It was late at night when the trap was set. The firehouse was in the middle of being rebuilt and there were six firefighters in the building. The doors were then shut and locked from the outside, then someone snuck in through the window, then burst into the area the firefighters were in and brandished a gun. The firefighters backed up. \u201cUp against the wall,\u201d demanded the person. \u201cThose girls WILL die for this along with you.\u201d He then pulled out a burner phone and dialed a number. He then put the phone on speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommissioner Anderson here,\u201d replied the person on the other end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWorking late at night, Commissioner?\u201d asked the person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho is this?\u201d asked Commissioner Anderson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe one responsible for the firehouse fire, who else?\u201d asked the person. \u201cAnd I WILL be killing firefighters tonight! Interfere and your daughter dies!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou do realize that six citizens saved those men and women, yes?\u201d recalled Commissioner Anderson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey won\u2019t be here in time to save the firefighters again,\u201d replied the arsonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWon\u2019t we?\u201d came Ruby\u2019s voice on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d spluttered the arsonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m Ruby Kobayashi, one of the three girls that helped put out that fire while our teachers saved the firefighters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Ah, hiding in the commissioner\u2019s office, are we?\u201d chuckled the arsonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll of us are. I hope you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat actually works out best. Because, if I catch you out of the commissioner\u2019s office, I\u2019m going to set your home at 703 Turning Point Lane alight. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Of course you\u2019d learn my address,\u201d muttered Ruby. \u201cWhat\u2019s this I hear about you leaving a glove behind at the crime scene and a city councilor going to bat for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat glove was a bit of clumsiness on my part, I\u2019ll freely admit,\u201d remarked the arsonist. \u201cBut a city councilor going to bat for me? That\u2019s actually unexpected. Then again, they must have known about the layoffs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLayoffs?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes. There weren\u2019t enough fires to fight, so the city was going to lay off the firefighters. I was doing the city a favor by getting rid of them. My benefactor would agree.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis benefactor being Lord Typhoon or his minions?\u201d asked Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s not call them minions,\u201d replied the arsonist. \u201cThey\u2019re far too well-learned in human nature for that. Threaten our survival and we\u2019ll cull those that are unnecessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not human nature and you know it!\u201d hissed Ruby. \u201cYour parents would be spinning in their graves!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can assure you, they are quite still. Who do you think taught me that lesson?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen they failed as parents\u2026just as you failed at being observant to activities outside the walls of whatever building you\u2019re in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to-?\u201d The arsonist suddenly became aware of red and blue lights flashing all around the building! \u201c\u2026YOU CHATTERBOX!\u201d shouted the arsonist. \u201cYOU KEPT ME TALKING WHILE THE POLICE GOT HERE!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t come up with that plan all on my own, I can assure you,\u201d chuckled Ruby. \u201cMe, my friends, our teachers, the mayor, the police commissioner, we all came up with this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne fatal flaw in this plan of yours, Ruby Kobayashi! I have six hostages! If I see even one person approaching, I\u2019m setting the station alight! I\u2019m willing to burn with the firefighters here!\u201d The arsonist then heard someone punching their hand. He looked at the firefighters\u2026to see them gearing up for a fight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you sure your hostages are firefighters?\u201d asked the shortest of the firefighters\u2026in Ruby\u2019s voice! One of the tall firefighters then flicked their wrist and the gear flew off to reveal Ruby, Bethany, Yazmyn, Wilma, Grace, and Belinda, all armed and the three Cosmic Roses in their outfits! The gear then all compressed and rewove their threads into Belinda\u2019s scarf! The arsonist screamed as he realized he was surrounded. He tried to get away, but Belinda cracked her scarf like a whip and tripped him up. Ruby and Grace then stabbed the ground near the arsonist\u2019s head with their respective sword and spear, spooking him. Yazmyn aimed one of her guns at the arsonist\u2019s groin as Wilma shined her lantern at the arsonist\u2019s head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow,\u201d said Bethany, \u201clet\u2019s do as Scooby Doo and his gang do and unmask this criminal!\u201d She pulled the mask off to reveal a man in a combover and moustache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Mr. Swanson!\u201d gasped Ruby. \u201c\u2026My dad voted for you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat just casts a bad light on your wife, you know?\u201d said Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLeave her out of this!\u201d snarled Mr. Swanson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBoys, it\u2019s okay!\u201d called Bethany as she called out of the firehouse. The police entered and gasped in surprise at Mr. Swanson being the arsonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026But\u2026but why-?!\u201d spluttered an officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not talking!\u201d snarled Mr. Swanson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026James Swanson, you\u2019re under arrest for arson and attempted murder,\u201d said Officer Tanya as she pulled the cuffs out. \u201cYou have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will provide one for you. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?\u201d Mr. Swanson looked around, then nodded. \u201cWith these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?\u201d Mr. Swanson shook his head. \u201c\u2026Very well. Boys, take him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy lawyer will eat you roses alive!\u201d warned Mr. Swanson as he was led away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Come on,\u201d Tanya directed to the girls and the Cosmic Roses. \u201cWe need to talk to Councilor Swanson.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill she sing?\u201d asked Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot to the police,\u201d replied Bethany. She tapped the side of her nose, indicating that she had an idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group arrived at a manor and knocked on the door. A butler arrived. \u201cMay I help you?\u201d asked the butler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need to speak to Councilwoman Swanson,\u201d explained Ruby. \u201cIt concerns her husband\u2019s\u2026pyrotechnics.