The Martial Arts Prodigy

Chapter 5

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." - Søren Kierkegaard

Back in the Dean's office, Danyelle and Dean Michaelson continue their conversation about her future in the school. Danyelle notices a small tattoo of a half eclipsed sun on the Dean's right hand, but she thinks it's nothing important.

"I have noticed that you have fought in many tournaments, winning multiple gold medals in all areas of combat and athletics." Michaelson says, impressed by Danyelle's resume of accomplishments.

"Thanks for the compliment and all, but it's clear that you did not choose me just for my trophy case. Why did you really pick me?" Danyelle asks; curiosity sprouting out of her voice.

"I told you, I had a feeling about you. That tattoo on your hand piqued my interest about your heritage." Danyelle c***s her head slightly to the left, caught off guard by the words uttered by Cole.

"So you know about the Jade Dragon Society?" Danyelle questions Cole who leans forward towards her.

"Know about it... I was once apart of it. I can read their operations like a book to you." Danyelle looks at the book near Cole's hand and she sees a dragon insignia on the spine.

"The Jade Dragon society, has been protecting the world since after the death of the first emperor of China. This secret society was conceived of Shaolin Monks, Samurai, Ninjas and pure fighters. They were the last defense against evil." as Danyelle listens to Cole, she feels her tattoo glow green.

"What the hell? Why is my hand glowing?" she asks with her voice filled with curiosity.

"Your hand glows because you seek the truth about your heritage, the real reason why you were chosen to be apart of this school." Cole then opens the book and he pulls out a insignia that is shaped like a dragon's head.

"Does this look familiar to you?" Cole asks Danyelle, handing her the insignia. Danyelle looks at it longingly, noticing a message in Mandarin inscribed on the scales.

"The heart of the warrior, lies within the soul of a dragons child." Danyelle then looks at both Asia and Cole, shocked upon the revelation that was brought upon her.

"I am... I am the dragon's child?" Danyelle then stands up, holding her hands over her head in shock.

"Danyelle, I know this is a lot to take in, but we are telling you the truth. You are the the one that we have been searching for." Danyelle looks out the window, watching the other students converse with other.

"I always knew I wasn't normal, ever since I was a kid I felt different. I was stronger than all my peers, faster, smarter... and it all points to this mark on my hand." Danyelle then walks over towards Asia.

"Ask me this, who killed my parents? Why would someone want them dead?" she asks.

"They weren't the target... You were. They risked your life to protect you." Asia reveals to her.

"Protect me from what?" Danyelle wonders.

"Have you ever heard of the Hidden Lotus Ninja Clan?" Danyelle's face then forms a puzzled expression.

"I've heard that name somewhere before, I always thought they were an urban legend." Asia then goes over to a shelf near the door and she pulls out a purple scroll. Asia then opens the scroll and it shows Danyelle the entire history of this nefarious clan.

"Jesus H Christ... and here I thought these were just a bunch of silly old people, telling crazy stories to scare the hippies." Danyelle says.

"The Hidden Lotus Clan existed ever since the age of the first Shogun. They had no honor, no regard for innocent lives. They lived for chaos, hungered for blood, and they've thirsted for death." as Danyelle reads the scroll, she looks at a picture of a dragon eating a lotus whole.

"Legend said of a very special woman, who has the blood of the dragon coursing through her. This woman would one day bring about the fall of the Hidden Lotus clan." Asia explains.

"And, I'm that woman?" Danyelle asks.

"Yes, you are that woman. But, we have to be sure that you are, therefore we will train you. As we train you along with your peers, we will see how powerful you all are." Cole declares.

"Until then, there is a party tonight celebrating your arrival to the school. You may want to attend." Danyelle grabs her backpack and she heads towards the door.

"Oh and by the way, watch your back out there, a lot of students are looking to kick your ass." Cole warns Danyelle.

"Then they best not miss then..." Danyelle exits the room heading off to the housing grounds. While walking to the housing area, Danyelle thinks about the information she received from Cole and Asia. It races through her mind like a song that is stuck in her head.

"This is all so new to me... am I really what they say I am? Am I really this superhuman warrior that they are preaching about? I don't know, but I do know this; I'm here for a reason and I am going to see this journey through." Danyelle makes it to the housing grounds and she is in awe of the houses that occupy the area. Danyelle then sees a house with a Dragon's head on top of the front of the house.

"I guess that's where I am staying, let's see what lies beyond these doors." Danyelle opens up the door and she finds Laura and Vanessa having a conversation with each other while sitting on the floor.

"Hey guys!" Danyelle gets their attention.

"Danyelle! You're a little late to the party." Vanessa says to her.

"Well better late than never, I always say." Danyelle replies while putting her backpack on the floor.

"So Dani, what did you an the Dean talk about?" Laura asks her with curiosity. Danyelle then sits down in front of them ready to tell them about what she has learned about herself.

"Well, I found out that I am the last daughter of the Jade Dragon Society. I guess I knew for a long time, but I just denied it. I grew up never knowing my real parents, but I am grateful for the parents I was given." Danyelle then pulls out a picture of her foster parents and she shows them to Laura and Vanessa.

