The Symbol of Peace

"People aren't born equal. I learned this at a very young age. Only those with strength and power persevere. I have neither. How am I supposed to save someone, when I myself am considered weak and powerless. How am I supposed to inspire hope for a peaceful world when I could die at the flick of someone's wrist. People are not born equal, so it's important to stand for those who can't stand themselves; even when your very life may be endangered."

"Stop! You're hurting me!" - Child A. whined.

"Shut up! It only hurt because your weak," Child B. retorted.

The playground was quiet and the wind gently moved through the buildings and the tree branches, barely enough to make some leaves fall.

"I'm not weak! I just haven't gotten my powers yet! I swear they'll be just as cool as yours!" - Child A.

"Shut up! A weakling like you will never get powers as cool as mine. Besides. My power will always be stronger than your power." - Child B sneered at the little girl.

The boys' arms grew his arms to an unnatural shape for his body. The little girl didn't back down. A determined look in her eyes.

"Even if that's true, it won't stop me from protecting those who need it and becoming a hero! You are stupid and dumb. You didn't need to throw rocks at the bird!" - Child A. saddened as she looked over. A little yellow bird laid still on the ground near the benches at the edge of the playground. A small puddle of blood near the animal was beginning to form. It almost brought tears to her eyes, but she looked back at the boy, and instead, her anger grew.

"Ooh get over it, if I'm going to be a hero I need to start training my quir-" - Child B was cut off.

"HeRo? A HERO DOES NOT HURT OTHERS. A hero protects others from harm. Big, small, weak, strong, animal, mutant, or human. You are no hero Amos!" - Child A. finally snapped. She felt sorrow for the bird and felt anger at the liar before her. He was no future hero to her. He was just a bully.

Amos finally snapped. He ran at the little girl, leaves slowly reaching the ground and coming to a rest.

The little girl groaned. She had scrapes on her knees; from how she fell. Scratches on her arms, legs, and stomach; from when Amos morphed his fingers into small cat-like claws. Bruises. Bruises all over from when Amos punched her. She groaned again. Wondering if she could get up. She slowly propped herself up on her elbow and grimaced as a scratch on her forearm touched the scratchy floor quickly removing it and falling to the ground again. With a small thud, she examined her arms. She pondered.

' Why was Amos so mean now. He used to be so nice and cool.... he's still pretty cool but that doesn't matter because he's so mean. He's such a bully.'

She touched one of her arms and began to feel a throbbing sensation on the left side of her face right above her chin.

'A bruise.'

She felt a warm liquid on the right side of her chin and rose two fingers to it.

'Drool?'

As she removed her hand, one finger was slightly wet with blood while the other was just wet. Wet with tears. The little girl was surprised to realize she was crying. She wasn't scared of blood, heroes can't be afraid of blood, yet tears. Tears were different. As she lay on the ground, her head turned to the little bird. More tears forming. She focused on the bird as if she were trying to give it her strength.

Up.

Down.

Her eyes grew wide.

Up.

Down.

She forgot about her injuries and rushed over to the bird. Its' labored breathing bringing her joy. She looked at the little bird's eyes. Closed.

"you're alive," - She whispers at it. Suddenly panicking.

How am I supposed to help you?!

She quickly took off her hoodie and made a nest-like bundle. She places the hoodie on the ground and hesitantly looked at the bird. The small puddle of blood the bird was laying in wasn't a lot but she didn't want to hurt the bird. She leaned over and the little bird slightly opened its eye. It looked at her. Or so she thought. When truly, the bird had given up. She slowly moved her hands to pick up the bird. The bird was so small and its fathers were so soft the little girl just wanted to cuddle with it. Slowly coming back when she felt a cold stream of blood trickle down her forearm.

"I'm sorry, I know it hurts but I'll help you. I'll make you feel better." - She said as she slowly placed the bird in her hoodie. She carefully picked up the bundle and ran off home.

She burst through the door and called for the one person she knew could help.

"MAMI, MAMI, MAMI!!!" - She cried out. Searching for her mother. She finally heard her in her study.

"Que paso mijaaa," - She called back slowly turning in her chair. The moment she laid eyes on her daughter she panicked.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!" - She cried out rushing to her and kneeling before her. She quickly lifted her chin and when she tried to open her arms she spotted the little bird.

"Mom STOP! Look it needs more help than I do right now! Please help it! I don't want it to die!"

Tears once more filled her eyes as she barely got the sentence out before beginning to sob. The mother quickly looked over her daughter first before looking at the little bird. Sure, she was a doctor. A HUMAN doctor. She had chosen to specialize in human anatomy because it was a well-paying job in the medical field and it wasn't as hard as mutant or superhuman anatomy. She figured it was worth a try, how hard could it be to help the little guy out.

The wind has died down now. Leaving everything still outside. Leaves on the ground still. Evidence of what had happened and warning of the future, but it was far too early for anyone to decipher the future.

The mother hesitantly took the bird and looked it over. It looked like it had been hit with a blunt object on its side. A small wound on its wing. Feathers stained with its own blood.

"Okay mija, go get me a clean rag and a Warm moist rag," - She hesitantly said looking over her child once more.

The child ran off to her task and came back momentarily. Staring at her mother intently as she handed the objects over.

"Now go and get me another warm moist towel and sit in the chair." - She pointed to a small chair now across from her.

The little girl ran off once more and returned promptly. She sat and waited.

"Now what?" - She asked a bit eagerly, unable to hide her concern.

"I want you to try and clean yourself up as I try to help our little friend, okay? Think you can handle that?" - She looked over her daughter. A bit of sadness coating her glazed eyes.

