A/N: And now I present, chapter 3. This chapter isn't as lighthearted as the others so far, but still has some comical moments. I hope you enjoy, and please review.
Chapter 3: If a tree falls in a forest
"So Lloyd, you think this is really a good idea?"
"What's the worse that could happen, Genis?
"I don't know Lloyd. There are trees all around us, it is nearly 100 degrees, and you want me to make fire come out of my hand."
"Just be careful with it and nothing bad will happen. We are in a clearing anyway so you shouldn't hit any trees."
"Well here goes nothing," he said. Genis stood in the middle of a small clearing while Lloyd stood back near some of the trees. His feet were firmly planted and his right hand was held out with the palm upward. "Noxap," he said loudly, and a bright flame encompassed his hand. He focused all of his thoughts on the fire and it stayed in place and then began to slowly expand.
"Incredible," Lloyd said from a safe distance. Genis ignored the comment and concentrated on the fire. He shifted his palm outward and directed the fire to spread out to almost a foot in front of his palm. Birds scurried away at the sight and sound of the fire. Genis then brought the flame back to just his palm and aloud the fire to dissipate. Beads of sweat flowed down his face, and not just do to the scorching weather. Lloyd walked over to Genis and sat a hand on his shoulder, "Wow, how do you do that?"
"I'm not really sure. I just concentrate and it happens." Genis was breathing heavily as he answered.
"I wonder if I could do it too." Lloyd asked, "What was that word you use?"
"Noxap," he said softly, not wanting to start another fire.
"Okay I'll try it," Lloyd said as he held out his hand in the same way Genis had a few moments ago. "Noxap," he screamed. Nothing happened. "Noxap!" he tried again with no avail. "Why won't it work?" he yelled.
"Are you concentrating on the fire?" Genis asked as he sat against a tree.
"There isn't any fire to concentrate on though."
"You feel anything strange at all?"
"No"
"I guess only I am able to use it."
"Doesn't seem fair," Lloyd said as he leaned against the same tree as Genis.
"Well you are better then me at most things like running, sports, swimming, anything physical it seems. Now I have something unique."
"True but you are a genius at school. Everything there seems to come easy to you."
"That's because I work at it and don't sleep during class."
"It's not just that, you have a gift for learning things fast. School just seems so boring."
"I guess we all have something that sets us apart."
"Can you do that again, but this time, see if you can make it bigger?" Lloyd asked.
"I'm not sure."
"It would be so cool if you could. At least try it."
Genis stood up and walked back to the clearing. "Okay," he said as he held out his hand just as before. "Noxap!" The fire once again surrounded his hand and spread out more this time. The strain of maintaining the flame made him almost fall to his knees. 'Concentrate,' he told himself. The flame continued to grow and soon, his hand connected to a sphere of fire a few feet in front of him. The ball of flames was nearly three feet tall.
"That's amazing!" Lloyd exclaimed from a safe distance behind him.
"I can't hold it much longer," he replied, as he had to work to keep his body erect.
"Don't worry Genis, you have this."
His friend's encouragement kept him standing as he focused on the fire. His concentration kept the flame in place but he struggled to hold it. After a few seconds, the strain was too much. Genis collapsed, falling onto his back, and as he fell, he unintentionally released the ball of flames from his hand. As the fire spread through the trees, the sound of leaves incinerating and birds flying away echoed throughout the woods. The fireball finally stopped as it hit a tree branch. With the pressure of holding the fire gone, Genis was able to get up easily. "That's enough for now."
"Yea, sorry for pushing you too far."
"Don't worry about it. I just feel tired after doing that much." Genis then walked toward Lloyd and they decided to return to Lloyd's house.
"Lloyd, look out!" Genis yelled. As Lloyd glanced around, he heard the sound of twigs breaking and then he looked up and saw a branch about to fall on him. He felt his body shift and then felt an impact on his head, causing him to close his eyes momentarily. As he opened them, he realized that there was no pain. The sight in front of him filled him with horror. He looked at the branch that fell seconds earlier, and saw Genis lying in front of it. Lloyd ran to his friend and found that Genis' left leg was pinned under the branch and blood flowed out, covering the ground in a crimson stain. "I can't move my leg."
"Does it hurt?" Lloyd would not allow emotion to take control now. He knew that he could not panic and just had to subdue his emotions.
"It just stings but no real pain." Lloyd walked to the branch and tried to lift it but nothing happened. "It won't budge." He then bent down next to Genis. "Let me go get help. I can't move it on my own."
"Lloyd, look!" Genis said as he pointed to his right. Part of the branch was on fire and the flames were approaching them.
"We have to get you out of there. I'll try and lift up this part and you get your leg free."
"I don't think I can feel it at all."
"Well just slide it out then. We don't have time to argue." Lloyd tried to lift the branch just enough so Genis would be free but it wouldn't move an inch. "It's no good!" Lloyd screamed as he kicked the branch.
"Just hurry and get help," Genis said.
"You might die before I get back." Lloyd held back tears that began to flow when he realized his friend's life was in danger.
"Do you have any better plans?" Genis asked. He knew that if Lloyd left, he probably would die here but he didn't want Lloyd to have to see it happen.
"I'll think of something," Lloyd protested. The older teen looked around for anything that could free his friend. The only things around were leaves and sticks. In desperation, he went back to the branch to try moving it again but still nothing.
"Just go Lloyd. If you don't, both of us are in danger."
"No, none of us will die." The flames were only a few feet away. Genis tried to concentrate on the fire, but the flames weren't his anymore, so he couldn't control them. "There has to be a way," Lloyd said.
"Just run while you still can," Genis ordered.
