Hermes and Cara stared at the man across the table from them. He wanted them to go with him and train to fight an army of snake-people.

"Absolutely!" Cara exclaimed.

"There's no way your mom is going to let you go," Hermes said.

"So I won't tell her."

Hermes sighed. His eleven-year-old next-door neighbor was something else. She refused to listen to her mom and was already in a boatload of trouble, which is why she was stuck at his house until her mom got back from work.

"Look… what did you say your name was?" Hermes asked.

"Garmadon."

"Garmadon, listen, we can't help you."

"Can't or won't?"

"Can't. You're going to have to find someone else."

"My brother and I need help. Chen is coming with an army. I know better than anyone the lengths he is willing to go to. If we want to stand any chance of stopping him, we need every elemental master to join us."

"Yes!" Cara jumped up.

"No, Cara," Hermes chastised.

"Why not?" Cara whined.

"For starters, I'm just a miner and you're eleven!"

"You would be part of something great. You would go down in history," Garmadon explained.

"You would have me give up everything, my job, my chance of being foreman, my future, for a chance at glory? And that's assuming you're right about the war that's coming," Hermes challenged.

"Of course I'm right about the war."

They were interrupted by the front door opening. Hermes got up to greet his parents and Cara's mom.

"Who's this?" Cara's mom asked.

"No one. He was just leaving," Hermes said as he glared at Garmadon.

"Yes. I hope to see you again," Garmadon said as he got up.

"I highly doubt it."

"He wants us to fight in a war," Cara explained with too much enthusiasm.

"What?! Absolutely not! Are you ill? I should have you arrested for even suggesting a little girl run off with you! What are you thinking?" Cara's mom ranted.

"... If that's how you all feel, you won't see me here again," Garmadon said.

Hermes grabbed his pack and stood in line with his dad to head into the mine. Just as the lift arrived, they heard yelling behind them. Hermes turned and saw his mom running towards them.

"Cara's missing!"

The crowd of miners all turned to listen. Many of them had known Cara when she was a little kid, but they hadn't seen her in years. Hermes and his dad, Ebenezer, stepped out of line to meet her.

"She snuck out in the middle of the night. We think she's going after that man. Hermes, did he say where he was going?"

"No," Hermes admitted.

"He couldn't have gotten that far, if he was still at the house when we returned," Ebenezer reasoned.

Most of the miners wanted to help in the search, and the owner of the mine had to come out to see what all the commotion was about. Upon hearing it was Cara who was missing, he agreed to let anyone who wanted to help with the search have the day off. Everyone spread out, looking for Cara and Garmadon.

Hermes and Ebenezer headed deep into the mountains.

"See if you can use your powers to find her," Ebenezer said.

"I don't think I can, Dad," Hermes replied.

"Yes, you can. Trust your instincts. The earth will speak to you if you're willing to listen."

Hermes knelt down, closed his eyes, and felt the cold ground. As he focused on his breathing, he felt an abnormality in the ground some distance away. He couldn't tell what it was, but it sent shivers down his spine.

"This way." Hermes raced toward the anomaly, only pausing to make sure they were headed in the right direction, while his dad struggled to keep up.

A little while later, they found Garmadon pacing and muttering to himself while taking out his anger on some nearby trees using a dark power Hermes had never seen before. Hermes commanded four large walls to emerge from the ground and entrap Garmadon before he revealed himself.

"Where is she?" Hermes demanded as he approached Garmadon.

"Where is who?" Garmadon asked.

"Cara. She ran away last night. I assume she's around here somewhere."

"Well, she's not with me. You made it perfectly clear last night neither of you were going to help in the war."

"That hasn't changed, we just need to find Cara and bring her home."

"Her mother is extremely worried about her," Ebenezer added.

"I can imagine, but as I said, she isn't with me," Garmadon pointed out.

"I swear when we find her…" Hermes started as he cracked his knuckles.

"Hermes! We have to be gentle around her," Ebenezer scolded.

"No! Everyone has been walking on eggshells around her ever since the accident, and look where it got us! I'm done being gentle with her! She needs a slap to the face."

"Hermes! Enough!"

"I'm just saying, you and Mom never would've let me get away with half the crap she pulls."

"She's not our kid."

"I will help you look for her," Garmadon offered.

"Thank you," Ebenezer said.

"How did you find me?"

"I sensed whatever you were doing to the ground," Hermes explained as they headed in another direction to look for Cara.

"From how far away?"

"Maybe a mile?" Hermes shrugged.

"Impressive."

"So what's this about a war?" Ebenezer asked.

"A man named Chen is planning on using the Serpentine to destroy Ninjago. My brother and I are recruiting all of the elemental masters to help us. The Master of Fire has already agreed, and my brother is meeting up with the Master of Water now."

"Hermes, why did you say no?"

"Because I don't want to," Hermes said.

"Why not?"

"I'd have to quit my job. I'm next in line to be foreman, Dad. You know that."

"I do, but you have a chance to leave the mine."

"I'd have to fight in a war. I could get hurt."

"But you could get out of the mine, and more importantly, my house."

"Dad."

"You're how old and haven't moved out yet?"

"You know I can't afford to move out."

"Then quit the mine and get another job. He would be paid, right?"

"No. He will be offered free room and board for the duration of the war though," Garmadon explained.

