Chapter 10
Oaks Training
Just as the zoroark lunged forward Oak and Fiona jumped out of the way and landed face first onto the wooden floor. The zoroark looked at the duo and then looked at Brook with a look of concern.
"Brook…why are these kids exhausted?" The zrorark asked.
"Well they have had a pretty rough day…"
"How rough Brook." The zoroark said as she leaned towards him.
"Let's just say they might have fought a juvenile ursaring…"
"BROOK!"
"And they didn't really get any time to relax before they were kicked out…"
"Unbelievable..." The zoroark said as she slapped her hand onto snout. "You let these kids fight an ursaring…and you didn't even give them time to relax. You would make a terrible father Brook."
"Lizzy, ghost types can't have children…"
"Doesn't matter you stupid floating flashlight!"
"Hey hey hey no need for insults. Look I told them to run away from it…but they disobeyed me…"
Lizzy just placed her hand on her snout again and shook her head in disproval.
"Well I might as well let you three in so you can at least get a good night's rest." Lizzy said as she lifted Oak and Fiona off the floor and onto her shoulders.
Lizzy walked back towards the back door and kicked it open. Brook followed close behind as he followed her into the courtyard that sat in the middle of the training facility. They continued walking until they reached a bigger wooden building that was lined with paper screen doors. Brook grabbed onto the side of the screen and pulled it open for Lizzy.
"So…what do you think Lizzy? Do you think that they will train them?" Brook asked as he elevated himself to Lizzie's eye level.
"Well lucky for this little guy his teacher just lost two students." Lizzy said. "They argued that his training was unfair and dangerous."
"Of course they did. I just hope Oak doesn't want to quit after a day of his training."
"Ha, don't worry about him Brook I think this little green guy is going to just fine."
"Let's hope…"
Oak slowly opened his eyes and found himself on a small pile of hay in a small room. A small iron lantern hung from the ceiling and it swung gently as a calm breeze floated in through the window that sat on the far wall. Through it Oak could clearly see a small gleam of the early sun as it slowly began to rise from the hills.
"Well it's good to see you awake, sapling." A gruff voice huffed.
Oak turned to the source of the voice and found a chestnaught sitting in the doorway to his room. His arms were covered in scars and small eye patch covered his right eye. In his mouth he held a small wooden pipe that moved each time he twitched his lip.
"Well, now that you're awake I guess it's time we got started."
"Get started on what?" Oak said as he rubbed the sleep form his eyes.
"Your training sapling…the lamp said that you needed training, and that's what I am going to do!" He said as he slowly got to his feet. "Now get out of bed and follow me."
Oak nodded, jumped off his pile of hay, and followed the chestnaught. They walked down a long hallway which was lined with a row of paper screen doors on both sides. They walked until they came to a large screen door with a large leaf pattern printed in its center. The chestnaught threw open the door revealing a fairly large yard surrounded by tall, wooden walls.
"Alright sapling before we begin I would like to lay down some ground rules." The chestnaught said before he puffed out a small cloud of smoke. "Rule one you are to show me and the other instructors respect."
"Yes sir!"
"Rule two you are to follow ever thing I say. If you don't then I will make the next training day much harder. Finally, you are to be positive in everything you do." He said as he lowered himself to Oaks level and gazed into his eyes. "Do I make myself clear, Sapling?"
"Yes sir…I understand sir."
"Alright then...from now on you will call me master Gingko, and you will be called sapling until your training is complete."
"But sir my name is…"
"Is that a problem Sapling?" Master Gingko asked in a stern tone.
"No…no sir…"
"Good, now we can begin your first bit of training." The master said as he walked over to a small shed that sat in the far corner of the yard.
He threw open the door and reached into the shed. He pulled out a small wooden bucket and placed it in front of Oak. Oak looked at the bucket in confusion and then looked at master Gingko with the same look. The chestnaught smiled at the snivys confusion and let out a small laugh.
"I can't start the day without my morning cup of tea. So your task is to carry this bucket over to well in the center of the facility and get some water from it."
"Sounds easy enough." Oak said with confidence.
"Then pick it up and get going."
Oak wrapped his fingers around the buckets handle and tried to lift the bucket. The bucket didn't budge and Oak tried again this time with both of his hands, but the bucket still didn't budge.
"It's too heavy." Oak moaned.
"Aye…so try something else. Maybe use your vines they can lift objects twice your size."
Oak nodded and willed his vines to extend form his collar. His vines shot of his collar and began whipping around violently. Gingko just nodded his head and quickly reached out and grabbed onto Oaks vines. He gently squeezed them causing Oak to let out a small cry of pain.
