Lloyd slumped into a chair and put his head on the table. Misako handed him a glass of water with a straw. Jay, Kai, and Nya came into the kitchen.
"How was it?" Kai asked.
"Meh," Lloyd said as he played with the straw.
"Three cavities plus gingivitis. He's still numb. I told you to go easy on the sweets," Misako said.
"But they taste good," Lloyd whined.
"But if you eat too much sugar, you'll end up having to get a root canal."
"Not fun," Nya said.
"You would know," Jay said.
"Speaking of, aren't you past due for your cleaning?" Kai asked.
"No," Nya said.
"Really? I think it's been longer than six months."
"No, it hasn't."
"No, Kai's right. It's been almost a year since your root canal," Misako said.
"I don't know what to tell you guys other than you're wrong," Nya argued.
"Do you want us to go get the walking, talking computer?" Jay asked.
"No."
"Nya, you have to go to the dentist," Kai said.
"I am a grown woman. No, I don't."
"Nya!"
"I'm not going to stand here and argue with you. I'm not going to the dentist!" Nya stormed out of the kitchen.
Jay hesitantly opened his bedroom door. Nya was in bed reading a book. She glanced up at him.
"Hey," Jay said in a sing-song voice.
"What?" Nya asked.
"Nothing. I'm just going to get dressed for bed." He avoided looking at her as he crossed the room. He took his time digging through the dresser.
"Jay, what aren't you telling me?" Nya asked.
"N-Nothing. I'm not keeping anything from you. Why would I keep something from you? I would never do that. I love you."
"Jay…"
"I'm just trying to find my pajamas, that's all."
"You mean these?" Nya picked up the shirt that was on his pillow.
"Yes." Jay quickly changed and sat down on the bed.
"Jay?"
"Huh?"
"What's going on?"
"I told you, nothing."
"You're a terrible liar, you know that, right?" Nya crossed her arms.
"Okay, fine. I have a dentist's appointment next week. "
"Oh."
"And so does Kai," Jay said as he kissed her cheek.
"Huh."
"And so do you," Jay quickly whispered.
"Excuse me?" Nya sat up.
"Uh-"
"I thought I made myself perfectly clear. You and Kai can go to the dentist if you want, but I'm not going. Heck, drag along Cole, Lloyd, and Zane while you're at it. It can be a boys' day out for all I care."
"Cole goes to a different dentist, Lloyd was just there, and Zane doesn't have human teeth. But you, my love, need to go to the dentist. Please. If you don't take care of your teeth, they'll all fall out. You'll have dentures like my Uncle Arnie. It's really not that bad and we'll be with you the whole time."
Nya grabbed Jay's pillow and a blanket and threw them into the hall. When he stepped into the hall to get them, she locked the door behind her. Jay sighed and knocked on Kai's door.
"She kicked me out," Jay said when Kai opened the door.
"You couldn't even last a day?" Kai asked.
"I'm sorry! She knows how to get to me. I can't avoid her for a week and I definitely can't lie to her. What was I supposed to do?"
"You need to learn how to lie, dude."
"I know. Any chance I can sleep on your floor tonight?"
"Nope, but the couch is free."
Jay sighed and walked down the hall. The couch was uncomfortable and Jay tossed and turned all night. He was nearly asleep when Wu went into the kitchen at three in the morning to make himself some tea. Jay tried to block everything out, but his efforts were in vain. It felt like no time at all passed before Wu was walking up and down the hallway ringing his gong for Sunrise Stretches.
"Sensei, can I please skip stretches? I didn't get any sleep at all," Jay yawned when Wu passed by.
"No. Why are you out here?" Wu asked.
"Nya's mad at me."
"I see. No, you may not skip stretches. Hurry up and get ready." Wu tapped the gong a couple of times before he went back to his bedroom.
Jay groaned and forced himself to get up. His back ached as he shuffled into the bathroom to brush his teeth before the others got there. As he made his way back to his room, Lloyd opened his bedroom door.
"Everything okay?" Lloyd asked.
"Yeah," Jay mumbled as he slipped into his room. Nya was still getting dressed. She glared at him.
"I know you're still mad, but I need to get dressed," Jay said.
"Fine." Nya grabbed her accessories and left the room.
Jay hurried to get dressed, but he was still a minute late getting outside. He took a spot behind Cole, but Wu still spotted him.
"You're late, Jay," Wu said.
"Sorry, Sensei."
"Your spot is up here." Wu pointed to the empty spot next to Nya.
"I'm not sure it's safe for me up there."
Wu glared at Jay. When he still didn't move, Cole shoved Jay over towards his spot.
