The Garden of Vacant Dreams

"Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades"

A/N: Saban/Disney own the characters you know. I own the characters you don't.

Chapter 24

"Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades"

The pacific tide flowed over his bare feet as his eyes scanned the horizon. He had stood in that very spot so many times in his life and yet it felt so foreign to him this time. He looked down at his feet, his toes almost fully immersed in the wet sand. His eyes migrated to the wooden cane in his right hand as he placed weight on it and took a step forward. His left foot followed before he dropped the cane altogether. The tide rushed back in and he watched as the waves took his cane with them.

He stood still as he listened to the whooshing of the waves breaking. The majestic Pacific was even more enticing today, the deep crescent blue of the mysterious water calling for him to come.

He took one step forward and then another, attempting to maintain his already weakened balance. He continued to answer to her call, the waves now brushing up against his chest, soiling his black long sleeved shirt, the taste of saltwater now on his lips.

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"Ladies and gentlemen-" A woman's voice announced over the loudspeaker in the Reefside Middle School gym, "Welcome to the 11th Annual Toso Kune Do Junior Competition. Today we have nine talented young ladies competing for their brown belts, a monumental advancement that paves the way toward mastery of the martial art. Judging is based purely on form and execution and those that earn enough points today will move on to perform their Kata with their mentor in front of the school's board of Toso instructors."

"You ready for this?" He asked her as he gripped her shoulders.

She nodded. "I think so. I'm just..." She paused for a moment as she tightened her green belt. "Really, really nervous." She finished, looking back up at him.

"You've got nothing to be worried about. We've been practicing for months." He paused as he grinned. "Today's the day you get your brown belt. I know it."

"How do you know?" She started again. "How do you know I won't just completely screw up? The other girls are so good. Maybe I'm not meant to do this... maybe I'm-"

"Maybe you're just letting your nerves get the best of you." He responded with assurance.

"You know how I know you're going to do great?" He began again as he took her hands into his. She shook her head in response, glancing over at the other girls before looking back up at him. "Because you're an Oliver and Olivers don't let their nerves get the best of them."

She responded with half a grin before he continued. "You know what else Olivers don't do?"

Her grin widened. "Give up?"

He smiled as let go of her hands and motioned for her to give him a high five. "That's right."

"Would Carmen Ruiz and Jamie Oliver please step up to the sparring mat?"

She high fived him back before watching her classmate walk over to her marker on the mat.

"You've got this, J-O." He told her, motioning for her to go take her place on the mat.

She picked up her sparring gloves, placing them on her hands. "Thanks, Dad." She told him before quickly making her way over to her marker.

She let out a deep breath, smiling at her father who had just taken his seat in the stands.

His expression reflected hers and she suddenly felt a lot calmer and more confident. She placed her baby blue mouthpiece in and got into a fighting stance.