A/N: Hey guys, I know I should have posted around an hour ago - it's well past midnight now - but getting Lyon in character took me too much time. I'm sure I revised one sentence for half an hour, yet I'm quite proud of this chapter. I hope you like it!


"Ice-Make: Kicker!" Lyon slid up the ice ramp and jumped once he reached the top. Like a knife against the wind, he flew, pushing the cold air apart. His fell down slowly - almost perfect, so close! The skates dug in the frozen surface and stuck in place. Cracks broke in the ice with a silent creak.

"Again!" Lyon wasted a few minutes to free his skates from the lake and repair the ice. Maybe if the lake was frozen even more solid… The thick layer grew deeper and tougher until it became deep blue. Only the Ice Shell was harder to break. Now it should work - time for the next test.

Lyon started away from the ramp, building as much speed as he could. His skates slashed away the ice, leaving white lines of frost over the lake. The speed lowered when he reached the kicker. He smiled. "Ice Form!" shouted he; the energy of the spell pushed him forwards. Another jump - high and forward.

"Yes!" Lyon extended his arm to the sky as if he could catch his success. There - so close… His skates fell on the lake and kept sliding forward. "Yes!" He did it - and another thought, colder than the winter stopped him in his tracks. What next? Another challenge had failed to stop him. Where was he going now - beyond his abilities, all the way to the top? The goal had not changed even since he had set it - but it had never been a concrete goal. What would he do once he passed through all challenges in life?

One look at Gray's skillful spins at the opposite part of the lake made Lyon scowl even more. A total show-off. But it was a game for two. "Ice-Make: Kicker!" The ramp grew higher and sturdier, the slope turned steeper. "Let's see you copying this, Gray!" Lyon could never match Gray in those fancy movements and strange jumps. Even though Sherry had offered to teach him many times, she had a nasty habit of speaking too much of love and too little of teaching. Only a person that understood her could learn from such a teacher, but Lyon had never managed that.

Plus, he did not need to beat Gray in grace. He could beat him in speed. Dashing fast, leaving deep traces on the ice, Lyon raced to the ramp. Another peak to climb, another barrier to break through. At the top Lyon jumped, pushed forward by his inertia. How far would he go? The earth came too close too soon. Lyon braced himself for the fall - a moment too late. His ankle twisted, his skates tripped and Lyon fell face-first on the reinforced ice.

Nothing more than a minor setback - soon, he was going to overcome it. And then, he was going to climb even higher.