"For the record, it was Kai's idea," Jay whispered as he took his spot.
"Jay!" Kai hissed.
Nya whipped around and glared at her brother, who took a step back.
Every day for the next week, someone was recruited to speak to Nya about the dentist. Kai tried at first, but Nya threatened to stab him. Lloyd and Zane weren't much better. She rolled her eyes when Wu started to lecture her, and she just scoffed when Misako tried to talk to her.
Two days before the appointment, she was in the hanger doing work on the Bounty when Cole came in.
"Is it finally your turn to lecture me?" Nya asked sarcastically.
"I'm just supposed to tell you that you need to go to the dentist. I can't force you to go and I'm not going to try. If you want to die some horrible death because you're too chicken to go to the dentist and take care of your teeth and that leads to something worse, that's on you." Cole grabbed the keys to his motorcycle and his helmet.
"I am not too chicken!"
"Then prove it." Cole revved his motorcycle and drove off.
Nya groaned. She threw her tools into her toolbox and stormed into the elevator. When she entered the courtyard, Lloyd, Jay, Kai, and Zane were sparring with each other but stopped to look at her. Nya huffed and went into the monastery kitchen. The boys followed her and watched as she slammed cabinet doors closed.
"Problem?" Kai asked.
"Cole called me a chicken," Nya grumbled.
"Why?"
"Because I won't go to the dentist."
"So prove him wrong and go to the dentist," Lloyd said.
"But I don't want to go. I don't need to go."
"You're proving his point," Kai said.
"Everyone needs to visit the dentist," Zane said.
"Nya, nothing bad is going to happen to you at the dentist," Jay said.
"Last time you said that I needed a root canal," Nya pointed out.
"I highly doubt you'll need another root canal. Just come to the dentist with us and prove to everyone you can do it," Kai said.
"Ugh. Fine. I'll go back to the stupid dentist."
Kai raced up the steps. Jay and Nya were somewhere behind him, taking their time. Lloyd, Cole, and Zane were sparring when Kai burst through the doors.
"How'd it go?" Lloyd asked while maintaining eye contact with Zane.
"Well, my teeth are perfect, and Jay had one cavity, but Nya…" Kai glanced back at the door.
"How did her teeth get so bad so quickly? I thought she would've learned from the last time," Cole said.
"She did. They were much better this time. Two cavities. However, they want her to go back next week to further discuss removing some or all of her wisdom teeth. Nya kept trying to leave so I didn't hear how many need to come out."
The three finally stopped sparring and stared at him.
"That girl has the worst luck," Lloyd said after a while.
"I know. She's not happy and she's trying to convince Jay to just let her live with the pain, even though the dentist said her jaw is too small to have her wisdom teeth in," Kai said.
"It's not healthy to keep your wisdom teeth in if they cause too much pain," Zane said.
"I know. I don't know how I'm supposed to convince her to go back. It took so much to get her to go this time. And I don't think Cole insulting her is going to work twice."
"You never know," Cole said.
"I know my sister," Kai argued.
"Well, we could always hog-tie her and drag her down there."
"No, we aren't."
"So how are you going to get her to go get her wisdom teeth out?"
Kai was silent. Jay and Nya entered the courtyard. Nya looked at the guys and dashed inside. Jay sighed.
"Kai told us," Lloyd said.
"I wish I knew how to make her go to the dentist willingly," Jay said as he slumped against the wall.
"What if you ask your parents?" Zane suggested.
"I don't think that would work. Last time she refused to go to the dentist, I called them for help. Dad didn't understand the point of a dentist, and Mom said she didn't have to go if she didn't want to go. Not that I told Nya that," Kai explained.
"What if you bribe her?" Lloyd asked.
"With what?"
"Hm… What does she love more than anything in the world?"
"Me?" Jay said.
"Besides you," Kai argued.
"She likes technology. What if we get her a new Borg phone?" Cole suggested.
"What about a Mystitech phone?" Jay asked.
"I could take her down to the hardware store and let her pick something out. Though that's what I did for her last three birthdays," Kai said.
"Will she take a cash bribe?" Lloyd asked.
"A gift card. You can't go wrong with a gift card," Cole said.
"No, we should take her somewhere special once it's all done," Jay said.
"Like you and her going away for a weekend?" Kai asked.
"That could work."
"Wouldn't that be more appropriate for after her wisdom teeth come out? I thought her next appointment was just a consultation," Zane said.
"Kai can take her shopping for this visit, and Jay can take her away for a weekend once they're out," Lloyd said.
"I don't know if she'll take that offer or not," Kai said.
