only in the evening, after everyone was asleep would she be allowed to sit by the fire and rest.

One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A foreign prince had arrived in the kingdom seeking peace between the 2 kingdoms and a ball was to be held at Court to honor the prince. The stepmother and stepsisters were getting ready to go to it but Cinderella wasn’t. She didn't even have to ask as she knew it would be a waste of time. A plain girl like her would not catch the attention of a prince.

As her stepsisters left for the castle, the poor girl wash the dishes, scrub the floors and made the beds of her stepsisters. Despite the luxuries they had, Cinderella held no animosities to her stepmother and stepsisters. It’s not their fault that they were beautiful and she was not.

As she sat near the cinders of the fire, she murmured, "I wish I was beautiful.”

Suddenly something amazing happened. There was a burst of light and a man appeared out of thin air. Cinderella was about to scream but found that no sound could come out of her mouth.

"Don't be alarmed, Cinderella," said the man. "The wind blew me here to grant wishes and so I shall. I know you would love to go to the ball and so you will!"

Cinderella tried to get up from her stool but found that she could not moved her legs. "How can you go to a ball dressed in rags, you asked?" the man said. "The servants will turn you away dressed as you are!" The man smirked and with a flick of his hand, Cinderella found herself wearing the strangest dress she had ever seen. It was a black gown that covered her from her neck to her feet, with matching gloves and a pair of soft shoes.

"Now that we have settled the matter of the dress," said the man, "we'll need to get you dressed like a proper lady.”

The man went through the house and picked up a pumpkin, a candle, 4 matches and a handkerchief. "Come out of the house with me Cinderella," said the fairy. Cinderella found that she could move and fearful of the strange man, followed the man out of the hose.

With a flick of his hand, wonders happened! The pumpkin turned into a sparkling coach, the 4 matches became 4 black horses and the candle turned into a coachman dressed in a smart uniform and carrying a whip. Cinderella could hardly believe her eyes but the man is not done. The man then put the handkerchief on top of Cinderella’s head and with a wave of his hand, turned them into a veil. 

The man waved his hand again and a full length mirror appeared out of thin air. Cinderella saw herself in the mirror and could not believe it. “The veil is called the niqab,” the strange man said. “In the land of the prince, proper women do not show their faces to strangers, especially strange men. The prince will see that you have respect the customs of his kingdom and will be happy. Not only that, with the veil you do not have to worry about being recognized by your stepmother and stepsisters.” 

In truth Cinderella had not considered that yet, but thinking about it she knew the man was correct. Her stepmother and stepsisters would be angry with her if they saw her at the ball.

"Quick!" the man ordered. “A real lady should never be late for a ball!"

Cinderella entered the coach in a daze but before she set off, the man had a warning for her. "I dressed you in the fashion the prince would be happy to see as this is how the women of his land dressed. I had taken your voice because women in his land do not speak to strange men. However my magic will only last till midnight, so remember this. You must leave the ball before midnight for that is when the spell will end. Your coach will turn back into a pumpkin, and you will be dressed again in rags." Cinderella found that she was still unable to speak but she was happy she was going to the ball and smiled.

The strange man smiled and said, “I was right about you Cinderella. For you do not have beauty on the outside, but you have a kind heart and your eyes are the most soulful in your kingdom. Soon you will soon see the Prince, in whose honor the ball is being held, and he will be enchanted by the loveliness of your eyes.”

Cinderella nodded and she was off.

When Cinderella entered the ballroom at the palace, a hush fell. Everyone stopped in mid-sentence on seeing the woman in the strange dress. As she walked slowly across the ballroom, curiosity became admiration as everyone admired the beauty of her dress and the elegance and grace of her walk.

Everyone and that included the prince. When the prince set eyes on Cinderella, he was struck that a woman in this foreign land would know of the customs of his country and was intrigued. He walked over to her, bowed deeply and asked her to dance. To the great surprise of all the young ladies in the ballroom, Cinderella refused.

