"Next! Nu-uh. Nothing for you." The guard stated to my dad who wanted some creamy biscuits
"There's a valuable lesson here, son. If you turn your back on your first evil Sensei in an effort to go straight... you may not be served creamy biscuits." My father trailed off to Lloyd
"Next!" The guard yelled
"Well, I know what we are being served. A whole bunch of baloney. This isn't a fighting tournament. It's an alibi for Chen to steal everyone's powers. But we still don't know why." Lloyd replied as the guard put two creamy biscuits on my plate
"Isn't it obvious? Chen wants to destroy New Ninjago City. I don't know what it is, but that place has had a string of bad luck." I put in
"I'm not so sure. From what Sensei G's told us about him, I have a feeling it's something far more sinister." Cole offered
"And may I remind us, we still don't know where Zane is, which is why we all need to take care of our first rounds to give us more time. Don't look at me. I've already moved on." Jay said
"Your opponent got himself kicked out." Cole replied
"Hehe, either way, it's my day off." He turns to the Cultist. "Extra creamy biscuits. And don't skimp." We all start walking away from the line.
"Taking a day off? And here I thought ninja never quit." Cole remarked
"And I used to think a ninja wouldn't steal your girlfriend." Jay shot back making my eyes go wide before sitting down. They are about to cause a scene.
"Whatever you have to say to each other, say it now, because harboring grudges hurts no one but yourselves." Garmadon sighed
"He's right. You should be preparing to fight your next opponent, not each other." Lloyd stressed
"What grudge? I already dropped it." Cole replied
"I dropped it first." Jay argued
"Did not." Cole snapped
"Did too." Jay pronounced shoving him then dropping his biscuits and drink.
"The tournament will test them. Either find a way for them to make peace, or neither of them will move on." My father whispered to me
"The tournament of Elements continues. Fun time! Would the following Masters please make their way to their assigned arena? Speed, Gravity, Smoke, Nature, Mind, oh, and last and hopefully not least..." Chen let a dramatic pause
"Huh, maybe we all got the day off." Jay commented
"Wind!" Chen laughed as I groan pushing my food away. "Remember, only one can remain."
"I swear this dude hates me." I reply handing my creamy biscuit to dad.
"He doesn't hate you at all." Garmadon replied
"What do you mean?" I ask
"Chen is your godfather." My father stated as I gaped "And you were gonna tell me this when?!"
My father sighed "I thought he got the memo that you weren't his god daughter anymore but I'm starting to think not."
"Oh yeah that's nice an evil noodle man is my godfather." I commented turning to Lloyd "you see my life."
"He's not my godfather right?" Lloyd asked
"No." My father promised
I really just want to scream this man is a total nut job. Why me? Honestly it doesn't really mean anything so I suppose it's not that bad.
***
"Y/n, Master of Wind, versus Ash, Master of Smoke. Fight!" Chen yelled as he dropped the Jadeblade on a rock under us. I examined the arena it was full of lava with few rocks and one little bridge.
I mean I've got an idea on how to win but it's a little cruel... so I'll have to find another way
"Ninja, go!" I shout using my Spinjitzu to Ash just disappearing in smoke "Wind!" I blew him in smoke form to another rock.
Ash quickly makes it back over to me pushing me on the bridge. "End of the line." Ash laughed
I smirked "maybe but not for me." I pulled him on the bridge with me then releasing the ropes I was holding with my power. The bridge broke and he immediately fell to a rock becoming unconscious I used my air as a jet pack grabbing the Jade Blade.
"Winner!" Chen pointed to me as everyone cheered "Loser!" He smiled pointing to Ash who disappeared through a trap door "Master of Wind moves on."
I glared at Chen for a moment. Now I really want to know what he up to because he just gained three Elemental Powers today.
***
"Do hear that?" I ask Cole who was hanging out in my room eating all my food there was a huge commotion outside
"Huh?" He questioned with a full mouth
"Cole come on." I replied leading him down the hallway meeting up with the other ninja I pointed to the Elemental Masters, who are gathered around the bracket.
"What's all the commotion?" Jay questioned pushing them out of the way. We all gasp when we see Cole and Jay on the same bracket.
"No, he can't do this." Cole stated
"He already did." Lloyd replied
"We gotta fight each other." Cole whispered
"This is going to end in a disaster." Kai stated
"How optimistic of you Kai." I remarked
"But why does it say I have to fight Cole? It didn't say that before. I'm not ready to fight. It was supposed to be my day off." Jay freaked out
"I tried to warn you, but you never listen. Talk, yes. Listen, not so much." Cole argued
"Is there a problem, ninja?" Clouse questioned
"You cheated! You changed the brackets." Cole yelled
"Oopsie." He laughs and walks away.