"Dad, I already said no," Hermes protested.

"You would seriously give up a chance at adventure?" Ebenezer asked.

Hermes looked away.

"Would you at least be willing to explain to my brother why you won't help us?" Garmadon asked.

"I don't have to explain myself to anyone," Hermes declared.

"You do to me," Ebenezer said.

"... What if there's another cave in and I'm not there?"

"There's always going to be another cave-in. Everyone who goes into that mine knows the risks."

"What if I agree and something bad happens?"

"Herm, you can't live your life by the what-ifs. That's how I ended up married to your mother."

Hermes was silent as the trio walked through the woods. He understood what his dad was saying, but he still didn't want to leave his life behind.

"Is that her?" Garmadon pointed to a flash of orange ahead of them.

"Cara!" Ebenezer yelled.

The girl jumped up and ran over to them.

"I'm ready to join you," Cara told Garmadon.

"You're not joining his army," Hermes scolded.

"It's too dangerous, Cara, and your mom is worried about you," Ebenezer added.

"I don't care. She's ruining my life," Cara complained.

"She just wants to keep you safe."

"I suggest you listen to them," Garmadon said.

"Shut up! You aren't my dad!" Cara screamed.

"You have the entire mine out searching for you," Hermes said.

"Cara, you really need to come home with us," Ebenezer pleaded.

"No! I'm not going back! You can't make me!" Cara yelled.

"Cara!"

Cara sat down on the ground and crossed her arms. Ebenezer led Hermes a little ways off so they could talk in private.

"Hermes, you have to go with her and Garmadon," Ebenezer said.

"What? Why?" Hermes demanded.

"Look at her. Even if we drag her back home, she's just going to run away again. If you go with her, then I can at least tell her mother that you're watching her."

"I thought I made it perfectly clear I'm not fighting in a war."

"You did. I can't make you change your mind, but please consider it. If not for me or for Cara, then for her mom. She's been through enough already, don't you think?"

Hermes grumbled and crossed his arms.

"Herm, please?"

"... Fine." Hermes stomped over to Cara and Garmadon.

"Well?" Garmadon asked.

"... I'll go with her. We'll fight in your stupid war."

"You will?" Cara asked.

"You will?" Garmadon asked.

"Yes," Hermes mumbled.

"We have to go way up there?" Cara asked as she craned her neck to see the top of the mountain.

"Yes. That's where the monastery is," Garmadon replied.

Hermes shrugged and started up the stairs.

"Why did you and your brother want to live at the top of a mountain?" Cara whined when they were about a quarter of the way up.

"Actually, it was our father who built the monastery. My brother vowed to maintain it after our father passed."

"How much further?"

"Oh, we still have a ways to go."

"We could always go back home, Cara," Hermes said.

Cara whined the rest of the way up the mountain. When they were about halfway up, Cara stopped to lay down on the stairs. Hermes rolled his eyes and looked at Garmadon.

"Carry me," Cara demanded.

"I'm not going to carry you," Hermes said.

"Carry me."

"No. You have two legs that aren't broken."

"Carry me!"

"No."

Cara screamed and stomped her feet. Hermes crossed his arms and watched her throw her temper tantrum.

"Are you finished?" Garmadon asked when Cara sat up.

Cara glared at the two men.

"If you wish to return home, you may," Garmadon said.

Cara stood and stomped up the stairs.

"She's too bull-headed and stubborn," Hermes said.

"I can see that."

The trio eventually made it to the top of the mountain. The monastery was quiet when they entered. Garmadon looked around for his brother while Hermes and Cara waited in the monastery.

"He must not be back yet. I'll show you to your rooms." Garmadon led them inside.

Cara's room was across the hall from Hermes's room. Hermes noticed three sets of bunk beds crammed into the small room.

"How many people are you expecting?" Hermes asked.

"Hopefully everyone. Find a bed that hasn't already been claimed." Garmadon left.

The bottom bunk of the closest bed had a pile of pajamas on it, and the tip of a dagger was sticking out from underneath the pillow. Hermes tried to sit on the bottom bunk across from the claimed bed, but he found he couldn't even get into the bed without hitting his head on the railing, so he climbed into the top bunk above the claimed bed.

"Why am I here?" Hermes whispered to himself as he fell asleep. Sometime later, he woke up when he heard the bedroom door close. He didn't see anyone but he heard someone sit down on the bed below him. Hermes swung his long legs over the side of the bed and jumped down.

"Oh my gosh!"

Hermes turned around and saw a boy not much older than fifteen or sixteen sitting on the bottom bunk, holding the dagger in front of him.

"Hi," Hermes said unphased.

"Hi… How long have you been up there?"

"I don't know. I fell asleep."

"Oh." The boy lowered the dagger a little.

"I'm Hermes."

"Ray. Did Wu bring you here?"

"No, Garmadon. Who's Wu?"

"Garmadon's younger brother." Ray looked slightly disappointed.

"Garmadon mentioned he had a brother."

"Wu left a week ago to find another elemental master."

Garmadon called them to dinner. Hermes pretended he didn't see Ray hide the dagger behind his back.

"Good, you're all here. Cara and Hermes, this is Ray, Master of Fire," Garmadon said.

"We met," Hermes said as Ray looked away.

"Ray, this is Hermes, Master of Earth, and Cara, Master of Amber."