The Martial Arts Prodigy

Chapter 14

Song up above Bones Exposed by Of Mice and Men

"Whenever we want to combat our enemies, first and foremost we must start by understanding them rather than exaggerating their motives." - Criss Jami

"Hello Danyelle, we have much to discuss." says the green ball of energy.

"Asia told me that you are the very soul of the Jade Dragon, is that true?" The green ball of energy shifts over towards Danyelle, floating in her face.

"That is correct, I am. I have been waiting for when you turned officially into an adult. You have grown strong with the blood of the dragon in your veins." Danyelle begins to feel a breezing sensation, dashing through her body like an energetic stream.

"What is this I am feeling, this surge of power?" she asks herself.

"That is the very blood that yearns to be whole, it is time to open up your mind and unlock the final barrier of your power." the energy ball begins to flare with unspeakable power, protruding bolts of lightning from its core.

The raw energy hits Danyelle's body, surrounding her in electricity and unparalleled chi. Danyelle screams out in exhilaration as the power of the dragon takes over her body.

"Danyelle Faust, child of the Jade Dragon, awaken your soul and let go of the final barrier, embrace your heritage!" Danyelle lets out a scream that soon turns into the roar of a dragon.

The roar explodes the energy across the area, setting Danyelle's body on fire. Danyelle crumbles to the ground in a blanket of green flames, while still taking in the power. Suddenly the flames stop and Danyelle lays down on the ground, motionless.

"You have awakened your final barrier, now you will realize your true strength." As the voice fades away, Danyelle closes her eyes, drifting into a deep sleep.

Moments later, Danyelle wakes up back in the real world, feeling different from before. As she gets to her feet, she looks at her reflection on a Jade Crystal near a scroll. Looking at her face, she notices her eyes have changed to green. She also notices that her muscular definition is more toned than it used to be, looking at herself with amazement and shock. Danyelle looks at her right hand and she sees the dragon tattoo overtake her entire arm.

"What the hell?" Danyelle says to herself in pure confusion, staring at her tattoo.

"So... this is the hidden power I was hiding huh? I must admit, it feels amazing." Danyelle gets to her feet and she punches the ground, leaving a crack in the jade green floor.

"Unbelievable, it's time I train this power. I gotta learn to run beside it, like an animal in the wild." Danyelle says. For the remainder of the nine months, Danyelle and the rest of the students continue to perfect their Martial Arts skills, preparing for when the tournament begins.

Meanwhile, in a distant alleyway in New Jersey, an Asian woman, with a group of masked men, wait beside a warehouse in the glow of the night sky. The Woman takes out a cell phone and she receives a spiritual call from Danny Gurrerro.

"Is everything going well?" she asks Danny.

"Yes, the plan is in motion. Everything is happening as expected." The Woman then forms a smile on her face, being happy about the good news she has heard.

"Good, soon we will initiate the protocol. The stage is set!" The Woman says before hanging up. The Woman turns around to the masked men and they all disappear in a large puff of smoke.

Nine months later

After weeks of training, all of the students are on Christmas break. As the snow falls on the school grounds, Danyelle is seen training further with her friends in the bright white snow.

"Man these last nine months have been tough, but I feel a little stronger from before." Laura tells the group.

"Me too, I feel as if my senses are heightened. I have never felt this light before!" Vanessa admits. Aaron approaches Vanessa with a mistletoe in his hand.

"Vanessa, you know the law of the mistletoe, do you?" Vanessa rolls her eyes and she kisses Aaron softly as the snow lightly falls to the ground. The rest of the group looks on in joy at the beautiful moment being shared by Aaron and Vanessa.

"Well damn, it's about time!" Laura says with a smile on her face.

"Shut up La-La! It's not a big deal!" Vanessa blushes.

"If you ask me, it's a very big deal girl! Nothing wrong with a little romance!" Aaron takes a necklace out of his pocket and he gives it to Vanessa. The necklace is in the shape of a crescent moon, filled with small rubies and diamonds.

"Awww, Aaron... it's too beautiful!" Vanessa says with emotion in her eyes. Filled with tears of joy, Vanessa hugs Aaron and they share another kiss.

"That is too sweet, makes you want to cry a happy tear. Don't you agree with me, Dani?" Laura asks Danyelle, faking a sob.

"Yeah, seeing those two together is just heartwarming." Danyelle says.

"So, do you celebrate Christmas?" Danyelle nods her head at Laura, indicating that she does.

"Yes, as I said, I am both a Buddhist and a Christian. I was baptized when I was fifteen years old." Danyelle reveals.

"I always thought you were just a Buddhist only. I never took you for a Christian type." Draca tells her.

"Well, I am not religious by any means. I am more of a faith-based person. Religion and I don't mix." Danyelle says.

"Is there anything else I don't know about you, Danyelle Faust?" Laura wonders.

"I am fluent in Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, German, French, Spanish and Aramaic among many others." Laura's eyes grow big upon hearing this revelation.

"Where did you learn to speak Aramaic?" Vanessa jumps into the conversation, just as curious as Laura.

"I read a lot of books, took a lot of classes and I watched 'Passion of the Christ', good movie." Vanessa appears impressed over Danyelle's explanation. Draca throws a snowball at Vanessa, completely blindsiding her.

"Ha-ha, gotcha girl!" Draca exclaimed. Danyelle crouches down and she picks up a pound of snow and she carefully makes a snowball from it. Danyelle, tosses it at Draca's face, knocking her down into the snow.

"Looks like you got some of Danyelle's tasty frozen treats!" she jokingly says to Draca. Danyelle suddenly feels a cold chill go down her spine. She turns around to see that Laura threw a snowball at her back.

"What? You're not the only one with great aim sister!" said Laura. Danyelle smiles as she picks up another snowball.

"This snow town ain't big enough for all of us!" Johnny says with a fake country accent and a pile of snowballs next to his left foot.

"SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!!!" Aaron shouts. The group then playfully begin to throw snowballs at each other, while laughing and smiling with joy. As they enjoy their breaks, Carly looks on from her house window in jealousy.

"They look so innocent, just playing along with one another. Honestly, I feel like puking, because I used to have that once, but I learned that the world is just a cruel place, once you get happiness, life's sharp jaws just take it away from you, leaving you broken, naked and destroyed. In the end, the only thing that matters is you, that is why I need to win this tournament! For self-validation and to escape a demon of my past." Suddenly, Carly hears a knock on her door. Once she opens it, she sees Zoella standing in the doorway, with a package in her hand.

"What do you want Sonya Blade?" Carly asks sarcastically.

"I bought this for you, have yourself a good night... blondie." Zoella says before walking off.

Carly sits down in her chair and she opens the package. To her surprise, she holds a picture, that is covered in blood. Upon looking at the blood stained photo. Carly lets out a raged filled scream and she punches a hole in the wall.

"They're here, why are those bastards here!? They took everything from me!" Carly seethes with rage.

"I... I am going to kill those bastards!" Carly shouts as she kicks her training dummy in half.