That day… all I did was go into the forest with her. She said she just wanted to talk. That's when I realized just how deeply messed up she truly was.
Stone crouched low to the ground, her eyes fixed on the two deer grazing nearby. "You see that?" she murmured, voice low and gravelly. "It's strange how creatures can be so caught off guard." A low growl escaped her throat. Marcel sat perched in a branch above, watching the beast hunt with unreadable detachment.
"Akies are no different," Marcel muttered. "I paid the sky clan a visit. They have no idea just how good I'm going to feast on their insides."
Stone's lips curled into a predatory smirk. Without warning, she lunged from the tall grass, muscles coiled like a spring. The mother deer froze, instinctively jumping in front of her fawn. Stone halted, watching coldly as the two ran, the mother's desperate eyes locking onto her.
"Why sacrifice yourself to save the child?" Stone roared, voice echoing with frustration and fury. "This island is so damn twisted. These creatures… they don't understand anything!"
Marcel jumped down from his perch, eyes narrowing. "Stone, why does that matter? They're just animals."
She turned her head slowly, eyes gleaming with something darker. "It's just like if you had children, Marcel." Her voice was almost a whisper, but heavy with meaning. "Did you know I had cubs once? Two of them. Both died—natural causes. But I… I…"
Marcel's face twisted in shock. "You… you had cubs?"
"Yes," Stone said softly, licking her claws with a cold, deliberate motion. "Does that surprise you?"
"Honestly… yes. It does."
Stone's glare sharpened, predator-like. "Hmph."
"Are you even upset?" Marcel asked, voice trembling.
"Upset? About what? My cubs? No," she replied, voice devoid of warmth. "It's strange—I didn't feel anything in the moment. I just sat there, holding their lifeless bodies. Dead in my arms." A gentle breeze stirred the air, carrying a bitter silence. "I often wonder why I am the way I am. I don't even understand it myself, Marcel. Maybe… maybe it's my fault. I did eat them, after all."
Marcel's stomach clenched. His heart sank. He took a slow step back, instinct telling him to run. "Let's just go back," he said, voice shaky with worry.
But Stone's words cut deeper than any blade. "Cannibalism," she said plainly. "It happens among some creatures here—and humans, too. I must admit, Marcel… I don't regret it. Not one bit. The reason I brought you out today… was because you looked so damn good. And I couldn't resist."
She turned her head, revealing saliva dripping from her mouth. Then abruptly, she wiped her lips with a swift, almost shameful gesture.
"I'm sorry. I just... can't help it."
Marcel's instincts flared. He was about to stomp his foot, to break free, but before he could, Stone moved faster. She leapt with terrifying agility, slamming him to the ground, her weight pressing down like a predator pinning prey.
A twisted smile spread across her face as she leaned in close, her breath hot and rancid. Marcel struggled desperately, but her strength was overwhelming.
"Don't try to run," she whispered, voice dripping with a strange, lonely hunger. "That only makes me feel… so damn lonely, Marcel."
"Stone, get off me!" he gasped, trying to wrench free.
She shook her head slowly, eyes dark with obsession. "You're about to say this isn't right. Well, you're right. It's not. But what about everything you've done? Everyone is just like me—I embrace it. When my cubs died, I wanted to cry so badly. But not a single tear fell. I'm cold, Marcel. Just like this world. Just like everyone else."
Her hand moved instinctively, choking him, her grip tightening as her face hovered inches from his. "You see? Life and people… they're cold by nature. That's who we are. That's what we're born to be. You and I—everyone."
Marcel's vision blurred. He could feel himself slipping away, darkness creeping at the edges. His strength waned.
Then, suddenly, she released him. Stone rose, her expression shifting in an instant—her smile transforming into something different, something almost playful.
"But I've changed my mind about you," she said softly, her voice calm again. "Maybe you're not so bad after all."
Marcel scrambled to his feet, using the shadows to slither away into the trees. Stone's smile faded as she watched him leave, her eyes cold yet tinged with a strange, haunting regret.
Alone in the silent forest, she whispered to herself, "Thank you… for tolerating me as long as you did."
******
Marcel gasped for air, his lungs were being filled up with stone. He looked down to see his legs were completely covered with stone. He couldn't move or even let out a painful scream. "H-h." Marcel tried to yell, but couldn't utter a single word. Stone had used her expansion: Age of stone. Her expansion caused every living being within a 5,000 mile radius to begin a transformation state. Every living being was being turned to stone. Her expansion also caused anything or anyone around her to turn into stone more quickly than the things further away. Anything that was touched by her expansion, she could also become that object or person.
