Winds of Change {A Ninjago Fanfic}-Book One in the Four Winds series

Chapter Two An Interesting Situation

"Green ninja," said a frantic shop owner, "I'm glad your here! You have to catch that thing! It-"

"Wow! Wow! Slow down," Cole said raising his hands.

"Tell us what happened," Lloyd said, "but slowly. Zane go analyze the inside of the building."

Zane nodded and headed inside.

"I was sitting at my desk working," the shop keeper began. "And I thought I saw something go past my front window. I've had several breakins before this one; so I was cautious and decided to check all the doors and windows."

"But the thief still got in?" Cole asked skeptically.

"Yes! There was a breeze of wind that came from upstairs and-"

"Wind?!" Lloyd exclaimed. "Cole, you don't think-"

"I hope not!"

"Have you met someone with this ability before?" The man asked. Lloyd and Cole didn't exactly want to go into that story so they just shrugged. "The person we met with this power was a man."

"Well, then it's not the same person because the thief was a woman," Zane said exiting the pharmacy. "I found a DNA sample and analyzed it. It is most definitely a woman but I can not pinpoint which one."

"But Morro could have possessed a woman," Cole argued.

"To break into a drug store?" Zane asked cocking his head.

"Eh, good point," Cole said trying to scratch his head but his hand went right through him. He grunted in displeasure.

"Possession?" The shopkeeper asked fearfully.

"It's nothing," Zane said, "now please, finish your story."

"Well I got up and went into the back room," he continued, "and the thief was there. I yelled at him-or her- and he knocked me over with wind! It didn't come from outside it came from inside! He-or she- took out half my wall too!"

"Sounds like we got a wind master on our hands," Cole said crossing his arms. He turned to the owner and asked, "did you get a good look at him or her?"

"Not really," the man shrugged.

"That's entirely unhelpful," Zane said. "Can you at least tell us what was stolen?"

"Just a bunch of medicine," he said, "it is a pharmacy after all. I've had a break in three times in the last six weeks. I'm pretty sure it's the same person."

"We will have Nya set up a security system near by," Lloyd said. "That way the next time anyone, with the DNA match that Zane found, walks by; we will be notified immediately."

"Thank you, ninja."

***********************************

Aira carefully opened the door and slipped inside. She breathed a sigh of relief and removed her hood. Her long, curly brown hair fell about her shoulders. She had a rounder face with sparkling blue eyes. Her mother said she had her father's eyes. Aira wouldn't know because she didn't really remember her dad.

"Mama," Aira yelled. "I'm home."

She heard a faint response from the far room. Aira couldn't understand what her mom said, but she assumed she was just acknowledging her presence.

Aira made her way into their cramped, dingy kitchen and stowed the medicine in one of their few cupboards. She hated their house. It was basically a one bedroom house, but Aira had made the small living room her room. She gave her mom the actual bedroom. She didn't mind. Aira was able to go out and about, but her mother was confined to her bed most of the time. So her mom needed a comfier room.

"Aira."

"Coming," Aira said quickly and hurried to her mom's room. She took a deep breath before entering.

"Aira, dear, where were you?" Asked her mom, Jennie.

She was a pale and sick little woman. Her once rich, brown hair was now a dull grey, and her once sparkling green eyes now look sad and lifeless. She looked as if she hadn't seen the light of day for years. Which she hadn't really because she was too sick. It broke Aira's heart to see her mom like this. She remembered when her mom was a healthy, strong woman. Alas she was no more.

"I had a late shift at work," Aira lied. "I was able to get you more medicine."

"I'm so sorry," her mother said weakly. "You shouldn't be here taking care of me. You should have friends and be going places. Heck you should have a boyfriend and someone to love."

"Mama, I'd much rather be here with you," Aira said picking up her mother's lunch plate. "Mama, you hardly touched your food."

"I wasn't hungry."

"You need to eat," Aira said trying not to cry. "You're not going to get better if you don't eat."

"I don't think I'm going to get better, Sweetie," her mother sighed.

Aira didn't answer. She knew her mom wasn't going to get better but she still hadn't given up hope for a miracle.

"I'm going to wash up," Aira said changing the subject. "Call me if you need anything."

"Thank you, Dear," her mother said leaning back against her pillow.

Aira stepped outside the bedroom and quietly shut the door behind her. She sunk down against the wall and held back tears. She hated lying to her mom but she didn't want her to worry. It's not her fault that her daughter couldn't find a job. With all the new technology in New Ninjago City, how could she?

Pull yourself together, Aira. She mentally chided herself. Your doing what you have to do to survive. It's not like your stealing because you want to.

Even with all her rationalizing, she still couldn't shake the guilt that suppressed her.

Next: Chapter Three: A Chase