A/N: Here it is! The first chapter of The World Always Needs New Heroes! I will start off by thanking everyone who submitted their OCs. I had a blast reading them, and it was difficult to choose only seven. So, without further ado, I present to you the lucky OCs that I have picked to star in this story! However, don't worry if your OC isn't on the list, as I may include them later on in special roles and cameos! (*cough* Noodle Factory *cough*)

Anways...here are the OCs and their owners!

1. Monika Weil (Hex the Ninja)

2. Jayde Kessra Meirene (Ayumira)

3. Aqua Light (AwesomeAuthor13)

4. Norwin Swiftering (NellisEllis)

5. Damien Porter (Rider4Life)

6. Craig Granger (TheBigCapybara)

7. Emylia Amorru (Kymeara)

Once again, thank you all who sent me OCs, and I hope you enjoy The World Always Needs New Heroes even if your OC wasn't chosen.

Note: All chapters are called 'episodes' in this story.


Episode 1: The Invitation

The sky was a vast canopy filled with dozens of shining stars, their glows illuminating the world below and their radiance casting down rays of individual light onto Ninjago. Under these glittering lines of space, dozens of mysterious night figures slipped through the city with ease. Their faces were covered with pitch-black masks. Their eyes scanning the area around them to find any trace of those who might catch a glance of their bodies.

But all is silent.

Midnight was always a feared time of the day. Alleys were abandoned. Streets were empty. And the only sound that could be heard was the soft breeze that blew across Ninjago as it caressed the cold stone of buildings and the flickering lights of the lampposts. No cars were to be seen, nor were there any floating stop-signs or high-tech buses prowling the pathways. Ninjago City had changed its ways, deciding on taking on a less futuristic style in honor of a certain nindroid that had sacrificed his life for the sake of his friends and his home. Many citizens had taken it upon themselves to visit the funeral and the statue of Zane, as well as give their condolences to the remaining ninja and their respective allies.

However, the figures were not there to give their thanks or praise. They were not there to chat, cry, or laugh. In fact, they were not to be noticed at all. Only to be seen as a trick of the eye to some person staring out a window, or a mere shadow of a trashcan or dumpster oddly shaped and placed.

Yes...they were night figures indeed. Over and under, left and right, they canvassed Ninjago City with little to no noise coming from their traveling forms. In their hands they held papers, papers of great value and papers the night figures planned to deliver by the time the sun rose and the people of Ninjago awakened to the sight of orange clouds and morning dew on the grass. Each figure held a round, clear item in their hand. An item made of the purest light and darkest matter. An item that would radiant with a blinding white light whenever near their objectives.

And their objectives? Elemental Masters.

The night figures blended into the darkness of the city with little to no trouble. Their footsteps muffled by their shoes and mouths closed tight. Every few moments one would slink into the shadows. Leave. Never to be seen again until meeting up near the docks where they had all come from. One by one they left. One by one they went their own way until only one remained. The item tightly grasped in his hands, the night figure narrowed his eyes and continued his journey towards the outskirts of Ninjago City. His other friends, more like allies, were preforming the same procedures. Find the master. Hang the paper. Leave.

It was simple. They had been preparing for days, no, months. Months of tracking elemental masters. Months of locating those who did not live in Ninjago City and in the middle of nowhere. Months of getting ready for the taste of victory...

The night figure shook his head and scolded himself. Don't put the cart before the horse, is what he had been taught. One mistake and his master's plan would go down the drain...

One mistake. It's strange, some would say, how fate works. How one simple mess up can change the course of history. Feet hurrying on the ground, the figure didn't notice an extra paper from his pocket slip out and under a nearby dumpster...

One mistake. One chance of destiny.

