Chapter 2: Finding the Lightning Ninja

Jayleen Walker was stuck in the most serious situation of her life. So serious that the fate of her entire day rested solely on the outcome of this situation. What was it?

A staring contest with her cousin Jay.

10 seconds went past. 15 seconds went past. I seemed like the two of them could go on for minutes. Then suddenly, it happened.

Jayleen blinked.

Jay beamed.

"I win, I win!" he mocked happily.

Jayleen sighed.

"Why do I never win?"

"Aww come on cuz. You win sometimes."

"Name one time."

Jay averted his eyes.

"Well... would you look at the time? Ha ha. Now what was the deal we made again?"

"Jay! You're avoiding my question!"

"Yes yes now I remember. I was going to finish my latest invention. Alone. Without any distractions."

"Jay!"

...

Jay hummed to himself as he looked over his creation. Three days of planing and four days of building and it was finally almost complete. He bent one of the pieces in thought.

"I could probably tighten this bolt up a bit more. And then maybe if connect this to this. And then..."

The teenage boy was so caught up in his work that he didn't even seem to notice his cousin standing behind him.

Jayleen looked over her cousins shoulder in slight boredom. If she had won the contest, they would be doing something together. And personally, that's all she really cared about. She was a girl without many friends and Jay was her very best one. So whenever he got like this, well she didn't like it. Yes, of course she understood Jay needed his space sometimes but still! He'd been working on this for days. Days! She wanted to do something. Anything! But not this.

The bored girl tapped her cousin on the shoulder.

"Cuz. Hey cuz..."

Jay didn't even notice.

"Cuz! Hello? Anyone home?"

If Jay heard her, he was awfully good at ignoring.

The girl crossed her arms in frustration. She realized she was acting like a little kid but honestly didn't care.

He makes me so mad!

"Hey cuz. Want to help me test my invention tonight?"

Jayleen looked back over to see Jay grinning at her. Maybe he had noticed her after all. Her anger instantly melted away.

"Really? Absolutely!"

Jay reached up and ruffled her hair.

"Honestly, agreeing without even asking what my invention is. You really are a handful."

"I know. But you love me anyway!"

"Ha. Yeah right."

"Cuz!"

The boy laughed as Jayleen pouted in frustration. He ruffled her hair again.

"Okay, okay. Stop your pouting. Let me show you what I got in store for you. I think this one might be right up your ally."

...

Silence. A dark royal blue sky with a occasional twinkle of starlight. With a slightly cool breeze and not a cloud in the sky, it was the perfect night for a fly.

Jayleen looked over at her cousin. He was intently bent over his contraption making a last few adjustments. As he stood up, he wiped away any dirt and dust leftover from the junkyard. He looked over at her.

"Ready?"

"Cuz, how can I be sure you're not just leading me into disaster?"

Jay looked offended.

"Name one time I've that."

The girl gave him a deadpan look.

"The mouse incident?"

"I was seven. That's understandable."

"The jump-rope of doom?"

"It was bound to happen at some point."

"The underworldly owl? The Easter candy incident? Sledding, junkyard style?"

"Yes...well..."

"I can keep going."

"No need."

"I thought so."

"Because that's all behind us. This invention is going to work. I'm sure of it."

Jayleen perked up, her fears forgotten. Besides, if her cousin Jay said it was going to be fine, then it had to be. Right?

She curiously tried to glance behind him to see. Jay easily blocked her view. The girl pouted.

"Jay!"

"What?"

"I wanna see!"

"Hold on a second. I'll show you in a minute. Stop acting like a little kid."

Jayleen turned away from him, walking to the side of the building. She looked over the side and gulped. It was a long way down. Jay had to pretty confident if he was doing something crazy like this.

"Okay, done!"

Jayleen looked back over at Jay. He had proudly attached... something, she assumed it was his invention, to his back. She cocked her head.

"What is that?" she questioned in confusion.

