Chapter 2: Master Chen of Mr. Chen's Noodle House
I walked into my Elemental Magic class and waited for the new professor. Now that Wu was gone, a different teacher came each time to try and fill the old sensei's shoes. But no one could. Garmadon, Mistaké, Nuero, Hutchins, Borg, and Yang had all failed. A rumor was going around that someone from the ministry was going to take over the post after the Yang Incident. I wasn't in that class, but Cole said he was lucky not to come out as a ghost himself.
I tapped my fingers and waited. Then, the door burst open, and man in a weird snake head hat/hood/thing with a black cape and red outfit waltzed in.
"Rise students! Direct your attention to me, and we will begin class."
This is the man the ministry sent? "Who are you?" I asked.
He glanced at me in horror. "You don't recognize me? I'm Master Chen, owner of Mr. Chen's Noodle House."
Oh yeah. Cole's told me about that place, but I've never actually eaten there. The fact that it shared a name with Chen the bully put me off. Plus, it was on the other side of Ninjago.
"So why are you teaching us?" I asked.
"I also work in the ministry," Chen explained. "And we've noticed your school is without a master."
"Isn't Garmadon—"
"So I'm here to take charge!" Chen interrupted. "Now, who's ready to do some magic?"
The students jumped at the chance to learn new spells. We hadn't done anything in class for weeks. But I wasn't as eager. There was something off about Chen, and it wasn't just his funky outfit.
"To strengthen your elemental powers, you will spar against each other. Your goal will be to knock your opponent to the ground and keep him there for ten seconds." He then pulled out his wand and, in a flourish, made a tournament style bracket with pictures of all the students on it. I blinked. How did Chen know who we all were? This was his first time here, wasn't it?
"Isn't that dangerous?" Sarah, a water girl, asked.
"Oh no," Master Chen replied, "This school has one of the finest infirmaries in Ninjago. There's absolutely nothing to worry about. Instead, you should be concerned about winning your match. Winners get to move on, losers are eliminated," he said knocking one of the pictures from the bracket for dramatic effect. "The ultimate winner will receive 500 galleons, and the glory of being the best fighter in this class, plus a free cup of noodles, of course," he added.
This man is crazy. Absolutely crazy. But I kind of wanted to win, and I definitely didn't want to know what happened if I lost.
"Are you ready?" Master Chen shouted.
A bunch of students cheered.
"Find your opponent…and remember...only one can remain."
I glanced up at the board. It looked like I was fighting…Chen? It was almost too good to be a coincidence.
I glanced around, when Chen finally reared his ugly face. "You ready loser?" he sneered.
I balled my fists and summoned a burst of fire. "I beat you before, and I'll do it again," I replied. Last time, Lloyd was at stake, but that didn't mean I couldn't beat him here and now. But I had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I was playing right into Master Chen's hands.
The other Chen's eyes burned. He summoned flames of his own, and glared at me as if he could combust me right then and there.
"Begin!" Master Chen shouted.
Chen yelled and through a fireball at me. I blocked with a wall of flame, then countered with a flaming fist. Chen ducked, and swiped his leg to try and knock me off my feet. I saw it coming and jumped, but Chen was ready.
His fist was flying, flames crackling, and I was in mid-air. So, I punched back at the same time as hard as I could. I shot off several fire balls and hoped Chen would pull back.
He didn't. Even when his jaw crunched under my fist, he kept coming. Pain erupted on the side of my face. My cheek burned and the smoke stung my eyes, but I didn't fall. I stumbled back and clutched my face.
The skin was raw and my hand felt like ice. I was in so much pain, but I wasn't going to give up. I had beat Chen before, I told myself. I could do it again. I charged with all my might, ignoring the pain and deflecting the bully's attacks with my own fire, and bowled right into him. He stumbled, and I punched before he could recover. I pushed and knocked him to the ground. He didn't get up.
Then, over my panting, I heard a slow clap. I glanced around. Master Chen grinned and walked over to me. "Winner!" he announced. Then he glared down at the other Chen. "Loser!" Then he bent down and whispered to the bully. "Get out of my classroom."
Chen grimaced, and tried to force himself to his feet while everyone stared. I almost felt sorry for him. I hit him really hard, too hard, but I still couldn't bring myself to help him as he dragged himself out of the room. He'd go to the infirmary and be fine, I told myself.
"Well, go on everyone," Master Chen encouraged. "Fight to win!"
The classmates stared at each other with new determination. None of them wanted to end up humiliated and broken like Chen. It turned out that I was the first one to finish. So I sat in the corner and watched my classmates tear each other apart. I hoped there would be another teacher tomorrow. This was chaos.
I sat down at the dining table, sad and alone. Chen's spot was still empty. Despite everything, I still hoped he was okay. I sighed and pushed away my plate. I wasn't very hungry anyways.
"What's gotten into you?" Lloyd asked. The past week he'd been a bit friendlier, as long as I didn't talk to him about his powers.
