It’s an old adage that sometimes there are things you cannot learn without experiencing them. Knowledge from observing or being told how it feels pales in comparison to finding out first hand and the ugly truth of heroes in Arcadia is one of them.

In a broken society designed to hold down everyone but the most fortunate and profit off the suffering of others, people rising up to do what they believe is the right thing is inevitable and people celebrating those with the courage they do not have comes hand in hand. We build up heroes, we create them from our pure imagination and love them with everything we are. Heroes are the people ordinary folk can’t be after all.

But once we begin to try and help the world, they get a proper look at us and realize how small they are in comparison. How meaningless and broken their lives are and no matter how much hope, courage or light we try to bring into their world, they would rather tear us down piece by piece into the abyss with the rest of the scum then work to be the better people we tried to inspire them to be. They will always destroy the heroes they create. Always.

I should know better then anyone Cap because I was donning a mask before that faceless git even thought of recruiting you. The Hope of Arcadia, the fearless kid with the bleeding heart who believed in the best of everyone. They loved me…but they hated me too. Because I was better then them. I was honorable, I was noble, I was kind, I was everything they wanted to be but never could.

So they scorned me. Broke me down little by little. Sideways comments, abusing my trust for their own gain because they knew I’d take it. The fans, DOOM, Foley, my own father. Even old Nicky Diamond and Matt Ruby with their snide little shots. Because as much as they love to see one of us rise up for them, they love to see us fall even more.

And just when I thought you were finally getting it, you go and do the same old stupid heroic bullshit. Savor wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire and although those fickle people were cheering on the outside, inside they were screaming for you to break and tear his head off. Just like they’ll cheer when Sunshine ends you for good.

I showed you the Price of Heroism, I showed you the bodies. CJ Thorpe, your own Kingdom, even the Burned Man but you refused to listen.

It’s about time for the Captain to fall from grace, because all the real heroes are dead. You’re just a boy playing pretend and when Sunshine breaks the last ounce of hope you have with that twisted truth, they will cheer every single moment.

And with your final breath, you’ll hear a voice saying I told you so.