Chapter 4: Finding the Fire Ninja

"Look. Buy it or leave. It's not like I care."

Katie Territ had many great traits. She worked hard. She was brave, she was confident, her sense of justice was unmatched. Her long shiny brown hair and bright hazel eyes earned her glances from any boy. One was easily led to believe that she was perfect.

"Well?"

Despite her picture-perfect image, Katie Territ was far from flawless. She was quickly annoyed and angered by the smallest of things. Her patience was almost non-existent. No one ever wanted to get near her, they didn't know how she would react. To them, beyond a shadow of a doubt, she was a ticking time bomb.

It wasn't like she didn't notice her label in society. She certainly did. Katie just didn't care.

"Fine. I'm leaving. Sure wish customer service was better here."

"What did you just say?"

The woman turned back to face the teenage girl, annoyed.

"I said, I wish customer service was better here."

Katie hands balled up into fists.

"What's so wrong with the customer service? Are you saying I'm bad at my job?"

The woman didn't bother to answer, turning around and leaving the situation. Katie leaned on the counter of the small bakery, glaring after the woman. Honestly, according to her, people were such a pain. Walking in and never being able to decide? Ridiculous! If it was up to her, well, she would be in and out in five minutes. Seven minutes tops. There was no such thing as mulling it over in her world.

As the bell of the shop rang again, signaling another customer, Katie looked up in despair. Within seconds her annoyance turned into delight as she realized that it was none other than her younger brother Nate.

"Ready to go?"

"Am I ever!"

Katie quickly headed to the back ripping off her apron and tossing it towards the hook on the wall. It missed. But she didn't really care less. She just wanted out.

The teen quickly skidded towards the front of the store.

"Hey Nate…"

The brown-haired girl stopped and stared in horror as two arriving customers pushed her brother to the side to get into the small shop. Nate, looked down at his feet, his black bangs flopping over his eyes. He stepped backwards, quietly apologizing. Katie clenched her hands into fists, appalled. Her brother did not deserve to be treated that way. Something had to be done.

The teen briskly walked up to the couple, fury in her face. Standing next to the two, she silently glared, ignoring their personal space. The woman glanced over.

"Can I help you?"

"Oh, so now you notice, huh?"

The woman looked at Katie in confusion.

"Pardon?"

"You hit my brother you idiot!"

"Your brother?"

Said boy glanced up in concern. He quietly walked up to his sister.

"Katie, it's fine," He shyly whispered, looking down at his feet again. Katie rolled her eyes.

"No, it isn't! Stop being so hard on yourself."

She turned back to the couple, both of which were now staring at her with two completely different looks on their faces. The man appeared to be highly irritated due to the fact his girlfriend was being blamed for something he believed she probably didn't do. The woman, on the other hand, looked remorseful and seemed perfectly ready to give an apology. But before she could say anything at all, her boyfriend stepped in front of her, glaring at Katie.

"Where's your proof, huh? I don't see you providing proof."

"Proof?" Katie stared at the man in disbelief," You want me to give you proof?"

The girl's hands balled into fists again.

"Yea. My girl wouldn't do that. So, show me proof."

"Oh, I'll show you proof alright!"

Katie swung her fist, the blow connecting with the man's jaw.

…

The manager bowed, apologizing profusely to the couple. As they walked out, she turned the Territ siblings, both of whom leaning against the wall. Katie had her arms crossed with various scrapes running down her arms. Nate, on the other hand, looked down at his feet, hands in his pockets. The manager shook her head at the siblings, walking over to the counter with a cloth. She started wiping the counter. The silence was deafening.

Nate glanced up, looking over at his sister. He could say something. Maybe. He opened his mouth only to close it again, anxiety kicking in. But the silence was getting to him. He couldn't do nothing.

The boy silently and swiftly poked his exasperated sister with his foot. She sighed but clearly got the message. Unfolding her arms, she took a step toward the manager.

"Look Mrs. Sara, it was his fault. His girlfriend bumped into Nate. I told her to apologize but he wouldn't let her. I was only defending my brother. You can't blame me for that."

The manager, Mrs. Sara stopped wiping the counter. Without turning she solemnly said, "Katie."

