Chapter Three: First Full Day at the Tournament...

I blinked slowly, shifting slightly on the uncomfortable couch that was set up in the living area of my room. I had been unable to sleep in the large emperor sized bed that was as soft as a cloud. Stretching backwards, I rolled the kinks out of my back, checking quickly to find that Star was still asleep. Well then...I'll just go downstairs and eat breakfast. Standing up, I quickly pulled my shoes on, having slept in my clothes. Walking across the room, I pushed open the door and slipped outside quietly. Now I just had to follow the cranky, half asleep and hungry haze to the kitchen...

….

Apparently it actually lead to a dining room that was set up like one of those school cafeterias that I would sometimes eat at when a truant officer would actually do their job. Grabbing a tray, I walked through the line, eyeing the food in mild surprise. Don't get me wrong, I have had non-rotten food before in my life...it just was a simple fact of that I didn't recognize anything that they were serving. Well, besides the fruit. Star and I can easily live off of fruit, it was one of the more easily acquired items growing up. Farmers always melted when they notice a starving child in the streets. Collecting the fruit, and a few of the other more interesting food items that actually looks good, I walked over and slipped into an empty booth near the ninjas.

"So what are we gonna do? Try and convince everyone that this is a trap?" Jay was muttering under his breath, frustration tinging his voice.

I blinked, even as Cole, who was terrified and doing a pretty good job at hiding this if it weren't for the haze around him broadcasting it for everyone to see. "I don't think they'll believe us...besides that, what about that girl that was spying on Chen? She left before we could question her!"

I nearly choked on a strawberry upon hearing that. They had seen Star...it was the only thing that makes sense! "What did she look like? Maybe she is one of the contestants?" Garmadon spoke calmly, concern and worry flooding him.

"Hmm...long blonde hair...by that I mean a sunny yellow color, no that's not right...gold! Yeah, that's right. Blonde hair that looked more like gold, it stopped at her midback... and really pretty blue eyes that seemed to almost sparkle, as if they were..."

"Made out of blue glitter." I whispered that even as Jay finally finished what he was rambling about. Yep...definitely had seen Star.

Garmadon shook his head, even as interest shone in his eyes. "Interesting...I don't know anyone that matches that particular description. However, the Masters of Form and Amber might... both of them can shape shift, though it is a bit differently with each. The Master of Amber can use all of the elements by touching the master of said element. The Master of Form is the one where she would get the shapeshifting power from. One of them might have been wearing a disguise last night when you ran into them."

I'm awake! Ugh...long night. Also, I ran into the ninjas! Super cool... oh and the entire thing is a tr...

Trap? Yeah...I know. Funny how the ninjas went to bed about the same time you did, but they didn't sleep in.

Sorry Ella. What's today game?

I was about to inform her that I didn't know, when Clouse stepped forward, bringing with him a large board of sorts. "Attention everyone! From now on, you will be doing one on one duels amongst each other. The winner of each duel will continue on in the games. The loser will be disqualified."

That answer your question?

How many people do you think will be an emotional mess by the end of this all and they all lose their powers?

Star! I stood up abruptly and walked over to check when I was to report to the stage. Hmm, either they really wanted to knock me out the competition now...or the master of gravity isn't that hard to win against. Of course that had to be when Star spoke next... You are up first. Besides our self-defense class...do we even know how to fight?

Nope...should be interesting. I walked out of the room, my mind reeling as we began to work out different battle strategies for this. The main one being for us to gray out and hope for the best...

….

We flipped down to the next branch, glaring at Gravis. Seriously? Who just floats up to the branch that they need to get to in order to win? And it wasn't a hurried float up either...he was rather smug and slowly floating his way up...he also was using his powers to make the blade float up as well. Years of practice from people, mainly criminals with the rest being bullies, doing that to a piece of food that we could enjoy and needed that they were just going to throw out anyways had us a bit on the prepared side for it. Crouching low, we counted down to three...and then leaped up, snagging the jade blade out of the thin air and crashing back to the ground. We nearly stumbled as our legs jarred from the impact, but we quickly straightened ourselves out...and closed our eyes as we took a deep, calming breath. When I opened my eyes, it was in time to see a heavy sandbag appear out of nowhere, knocking Gravis down into the trap door below. I winced at that, unease flooding me.

Better him than you... we need to warn the ninjas about the spell!

Wait...what spell?

I narrowed my eyes as I failed to recall Star mentioning something about a spell to me.

…..

That night, Cole and Jay were forced to fight each other. And well, let's just say that their emotion were all over the place! At first, there was the lingering hatred towards each other from some disagreement that they had months ago, then it disappeared and was replaced by comradery, a deep friendship that was designed to last through the worst of the worst. I knew that Cole was planning on throwing the competition when his resolve suddenly hardened, but his platonic love for Jay stayed the same.

"No...don't throw it Cole..." I whispered, forgetting that I was sitting right behind the other ninjas.

Lloyd snapped his head back to stare at me, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean by..." Loud cheering interrupted him as Cole handed Jay the jade blade, making him lose and fall through a trap door. "That. Cole!" Lloyd rejoined his father and friend, hurt and dismay flooding him.

I quietly slipped away, shoving my hands into my pockets. Cole threw it so that his best friend could continue on... and he most likely realized that Jay was determined to have it end in a draw so that they wouldn't lose another ninja so soon! Speaking of that... Star? You still haven't told me about that spell...?

Later...once we have the ninjas trust and things. Right now w...you are a competitor. They won't trust us that easily.

I sighed, before collapsing on the couch, sleep immediately claiming me. Sounds good.