Illuminate : Chapter 1
"Class, today we will be continuing our study of Ninjago history. Can anyone tell me approximately when we left off?" The one bright eyed student in the room raised her hand. The thin, pale teacher looked around the room and asked
"Anyone other than Gabriele?" Everybody else in the room was either half asleep or chatting quietly with their friends. When the teacher's glaring eyes fell on the latter, they quickly sate up as if they actually cared. It was early May, and everyone was tired of learning. Well, almost everyone. The young woman sighed, then turned to the eager girl.
"Yes, Gabriele."
"Yesterday we finished with the Treaty of Changdu that ended the Fifty Year War. The Fifty Year War was actually fifty-four years long, and it was thought to be started by trade disputes between northern Ninjago and the Dark Realm. Ninjago refused to provide more than their original quota of weapons, and the Dark Realm fought back. The treaty increased the quota by one hundred more swords per year, but the Dark Realm cannot manufacture any of its own weapons and they have to provide the metal needed to create the excess swords," Gabriele recited.
"Good," the history teacher replied. "Now, following the war was a two hundred year peace that ended with the First Ninja War." At the sound of the word 'ninja' the students all looked up at the teacher. She could not hide her self-satisfied smirk. "I'm glad that you all have decided to pay attention now. Who can tell me who the two sides were in the First Ninja War?" All of the hands in the room shot into the air.
Gabriele zoned out as someone else answered. She knew everything about the Spinjitsu Masters: Kai, master of fire, Jay, master of lightning, Zane, master of ice, and Cole, master of earth. Their elements matched their personalities. Kai was fiery and impulsive and almost impossible to stop, Jay was bright and electric, Zane was stoic and unmovable (there were even some rumors that he was a robot!) and Cole was their fearless leader, strong, tough, and wise. Gabriele wanted to be like him. Cole was her hero. Literally. One day she had been shopping for her mother in Jamonicai Village and the Hypnobrai had invaded. All that she could remember was being hypnotized then seeing Cole plunge the antidote-filled staff into the public fountain. She had tried to get closer, to thank him, but he and the others had disappeared without a trace. Most afternoons, after completing her homework of course, she would dream about what it would be like to be a ninja, fighting bravely to save the people of Ninjago from evil. Everytime that she envisioned herself like that, though, her 'normal' logical laughed and told her to snap out of it. Heck, Gabriele couldn't even do 20 push-ups in P.E., much less defend herself and others. Gabriele snapped out of her reverie at the sound of students laughing in the halls and the people around her packing up their books.
"Alright class, I expect everyone to be prepared to name the seven regions of Ninjago by memory by Monday. Have a nice weekend!" Gabriele hurriedly packed her backpack in time to follow her friends out the door. Just as she walked outside, she thought she saw a flash of red disappear around the side of the building. "Hey guys, I'll be right back," she called as she ran around the corner. She heard the sound of battle, and ran toward it. Just as she was about to discover where the clamor was coming from, a light step sounded behind her. Before Gabriele could turn, her body was pressed against the rock wall. She screamed loudly, and her attacker struck her head with a blunt weapon. The world went black.