Can we get a replay? Chapter 1: Letters, a ninjago fanfic

"Is that all?" Nya spoke, her voice humming through the shop.

It was mid-evening, the sun just setting, leaving an orange glow peaking through the windows. It hadn't been a particularly cold day so they'd left the windows open to air out the place. If they didn't it could get pretty foggy from the condensation and they'd have to deal with it all day and night, sometimes it even got hard to breathe because of the lack of fresh air, but that's just what happens when you live in a blacksmiths.

Their house was right above the shop, well if you could even call it a house. It had two bedrooms with a small kitchen to the side, and by small I mean small, there was barely enough room to contain a sink and fridge. They used their customer toilets for their personal use, they kept their toothbrushes and any other products in their bedrooms. It was hard sometimes but they got by.

Their parents left when Kai was five and Nya only being three. It took a tole on them, It'd take a toll on anyone. Though the town was kind and knew about their conditions but there was only so much they could do. It's easy to leave off a few gold coins short but when you can't pay the deposit for the admissions fee it becomes a lot trickier.

Kai got his first job at 11, cleaning gardens and houses, tending to crops, babysitting. Basically anything he could convince anyone to pay him for. His dad never taught him how to shape weapons or how long to hold them underwater for so the shop sat there for years, untouched. He never did like cleaning much but he did it for them, for Nya. So she could have a better life. So she could go to school and not have to worry about if they could pay the next bill on time. Of course she still did, even with Kai's protests. She knew he was miserable but she also knew her going to school was her way of helping them. It meant she would have more options in the future. To help them out of this poverty.

"That'll be twelve ninety-nine when you're ready" Nya stated, a smile breaking onto her face. FSM she hated customer service. The man placed the money into her hand and she turned to the cash register behind her, opening it and placing the money inside. Then turning back around to say a goodbye to the customer like she always did only to find he was gone. Oh well, no harm done.

Her eyes then lowered noticing two white envelopes sitting on the counter where the sword used to be. She picked them up reading who they were addresses to.

'To: Mr. Kai Smith' was written in black ink on one along with the shops address and on the other the same, except it was address to a 'Ms. Nya Smith'.

It felt weird to be called 'Ms.' but it felt even weirder to have been handed these letters in the first place. It's not like they didn't get mail, they did, but it was usually bills or spam, not handwritten letters from who knows where?!

"Kai" He was only half the shop away from her but he was currently banging metal together very harshly so I had to yell. Although I still don't think he heard me.

"KAI!" This time he definitely heard me because he jumped up about a meter and knocked over half our merchandise.

"What?" He asked, clearly still recovering from the fright. He pulled his helmet off his face showing a very confused, ash-covered face, with even messier hair than usual.

"Are you expecting mail?" I asked, raising the letters in the air. He took one look at them then walked over to take a closer look.

"No? Why who's it from?" He reached out but I pulled the letters back. "Hands" He huffs and goes over the the one toilet we own. I hear the tap running and the sound of the soap being pressed down.

"I think the man left them here." I started walking over, my eyes were still glued to the letters, they looked so pretty. The envelope was sealed with one of those fancy wax stamps you'd get from the mayor or royal family, you know someone important. -although I doubt anyone that important is ever going to be sending us letters-

"What man?" Kai turned the tap off and grabbed the towel from the wall. "There was a man here?" sigh, typical of Kai to not even notice someone standing right in front of him, I don't know how he'll ever make it on his own. Luckily he won't have to as long as he has me.

"Yes, there was a man here. He payed for a sword then left."

"And you think he's the only person who could've left the letters?" He clearly didn't believe me, I could tell by the way his head moved slightly to the side. When you live with someone long enough you learn how to read their body language pretty well.

"Yes Kai, he was the only one here. Plus they weren't there before I turned around but they were after but he was gone." He still looked a bit skeptical about it but for once I couldn't tell if it was about the letters or the man.

"Okay well open them up then."

I handed him his letter and we each opened them, mostly in sync, ripping the wax stamp apart with parts of it falling to the ground. Great gotta clean that up now. When I pulled the paper out it just had a fortune inside. I looked at Kai to see he had the same confused expression on his face, but then I read the fortune and my heart stopped.

'Master Chen has personally invited you to participate in his Tournament Of Elements. Secrecy is of the utmost importance. Tell no one, or suffer the consequences. Meet on the pier at midnight and leave your weapons behind.

We look forward to seeing you, Master of Water.'

'Master of Water' water, what does that even mean? The Master of Water, how can you be the Master of a liquid? I wonder if Kai has the same thing written on his letter. As if he can read my mind he turns to me. "What does yours say?" I knew he wasn't talking about the 'Tournament'.

