Author's Notes: This little bit of fiction works on two assumptions that I think we can all agree makes sense.
1. Dojo, being a dragon, is immortal. I have my own copy of Dr. Ernest Drake's Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons and it's my main reference here. First off, I think its obvious Dojo is an Asian Lung (a type of dragon without wings that has four limbs, two in front and two in back), specifically a Chinese Lung, because that's where he's from (but, based on the pictures in the book, he's also similar to a Lindworm, a dragon with no wings and only two front limbs). One chapter of the book discusses a dragon's lifecycle and when it comes to the part about age, the Chinese Lung's maximum age is said to be unknown. Considering we know Dojo's been around for more than 1500 years and the maximum age the book lists is 400 years, we can safely assume Dojo isn't going anywhere soon.
2. There were other Dragons living and training at the temple before the ones we already know about. Think about it; 1500 years from Dashi's time to the present. A long time indeed. Now while I don't think Shen Gon Wu factored into it, since I doubt they were hidden and revealed multiple times throughout the years, there would still be techniques to pass down and evil to fight. Concerning the techniques portion of it, I think of it as any other culture; use it or lose it. If it doesn't get passed down and taught to other people, it doesn't stick around. And since we know the Xiaolin temple is still going, well, you get the idea.
Sorry if that seemed incredibly long and boring, but I felt it was important.
Disclaimer: I do not own Xiaolin Showdown.
Curse
I'm a fifteen hundred year old dragon. If you think that's great for me, I beg to differ.
I'm not saying getting to live that long doesn't have its perks. I mean, I'm a walking history book; I've seen it all. I've seen the rise and fall of empires and the creation of wondrous inventions and machines. I've seen many great men and women lead revolutions for freedom, for rights, for ideas, for good and for evil alike. I've witnessed the transformations of wilderness to civilization and back again. I've met so many people. I've had the time to read books. A lot of books. Heck, I could probably start my own academy or something. I've done so many things. It's incredible.
But at the same time, it's terrible.
I sit here, watching the years go by. Everyone gets older, but I manage to remain, while others pass on. Do you realize how many friends I've made?
Do you realize how many friends I've lost?
Since I'm the temple's guardian, most of my time is spent in this place. I don't get the chance to see others of my own kind very often. So living at the temple means I mostly associate with humans.
Molly, Anatola, Victoria, Emma, Hannah, Zelda, Clarice, Belle. Armando, Gregory, Simon, Luca, Justin, Basil, Elliot, Irwin. All of them were Dragons; Dragons of the past. There were many more. I didn't forget them, I just didn't name them.
I never forgot them.
They started out just like the kids I know today. They were chosen by the current master monk of the temple. Their particular element was decided upon. And then they trained, learning ancient techniques so that they can combat evil. Yeesh, I'm starting to sound like Omi. But I digress.
They were all such good kids. Sure, some were cocky and overconfident. Others were timid and cautious about their new role in life. But they were a good and varied bunch. Name a trait; any trait. I've known a person who was just like that. Smart, bold, lazy, cowardly, etc., etc. I miss them all so much.
Here I am, sitting on my little pillow, right by the ancient scrolls. I can't stop thinking about them. I don't want to get up. I don't want to face the others today. Not right now. If a Shen Gon Wu reveals itself, I think I'll just ignore it. I don't want to face the others.
Because I know they'll end up like the rest. Dead and gone. But I'll still be here.
Luca; he hailed from Italy. Lived on a fishing boat from the age of six to the time he came here. He loved the ocean. A bit of a loudmouth, boisterous, but he was always respectful to his elders. He was a Dragon of the Water, of course.
Armando was from Spain. He was a really hot-headed guy who never gave up, no matter what the odds were. That and he loved to dance, especially with Victoria, the Dragon of the Water at the time. He was the Dragon of Fire.
Molly, she was a nice girl, from England. Quiet, but not because she was shy; she knew when to keep her mouth shut and when to dispense with the wisdom. She was a hardworking Dragon of the Wind.
Belle, she was a very sweet girl from France. She loved animals, especially me. And she really liked it when I sat on her shoulder. We were like family; the fact that we were different species didn't matter. One of many girls who rose to become Shoku, leader of the Dragons. She was a Dragon of the Earth.
Why is it that Dragons of the Earth always make for such nice perches? It seems that every time I want to sit on someone's shoulder, they make for the best spot.
