Chapter 1: The Barn and the Bandit

And so it begins! XD This is bound to be one interesting story! Before we get to it, we want to thank you all for the reviews on the Let it Go rewrites! We hope to post new songs maybe every now and then depending on time. Speaking of posting time, I was suddenly surprised with the news that I would be going on a road trip for the next two weeks, so I won't be able to do any posting then. But when I'm back I'll try to post two chapters to make up for it. ;) Sorry about the delay! And after just starting a story too! I have some packin' to do so this is a short first chapter, but I hope it'll give you a taste of what's coming next! Anyways, enough of the chit-chat; there's a story to start! XD

Blowing on his steaming tea, Sensei Wu looked out the window. The sun was just starting to set, golden light streaming in through the kitchen window and filling the room with an orange light. He reached down to grab a spoon and put in a little more sugar—

Crash!

In a nearby room, muffled arguing could be heard most clearly over the gentle evening breeze. Wu sighed, put down the spoon, and proceeded to the living room.

"Bruh, why weren't you looking where you were swinging that thing?!"

"I didn't remember that vase bein' there a few hours ago, y'all!"

"It doesn't matter. I think we can all agree that Kai's sword skills are getting rusty."

"Kinda like you and your nunchucks, Garbage."

"Hey, not true!"

"Wait, guys, who is on dinner duty?"

"Ohhh…I knew I was forgetting something!"

"Lloyd! This is the third time in a row!"

"Everyone chill!"

"I'm physically incapable of becoming overheated."

"Not you, Zane; you're fine. But everyone else needs to!"

"What was I doing?! I was just sitting here the whole time!"

"Well, now you're arguing!"

"Why are you yelling?!"

"YOU'RE YELLING!"

"WHY IS EVERYONE YELLING?!"

"SILENCE, YOUNG SAUSAGES!"

The ninja stopped and looked over at Wu, who stood in the doorway taking in the scene. A nearby table was covered in clay shards where a vase once was, with Kai standing by it, practice sword in hand. Jay, Tia, Ivy, Skylor, and Cole were standing up, looking like they had been the ones screaming at each other, while Carol, Mac, Zane, Nya, and Lloyd sat on the couches with the "I didn't do anything!" look all over their faces.

Sensei Wu sighed, rubbing his ears. "That's better. Well, I have decided, that since we have just defeated another enemy, it will be quiet in Ninjago for a moment. Well, besides what goes on here." He gave them all a stern look. "You could use a lesson in wisdom. So, I am going to tell you a story."

"Like, a bed time story?" asked Lloyd, looking confused.

"No. This one is told while the sun's still up and is too long for little kids," he answered. "Anyways, now I will start!

The ninja looked around at each other with equally skeptical looks. But they all settled down on the couches or the floor, feeling relieved that this time they would get off easy with a simple boring story.

"It began in 1875, with Kyle Smithereens. He owned a horse farm which he inherited from his parents who were now dead. Although he had a large farm and many horses, he was poor. This story, will now begin with Kyle working on his farm when a knock came from his door..."

"Smithereens! Open up!" said a commanding voice at the rough farmhouse's door.

"I'm a-comin'!" Kyle yelled back. He threw down the cloth he was using to polish his pitchfork and went over to the door. He opened the door to find a cleaned up looking young man with blonde hair and green eyes. He was wearing an expensive looking outfit including a deep green frock coat complete with the shiniest boots Kyle had ever seen. Even though it had been years since he saw another man from outside the farm district, he would recognize this one anywhere—Lawrence Green, the mayor's son.

"What do y'all want?" Kyle asked, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. He never liked the mayor with his outrageous taxes, and found his son even more annoying when it came to money.

"It's time to pay the bills." Lawrence replied, holding up a paper filled with numbers and red circles. Kyle glanced at it with disinterest.

"I don't got no money, y'all! In fact, there ain't nobody with money round these parts with all these taxes ya keep spillin' on us! So yer betta be on your way now." Kyle was about to close the door, but Lawrence stuck a shiny-booted foot in it before it could close and forced it back open.

"Then I'll just have to take this farm off your hands and make it into my factory." He smiled coldly, carefully folding up the paper.

"Y'all ain't takin' my farm!" Kyle was now standing straight upright with his hands by his side in fists. It was so hard to keep from punching the little brat.

"You have until next week to pay up," Lawrence said all businesslike. He handed Kyle the folded paper, which Kyle took with two fingers, trying to touch it as little as possible. Lawrence made a show of adjusting his hat, jumped onto his white horse, and he then rode down the country road out of sight.

If he thinks he can just stroll down here and take my farm, he better think again! Kyle thought as he walked back in his farmhouse to continue polishing his favorite pitchfork.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up!" Tia interrupted.

Sensei Wu took a deep breath. "What is so important that you must interrupt my story, young sausage?"

Tia lifted her chin. "I don't see what's so exciting about some dumb dude and his stupid bills!"

"Hey! I'm a-kinda likin' this Kyle guy!" Kai burst in. "He's got swagger!"

Tia looked like she was about to argue, but Sensei Wu cut in, clearing his throat. "The story is far from being over, my little sausage. There's a much more important lesson that comes in besides paying the bills."

Tia rolled her eyes, but let the matter drop. Wu continued with great flourish.

Kyle went around the farm, doing his daily chores. He milked the cows, fed the horses, and collected eggs from the chicken coop. While he worked, he thought about Lawrence, and how he could possible get himself out of this predicament. The milk and eggs he sold to the local rancher would never cover his numerous bills.

Maybe I can sell something else, he thought, looking around from where he stood in the horse stables. He spotted the towering stack of hay in the corner. I do have a lot of hay... It's been over ten years since he went to the town's marketplace, but it was worth a try, right?

He grabbed a large wheelbarrow, pounded in some hay, and began to wheel it away, towards the marketplace. Here goes nothin'...

Tessa Taylor peeked around from the corner of the alleyway where she was hidden. The marketplace was bustling with shoppers and sellers. She couldn't help but notice that all the sellers were from the lower class, wearing the cheap, tattered clothes that distinguished them, while the shoppers were mostly from the upper class. They had on their ridiculous-looking dresses with the bustle skirts, or the pointless frock coats. How they could stand wearing that junk, Tessa had no idea. She always preferred her grey buckskin pants, faded purple cotton shirt, and fur vest. And of course, her bandana and wide brimmed hat. She can't have anyone recognizing her, after all.

She came out of her hiding place and walked down the busy street, slipping her hand into people's pockets and purses and taking a good portion of their cash. By the time she reached the end of the street, she had filled her own pockets with jingling change. Ha, ha! Take that, Jason Garbage-Grant! And I'm just getting started!

You would think that if you spent twelve years stuck together in the same orphanage, ended up with the same occupation, and lived in the same bandit camp, you would be pretty good friends, right? Wrong! Tessa and Jason had hated each other from the moment they first met. Now they constantly compete for who can steal the most merchandise. Yesterday, he had beat her by one coin. One coin! She was determined to win today, no matter what.

Tessa scanned the row of booths, and her eyes settled on a jewelry stand. Bull's eye.

And there is where I need to cut it. Hope you enjoyed! I think you can tell where the characters are coming from in Wu's story…XD Till whenever I post next, have an amazing week(s)! :)