The Phoenix's Soldier's War

Training of the Stones

    "Alright, get in a line!" Alexis shouted as I walked on to the training grounds. "They have been annoying each of us for the last ten minutes. Where have you been?"

    "The twins were being fussy and Lilly is sick. I had to convince her to let Hadrian cuddle with her. Poor girl." I said. Alexis cringed, knowing how Lilly gets when she is sick. "What were they doing to annoy you?"

    "They refused to takes orders from any of us. We tried getting them to warm up, but they refused! They are so not worth my time. David had to leave just so he wouldn't kill Adrian and Jenna for sassing him and acting like they were better than him. He should be back soon, now that your here."

    "Alright, start running!" I commanded. Thankfully, they listened. "I just don't understand. Did Jonah listen at least?" I asked.

    "He was a little busy trying to keep David calm. You know, I think they will make a good couple. Oh, idea!" She giggled. Tarrant heard her laugh and threw me a questioning glance. I only shook my head in response. "What do you think?"

    "I think you should worry about yourself first." I stated. Her face turned red in embarrassment. "Did you really think I miss the looks you throw at him? I have set up people many times and I study those who have crushes. Alexis, make your move before another girl does. I hear his sister is trying to get him to marry someone that is nothing but hell. Don't you think he should be with the one he loves?"

    "Manipulator." She accused. I raised a brow in response. "Fine. I'll do something!" I opened my mouth, but she had already walked away. Tarrant looked up as she approached him. She grabbed the front of his shirt and went in for a kiss. My jaw dropped. 

    "Well, I did tell her to make her move. I just didn't know she would be that bold." I muttered. Tarrant stood there in a daze as Alexis skipped back to me. "Nice one."

    "Worth it. I think I may decide to have a little fun with him later." She declared. I laughed and patted her shoulder.

    "I'm going to make sure his brain isn't fried." I told her. She giggled before taking a seat while the trainees finished their jogging. I walked over to Tarrant, who juts came out of his daze and decided to glare at me.

    "You told her!" He accused.

    "No, I just told her that she should make her move. The kissing thing was all on her. You enjoyed it and you know it. I believe you two should get together later and talk about where you will be going from here. I know she has wonderful plans." I said. He blushed. "I see a wedding in the future."

    "EVIE!" I laughed and ran away. He chased me around before giving up. "You...you are an evil little thing!" He gasped out. I snickered.

    "Takes one to know one, darling." I turned serious as I saw the trainees line up once more. "Alright people, we are going to start your training with the stone. Jenna, you will go first." She glared at me. She is lacking more in her magic, because she isn't trying to connect with it. "Now, I want you to sit and relax. I want you to connect with your magic. Your magic will then connect with your stone." I said.

    After ten minutes she let out a yelp and dropped the stone. I growled. "You aren't trying! You are trying to control the magic, not connect with it. Magic isn't something that is to be controlled! Magic is something you must feel. You need to become one with it. Find your core and embrace it. Let it welcome you and you welcome the magic. Let it come to you. Close your eyes and focus. Merge as one, not separately. You need to work together."

    Nearly thirty minutes later, the ruby glowed. I sighed in relief. Jenna's aura glowed with power. Jenna opened her eyes and smiled. "I did it!" She exclaimed joyfully.

    "You did. Do not do anything with the stone yet. Erick, you are next." I said. We slowly got through the connection with the stones and magic. Jonah was the easiest, as he made sure to spend every night connecting with his magic.

    "I can't tell you how to practice with the stone. It will choose to become a bracelet, ring, or necklace. Mine have become a necklace. The more you connect with your magic, the better you will be able to use it. Remember, you and the magic must become one."

    "Okay, you know more about the stones than us. What do they control?" Adrian asked. 

    "Good question. Neil and Erick, you control the air. You will be able to make storms, create fog, and other things. Jonah, you control earthquakes. Adrian, you control water. Joseph, you control earth and Jenna, you control fire. That thought alone scares me." I said the last part to myself, but Alexis heard it. She grinned. "Alright, we are going to go someplace else to practice with the stones. It will be too dangerous here."

