Once Yue had left them, the three were finishing their tea, a look of guilt on the face of the woman. They had been on this topic for a while, and yet seemed to fail finding an answer. Putting his tea down the eldest put a hand to the woman's shoulder, Tai Li giving him a small smile.
"I honestly believe this is a good decision if anything Tai," Dashi had a reassuring tone, "in time with this test we can really see who is to be the one."
"I know, but to lie to all four of them, Dashi, it doesn't seem right."
"We aren't lying to all four of them," Guan intervened, "Just 3 of them."
"But... Dashi you've been lucky to have Zhou, and you've told me many a tale of your training. Can we trust them to keep this a secret? It's jealousy like this that caused us to lose Chase!"
The pain of bringing up their lost partner was evident in the sudden silence, Tai Li remembering the night that pushed it.
"The great thing is, they aren't us. They may have our elements but they're not us. They won't make the same mistakes," Dashi turned his head to eye their pupils, "Remember, we're announcing everything during training," with a nod the three ended their morning discussions.
Exiting the building to work on her training, the young monk's conversation stuck in her head. She was going to be the leader of the Xiaolin Monks, the one to lead her friends to defeating Chase Young! The girl chuckled at the idea, distracted from the outside world.
A distraction long enough to give the child a splash to the face. Soaking wet Yue looked to where the water came from. Of course, it just had to be him. In beautiful blue robes was a boy around Yue's age, a large smile on his well sculpted face. The yellow skinned girl gave him a glare, only causing the boy to laugh a bit more.
"You know, for a son of the emperor's guard, that wasn't very nice Jian," Yue squeezed her braid, trying to get all the water out, Jian wraps an arm around his friend, poking one of Yue's puffed out cheeks.
"I thought it was great, besides you looked like you needed a wakeup call," coyly Jian let go of her, using his element to soak back up the water "sleep well princess? Zhuo said he heard you wake up in a panic."
"Yeah. You know, just had a bad dream. It was really weird," she swatted the idea away, not wanting to talk about it to her team mate, "anyways, we should get to training. Si Fu Guan'll have me buried alive if I don't master that new move," Yue pointed her thumb in the direction of the room she had just exited, the three remaining of the original monks in plain sight. They could not be heard, but it looked as if they were having a strong debate. Jian laughed.
"Shame you're not the element of Water, Si Fu Li Gong is great. You can't even tell it's not even his element, plus he actually let's you ask questions," stretching out Jian let out a yawn, "still wonder what it would be like to have you know who as a teacher. Can you imagine? I'd probably be the best out of the four of us," Yue patted her friend on the back with a laugh before running off.
"You keep telling yourself that. I'm going to practise the rock suit thing," waving away Yue was gone.
Entrapped in rocks wasn't always the safest thing. A person could be protected, but the weight made it much harder to move in. Thus why she was trying to avoid attacks from Si Fu Guan. Her usual stamina that came with a life of growing up at the temple was truly being tested as she had to use extra energies to deflect her teacher. However soon it was done and Yue had Guan pinned to a wall.
"You've worked hard at your technique Yue, all that practising has come to good use," releasing him and allowing the rocks that once encompassed her body to fall to the ground Yue gave him a bow. "Your determination is a fine quality in a leader, and some day soon I know your determination will aid you in the defeat of Chase Young."
"I am glad to make you proud sir, and to make my ancestors proud as well. As the leader I swear to do my best always, failure shant be an option, especially with Chase Young out there," Looking out passed the Temple walls Yue could see the mountains and trees. It was hers to protect. Always.
What she didn't know was that on the other sides of the temple, teachers were having the same conversations with their students.
"Wait you really mean it Si Fu Dashi," The dragon of wind in training looked wide eyed at his teacher who only nodded.
"Did you think we'd choose anyone else? The choice was unanimous. Just... Don't tell the others yet," the young one nodded, causing Dashi to grin.
"I just thought you'd choose someone like Jian or Yue, even Hua. Not me," Zhou shrugged. Dashi laughed before patting him on the back.
"You really belittle yourself kid, you know that. No, Yue is talented- she's trained for this all her life- but,"it was Dashi's turn to shrug, " she's really insecure. Hua doesn't have leadership skills and Jian would be convinced his dad sent money to buy the position. You however, have a way to convince the good in them, and can push them along the journey. You deserve it Zhou, congratulations."
From a far a shadow smirked. He had heard it all, and it was giving him some leverage. Soon the future dragon of earth would be his.