Cinderella had never being invited to a dance before and so, never learned how to dance. She was happy just to be at the ball and in the presence of this strange, exotic prince. Far from being offended, the prince was delighted.

Not only does this woman know of the customs of his country, but she was also modest and pure, refusing to dance with a strange man. Totally unlike these other women who threw themselves at him like whores.

All evening the prince hovered around Cinderella. "Who are you, fair maiden?" the Prince kept asking her, but Cinderella could not speak and would only shake and nod her head at the questions of the prince. The intrigue of the prince turned into passion as not only does this foreign woman (for she must be foreign as no woman from his land would have blue eyes) know of the customs of his country, not only was she pure and modest, she also follow purdah; the practice of woman who did not speak to strangers as their voice was awrah.

Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball for all the attention she was receiving but, all of a sudden, she heard the sound of a clock: the first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the strange man had said, and without a word of goodbye to the Prince, she turned and ran down the steps, out of the palace.  

The Prince, who was now madly in love with her, ran after her but as he reached the steps, Cinderella had already entered her coach and sped off. The prince found a veil by the steps and went to his host, the king of the kingdom. The prince said to him, "Go and search everywhere for the girl who was here today. I will never be content until I find her! Find her and our countries will have peace forever between us."

So the king’s men and the foreign price went around the city with the veil and got all the women to try it on. So it was when they got to Cinderella’s house. The stepmother and stepsisters tried it but the prince said that they were all wrong but when it was Cinderella's turn... he shocked everyone when he said this was the girl.

"This girl cannot have been at the ball," said the stepmother.

“No, this is the girl.” The prince was certain. “Look at her eyes. There can be no mistaking such soulful eyes. This was the beauty from the ball.”

"Forgive me my Prince, but Cinderella is no beauty. You ought to marry one of my two daughters! Can't you see how ugly Cinderella is! A girl like her is unfit to be the wife of a prince"

Suddenly she broke off, for the man had appeared in a flash of light.

"You!” the prince exclaimed.

“Yes my prince,” the man bowed to the prince. “It is I. The jinn you free from the magical lamp.”

“You did this?” the prince asked.

“I did nothing but fulfill your wishes my prince,” the jinn said. “When you freed me, you were granted 3 wishes. You wish for peace in your land; you wish for prosperity for your people; and you wish for 4 wives of purity, grace, and modesty.”

"And you picked Cinderella?" the stepmother asked in wonder. “But she is ugly!”

“Beauty of the skin fade with time,” said the jinn. “But beauty of the soul…” The jinn raised his hand and in a flash, Cinderella appeared in a splendid dress, with a niqab that only allowed her eyes to be seen. Her stepmother and stepsisters gaped at her in amazement, for her blue eyes were shining with youth and beauty.

“You were the one who left the veil on the steps?” the prince asked.

“Yes I was the one who left the veil,” said the jinn.

The prince nodded and said to Cinderella, "Come with me, my lady and I shall present you to my father as my bride.”

“Not yet my prince,” the jinn said. “Your journey is not yet over.”

“Not yet?” the prince asked. “Why not mighty one? You have granted my wish for peace in my land and gave me a modest wife. You are free my jinn and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“You wish for 4 wives and I shall grant them to you; Cinderella is but the first,” The jinn said. “Continue with your journey to visit all the other kingdoms as your father ordered and when you finally return home, all your wishes will be granted.”

And so the prince continued with his journey as his father and the jinn wished, but now he was not alone for Cinderella had joyfully went with her prince. Walking forever behind him in her niqab and her beautiful blue eyes, they lived happily ever after.

Birth of The Flame

Prologue

“Be a superhero,” they say. Help the world. Fight the villains of the world. With great power, comes great…you know. They should include, “Be a superhero and freeze your ass off on stakeouts!”