"So the lamp was right…" Master Gingko said exhaling a small plume of smoke. "You really don't have control…Sapling who trained you?"
"Uh, no one trained me sir…"
"Didn't your parents teach you any control?"
Oak slowly shook his head and the chestnaught sighed.
"Then we have a lot of work to do if I am going to make you gain control…" He said calmly. "The first thing you need to do is relax…your stressed and that makes you lose control."
"I…I don't why I'm stressed…I mean…"
"Just be quiet…look, all you need to do is focus…focus on the task I asked you to do." The master said as he pointed to the bucket. "Don't focus on trying to impress me focus on the task at hand."
Oak toke in a deep breath and slowly nodded his head. Master Gingko released Oaks vines and allowed them to wave around wildly. Oak slowly closed his eyes and began to focus. He thought about the bucket and the task that his master had told him to perform. He thought about lifting the bucket over his head and proudly showing off his control.
"Focus…" Gingko's voice echoed in Oaks mind.
Oak felt his vines slowly begin to stop moving and the he felt them slowly move forward. He opened his eyes and was amazed to see his vines outstretched in front of him. He took a deep breath and willed them to grab onto the bucket. His vines shuttered for a second before they crawled forward and wrapped themselves around the handle.
He then imagined himself lifting the bucket into the air. His vines obeyed and they slowly began to arch up towards the morning sky. The bucket slowly began to rise off the ground until it was a foot off the ground. He smiled at the sight and commanded them to raise it even higher. His vines slowly began to rise but they suddenly stopped and began shaking violently.
"Now that you've got that under control I think you can now perform my task…Oh, and you now only have forty minutes to do it…" Gingko said before a large smile spread across his lips.
"But…"
"NO BUTS GET MOVING!"
Oak quickly ran back into long hall and ran down it until he can to another door. He quickly pulled it open and dashed out into the common area of the facility. He found the well and lowered the bucket into the water. The bucket was now a lot heavier and Oak struggled to pull it out of the water. Slowly but surely he lifted it out and quickly ran back to the hall.
He dashed through the open door and ran down the hall. Master Gingko had come in from the courtyard and was entering his room which was just a door away from Oaks room. Oak quickly dashed into the room and placed the bucket of water in front of his teacher, who was starting to light a small fire pit in the center of his room.
Gingko looked down at the bucket and then looked up at the exhausted snivy. He then looked behind the snivy and let out an annoyed grunt.
"You made a mess Sapling!" The chestnaught sighed.
Oak followed his gaze and found a trail of water leading back into the hallway.
"I'm sorry sir…it won't happen again sir…I"
"Why are you apologizing? You just gave yourself more stuff to do." Gingko laughed as he got to his feet and walked over to a small closet on the far back wall.
He swung open the door and pulled out a large mop. He smiled as he handed Oak the mop and pointed out towards the hall.
"Your task is to now mop up your mess, and while you're in the cleaning mood you might as well grab the broom when you're done. You can sweep my room, your room, and the hall space between them. "
Oak just sighed and tried to lift the mop, but it was heavy just like the bucket. He let out an annoyed grunt, extended his vines, and wrapped them around the mops handle. He slowly walked out into the hall and began mopping up the puddles of water.
"This is going to be a long day…" Oak muttered as he carefully mopped up the puddle.
After Oak had finished mopping the hall master Gingko ordered him to sweep their rooms. Then once that was done he followed Gingko back out into his yard. The sun was almost in the center of the sky and Oak's stomach let out a small growl.
"Now your next task is very easy." Gingko said.
"Let me guess more cleaning?" Oak muttered.
"No…this is something a bit more challenging then sweeping." Gingko said before a sly smile spread across his lip.
The ground suddenly began to shake and Oak toppled onto the ground. A large boulder suddenly flew over the walls and landed just inches away from Oaks face. More and more boulders of different sizes flew over the wall.
"Right on schedule." Gingko said as he watched Oak dodge the boulders.
Once the ground had stopped shaking Oak slowly collected himself and glared at the smiling chestnaught. Gingko ignored the snivys gaze and removed his pipe form his mouth.
"Well I have to say Slade you and your students really made a mess of my garden…" The chestnut joked. "I wonder if I can find someone to clean up my garden."
"I know I know…." Oak grumbled as he summoned his vines and began to lifting small boulders back over the wall.
Gingko smiled and walked back into the building.
"You have until two to get rid of all of the rocks." Gingko said. "I need to water my bonsai collection and the boulders are blocking them. So chop chop!"
Oak grudgingly lifted the boulders and rocks back over the fence and back into master Slade's training ground. At one point master Gingko came out and watched the snivy work. Oak tried to ignore him but every now and then the chestnut would blurt out random insults.