"Wings of course!" the boy answered matter-of-factly.

"Wings?" Jayleen echoed.

"Yea! Because why would you walk when you can fly?"

Jayleen looked at them hesitantly.

"Wings," she repeated again. She looked at her cousin. "Are they... like a vehicle...?"

"Nah. They don't have an engine."

"Oh... Okay then! I'll try them!"

"Course you will. Hopefully, you're not afraid of heights."

"Heights aren't what I have a problem with."

Jay gave her a knowing glance. Then he went over and helped her get on another pair of wings. After he tightened the harness he turned around and looked over the side of the building.

"You be careful. Okay?"

The girl crossed her arms.

"What do you mean? I'm always careful."

"I know, I know." Then he grinned.

"Beat you to the ground!" He jumped over the side of the building.

Jayleen yelped and raced over. Was he okay? What if it didn't work?

But all was fine. Jay's wings worked like a charm. As he floated through the air, he head Jayleen yell,"No fair! You got a head start!"

He grinned.

But the joke was on him. Suddenly, as light brighten up the sky, he felt himself propelled though what he assumed to be a billboard. The impact was so intense that sitting was all he could help to do. Someone cleared their throat. Jay looked over. Was there a old man... drinking tea? He couldn't be sure. It was probably just an illusion. He had hit his head hard. Hopefully Jayleen was okay. He'd have to go get her later. But for now... No the old man was still there. If this was an illusion, it was a really convincing one.

...

The girl in question was perfectly fine. She was still standing on the top of building, now in shock. She had seen the abrupt end to his flying joyride. Just as she was about to follow her cousin to ultimately attempt to help him, she heard a voice say,"There's no need to worry Jayleen. He'll be fine."

The girl whipped around.

There was an older woman standing there.

Jayleen stared at her for a moment before turning around. She was over here and he was over there. There was no way, no way at all, that this woman would know if Jay was fine. Unless...

The girl glanced back at the woman. She had known her name. It was worth a shot.

"Say I do believe you. Can you tell why you're so sure?"

The woman smiled.

"That I can. Along with so much more. Would you be up for an adventure?"

Note from the Author

Here's a new chapter in the new version of The Real Story of Ninjago! This took me a little longer than I had hoped. I hope you liked it! I wanted to change Jayleen's character a bit so she didn't seem like the typical girl who acts just like her cousin. I feel like now she has her own personality. I hope she didn't come across as ditzy or annoying. Jayleen is one of my all time favorite RSN characters (Sorry Cathleen, Zora and Katie) and making her unlikable is the absolute last thing I want to do. She just a sweet, kind, sensitive girl who wants everyone to be happy. I mean, she is the youngest ninja (she's only 13) so I feel that a little bit of childish behavior is necessary. But if you do find her annoying, let me remind you that she is acting like this around her cousin. Who knows how she'll act around the girls? But you know, this is my option, I'm not trying to shape anyone else's. Also, if you think she's changed a lot, wait until you meet Zora. Now she's going to be a force to be reckoned with.

On a different note, I'd like to thank my very first reviewer, CHEESEPUFF. Thank you for your kind review. I'm really happy you think the story is good. Never EVER feel embarrassed for watching Ninjago even if you're 14. When Ninjago first came out, I loved the LEGO's, I just didn't realize there was a show. So I started watching Ninjago a little after it came out in 2012. I think they were on Episode 5: Can of Worms at the time (well that brings me back). How old was I at the time? 12. (Now THAT brings me WAY back). So you know, coming from someone who has been watching the show for the last five years I think you're fine. This show has gotten me though my entire middle school and high school years and I love every second of it. Anyone who says you anything bad about watching the show just doesn't know it. Hold your head up and say "I watch Ninjago" with pride!

So long for now,

Animals Music and Ninjago (AM&N)

P.S. Go ninja go! :)

Please Review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago. I only own Sensei Yin, Cathleen, and Jayleen.