"So, who are your real parents?" Vanessa wonders.

"They were members of the Jade Dragon Society. It explains how special I was at birth, since they conceived me on the eve of the dragon." Vanessa then looks confused by the revelation of Danyelle's birth.

"What's the eve of the dragon?" she asks.

"It's the day before the year of the dragon. If a baby is born on the eve of that day, they are considered a Dragon Child. On the actual day, the child is then christened in the blood of the Jade Dragon, symbolizing his or her arrival." Laura then looks at Danyelle's tattoo as it glistens in the ray of sunlight shining through the front window of the loft.

"That's amazing, you as the dragon child, it suits you deeply." Vanessa compliments Danyelle, holding a thumbs up towards her.

"I think it's kind of badass that you have dragon blood, not that stupid ass Charlie Sheen type thing," Danyelle then laughs at Laura's joke.

"So are you going to the party tonight?" Vanessa asks her.

"Yeah, I think I need to unwind a little, but I am going to need a sundress." Danyelle says to the surprise of Vanessa and Laura.

"You want a sundress?" Danyelle then nods at Vanessa, indicating that she is dead serious.

"Okay, I think I have a sundress for you, I will be right back girl." Laura then goes into her room and she pulls out a red and yellow sundress that her father bought for her, back when she was a little girl. Making her way back to the living room area, Laura shows Danyelle the sun dress. Designed with red flowers over a yellow background, Danyelle appears mesmerized by the dress itself.

"So, what do you think?" Laura asks a dazed Danyelle.

"I think I am in love!" Danyelle replies with a very hypnotized tone in her voice.

"Cool, well the party doesn't start until 6pm. I think we should get some sparring in." Laura suggests.

"Sparring? Now?" Vanessa wonders in confusion.

"No, this is good, a fighter must always train. I'll meet you guys down in the dojo." Danyelle says to them both. Thirty minutes later, Laura, Vanessa and Danyelle all meet down in the dojo, dressed in their workout attires. Laura observes the size of the dojo, in awe of how it's constructed.

"A dojo like this exists in our basement? I'm starting to like this school even more!" Laura compliments.

"You guys ready? I've been aching for a good scrap!" Vanessa then gets into her Ninjitsu fighting stance.

"Please, both of you are getting is an ass kicking by a panther!" Laura says as she transitions into a Panther stance.

"Panther and Ninjitsu... very good, for amateurs! The dragon conquers all who oppose her!" Danyelle transitions into a dragon like stance; her tattoo glowing as she focuses her chi into her body. Laura swoops in towards Danyelle and she throws a barrage of kicks at her. Danyelle manages to block them all in succession and she begins to trade fists with Laura. As Laura tries to punch her, Danyelle grabs her wrist and hits her with a side kick that pushes her to the ground.

Laura poses like a panther, while Vanessa jumps in and she kicks Danyelle in the side of the head, causing her to fall to the ground. Laura quickly slides over towards Vanessa and she tries to trip her, but the sly Vanessa flips over Laura and lands on the opposite side of the ground. Laura and Vanessa begin kicking each other at the same time; their kicks bouncing off each others legs.

Danyelle interrupts the skirmish by getting in between both women. Vanessa and Laura begin to attack her as a team, but Danyelle blocks them both at once. Danyelle swiftly Dragon Sweeps Laura off of her feet launching her five feet into the air. Before she could fall to the ground however, Danyelle stands on her left hand and she shifts her weight to kick Laura into Vanessa.

Getting up from underneath Laura, Vanessa trades lightning fast punches with Danyelle. As they keep fighting, their speed increases with every punch they throw and block from each other. Danyelle trips Vanessa and she tries to slam her to the ground, but Vanessa flips over back onto her feet and she hits Danyelle with a double fist strike, knocking her away.

Laura runs towards Danyelle and she hits her with a dropkick to the face. Danyelle immediately lands on her feet and she shakes off the effects of Laura's attack. The three women stand apart from each other; sweat dripping from their faces coldly kissing their chests and necks, the sound of the birds cawing outside, their steady breathing.

The three charge at each other and they all try to punch each other at the same time. The resounding impact of their fists causes a shockwave, shaking the dojo in the process. The three women then sit down, exhausted from fighting each other.

"I so totally had that won!" boasts Vanessa, much to the chagrin of Danyelle and Laura.

"Oh come on guys, you all know that fight belonged to me!" Laura exclaimed while getting up from the floor.

"Actually, I think we all won to be fair. But, I was doing most of the ass kicking." Danyelle jokingly says.

"Well nonetheless, we got some work in. Now let's get ready for tonight!" Vanessa says. Danyelle walks over towards a window and she looks outside to enjoy the view. She then sees a man standing near a tree having a phone conversation with someone. Danyelle's tattoo begins to glow a bright shade of green as she looks at the man.

"Somethings not right here, but I can't focus on that right now. I gotta get ready for tonight." Danyelle then walks away, her tattoo still glowing green.