Chapter 5

In Ninjago City, Misako and Lloyd made their way to the Explorer's Club, where they met Cecil Putnam, head of the club, inside.

Misako gave a smile. "Hello again, Cecil. Always a pleasure to see you."

Cecil gave her a look, one that wasn't so welcoming. "A pleasure it is to see you as well, Misako, but you do know we have certain rules about our members bringing in outsiders."

"I know and I apologize, but he actually happens to be family. Allow me to introduce-"

"I know who he is," Cecil interrupted, "Lloyd Garmadon, master or creation. We have met recently in the past. And I'm sorry to say he is banned from entering the premises of the building. And I apologize for my tardiness of mentioning this, but I'm afraid your application for reevaluation has been processed and revoked, meaning you are no longer a member of the Explorer's Club."

"I don't understand," Misako said, bewildered, "I sent in my application two years before the expiration date of my club membership license. I spent years trying to join the club and now I'm no longer a member. What did I do wrong?"

"You've done nothing wrong, Misako, but I understand you are unaware of associating with an outsider who considers breaking and entering is a legal affair. But regardless whether or not you knew, I had no choice but to cancel your membership."

"What are you talking about? I know of nobody that would do such a thing. My son does, but he's a ninja and only does it to protect the citizens of Ninjago."

"I don't mean all over the city. I meant here in our club's home. Lloyd Garmadon here, along with two others, broke inside our rooms filled with artifacts and exhibits and stole the scroll of forbidden spinjitzu. They have yet to return it."

"That scroll is now an artifact in the museum," Lloyd said, "If you want it back, you'll have to discuss the matter with the curator. Otherwise, I can't help you."

"Regardless of that fact, Misako, because you associate yourself with robbers, you are expelled from the club and any artifacts you've found and brought here will be sent to the museum and placed as historical artifacts whether or not the studies on them have been completed," Cecil said.

"Now wait just a minute," Misako said, "My son and the ninja needed that artifact to save Ninjago. Besides, he took something I discovered and brought here myself. It's not fair for you to remove me from the club because my son was using something I found in the first place. And it's already inside the museum."

"It doesn't matter. Your application has been denied and you're no longer allowed access to borrowing any artifacts the club holds under tight guardianship. Good day to both of you." After pushing them out the door, Cecil slammed it, locking up tightly.

Misako growled. "That Putman is such a pain. I don't know how anyone stands him. I'm gonna go back inside and give him a piece of my mind."

"Mom, verbal violence is not the answer for this situation right now," Lloyd said, "We don't want to make things worse than they already are. I should have really thought it through better when Zane, Nya and I took the scroll of forbidden spinjitzu from here. Maybe we could try getting it back from the museum? That way you might be able to get back in the club."

Misako shook her head. "You don't have to, Lloyd."

"But I feel responsible for getting you expelled for life."

"Don't blame yourself, Lloyd. We don't need to worry about bringing back the scroll. Once you've been expelled from the Explorer's Club, there's no entering back through those doors. Plus Cecil's a stubborn man who takes rules too seriously."

Lloyd sighed. "I suggest we could write an apology letter, but I know that won't work."

Misako chuckled. "I'm afraid not, but now we have a dilemma on our hands. How will we get inside to find the first original story of Mordela the Mage?"

"I have one idea, but it involves breaking and entering."

Misako nodded. "Lead the way, son."

The two climbed up the side of the building, making it to the roof. Looking around, they found the entrance through the AC vents. It was sort of hard trying to travel through without making so much noise, but they had to at least try. Once they finally made it to the room where all the books were located in, they exited the air ducts and searched through the place.

"The original story written by Mordela was found by one of the archeologist a few years back," Misako said, "All the books are arranged in alphabetical order. So they should be here in the M's." Looking closely and carefully, she found the one they've been looking for. "Here it is." She blew off the dust it collected over the years.

Lloyd coughed, waving dust away. "Geez, haven't they ever heard of spring cleaning?"

Misako opened the book, skimming and scanning. She nodded, closing the book. "I forgot to mention it was written in only a few chapters. Mordela died twelve years after her exile. She was only thirty. All that time in solitude really helped her accomplish things in such a short amount of time. But unfortunately, she didn't write about much."

"Does it have any useful information?" Lloyd asked.

"So far, I haven't found anything, but we can't give up hope." Misako flipped to the end of the book. "Oh, here's something."

"What is it?"

"It says here that we can summon the ghost of Mordela by using a spell that she wrote down in one of her diaries inside the cave."

Lloyd placed his head in his hands. "Seriously? This mage is sending us on a while goose chase."

Misako chuckled. "Not all adventures were made to be easy, Lloyd. Sometimes searching through the books and studying thoroughly is the only way to find the true answers. Not all answers can be found through punching a bad guy in the face."

Lloyd smiled. "I really need to remember that."

Unexpectedly, the door slammed open, revealing Cecil and a couple of guards behind him. "I had a feeling you would sneak inside to steal what you wanted. Drop the book and remain where you are. Guards, remove these scoundrels out of the building and take them to the local authorities."

"Forget it, Putman," Lloyd said. He has no plans to surrender to some stuck up club leader. Grabbing his mother's hand, they escaped through the window, the book clutched in Misako's free arm. To stall for time, Lloyd kicked a bookshelf over to fall on top of the men, shutting the window, jumping off the building and running off down the street.

He and Misako hid inside an alley while fumbling with his communication device to get in touch with Nya. "Nya, can you hear me? Are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm here," Nya said. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Did you get the book?"

"We've got it, but can you guys stay at the cave until we get there? There's something there we need to find. We may have an idea on how to break the spell, but it'll require a little book work. We'll be over there in an hour."

"Should we keep searching around?"

"Sounds like a good idea."

"Roger that. See you guys when you get here."

Lloyd and Misako began making their way to the cave. This may be taking a little more time than they thought, but no journey is ever completed in a day.

THE NINJA SEEM TO NEVER HAVE ANY LUCK WITH THE EXPLORER'S CLUB. BUT AT LEAST THEY FOUND A CLUE.

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