A Story of Stone

Part II

Roy stared down the flaming girl with red eyes. He wouldn't lose this time. His own hands ignited, and the bell to begin went off. Neither one moved.

Nix's fire formed into two flat knives, and she leapt into action. Roy dashed up to meet her, sending a fireball into her face. Nix slashed the flames, and it disintegrated. Though Roy hadn't been concentrating his power to the fireball, he was still amazed at how quickly Nix had taken over it. She was trul y amazing with the Firestone.

But Roy wasn't too bad himself, and as she threw a knife of flame at him, he deflected it, sending it into the dirt.

They battled for a while, each one alternating between offense and defense. Nix had him to the edge of the ring, a long flaming sword now in her hands. Roy wasn't giving up yet. He blasted fire behind him, launching him forward like a rocket. He flew past Nix, anticipating a look of surprise on her face.

He was disappointed, and instead, Nix blasted him with her own fireball, turning his momentum against him, and Roy fell off the other edge of the elevated ring.

Nix grinned.

"That's 4-0, Roy. Thursday, you owe me fifty bucks."

Thursday snorted, and muttered something under his breath. Nix helped Roy to his feet.

"Nice try, kid. Maybe next time," Nix jeered.

Roy rolled his eyes, and didn't respond to the taunt. He turned away from Nix and concentrated all his energy. The fire exploded out from him, tasting the bare dirt. Once he felt all the power had left his body, he turned back to her and said, "How are my eyes?"

"Brown. My turn."

She repeated nearly the exact process that Roy had just done, and similarly turned back to him. He watched as the ruby red faded from her eyes, and their original hazel returned. He felt his heart twinge inside of him, and he tactfully looked at Thursday instead.

"Alright. Your turn to get a beat down."

Thursday grinned. "You sure? You might need a little rest after getting your butt whooped by your girlfriend."

Roy flushed. Thursday teased him and Nix constantly. Roy had gotten used to it for the most part, but not when it involved him and Nix... together. It wasn't true, but Roy really wished it was. Maybe that's why it bothered him so much.

"No, I'm fine. Toss me an Electristone."

Thursday did so, pulling the small blue stone out of a leather pouch, still grinning, like a child about to get some free candy.

Roy looked at the Stone with appreciation. It was beautiful.

The Stones were fragile, but extremely powerful, Roy had learned. The user could easily smash it to dust, where it was then absorbed into the holder's body, and filled them with a certain power, depending on the Stone.

Though Nix was very good with fire, Thursday rivaled her, and even Geheimrat Mason, with his ability to manipulate lightning and electricity with his preferred stone. The lightning wasn't just a part of him; it was him.

Roy, on the other hand, was next to useless with the power of the said stone. So, naturally, Roy flew out of the ring just under twelve seconds.

"Good job, Roy! You lasted a whole second longer this time!"

"It was purely intentional," Roy lied. "Now it really is my turn to 'whoop your butt.'" This was true. Barely able to contain his excitement, Roy pulled out three stones. Three purple, shiny stones.