"It's the new elemental magic teacher. He's crazy. He made us spar against each other in class, and I think I really hurt my opponent."
"I see," Lloyd replied. I wished he'd said something more encouraging.
"Did you have him in your class?"
Lloyd glared at his plate. "I haven't been taking elemental magic."
Oh. Did that mean Lloyd hadn't gotten his powers back yet? I wanted to ask him, but I knew I would only upset him more so I kept quiet. I glanced up at the high table where the teachers sat, only a few feet away. Master Chen was nowhere to be seen. I wondered if they had fired him already.
Garmadon stood up. The former warlord's red eyes flared. Something was wrong; he seemed really upset.
"There's been an influx in the infirmary, due to a certain professor. Mistaké has had too many patients to deal with. But don't worry, the problem will be dealt with." He flexed his four fists, as if he was going to crush whatever was responsible.
The students murmured to each other. I breathed a sigh of relief. Master Chen was going to be removed and I would never have to worry about him again.
"Not so fast!" a voice called. I turned. Master Chen marched up the back of the hall, his cape billowing, with a nasty looking man at his side. Also, I could hear something. Was that…dramatic music?
"By order of the ministry, I'm taking Wu's place, Garmadon," Master Chen announced.
"And that includes the Headmaster's duties," the dark man at Chen's side added. Whispers broke out across the hall. The crazy teacher was going to take over the school? No way. This couldn't be happening.
Garmadon snapped, "Wu appointed me as Headmaster. You have no business here."
Master Chen just laughed. "I think you forget your place."
The dark man spoke up. "Here is the order, signed by the Minister himself. I think you'll find everything check's out."
He pulled out a document, and Garmadon practically snatched it out of the man's hands. His red eyes scanned the paper, growing darker and narrower as he did so. This wasn't good.
"This is outrageous," the warlord growled. "I won't allow it."
"So you go against the ministry?" Master Chen asked. He almost sounded eager. The hall broke out into whispers.
"I wouldn't advise that if I were you," the dark man said.
"I didn't ask you, Clouse," Garmadon snapped at him. Then he glared back at Master Chen. "I won't let you take control of this school."
"Or what?" Chen asked. "You're good now, remember?"
Garmadon bristled. His lower hand hovered by his wand, ready to take action. "Watch me," he replied, and whipped out his wand and pointed it in Master Chen's face.
Everyone gasped. Some of the other teachers jumped up and grabbed him. Each one took an arm and had to practically drag the former warlord back before he did anything crazy.
"Garmadon, you can't!" Nuero exclaimed. "He'll send you to Azkaban!"
"Yes," Clouse said, "And we might even be able to arrange a Dementor's Kiss for your crimes as a Dark Wizard."
More whispers from the students. I had never heard of Azkaban before, but two years ago I had to rescue Garmadon from a Dementor's Kiss. This was serious. The hall eventually hushed, all eyes on Garmadon. The warlord frowned and his eyes shot daggers at Chen, but he slowly relaxed, and the other teachers let him put his wand away. He sighed, and then glared at Chen one last time.
"Fine," he muttered, "but don't think this is over."
The other teachers let go of Garmadon and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"That was overdramatic," Lloyd muttered.
What was his problem? I thought he and his father were on better terms now.
"Would you want some weird man taking over your school?" I asked him, but Lloyd just shrugged.
Meanwhile Master Chen clapped his hands. "Excellent!" He exclaimed. "Now," he began, immediately taking over Garmadon's podium, "We're going to have to make quite a few changes around here. Starting…"
He grabbed his wand and flourished around the room, as if making up his mind. The whole room held its breath. "…with you." The wand came to rest on Garmadon.
The warlord started. "What?"
"Unfortunately, you have shown characteristics of going back to your old dark ways, so we can't have you as a teacher anymore."
I gasped. Garmadon balled his fists and started forward again, only to stop, realizing he would just prove Master Chen's point.
"How dare you!" he growled instead.
"But I'm not an entirely cruel man," Chen replied, a grin spreading across his face. "You were a former pupil of mine, so you can remain here at this school," he paused. "As a janitor." Chen laughed and Garmadon glowered.
Whispers broke out again. The mighty warlord was being reduced to a janitor? Who was going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts? Most of the other students looked sympathetic, but Lloyd just sat there, eating his fish. Something was definitely wrong with him. Shouldn't he show some feeling for his father?
I glanced up at Garmadon. He looked like he was going to explode, but Chen wasn't done yet. "Clouse," he said, and the dark man stepped forward. He took Garmadon's wand, and conjured a mop for him instead.
"We can't have you practicing dark magic, can we?" Master Chen said, his eyes gleaming.
Garmadon growled, but he couldn't do anything. Nobody could. Master Chen turned back to the students.
"Now that's out the way, on to more important matters…"
AN: Oh no! Things are looking bad, aren't they? Thanks again to all those who have reviewed, read and favorited! I appreciate your support! Until next time!