Nate bit his lip. He knew that tone of voice too well. Even without looking over at his sister he could tell she was tense, recognizing it as well.

"Yes Mrs. Sara?"

"You're fired."

Flinching, Nate took a quick glace at his sister. Head held high, and a defiant look on her face she slammed her hands down on the counter.

"But, I told you it wasn't my fault! Doesn't that count for anything?"

"Katie," the woman calmly turned to face the girl, "Just stop already."

"But…"

"I don't want to hear it."

The fiery girl turned away, crossing her arms again. Mrs. Sara sighed.

"Look, you're a good kid. You're pretty and smart, you've got everything going for you. You just need to try to control that temper of yours."

Katie just shrugged.

"I may have given you this job out of respect for your mother, but I just can't afford to lose business anymore. I'm sorry, truly."

Mrs. Sara put her hand on the teen's shoulder. Katie instantly pulled away.

"Yea yea, whatever. I get it already. Come on Nate, let's go."

The boy jumped at the mention of his name. As Katie left the small store, he quickly scurried after. But before he could leave, Mrs. Sara stopped him.

"I feel really bad sending you back with her. If you want, I can easily find a family to take you in."

Nate softly smiled.

"No thank you. I'm fine the way things are."

Quickly saying a goodbye, the teen stepped out of the shop. He was too polite to say anything but he didn't like how people assumed he would jump on the first chance to get away from his sister. Despite society's view of Katie, he wasn't scared of her. In fact, it was rather the opposite. She was the only one he could speak his mind around. He liked being around his sister. He needed her. They needed each other.

Catching up to his Katie, Nate slightly smiled as she looked ahead in irritation.

"Irritated?"

"No really? What gave you that idea?"

Nate grinned, ducking his head as they passed by some neighbors. His sister trudged next to him with her hands in her pockets. They walked on the silence. As they neared the house, Nate glanced over looking at a path near the house.

"Hey Katie."

The girl looked over at him. Following his gaze, her eyes lit up. She glanced over the house.

"I don't know. We really should go home."

"For what?"

Nate took a step down the path.

"There's no one waiting for us. We've got all the time the world."

"True."

The girl looked back at the house. Then she looked back at her brother, determined.

"Race ya!"

Katie shot past Nate, laughing.

"Hey!"

The boy, hardly containing his laughter. His sister suddenly stopped. Catching up to her, he playfully shoved her to the side.

"No fair. You got a head start!"

"Sush!"

Nate glanced ahead, immobilized. Skeletons were everywhere. But why? Then he saw a flash of red.

Nya.

Nya was the younger sister of Katie's one and only friend, Kai. Being as shy as he was, Nya was one of the only people Nate could talk to confidently. Since he was little, he had always amazed by her independent nature and prominent level of intelligence. To him, she was perfect in every way.

Nate froze. Why was Nya in the hands of the skeleton army? Her brother Kai was so overprotective that it was a little hard to believe he had let anything happen to his beloved sister. He had to help her.

The only way he could do that was use his invisibility to his advantage. Ha. Sometimes his lack of presence could be helpful. He looked back over at his sister. She had yet to notice Nya and he kind of wanted to keep it that way. Katie would probably just charge in and get herself hurt. Without a sound, he quietly tiptoed away.

Cautiously stepping over tree roots and sticks he somehow managed to make it to the other side of the camp. Heart pounding, he inched his way towards Nya. Just a little closer. That's all he needed.

Out of the corner of his eye he could Katie staring at him, horrified. Well drat, the boy thought.

"What the heck do you think you're doing?!" the fiery girl yelled out, across the camp. No, his sister wasn't stupid, she just didn't think things through.

The whole army turned to face her.

Katie verses an entire army. Nothing new there.

The camp stared laughing. A skeleton with four arms stepped out from behind one of the boney trucks.

"Another girl? You think you can take on an entire camp little girl."

That was a huge mistake.

Wordlessly Katie smacked the skeleton next to her, knocking him into pieces. She stared at the skeleton, her eyes burning. The skeletons charged at her.

At least that took the heat off him.

Nate quietly walked over to Nya.

"Nya."

The girl looked surprised to see him.

"Nate? What are you doing here?"

"To save you." A shy smile appeared on his face as a slight blush formed.

