A/N: Oh, I can't believe I missed yesterday! And I had the fic written and everything... Well, here's the fic I should have uploaded yesterday. Later today I'm going to publish the next part as planned.


A powerful fire blast pushed Macao over the ice. He stopped the flames for a moment - enough to turn sharply to the left; a sudden movement that would make anyone else fall over the ice. With another fire spell - this one more powerful - he propelled himself to the banks, where Romeo was staying.

"What do you think, son? Are you ready to learn your dad's secret technique?"

Romeo still frowned sightly but stepped on the ice. He had learned to keep his balance and tried to cast a simple fireball - but even the weak spell had enough force to send him flying. "Ouch!" He had fallen on his side and tried to push himself up; his father came to help him immediately. "If mom was here to see us," said Romeo as he stood up, "she would have stopped us."

"Do you think so?" Macao smiled, losing himself in memories. "After all, she was the first person I taught. She used to fall much more often than you. The first time she skated with fire magic, she actually crashed in a tree. So far you have proved yourself more sensible than her." He laughed.

"You have taught mom ice skating?" Romeo asked.

"How do you think I have won her heart? Oh, Romeo, I have to teach you so many things about girls…"

Macao pushed himself on the ice with a weak fire blast, drawing a long straight line. When he was far enough from his son, he turned to him. "Now look - the show that had captured your mother's heart."

How many years have passed since the last time Macao has done that program? He tried to focus on the movements and find a precise memory. No use; he could think of the passion he had and the warmth of the fire and the sparks of new love. But the details - they were lost to the sands of time, never to come back. An improvisation, then - Macao could try that.

He formed a fire spell in his left hand - an engine that made him spin fast in a tiny circle. One, two, three, four - that should be enough. With another fireball - this time in the right hand - Macao pushed himself forward. What else was there in the program?

"Wow," Romeo said. "Can you also make jumps - as Loke did?"

A jump? Macao could never copy the grace of most skaters - but he replaced it with sheer power. How long had he jumped back then? Another forgotten detail - but the rushing air, the chilling silence and the speed with which the ice came closer remained. Let's try it again. The fire mage jumped in the air, using fire magic to propel himself further. The ice plain flew sped under him; soon he could see the banks of the lake closing in. He stopped slow the spell, letting himself fall - just on the edge.

From the other bank, Romeo was applauding him loudly.