"Master of Water." I say "What about yours."

"Fire."

Hm, Opposites? I don't know what to think of all this, and i'm guessing neither does Kai. At least we're in this together. I want to ask what we're supposed to do but don't know how to get the words out. I don't even know what 'Master of Water' means. I guess i've always felt a connection with water somehow but I never thought it was anything more than a fascination. I don't even wanna get started on the Tournament part. Does it mean there's more 'Masters' out there? Did they know of their powers before the letter?

"We're not going." Kai finally states firmly. His eyebrows are furrowed and he turns away tossing the fortune along with the envelope into the bin. I don't want to disagree with him because it does sound like a bad idea but I can't help but wonder what this means, to be the Master of Water.

"I think we should go." Kai turns to me giving me a look that almost convinces me I have five heads.

"Nya this is dangerous, not to mention sketchy. It's a weird fortune from a weird man about a weird Tournament. We aren't going."

"But-"

"No Nya. That's final." Then he pulls down his helmet and turns back to the sword he was making.

I hate when he does this, ordering me around like I'm a child, I am one but he is too, even if he doesn't act like it. He can't tell me what to do, I'm my own person and I can make this choice for myself and I want to go to figure out who I am and what this means. If Kai doesn't agree with that then he can stay here and take care of the shop when i'm gone.

I don't like leaving our home, leaving Kai, but maybe this could explain why our parents aren't here.

Maybe they left because they were also "Masters" maybe they didn't up and abandon us for no reason. They could've been forced to, or maybe they're waiting for us.

I am going to that Tournament, no matter what.

Another day, another dance class.

sigh. Why did I, of all people, have to be the son of man in a famous song and dance troupe. Everyone expected so much from me because of it, and if he was being honest he's not even sure this is what he wants to do for the rest of his life. It just doesn't seem interesting to him but then again he didn't really have another option. Not to mention it would be seventeen years wasted.

All the time and money gone down the drain on a dream that wasn't even his.

He opened his locker and shoved his dance clothes inside. Then grabbing a bottle of deodorant and spraying himself a few times. FSM he stunk, ugh, he hated this. Everyday was the same, wake up, get to dance class, have lunch "But not too much! Dancers aren't supposed to be big and bulky!" --but Cole was, and they never forget to remind him-- then after lunch there was another dance class, ballet, then straight to theater, which he didn't mind much it could be fun at times, like when we were put into groups and had to make a "flamboyant and flashy" entrance that would "take the eye of every citizen by storm"

We were allowed to use lights and smoke and outfits that day. Cole remembers the memory and smiles, it's probably one of the only good ones he'll ever have here.

He unzipped his bag and took out his sweats. He did a double take and right there, laying on the bottom of the bag, was a piece of paper. He didn't remember putting that there? Maybe it was one he'd passed to Megan in class one day. Cole opened it up and read it expecting an insult to one of his teachers or a question about what they were serving for lunch that day but that not what he found at all.

We look forward to seeing you, Master of Earth.'

Hold on.

What in the name of the FSM is this?! I bet one of the girls put this in here as a joke, they know he loves Chens Noodle House. "Haha girls, very funny." He shouted across the locker room.

Yes, the boys and girls used the same one. Nobody ever took showers or actually got changed in them. If they did there was separate stalls that locked, although some of them are dodgy so Cole avoids them unless needed, and unfortunately today was one of those days, they must've slipped it in when he was in there. Sneaky. But there was still no reply, which was expected, but there wasn't any giggling either.

That's weird.

He walked around the corner but there was nobody there. But they just got out of class? Everyone was sweating like dogs in there how did they not need to at least change. The only times they've skipped the changing room run was whe- Wait, was there some meeting he didn't know about. Shit. He's gonna be murdered by the head instructor, especially if she's in a bad mood, and she will be when he shows up late.

He runs back and grabs his duffel bag, shoving the note inside and zipping it up then slamming his locker shut.

Sprinting down the halls towards the assembly room while dodging any instructor that comes in his way. If they see him he's sure to be expelled and then what will he do? If he gets kicked out of school he has nowhere to go and it's not like he can go home his father would murder him, right after the head.

There! The assembly door. He peeks in to see that there is, in fact, a meeting being held. FSM why did he have to get changed today, he could've avoided this whole situation.

What am I meant to do now, just walk in?... well I mean if I do I'll get expelled but if I don't I won't be able to show my face at school anymore because the second she sees me she'll expel me for not being at the meeting. It's a lose lose situation.

I really hate this place.