Flarebird rubbed her hands again in another bid to keep warm. It was a futile bid as she was in her barely there costume. Her red tank-tops and hot pants were designed to be sexy, not to keep warm. When Flarebird told the designers at the Halls of Heroics she was uncomfortable with the costume, they came out with charts after charts of how good the costume did with the focus groups. A redhead with flame powers, Flarebird was pretty but by no means a knockout. So a sexy costume was needed to ‘enhance’ her image. No masks or body armor for her. If she was cold or in danger, she could always throw up that fire shield of hers around her body. Her shield acts as a defensive shield and could also warm up her body. The costume designers said they thought of “everything”. 

Unfortunately, the shield is also bright red in color which is not a good thing when you are doing a stakeout on rooftops. So Flarebird is now freezing her beautiful ass off in her costume while not even bothering to say how embarrassed she felt in it. The Halls of Heroics designers probably laughed their guts out at an 18 year old girl with a problem with showing skin.

Sighing, Flarebird hoped that her enemy would show up soon. Just like that, she saw a woman entering the room. Flarebird recognized her immediately. Dark Razor was one of the top female villains of the world. A magic-user, she was wanted in several countries for practicing black magic. It was also the reason Flarebird was alone. She might be shy, but Flarebird was also ambitious. Taking Dark Razor down on her own might just be what the doctor ordered for her flagging superhero career. No more stupid stakeouts and patrolling the city hoping for something to happen, instead she would be on special missions’ status. On standby when the city, country or world was in danger. Not only would she have better hours, heroes on special status were the ones who ring in the money with endorsements and sponsorships. 

Flarebird looked at the room again. The window she was looking through offered a good view and she saw Dark Razor walking up to the alter on the far side. She was chanting some black magic verses and a red hole suddenly appeared on top of the alter. Dark Razor’s hand then reached into a bag on the floor and pulled a cat out of it. A cat in one hand and a knife in the other, Flarebird had seen enough. Diving through the window, Flarebird switched on her flame powers and threw a fireball at the witch. The fireball was right on the mark, hitting the villain right in the chest. The cat flew out of the witch’s hand into the hole and a white light exploded into the room. That was the last thing Flarebird remembered. 

“What rotten luck!” the demon screamed. “An accident!” One moment, he was walking along the Mind River, the next he was on his ass in another world with 2 women laying in front of him; one of them dead! The demon knew he was summoned but do not know why. Using the mind powers his race has, he entered the mind of the woman and he was not happy with what he found.

The summoning was broken and he was an accident. Worse, he has no way home as the witch who summoned him was dead and the other woman was some sort of hero on this world. “What rotten luck!” he screamed again.

The demon immediately knew what he had to do. He used his mind to enter the hero’s mind. First he sped up her body’s healing process and then he made the necessary adjustments.

 

Part 1

The heroine called Flarebird came through the windows rubbing her arms. She was unsurprised by the chuckle from the bedroom. Sighing, Flarebird walked into the bedroom and saw the demon lounging in her bed. With the body of a male supermodel, the demon was a beautiful sight. In fact with not for his 2 protruding horns and grayish skin, the demon would have been able to pass as a beautiful human.

“Another glorious day in the life of superheroes,” the demon laughed.

Flarebird was too cold for jokes. “Still lounging around doing nothing I see.”

“Of course,” the demon’s smile turned slightly dark. “Are demons still illegal on this world?”

That bought her up short. They both knew it was partly her fault the demon was now struck in this dimension without a way of getting back home. That was why she was currently hiding the demon in her small flat. It was the least she could do since she would be dead if the demon hadn’t healed her. According to the demon, her injuries were that bad and Flarebird had no reason to doubt her.

Sighing again, Flarebird apologized. “Sorry demon. I just had a bad day.”

“No criminals today?”

“Not on the police scanners, no alerts, not even a potential crime in progress. A wasted day…like usual.”

“I’ve been reading and watching your television about this. Don’t you superheroes have something called “On Call” status?”

“Yes but you have to be at least a Level 3 hero to qualify for the status.” Flarebird sighed again. “I’m a Level 1.”

“What does this level means?” the demon asked.

“It’ll take too long to explain.”

“I’m not doing anything and talking will be good for you.” The demon smile while patting on the bad suggestively.