"What do we do? They can't fight each other. We came here to become whole, not fall further apart." Lloyd said turning to my father
"You can't undo what's been done. My only advice is to be at peace with it." He replied
"Peace? One of us has to lose! Oh, my gosh. It's totally gonna be me. He's got super strength and what do I have? Quick, tell me! What do I have!" Jay yelled turning to me and grabbing my shoulders
"I mean you have-...well you got-...I can't forget about-..." I stumbled trying to find something else he had other than lighting "humor..." I said smiling sheepishly
"Oh no!" He shouted looking away
"Don't listen to my dad. We find Zane, then none of us have to battle. Your fight isn't until tonight so we still have time to figure out what Chen's up to and stop this." Lloyd answered
"I think I know just the person who can help. And I think he already knows." Kai replied making me eye him confused
***
At night, we went to see Neuro. "We need your help, Neuro." I said coming up behind him
"You think I can get close to Chen to read his mind, so you can find your robotic friend and not have to fight." He answered not even turning to look at me
"Don't forget—" Kai trailed off
"You still need to know what Chen's up to because he's hiding something." Neuro stated
"That's really impressive, Nerdo." Jay admitted I sighed hitting his shoulder
"It's Neuro, Master of the Mind. And Cole thinks Jay won't last long in a fight." Neuro said trying to start something
"Pfft. You think that?" Jay questioned
"You just said it yourself." Cole responded
"But you didn't have to believe it." Jay countered
"Don't be offended, Cole. Jay here thinks you're the least valuable ninja." Neuro brought up causing them to start pushing each other
"We wanted you to help, Neuro, not make things worse." I stated as he held up his hand reading my mind now what is he looking through.
"But why would I help? You're competition. The sooner you're out, the better for me." He replied not saying anything about what he read in my mind
"If you want what's best for you, just look into my head and you'll see what this tournament is all about." Lloyd said stepping foreword Neuro does, and sees Lloyd's memory of Chen stealing Karlof's Metal. "It's only a matter of time before Chen steals your power too. So are you in?"
He just groaned looking at each of us.
***
"Hey Neuro wait up!" I called after him as he sighed turning around
"What is it Wind Master?"
"I just wanted to say thank you. You're risking a lot for yourself to do this I just think it's very noble."
"Do you want to know what I saw in your mind ninja?" He questioned
"Not particularly." I replied confused
"I saw your battles."
I smiled confusedly looking down and back up "I'm not following. I don't really care about that you can look at me battling the Overlord anywhere in Ninjago."
"Not that type of battle. The battle that goes on in you're head when making choices. You always have the idea of doing the evilest thing but you always choose the righteous thing it's... admirable." He said hesitating the last part
"Oh thank you?" I replied unsure I mean I wasn't even aware I did that. He nodded walking off with no emotions
***
Cole prepped in the room with me when Neuro walked in "So did you see into his head?" I asked
"I'm sorry. I couldn't get past Clouse." Neuro stated
I sighed looking down I'm really starting to hate that guy.
"But I did see something." Nuero admitted making me look up and smile "I'll take anything I can get"
He nodded "For a brief moment, I saw inside Clouse's mind. The powers he's collecting, they are for a spell."
"A spell for what?" I questioned
"I don't know. But it's in his spellbook on page 149. I'm sorry it's not enough to stop the fight. I wish I could've done more." Nuero said actually looking sorry
"That's okay. You've done what you could. More than I could." I replied as he walked out
"You don't have to say it. It was inevitable we were gonna have to face each other. May as well be Jay. This fight's been a long time coming." Cole said
"I thought our fight was inevitable too." I replied
"No Y/n your different then Jay. Jay he..." Cole trailed off unsure
"Cole you still can find peace with each other. We don't have control when we fight, but we do have control how we fight. Jay's not the enemy, Chen is. Remember that." I stated
"Wu once said the best way to defeat your enemy is to make him your friend, but how are you supposed to defeat your friend?" Cole questioned
"Look I know when you go out there you're not gonna want to. But just surrender to Jay. I personally promise I will save you Cole no matter what." I said giving him a hug I sigh hearing the crowd roar
"I'm sorry Y/n." Cole muttered
"Me too if only we had more time. You both would be okay." I replied pulling something out of my pocket it was a tiny hot air balloon "just incase you lose. A sign of hope. I will always find you." I smiled placing it in his palm
***
The battle was about to start.I sat down next to Nuero and my father
"You tried your best, the rest is up to them." Garmadon said looking at me
"I hope they can see that too." I noted
"Let the tournament continue! Jay, Master of Lightning, versus Cole, Master of—" before Chen could finish they had started to fight
"Haha! That's all you've got? Least valuable ninja!"
Jay laughed
"Eat dirt, Blue-belle!" Cole yelled throwing a rock at him
"Oh, Clouse, go get me popcorn. This is turning out better than I anticipated." Chen admitted making me roll my eyes
"Stronger than you thought, eh? That's your betrayal flowing through my veins." Jay screamed as they both launched their element battling it out
"I'm looking forward to the peace and quiet when you're out of the tournament." Cole countered overpowering Jay with Earth.
I was about to look away when Cole and Jay stopped it looked like they were actually talking it out.
"Release the Condrai Crushers!" Chen yelled as they started fighting together
"Ah, they fight together. Good work, Y/n." My father admitted
"Yeah, I do listen to you every once in a while." I smiled as Jay and Cole work together to defeat the Condrai Crushers.
"Enough! I know what you are trying to do. If neither of you will win, then both of you will lose!" Chen screamed activating the trap doors. Cole started making his way to the Jade Blade successfully getting it.
But then tossing it to Jay.
"Winner! Loser! Master of Lightning moves on." Chen smiled as Cole turned to me nodding and holding up the hot air balloon I guess sometimes he listens to me too.
Just then Chen drops Cole in a trapdoor. "About time. Phew."
"Cole may be gone, but he did not lose. Let what he did here today be a lesson for us all: know thine enemy, but more importantly, know thy friend. He fought like a true ninja." My father stated smiling