With the Flames, Comes Hope

With every great disaster comes the hope of rebirth. Renewal. Revitalize. And the Great New York City Fire of 2025 was no different.

“When the fire ended, and the radiation dissipated, we lost everything. Noone believed civilization would ever return here, to what had once been the cradle of all things,” the Ancient One said to the young cadets before him. “But look, now. We have rebuilt over what once was. What was undone has now been redone. Our hard work, our labours, our blood, our sweat — all of this rebuild our great city.”

The Ancient One strolled to the large window at the side of the class. “Do you see what we have done? We have rebuilt this world.”

The class murmured in approval.

“Only we could build it, and now they want to take it back,” the Ancient One said, building steam. “They don’t want to share our utopia, though we have offered. They want to exterminate us, but we will not allow this.”

“All rats are born equal,” one cadet yelled.

“Yes, Tommy, they are. But the humans won’t accept this. And this is why we march to war. To save our society and to protect our families. To defend our future.”

“Oorah!”

“We will fight them in the alleyways.”

“Oorah!”

“We shall fight them in the kitchens.”

“Oorah!”

“We will never surrender.”

“Oorah!”

“Remember, without our sacrifices, our utopia will fall, and we will lose everything.”

“Oorah! Death to the humans!”

Inspired by this month’s Microcosm theme of utopia and flames.

Paul Mansfield is a writer, a photographer, a guitar player, a philosopher — some he does well, some not so well, but he still tries them all. You can follow him on Twitter @pmansfield.

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Another story by Paul.