A/N: First chapter from college! Orientation sucks. The schedule is like all over the place. Ugh. I can't wait to start my classes! Anyway, Enjoy the story!
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Christmas day had come. They had just gotten back from a Showdown which Jack had won. The red-haired Apprentice now sat bundled in his black button-up jacket in the courtyard mumbling the Carol of the Bells to himself. Such a strange song. Sounded down and almost ominous, but it was about Christmas cheer. Kinda like him. Strange on the outside, but he really was good on the inside. Now he was sure of that.
He had spent most of the day avoiding the other dragons and the Christmas tree. They were partying, while he was still grieving. Over what, though? Life was good. In the wake of his parents' death, he had found where he truly belonged. He shrugged it away as Omi approached him.
"Why are you out here alone?" the small yellow ball asked.
"I'd like to ask you the same question," Jack smiled.
Omi hopped up onto the stone bench beside him.
"I do not take part in these festivities," Omi mumbled.
"Why not?"
"All the other dragons receive gifts from families. Do not get me wrong, they give me presents too, but it is not the same…"
Jack grimaced as he looked down at the ground.
"But what about you?" Omi asked, "Why are you out here instead of inside with the others?"
"I'm trying to figure that out myself. I guess I just want to be alone."
"Should I leave you then?" Omi asked slowly.
"No, misery enjoys company."
"I does?"
"Yup."
And they were silent.
Jack didn't want to be with the others because he didn't want to be jealous of them. They were his family now. But they had other families too. He had nothing. He didn't want to sit by and watch them open their presents while he sat by and did nothing but 'oooohhh' and 'aaaahhh' at their good fortune. He wanted to cry a bit, but he had made a policy regarding crying while in Omi's presence.
"Omi?"
"Yes, Jack Spicer?"
"Do you ever feel… alone?"
"How do you mean?"
"Like, you know, empty on the inside?"
"Ah, you mean as if a part of me was missing? No, I never feel that way."
Jack began to ache, "Not even when you know that you don't have a family, but they do?"
"You mean jealous?"
"Yeah."
Omi shrugged, "Sometimes…"
There was a pause.
"But only at times like this… They simply give me gifts they don't want. I truly wish that someone would give me a gift that was meant for me and only me," Omi clarified.
Jack nodded, "Point taken."
"Young monk," Master Fung's voice met their ears.
Omi turned to him.
"Yes, Master Fung?"
"Not you, Omi."
Jack still stared off in the distance.
"Jack?"
Jack turned suddenly, "You mean me?"
"Yes," Master Fung smiled.
Jack stood up and looked around in bewilderment.
"You sure?"
Master Fung nodded.
"Come," he said softly, "We have much to talk about."
Jack's face became hot. What had he done now?
"Later, Omi," Jack said as he followed Master Fung to the meditation chamber.
The hall was lined with the monks of the Xiaolin Temple. They looked to Jack like a jury. He must've been in some deep trouble.
"You have done well, Jack Spicer. You have succeeded in proving my judge of your character to be wrong."
So it was good news?
"Yeah, about that…"
"Your performance today was, as usual, exceptional."
Compliments?
"You have served the temple for several months with honor. Jack Spicer, I am offering you the chance to become a Wudai Warrior. At this stage, their will be much more expected of you. There will be a Wudai quest that you must complete in order to truly earn the new rank. I will assign it to you shortly."
"So I've heard," Jack mumbled.
"I figured that now was as good a time as any to reward you with your new sash. Wear it only with your monk uniform."
Another monk handed Master Fund a light blue sash.
"Do not let me be wrong about you now," Master Fung smiled as he held the sash out for Jack to take.
This was it. This was the moment he had been dreading for so long. He needed to be sure of one thing.
"Master Fung," Jack's voice shook, "Am I a chosen one?"
Master Fung looked at him crookedly, "No, but you have worked to earn your right to this…"
"What is the difference between a chosen one and a non-chosen one?"
"A chosen one is one who is born with certain qualities that this temple seeks in its pupils. A chosen one is recruited for their talents in the martial arts as well as their moral values. A non-chosen one is everyone else who just doesn't fit the ancient qualities of a Xiaolin Dragon."
"Does that mean I can never be a Dragon?"
Jack was almost completely zoned out.
Master Fung winced slightly, "It is written in the ancient scrolls that one who is not chosen by the temple but chooses to join our causes should be accepted as a student. However, only those who are truly chosen may ever become true Xiaolin Dragons."
Jack felt himself falling away from reality.
"So…"
"Wudai is your last stage. You are welcomed to stay and train, but know that you have gone as far as any non-chosen apprentice can. In that respect, you should be proud of yourself."
The words bounced off of Jack. So it was true. He had half expected it to be true and was therefore ready for the disappointment. So why did it still hurt so much?
"Proud…" Jack repeated lifelessly.
He was frozen. He couldn't move his body. Everything was stiff.
"Will you take the sash?" Master Fung asked.
Jack's options played out in his mind.
"Can't you make an exception? You know, let me train further?"
Master Fung shook his head grimly, "What is written in the scrolls is ancient. We cannot deviate from tradition, even if you do reach the qualifications for the next level."
Jack's heart hurt. The dark side did have all the power. Jack looked around slowly. Nowhere did he see a bean waiting for him to turn. He didn't even see a crow or the Ying Ying bird. Evil was nowhere to be found. Jack sighed.
"Well?"
"Yeah, I'll take it."
Jack took the Wudai sash from Master Fung and, with a slight bow, left the chamber.
As Jack left, a foreboding feeling filled the chamber.
"We must alert the other monks," he said to no one in particular, "Something is amiss."