"You know I've seen budews lift boulders twice that size and their considered babies compared to you."
Oak ignored him and hoisted a large boulder back over the wall.
"You know, I once knew a skitty who could break boulders with her tail. Can you do that sapling?"
Oak gritted his teeth and hoisted another boulder over the wall.
"You know snivys are sometimes viewed as smart asses…they think they know everything. Maybe I should call you smartass and see if that triggers your snivy ego? What do you think sapling do you think smartass is a better name?"
This teasing went on and on until Oak lifted the final boulder up over the wall. He collapsed onto the grass and slowly whipped the sweat off of his forehead. Even though his vines did most of the work Oak was still exhausted. His entire collar and back area were starting to get soar.
"My my, I have to say you make an excellent gardener." Gingko joked. "Now are you ready for your next hour of training?"
"No…if it involves cleaning or lifting then no!" Oak groaned as he slowly got to his feet.
The chestnaught just shook his head and slowly lowered himself onto the grass. He crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and toke in a deep breath.
"The next part of your training is meditation. You must strengthen both your body and your mind if you are to become stronger sapling."
Oak slowly lowered himself onto the grass and positioned himself like master Gingko. He closed his eyes and remained perfectly still. Time seemed to slow down and the outside world seemed to fade. Hs worries melted away and his mind began to become clear.
Oak was at piece and nothing could break him from that.
"Sapling…SAPLING!" Master Gingko yelled pulling Oak out from his trance.
Oak opened his eyes and looked up at his master. The late afternoon light shined on his face and the brilliant colors mixed with the smoke that rose from his pipe.
"What time is it?" Oak asked.
"It's around five." Gingko said. "You meditated right through lunch and I didn't want to disturb you."
"So…is that it…are we done for today?" Oak asked hoping the chestnaught would say yes.
Master Gingko smiled and blew out a small cloud of smoke from his nose. He looked up at the late afternoon sky and sighed.
"Yes, but before we call it a day I want to ask you to one more thing."
"What's that?"
The chestnut slowly lowered himself down onto the ground and smiled. He gently lowered his hand into the ground and pulled up a small clump of soil. He gently placed his other hand over the soil.
"Tell me, do you want to get stronger?" Gingko said as he shifted his hands.
"Well…yes…" Oak said a little puzzled.
"And why?"
Oak sat there for a few moments and tried to think of a reason. If he was stronger he could protect his friends. He could take on any challenge and accomplish it without error. He could even one day become legendary or even famous. But for some reason they didn't really sit well.
He did want to protect his friends; but at what level? Would be fighting a physical enemy that could bring them to near death, or could they be fighting something that was mental? Would be willing to throw his life away like he did before or would he hang back and let things unfold?
Oak looked up at his teacher and found the chestnaught silently humming to himself. His eyes were closed and he was slowly moving his hands in way that seemed like he was molding the soil clump into a ball.
"I fight to protect my friends." Oak confidently said.
"So you want to protect your friends, from what?"
"I don't know, but whatever it is I will fight to make sure they are safe."
The chestnaught looked at Oak and slowly nodded his head. He then returned his attention to his hands.
"A mighty pine will fight the wind to remain standing…a strong willow with grasp onto the river bank to remain tall… a mighty Oak will stand tall to proclaim its strength…however even they can falter to their own desires…"
"What do you mean by that?"
"With growing power comes the urge to show it…to seek even more power…and eventually the loss of their true purpose of why they wish to gain power." A silent wind blew across the yard and the chestnaught sighed. "You must never forget that reason Oak…without it you will tread down a path that will show you nothing…nothing but selfish desirers…"
Oak remained silent and waited for his master to continue speaking.
"If you have a purpose to fight and improve then you will prosper… like a small sapling grows into a strong tree you too will develop power only you can imagine." Master Gingko opened his hands and revealed a small green sapling.
"Like the proud Oak you will be strong, like the clever willow you will always have a grasp on your objective, and like the determined pine you will find a way to accomplish any challenge…but it all begins as a small sapling that dreams of that power."
Oak was silent as he gazed at the sapling in amazement. A sudden wind blew against the sapling, but it remained standing. He continued to gaze at it until Gingko gently placed back into the hole.
Oak slowly lowered himself onto the ground and continued to gaze at the sapling.
"It all begins as a small sapling…." Gingko's words echoed.
"One day…I will be strong…strong enough to protect everyone…" Oak muttered to himself. "and strong enough to travel the world and find out who I really am…"
That night the two of them had a large dinner made up of rice, berried, and a whole collection of strange roots. Oak shoveled the rice into his mouth and then immediately went in for seconds. Gingko just laughed as the snivy scoped another helping of rice and continued shoveling it into his mouth.