The smokey aroma of the city soon disappeared the further he walked, and the figure could soon spy the sight of a small house, its lights long turned off and inhabitants fast asleep. Creeping towards the home, the night figure took out a razor-sharp dagger from his sash and quietly placed the paper he was holding onto the house's wall. With an accurate aim, he then stabbed the knife right into the invitation's top, firmly planting it into a stone crack and ensuring it would not be falling anytime soon. Seeing his work done, the night figure then brushed off some dirt on his sleeve and turned around, prepared to head back into the darkness. He had no idea that the next morning a young man would wake up and yawn. Had no idea that this ordinary man would get out of bed and prepare for another normal day. Had no idea that this man of destiny would reluctantly go outside and find a strange paper stuck to his house. A paper that had a familiar looking face and a note that read...

You Are Invited To The Tournament.


Ninjago City

"NYA! NYA! NYA! NYA! NYA! NYA!" Nya dropped her tools in surprise at the sound of Dareth and the students yelling their heads off outside of her shop door. It was just another day in Ninjago City, and Misako had convinced the black-haired engineer to try and relax by working on some new machinery.

Of course...Dareth and the kids had pleaded to come along.

And of course...she agreed. But, she had hoped to at least get some peace and relaxation in her old mechanic store, especially since she had bribed the children to go to the mall and hang out there with their childish teacher.

"NYA! NYA! NYA!" Dareth shouted. "NYA-GAH!" The metal doors suddenly flew open, and the brown ninja and his students fell to the ground in a jumbled heap.

Nya held in an amused chuckle, and lifted up her wielding mask to get a better look at the comical scene.

"Yes?" She asked lightly.

"Nya!" The kids said in unison, the faces both a mix of worry and excitement.

"What do you guys need?" Nya questioned, and put down her belt of tools and gears. "I thought you were spending your time at the mall." She frowned at their nervous expressions. "What happened? Are you all all right?"

"We found something!" Gene exclaimed, and held up a tan piece of paper before facing it forwards.

"It's got Zane's face on it!" Sally said.

"W-what?" Nya sputtered, and snatched the paper away from Gene. "Where in the world did you-"

"Sally found it hidden under a dumpster while looking for Dareth's missing hair gel." Brad explained.

"...missing hair gel?" Nya said, giving a wary eye towards the childish ninja.

"Hey, don't look at me! These rascals knocked the can outta my hands and into the air!" Dareth defended.

Nya merely rolled her eyes in a joking manner, but flipped back to 'serious mode' when she realized that Zane's face was in fact on the paper. Being under a dumpster for who knows how long, it was a bit grimy and dirty, but nevertheless legible, and sent chills down her spine. Just seeing her deceased friend in a drawing made her want to both cry and freak out, but she kept her emotions inside, not wanting to kids to see her panic.

"It says Zane's alive..." Sally whispered, her voice soft and haunting. Nya ran her fingers alongside the very words that claimed this to be true, and she felt her breathing become rapid.

"Master Chen has personally invited you to participate in his 'Tournament of Elements,'" Nya read aloud.

"The Tournament of Elements?" Gene said in a confused tone.

"Master Chen?" Sally squeaked.

Master Chen. Just the name of that vile, cunning criminal sent Nya's blood boiling and her fists clenching up. He was the man who took away her brothers. He was the man that had Zane.

But...why would this invitation be in Ninjago City? Were her brothers in danger? Were they already dead?

Relax, Nya. She forced herself to stop her body from shaking. They're not dead. They CAN'T be dead.

Could they?

"This doesn't make sense," She finally said after a few minutes of tormenting silence, and the shop's thick, muddy atmosphere made her gut churn with every word she spoke.

"What should we do?" Gene asked.

"Maybe we should get the Senseis?" Sally suggested. "They might know what to do."

"I doubt this would make sense to them," Nya said, and gently folded the mildewy invitation before placing it into her bag. "But, it's worth a shot. I need everyone to get packed and ready now." Dareth and the kids immediately began to sprint away in hopes of grabbing their belongings in time.

"Where are we going?" Brad inquired before following his friends.