    I opened a portal and had them walk through. "Do you three want to come or stay?" I asked.    

    "Are you kidding? We are so coming to see this!" David exclaimed. I beckoned for them to walk through. I soon joined them. Around us are some trees, a river, and open space.     

    "Perfect." I said. "Jonah, we will begin with you!" I declared. Fear crossed his face. "It won't be that bad." He didn't look convinced. "Honestly, the only person who should be worried here is me. I am the one training you guys and some of you don't even know how to take simple orders." That got him to c***k a smile.

    "What do you want me to do?" He asked.

    "Walk into that opened area. Do what you think feels right and if we need to go in a different direction, we will. Feel your magic and just focus, but not too much." I encouraged him some more before he walked to the opened area.

    For a while he didn't move. I noticed his stance relaxed slightly before he punched the ground. The earth rumbled, knocking us all to the ground. Jonah looked at me in surprise. I began to laugh, while everyone just looked at me. "Jonah, I think you put a little too much into it, but that is okay. You did well for your first try and I bet you can go stronger when you get a better handle on it." Jonah smiled at my encouragement. "You did c***k the ground a little, so that is something."

    "Yeah. This is crazy, but cool." He said. 

    "Adrian, let's see what you can do." I said. He walked over to the river, everyone gathered around him, not thinking about how this is going to be his first time. Meanwhile, I stayed off to the side to watch. Adrian looked at me. "Just do what I told Jonah." He scowled. I raised a brow, waiting for him to begin.

    One moment everything is calm and perfect and the next everyone is soaking wet. "I'm glad I decided to stay back away from everyone. "Adrian, never let your emotions get the best of you. Other than that, you will be rather strong when it comes to water. Now focus on what you need to do. Try to make some of the water into a ball." I ordered. He blushed and focused on the order. He wasn't able to make a full ball of water, but was close. "Good, good." I muttered. "Erick, Neil, since you two will be able to control air, you will do it at the same time. Please don't let me regret that decision."

    To say the least, I regretted it. Twin tornados were created, but they weren't strong enough to last. Erick and Neil looked at me, looking rather proud. "So many regrets." I stated, causing them to frown. "We will need to work on your control so a tornado doesn't appear every time. Very dangerous."

    "I want to go next!" Jenna declared impatiently. I rolled my eyes and lit a fire. Her eyes widen in shock. She then looked at me questioningly. "How?"

    "I am a phoenix and a dragon." I stated. "Attempt to try. Do not show off like the last two." Jenna huffed before walking over to the fire. I didn't miss the smirk Jenna held as she waved her hand. Fire rose slowly and gently. Very well controlled, but I knew it wasn't going to go the way she planned. After all, it didn't for me. The fire suddenly jerked and raced to me. I grunted on impact. There was pain only for a moment, before I used my magic from my dragon to stop the burning.

    "Evie, are you okay?" Tarrant asked.

    "Peachy." I muttered. I looked at my side, which now has a burnt patch and showing a little skin. I'm not injured though. "See, I'm okay." I looked at Jenna and glared her. Fury rose from the pit of my stomach. "I told you not to show off. You were so busy trying to show that you can do better, you lost control! You are lucky the fire hit me and no one else. Someone could have been severely injured. I don't know why you think you must be better than everyone else, but quit it! You are meant to be an equal, and until then, you will not. You want to act like a child, then you will be treated like a child. You will be at the training grounds and hour earlier! Do I make myself clear, trainee?"

    "Yes, Commander." She whimpered. 

    "Joseph, you are next." Joseph nodded before kneeling on the grassy ground. He took a deep breath and his hand began to glow. A small rose burst from the ground. Joseph smiled at me. "Simple, but good. You did what you knew you could do." I faced everyone else. "We will work more on this tomorrow. For now, we will take a break."