Gemini- The Beginning Of The End

by Nathan Dickeson

  The crowd cheered. Looking around, Rick spotted the Element Five appear on a platform.

  “There’s only four!” the crowd yelled.

  Devlin cleared his throat in the silence that followed.

  “THE FIFTH MEMBER—”

  Rick opened a portal beneath his feet.

  “COULDN’T BE LOCATED. HE WAS LAST SEEN AN HOUR AGO. JUST–” Devlin trailed off as Rick fell from the sky and landed on the platform.

  The arena cheered.

  Did he say an hour? Rick thought straightening up.

  “PLEASE WELCOME THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ELEMENT FIVE, RICK GEMINI!”

  Waving as the crowd roared, Rick glanced at the rest of the Element Five. They were all glaring daggers at him.

  What happened? Last he remembered he was stepping through The Archway... and then he was here, after several hours.

  Once the noise died down, Devlin continued

  “NOW IT’S TIME TO ANNOUNCE THIS ROUND’S RULES! YOU WILL ALL BE SCATTERED IN A FREE FOR ALL FIGHT. ANY MAGICAL BLOW IS AN INSTANT ELIMINATION! ANY WOULD-BE FATAL BLOW AND YOU ARE ELIMINATED! AND LASTLY, ANYONE WHO IS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS IS ELIMINATED! GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL, AND LET THE TOURNAMENT BEGIN!”

  The ground shook and opened beneath them. Rick could have easily escaped, but he figured it was all part of the show. Falling, he slid down a smooth stone shaft. It gently curved up at the end, bringing him safely into an underground room. On one side, it had an iron door with a metal bar which could be placed across it. But it was the other side that caught his eye. A blue chamber sat there seeming to glow. Walking toward it, Rick placed his hand on it. It was as smooth as glass and seemed almost transparent.

  “So, this is what they were talking about,” he said. “You’d think I’d remember something like this.”

  “PLEASE ENTER THE PODS.”

  “That power is impressive,” Rick said chuckling. “You might not think much of it, but I could’ve used you in some battles.”

  Entering the chamber Rick blinked, and then blinked again. He was outside standing in the middle of a street, in a town he’d never seen. Looking around everything seemed normal, but there was something off; he just couldn’t put his finger on it. Walking down the street, he looked at thatch houses mixed with brick and tile homes. A gray cat lay sleeping under a rocking chair. Turning the corner, he kept an eye out for the other contestants. Walking down the street he spotted the same gray cat sleeping under the exact same rocking chair on the exact same porch. Glancing down the street one way and then the other, he hopped the fence and walked over to the cat.

  “Impressive,” he said touching it.

  It felt real. So, the city was a series of buildings repeating over again. But something else was still off. Picking up a pebble, he tossed it up into the air. His eyes locked onto the horizon and the pebble dropped, unnoticed. He was inside the stadium! But he was tiny! How hadn’t he noticed? Sure, the people on the benches looked miles away, but still. Lowering his eyes Rick spotted a man standing on one of the buildings looking at the stadium. Ducking out of site, Rick climbed a nearby house. He peaked over the rim of the house. The man hadn’t moved. Sparks danced across his palm as he took aim.

  A fireball shot out from a neighboring building striking the man. He seemed to flicker and then broke up into hundreds of little blue cubes, which then shattered into sparkling dust. Glancing around Rick tried to spot the killer, but they were nowhere to be seen. Sensing magic behind him, Rick vaulted over the rim of the roof. A slice of air cut into the tiles where he’d been. Sliding down, a fireball struck just behind him.

  Great, Rick thought leaping onto the next house. There’s two of them.

  The air erupted around him, fireballs, water blades, air slices, light darts, and rocks flew from all directions. Ducking and weaving, he ran. Fortunately, most weren’t targeting him. Running across the rooftop, he leapt onto the next building. The sign of a scale hung in front. A boulder smashed through the very sign he just spotted flying toward him.

  I can’t even see them! he thought rolling to the side.

  As if in answer to his thought, a man appeared over the rim of a house. He held a bow made of light aimed directly at Rick. Arrow after arrow flew in rapid succession. Creating a lightning shield, he blocked them. Taking aim he—

  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! MAY I DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FIGHT IN QUADRANT SEVENTY.”