"The others should be at the Monastery," Nya informed. "And hopefully we're find our answers there."


Monastery

Sensei Wu felt the sweet, enriching aroma of his tea seep into his lungs and exit through his nose. The air around him was filled with the mist of cooking liquid and the heat of burning candles. The windows were closed and locked, as was the door, and ensured that he would be allowed to meditate in peace. Resting his mind was a way of letting Wu contemplate the recent events, and he would often think of new ways to help his students and allies, including five missing ninja. Despite the fact Wu seemed completely calm and serene, inside an endless void of stirring emotions and worried thoughts plagued his heart. The ninja were his family and his sons. They were the ones he had entrusted to save Ninjago, but now it seemed like they had failed.

In and out. In and out. Wu's chest rose and fell as the seconds passed, and his eyes were shut tight, and let him explore a vast color of black in hopes of finding some sign that the ninja were okay. Chen was a tricky, crafty being, and Wu had been scolding himself every day for letting the ninja go after such a snake of a man.

In and out. In and out.

The candles flickered with a rhythmic pattern, and gave off an eerie glow that made sure to encase the room with a dim softness.

In and out. In and out.

The mist above his head swirled abruptly, and their dark gray color seemed to rival that of a thunderstorm's.

In and out. In and out.

His cycle of breathing seemed to never cease.

Suddenly, an abnormal breeze caressed Wu's cheek, and blew across the room in a swaying manner. The once bright candles cut their light off, sending wisps of smoke flying up onto the ceiling. Mist now a pitch-black, the room turned dark, and Wu felt the area around him cease to give off its illumination. A chill went down his spine, and the hairs on his neck stood up in random occurrences. However, he refused to open his eyes, opting instead to let his mind drift into the unknown...


He instantly thought of Zane. Body turning numb, Wu eyes snapped open, only to be blinded by the shocking cold. Looming mountains of gray and midnight blue towered over him. Every inch of the ground was frozen, and his feet sunk into the soft, but dangerous snow as he hurried himself along. The wind was merciless, and blew frigid shards of ice that dug into Wu's skin, causing bead-like droplets of blood to fall onto the white floor. Snow. Snow. Snow. That was all he could process. Wrapping his arms around his shoulders, Wu could feel his breathing becoming shallow and rough, and his bones shook from the intense cold. In the midst of the deadly snow-storm, Wu felt confusion enter his mind. Was this a vision of Zane? Was this a vision of more danger in the future?

CRACK! Wu barely had time to register the piercing noise before the ground beneath him was neatly sliced in half. Legs like stone, Wu helplessly watched as the crack spread farther and farther before his knees finally gave way and he fell into an icy grave. Sight obscured, he waited for the haunting vision to end and for him to wake up in his dimly lit room again.

Except, it never happened. Before the ground could cause his doom, a hot sensation soared through his system, and Wu slowly felt his mind begin to clear. His feet suddenly touched rock, and he balanced himself out before wiping the frost from his eyelids and peering into the darkness. Clothes now a bit wet from the melted snow, he brushed off the remaining layer of white.

"Is anyone there?" He asked the empty space, only to receive no reply. Someone, or something, must have saved him from the end, or else he would have woke up back in the monastery. "Please, can anyone hear me?"

No answer. Wu frowned, but refused to give up, and began walking into abyss. Up above, the once roaring snow-storm halted its noise, leaving the area below to suffer the immediate and unnerving quietness.

I must find a way to awaken from his dream or find a clue to this puzzle, he thought.

Whooooosh. Wu stopped walking, feeling the presence of something rub against his back.

"Where are you?" He questioned, his voice firm, but not demanding.

Whooooosh. Another rub against his body, this time on his leg. Wu remained still, not wanting to scare away the visitors. Gaze unflinching, his eyes quickly adjusted to the dark as he tried to make out the mysterious figures.