Oh. Stop the memories. It hurts too much to remember.
I'm sitting here on my pillow. I don't want to get up.
They'll all leave me at some point.
Footsteps. No, leave me alone. I don't want to get up. I don't want to see their smiling faces. I don't want to see them happy and cheerful, on one of the few days they get to just goof around. Because I know it won't last. It never lasts.
Why can't it last?
"Hey Dojo. Where ya been? We didn't see you at breakfast. Or at lunch. I figured maybe you left the temple to go somewhere..."
Clay. It's Clay. Nice kid from Texas. Always keeps his cool.
Go away. I miss you already.
Have I been crying? Does my face look pained? Because as he steps closer, he looks more worried.
"Hey, little buddy, are you okay? You look sadder than a dog that just lost its bone."
Go. Play. Enjoy your short existence while you can.
Humans are some of the worst creatures I've ever known. They're the ones who are prone to evil acts. You never hear about an evil animal. Maybe a sick, diseased, rabid animal that's not in its right mind anymore. But not an evil animal. Consider all the dictators you've learned about in school; I know the only tyrants I've heard of were cruel, scheming, apathetic…humans. But humans are also some of the best creatures I've ever known. The most kind, caring, resourceful "We'll do whatever it takes to fix this situation" type of creatures. Like the Dragons I knew.
He picks me up, pillow and all. He walks outside. I see the others.
No. I don't want to get up. Just enjoy what little life you have.
"Hey, what's up with Dojo?" Raimundo says this; he's the current leader, a street smart kid from Brazil. They all come closer to look at me, like I'm some sort of museum exhibit. Go. Never mind about me.
"I dunno. I just found him like this."
"Is it a Shen Gon Wu Dojo?"
"No, it can't be. Dojo is usually very active and lively when a Shen Gon Wu reveals itself. He also tends to complain about skin conditions. I will go get Master Fung." Omi runs off.
Omi. He has an ego the size of the moon, but he always tries his best. He's actually not the first Dragon to be orphaned and raised at the temple. Looks a lot like Dashi, but much, much shorter.
Shen Gon Wu. I hate those things. Not because every time they reveal themselves, I get a cold or a rash or just plain itchy (well, that is annoying). But because every time we have to go get one, it most likely means another showdown, another fight. I don't want them to get hurt. God forbid they get killed. Humans don't live long enough to begin with. And they're just kids.
I don't think it's fair that every Dragon so far has been a child when they started. They should be having fun, fantasying about what they'll be when they grow up.
The longer I know them, the harder it is to say goodbye.
I dread the upcoming Final Battle, the battle where they'll face off with the major forces of evil for one last time. They'll get hurt; I know they will. It'll be long and hard on them.
God forbid they get killed. Humans don't live long enough to begin with.
I miss them already.
Master Fung is here now. He looks at me, picks my head up.
"Dojo? What is the matter?"
Isn't it obvious?
"Curious. But I know what we can do."
No you don't, unless you've found the Fountain of Youth.
"I know of a healer who specializes in treating magical animals such as Dojo. I'll send him a message and he should be here in a matter of days."
Medicine is not what I need. I need you to stay, to never get old and sick and dead.
"But what if he gets worse?" Kimiko says this; a quick-tempered little girl from Japan. They're all so concerned about me.
"We should be able to take care of him till then. I must go and send my message. Perhaps he will speak to you and tell you what's wrong." He goes away and they sit down on the grass.
"Well, I'm all out of ideas."
"How? You didn't even say or try anything yet."
"Maybe it was something he ate."
"But he didn't eat a thing today."
My pillow's on the ground now. They're all looking at me. I don't want to move.
I want this moment to last forever. It'd be nicer if they weren't all worried about me. But I just want them to stay this way. Young and alive. Not dead and gone.
Don't leave me. I miss you already. I can't keep losing friends. I can't keep outliving them.
I'm a fifteen hundred year old dragon. If you think that's great for me, I beg to differ. I'm immortal.
The cruelest curse of all.
The End.
Author's Notes: Word gave me problems with the names; I typed in Armando and it immediately went into the Spanish language, so I had to go back and tell it to spell check using the English language for each name (lucky for me, I found a "name your baby" book to use, so coming up with names wasn't hard). Other than that, I liked writing this fic.