The little girl nodded and looked at the bird once more before slowly wiping her knees and legs. The scrapes and scratches burned but the bruises weren't as bad as long as she didn't press too hard. She looked up once more. The little bird wasn't moving, her eyes went wide but she noticed a needle near her mother's desk along with a small kit.

She made him fall asleep.

She realized the little bird had less blood coating its feathers and her mother was now sowing up the wound. Relief washed over her and she began to work on her own arms, the towel slowly accumulating more blood with each wipe. There was a cut on her arm that hurt the most out of all her cuts. She winced at the sudden pain. Slowly putting the rag down. Her mother looked up and saw her chin was beginning to drip with blood. She quickly finished her last stitch on the bird and wrapped placed him in a towel. She stood and looked for a box her child slowly following her, clearly in pain. For whatever reason, this bird was important to her so she did her best to help it. She found a box and placed the little bird inside making sure to create holes in it before closing the box. She rushed over to the child behind her and began to examine her earning a disgruntled expression from the little girl.

"Is it okay!?" - The little girl cried trying to see

"Yes, yes yes. Now let me see! Stop moving," - she was trying to hold her daughter still without hurting her further.

"Okay, I'm sorry." - The little one stayed still and allowed her mother to examine her. Wincing ever so slightly trying to be tough.

Her mother grabbed the new rag and slowly wiped her chin making sure to press lightly. She knew what had happened. Her child must have seen someone hurt the little bird and in turn, they hurt her. She loved her for always having the courage to stand up for anyone in need, but she hated that she couldn't defend herself in this superhuman society. This was by far the worst incident. She cleaned her up, bandaged her, and put her to rest. Both she and the bird would need to recover over the next few days. Before leaving her daughter's bedroom she glanced at her once more. Finally closing the door.

*Thunk*

The girl woke up to a thudding noise. She quickly looked over to the birdcage. The little bird was recovering from a run-in with one of the walls. It flapped its wings and perched itself on a stick cooking it head to the girl. The little girl squealed, slightly alerting the bird.

"Sorry" the girl called back.

The bird was flapping its wings meaning it could soon be released. Joy filled the little girl's body. Her body began to shake as she was unable to contain her joy.

"You'll be free to fly soon buddy! Aren't you excited?!" The little bird felt the energy coming off the little girl and happily began to chirp back as if he understood. The little girl simply listened until the little bird had nothing else to say.

*thump*
*thump*
*thump*

The sun rose again, shining through the window, landing on her face and disappearing as a couple of clouds blocked it out. The little girl woke up to the noise once more. Looking over she saw the little bird trying to fly past the walls of the cage. She squealed with excitement and ran to the little bird.

"You're ready aren't you!" - she squealed once more.

She ran out of the room to call for her mom. They both came in walking towards the birdcage. The child took the cage and they both headed down to the playground.

The wind gently blew again moving a small pile of leaves off the ground.

The little girl happily skipped as her mother walked right behind her. Her eyes landed on a bench near the swings. She shivered a bit remembering where she picked up the bird. A small stain remained on the ground, now brown, anyone could mistake it for a small coffee spill. She knew what it was. She puffed up her chest and scoffed. She looked back and saw the little bird growing impatient. She smiled with pride and let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in.

The wind blew once more, but the leaves were gone. There was nothing to move. As if satisfied, the clouds moved away and slowly began to reveal the sun.

She looked up to her mother. The little girl knew she was a doctor but didn't know that doctors specialized. She only knew doctors help those who are hurt or in pain. The little girl smiled. Her mother smiled back hugging her. Splitting after a moment she looks down at her daughter and saw the small scar on her chin. Her eyes grew a bit irritated, but instead, she closed them and smiled at her. Her little pride and joy had always wanted to be a hero, but. She cleared her mind for a second and looked at the little bird. She gave a slight chuckle and looked back at the small child before her.

"Looks like you were his hero, huh?" The mother said.

The little girl's eyes shone brighter if that was even possible. Her chest swelled with even more pride and her eyes began to fill with tears. She recovered quickly by furiously rubbing her eyes. She jumped on the bench and lifted a fist to the sky.

"Of course I'm a hero! I am Luz! Luz Noceda, freedom hero, the hero of the people! I will work hard to save many more!" - The little girl cried out to no one in particular.

She got off the bench and walked towards the cage. As her mother opened the cage, Luz reached in and scooped up the bird. She held the bird up to her eye level.

"I told you I would help you," - She softly whispered to the bird.

She held her arms out and opened her fingers. The little bird let out a wiggle fit and looked back at Luz. Luz nodded to the bird and almost as if he had understood he turned. And he took off.

"Bye! Be careful Beanie!" - Luz called out to the bird once more.

"Beanie?" - Her mother asked.

"That's what I called him..." - Luz replied undeterred. She was still waving ay the little spec in the sky.

A warm smile grew on her mother's face. She looked at the scar on her chin and her smile felt a bit less warm. It would forever be a reminder of her tenacity and its results. She loved that Luz had such a compassionate heart but it really scared her. She showed no signs of developing power and that worried her. It would break Luz's heart. She quietly looked up at the little fledgling flying away. It would soon grow to its mature state. It would soon be big enough to be a target for others. That worried her. Losing sight of the bird she looked at Luz who was staring at her.

"Why are you crying?" - She asked.

She brought a hand to her face and felt the tears. Instead of responding, she wiped them away and tackled Luz with a hug and kisses. Luz happy squealed and laughed at her mother's actions. Both of them finally settling into a hug staying like that for a moment. After a couple of minutes, they parted and walked home.

"Do you think Beanie will be okay?" - Luz asked.

"Yes Luz." - she paused. Looking down at her. A smile grew on her face once more.
"I think he'll be just fine."