Whoosh! This time, the sound was louder, and Wu gasped as a small orb of light suddenly floated down next to his head. It was round and smooth when he pressed his finger on the surface with caution.

"Ah, what is this?" He mused, and clasped his hands around the strange object. At least he could now see, for the orb glowed brighter and brighter the more his grasp tightened. White and pure, the light exploded into a million pieces that scattered across the room, positioning themselves in the darkness like tiny, illuminating stars. Out of these stars, Wu could see several black silhouettes exit and make their way over in front of his view, their faces not yet revealed. Without a word, the figures continued their trek towards Wu, and each time they walked in front of a star, he could see what they looked like.

"Memorize them, Wu," He reminded himself, "For they are important."

The first had dark, wavy brown hair dyed a shade of bluish-black that seemed to glimmer in the dark like the stars themselves. Wu could tell this figure was a girl, and her chocolate eyes radiated kindness.

The second had long, dark hair with heavy bangs that blended in with the surrounding area. Her olive skin contrasted with this first trait, and her left dark brown eye was flecked with a startling gold.

The third, which Wu could see was a boy, had hazel-nut colored hair and the same colored eyes, his being different from the rest because a pair of pink-rimmed glasses was placed above his nose and shrouded parts of his other features.

The fourth was smiling, an attribute Wu found interesting, and this bright trait matched her appearance. With shiny, golden-brown hair, light 'Alice blue' eyes, and freckles that gave off a somewhat childish nature, he could tell she was an optimistic one.

The fifth was another boy, and had a much more reserved looking attire. His dark coco hair was styled in a neat flip, and his midnight blue eyes seemed somewhat serious, giving off a stern and quiet aura.

The sixth was a girl, and her scowl made Wu frown, but nevertheless he paid attention to her looks, as her features were the only things to go by after the vision ended. Her cold gray eyes that flashed scarlet (a trait Wu found...familiar) seemed to stare into his soul, and her dark brown hair was held high in a ponytail.

The seventh and last one that Wu saw was a boy, and he looked quite like the previous figure before him, minus the on and off redness in the irises. His hair was a few shades lighter than the other girl's brown, being a fallow color, and his gray eyes were much more darker, and seemed to give off a tactical and calculating look about them. Wu tentatively took a step forwards, hoping to speak, but the figures sensed his movement, and quickly scattered like mice into the darkness again.

"No, wait!" Wu shouted, and reached out, only to grab the empty air. "Who are you!?" The howling sounds of the icy wind filled his ears, and Wu gasped as the walls around him broke apart, letting in a flurry of snow that pounded his body with agonizing slashes and kicks. Losing conciousness, the sensei closed his eyes and awaited reality to bring him back...

"WU!" A voice yelled. "WU, ARE YOU IN THERE!?

Huh?! Wu inhaled sharply as the pounding sound of someone at his door brought his mind to the real world again. The candles were long gone, and he inadvertently sniffed the smell of smoke into his nose. Half-coughing, half heavily breathing from the vision's ordeal, he heard the voice once more.

"Wu!" It said. Misako? Was that Misako? Wu stood up and felt the blood rush to his head. Stumbling towards the door like a drunk man, he flung open the entrance and straightened up before his friend could see his somewhat delirious state.

"Yes?" Wu said to a frenzied Misako. Her hair was a bit unruly because of the humid atmosphere in the area around the monastery, but she looked as beautiful as always.

"Nya, Dareth, and the kids are here with some...surprising news," Misako said.

Nya?

"I thought that she was at Ninjago City hoping to ease her mind about the ninja," Wu said.

"Well, they're not," Misako said quickly. "And they have something that you must see now!"

"What are we waiting for, then?" Wu grabbed his staff from the side of the wall and began to walk in a swift pace down the hallway. "Let us find out what this commotion is all about."


Nya had a bad habit of tapping her screwdriver on the table whenever nervous.

Tap, tap, tap, tap. She bit her lip and squirmed in her seat.