"Don't eat too much, or you won't sleep tonight and if that happens then you won't be ready for training tomorrow." Gingko softly said as he ate.
"So what am I going to do tomorrow?" Oak said with excitement. "Do I actually get to learn some new techniques…or do I get to learn some new battle strategies or…"
"You will wake up the same time as you did this morning and you will start the day with going to the well to get water for my morning tea…"
"Again…"
"Then you will use the broom that's in the corner of the room and sweep this room and your room…heck why don't you sweep this entire wing it isn't that big…"
"But…"
"Next you will go out into the courtyard and water my bonsais…we didn't get to that because of the water incident…"
"Master…"
"Then you will get rid of all the boulders…then…."
"With all due respect master Gingko, but how is this training me…I mean from what I've experienced toady your only using me as a maid…"
A giant smile spread across the chestnaught face and he let out a loud laugh. His pipe fell out of his mouth but he quickly caught it and placed it back into his mouth.
"That's what they all say…trust me if I was using you as a maid I would've had you clean areas of this facility you didn't exist Sapling."
"But how is this training…."
"Well Sapling, there is a reason why I am making you act like my "Maid." Gingko said as he leaned back in his chair. "Your teacher…uh what's his name…he told some really great puns…"
"Brook?"
"Brook, yes he told me that you needed help controlling your powers. So before we can get any training done we need to fix that problem first."
"BUT WHAT DOES CLEANING…"
Without any warning the chestnaught quickly grabbed his empty bowl, and threw it towards the snivy. Before Oak could even react his vines shot out from his collar and slapped the bowl out of the air. Oak sat there speechless as his vines quickly retracted back into his collar.
"How did…I didn't even…how…"
"Could have been a bit faster…but we can work on it." Gingko grunted as he puffed out a large cloud of smoke. "So still think my cleaning assignments were just for my amusement? HA, I was training you! I was teaching you how to control your power."
"But how…I didn't even call them…they just came…"
"That's because you quickly registered that you were in danger and in response your powers were summoned to protect you. Just by making you do that I can see that we can shorten the first part of my training."
"Really…so how long until we start?"
"Four days." Gingko said. "If you can show more improvement in four days we will move on and I will start to teach you some techniques."
Oak slowly nodded his head and the chestnaught only smiled. They continued to eat until the food was completely gone. Oak hopped off of his chair and began making his way towards his room.
"And where do you think you're going sapling?"
"Sleep?" Oak said as a sheepish smile slowly etched itself onto his face.
"Sleep? Not yet, you need to wash these dishes…"
"But…"
"Did I just hear a but sapling?"
"No…no sir…" Oak moaned as he walked back to the table and carried he pot out of the room and began his trek towards the well.
Once he had finished cleaning the dishes he gave them back to master Gingko who then instructed him to put them away. Then, once that was done he was allowed to go to bed. He flopped onto his pile of hay and he let out a loud sigh of relief.
He was done for the day and now he could go to sleep. Except tomorrow he would wake up and do the same thing again and again…and again for the next four days. He wondered if he would even survive that long…but if he did then he would be given the chance to learn some techniques.
He tried to turn onto his back but his entire body was sore from the long day of constant labor. He moaned in pain as he slowly turned himself onto his back and started at the celling.
"I wonder if Fiona is having any better luck with her training…" Oak muttered as he continued to look at the celling.
His exhaustion slowly began to drag him into sleep. He continued to think about all the cool things he and Fiona could do after they finished their training. Oak could summon other plant like attacks and Fiona could spew larger plums of fire. Then they could work hard and even get their sea license. Then they could set off into the world with Makit.
"I wonder how Makit is doing…" Oak thought as he slowly lost conscious and fell into a deep sleep. "Well whatever he is up too I hope he's ready to travel the world with us soon…"
Oak smiled at the thought and then he slowly feel to sleep. That night he dreamt about sailing around the world with his friends. Sailing to uncharted seas, fighting pirates, finding treasure, and even learning about Oaks past.
"Makit…get ready to lower the sails! We are setting off on an adventure!" Oaks dream self said as the water stone slowly sailed into the sunset.
Author Corner:
Hey guys its Shifu here with a small update. First, sorry for the long wait my schedule got really packed at it made it hard for me to have any time to write. Second, my schedule is now open so that means I can start getting back into typing chapters. That's all I have to say for now. Thank you guys for the support and I hope you are eager to see what happens next. Don't forget to leave a comment and if you have any questions don't be afraid to send me a message. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I will see you all next time!