Chapter 1

Ninja

What if I told you once upon a time, I, was a ninja.

Really daddy? You were a ninja?

Maybe, just listen to the story.

"Once upon a time there lived six Ninjas. Their names were Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, Lloyd, and Nya."

Like Mr. Jay, and Miss Nya and, and you daddy.

Yes, yes. Now just listen, ok.

Ok!

"Now, these Ninjas weren't ordinary Ninja. No. These Ninja had special powers.

Kai, the fire ninja, could create and manipulate fire.

Jay, the lightning ninja, could utilize the power of lighting.

Cole, the earth ninja, could control earth, and he also had super strength.

The Ninjroid Zane, the ice ninja, had the powers of ice. He could freeze anything.

Nya, the water ninja, could control water.

And Lloyd. Lloyd, the green ninja, had the power of Energy.

One day these Ninja had to go on a mission to stop a powerful magician who could steal their powers from them, so the Ninja plotted and planned for a while and finally, they came up with a plan to stop the powerful magician."

Daddy, what does plotted mean?

It basically means planned.

Why did you use the same word twice?

Uhhh... Because it sounded right. Anyway.

"The Ninja were ready to carry out their plan to beat the magician when they were ambushed by him! The Ninja were caught off guard and one of the Ninja, the Ninja named Lloyd, got his powers taken from him. Zane was shut down due to a powerful spell that couldn't be broken. And the Ninja with down to five members, one powerless, were defeated. The power of the magician was too strong soon the Ninja had to go into hiding, and there they stay till this very day, hiding so that the great magician Shou Shi couldn't steal any more of their powers. So they could get stronger. So they could one day beat the magician."

So the Ninja lost? And ran? That's dumb.

Not really. You see the Ninja had people to protect and by going into hiding they were protecting all of Ninjago.

How were they protecting Ninjago by running?

Master Shou Shi only hunted Ninja so when the Ninja went into hiding he became less of a threat.

Ohhh. I don't understand. Hey, were you really a Ninja?!

I don't know.

Yes you do!

No, I don't.

Yes you do!

Goodnight Robin. I love you.

But daddy!

Goodnight.

Goodnight!

"Zachery?" Robin yelled from his side of their shared bedroom.

"Why are you yelling?" The 13-year old questioned. Zachery wasn't really one who cared for yelling. Actually, he didn't care for a lot of things his older brother did. Who was he to complain, though? He was most likely to be teased or tortured if he did, and honestly, he would rather not deal with it. Zachery wasn't the fighting type and didn't care to argue either. In fact, he considered himself a pacifist. He liked when everything was relaxed and calm. He wasn't zen or anything, he actually didn't like the idea of meditation. Zachery was just commonplace.

"Just wanted to make sure you could hear me," Robin replied. Robin, who is 16, is seen as the all-around cool guy to everybody. Outgoing, athletic, good looking, all traits anyone would wish for. Although in Zachery's opinion what he really needs is a brain, as Robin wasn't the brightest light bulb. "I came up with a brilliant idea."

Zachery rolled his eyes. "I know whenever you say something is brilliant, it's quite the contrary."

"Shut up! I'm guessing you thought I didn't know what that meant." he got up and spun the desk chair Zachery was sitting in so that they could face each other.

"How romantic you want me to look into your eyes," Zachery said sarcastically as he took his reading glasses off. "I don't really like you all that much though so-" Robin plucked him hard on the forehead before he could finish his sentence. "Ow!" he moaned pressing his hands to his forehead.

"That's your punishment. Now listen, you know Dad's Office, and how he always keeps it locked? Well, I found where he hides the key and- "

This time Zachery cut Robin off. "No. I'm not doing it."

"You didn't even let me finish," Robin whined. "I was gonna say-"

"You found the key, and you think we should sneak into Dad's Office," Zachery said finishing Robin's sentence.

"No, I wasn't gonna say that," Robin said trying to play off the fact that he was obviously gonna say that.

"Then what were you gonna say?" Zachery asked with a smirk.

"Ummm... I was gonna say..." Robin started.

"I'm listening," Zachery said folding his arms.

"Whatever. Fine, I was gonna say that." Robin said plucking Zachery again in the same place.

"What was that for?" Zachery whined.

