Gah! I know I'm late, but I can explain! See, on Tuesday I had freshman orientation. Wednsday, I had to work on an application for a camp this summer. As for yesterday... I forgot... So now I'll answer reviews!

Guest: All I have to say is "Yes, yes he does."

Luna Julien: Nice name! Also, yes Vanessa is suppose to be Canadian. Though since there's "nothing beyond Ninjago" she isn't actually from Canada.

There was no one there. For a split second I relaxed, but Alex lunged forward, and her swords clashed off something. Knowing Pythor could turn invisible frightened me. I backed up to the wall, through the window I saw a flash and then heard thunder. Another storm? They weren't even suppose to get one drop of rain this week! I couldn't imagine what everyone else was trying to make of it.

I looked back to Alex as Pythor, still invisible, knocked her into the door. He turned to me and became visible. "Well, well, Echo. Looks like you've found the ninja. Too bad they're no math for me," he smirked.

I gripped the kunai tightly. "What do you even want with me?" I asked, thunder rumbling with my voice.

"You still haven't figured it out? Pity," he mumbled. "Though I suppose I can explain your gift later."

"What gift?" I questioned. "What are you talking about?" Alex looked up at me. She signaled for me to keep talking. She slowly got up and backed out of the door. I thought she was going to leave, but she didn't go too far from the doorway. She signaled again for me to keep talking. "What gift?" I asked in a more demanding tone. The ship swayed a little and thunder boomed.

"Why bother explaining?" Pythor griped. "You obviously don't realize what's happening outside."

I thought for a moment. I couldn't have created the storm. I looked passed to Alex who was trying to connect the dots. "I didn't make the storm," I said. "I couldn't have."

"But you did," Pythor smiled at me like I was a precious gem.

"Guys!" Alex called.

Pythor spun around in annoyance. "Why can't you ninja just except defeat?" he growled.

"Pythor, those are two words that should never be used in the same sentance unless the word 'never' is in front of them," Alex said. The other ninja arrived at her side.

"There's no time for this!" Pythor hissed. He ran at me. I closed my eyes and slashed the kunai in front of me. I must've missed because I felt him wrap his arms around me.

"Let me go!" I yelled, the ship shaking from the storm outside. The kunai fell out of my hand and his grip got tighter. He forced me over to the door.

"Don't even think about stopping me if you want the girl to stay safe," he warned. The ninja hesitated, I guess not knowing whether it was a bluff or not.

"If you think you're leaving here with Echo, you're dead wrong," Kai growled.

It was a stalemate. The ninja nor Pythor moved. I couldn't slip out of his grasp without a distraction. The door across the hall opened and a woman was standing there. She had grey hair that was tied back in braids and emerald eyes. Her outfit... I didn't know what to think. She wore the same clothes as Molly described my mom in. It had to be a coincidence though. She narrowed her eyes at Pythor and spun into a silver vortex. The ninja stepped back like they'd never seen her do that before. She spun over and hit Pythor. I was able to escape him and I ran over to Alex and Lloyd.

When she came out of the vortex Pythor was gone. Alex glanced around and sighed in relief. "He left for now," she said. "Mom, since when have you known Spinjitzu?"

"A long time," she told her. Her voice... She was Misako, the woman that was talking to Wu and Garmadon earlier. She turned to me for a brief second before looking away. "Is everyone all right?"

"Fine," Kai said. He glanced outside. As I calmed down, the storm ceased. Maybe I really did cause it.

"Echo, are you okay?" Misako asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. A little shaken but okay."

Misako looked outside as well. "The storm has passed," she noted.

"Yeah, about that," Alex started. She looked down at me.

I shook my head. "I didn't do it," I insisted. "I don't care what Pythor said. I can't make storms."

Everyone was staring at me, and my cheeks started to burn. Zane took a step towards me and again, the temperature dropped. "Are you sure?" he asked.

I nodded, then wrapped my arms around myself and shivered. "It's c-cold near you," I said.

"Um, excuse me?" Zane questioned.

"It's cold around you," I repeated more sternly.

"Well he is the Ninja of Ice," Tove informed me. "Though I've never felt colder around him."

"Neither have I, and I have sixth sense," Alex added.

Zane took a step back, causing the cold to vanish. Misako stared at me for a moment in silence. She closed her eyes for a second before asking, "Echo, has your skin ever been sensitive to heat and cold?"

