When darkness turns to light *EDITED*

Chapter 1

A/N: this is a fan-fiction based on a friend's story she wrote with my other friends and I as the characters. All credit goes to her and thanks for inspiring my first fanfic ^.^ enjoy reading!

Flaro, the Princess of Fire, awoke when the sound of a smashing object jolted her back to consciousness. She sat up and looked around her room, her blood red eyes shooting around and eyeing every corner suspiciously. She stealthily slipped out of her bed and tiptoed to the door, poking her head around the doorframe and readying a ball of lethal flames in the palm of her hand. She strained her tired eyes and was about to strike when...
"MORNING BIG SIS!"
Flaro gasped and fell back onto her backside as her little brother, Polka, burst into her room. She sighed, letting her shoulders sag with relief. She slowly got to her feet and frowned at Polka, "Never... do that again! Do you have any idea how much you scared me? I thought you were a Dark One that broke in!"
Polka looked down at his feet, "Sorry, I was trying to surprise you with a special birthday breakfast." He said quietly. Flaro let her voice and eyes soften as she pulled her brother into a hug, "I'm sorry too." She murmured. Polka happily welcomed back the smile to his ever joyful face and pulled his sister's hand, "Come on! It's almost done." He grinned. Flaro smiled and followed her hyped up brother, while her eyes misted over as she thought back to her past.

It would be 6 years since she had ran away from the Fire Region. Her home. Away from her family, her friends, and everything she knew. Including Polka. That night of her 12th birthday she realised she wasn't ever going to be a good enough Queen! She was into relaxing, having fun, playing music, laughing and playing pranks and games. Nothing like a Princess, let alone a Queen. So she packed her bags and set out, but not before she left a note for her parents, and her favourite bandanna under Polka's pillow before making her escape, tears of sorrow twinkling like sad stars in her eyes as she ran, but never looked back. She was loving life on the open road, traveling with her new friends Shadow, Skullo, Ruby, Espee, Thorn, Vortex, Fantinna, Hype, and Cosmi. Along with the children, Solar, Shadow and Espee's son, Cosmi and Vortex's adoptive daughter, Moon, and Skullo and Ruby's son, Grenade. And of course, Polka. Flaro was the youngest of the adults at the age of now, 18!

Flaro was was snapped back to reality when Polka stopped walking and grinned at his sister, pointing to the small table. She laughed to see a homemade card and a sloppy mess of what was supposed to be a bacon and egg breakfast. She grinned and ruffled Polka's black hair, "Thanks buddy."
Polka gave her the most cutest smile he could manage, "I cooked the eggs and bacon with that new trick you showed me. You know, the flat fire thingy."
Flaro nodded with approval, "Nice, you're learning fast." She smiled.
Polka hugged his sister and grinned widely. They turned at the sound of a knock on the door and Flaro walked towards it, opening the door to find Thorn standing outside, "Happy birthday!" He grinned.
Flaro smiled and hugged him tight, "Thanks."
Thorn blushed and smiled, drawing back and handing her another homemade card. She grinned as she read it before hugging him again, "Aww, that's so sweet."
Thorn swooned and rubbed his cheek against her soft black hair, "No problem." He whispered. Behind them, Polka made a 'yuck' sound with his tongue and cringed, "Gross!"
Flaro laughed over her shoulder and drew away from her best friend, "He's just a friend." She laughed, missing Thorn's sad expression after that remark in his green eyes.

Flaro walked out of her home, pulling on her favourite black fingerless gloves, and smiling to find her brother playing with the other children in their small traveling pack. She turned at the sound of her name being called to see Ruby running towards her, her pink eyes sparkling and her ruby red hair flying behind her. She hugged Flaro tightly and grinned, "Happy birthday!" She cheered, "Finally, the youngest is 18."
Flaro smiled and shrugged, "I don't feel any different, but maybe now you'll all start treating me like an adult now?"
"We'll see." Ruby said protectively, her motherly instincts taking over. Flaro sighed heavily and jerked forward as Moon bumped into her, "Sorry." She said shyly. Flaro smiled and ruffled Moon's lightly coloured hair, "It's fine."
Moon smiled then went back to chasing after Grenade. Flaro smiled as she watched the youngsters play. One thing she missed, but the only thing she missed about being their age. She sighed and turned to follow Ruby over to the others for them to celebrate her birthday, looking up at the sky, 'I'm sorry Mom and Dad. I just had to go.' She thought sadly.