The sun shined brightly in the sky, warming the City and it's sidewalks with an unusually warm April day. I fanned myself, the black parts of my new Airjitzu gi attracting most of the heat. God, I regret wearing my scarf today.
"You need a fan or something?" I heard Lilly ask as we walked down the sidewalk with Nya, Cass and Sammie. We were on the way to the studio to meet the rest of our team and wait for Hunter and Nathan to return from their trip to their old village. We all have changed so much this past year. I'm nineteen now, and I grew an inch. ONLY AN INCH. As disappointed as I am, no one can call me a kid anymore. I'm officially 5ft now, four inches shorter than Jay.
Though, our huge increase in popularity is the biggest influence on our changes, and the constant problems we've been facing since our rise in popularity. Kai actually learned how to use a touch phone just so he could post a selfie every hour ("It appeals to my fans." he claims). Zane tends to hate going outside now because of the constant stalking by some of their fans. Nya is constantly bombarded with questions regarding whether she's going to choose Jay or Cole despite being in a relationship with someone else already. Hunter almost got his arm broken by a fan when he was tackled by her. Etc. There's LOTS of problems we've had since becoming celebrities.
"No, I'm just stressing about whether we're going to have hide the guys again when going home," I answered, lying slightly. Lilly nodded.
"Yeah. They figured out their hiding spot last time," she shivered, possibly recalling the memory. I'd tell about it, but it's so crazy, you would have thought I was on weed or something.
"So, Nya, how are you and Ashley doing?" Lilly asked, turning to master of water. She smiled.
"We're going great," she answered cheerfully.
"No problems? I thought the constant questions about Jay and Cole might have kinda affected your relationship."
Nya shook her head. "Nope."
"That's good," Lilly smiled. Nya nodded.
"So, how about you and my brother? I know you get a lot of fan hate because you're with him," the master of water asked. Lilly shrugged, blushing.
"We're fine as usual. The hate mail is usually just a bunch of people with free time calling me a few less than desirable names. Y'know, the usual fate someone dating a famous attractive guy has," she answered. I felt really sorry for her. Any fan mail directed towards her or Nya tends to be anonymous hate mail. Most likely they're with one of the guys. Just another reason why I've kept Lloyd and I's relationship a secret from the public. It's kinda sad though. These two being sent hate mail for loving who they fell in love with and me having to keep my relationship a secret just so I can avoid the same fate. I feel so sorry for anyone who has the same fate as them. I decided I would change the subject though, spitting out the first thought that came to my tongue.
"I really feel sorry for you Lilly, but," I started, "I don't really get why you keep blushing whenever Kai is mentioned. I mean, come on, you guys sleep in the same bed sometimes. I thought you'd be over this."
Lilly's face became red as the other girls giggled. "What else do you know exactly?"
I smirked. "Let's see...you sing really loudly when you think you're alone. You really like that one show with the minor god and the boy who can turn into a sword...and you have a thing for gals and guys who act all self-centered but are actually huge dorks." If Lilly's face wasn't a dark crimson, it surely was now. I don't know why she'd be ashamed of the singing one though. Her voice is really great! Could it just be nerves? Who knows.
"I didn't mean for you to tell all of that out loud!" Lilly exclaimed as Nya giggled. To which I turned to her.
"Oh, don't even get me started on you, Nya!" I exclaimed, smiling. Her smile faded and her shiny brown eyes grew wide.
"Oh god, you know the thing...don't you?" she asked. I nodded slowly, grinning as though I were an evil mastermind with the superhero's kryptonite. Ah, the perks of chatting with Zane and sticking around the Bounty when people think no one is home. You get some great entertainment out of that.
Just then, we heard two people running up behind us. Just as we turned around, I saw Hunter skid to a stop as Nathan accidentally ran into Sammie, knocking her over.
"Oh man, there you guys are," he panted, "I was worried that Nathan got us lost."
"Hey! I can't help it that the guide droid gave us the wrong directions!" he snapped, before realizing that he was on top of Sammie. His face immediately became a deep crimson and he stammered as Sammie stared up at him.
"Um...Nathan...could you get off of me please?" Sammie asked, her cheeks becoming pink.
"O-Of course! J...just give me a minute...I mean I'll do it now! S-Sorry!" he stuttered as he got off of her. Sammie smiled and got up, brushing herself off and saying a polite "Thank you."
"So, how'd you guys' visit to the village go?" Cass asked as all of us continued walking to the studio. Hunter shrugged.
"He only went because he wanted to flirt with the tea shop girl," Nathan informed us all.
"Hey, she's really nice, okay? At least I don't sit around going 'notice me' every time she passes by," Hunter retorted, to which Nathan blushed.
"I don't do that!" he claimed. We all knew he was lying.
"Whatever you say, Nate," Nya laughed as we approached the studio doors. Once we entered and checked in, we walked through the hall leading to the studio where the rest of our teammates were.
"I wonder when we're gonna learn Airjitzu though. Sensei's really been putting it off," Cass said. Nya nodded.
"I recall Lloyd saying that Sensei Wu's been sick lately," I informed them. He said that Sensei was beginning to get sick from the tea that kept him alive and allowed him to live for as long as he has. It's quite unfortunate. Though, I hope it doesn't kill Sensei. There's still so much more I want to learn.
"Well, if Sensei or the guys don't teach you all, then Karma and I will. We could even start teaching you guys when we get back to the Bounty," Lilly offered, to which I nodded in agreement. I'd love to teach them!
They all smiled. "I'd love that," Sammie agreed, to which the others nodded. Then it's settled. We'll begin teaching them when we get home. Oh, I can't wait to be a teacher!
Nya opened the door to the studio then, entering on Dareth shouting "And that's a wrap!" I couldn't see where the Ninja were, but they were starting to take the cameras down. Wait! That's the final shot!?