Tap, tap, tap, tap. She sighed and glanced at a banzai tree in the corner of the room.

Tap, tap, tap, tap-

"I would prefer you to stop," A voice said from behind her, and Nya turned around to see Garmadon giving her a stern look. "That table chips easily."

Nya's face reddened, and she put the screwdriver in her pocket before anymore damage could be done to the wood. In front of her, Dareth wasn't doing too hot either. Ever since ordering the kids out of the room, he was a bit jittery, and the fact that his eyes were glued to the poster of a thought-to-be-dead friend wasn't helping. Nya gave him a comforting stare, but she knew it probably wouldn't help.

"When is Wu supposed to get here?" She asked.

"Now," Another voice cut through the air like a knife, and Nya smiled at the sight of her sensei and Misako entering the room. "Good to see you, Nya."

"You too, Sensei Wu," Nya said politely.

"So, what is the problem Misako was informing me about?" Wu asked.

"Oh!" Nya gestured to the large paper on the table. "It's this."

Wu, Garmadon, and Misako gathered around the ominous letter. Nya saw flashes of sadness, confusion, anger, and even fear go across their faces, especially Wu.

"Zane's alive?!" Misako gasped.

"This...is not good, Wu," Garmadon stated the obvious.

"I know, brother," Wu ran his fingers through his beard and studied the paper. "I know."

"It's from Master Chen," Nya said, not bothering to contain the bitterness in her tone.

"Careful, Nya," Wu warned. "A bitter mind can blind the morals of some."

"Sorry," Nya apologized, and decided to hold her tongue until she was needed.

"Why would Chen send this out?" Misako inquired. "What does this mean for Kai, Jay, Cole, Lloyd, and Zane?"

"I do not understand this either," Garmadon admitted. "Chen has always been one for games...but this is extremely odd considering the fact he should be dealing with four powerful ninja."

Nya felt her blood turn cold, and she steadied her breathing in hopes of controlling the racing emotions in her mind.

"Does...does this mean they're in trouble?" Dareth spoke up from the sidelines.

"Maybe..." Wu. "But, let us not be completely alarmed."

"Sensei, are you all right?" Nya asked, seeing that Wu was a bit unhinged by the invitation.

"No," Wu said bluntly.

"Oh...well, what is it?"

"This 'Tournament of Elements' may be related to a vision I have just recently experienced," Wu said cryptically.

"How so, brother?" Garmadon inquired.

"The vision that I explored had several girls and boys, all whom I could sense had some level of importance and specialness to them," Wu explained.

"Your vision and this invitation can't be a coincidence," Misako said.

"But, how does this Tournament of Elements relate to them?" Nya asked.

"Fate..." Wu paused to consider his next words. "Fate has a funny way of speaking its mind. My vision...it was both amazing and terrifying. The realest one I've had in a long time. The ones I saw...I think I know what they're purpose in this tournament may be."

"And that is?" Garmadon said.

"They are elemental masters."

"Wait, elemental masters?" Nya exclaimed. "I thought only Kai, Jay, Cole, Lloyd, and Zane had elemental powers."

"We...lied to them," Garmadon said softly. "But for a very good reason...which I will now have Wu explain." He took a step back from the table.

Wu sighed. "We led them to believe they were the only ones with elemental powers because we wanted them to feel special."

Nya pursed her lips. "Okay, then. But, why?"

"Well, for starters, we never expected them to find out there were other elemental masters in the first place," Wu said. "But, that is not imperative right now. What is imperative is finding these elemental masters and allying with them."

"And why would we do that?" Dareth asked. "We barely know them, after all."

"Because if Chen has the other ninja on the island, we might be able to convince these guys to find them," Nya put two and two together. "Since Chen doesn't know them, he won't suspect that they'll be working for us."

"Exactly," Wu said.

"But, how are going to find these elemental masters?" Misako said.