\u201d The butler\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026One moment,\u201d he said. \u201cPlease wait here.\u201d He let the group into the foyer and rushed off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe butler knows?\u201d whispered Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, it\u2019s better than the butler actually doing it,\u201d replied Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, he\u2019s confused about that comment,\u201d replied Belinda. The butler arrived with Councilwoman Swanson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnders, leave us,\u201d directed Councilwoman Swanson. The butler bowed and left. \u201cAre you the ones claiming that my husband was the arsonist?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe caught him in the act,\u201d replied Ruby. \u201cWe posed as firefighters trying to rebuild the firehouse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You told him a councilor went to bat for him!\u201d hissed Councilwoman Swanson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou aided and abetted in arson and attempted murder!\u201d snarled Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a sacrifice I had to make!\u201d insisted Councilwoman Swanson. \u201cLord Typhoon\u2019s people gave me no choice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll turn this planet into a storm-laden one anyways!\u201d retorted Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCouncilor, listen to her!\u201d insisted Bethany. \u201cYou\u2019re intelligent, please use that intelligence! Our teachers fought him longer than anyone on this planet!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did use my intelligence, and you idiotic girls know it!\u201d snapped Councilwoman Swanson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIntelligence is meant to benefit everyone, not just the few!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGirly, human nature is about getting on top by any means necessary! If that requires sacrificing those around you, well that\u2019s just too bad!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMadam, I\u2019ve heard enough!\u201d interjected the butler. He had the phone out. \u2026It didn\u2019t take a genius to piece together what the butler did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You ungrateful-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot only the mayor, but the police commissioner,\u201d explained the butler. \u201cIt\u2019s not worth my paycheck to allow you to sweep this under the rug.\u201d By then, police lights flashed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Your chariot, your highness,\u201d said Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be walking out of this! I swear!\u201d promised Swanson as the police arrested her like they did her husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, that was a shakeup,\u201d muttered Ruby the next day as she and her friends trained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know Abby\u2019s gonna be blaming us for this,\u201d remarked Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, well, she and the other Swansons are wrong,\u201d said Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cQuite right,\u201d agreed Wilma. \u201cFrom what I\u2019ve seen of human nature from observing you three alone, it\u2019s that humans, deep down, DO care for one another, it\u2019s just that they occasionally lose sight of it when they\u2019re not thinking clearly.\u201d The Roses\u2019 Comms Compacts then buzzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnother crime?\u201d asked Ruby as Belinda checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026IT\u2019S TYPHOON\u2019S MINIONS! THEY\u2019RE COMING!\u201d warned Belinda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWrong, you scarf-slinging simpleton!\u201d cackled Connor as he, Wreker, and Spangly arrived. \u201cWe\u2019re here! Bringing chaos to all, I am Connor!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSmashing through all obstacles, I am Wreker!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSeeing all, I am Spangly!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are\u2026THE TYPHOON TITANS!\u201d the three of them shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Sure is Team Rocket up in here,\u201d muttered Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou three failed!\u201d hissed Grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Lord Typhoon made his displeasure known already,\u201d remarked Connor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll fail again,\u201d declared Ruby. \u201cWe\u2019re much better trained and well-armed now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet us see!\u201d chuckled Spangly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, refresh our memories, what are your gimmicks?\u201d asked Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGimmicks?\u201d asked Wreker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, like Connor over there, what is he in your group?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here to serve Lord Typhoon\u2019s plans,\u201d replied Connor. \u201cBut, if I had to choose from your exotic anime-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy \u2018exotic\u2019, you mean primitive,\u201d hissed Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d say I\u2019m the pretty one,\u201d finished Connor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSix out of ten,\u201d retorted Ruby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSassy, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo,\u201d continued Yazmyn, \u201cthat makes Spangly here the weird one with the freaky powers, if I recall the attack on my farm right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can spawn eyes from my shoulders that shoot lasers!\u201d confirmed Spangly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYep, still recalling that nightmare,\u201d muttered Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen Wreker\u2019s the big, tough, stupid one,\u201d finished Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou take that back or I\u2019ll cave your skull in!\u201d snarled Wreker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, okay, you\u2019re not that tough!\u201d replied Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI could not be more clearly talking about your \u2018stupid\u2019 comment, you intellectual dwarf!\u201d growled Wreker as he punched his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGrace, with me against Connor!\u201d declared Ruby. \u201cBethany, you and Belinda take on Wreker! Yaz-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMe and Wilma against Spangly!\u201d confirmed Yazmyn as everyone summoned their weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRoses, let\u2019s show our thorns!\u201d called Ruby as everyone charged at their opponents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It was late at night when the trap was set. The firehouse was in the middle of being rebuilt and there were six firefighters in the building. The doors were then shut and locked from the outside, then someone snuck in through the window, then burst into the area the firefighters were in and brandished […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1061,1063],"tags":[1060,283],"class_list":["post-7798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cosmic-roses","category-stories","tag-magical-girl","tag-rose"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7798"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7799,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7798\/revisions\/7799"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}