I slowly nodded. "Yeah. I can't go out during winter without, like, six coats. And in the summer I try not to go out during really hot days. Sometimes the kids at school... Oh crud! I didn't go to school today!" I was freaking out a little. Small grey clouds formed in the sky outside. How could I miss school?! Who knows what the other kids were wondering, not that they noticed me all the time, but when the teachers do role call they will definitely know I'm gone!

"Wait, so you actually wanna go to school?" Alex questioned.

"And learn stuff?" Cole added.

"Are you okay?" Tove asked.

"I happen to like school," I retorted.

"Yeah, until you make it to middle school," Jay commented.

"Eh, I hated middle school," Vanessa mumbled.

I stared at the in confusion. Did they all really hate school? I thought it was fun, for the most part. Sure, some of the kids teased me, but at least the acknowledged that I was there. I looked down, feeling like a geek. "Well, I guess it wouldn't have been safe for my classmates if I went to school with a psychotic snake after me anyways," I pointed out. "They might get hurt."

"And we wouldn't want that," Lloyd agreed. I smiled at Lloyd for a moment. He was so kind and seemed to understand me. Lloyd stared at me for a second before asking, "What?"

"Nothing," I said, looking back down. It was quiet for another moment.

"So," Jay said to break the silence. "We probably should start tracking Pythor, find out his plans."

"Great idea, Jay," Misako agreed.

"Someone take a picture! Jay had a great idea," Tove joked.

"Ha, ha," Jay mumbled. We walked out to the upper decks and up a flight of stairs. We went into a room that seemed to be the main control area.

There was a man working at the computer, which must have been the awesomest computer in all of Ninjago! He turned to us and said, "I've already sent to Falcon out to look for Pythor. I caught a glimpse of him on the heat vision camera." He smiled at me. "This must be Echo."

I nodded but kept my mouth shut. Zane saw I was nervous and said, "Echo this is my father."

"You can call me Dr. Julien," Zane's dad added.

"Oh, hi," I said shyly. The ninja walked over to the monitor, but Misako signaled me to sit with her at the table. I nodded and sat down across from her. "Yeah?"

"What's your mom or dad's number? I wanna call them and tell them you're all right," she said.

I looked down. "I don't have any parents. I live at the orphanage in Ninjago City. Ms. Ceader doesn't care though," I muttered.

Misako looked at me with pain filled eyes. "Is there anyone who would like to know you're safe?" she asked.

I nodded and she handed me the phone. I thought for a moment and dialed Molly's cell number. It rang once. Twice. Three times. No answer. It went to voice mail. "Um, Molly," I started in the message. "I wanted to call and let you know I'm all right. I don't want you getting hurt so just... Just don't come and get me. I'll see you when this blows over. Bye." I hung up the phone and handed it back to Misako. "She didn't answer, I left her a message."

"Do you have an idea about why she didn't answer?" Kai asked, walking over to us. I felt a rush of heat wash over me. It was mild, but it got stronger the closer he got.

"Molly won't answer if she doesn't know the number. She'll probably get the message tonight and call back in the morning," I answered. "She's like that."

"You two seem close," Kai noted. "Do you see her as your sister?"

"More than you could ever know," I mumbled. "She's like the only family that hasn't left me in the dust."

Misako's expression changed. She looked like she was hit with a truck. Then the truck backed up and hit her again. It was painful and uncomfortable. "That's awful," she managed. "I don't see why anyone would leave you behind."

I decided not to say anymore. For all I knew, Misako may have had the same experience as me. Me talking about it might bring up bad memories for her. Well I was ready for a change in subject too. Kai sat down next to me, and I felt like I was going to burst into flames. I swallowed hard and said, "Kai, heat." I felt the heat grow as he looked at me.

"What? Oh, I guess my powers affect you too," he said, mainly to himself. He got up and moved next to Misako. "Better?"

I felt a little better. At least now I could breath easier. I nodded. "Better." It was quiet gor a second. The others were talking, but they seemed so far away for some reason. I smiled and added, "On the bright side, you'll never be able to sneak up on me."

"How is that the bright side?" Kai asked.

"Well, maybe it isn't for you," I said. "But, I'm happy about it." Kai rolled his eyes and Misako smiled at me. I felt comfortable with the ninja for some reason. It was a safe feeling, which I guess should've been natural around the protecters of Ninjago.

Lillie walked over to us. "We're flying into the city," she said. "Pythor's there."

So how was that? Took me three days to write. Or maybe two. It's hard to tell. Also... My iPod fell out of my pocket and cracked. I'm writing this and trying to ignore the little lines on my key board. It all still works but uh... Yeah. So review! Don't Flame! And when in doubt; Push random buttons!