CHAPTER 7
Training
As Numbuh 4 entered the training room, he saw a girl with long blond hair in a turquoise ninja suit. He realized she must be the trainer. She looked a lot like Numbuh 362, but couldn't be, for her hair was much longer. By the look of things, she was trainer of the temple. She walked over to him.
"Hello there," the trainer greeted. "You must be the new student, Wallabee Beatles. My name is Dawn, and I'll be your instructor for the rest of your time here."
"Nice to meet you, Dawn," Numbuh 4 replied. He got in line with the other students.
"Now, because we have a new student here today, we all need to introduce ourselves to him," Dawn told her trainees. "Say your name, why you're here, and about the journey you took to get here. Also, say a little bit about yourself. Hi, I'm Dawn, and I'm the great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of the original Dawn, who created this temple. Throughout my history, every woman in my family had had girls and named them Dawn. I was born at this temple, and was meant to be the new instructor of my generation."
"Can I play, too?" Numbuh 3 asked.
"Why not?" Dawn answered.
One kid raised his hand. "My name is Mitch," he said. "I'm here because my mom sent me here. My trip here was okay. The donkeys smelled and stuff. I like kung-fu and superheroes."
The kids went around the circle. When it was Numbuh 3's turn, she took awhile.
"Hi, my name is Kuki," she started out. "I'm here because I'm traveling with my friend. My trip here was weird, yet fun! We were climbing a mountain, and there was an avalanche! But then my friend melted the snow. Then there was a waffle slide! But my friend moved them. Then a volcano exploded! My friend saved us by cooling the magma, and then moving it. But we were stuck in a hole! So then he flew us out of the hole, and we were flying, and I was singing, and then we landed here! And I like Rainbow Monkeys!"
Everyone clapped. Then it was Numbuh 4's turn.
"Hi," he said. "My name is Wally. I'm here because I'm the Demon-Slayer, and I have to master the four elements before the demon that's going to come here to find Carey gets here. And my friend, Kuki, already told you guys about my trip. And, I'm known as the tough guy, but I've got a soft spot for my friends."
This time, they clapped, and they whispered. A girl named Amanda raised her hand.
"Wally?" she asked. "I have a question."
"Okay," he calmly answered. "Lay it on me!"
"Do you like Numbuh 3?"
"Of course I do! We are friends."
"No, I mean, do you like like her?"
"Uh,"
Numbuh 4 didn't know what to say. If he said he did, he could completely embarrass himself in front of everyone. But, if he said no, he might hurt Numbuh 3's feelings.
"Why do you ask?" he asked her.
"That's a personal question."
"So is the one you asked me."
"Never mind."
"Time to start training," Dawn said, interrupting the soon-to-be fight between Wallabee and Amanda. "But first, we must stretch. Sit down on the floor. First, we'll do something called "the butterfly". You sit on your butt with the bottom of your feet touching each other. Then hold your ankles, and push your legs down as far as you can without hurting yourself. Keep going until we move on."
They did other stretches like "touch your toes", "straddle", and others. They stretched every limb, from their heads to their toes. Finally, they were done warming up.
"Now we will practice whatever abilities we have." Dawn announced. "But, since we all have different abilities, we have different instructors. If your abilities are kung fu, martial arts, karate, or judo then follow your instructor, Janet, to the martial arts room."
Half the class stood up and left.
"If you specialize in superpowers that have nothing to do with the elements, fire, water, earth, air, then follow Peggy into the superpower room."
¾ of the leftover class left with Peggy.
"And, everyone else, whose special gift has nothing to do with the elements, will go with Sally."
Everyone except Numbuh 4, Numbuh 3, Carey, and Dawn departed from the room.
"Um, Dawn?" Numbuh 4 questioned.
"Yes?" She responded.
"Nothing that had anything to do with my powers was called."
"That's because I'll be training with you. I wouldn't let anyone else do so. Besides, I know everything there is to know about your powers. I, myself, don't have them, but I know how to train you. Let's start."
And so they did.
No one knew something terrible, horrible, and devastating, was about to happen…