  Lightning shot from Rick’s hand missing the man with the bow. “Devlin!” Rick yelled running and jumping onto the building next to him. “Quit distracting me!” Shooting lightning at the man, Rick sprinting along the roof arrows of light trailing behind him. One of Rick’s bolts grazed the man’s knuckles, and he shattered into dust. Running out of roof, Rick leapt into the air toward the next building. A hand shot out grabbing his ankle and yanked him down. Crashing into a wall Rick grunted in pain. Spinning around, he faced his opponent. “Adam!” Rick said grinning.

  “Sometimes rules are convenient,” Adam said looking at his fist.

  Then he punched Rick in the face. Staggering back a step, Rick then leapt forward. Raising his arm, he blocked another blow. He brought his knee up into Adams hip. Adam grabbed his arm and they tumbled to the ground, Grappling in the dirt.

  “YOU TWO BETTER STOP MAKING THE GUILD LOOK BAD!”

  Adam let go of Rick’s shirt. Rick stood, deciding against one last punch. Brushing the dirt off he glared at Adam.

  “What was that for?”

  “For embarrassing me during the opening ceremony.”

  “I lost track of time,” Rick said rubbing his jaw.

  “Keep better track of it next time,” Adam said.

  “Gladly,” Rick said.

  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WOULD YOU LIKE TO LET THE CURRENT CHAMPIONS KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THEIR PERFORMANCE SO FAR?”

  Looking up at the sky, Rick heard the crowd erupted into boos.

  “DID WE NOT WE COME HERE TO SEE THE MIGHTIEST ELEMENTALISTS DECIMATE THEIR FOES?” THE MATCH IS HALF OVER AND THE TEAMS WE WANT AREN'T EVEN ON THE BOARD! LET ME HEAR OF WHAT YOU THINK OF THAT!”

  Again, the crowd booed. Looking back down Rick saw Adam’s hand held out in front of him.

  “We’ll settle this later, right now we’ve got a round to win,” he said.

  Grasping his hand Rick nodded. “Agreed.”

  “I took out a few guys on the ground before everyone fled to the rooftops. But with them all up off the ground my progress slowed.”

  “Earth?” Rick asked.

  Adam nodded.

  “So that’s why it seemed everyone was on the roofs,” he said scratching his cheek.

  “Do you have a plan?” Adam asked. “They told me not to underestimate you, so show me what you can do.”

  “So helpful,” Rick muttered. “How big of a pillar can you make?”

  “How wide are you wanting it?”

  “Wide enough for me to stand on.”

  Adam thought for a second. “Three stories.”

  “I only need two,” Rick said looking up. “Save the rest.”

  “That’s your plan? You want me to put you on top of a pillar for the world to see.”

  Rick grinned at him. “It’s only strategy four, of course it’s simple.”

  “Strategy four involves a light and a fire Ele—“ Adam started. “How do you know the guild’s strategies?”

  Rick thought quickly. “I had some free time”

  “In the ten hours since you were even a member?”

  “Are we just going to talk?” Rick asked.

  “Yeah, yeah, are you ready?” Adam grumbled.

  “Let’s do it,” Rick said creating sparks along his fingers.

  The ground below Rick’s feet began to tremble. Shooting up, the air rushed by. As quickly as it had started the pillar stopped, but he kept going.

  “Hey!” Rick yelled at Adam who was smirking down below.

  “I forgot to tell you to hang on!” he yelled up.

&nb
sp; Ducking, Rick spun as a blade of air flew past. Instantly, he had to jump off the pillar, hanging on with one hand. A fireball struck where he’d stood a second before. Creating an electric shield, he blocked a water whip. Rick dropped spotting a woman standing on a nearby roof. Falling through a portal, he exited with his feet aimed directly at her head. With a loud thump, she turned to dust. Leaping off the roof, he narrowly avoided getting sniped by a fireball. Falling through a portal, he reappeared on the pillar. Adam moved off and was fighting someone at the end of the alley. Opening another portal, Rick simply shot a bolt through it. The woman on the other side turned to dust. A giant boulder smashed into the pillar, and Rick had to leap out of the way as his platform collapsed. Landing on another roof, he rolled.

