Chapter 3

The First Move: A Team?

"Are you sure there was nothing? No trace that they may have escaped?" Nya asked.

"I'm so sorry Nya." Was all that Lloyd could say.

After that, she stood up and left without a word. Jay got up to go after her, but Lloyd pulled him back and said: "Give her some time, Jay."

Then before Jay could respond Blake got up and asked "How did it happen? I mean, how did the fire start?"

"I think the fire was started by a candle," Jay said. Even though both he and Lloyd knew that wasn't true.

"A candle? You mean, a candle killed my parents?" Blake asked in disbelief. "No way. They were acting all weird before I left, it has to have something to do with that."

Lloyd didn't want to lie to "You're right Blake, it wasn't a candle. The fire was started by a powerful magician named Shou Shi."

Jay looked at Lloyd surprised by what he said, and the kids looked at him in disbelief. "I understand you're trying to lighten the mood, but I'm not in the mood for joking right now," Blake said angrily. "What really happened?"

Lloyd and Jay hey came to a silent understanding. The kids were as ready as they'll ever be. "Blake, Lloyd's telling the truth," Jay said.

Then all the kids said in unison "WHAT?"

"You've gotta be kidding me. You're both delusional." Blake said beyond angry now.

"Just hold on Blake. Robin, do you remember the stories I used to tell you about ninja?" Lloyd asked Robin who silently nodded "Well, they're real. All of them."

"And the Shou Shi, from the story when ninja went into hiding, he..." Robin trailed off.

"Yes." Was all I could say. Blake looked distraught, Sally looked like she couldn't believe what she was hearing, Robin looked like he was in deep thought, and Zachery looked confused.

"So why don't you guy's just go and kick the guys butt?" Robin asked slamming his fist into his palm.

"Robin, do you remember what happened before the ninja went into hiding?" Lloyd asked.

"Let me think..." He started pacing. "No, I don't. Can you jog my memory?"

"We couldn't beat him, and there were six of us then. That's why we went into hiding."

"Then what do we do?" Zachery asked. "If this is true, this magician is probably gonna kill us all eventually."

Lloyd looked at Jay wondering if he was thinking the same thing as me, but he seemed lost in thought. "We build a new team."

"Stop! I understand that they are you guys parents, but do you really believe this? Also even if this were true if you couldn't beat them, who could?" Blake asked.

"You guys."

They all said "WHAT?" in unison. Even Jay was surprised.

"Wha-what could we do?" Blake asked quietly.

"You guys come from long lines of elemental masters. Each with different power-" Jay said.

"You guys had powers? WE have powers?" Sally interrupted.

"Yes, well most of you," Lloyd said.

"What do you mean most of us? Didn't you guys all have powers?" Robin asked.

"Yeah, we did. When you guys were younger you all showed signs of having power. Everyone except Robin that is." Lloyd said.

"So you mean to tell me everyone else has cool powers except for me?" Robin asked looking disappointed.

"Uhh-"

"If we have these cool powers, why can't we use them?" Sally interrupted again.

"When you guys were little we gave you a special tea to bind your powers."

"You didn't answer my-" Robin started.

"Why'd you guys do that?" Sally interrupted.

"Because it was too dangerous for you guys to even know about Ninja and elemental powers, let alone have them," Lloyd said.

"You still haven't -" Robin tried again.

"You could've trained us to use them properly or something. Did your parents take away your-"

Robin interrupted Sally saying "Could you shut up for a second? Just one second?"

"Excuse me?" Sally said offended.

"Everything's not about you Salls. Let other people talk will ya, and stop acting so conceited." Robin said hotly.

"I'm sorry Robin. I figured that your sappy crap wasn't nearly as important as the problem at hand." Sally retorted.

Zachery getting really annoyed said "Do either of you even know what the problem at hand is? I understand feeling bad because you might not have powers Robin, and Sally your rapid-fire questions, but you guys aren't making anything better with your senseless arguing." Then he whispered, "I'm positive it doesn't make Blake feel any better either."

