Being this close to a volcano kept a huge grin on Scarlet's face. All of the training sessions in the world couldn't prepare her for what she was about to do. But she pushed on, placing her hand lightly on the edge of it, heat rising steadily in between her palm and the lava swirling around on the inside. Letting her hands get too hot would cause problems quickly and she knew Silver wouldn't approve, but she held the concentration. "I can climb it," she told her best friend.

"Climb what?" he paused for a brief moment, looking up. "The volcano? No way. Not in a million years. You could hurt yourself."

She sighed. "I'll be fine. It's my element. I can handle it."

"Not if you fall from the top." The serious look on his face made her freeze, almost re-thinking going up the volcano. "If that happened, I couldn't catch you. You wouldn't even bounce back. That'd be it. Gone. Just like that. No. Not letting it happen. Try again later."

A smile slowly spread on her lips as she realized something he didn't catch. "How would I fall from the top if I'm already there? By then I'd have the clue and be on my way back down."

"Fair point," Silver replied. "But I'm still not letting you. Your parents aren't around so I'm supposed to be the one to protect you. What kind of best friend would I be if I let you do this?"

She stared into his eyes, the smile turning into a huge grin. "The best one, of course. That's why you're my best friend. I'm doing this."

Grabbing on to her arm as Scarlet walked further towards the volcano a couple of steps, Silver made her stop quick. "You're not. I won't let you. You know better than this."

"Sure I do, but this is my parents, Silver. I can't just stand here and let something happen to them. I know you'd be up that volcano in a heartbeat if your parents were the one in danger."

"Okay, maybe you're right. But how do I know you'll be alright?"

She shrugged, his hand loosening from her arm but she wouldn't break contact. Not yet. "I don't know." A deep breath filled her lungs, the smoke flowing through her body now. "But what choice do I have?"

Silence ran through the air as Scarlet turned, leaving her best friend standing on the outside of the volcano. There was nothing else she could say. She didn't want to do this, knowing her life could be in trouble. But as she controlled the heat through her body, radiating it from her hands, this was what she had to do. Placing one hand on the volcano, Scarlet stole a glance over her shoulder watching as Silver stood there as if it was the last time he'd see her. The possibilities of everything that could go wrong ran around in her mind and it took all she could do to shake them away. A clear head would cause less problems than a troubled one, but no matter what those thoughts kept coming back. What if she couldn't save everyone?

Her blood ran cold for a few seconds, slowly shaking as every question took over blocking her mind from taking the next step. It was all wrong. How could she do this? It wasn't possible, not anymore. She hadn't even left the ground. So much for being an amazing hero. Maybe her parents would be lost forever and it would be all her fault.

Then footsteps came around from behind her. She knew exactly who it was, but still managed to jump when he placed a hand on her back. Unable to see much color, she didn't want to come across as a failure to him. Needing to do this, she tried concentrating again but it was like a brick held her feet down as she was frozen in place.

"What's wrong, Scar? I'm sorry if I upset you. I was just—"

Tears slowly ran down her face, the mist in her eyes making her unable to see his beautiful blues as she turned around. "You...You didn't. You were right. Maybe I can't do this. Maybe I'm not the one to rescue everyone. Maybe..."

"No, don't say that. None of that is true. You are the most amazing person I know. And I know you would do anything to save your parents. Or anyone, for that matter. I can see it in you." He smiled, looking directly at her as he wiped her tears away. "Don't ever think that you can't do something. You can."

"You think so?"

He laughed, still keeping his eyes on her. "Of course I do. I wouldn't say any of that if I didn't mean it." His hands fell to his sides, but he grabbed hers, squeezing it. "You know what you need to do. Go get that clue. I'll be right here waiting for you."

Her face lit up. The feeling of his hand on hers brought more warmth into her life. Those special butterflies she couldn't get from being trained in fire. Maybe she could do this. "O-okay," she stuttered. "You're right I can. I'll go up there and get the note." Heat radiated through her hands as she started to focus again, but now she didn't want to leave him.

Silver smiled at her, moving her other hand toward the outside of the volcano, placing it there gently before letting it go. "Always tell yourself you can do it."

Fire burned through her hands more as she grabbed onto the volcano, pulling herself up. Though losing his hand still brought bits of cold back. She kept her concentration as she made her way to the top of it. Part of her was excited to be so up close to one of her favorite things; she just had to hope that she could really do it.

Out of nowhere she heard Silver shout, "Just remember ice always beats fire. I am way too hot!"

Scarlet couldn't help but laugh. He always knew how to make the best out of every situation. Getting closer now, she could see the bits of lava at the top of the volcano. Pulling herself up, she stood on the edge, doing her best to keep her balance. Instead of a white note, a rock with red writing stood in the center in the lava, barely moving as it swirled around it. Figuring that was the clue, she wondered how to grab it. As soon as Scarlet took a small step, the rock swam down the center, moving further away from her.

Balancing, she followed the rock, hoping somehow it would make its way closer to her. But it moved quicker, leaving her unable to keep up with it. Knowing it was possibly her only hope to get to her parents, she ran as best as she could on the volcano, throwing all thoughts of balance out the window. Fire was keeping her afloat for a while, even though there wasn't much room to run, yet she lost concentration too fast.

Before she could register what was happening in her mind, Scarlet was moving toward the lava. Not through running either. The wind brushed her hair back and as the air took her through, she knew she was falling with no one to rescue her.