"For being smug you little brat." Robin laughed. "Now back to business. Please."

Zachery stared at his brother in slight disbelief. "You just plucked me in the forehead twice. Why would or even should I do anything for you?"

"Don't you wanna find out what dad hides in there? He could have a mystery occupation or something." Robin said trying to convince his little brother.

"Oh wow," Zachery said in pretend shock.

Robin frowned. "What?"

"You used the word occupation instead of job. Congratulations!" Zachery laughed and applauded. He instantly protected his face when he saw Robin move, but instead of being plucked, he was pushed out of his chair. His head hit the desk on the way to the ground, and he groaned at the pain.

"You asked for that," Robin said placing his foot lightly on Zachery's chest. "You want more?"

Zachery winced a little. "No thank you."

"To be a pacifist you really like getting yourself into fights," Robin said moving his foot and going to sit back on his bed.

"I don't really," Zachery responded plainly. "I just like making fun of you sometimes."

"What is always the end result?" Robin asked.

"This," Zachery said getting up, and picking the chair up, so he could sit back down.

"Anyway, you're doing it or I'll make your life miserable," Robin said firmly.

"Why do you want me to do this anyway?" Zachery asked pouting.

"Well since dad trusts you more than me, you're gonna make up a reason as to why we were in there," Robin said.

Zachery shook his head. "We both know that won't work because unlike you I'm a terrible liar. You know that though, so I know that's not why you want me to come with you. Why do you really want me to come along?"

"Fine," Robin said annoyed. "If I get caught, and get grounded or something, I need someone who to get in trouble with. That's all. Oh! and I need a lookout."

Zachery face palmed himself. "You are a great example of the saying misery loves company."

"Don't care all that much." Robin shrugged. "Now, let's go," he said dramatically grabbing Zachery by the wrist and dragging him across the hall to their father's office. Their home was a one-story building that used to be used for storage, despite its small size. There were 4 rooms beside the kitchen and the living room. The first was Zachery and Robin's Room. The room was big enough for the 2 of them to each have a separate side, but one probably would mistake it for a trash bin due to the side that had trash scattered around as if it were the carpet that didn't exist. It was pretty much impossible for Zachery to keep his side clean, and he gave up on the idea of having a cleanroom. The second was the Bathroom, which was also a pigsty, but not just because of Robin. Their father had obviously also given up the idea of having a clean anything. He was always in a rush, so he never cleaned up after himself, which annoyed Zachery to no end. The third was their father's room. Robin snuck into it once but said it was so boring it wasn't worth his time. The last one was their father's office. Neither of the brothers had ever been in there. They always just observed as their father would walk in after work, and stay there until odd hours of the night. He wouldn't eat while he was in the office, so usually Zachery would either stay up to give him his food or leave him a note on his door. Otherwise, Zachery noticed, he wouldn't eat at all. Robin all together gave up on his father and grew a strong dislike for his neglectfulness. As they stood in front of the door Zachery mentally prepared himself for the mess so, he wouldn't get furious, and Robin thought hard about how he really hoped his father did something half important.

They opened the door to find, to Zachery's surprise, a regular clean office. There was nothing really special about it, everything was organized on shelves, in file cabinets, or in cubbyholes. The desk was the only thing that was out of sorts. Folders scattered on top of it, and papers sticking out of drawers. "You're probably inwardly freaking out because the desk is a mess." Robin joked.

"Actually no. I'm not a neat freak. I just don't believe the house should look like trash." Zachery said.

"Whatever." Robin rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I'll search you look out for dad."

"I don't like this idea," Zachery said.

"I don't care," Robin smirked.

After about an hour of looking Robin asks "Zachery, have you seen him yet?"

"Not yet, what are you looking for anyway?"

He turned to face Zachery to find he wasn't even at the door. What kind of lookout doesn't even watch the door? he thought to himself. "First of all, none of your business. Second, how do you know he's not coming? You're not even looking!"

"I was looking when you asked. However, it is my business." Zachery responded with what Robin liked to call his smug know it all look.

"How so?" Robin asked.

Zachery started pacing as if he was thinking really hard. "Well, I have reason to know why we're looking in dad's office and what we're looking for because, one, I'm helping you by looking out for dad, two, I could always leave the room and when dad comes home I'll tell him you were in his office."

