Sf {} Ch 36

Instructions

Static chuckled. "Did you really forget? Training starts today- really, it started an hour ago." Static purred. ...There was that knife again. Flash wished it'd just go away. Really, though, he wished Static would go away. Because of course, the knife- and the spiders would all leave with him. Flash simply shrugged in reply. "I guess.. I thought.." His voice trailed away. He wasn't really sure what he had thought, he was just so.. dazed. Static smiled in mock sympathy, which forced Flash's ears into an annoyed backwards curve. "You've really gotta man up- *someone* has to take over the kingdom someday." He snorted, 'playfully' nudging Flash in the side- though it was a little too hard, and Flash nearly fell over, which Static just chuckled at and walked away, expecting Flash to follow him. Flash simply nodded dumbly as the realization hit him- his escape was gone. He was stuck.. right back where he started. Heir to the Throne of the Speed Mystics. All because of that stupid test, he thought bitterly. Static- who had apparently made significant progress towards the training grounds- called Flash. "C'mon, kiddo! I don't have all day." His voice chirped- a hint of annoyance laced throughout his tone. And so, clearly, Flash had no choice but to abide by Static's request, and he was by his side in a second- leaving a trail of charred grass behind him. Static didn't say anything, just huffed a little, before turning to the clearing that stretched out in front of them. Though, 'Clearing' wasn't really the right word for it- mud pit might suit better. When constructing the training grounds, the Speed Mystics had just figured it would be easier to kill the grass then take care of it. Granted, they probably weren't wrong in that regard, but it still made for a awful, sticky place to train. Flash's nose wrinkled in disgust. Although he'd never admit it, Flash could be rather persnickety when it came to personal hygiene, and he hated the idea of training in hot, gloopy mud all day. Static noticed his expression and burst into laughter. "You should SEE yourself!" He exclaimed. "Oh, don't be such a child, it's just a little mud. You'll be fine." Flash muttered something under his breath which shall remain unwritten, and thankfully Static didn't notice because he was too entertained by Flash's miserable expression. Flash had never wanted to be heir to the kingdom. His siblings always argued amongst themselves about who would take over the kingdom when Static died- or, more likely- stepped down. Flash, however, alongside one or two of his siblings, never cared much about who would take over the kingdom. For Flash, the decision wasn't born out of laziness, but rather a surprisingly mature realization that he wasn't capable of leading a kingdom, no matter how much training he received, or no matter how hard he *tried*, he'd never be that kind of person. He wasn't responsible enough, and he didn't think the way you should when taking care of a kingdom. And somehow, he'd been able to recognize all that. But Static didn't care. He didn't care about any of that. Why? Flash was faster.