  “Adam, I need a new pillar!” he yelled shooting a bolt at another person.

  Without looking Adam created a pillar behind him. Dropping through a portal, Rick landed on top.

  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WE ARE DOWN TO THE LAST QUARTER! THE BATTLEFIELD WILL NOW SHRINK!”

  The world seemed to ripple, and then he was standing on air, the pillar was gone.

  “Adam!” he yelled as he dropped.

  Lightning chains shot from his hands embedding into the walls of two houses. Hanging there he glared down.

  “We moved,” Adam said creating a new pillar.

  Rick hopped on, shooting up higher than before. Elementalists filled the rooftops. Swallowing, he put all his energy into a shield surrounding himself, an endless stream of attacks battering against it.

  “I can’t do anything,” he grunted. “Adam, let me back down!”

  Nothing happened. Looking down he saw he wasn’t the only one trying to survive. Adam was busy fighting three men and a woman.

  “Fine,” he muttered, the shield breaking.

  Shadow Reaper appeared in his hand. Twisting it around, he cut a fireball in half, dispelling it. Lightning shot from his hand and struck the Fire Elementalist. Spinning the blade hand over hand, he sliced at the attacks cutting through everything. When he could, he sent out an attack and hit one of his opponents. A twister came rushing up from the alley below. Blocking it with an electric shield, he glanced down. Adam was gone. Another Elementalist stood below. Vaguely he remembered hearing Adam yell he was falling back. With his position compromised, Rick did the only sensible thing he could think of. He jumped. Landing on the nearest roof he shot toward the closest Elementalist. Sending him flying, Rick moved on to the next one, and then the one after that. He made his way forward taking on one opponent after another. The crowd erupted. He wasn’t sure why and he didn’t care. Shooting forward he struck an Elementalist on her thigh. Not waiting to see her disappear, he shot toward the next one. Black sparks appeared in front of him. Stopping, he stared at them.

  Impossible, Another Lightning Elementalist?

  That’s when he felt it. A small magical spike pricked his foot, and everything went white.

  Opening his eyes, he stepped out, back in that little room. He got his bearings and strode out to the door. He paused. The cross beam was splintered and close to snapping.

  “What the—” Rick said.

  AND THE EIGHT TEAMS FOR THIS YEAR ARE…

  Chapter 18

  D evlin’s words still rang in Stella’s ears.

  “AND THE EIGHTH TEAM TO BE COMPETING IN THE TOURNAMENT THIS YEAR IS… LIGHTNING GEM!”

  The crowd had roared, but Stella didn’t feel much like cheering.

  “Eighth,” she muttered.

  The reigning champs for years, and they had barely made it. Except for Rick, they all sat at a table in the Royal Twin’s restaurant.

  “That was close,” Flare said.

  “I’m sorry guys,” Assan said. “They took me out pretty early.”

  “I was hit almost immediately,” Flare said scowling.

  Stella absentmindedly scratched at the table. “During the round, it felt like every Elementalist in my area was only focusing on me.” It felt a little better knowing she hadn’t been the only one hit so soon.

  “You should’ve seen Rick,” Adam said smirking. “He and I ran into each other, and he wrecked house up on a tower I created, while I fought in the alley.”

  “Where is Rick? Flare asked.

  She was right. Rick wasn’t anywhere in sight. “Has anyone seen him?” Stella asked.

  They all shook their heads. “Not since we fought together,” Adam said.

  Assan shook his head. “I’m assuming no one told him about the tradition of meeting here?”

  Stella gave a sheepish grin. “I forgot.”

  “Would you please find him?” Flare asked trying to keep a smile from forming on her lips.

  “Why me?” she asked starring her in the eyes.

  “You first suggested him.”

  “I don’t mind—“ Assan said beginning to stand.

  “Sit,” Flare said.

  Stella grinned and narrowed her eyes. “Are you asking me as a guild master… or as a meddling friend?”

  “The latter,” Flare said flashing her teeth. “Now get.”

