Chapter Four: In Which the Ninjas Make an unexpected Ally...

I followed the fight with Jacob Master of Sound and Skylor Master of Amber with my eyes, occasionally glancing over at the ninjas. You didn't need to know Kai personally to know that he had a crush on Skylor. And since I need to keep an eye out for the person that the competition was for...and she was the top suspect in my book, I just don't think that him having such an obvious crush on her is a good idea just yet. I flinched as Jacob missed Skylor… and the Jade Blade that they were looking for. Wonderful.

I know right? You think he'll realize he can use his powers to reflect the sound waves away from him before that happens. Star whined at me.

I rolled my eyes at that, before responding back to her. Or you can remember that its his powers...so he knows what he is doing.

Was doing. Ooh, look. Chen is getting ready to make an announcement. Star observed suddenly.

I glanced over to see that she was telling the truth. Chen stood up, calling all of our attention to him. "Competitors... I will have you know that thanks to some rule breaking going on here, that all of your rooms are being confiscated..."

"Yes!" I cheered loudly, relieved that I wouldn't be expected to sleep in that fancy prison tonight. Everyone turned to stare at me as if I were crazy. I slunk down in my seat, turning red faced as I yanked my hood up and over my head. Yeah... that wasn't embarrassing at all.

Chen slowly spoke, completely bewildered on why I apparently didn't like my room in the first place. "Right...you all will be sleeping on cots in the dining room. See you all later!" He then disappeared down on of his many secret passageways.

I rolled my eyes at his antics, before turning to the ninjas...and realizing that everyone was glaring at them with pure hatred. Seriously? Didn't they realize that our so called rooms were just fancy cells? I stood up and purposely walked past the ninjas, tapping Garmadon on the shoulder. Startled, he whipped around to stare at me. I smiled at him, before slipping Star's note that she had written for him the night before while I was asleep into his awaiting hand. Walking away, I slipped into the crowd, disappearing from view.

…..

It was Star's sudden yelp, and rushing back to the back of my mind, giving me all control that alerted me that something was wrong. Sitting up in the cot that we had claimed earlier, I rubbed my eyes as I glanced around the room. The ninjas were darting back into the beds, and pulling their covers up to make it appear as if they had been sleeping the entire time. I frowned, confused on why they were doing that...when the door swung open and Clouse turned the lights back on. "Rise and shine! Time for Master of Form versus the Green Ninja...oh and everyone else gets to pick which team that they are on. We're doing a Blade Race. Each team gets one Jade blade... first one to complete the race without their team leader, that would be Chamille and Lloyd mind you, losing the Jade Blade wins. The other one will be disqualified. The servants will help you put your skates on."

Skates? We've never skated before! Star whined, worry tinging her voice. I stifled a groan, before allowing one of the creepy ladies wearing too much makeup put the rollerblades on me. Safe for me to presume that we'll be joining the obviously working undercover team? I sarcastically asked her, already noting where the ninjas were at.

Of course. Who else will we be teaming up with? I love Star, have I ever mentioned that?

I stumbled and fell as I tried to get over to them, while everyone else moved away from them. Wow...rude much? I stopped next to Jay...and immediately fell flat on my face. Jay bent down, helping me back up on my feet. "Are you ok...oh, and the other team is that way." He pointed to the others, as if that made perfect sense that I wanted to be with them or something.

I shook my head as I tried to regain my balance. "Um, actually I'm teaming up with you guys." I slipped...as did Kai. Apparently I was not the only one that was unsure about these rollerblades. "Don't worry about me... I'm a fast learner." Since there's two of me to observe and learn everything. I silently added for Star to hear only.

Jay nodded, before sticking a hand out to help me stay in one place. "Right. My name is Jay...and well actually you probably already know who we all are. Uh...your Ella, right? You pulled Garmadon to the side on the way over here and asked him a question."

"Yeah that's me." I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, eyeing the doorway, already figuring out the whole balance thing. At least I wasn't fumbling around still, and Jay dropped his hand to his side. Kai on the other hand was still falling over frequently.

Jay whistled loudly, drawing the other ninjas attention to him. "Ella says she wants to join us." He gestured towards me, as if I needed an introduction.

I smiled tightly at them, a single word slipping out. "Hi."

"Oh good...we could use all the help we can get." Lloyd walked over, shaking my hand as if that was totally normal. "Kai's no good at this." Lloyd dropped his voice several decimals, as if sharing a deep secret with me. I giggled at that, glancing over at the ninja in question. Kai was mock pouting at what Lloyd had told me.

…...

I gasped as everyone more or less swapped over to our side when Neuro spoke up and confirmed what the ninjas said about the whole stealing our elemental powers thing. The only one that didn't change sides was Chamille, though I could tell that she would have done so if she wasn't the team captain. When we had skated over the finish line seconds after Chamille had done so, skating straight pass where she had purposely dropped her Jade Blade, what is up with everyone throwing the competition lately?, an argument ensued between Chen and the others. Finally Chen growled angrily as he punched the button. "Fine! Chamille loses! Lloyd is the winner...whoopie."

Someone should call him out for his sarcasm. Star suddenly spoke up, annoyance edging her voice.

Star! I'm sure everyone noticed and it does not need to be pointed out. I snapped at her, even as everyone crowded around the ninjas, demanding to know more about what they had discovered.