"We can ask. If not, Cole will drag her down there."
Nya crossed her arms as she sat between Jay and Kai. She looked at Cole who was across from her. He was mad and refusing to look up from his phone. She felt bad about what she did, but she didn't want to apologize until after the dentist was done torturing her. Lloyd and Zane entered the waiting room.
"We got you some more bandages and some alcohol wipes. How's your wrist?" Lloyd handed Cole a plastic bag from the pharmacy next door.
Cole looked at the bloody bandage on his wrist and sighed. He took the bag and went into the restroom.
"I still can't believe you bit him," Lloyd said as he sat down.
"That's what he gets for dragging me down here," Nya spat.
"You could've come willingly," Kai argued.
"I told you I didn't want to come."
"They're not even going to do anything! They're just going to take some X-rays and discuss your options for when they do take your wisdom teeth out. Kai was going to take you shopping as a reward," Jay said.
"Not anymore," Kai muttered.
"I realize you don't want to be here, but your behavior was completely unacceptable. You owe Cole a serious apology," Lloyd said.
A dental assistant came out and called Nya's name.
"Does one of us have to go back with you?" Kai asked.
Nya looked around, grabbed Jay's hand, and followed the dental assistant to the back. She tried not to cry as she sat in the chair. Forty-five grueling minutes later, she was finally allowed to leave. Only Kai was in the waiting room.
"Where's everyone else?" Jay asked.
"They left right after you went back. Zane started listing everything that could possibly go wrong if you're bitten by someone or something. Cole did not appreciate Zane's 'helpfulness.' Lloyd took them both home," Kai explained.
"Was Cole still mad?" Nya asked.
"Of course. You bit him. Why wouldn't he be mad?"
Nya shrugged and followed the boys back home. That night, during dinner, Cole refused to speak to her. She knew he wouldn't speak to her again until she apologized. But she didn't want to.
The next morning, Cole was still refusing to speak to her. She knew she had to apologize. After a quick trip to the store, she knocked on his bedroom door. Nya ignored Lloyd's stares while she waited for Cole to open his door. Cole stared at Nya, who was carrying a tray with at least twenty-five different samples of cake.
"I'm sorry I bit you," Nya said.
"Okay… And the tiny cakes?" Cole asked.
"I didn't know your favorite flavor."
"Devil's Food."
"Oh. I think I got that. There's like ten different kinds of chocolate cake on here. Also spice cake, red velvet, rum cake, coconut cake, funfetti, carrot cake-"
"I get it. There's lots of cake flavors. Thank you. Apology accepted. Don't bite me again," Cole said as he took the tray from her.
"Don't drag me somewhere against my will again," Nya retorted.
"So, next week, you're going to willingly walk into the dentist's office?"
Nya narrowed her eyes and tried to take the tray back, but Cole held it out of her reach.
"Lloyd, if you grab a couple of forks, you can have some," Cole said.
Lloyd, who was practically drooling, ran into the kitchen. As soon as he was back, Cole closed his bedroom door and locked Nya out. She pouted as she wandered into the living room where Kai and Jay were playing a video game.
"How'd it go?" Kai asked without looking up.
"He accepted my apology, but then he made me mad again," Nya said as she slumped into a chair.
"What did he say?"
"He asked if I was going to willingly walk into the dentist's office."
"Are you?" Jay asked.
"Well…"
"What did you do?" Kai demanded.
"I may have canceled my wisdom teeth extraction," Nya said.
"You what?" Jay and Kai stared at her.
"Why would you do that?" Kai asked.
"I was reading on the internet how a lot of dentists aren't recommending wisdom teeth extraction anymore. Some are calling it an archaic practice, like how most people don't need their tonsils out anymore," Nya explained.
"But that's not a hard and fast rule. And even if it was, there are exceptions to every rule, and you're the exception. Your dentist has said you need them out."
"I wanted a second opinion."
"The internet is not a second opinion!" Jay yelled.
"Why are you all yelling?" Wu asked as he stormed into the living room.
"Sorry, Sensei. Nya canceled her appointment to get her wisdom teeth out," Kai said.
"Nya?"
"I don't think I need them out," Nya said.
"I see. We cannot force you to get them out, however, I do not want to see you rubbing your cheeks because you're in pain, and I do not want to hear any complaining from you when your teeth start to fall out. And if your friends can find a way to make you go, then you must go." Wu turned on his heel and left.
Three weeks later, everyone was in town when Kai said he wanted to check a place out. As they followed him, Nya became slightly suspicious when the boys started to surround her but said nothing. She gasped when they stopped in front of the dentist's office.