Crap, I knew that stupid little weasel had something evil planned. Robin thought. He looked at Zachery and rolled his eyes. Zachery just gave him his bratty little smile as Robin would call it. "I could always tell him you were in here with me," he said.

"Who would believe you?" Zachery asked sitting down staring robin down with his arms crossed.

Robin sighed and rolled his eyes again. "Fine."

Zachery grinned with a look of triumph. "So what are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for a file, hard drive, book, anything that says something about Ninja."

"Why?" Zachery asked moving closer to Robin.

"Because, when I was younger dad used to tell me stories about Ninja, and he used to talk about how he, Jay, Nya, and some others used to go around fighting bad guys. So, I thought to myself"

Zachery interrupts Robin mid-sentence to say "You think? I didn't know that."

"Could you just listen," Robin demanded agitated. "So, I thought to myself, dad can't be just a boring history teacher there has to be something more to him. That's why I'm digging through his stuff be-"

"Because you think dad's a Ninja," Zachery said finishing his sentence. "You know as well as I do that dad's just a simple high school teacher and that Ninja are superstitions."

"Then why would dad use his name in the stories?" Robin tested him.

"Because he wanted himself to seem cooler to you when you were six."

"Then why did he add his friends into the story?"

"Because he needed more characters. Just face it dad can't be-"

"Dad can't be what, Zachery?" Zachery and Robin both jumped at the sound of their father's voice. Both boys turned to see their father at the door with his, I'm angry, so I'm gonna kill you with a smile, face.

"D-d-d-dad. Uhhhhh..." Zachery tried to say. Why am I panicking? I just need to talk. Breath and talk. Zachery said to himself.

"Go on Zachary I wanna hear what dad can't be, along with an explanation to why you two are in my office," Lloyd said crossing his arms.

"Well... I... We..." Zachery tried again. Doing the shy act, huh? Practically begging for me to rescue you. Well, not this time little bro. Robin laughed in his head.

"You can't explain, Zachery? Then what about you Robin? can you tell me what you were doing my office?" Lloyd said turning his head to Robin.

Crap. Robin thought. "We were just looking for something we lost in here," he said trying to think quickly of a lie he could tell.

"Really? What was it that you guys lost in my office, and how did it get in my office in the first place?" Lloyd asked smile shining through even more.

"You see me and Zachery were playing this mobile game and I got so mad that I threw my phone and it landed somewhere in your office." Robin tried.

"So you threw your phone and it just magically happened to land in my office which was locked?" He asked Robin looking at him as though there was something wrong with him.

"Yes!" Robin said hoping he'd buy it.

"Hmmm... Well, you're both getting grounded for a month for sneaking into my office and an extra two weeks for Robin for lying."

"What? That's totally unfair." Robin said in disbelief.

"Life's not fair Robin. How do you think I feel about you guys sneaking around my office when I've told you on multiple occasions not to?"

"Nothing's supposed to be fair for you, you're a dad!" Robin yelled.

"Cool it, Robin, before you get more time. Now, I'm going to pay the Walkers a visit. Would you guys like to join me?" Lloyd asked.

Nooooooo not the Walkers. Robin thought almost aloud. "Nope. Plus I'm grounded now." he retorted.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to ask you guys if you wanted to, I meant to say you guys are going with me to the Walkers house as a part of your punishment."

"What!?" Robin and Zachery said at the same time.

"Yeah, I think Sally would like the company, and Nya asked me if you guys were coming so she could make you guys some cookies."

"I hate her cookies! They taste like something died in them." Robin whined.

"She knows. That's why she makes them, to keep you on your best behavior." Lloyd laughed. "Go to your room and be ready to go in 10 minutes."

Robin and Zachery both turned to go to their room. Lloyd put a hand on Robin's shoulder and warned him "Robin if you decide that you're not going to get ready you're getting an extra week."

He just rolled his eyes and continued walking. When they got to their room Robin told Zachery he wasn't going. Zachery just shrugged and picked up a book. He didn't really feel like dealing with it.

Stupid little bookworm won't even listen to me vent. Robin thought. He got ready to go and laid in his bed thinking to myself I can't wait till I'm 18 so I can leave this stupid place.