"Oh butt out Zachery!" They said in unison.

"He's right," Jay said sternly. "We don't have time for this. Lloyd, what do you think we should?"

"As I said before, build a new team. We can't waste any more time. We don't know if Shou Shi has set a trail out for Blake or not, and we don't know which one of us he'll be going after next, but what I do know is that the longer we stand here doing nothing the more time he has to get the upper hand. I don't care if you guys didn't like each other very much, or whatever the thing is that's going on with you. From now on you're a team. We are a team, and you're gonna have to start acting like it. We can't stay here." Lloyd said.

"Where are we going?" Blake asked.

"A place where I think we'll be safe. Go to were Dareth's old dojo used to be. Robin and I will meet you guys there." Lloyd said sternly.

"Why me?" Robin asked annoyed.

"Because I need your help."

"Find someone else," Robin said crossing his arms.

"Unfortunately you don't have a choice," Lloyd said grabbing Robin by the ear and dragging him out of Jay's house.

Terry's POV

"You talk a lot of trash when you fight, Benjamen," I said performing a flip kick and hitting him in the face. The force of it knocked him on the floor.

"Can't help it." He said jumping up. "You know I'm better." He picked up a practice staff and tried to hit me with it by throwing it. I swiftly moved to my left dodging the stick and snickered "So cocky Ben." I said while looking at the stick on the floor. Then I was suddenly on the floor with the stick to my throat.

"Do you know you what you did wrong, Terry?" Benjamen asked smirking.

"Yeah." I rolled my eyes. "You don't have to rub it in my face." My mistake was giving that stupid stick too much attention. Because I didn't refocus my attention on Benjamen, I didn't see him coming with a new stick in hand. So I gave him room to trip me.

"Just making sure. You're taking lessons from me after all."

"I'm not taking lessons from you, I'm taking lessons from Sensei Garmadon. I'm only practicing with you." I put emphasis on practicing so he could understand.

He laughed and said "Yeah, yeah. It's all the same to me."

"It's one on one, let's go again so I can get my second win!" I said jumping up and getting into position.

"You're on, but it won't be you winning. It'll be me." He said cracking his knuckles.

We bowed and were about to start when we heard the door click. We jumped to hide, but we were too late. The door opened and Sensei Garmadon walked inside. I was relieved, but he looked startled and then happy. I think.

"Terry, Benjamen, what are you guys doing here?" Sensei Garmadon asked.

I was too busy looking at the other people entering the dojo to answer so Benjamen answered for me. "We were training, Sensei." He bowed 90-degrees. "May I ask what you are doing here? I thought you said we were no longer having late classes."

"Sensei?" The blonde who was flinging the bag on his back onto the floor asked. He sorta looked like Sensei Garmadon.

"I'll explain later. To all of you." Lloyd said looking tired.

"Dude, why are you being called Sensei?" The same boy asked.

"I said later, Robin" Lloyd snapped. (So that's the boy's name.)

I bowed and asked "Do you mind if we stay and finish practicing? We won't be a bother."

"Maybe a bit noisy, but not bothersome," Benjamen added.

"Actually we need to talk," Lloyd said.

"Right now?" Benjamen asked. (I hope we're not in trouble for using the dojo without permission.)

We followed Lloyd into a back room and he said. "I need you guys."

"Us?" I asked.

"Why?" Benjamen said right after.

"It's a long story, so you should sit down," Lloyd replied.

Third Person POV

"Hey Zac, what do you think they're doing in there?" Robin asked Zachery as he put the bag he was carrying down.

"I don't know," Zachery replied feeling tired and irritable.

"What about the whole Sensei thing? What do you think is up with that?" Robin asked.

He gave Robin a short aggravated glance and said "I don't know." in a serious tone.

"What do you know then? Smart guy." Robin asked trying to tick him off.

"I do know that I'm tired, and you're really bugging me with questions I don't know, and really don't care about the answers to." Zachery snapped.

"Wait, why are you tired? You didn't go with me and dad to go get the stuff." Robin asked.