"What are we doing here?" Nya demanded.
"I rescheduled your appointment," Jay admitted.
Nya took a step back and backed into Lloyd. Cole and Zane grabbed her arms while Lloyd slipped a vengestone cuff onto her wrist.
"What are you doing?" Nya demanded.
"It's for your own good," Kai said.
Cole and Zane lifted her off the ground and carried her into the dentist's office. Nya kicked them, but they wouldn't budge. Lloyd stayed behind them in case she managed to escape.
"Nya Walker's here for her appointment," Jay told the receptionist.
"Let me down!" Nya said through gritted teeth, still swinging her legs wildly.
"Bruising my leg is not going to make me drop you," Cole said.
The receptionist opened the door for them and led them to a chair. Two dental assistants were waiting.
"If we set you down, will you get into the chair?" Cole asked.
"Never! This is a violation of my rights!"
"Okay. In the chair, Zane."
Zane nodded and the boys placed her in the chair.
"Nya, please don't fight this," Jay pleaded as he took her hand.
"I hate you all!" Nya said.
"Okay, but you're still getting your wisdom teeth out," Kai said.
One of the dental assistants placed a mask over her face. Before long, she began to relax. She closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes, her mouth was swollen and full of cotton.
"You're all done, Nya."
Nya just stared at the dental assistant. A moment later, Jay appeared. He helped her out of the chair. Nya didn't pay attention to anything anyone was saying. Eventually, Jay led her outside where he summoned his elemental dragon to take them home. The next thing Nya knew, Jay was tucking her into bed. After a nap, she was alert, in pain, and mad as a hornet. She found her teammates lounging in the living room.
"How are you feeling?" Lloyd asked.
"I hate you all," Nya growled.
"We did it because we love you," Kai said.
"You're going to pay for what you did."
Nya peered around the corner. The living room was empty. Good. It had been a month and a half since she had her wisdom teeth pulled, and even though Jay had taken her on a week-long vacation as an apology, she was still mad at everyone. Some time on the internet had given her an idea for revenge. She knew Wu and Misako might get caught in the crossfire, but that was a risk she had to take. She snuck into the kitchen to prepare. A while later, Kai wandered in.
"What are you doing?" Kai asked.
"It's a surprise," Nya replied without looking at him.
"Oh?"
"Well, Skylor cooks and Nikki bakes, and I always feel left out whenever they start talking about their businesses or customers or recipes, and I just want to do something to feel more included. Or at least have something to complain about the next time I see them. I mean, it's not like I have much in common with them."
"Have you told them you don't feel included?"
"Yeah, and they do invite me to stuff, but they always want to get their nails done, or go shopping, or do other super girly things. Now get out. I want this to be a surprise for everyone."
"Okay. You know, Skylor is on her way over if you want her help-"
"I said get out! And I'd rather her not see this."
"Okay, okay. I'm going."
As soon as Kai was gone, Nya pulled her secret weapon out and dumped it into the mix. An hour and a half later, it was ready. She called everyone into the dining area and placed a pan of jelly donuts on the table.
"What are these for?" Jay asked.
"Like I told Kai, I don't have much in common with Skylor and Nikki and I want to change that. Go ahead. Try them."
Nya watched as everyone took a donut. She felt bad for Wu and Misako, but she couldn't say anything.
"What kind of jelly is this?" Lloyd asked.
"Blackberry."
Cole looked skeptical as he chewed, but he didn't say anything. No one did. Nya suspected they all wanted to spare her feelings. She couldn't imagine they tasted as good as real jelly donuts. Wu spilled some jelly onto his beard. He tried to wipe it off, but all he did was make his white beard a purpley-black. Everyone watched him struggle.
"That's odd," Wu muttered. The boys gasped.
"Sensei, your teeth," Zane said.
"What about my teeth?"
"They're black," Lloyd said.
"Lloyd! Your teeth are black!" Misako said.
"Mom, your teeth are black!"
Nya put a hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter as everyone ran into the bathroom. Just as she regained her composure, Kai stormed up to her.
"What did you put in these?" He grabbed a donut and shoved it in her face.
Nya couldn't take it anymore and started to laugh. Kai moved past her and went into the kitchen. She laughed harder as the others came out to confront her.
"I'm sorry, Wu, Misako," Nya said between laughs. She was actually impressed with how well her prank had worked. Even Zane's robotic teeth had been stained.
"Tooth lacquer?!" Kai yelled from the kitchen.
"Why would you put tooth lacquer in donuts?" Jay asked.
"I told you you would pay for making me get my wisdom teeth out."