“Love, is a burning thing…”
What greater love is there, than to lay down one’s life for another? To save those in dire need, at their lowest point? There’s a word for those who would show that kind of love, by putting their own life at risk for others…hero.
“And it makes a fiery ring…”
There just aren’t that many heroes in Arcadia, are there? So many people would rather take care of themselves, look out for number one as the saying goes. But that’s the thing about love…it’s not selfish. It doesn’t ask anything in return…so to show that kind of love for a complete stranger? That takes some guts. That’s heroic.
“Bound by wild desire…”
What makes someone care that much? Can it be that they’re looking to make up for past transgressions…or are they simply doing what they feel called to? Perhaps there’s some sort of feeling that compels them to be brave in the face of overwhelming odds. Maybe, just maybe, heroes are born from a need to put a little light into this dark place.
“I fell in to a ring of fire.”
Being a hero comes with consequences, however. You risk a lot by taking up such a mantle…your friends, your family, everyone you care about gets a big ol’ target on their back, because there are some downright nasty folks in Arcadia…and they don’t like heroes one bit.
“I fell into a burning ring of fire, went down, down, down, and the flames went higher…”
And what happens when they get a hold of you? That light can get snuffed out. After they’ve taken everything else away from you, they will break you into pieces, make you a shell of who you once were…and all for the sake of their sick, twisted satisfaction. Knowing they’ve removed another force of opposition gives them great joy as they continue about their plans…and you’re left shattered by those who enjoy evil.
“And it burns, burns, burns…the ring of fire.”
And it’ll make you wonder if you have what it takes to be a hero again…ain’t that right, Destructo Boy? The grand hero of Arcadia, but the secret’s out…you’re broken, shattered by the forces of evil in this place. The fate of your father is well-documented, but yours is something far worse.
“The ring of fire.”
You’ve fallen into something that burns, alright…falling into the hands of those who would destroy all that is good in Arcadia. All because you tried so hard to be a hero, to prove you were as good as your father…and now look at you.
That call to heroism, the urge that has driven you to climb such great heights to save those in need…it’s brought you to the brink, that point from which there’s nowhere to go but down, down, down. Falling from grace, watching as the villains laugh at your suffering…forced to watch someone else take the mantle of Arcadia’s hero.
Someone who will give the people what they want.