“Fine, I’m a Level 1 hero which is what we called a street hero.” Flarebird started taking off her bare costume as she explained. “A Level 1 is someone who patrols the streets and takes on common criminals. In rural areas, I would most probably have a position as a deputy or sheriff of a town but in a city like Century, there are too many superheroes already so I don’t really have a formal position.” 

“So why not moved to a small town?”

“Cause to get to Level 2; you need to have some accolades. Move over will you?” Flarebird had finished taking off her costume and slide into bed along the demon. Having a handsome at home does have some benefits. “Something like stopping a bank robbery or taking down a gang.”

“You need something glorious.” The demon kissed Flarebird on the lips.

“Yeah…or at least something that will be shown on the news, but most of the known gangs in Century City has been taken out already and with Wonderstar in the city, most criminals aren’t stupid enough to set-up shop here.” Flarebird put her arms around the demon as he settled on top of her.

“Television? Oh, is that why you do not move to a town and wear a stupid uniform?”

“In a way,” Flarebird admitted. “It’s easier to be known as a superhero in a city than a town that doesn’t even have a television crew.”

“Wonderstar is that Level 4 superhero right?” the demon pulled the blanket over them as he slowly entered the superhero. “You haven’t explained what that means yet.”

“A street-hero patrol the city and make sure there are no simple crimes like…ah, purse snatching or muggings. Uh…theory is that once you gain enough experience, you get promoted…ah, to Level 2; a city hero.”

“A city hero is one that handles crime throughout the city right?”

“Uh…oh, yes.”

The demon slowed down his movements. He wanted the heroine to continue the explanation. He was truly intrigued. The rules of this new world were strange and perplexing to him. “Do they also have to do these stakeouts and patrols?”

“Yes, Level 2 heroes still need to do patrols. They will response to any crisis within their cities but only at Level 3 will the hero be on call.”

“Level 3?”

“They are also known as “State Heroes”.” Flarebird said. “If there is major crisis in the state or region, Level 3 heroes are the ones to call. That’s why they don’t have to do patrols.”

“So they just wait for a crisis?” The demon put his hands on the heroine’s breast and squeezed them.

Flarebird nodded her head in approval at both the act and the question. “Oh yes! More demon”

“Master,” the demon admonished. “How many times must I tell you to call me Master?”

“Right, that’s going to happen!” The heroine giggled, “I’ll make a deal with you. I will call you Master if you tell me your name.”

“Names have power over demons.” The demon smiled in return. “But we are going off-topic here. Level 4?”

“National heroes; they deal with crisis anywhere in the country. That’s why Wonderstar isn’t always in Century City.” Flarebird gave a pout to the demon. “You are usually better than this you know.”

“Sorry,” and in a way he was but he has other things on his mind, “but I don’t want you to lose concentration. Stop pouting and continue your explanation woman.”  

There wasn’t much she could do in this situation except giving the demon what he wanted. “Above Level 4s are the Level 5s who are global heroes. They deal with crisis that would threaten the world like that time when a huge meteor was found approaching our world.” 

“So Level 5s are the “Global Protectors?” the demon heard of the name from the television. “They are the most powerful heroes known to your people?”

“They are the most powerful on the planet but not known to my people. Above them are the cosmic heroes who deal with crisis throughout the galaxy but they are very rare because their power levels need to go beyond Level 5.” Flarebird tried to remember, “Throughout history, there are only about 10 to 15 known beings above Level 5.”

“That’s what makes no sense to me.” The demon said. “If being well-known is what you need to advance to the next level, what does your power level has to do with anything?”

“Because if a hero is very powerful, advancement is almost a given.” Flarebird explained. “I mean no one want to waste your talent fighting street crime if you can stop a meteor that would kill everyone on the planet right? Where’s the sense in that?” 

“So having accolades isn’t the only to advance up the ranks!” the demon finally understood. The heroes had a two-track system for advancement. “Can’t you increase your power?”

“Ha!” The heroine laughed. “That’s easier said than done. Every hero…” The demon stopped his movement. “Hey, why you stop?”

