A/N: Hey look guys! I actually updated! And in the month that's gone by, I still haven't been able to watch the rest of the episodes. XD Oh well. I hope this is worth the wait.

Oh, something I forgot to mention last chapter- I got the idea for putting a quote at the beginning of each chapter from stories by an author named HaiJu. (If you're into Danny Phantom, GO READ HER FICS NOW. THEY ARE MADE OF EPICNESS). Since I love quotes so much, I figured that it was a perfect format for me to try. :) So I'm giving it a shot, just to see how it works for me. You won't believe how difficult it is to find quotes that match your story, though…

"One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency."
― Arnold H. Glasow

The next morning dawned cold and dreary. A blanket of clouds hung over Ninjago, reflecting Cole's mood precisely. He had managed to fall into a fitful sleep the night before, but it hadn't helped him at all. His worries had returned the instant he opened his eyes.

"Morning, sleepy-head!" The cheerful voice of Kai's sister greeted him as he entered the dining room. "You're up later than usual. We were about ready to send out a search party to look for you!"

Cole somehow managed to find it in him to chuckle as he sat down at the table. "Oh, really? And who would have led that search party? Kai?"

"Hey!" the red-clad boy exclaimed indignantly, while the others burst into laughter.

"Okay, okay, we get it," Nya replied as the laughter faded, placing a plate of food in front of Cole. "After that kidnapping fiasco (1), you're convinced that you're the only one here capable of leading."

"You know it, Nya," Cole responded. His apprehension suddenly edged back into his mind, and he shot a quick glance at Zane. Zane caught his eye and shook his head slightly. Mentally, Cole sighed. Zane hadn't sensed anything different this morning. There was no sign of danger anywhere. But if that were so, then why couldn't Cole shake his increasing feeling of dread?

"Hellooo! Earth to Cole! Haha, 'Earth to Cole.' That's funny, since you're the ninja of earth…" Cole was brought back to reality by Jay's voice, coupled with a hand waving in front of his face. "Are you sure you're awake yet, buddy?" Jay asked with an amused grin.

Cole shook his head to clear it. "Nah, I've just got stuff on my mind, that's all. It's nothing, really."

Jay looked like he was about to say something, but just then, they were startled by an insistent pounding on the dojo's doors.

"I'll get it!" Nya chirped, heading out of the dining room into the main hall. Cole watched her go, and then turned to face the others.

"You didn't tell her?" he asked in a low voice. Kai shook his head.

"We thought it was best not to worry her, especially since Zane isn't sure that Garmadon is the one causing trouble," he whispered back. Zane and Jay nodded in agreement.

"Okay, but if anything else happens, we might just have to let her know," Cole warned. "Just to be safe."

"Kai!" Nya's dismayed cry reached them seconds before she burst into the room, clutching an open letter in one hand.

"What's wrong, Nya?" Kai asked, jumping to his feet and reaching her side in seconds. "Who was at the door?"

"The mailman… he said he had an urgent letter." Nya answered hurriedly, and then paused as though she didn't know how to continue.

"Okay… Who's it from?" Kai urged her. Nya took a deep breath to calm herself before continuing.

"Do you remember Mrs. Dubose (2)?" she asked slowly.

"You mean that cranky old lady who yelled at me all the time, but made you cookies every afternoon?" Kai demanded, crossing his arms and scowling. Nya nodded, worry etched on her face.

"It seems that she's fallen ill, and she wishes for me to come and keep her company," she responded, scanning the letter again. Kai stared at his sister in consternation.

"If that's all, I don't understand why you're so worried," he muttered.

"Kai," Nya began, looking him straight in the eye. "I think it's more serious than that. She also says that she has been having a bunch of weird dreams lately, which are nothing like any she has ever had. She's tried to pass them off as an effect of her illness, but she's starting to fear that she is going crazy."

"What kind of dreams?" Zane spoke up, a note of interest in his voice.

"She doesn't really specify; she just says they make her feel uneasy and paranoid. She's afraid that something bad is going to happen," Nya answered, seeming to become more troubled with each passing minute.

"Hmmm…." was all Zane said.

"Well, I still think…" Kai began. Cole stopped him mid-sentence.

"If this is important to you Nya, I think you should go," Cole told her. "We can take care of ourselves here."

"Are you sure?" When Cole nodded, she turned back to her brother. "It's okay, Kai. I'll be careful, I promise." Kai sighed, and reluctantly gave his consent. Nya threw her arms around him happily, and ran to pack her bag. She set out ten minutes later.

When the ninja were gathered at the table once again, Zane spoke up. "I don't believe this to be a mere coincidence. With the strange things that have been happening around here, it doesn't seem likely that a woman who is close to Kai and Nya should just happen to start having weird dreams all of a sudden."

"Mrs. Dubose is just an old lady who was never quite right in the head," Kai grumbled. "We weren't close to her at all. Well, I wasn't, anyway."

"Wait! Maybe she's the one causing this trouble!" Jay suggested. "Or at least is involved somehow?"

Kai stiffened, his fists clenching as a wave of fear hit him. "And we just let Nya leave to visit her!" he cried. "We have to go bring her back!"

"Hang on a minute, Kai," Cole said sharply as the ninja of fire made to run out of the dojo as fast as possible to catch up with his sister. "She probably used Flame to get there, and there is no way you're going to be able to catch up on foot."

"So?" Kai interrupted. "I'll borrow one of you guys' dragons."

"Furthermore," Cole continued, not bothering to acknowledge Kai's comment. "Nya's not going to want to believe it anyway. We're better off making sure that she stays safe by keeping an eye on her from afar."

"As long as we can keep her safe, that's all I care about. I'm not going to lose her to the enemy again!" Kai declared. His comrades nodded, understanding, and rose to head out to the dragon stables.

Lord Garmadon grinned wickedly from his throne in the underworld. "So, the little ninja are getting worried are they? Perfect…" he chuckled. "Everything is falling into place. Go," the dark lord continued, rising to his feet and calling to unseen listeners. "Prepare for the next phase of our plan. Failure will not be tolerated!"

(1): This is a reference to my other Ninjago chapter story, "Fractures in the Framework." I think this story is becoming kind of an indirect sequel to that one. However, you won't need to read my other fic to understand this one.

(2): I borrowed this name from a character in one of my favorite books. If you know which book I'm talking about, you have experienced some outstanding literature. ;)

A/N: So, here's chapter two. Sorry there's not too much going on here. I just needed to get characters in the right places and set things in motion. Next chapter is when the fun starts. *evil grin* So until next time, please review! :)