Robert: Lady Lirin Sama has asked me to monitor this update.
Johnny: Oi, I'm here too. She asked us both to do the update.
Robert: *ignoring Johnny*She requests that I remind everyone that she has no rights to Beyblade or the characters from the series.
Johnny: This time we're thanking Beywriter and Ariao for leaving messages. With Lirin's recent string of bad luck this is about the only thing she enjoys seeing.
Chapter 25: Practice Conclusion
The stalemate was lasting forever. Minutes were passing in this tug of war battle where when one moved forward in inch the other pushed back returning them to their original place.
Beads of sweat were forming and trickling down both Johnny and Robert's faces. The cheer squad kept up the chanting promoting both sides.
"Salamalyon, time to try it," Johnny finally called. "Duel Fire Ring!"
The order throw Robert for a loop. He had not expected Johnny to have another attack and was not prepared for a counter measure.
Johnny immediately picked up on this stun and worked quickly.
Salamalyon pressed hard against Griffolyon's blade to knock it back so it could begin its new assault. Now free of the light blue blade, the red one began to circle the dish once more. But this time it was in smaller, tighter rings.
Johnny was smirking again. His blade was gaining speed and starting to create after images of itself. After ten laps it had one solid copy of itself.
Robert was letting the shock interfere with the battle. Rather then preparing an attack or dodge, he remained where he was watching stunned.
"Now Salamalyon, attack!"
The red blade continued to loop in tight circles and slowly made them smaller. As it drew closer to Robert's light blue both copies burst into flames.
The twins' cheering got louder as any hope of their bother winning decreased. Rebecca sucked in a breath of air and her light brown eyes grew wide.
"Gehen sie Johnny! Gehe!"
The circle of fire finally alerted Robert to the impending doom his blade was in.
Shaking his head to clear the stun he was in Robert called out his order, "Griffolyon, Wing Dagger."
"Too late Robbie," Johnny said as he blade made contact with the other.
It was running rings around Griffolyon leaving a trail of flames in its wake. Griffolyon roared in pain as the fire spread and singed its feathers.
Johnny's smirk grew as he called his blade back to the side. There the after image faded when the red, flaming blade stood still.
"Spear him Salamalyon." Johnny's voice was oddly calm as he ordered his final move. There was nothing Robert could do with his own blade surrounded by a wall of flames.
The lizard stuck out it's tongue as if it was licking its lips. He was going to have fried chicken for dinner tonight.
Like a bullet, Salamalyon darted off for Griffolyon. The streak it made cut a line in the fire wall and blasted Griffolyon out the other side. Salamalyon continued onward in the attack. He was batting the light blue blade around like a tennis ball.
"Griffolyon pull it together," Robert said in a panicking tone. He did his best to regain control of the situation, but it was hopeless. Johnny had this from the start with that new move.
Powerless, Robert watched his blade get toyed with. Salamalyon hit it one way then zoomed around to smack it back. It was like spears were attacking from all angles.
Johnny was growing bored with the battle. Griffolyon was out of energy and barely able to stay spinning. Robert too realized this and nodded to his friend which was returned with a nod.
"Salamalyon end it. Hit him out."
In the blink of an eye the battle was over. Salamalyon sped forward and smacked Griffolyon hard. The unstable blade flew into the air and over the rim.
Behind then the twins' cheering grew wild and Rebecca ran to hug the victor.
"Oh Johnny, that was wunderbar. You are so skilled with your maneuvers."
The Scotsman felt his checks grow red from the praise and he scratched the back of his head. "Well thanks Beccs, I've had a lot of time to practice lately."
"It certainly shows," Robert came over to congratulate his friend. "Would you mind showing me how to preform that trick later?"
"If I'm here long enough I might." Johnny's cocky grin was back.
"You know you are welcome here as long as you want." Robert then turned to his siblings. "Alright you three, Johnny I'm sure is tired now and would like some quiet before bed. Please leave us."
"Oh come on Robert," Jake began.
"Let us stay a little bit more," William continued.
"We don't get to see Johnny often," Jake finished.
"True we don't," Rebecca said while still hugging Johnny. "But he will be here tomorrow and we can spend time with him then. Bruder is right and we should allow our guest to rest."
"Thanks Beccs." Once more the cockiness that Johnny showed to Robert or the twins disappeared as he kindly spoke to the girl. "Have a good night."
"Gute Nacht." She untangled herself from his side and curtseyed. "Come now brüder, let us watch television with mutter and vater before bed."
The two younger boys sighed. "Okay," they spoke in unison. "Night Robert, Johnny."
Rebecca led them out and closed the door on her brother and friend.
"So was this enough?" Robert asked once they were alone.
Johnny rolled his head to creak his neck. "Aye, for now at least. Sorry if Griffy is damaged."
Robert shook his head. "It is to be expected with the anger you are holding within you. And I know this is not enough to dilute it much, but I do hope it has helped some."
"It has Rob, thanks for it."
"So is there anything else you'd like to do tonight?"
Johnny looked down at the scorch marks in the dish. Yeah it was stone, but his flames were powerful enough to cause it some minor damage. Eventually he shook his head. "I think I just want to bathe and then crash for the night."
"Very well, I shall have Gustov draw a bath for you."
"Don't bother, I can do that myself."
Robert nodded and the two fell silent as they retrieved their blades. When the small tops in hand they both left the room and walked together back to the guest room.
"Have a good night Johnny."
"Yeah, you too Rob. Catch you in the morning." Johnny opened his door but turned around. "What time is breakfast?"
"It's at 7:30."
"Alright, thanks."
The German boy walked down the hall to the library to find a new book to begin reading before going to bed that night.
XxXxXx
After his bath, Johnny lay on his bed with his hair still wet and down around his shoulders and a towel around his waist. He had a lot to think about now that the distractions were gone. Robert had done a good job of keeping his mind busy for a few hours, but now there was nothing in his mind's way of thinking about things.
Sighing he looked to the left. His bag was still there and needing unpacking. Another thing he had avoided doing. And he wanted to ignore it until later still. But he knew he had to open it if he was going to get his night cloths out.
His mind was made up. He got off the bed and tossed the bag where he had been laying. It sunk into the the feather mattress wrinkling the silk sheets. He quickly unzipped it and tossed the top over the back side.
On top was a folded sheet of paper. It was something he had Oliver do a few months ago when he got reoccurring dreams of that girl with wings. Carefully he pulled it out and unfolded it.
The image was the same from his dreams. But it was a closer up version. The girl had her wings stretched out behind her as she floated over the building and the snow. Behind her there was an endless stretch of forest and a small pond. Oliver was amazing when it came to landscape images and that seemed to make the girl's beauty even more so.
He stared longingly at the picture and a yearning to have the dream again hit him hard enough to make him let out a single tear from his right eye.
"I've no idea who you are, but I have a feeling we are destined to meet."
A few minutes later he put the picture down on the night table and dug out a pair of boxers and his flannel pajama bottoms and quickly slipped them on.
Satisfied he had what he needed out of the bag he dropped it on the floor and tossed himself on the bed after turning off the light.
He fell asleep staring at the picture in the dark.
Johnny: Until Saturday Rob and I will be dealing with a mopey authoress. Please cheer her up by leaving review.