 “I might actually be able to help you with that.”

“You can?”

“Yes but I need some…equipments first.”

 

Part 2

 The heroine called Flarebird came through the door carrying 3 bags worth of items and knew instinctively that the demon was in the bedroom again. As time goes, she found that she had developed some sort of link with the demon.

Carrying the bags into the room, Flarebird saw that the demon was sewing and stitching while reading a book she bought for him. ‘Powers: Where It Comes From’, it was an expensive book. Not for the first time, she wondered if the demon has some sort of magical ability for multi-tasking. If it was playing her for a fool, she would be pissed.

“Here!” She dropped the bags on the bed. “These are the stuff on your list.”

“Ok thanks,” the demon replied absently. “Your new suit is almost done. Just a few more adjustments and it’ll be ready.”

“I still can’t understand why you think a new suit would help me develop my powers.” Flarebird hands on hips said, “My powers don’t depend on technology so a new costume is not going to help me.”

The demon sighed. Something he had gotten very good at these past few days. “Must we go over this again Flarebird? Like I told you before, when I entered your mind to help with your healing I…”  

“You discovered how my powers work and how you can make it better,” Flarebird recited and then with a tone of anger continued, “Something that all the engineers, scientists and inventors in the Halls of Heroics couldn’t figure out!”

“Ask your scientists why they haven’t figured it out,” the demon said. “Besides, how much would it hurt to try out my suit?”

“Your suit is doing a number on my bank account.”

“So…it’s not worth the money to try to increase your Level?” That got the heroine to shut up and the demon continued, “Treat it as an investment.”

“Fine, but let me help you.”

“No”

“Why not?” The heroine asked in frustration. This wasn’t the first time they had this conversation. “I can sew as...”

The demon put up a hand to stop Flarebird. “I have seen enough television these few weeks to have an idea of the limits of your world’s top designers. I find them lacking. On my world, the whole lot of them would be novices.”

Flarebird can’t help but shake her head at that. “I still can’t believe on your world, only men sew and design clothes. Don’t female demons do that at all?”

“No! It is forbidden.” The demon emphasized the word “forbidden”. “On my world, females are dressed only in the garments their males make for them. They are forbidden to wear anything else.”

“Is that why female demons always dress so sexy in pictures?” Flarebird can’t help but grinned. “Because they were all dressed by their men?”

“It depends on which demon world they come from. On my world, we tend to dress our females in more…confined clothing.”

“Confined clothing?”

“Yes,” the demon said. “Well, the exact concept is “elegant confinement with full essential functionally.” Seeing the confusion on Flarebird’s face, the demon decided to give a more simple explanation. “Basically, the cloths we designed must restrict the movements of the female to show our control over them but at the same time be made in a way that allow the female to work normally. The top designers in my world are those who can design the garment in a way that restrict the movement but allow the females to work even better at their jobs.”

“Confine…is that why you are always naked? Because in your world cloths are supposed to be restrictive?”

“In a way…yes.”

Flarebird’s grin got bigger. “Let me guess; next you are going to ask me to but collars, leashes and chains for you.”

 “Of course not!” The demon was horrified. “You people are so strange. There are simpler, more elegant ways to confine someone. Don’t worry. You will be happy with the results.”

“And if I’m not?”

“I’ll get out of your life, but if you are then you have to call me master.”

“It’s a bet!”

 

Part 3

“What is this?”

“It’s called a wingsuit.” The demon said. “It will…”

“I know what a wingsuit is!” Flarebird screamed. “I want to know why am I wearing one?”

“With it you can fly!”

“Fly?”

“Yes,” the demon smiled proudly. “When I entered your mind to speed up your healing, I got an idea of what your powers can do. With your fire shield, you can float in the air right?” The heroine nodded. “So if you get enough height, you can just dive down…”

“I can’t float that fast. I’ll be shot down before getting to a height that would make such a strategy worthwhile.” Flarebird complained. “And this suit is kind of stuffy!”

