Pride
"You're putting in a lot of effort today... May I ask why?"
Master Zhen inquired, as he and his youngest student were finished sparring.
"No reason, just wanted to fight better, sir."
They were sitting down now, the warrior pouring tea for him and his elder. The master breathing heavily, while Chase was hardly breaking a sweat.
"You know, you can confide in me, I won't tell anyone."
Chase sighed. He wasn't sure he wanted to bring this up. "Master, how would a Xiaolin warrior... take over the world?"
He could tell the elder was thinking over what to say to him, and whether he should be concerned. "Chase... Xiaolin warriors don't conquer the world; we protect it from the Evils that try. You should know that by now."
The boy knew he shouldn't have even asked. "Sorry sir, just... wondering."
They were finished with their tea by now, running out of things to say.
I would have to be... evil?
"Apology accepted."
Awkward silence.
He wished now that he could disappear, to run away from the world... and the inhabitants in it.
Master Zhen was the first to speak. "So... ready for another round?" He was standing up now in a fighting stance, a smile on his... wrinkled face. Chase suddenly remembered why he disliked old people.
"You want to see me beat you again?" They laughed, and charged at each other. For the first time, this felt... natural to them.
_.:._
A new warrior was joining the temple today. Not a Dragon like Dashi, Guan, and him; just another warrior. What made it exciting and unusual though, was that the masters had picked a girl out of all the other applicants.
... A girl.
Chase was absolutely fine with their decision. His mindset was a bit more... modern than his classmates. At about mid-morning she came. Her name... was Meng.
"Let me show you around." He said in a genial manner, as his primitive classmates snickered at the mere thought that they would have to share their training grounds with a female.
After he showed her everything like where she was sleeping, where the assorted buildings are, etc., they sort of hid from everyone else for the rest of the day. As they were walking back for dinner, Meng asked, in a giggly voice,
"Which one of you guys, is the best warrior?"
"I am."
"Really? You think you can teach me sometime?"
"Sure."
Chase didn't have the heart to tell her he was only kidding. He looked up while saying this, and noticed how unusually bright the stars were.
Is it really worth it?
~xXx~
Knock Knock.
"Chase?"
Knock Knock.
"Chase?"
Doesn't that boy have anything better to do than disturb me? The annoyed Dragon prince asked himself as he turned his attention to the door, walked over, and opened it. His red-haired #1 fanboy was on his knees this time.
"What do you want now, Spicer?"
The self-proclaimed "evil genius" was begging.
"Chase? Will you be my friend-"
No.
"- On Facebook?"
...Oh God...
Chase covered his face with his palm and then rubbed his temple. He only hoped the boy didn't have an ambition to surpass him; that he didn't have... Pride.