A/N: I still can't believe this has already been up a week. Thanks to the many veiwers of this story and I hope you enjoy the second chapter!

The next morning (or later on that morning, depending on your perspective) greeted the ninja with the usual. The girls were training in the yard, Zane was making breakfast, and the other boys were playing video games.

Zane zoned out. He had noticed something really weird about Alicia. She was always awake by the second beep of her alarm clock, and dressed a minute later. This morning, she had slept until the seventh beep on her alarm clock, and wasn't dressed until three minutes had passed. Zane knew something was up.

I never liked you, anyway. The nindroid cringed at the now-familiar phrase. The phrase that plagued his nightmares, day after day (well, night after night). The phrase that he knew Alicia would say in the near future.

"Is something burning?" Zane heard Lloyd ask. He looked down at the eggs he was making, almost yelling when he saw black smoke coming off of them.


"What happened, Zane?" Nya asked. "You never burn anything." The Ice Ninja glanced down. "I guess I just… zoned out," he answered. Everyone glanced worriedly at him. That is, everyone but Alicia. She was looking highly amused, if anything. That was very unlike her.

I never liked you anyway. Zane winced again as the phrase jumped into his head. Alicia always said it in his dreams. Maybe those nightmares were coming true?

"You okay, Zane?" Cole asked, snapping Zane out of it. "You haven't seemed yourself for a while." "I am fine," the nindroid replied. Everyone- but Alicia, for some reason- gave him doubtful looks as he stood. "If none of you mind, I need some time alone."

After a minute had passed, Keres decided to make her move. "I need to go," she said. "Okay," replied the Water Ninja. The Master of Spirits waited until her back was turned to the ninja before smiling wickedly. This was turning out better than she had planned.

Zane sat meditating in his room, thinking. There was something different about the Wind Ninja, but he just couldn't place his finger on it. It hit him like a brick. It was never Alicia. She probably had a doppelganger, or something of the sort. If that was the case, where was Alicia?

His door opened and there stood fake Master of Wind. "You are not Alicia," he stated. The girl laughed. "I never was," she replied. "My name is Keres. Did you really think I was that pathetic excuse for an Elemental Master? All the Masters really could learn from those Time Twins. They saw our potential. We Masters could rule Ninjago. However, due to that Garmadon and his stupid little brother Wu, it never happened."

"Take that back!" the nindroid roared. No one insulted Master Wu. Especially not in front of one of the ninja. Keres tsked him. "Your time is over, Master of Ice," she stated, punching him in the gut.

A brief battle ensued. Both were quite exhausted by the end of the scuffle, but Keres emerged victorious. "I guess I… underestimated you," she panted. "But you'll… still never be… as strong… as me." "I… beg to… differ," Zane whispered. Keres cuffed Zane's hands and feet, rendering him defenseless. Keres then jumped out the window and flew away on her Dragon.


"Hey, has anyone seen Alicia or Zane since breakfast?" Jay asked, worriedly. Everyone else shook their heads. "They're probably training together below the temple," Lloyd answered. "It seems like something they would do," Nya agreed. "But they also missed lunch. That's extremely unusual for them." "Nya's right," Cole added. "They've been gone for too long for them to be okay."

"You guys are overreacting," Kai said. "I mean, those two are the best ninja on this team. If something bad has happened, they'd be able to work it out themselves unless something was really wrong. They know their limits, when they should call for backup. They're probably fine."

Everyone nodded, hoping the Master of Fire was right.

A/N: Well, that's that. You know things are only going to get worse from here.

Review!

~NG