Suddenly he was lifted into the air. Apparently not all the skeletons were fooled.

"Trying to be the hero boy?"

Nate gulped.

"Nate!"

…

Katie was not amused. Calling her little was one thing but taking her brother was another story completely. She felt, helpless, not able to do anything.

With full force, she punched the bolder in front of her. She yelped shaking her fist.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Only Earth can move the rock. Fire burns."

Katie whipped around. No one was there. Crossing her arms she yelled out, "Don't try to hide! I heard you talk!"

"I'm not hiding. Look carefully and you may see that which you are meant to see."

Katie twisted around.

"Carefully? Ha. Carefully isn't going to bring my brother back."

"Will it not? Do I not evade your current vison?"

"Just come out already!"

"But I'm right here."

Katie jumped. Standing on the rock she had just punched was an old woman. Her eyes widened.

"How did you get there?"

"Was I not there the entire time?"

"No…" Katie trailed off, trying to remember. "At least I don't think so… Were you?"

The woman jumped off, gracefully landing on her feet.

"Not at first. But the point is I ended there. You left yourself defenseless."

"Are you trying to call me weak?"

"Maybe not physically weak but mentally weak, yes."

Katie's eyes flashed again. But the woman just stared at her, not backing down. Raising her hands, the teen raced toward the woman, throwing a punch in her direction. This was easily dodged.

"You have raw power. But there is no skill behind it."

The brown-haired girl growled in annoyance. Katie repeated her action but this time the woman slightly moved, grabbing Katie by the arm and throwing her to the ground. Katie sat up, flustered.

"How did you do that?"

The woman laughed.

"Just a little secret Katie. But I could teach you if you want. Along with much much more."

"Really? Wait, how do you know my name?"

"Yet another secret."

"You seem to have a lot of secrets."

The woman smiled mysteriously. Katie crossed her arms. "Can you help me get my brother back?" she asked.

"Do you want to find out?"

Sure, it wasn't exactly the answer Katie was looking for. But sometimes the best solutions weren't always clear.

"Fine then. Sign me up."

Note from the Author

Finally another chapter to The Real Story of Ninjago! This chapter took a lot longer then I had planned so I really feel the need to apologize. I'd have to say the biggest reason for this was Katie's backstory. Obviously, everyone knows Sensei Wu went to Kai's blacksmith shop to retrieve him. But because I was changing the other characters, I figured it would be best if Katie started at a different place. After hours of ruminating if she should work at her fathers glass shop, bakery, or pawn shop I can up with idea that her origin shouldn't even remotely be like Kai's. And so, the idea of her working at her mother's friends bakery was born. Next was her personality. Again, I didn't want her to be like Kai but she still needed that temper. Therefore I decided her impatience and temper goes even above and beyond Kai's. Kai has people skills while Katie does not.

Finally was Nate. Looking back at the original "Finding the Fire Ninja", Nate appeared to be a cheerful and confident kid. But later on in the series, his personality takes a 360 degree turn. He's quiet, almost never talks, and when he does, he's always copying Nya. I was kind of fond of the second part of his personality. So I decided to make him quiet, shy, incredibly unconfident, but still happy about how life is currently. His only friend is a girl (Nya) thus the fact he's confusing friendship and love. Boy is that going to change later on...

Also, I REALLY WANTED TO ADD KAI! I makes me really sad that he didn't fit into this chapter. (Even though he isn't my favorite ninja.)

Now as for reviewers...

First up, lee. THANK YOU SO MUCH! It makes me so happy that somebody noticed the difference between my former and current writing. I intend to keep writing even if it takes me years to finish one story. (Though if it was up to me I would make it months. Stupid writers block)

Then second of all, Hi. I'm glad you like the story! I'll attempt to write more consistently.

Also, for anyone, if you've read this far, good job. Here's a cookie. (:)

So long again,

Animals Music and Ninjago (AM )

P.S. Have you seen the recently released Ninjago Movie? Despite what I thought when going into the theater, it was actually really good. If you haven't seen it, I would check it out. :)

P.S.S. Let me know how you feel about the new cover image!

Please Review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago. I only own Sensei Yin, Cathleen, Jayleen, Zora, Katie, and Nate (As well as Katie and Nate's village)