"Well..." Nya considered all the possible options and ways. "I have a few ideas..."


Ninjago City

"Nya, are you sure this is legal?" Misako asked from Nya's side, the latter furiously typing codes into her computer screen.

"Absolutely," Nya replied, then lowered her voice. "Not."

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" Nya said quickly. "Listen, Misako. This is one of the ways we'll be able to find the masters, I promise."

"If you say so..." Misako watched with intent as Nya continued to hack her way into the Ninjago Security System from her shop's computer. Her plan was to look at the camera footage and find any signs of the figures that delivered the invitations. Beside her, Wu and Garmadon were busy looking up news reports on 'strange' events that could be related to elemental masters.

"How do you work this contraption?" Wu said in an irked tone, and held up the mouse, his face bewildered.

"I cannot seem to control this arrow thing," Garmadon mumbled from Nya's right, and the sound of rapid clicking echoed into the air.

"Don't worry, Nya!" Sally called from the other side of the room where she and the students were looking up news as well. "We'll get some info for you!"

"I owe you one, guys," Nya said, and stifled a laugh at the sight of her senseis having technology trouble. Turning her attention back to the screen, she zoomed in an apartment building and scanned the dark for any movement.

"There!" Misako shouted, and paused the video before pointing at a specific apartment door. Nya narrowed her eyes and could make out the nearly invisible form of a body placing a gleaming dagger onto the wall.

"That must be an elemental master's home," Nya concluded, and typed in some more requests. "All right, let's see what we've got."

"Nya, I think this is a violation of privacy," Misako whispered as Nya hacked into the government's files.

"Hey, we're trying to save the world here," Nya argued.

"Hmm...perhaps you are right.

"Ahah! Here we go!" Nya pulled up a document. "Wu, is this one of the masters from your vision?"

Wu walked over and nodded. "I am sure that is her."

"Name: Monika Weil," Nya said. "Age: 17-"

Just like the ninja, She thought sorrowfully. No, you can't get distracted now.

"Nya, you okay?" Misako shook Nya's shoulder.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine," Nya said, and continued to give information. "Lives with her grandparents and has records in school of her acting...odd, and refused to attend high school."

"That is a bit peculiar," Misako said.

"It does not matter how strange a person seems," Wu said. "Only who they are."

Nya didn't argue with this statement, as it reminded her of a certain nindroid.

"Okay, who's next?" She said after writing down Monika's name.

"Nya, I found something!" Gene shouted.

"Coming!" Nya stood up. "Misako, can you search through the night cameras to find anymore elemental masters?"

"It would be my pleasure," Misako said kindly.

"Thanks," Nya said, and ran over to Gene.

"I found news about a girl in Jamoicai Village," Gene said as Nya approached him.

"Really, what's it about?"

"Well..." Gene suddenly became a bit uncomfortable. "Take a look for yourself." He pushed himself away from the computer to allow his friend get a better view.

"Jamoicai News," Nya said. "The date reads that this happened a few years ago. In a recent matter of events. Emylia Amorru, a sixteen year old girl, was said to have killed her entire family using what spectators have described as 'blood red matter'. She molded and bended the material before slaughtering her mother, father, and sister, all who are now being buried in the Jamoicai Village Funeral Home Graveyard." Nya felt her throat close up and she backed away from the screen. "Wow..."

"D'you think that Sensei Wu chose the wrong people?" Gene asked.

"No," Nya was surprised at how serious her voice had become. "If Sensei Wu says that these are the ones destined to help us, then I believe him. Killer or not, everyone has their reasons, and we just have to wait and see if she can be trusted or not."

Gene merely nodded. "Oh, and I also found some other news about a girl on this beachside town that can manipulate water, as well as a boy that can fly."

"Really, let me see."