Summer poured all of her energy into her, Sendra and Jade. She was reversing the affects at a very high rate. (I don't know how long Summer will last. This…this is crazy! Her expansion was too damn fast to even react after she said the word. It was instant! Just like that and boom!) Jade thought. "How long can you keep this up, Summer?" Jade asked.
"Tsk. About 15 minutes. We need to find my mother and the guy." Summer said. Sendra stepped forward. "We get them and get the hell out." Sendra ordered. Sendra and the two flew In the direction of the fight.
******
Before the expansion fully opened.
Silvia used her third crystal. As Stone shouted the word: EXPANSION, Silvia managed to also utter her own vow. "No affect shall be casted upon me!"
******
Silvia floated in the air and stared in awe. Everything including the sky was stone. The clouds were grey and didn't move. The ground itself was also stone. "This…this is unbelievable." Silvia said. She looked around for Marcel. "Where is he?!" She asked. Silvia swooped down to the ground and landed softly on the hardened ground floor. "She really did it. This whole area is completely ruined. Just how far did her expansion go? The air…the air itself has stone particles! This is bad! Anything that was caught or even breathes this in is-"
Suddenly, Silvia was cut with a spike that shot out from the ground. "Silvia!" Stone sang out loud. Silvia faced the beast. Stone created a large mountain that scaled up to the sky. "Like what I've done with the place? My best thing yet!" Stone laughed. "You did too much. I can tell all that power building up inside you is starting to get out of control-"
"Oh, would you shut the hell up?! I don't give a damn about any of that! I can feel them, Silvia! I can feel…everything! I am everything!! I will show you just how powerful I really am! You'll die by my hands! MY HANDS!!!!" Stone's body disappeared and the mountain warped into giant hands. The hands grabbed Silvia and lifted her into the air. "I have the strength of part of the entire universe!! This is amazing!!" Stone laughed as her body formed out of thin air. "I am part of the universe!!" She laughed. Silvia couldn't break free. Stone lifted her hands in the air. So did the giant hands coming from the ground. "This is where you fall…Silvia. You'll be a great desert!" Stone laughed. Before Stone could finish Silvia off, Sendra flew in and kicked the beast. Stone smiled at the burning foot. "You damn Akies…keep coming everything time I'm about to finish someone off!" Stone roared. Stone tried to cover Sendra's body with stone, but could see that her stone was being reversed as a very high rate. (Summer! She's reversing the affect of my ability?!) Stone grabbed Sendra and tossed her to the side. Stone floated and rotated her body, looking for Summer. (Playing the long game. Don't you know…that I feel everything?!) Stone's body was floating on n the air. But due to her expansion, she could now feel and see things within the 5,000 mile radius.
I sense many people and things…but you're a rare one indeed. I can feel you Summer…let me find you. Stone thought. A massive eye ball formed in the clouds. Stone locked in on Summer sitting in a meditation position on top of a mountain in the distance. "Found you." Stone whispered. A massive hand formed in the sky.
Summer snapped out of meditation and looked up. "Tsk." Summer looked straight ahead to see Stone far far away. "Found you too." Summer said as she clapped her hands.
Summer teleported in front of Summer. The beast was surprised. "You really are so damn cool!" Stone laughed as she tried to throw a punch. Summer moved to the side and hit Stone multiple times in a certain spot. (I can see it…the weak points!)
Stone flung back and held her side. Sendra came crashing in, her body surrounded by her intense aura. (Sendra…easily the most gifted hand-to-hand fighter here. But where does that leave Jade and Silvia? Where are they?) Stone thought as she began to fly away. (I have to warn the king. It's a shame these…damn freaks survived my expansion! Everyone else around here has been completely destroyed and killed!) Stone flew, avoiding and dodging the twos energy blast. Stone ran on all fours and then jumped high back into the air to fly. "There!" Stone said. Stone shot a blast behind her. Sendra and Summer flew out of the way. "She can see them!" Sendra yelled.