“Good.” the demon waved away the complaints and said, “First on your fire shield, like you usually do.”

            Flarebird saw the demon picking up a device called the Power Calculator. The device was used to calculate the power output of metahumans powers, another expensive item she bought for the demon in the past few days. Seeing it made the heroine realized how much money she had shelled out already. It was too late for her to have doubts now. She turned on her shield…and immediately noticed a difference.

“What the…?” Flarebird was surprised. Her shield was brighter than usual.

“Just as I thought!” the demon smiled and showed her the reading on the Power Calculator. Flarebird blinked her eyes in confusion. It was higher than ever…and she wasn’t even trying!

“How…is that thing malfunctioning?”

“No, it’s just as I thought.” The demon explained, “Your powers are flame-based and heat is necessary for your flames to be ignited higher.”

“Heat? Is that why your…uh, my suit is covering every part of my body?”

“Yes! The reason why your powers levels were so low thus far is because your former costume does not trap the heat of your flames. This suit is triple layered so it should double or triple your power output.”

“Thus allowing me to float up twice or three times faster!”

“Ah, you’re getting the idea.” The demon nodded in agreement. “You can float up and then dive down using the wingsuit spreading your arms as wide as possible. Also with your increased power output, you can direct your flight by pushing flames through your hands. If you need to gain height, on your shield again to regain it.”

“But I can’t walk in this suit.”

“Limit your ability to walk for an ability to fly. Tell me that’s a bad deal?”

Flarebird couldn’t. “Okay but what about this…mask you gave me? It’s blocking half my face!”

“That’s for anyone who tried to attack you from the air. Your powers require you to point at the direction to release your fireball right?” The demon waited for the heroine to nod her head. “With the wingsuit, you can’t point upwards so use the point of your headgear as a direction focus. With some practice, it may also give you a way to attack from the air!”

“You thought of everything didn’t you?” Flarebird gave a smile at the demon before realizing the mask was blocking it.

“Of course! It’s my design isn’t it? Now go out there and start practicing!”

 

Epilogue   

The heroine called Flarebird came through the windows of her home in delight. Sensing the demon, she waddled into the bedroom where the demon was lounging in her bed again. It was to her the perfect sight. She slowly waddled to the bed and stood beside the demon.

“Master.”

“Good day?”

“Very good Master! I was just told by the Hall I’m going to be promoted to level 3.”

“That didn’t take long.”

“My powers levels are too high to be at level 2 so I’m not surprised.”

“How do they take to the new name I choose for you?”

“Not that happy but it’s not unusual for heroes to change names once in a while so they accepted the change.”

“The Flame!”

“Yes Master”

“Well, so what do you want slave?”

“This slave asks that her master released her from the beautiful suit he created for her.”

“What for?” The demon stood up and lifted the heroine up in his arms. Carefully placing her on the bed, the demon then straddled her. The Flame couldn’t help but giggled.

“Oh Master, I’m afraid you can’t have your way with your slave while she is still in her suit.”

“Oh but you forget slave; this is my suit. And I plan for everything!”

The demon traced a finger between the heroine’s legs and a hole magically appeared. The Flame’s giggle turned into a laugh.

“Oh Master, you truly are a devious demon.”

“Thank you slave.” The demon said as he entered his slave. “I think I like you this way, helpless beneath me.”

“Your wish is my command Master.” The heroine half-joking said. “Master, please enter my mind.”

The demon looked at her in surprise. “Why?” he asked.

“Please do so Master and see the truth of my words?” The demon was intrigued and entered the heroine’s mind. The Flame could sense the demon in her mind and said, “I would never betray you Master!”

The demon sensed the truth of her words. “Yes, I know.”

“Please tell me your name Master?” The heroine asked. “I would protect it with my life.”

The demon thought for a second but even without his mind powers, he could tell that the heroine was telling the truth. She would die before telling anyone his secret.

“Artilouvio,” the demon answered. “My name is Artilouvio.”

“Artil…what?”

The demon smile, “Just call me Art.”