"A wrap!? But we just got here!" Nya exclaimed, sounding disappointed. The rest of us joined her, all of us disappointed.
"Oh, hey you guys! You gals are just in time to teach some of the girls how to apply makeup!" Dareth approached us, smiling like a complete idiot. I narrowed my eyes. How to apply makeup!? Sure, I'd teach that, but I feel we should be teaching something more worthwhile! Like, study for school or respect your peers (unless they're festering piles of dog crap). Not applying makeup!
Nya scoffed. "Makeup!? You're gonna need makeup when I rearrange your face!" she shouted as Sammie and I tried to restrain her. I watched Cole and Hunter run over to restrain Cass, who was swinging at Dareth furiously. Gosh, and I thought Dareth was actually a cool guy! I guess it could just be money driving his actions though...
"Dareth, it's not really fair to not include the girls...and the guys. They're a part of our team now. They deserve to be in the spotlight just as much as we do," Lloyd approached him, placing his hands on his hips. My heartbeat sped up at the sound of his voice, making me smile. Gosh, even after a year I still have this. Is this normal?
"But you guys are an all-boy thing! A boyband! Having girls in it ruins the image," Dareth complained.
"Um, Nathan and I are here too, yet you didn't include us," Hunter spoke up, crossing his arms.
"You guys aren't as popular as them though, or attractive in my opinion," Dareth said. Hunter gave an offended look, his eyes widening.
"Excuse me!?" both of the brothers said in unison.
"I can assure you I'm far more handsome than that walking porcupine over there!" Hunter exclaimed, pointing at Kai. The master of fire looked offended.
"You wanna go, shortstack!?" he shouted back, stomping over to the orange ninja.
"Shortstack!? I'm taller than you!"
"You're probably wearing heels!"
"Am not!"
"Suuuure!"
"You're the one that wears heels, sea urchin!"
"Excuse me!?"
"Will you both SHUT UP!?" Nya shouted in frustration, quieting the both of them. Hunter and Kai shot glares at each other before looking back at Dareth. Lilly walked over to chubby man, sighing.
"Where's the real Dareth?" she questioned. Dareth raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"I said where's the real Dareth? The Dareth I know wouldn't be all jerky like this. What happened, man?"
"Nothing happened. I'm still me," Dareth claimed, moving her aside.
"Doesn't seem like it. The money must be rotting your brain," she crossed her arms, glaring. The chubby man sighed.
"Anyway, as I was saying, you guys are irresistible! Having more girls on the team would ruin that image," he argued.
"Eh, the irresistibility is debatable," Kai smirked as he heard the collective squeals of fangirls behind him. They all stood in a fenced-off doorway, before the doors shut, hiding us all from view. Kai then put his hand around Lilly's waist, pulling her closer. "But I agree, they shouldn't be alienated."
Dareth paused for a moment, then sighed, leaning on both Jay and Zane's shoulders. "Listen, I don't tell you guys how to do your business, don't tell me how to do mine," he sounded impatient, before smiling again, "Remember when you guys saved Ninjago and no one cared!? Well now everyone cares and loves it! Keep doing what you're doing and people will keep loving you!" The chubby man pulled a rolled up teen's magazine from his pocket and handed it to Lloyd, who looked at it in confusion.
" 'Sensei Lloyd'? But I'm only training to become one right now!" he said, looking at Dareth. The chubby man shrugged.
"Who cares? It gets you more fans," he smiled as the green ninja looked at it with concern. He passed it to Cole, who gave a disgusted look at a page.
"Honestly, why do you keep writing about a supposed 'love triangle' going on between Jay, Nya, and I? It's been over! Might I add that Nya has a girlfriend now!?" he complained, glaring at the chubby man. Dareth shrugged.
"Hey, the media loves drama!" he defended himself as Cole passed it to Lilly. She took one look at the inside of the magazine and made a disgusted look.
"Well, they sure 'love' some of us," she sighed, glaring at the page. Kai looked at the page.
"Okay, first off, whoever is saying that about my sister is dead," he growled as his free hand burst into flames. He quickly extinguished it though. "...and that isn't true. That person's just a loser," he said in a much softer voice, kissing her on the head. Lilly sighed again, passing the magazine to Sammie.
"Well, look on the bright side, we more popular than-" the master of light began to say before her voice cut off abruptly. Her eyes were focused on a part of the page and her expression revealed hints of shock and sadness. Cole immediately became concerned.
"Sammie, is everything okay?" he questioned, levitating over to her. She instantly threw the magazine onto the floor, huffing, then smiling nervously.
"Ugh, what terrible people, am I right? They need better things to do in life," her voice shook, despite sounding confident, "Eh...now...if you excuse me...I'll be in the ladies room..."
She walked away quickly, leaving us all with bewildered looks. Her brother slowly levitated over to the magazine and picked it up, looking at the article. He then crumpled it up, throwing it to the floor.
"I really oughta bash those writers heads in," he sighed, brushing his floating, fluffy hair from his face.
"What'd she read?" Nathan asked, just as concerned as Cole. The ghostly ninja turned towards him.
"The stupid article was comparing her to all of us, saying that she's the weakest out of us all. What a load of B. S! She's just as strong as all of us! What do they know anyway!?" he informed us all. I really felt sorry for her, though I didn't know what the article fully said. The hate imposed on a few of our teammates affects us all, but it hurts them even more.
"Should I-?" Nathan began to ask, but Cole held up a hand.
"No, Nathan, you don't need to comfort her. I'll handle this when she decides to come out of the girl's bathroom," the ghostly ninja said, casting a concerned glance towards the bathrooms. I really hope it hasn't hurt Sammie too much...