  Taking one last drink of water Stella got to her feet. “Whatever,” she said laughing.

  “Thank you,” Flare said giving her a smile.

  “I guess,” Stella said walking to the door.

  Stepping outside, the evening air slapped her in the face. Pulling up her cloak’s hood, Stella started walking.

  “Where you off to?” a familiar voice called after her.

  Turning, she spotted Devlin pushing his way through the crowded street, with some kind of drink in his hand.

  “Where have you been?” Stella asked her hands on her hips and a small smile appearing on her face.

  “I was doing my job,” Devlin said, “They pay me pretty good.”

  “I need a hug,” Stella said wrapping her arms around him.

  After a moment his arms wrapped around her. “Everything okay?”

  “Long day,” she said letting go of him. “Little sleep.”

  His dark eyes glinted in the setting sun. “Yeah, that’s hug worthy.”

  Stella smiled at him. “Have you seen Rick?”

  “Not since the match,” he said. “And you should have seen him! It was incredible! He demolished everyone!”

  “I think he’s avoiding me,” Stella said looking at the ground.

  Devlin gently raised her chin until she looked him in the eyes. “Why would he do that?”

  “I don’t know,” Stella said. “A lot happened last night. I’m not even sure how much I trust him now.”

  “With Mera?”

  “That was one thing. I also met a man named Taranis. He said some things.”

  “I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” he said taking a sip of his drink.

  Tucking her hair behind her ear Stella smiled looking up at him. “Whoever you pick will be such a lucky guy.”

  My face is wet, why is it wet?

  She screeched realizing he spit his drink out all over her. “Devlin!” she yelled frantically wiping the sticky drink off. “What was that for!”

  Devlin got right up close to her. “How long have you thought I was gay?”

  Pausing she tapped her chin. “Well, I think it was when we first met. I walked in and you were surrounded by girls, but you didn’t seem to be paying attention to any of them—”

  He turned and started walking away.

  “Hey! Where are you going?” She heard him muttering to himself about some idiot. “Maybe some guys been giving him some drama,” she said to herself before chasing after him.

  The town was packed, even though the day before it was empty. Vendors filled stalls and shops calling out to draw attention to their goods. The smell of roasted meat made her stomach grumble. Built in a circle, the city surrounded the Coliseum, and every building was used to provide a place for people to sleep. Even some of the towers on the outer wall were used to house soldiers, and one for the contestants. She liked it. Best view in
the city. And safe from a fall.

  “Would you like to grab something to eat?” Devlin asked.

  “Yes please!” She said. “Flare and the others are at the Royal Twins.” At that moment her stomach decided it was the perfect time to roar. She glanced down then back up at Devlin, the look on his face was all she needed to know. “Not a word,” she said.

  He turned without a sound beckoning for her to follow. They walked over to the nearest stand in silence.

  “Two dragon pies please,” Devlin said handing over a few coppers.

  “Yes! These are delicious!” she said greedily accepting one.

  The hot steam danced off the pies and made the air smell of that sweet scent of tart berries. The heat of the tin warmed her hands as she breathed it in.

  “That’s why I grabbed them,” he said smiling.

  “Thank you.” she said taking a bite.

  It tasted so good! The crust and sweet juices filled her mouth.

  “You’re not going to wait?” he asked.

  “Nope,” she said with her mouth full.

  “Fine with me,” he said taking a bite.

  “These are delicious.” he said snatching the pie out of her hands.

  “Hey! That’s mine!” she yelled jumping up after it as he lifted it out of reach.

  “Just one bite,” he said grinning.

  “No!” she said trying to grab it. “You have your own!”

  Spinning around he took a bite before she could stop him. “That was delicious,” he said handing it back to her. “Thank you so much for sharing.”

  Stella glared at him.

  “If the others are at the restaurant, what are you doing out here?” Devlin asked.

  “Looking for Rick,” she said still glaring at him.

  “Has there been any backlash?”

  “Backlash?”

  “His sword.”

  “What about his sword?”

  Devlin jumped up and down. “Again, you should have seen it! He stood on a pillar, a barrage of attacks flying at him to the point that you could barely see him, and he sliced away every single attack!”