"I won't leave you. I know I can get you free." A thought came to Lloyd that gave him hope. A word forced itself into his thoughts, one he never heard before. He clenched his fist and said, "Bonha" A light radiated from his clenched fist and shot outward a couple feet. The light was pure white and bright as fire. Within seconds, the brightness dissipated, and Lloyd found himself holding a sword.
"Where did that come from?" Genis asked.
"I don't know, or care, but it's getting you free." Lloyd swung the sword and sliced the branch on both sides of Genis's leg. He placed the sword on the ground and went to pick up the section of the branch. As Lloyd freed Genis' leg, the radiation from the fire made the day even hotter. Genis pushed himself back with his hands and his one good leg. Lloyd chucked the block of wood into the flame and checked on the wounded leg.
Lloyd could barely look at the gruesomeness of it. Genis' leg was torn open and the blood coated his lower leg and had begun to spread to the hem of his shorts. The hard ground was bathed in a layer of crimson. "So much blood," Lloyd said softly.
"I'm starting to feel faint from the blood loss," Genis wearily replied.
"I'll take you back to the house." Lloyd quickly glanced around for something to cover his friend's wound but nothing suitable could be found. Lloyd removed his shirt and tied it around Genis' leg, hoping that it would hold in the blood. Lloyd bent down and Genis grabbed onto his neck as Lloyd lifted him of the ground. Genis remained on the border of conciseness as he was carried through the woods. He tried to thank Lloyd, but his mouth would not respond to his brain's commands. The last thing Genis saw before passing out, was the wooden house through the trees. Drops of blood sprinkled along the footprints. 'Just a little bit longer,' Lloyd thought to himself.
Lloyd kicked open the backdoor of his house. He felt the blast of chilled air rushing against his face and set the injured boy on the floor of the basement. Lloyd knew little about medicine, but he knew that Genis' leg was likely broken. He also knew that all that blood loss could kill him. Carefully he unwrapped the red cloth around his leg. The bloodstain stood out even against the red shirt. Lloyd saw that the gash went a few inches up from his ankle, almost to his knee. Blood continued to ooze out of the wound.
"How can I help you?" Lloyd asked, not expecting a response. The wound concerned him most of all. Genis would be in pain from the broken leg, but it wouldn't kill him. He was still worried, and felt the leg, wondering how badly it was broken. As he touched it, the blood covered his palms. He thought of going to wash the red off, but then thought that cleaning the leg could help. He remembered something about infections getting in large cuts and feared the same could happen to Genis. Lloyd sprinted to the next room and began filling the bathtub, then came back and carried Genis into the tub. The water turned a shade of crimson. Lloyd just sat there for a few minuets, felling helpless to help his best friend.
His state of hopelessness was broken by the voice of his friend. "Lloyd," Genis said softly, "why is there water up to my neck?"
"Genis, you're awake!" Lloyd exclaimed. He stood up, but slipped and his head fell into the tub. Lloyd pulled his head up, looked behind him, and saw the bathroom floor was covered in about an inch of red tinted water. He reached and turned of the water and the tub stopped overflowing.
"Wow Lloyd, you must have really been panicked if you didn't notice the water rising like that."
"I'm surprised you are awake already. How does your leg feel?"
"Like a tree fell on it. It doesn't hurt as bad as I would think." Genis pulled the leg closer to him, "It looks like it has stopped bleeding mostly."
"Good."
"Another question Lloyd, why did you throw me in your bathtub, instead of calling an ambulance?"
"I panicked okay, I couldn't think straight."
"Well you could have at least taken off my clothes. Now they are all soaked."
"I thought it would be strange for me to be watching you naked in the tub."
"True but nothing you haven't seen before. Remember the Niagara falls incident."
Lloyd chuckled at the memory, "True, I wonder if that park ranger ever stopped limping. Anyway, I'll go get some dry clothes for you. Mine are covered with blood anyway." Lloyd left the room and went up the stairs two flights, up to his room.
He rummaged through his closet, looking for anything that would fit his small friend. He found a red t-shirt and matching shorts for himself. He thought it was odd how similar most of his clothing was. After sorting through the clothes, he found an old suit that might fit Genis. He guessed Genis would want something less fancy. After going though all the red clothing he came upon an old blue shirt and navy shorts. Lloyd bounded back down the stairs and gave the clothes to Genis, and then exited to the family room.
The path of blood could be seen from the door to the carpet where he had lain. Guilt entered Lloyd's mind and all the things he could have done differently filled his thoughts. If he had called an ambulance perhaps, Genis would be in better shape now. If he had moved away from the branch in time, none of this would have happened. If he didn't have Genis keep doing more with the fire, everything would have been avoided. He saw himself as an idiot; he nearly caused his best friend to die.
"Lloyd," Genis said. Lloyd turned and saw his friend standing in the doorway. "This doesn't seem right."
"What doesn't?"
"My leg, I am able to walk. After something like that hit it, it should be broken horribly, but it doesn't hurt that much."
"I'm glad," Lloyd smiled as his hatred of himself turned to joy for his friend.
"It's still bleeding some so it needs bandaged."
"I'll get the first aid kit out of Dad's workshop."
"Why does he keep one in there?"
"He says that he can never be too safe with me and power tools." Lloyd brought a small box out of the room and Genis sat on a chair. Lloyd came and kneeled beside him and began wrapping a bandage around the leg. "This should help it heal."
"Thank you."
A/N: So many questions, what will become of Genis' injury? What happened at Niagara Falls? Where did that sword come from? Next chapter the real story begins, so it should be getting better. If you have any comment at all or question, please leave a review. I know I beg for them a lot and I will keep doing so until I get them. Thanks.