Gene pulled up a news article by Samuel L. Jackson. "He lives in a small town called Tritan, which is by the sea. He was writing about this girl's show for the carnival. Her name is Aqua Light." He clicked on a picture of the girl, and Nya recognized Aqua's features as the ones Wu told her about.

"That's definitely her," Nya confirmed. "Who's the last one?"

"Norwin Swiftering," Gene said, and pulls up a video on the web showing a boy flying across the sky, his arms stretched out wide and face smiling like crazy. "Reported to have flown over Ninjago City and caused a bit of trouble with traffic."

"Okay, got it," Nya said. "Thanks, Gene. This helps a lot."

"No problem," Gene said, and Nya began to walk back to her computer.

"Aqua Light, Emylia Amorru, and Norwin Swiftering," She muttered, and wrote their names write next to Monika's. "Four down, three more to go."

"Nya, I believe I have found some more," Misako said excitedly.

"Seriously?" Nya said in a shocked tone. She then went to Misako's side. "Where are they?"

Misako points to three more camera screens, and Nya sees three separate figures slip into the shadows after placing invitations onto the walls of their perspective elemental master's house.

"Where are those three locations?" Nya questions.

"Two just look like regular houses, but one looks like the Ninjago City Hospital," Misako said.

"Can I get one real quick?" Nya pulled up some more files and grinned. "Ah, here we go. Jayde Kessra Meirene, Craig Granger, and Damien Porter."

"So, how many more do we have left?" Misako inquired.

"Zero, now," Nya said happily. "Sensei Wu!"

"Yes, Nya?" Wu didn't lift his gaze from a now tangled keyboard wire. "Blasted technology these days..."

"I think we have all of the elemental masters from your vision!" She exclaimed.

"Is that so?" Wu dropped the keyboard and made his way to Nya.

"Yep. Monika Weil, Emylia Amorru, Craig Granger, Damien Porter, Jayde Kessra Meirene, Norwin Swiftering, and Aqua Light."

"Excellent work, my dear," Wu complimented.

"Thank you, Sensei," Nya bowed in respect. "But, how are we going to convince them to aid us?"

"I would be more worried about convincing them that this is all real," Misako chimed. "Most of them look like regular teens. I doubt they'll be willing to go on a life-threatening journey just like that."

"Well, it's not like we have a lot of options," Nya said grimly.

"Nya is right," Garmadon said. "If they're in, that's good, but if not, then we cannot waste our time trying to convince them otherwise."

"How about this: We ask them to join, and if they say no, then we give them one last chance and tell them to meet us at the noodle house down the street. It is popular, after all. Maybe they'll have changed their minds by then."

"And if they still don't come?"

Nya sighed. "Then...then we go to Chen's island ourselves and try to fix this mess." She held up the piece of scrapbook paper that contained all the names. "To cover more ground, we'll each take two people, minus Garmadon that will just get one. I'll go to Jayde and Craig, as they seem to live near one another. Misako can take Damien and Monika, Sensei Garmadon can enlist Aqua and Emylia, seeing that those two girls live outside of Ninjago City, and Sensei Wu can get Norwin."

"Sounds like a plan," Misako said. "Let's just hope we can execute it properly."

Nya smiled, and envisioned the new recruits kicking Chen's butt on his petty island. No one, and she meant NO ONE, messed with her team, let alone family.

So, Master Chen was getting bored with playing with her brother, wasn't he? He decided to play another game, hadn't he?

She cracked her knuckles.

Well, Nya was ready to play as well. And this time, she would make sure not to lose.


A/N: And that wraps up the first chapter of 'The World Always Needs New Heroes!' I hope you enjoyed this story, and please leave a fave, follow, and review if you can! I should be able to update every one-two weeks or so, as my schedule hasn't been too busy. To those wondering, the ninjas' ages have not been revealed, though Cole's voice actor said he was fourteen, that was in the very beginning of the first few episodes, so I'm guessing they've aged a significant amount since then, and that's why I made them seventeen. Thanks for reading!