Dan and Baron were out doing their usual workout routine. After several hundred push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and Baron nearly throwing up, it was 12:00. Baron was seated on a bench breathing hard, Nemus on his shoulder giving encouragement. Dan was standing up and stretching, Drago perched on the back of the bench watching him. "Feeling all right Dan?" Drago asked, only a tiny lingering trace of concern in his voice for his partner. He looked alright, but Drago wanted to be sure...
Yeah Drago, I feel great today." Dan said while cracking his spine, feeling a little sore from all the exercise but he was getting used to it. He didn't know why, but he felt energized today. Maybe it had something to do with talking to Mira the night before. He felt better after telling her about what was bothering him. "Alright Baron, ready to head back?" Dan asked, starting to jog in place.
Baron groaned and stood up. "I think so, Master Dan."
"That's it Baron, you can do it." Nemus coaxed
"We should start jogging back now," Dan pointed at Nemus and Drago. "that means you guys too."
"Huh?" they said in unison.
"You heard me; now move out!" Dan turned and started jogging off.
"There he goes." Drago sighed, then jumped over to the railing alongside the sidewalk and started struggling to run across it, Nemus following.
"Come on Baron!" Nemus called.
"Coming!" Baron started running alongside them.
"Hey Baron! Wanna race to see who gets back first?" Dan shouted back to him.
"I don't...think...I can...go much...faster than...this...Master Dan." he huffed out.
"Ah, you're just overreacting! Tell you what, first one back gets to use the shower first."
"Alright...you're on." Baron took in a deep breath and started pouring on the gas, catching up to run side-by-side with Dan, and Dan, lungs burning and muscles tired, ran even harder. Their feet pounded against the pavement, each of their breaths coming out in a rush. They rounded the street corner and Dan's house came in sight. Dan poured on every extra bit of speed he had, his heart crashing in his chest, until Baron fell behind, and finally Dan skidded to a stop in front of his house.
"I win!" he announced as Baron sidled up to him, panting like a dog. Drago and Nemus hopped off the sidewalk railing and onto their respective partners shoulders, out of breath.
"Welcome back you two." a voice said from the porch. Dan looked up and saw Mira leaning against the stretch of wall beside the door. Has she been waiting there the whole time? Dan wondered.
"Hey Mira. How long've you been out here?"
"Awhile she replied, and smiled. Dan, startled, smiled back. She continued "I see you two have been working hard."
"Master Dan's been really pushing it this morning." Baron puffed out, starting to get his breath back.
"Well, Dan never was one for taking it easy." she said.
Dan suddenly heard a click come from behind him. He turned and saw Runo standing there, a camera in her hands. His gut tightened and he swallowed, tense, expecting a confrontation. From her place on the porch, Mira was watching him carefully. "Uh, hey Runo." he said awkwardly. Is, uh, that a new camera?" he winced at how bad that sounded.
"I borrowed it from my dad." she said, kind of coldly.
"Hey guys!" Julie said, popping out so fast it startled Dan. He hadn't even noticed her behind Runo. "What're you up to?"
"Me and Master Dan just go finished with our workout." Baron said, straightening up properly.
"Wow, I can see that you've been working at it!" she said, eyeing them appreciatively. "Good thing you finished when you did, it's supposed to rain later."
Dan glanced up and saw that there were some dark clouds coming in. "Yeah, well, I was just about to get a shower." he said, turning and walking up the porch steps. Mira moved out of the way for him, brushing against him in the process. He could feel everyone staring after him for his abrupt exit as he opened and went through the door. He went to his room and grabbed a spare set of clothes and then went to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He started to strip and got in the shower, washing himself and then just standing there under the shower stream until Baron knocked on the door and told him he'd been in there for 30 minutes. Dan reluctantly got out and dried off, then threw on his old sweat-pants and muscle shirt, hanging his towel around his neck and then coming out of the bathroom, Drago back on his shoulder.
"Okay Baron, you can get in now!" Dan called out, and Baron rushed past him into the bathroom. Dan went to the kitchen and got himself a Monster energy drink and started to walk back up the hall to his room, when a familiar sly voice spoke behind him. "Hello Dan."
Dan whipped around and say a holographic image of Spectra standing in the hall. "Spectra! What do you want?" he snarled.
"There's no need to be so rude Dan, I just want a battle. Lets settle our differences once and for all, alone. After all, it won't be any fun if the others interfere like the others did last time. You can even pick the time and place. It's your territory, after all." Spectra said slyly, smirking.
"One hour! At..." Dan racked his brains when it came to him. Yes, that's perfect! "There's one stadium in town. It's huge, you can't miss it. Meet me there."
"I look forward to this Dan." Spectra smirked again and disappeared, the hornet that sent his image flying away.
"Be careful." Drago said to his partner.
"Don't worry Drago, we'll be fine buddy!" Dan said confidently, fiercely.
Yes, yes, yes, before I get cringey little messages saying "THAT'S NOT HOW IT WAS IN THE SHOW!" I'm writing my own rules for this one. You all read it and you'll like it!