Chapter 2

Hi guys! Here is a new chapter. I think I'll add 2 or 3 more chapters to this. Enjoy!

*Takes place during the Sticks and Stones episode*

Emily just went out of the sitting room, hearing Mike pointing out her flaws, her insecurities. She was too ashamed to even look at her team. She may have successfully almost destroyed the Nighlok, but hearing Mike point out her low self-esteem was embarrassing for her.

Jayden just looked where Emily was sitting while Mia berated Mike for being insensitive towards Emily. Jayden quietly slipped out of the room to talk to Emily. To see if she was okay. Their talk after the first fight was still in his mind. He couldn't understand how a girl like Emily, who tried to help everyone and lift everyone up could think so lowly of herself.

Jayden went out to the outdoor dojo and found Emily sitting on a bench. It looked like she was crying and playing this hauntingly beautiful tune on an old wooden flute. Jayden couldn't bring himself to stop her from playing it. He was so drawn by it. He just stood there listening. When he felt a break in the song, he decided to approach Emily.

"Emily?" Jayden called out to her slowly. Emily jumped out of her skin. She slowly wiped her tears and looked back at Jayden.

Jayden saw her wiping her tears.

"Can I sit here? If you don't mind" Jayden asked.

Emily merely nodded, not trusting her voice to reply.

Both of them didn't say anything for a bit. Emily just quietly wiped her tears and Jayden just sat next to her.

"Emily, were you bullied?" Jayden finally asked.

Emily nodded. After calming herself a bit, she finally said "Yes. I was bullied till the time I left that town. Even when I was being homeschooled for my Samurai training. Going into the town was impossible for me without someone calling me a crybaby, an idiot, weakling, ugly or anything other such names. I would try to talk to Serena about it but usually between training, my chores and schoolwork, there was never any time. Over time I stopped telling Serena these things. She was getting sicker. I couldn't burden her anymore with my little problems."

Emily didn't know why, but in Jayden's presence, she spilt her guts. She couldn't hide a thing.

"You are not a burden Em. You were bullied relentlessly and you internalized all of this. I'm sorry this happened to you. You need to understand, you aren't weak or ugly or an idiot. You are smart, kind, beautiful and a very strong person for taking on so much and still being positive." Jayden replied. He couldn't understand how can someone hate a girl like Emily.

Emily sent an appreciative smile his way.

"You called me Em?" Emily asked.

"Ya, is that a problem? I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable." Jayden inquired back.

"No, no, no. It's just that I never had a nickname. I like it."

"Well, it's final then. I'll call you Em from now on."

"Can I ask you who taught you how to play the flute so beautifully?" Jayden asked.

Emily blushed at the compliment. "My grandmother from my dad's side taught it to both me and Serena. Serena couldn't pick it up but I learnt it completely. When I started training, this was the only thing I could continue which I loved. This is actually my grandmother's flute. It has been in our family for centuries."

Emily presented a beautifully carved wooden flute. It had mountains and ocean carved into it as well as Japanese Kanji for mountains. Jayden delicately touched the carvings. He could feel how it was carved with care and love.

"My great-great-great-grandfather carved it for his daughter and then it was passed from generation to generation. It was based on who was actually eager to learn. My dad and his brothers didn't want to learn, so the flute didn't go to any of them and it came directly to us." Emily continued.

As soon as the gap sensor blared, both of them got ready to fight. Before leaving for the fight, Jayden asked "Will you play the song you were playing earlier for me?"

Emily smiled and nodded. They both ran out of Shiba house to defeat the Nighlok.

After defeating the Nighlok, Emily passed out. All the insults finally got to her. Jayden offered to give her a piggyback ride back home. On the way back, everyone was talking about the fight.

"Emily is a lot stronger than she believes. She singlehandedly defeated the Nighlok." Mia said. Others quietly nodded to the statement.

"Even though the insults didn't hurt her physically, they did take a toll on her." Kevin pointed out.

Emily was quietly listening to this. It was not known to the others that Emily was awake.

"We will help Emily see how strong she is," Mike exclaimed.

Jayden couldn't help but smile at Mike's antics. He seemed so happy to help Emily.

"Is that an ice cream truck that I hear?" Mia asked.

"It sure is," Jayden replied.

"Did someone say Ice cream?" Emily exclaimed suddenly, scarring everyone.

"You are awake now?" Mike asked with a big smile.

Emily just giggled. Jayden set her down from his back and all of them ran towards the ice cream truck. It was indeed a sweet victory.

The day I wrote the first chapter, I was truly upset and kicking myself when I was down. So, I think I'll just add a few more chapters. Showing how the team helped each other especially Emily. So thanks for reading. Message me if you have an idea for the story! Read and review! Have a good day. :)