"No, but try helping Sally figure out what's important for her to keep and what she has to leave. She's so annoyingly indecisive. Not to mention, she didn't want to carry any of her stuff, and Blake was too busy helping Jay to help me." He whined.

Robin laughed and said, "Good thing I wasn't there."

"Haha." He laughed dryly.

"I'm gonna go listen in," Robin said

Normally Zachery would've said something like "You shouldn't.", or "You should really learn how to respect people's privacy.", but all he said was "Whatever." and rolled his eyes. Before he could get even near the door it opened, and he jumped back into the floor near Zachery. When Lloyd, Benjamen, and Terry walked out Lloyd announced "I would like you guys to meet Benjamen Steine, and Terry Hence. They're going to be a part of the team we're forming."

Before Lloyd could say anything else Robin asked "Why? Not meaning to be rude or anything, but isn't this only for the descendants of legendary people with powers?"

"One, as long as we defeat Shou Shi I don't care who wants to join our team. Two, no this team is not only for descendants of Elemental Masters. Three, they happen to actually have powers that they've been practicing with." Lloyd said.

"Really? What are there powers?" I asked curiously.

"Terry is the Master of Earth, and Benjamen is the Master of Time."

"Time isn't an element though," I said.

"Time is a secondary element. Now, I'll answer any other questions you have tomorrow. I want you guys to get some rest. After all your training starts tomorrow at sunrise." Lloyd said.

"Sunrise?" All of us said surprised.,

"Yeah, sunrise."

"Where do we sleep?" Robin asked disturbed about the whole sunrise thing.

"Right where you're standing. I didn't expect this to happen so soon so I'm not exactly prepared. Don't worry though, Jay and I will get some beds set up soon. "

Jay who was sitting at on one of the benches on the side with Nya just nodded. After a few minutes of figuring out who was gonna sleep where Robin decided to explore the dojo. The room they were supposed to sleep in wasn't very spacious, but it was big enough for all of them to have a spot on the floor to sleep on without being so close to another person. The walls were brick and the floor concrete. There were a few benches set to the side, and a rectangular box drawn on the floor. Robin supposed it was to mark the area that fighters should stay in. There was also a small wall TV. Outside of that, there were two bathrooms, one for boys and one for girls. They both have two open showers which means no privacy, he thought to himself, and one toilet. The backroom was small. It had a small table and a chair with a desk in the corner of the room. The upstairs had a few rooms which as tempted as Robin was to look through each of them, he decided to put that on hold. The only person who was up when he was done his exploring was Benjamin. "Hey." Robin greeted quietly, keeping in mind the people sleep around him. If it was just Zachery he probably wouldn't have, but since there were others there he figured he should be a little more respectful.

Benjamen looked up and, not really feeling like talking, he made as if face like he had just put something bad in his mouth. "Hey."

"So, time is pretty cool," Robin said trying to make conversation. You're supposed to be cool Robin. Don't ruin your reputation. He thought trying not to sound like he admired him too much.

"Yeah. What's yours?" Benjamen asked.

"Uhh... I don't have one," he said trying to find a reason to why powers aren't cool. Just in case.

"But, aren't you Sensei Lloyd's son?" Benjamen asked surprised.

"Yeah, I am. I'm thinking that power chose my brother instead of me though."

"I'm guessing you don't know a lot about power then." Robin felt like a complete idiot when Benjamen said that. "Who's your brother?"

Robin pointed to Zachery. "That kid over there."

He frowned "You two look nothing alike."

"Well, he got his looks from..." Robin was about to explain when Terry walked through the door.

"Did I wake you guys?" Terry asked.

"No." Robin and Benjamen said in unison.

"Great!" Terry said.

"Can we go to bed now?" Benjamen asked. "We have to get up at sunrise to train, and I don't plan on sleeping in."

"But I do," Robin said laughing.

"Now come on powerless." He joked.

Robin glared at him angrily and decided not to respond. I'll get him back for that. Later. He thought to himself.