In the distance, Jade and Silvia were yards from where Sendra and Summer were. Silvia tapped her foot on the ground, moving her and Jade right in front of Stone with her speed alone. "Ahaha!!!" Stone laughed as she dodged both of the Akies flurry of attacks and blows. Sendra flew behind the beast. She lit up her leg with her aura and kicked. Stone created a massive wall out of thin air. Sendra kicked through the wall. "The hell did they go?!" Sendra asked. Sendra was now near a stonified river. "What-?"
"Now that you're alone…I'll kill you quincly, okay? You guys are really starting to push my little buttons." Stone said.
Sendra slowly turned. (This ain't Stone. It's a damn clone. How did she teleport me??)
*******
Silvia and Jade both continued to attack. Stone was defending well against the two. Stone leaned back and kicked Silvia back. "Hit me how you used to hit your daughter, Silvia!" Stone moaned as she ducked to avoid Jade's fist. She grabbed Jade and slammed Jade's head into her stonified head. Jade collapsed to the ground. "Jade!" Silvia yelled. Silvia flew after Jade, trying to grab her before she hit her head. Stone flew in and tackled Silvia out of the way.
Before Jade could hit the ground, green energy surrounded her body. Summer had stopped her from falling full speed. "I'm…almost at my limit…damn it all! If only…if only I hadn't tried to settle the score with Jade!" Summer said with frustration in her voice. Summer slowly floated and landed beside Jade. Summer was breathing hard, her aura running low. "I can't…protect you all for much longer." Summer looked down at Jade, who was knocked out. Summer grabbed a chunk of dirt and squeezed it tight. "DAMN!!! After all this training…this thing comes and makes us all look like trash! Stone is supposed to be the weakest! But her abilities is what makes her have an advantage! Even her own damn physical strength! Everytime…every single damn time there's a wall I climb…there's always one even bigger." Summer yelled out. Summer stood up and began to limp toward Stone and her mother who was fighting in the air. "I feel something ticking…like it's a bomb…just ready to explode. It's all my fault I got us in this mess….we could've ended the fight! But you let your feelings and pride get in the way of what was important, Summer. Damn it…you're such a fool!!!" Summer yelled. Summer looked back at Jade. "I….I am sorry." Summer said softly.
While fighting, Silvia could see Summer looking up at her. (I…damn.) Silvia avoided another devastating punch from Stone. Silvia launched herself back a little to create some separation. Stone squared down and unleashed all of her energy held inside her. The sky turned black and her aura grew more powerful. "Ahahaha!!! My power just keeps on rising! I can make…anything!!! ANYTHING!!! And to make thing scene better….im gonna explode this entire area! I wanna move this fight to the battlefield!" Stone laughed.
Silvia gave Stone a concerned look. Silvia could see a crack on the side of Stone's body. "You fool. Your own energy will kill you. The chaos aura isn't a game! You're killing yourself." Silvia said.
"I feel great! You just know you're screwed is all! Don't worry, Silvia…I'll make sure to kill you quick, okay?"
(This is bad. Her aura alone is on Udo's level. And physical strength is close to his. At this rate…at this rate she'll surpass him! This has to end…this ends now.)
Before Silvia could utter another word the the beast….Stone began to scream in pain and agony. Stone plunged to the ground. Stone rolled around the dirt in pain. Silvia's eyes widened. She took this opportunity and flew to Summer quickly.
Summer watched as her mother landed in front of her. The two just stood there…starring into each others eyes. "Summer…listen there's much I have to say." Silvia took a step forward. Summer took a step back. "Listen…Stone is about to get even stronger. I have to end this fight. I…I want to tell you what I feel." Silvia said as her face began to turn red. "Just…what are you saying? You make it seem like you're about to go away or something!" Summer yelled out. Silvia gave her a little smirk. "Listen….i know that I wasn't a good mother-no. I wasn't a good person. Not to you, Jade or Adisa. If only…if only I had did better to you and those two, I have a feeling that none of this would've happened. Summer, I'm sorry for all the pain, loneliness, control and minipulation I did. And all of it…just because you have his eyes. That's not fair….thats not fair to anything in this world." Silvia said as tears formed in her eyes. Silvia took a few more steps towards Summer. Summer instinctively activated her aura, fearing her own mother. "What…." Summer seemed to be in shock. Silvia closed the distance and hugged her daughter tightly in her arms. "Summer. My favored season. The season I admire and love. A beautiful season…with so many flowers. It brings me happiness. That is why I named you Summer. Your birth…truly did bring light into my life. I was just so blinded by rage and…even scared. I put all of my trauma onto you and I didn't show it, but I truly did love you, Summer. I should've been better. If I could…I would rewind time with you to do it over again." Silvia said as she began to cry. Summer slowly raised both her hands. She remembered all of the fights and yelling.
(At the end of the day, you have a mother and you both are family.) she remembered Adisa's words. Summer hugged Silvia tight and began to cry with her mother. "I'm so sorry….please, forgive me, Summer." Silvia said as the two fell to their knees. "I do…mom. I do." Summer whispered. "Summer…I love you. And I couldn't be more proud to have you as my daughter," Silvia slightly pushed Summer back and the two looked at each other. "No matter what path you chose or what choices you want to follow with. I will and always…love you." Silvia said. Silvia used her hand to wipe the tears from Summer's eyes. "Do not cry. This is exactly how I want it, okay? My big exit!" Silvia tried to say jokingly. "Grand…exit? No…no, you can't."
"I will. Everyone's aura is so low, they can't even cast another expansion. You need to get Jade and fly far away. I'm…I'm sorry I can only spend this much time with you."
"Mom…you'll die. Don't you understand that?! You'll die! You can't! Let's all just fly away! We'll get help and fight her with more people. Please, don't go. Don't leave me!" Summer begged.
Silvia's body began to shake. "Believe me…I'm terrified of dying, my love. I…I'm not ready to leave you…neither of you." Silvia cried. Summer quickly stood up and walked past Silvia. "Let's get help, mom…please-"
"We can't. She grows stronger every single second. Let me do this. You have things to live for. Me…I…I got nothing. You understand? I…I got nothing."
"That's not true!" Summer said. "I've always wanted you to live and fight for me, mom! Live for me! Please, let's all leave." Summer begged again. Silvia slightly shaked her head. "Not today, Summer. I can sense you've been protecting and rewinding injuries on your stomach. You're pregnant, aren't you?" Silvia asked.
Summer gasped lightly under her breath. "You have to live for your child. Stone will easily hunt us down and kill us. I'm doing this for you and everyone who's helped us. I'm afraid…afraid of dying…afraid of I'll just see black or if I make it somewhere peaceful. I'd do anything for you. This is for you…and all of my sins. For the women at my clan too. Let me do this, Summer." Silvia said with a smile. Silvia walked up to Summer and kissed her on her head. "Get out of here. Live your life, okay?" Silvia walked past Silvia and charged up her energy again. Summer fell to the ground and punched it. "No, no! It's all my fault! I…I'm the reason you have to do this! While you were transforming, I wanted to fight Jade…I wanted to try and kill her. She wanted to attack the cocoon Stone was in! We could've possibly ended the fight! But I let my jealousy and greed overcome me! I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry mom. It's all…it's all my fault." Summer cried.
"It's not on you." Silvia said. Summer lifted her head and looked at her mother stare up at the black sky. "Those feelings…are all on me," Silvia said as she turned to face her daughter. "You only feel that way because of the terrible person I was. And for that, I'm sorry. We…don't have time. Get Jade and Sendra…and get out of here. I love you, Summer. With my soul and heart.
Summer put both her knees together and bowed to her mother. "Mom, thank you…for everything." Summer cried softly. "I'm so sorry…" Summer whispered.
Silvia's lips quivered. "The honor is all mine." She said with a crack in her voice. "Thank you for forgiving me….and goodbye…my beautiful daughter….and beautiful grandchild." Silvia said as she rubbed Summer's stomach. Silvia gave summer a slight nod of her head and quickly flew away.
(If only I had just looked you in those beautiful green eyes…I should've told how you how I felt…how I truly felt. I could've saved our relationship. I'm a damn coward and I won't allow you or your child to be harmed! A mom will do anything for her child! Even if it means to lay down her life! And that…is what gives a mom's life true meaning! In all species. I'll die for you any day, Summer. Live your life…and be great.)
*******
Summer carried Jade on her back and flew away from the area. Summer cried and wiped her tears. "Blast it all…if only I had more aura. DAMN IT!!" Summer cried as she sped up.
******
Silvia continued to look back and watch Summer. "Hmph." She said with a smirk. "My little Summer. I'll miss every last one of you." Silvia closed her eyes and could see herself hold a baby Summer in her arms. "Thank you." Silvia whispered.
******
Next chapter: Welcome and Goodbye 2