He looks down at the duffel bag in his hands and gets reminded of the note inside. 'Tournament Of Elements' If the girls were at the meeting they couldn't of put the note inside his bag, which meant the Tournament was real. He could be the Master of Earth and if he actually was then maybe he didn't have to stay here for the rest of his life. Maybe he could be someone and actually make a difference like he's always wanted. Maybe he had a chance and just maybe this could be destiny. The only thing is his dad. They'll call him the second the meeting is finished and he'll murder Cole for missing anything.

...

Well then I better be quick.

Jay tied the black and blue wires together holding them in place as he flicked the switch on. Please work.

A shock went through his body, it did hurt a little but he's gotten used to it by now.

"Shit" He groaned. He's been trying to get this stupid thing to work for hours but every time he tries to switch it on it shocks himself, and he doesn't really want his dad to have a heart attack on his birthday.

He doesn't understand what he's doing wrong. Maybe the ratio was wrong? or maybe I didn't calculate the dynamics properly? Ugh. He wishes he could just ask someone but his dad was the only person who got this stuff and he wasn't about to spoil the surprise just so he could actually have a present. He could do this on his own.

"Jay, honey! Dinners ready sugar!"

"Coming!"

He quickly grabbed the sheet beside his legs and threw it over his project. He then placed his "Jays work! No peaking" sign on top then stood back to check if any sides were peaking out.

He's been working on this for a month trying to get it exactly right. It needed to be perfect for his dad. He's done so much for Jay and he just wants to give something back in return for all those years of taking care of him and teaching him about mechanics and engineering in the first place. He just wants his dad to be happy.

When he walked in the door he was immediately hit with the smell of his moms cooking, he loved that smell, it reminded him of home and warmth and made him feel safe.

He pulled out a chair and went to sit down before being interrupted by his mums protests, shoving him over to the sink and handing him a soap bottle.

"You've been out all day in the yard, you'll get grease and muck in your dinner." He always forgets.

"Oh, you got a letter in the mail today son." His dad piped in from the table, standing up and grabbing an envelope that was sitting on the counter.

Jay dried his hands before taking it and thanking his father. He didn't usually get letters, he didn't really have any friends so it was probably an aunt or uncle writing to him, but then again they don't send him letters unless it's for his birthday.

He opened it, sitting down on his chair, -closest one to the front door- and pulling out a piece of paper with a fancy design. It had red swirls up and down the sides and was neatly folded in three sections. He read the writing trying hard not to get distracted by the design of the paper anymore.

We look forward to seeing you, Master of Lightning.'

Um? I'm sorry.. WHAT?!

What does that even mean?! Master Of Lightning?! As in an elemental master?

That's?! that's... that's so cool.

But also what?! How is that even possible, for that to be true he'd have to be related to an elemental master and his parents really don't seem like the type. Speaking of parents they probably noticed the look on my face because they were now questioning if i'd a fever or if I felt faint.

"I'm okay!" His mum brushed his hair from his forehead to place a hand there instead. "Mum- really i'm fine! just a weird letter."

"Oh, what's it about dear?" His mums hand retreated back to her side but she still seemed worried, which was understandable considering his eyes were still wide as saucers.

He thought about brushing it off, and making up some story, but he couldn't lie to his parents.

"It says I'm an elemental master, but I know that's not true so it's probably just a prank letter from a kid from school or something." He didn't think it was a big deal but now his parents were making weird eyes at each other and nodding then shaking their heads. It wasn't that far fetched to think it was from one of his classmates, was it? they did stuff like this all the time. "What's wrong?"

They looked at each other again then to me then back to each other.

"Mum?..Dad?"

"Well, Jay, there has been something we've been meaning to tell you." His mum started, she looked serious and.. sort of guilty?

"Ah. But gee-willickers, there was just no easy way to say it." His dad was smiling every few words, but he didn't look happy?

Jay grabbed at his fingers and began fidgeting.

"You see, son, you're uh... you're adopted."

Suddenly time felt still, like it had froze just for me and I couldn't breathe. It couldn't be true, could it? They had to have been joking because there was no way they weren't my real parents. There was just no way. It felt too real. I wanted to go back to a few seconds ago and insist they keep the information to themselves. It wasn't something I wanted to hear.

"-ur doorstep when you were just a baby, along with this address and key." He got handed a key and another letter -FSM not another letter- "Oh, you were just so gosh darn cute!"

I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. "And we gladly raised you as our own ever since." I turned to my dad who gave me a smile but all I could do was look at the note I'd just been handed, was it really from my birth parents? That feels weird to say.

"We're sorry son, I hope this doesn't change anything." My da- um, my.. person who raised me?

He still felt like a dad, he had done everything a dad was supposed to do. Talk to me, protect me, be there when I needed him, plus he'd taught me everything I knew about mechanics, it just felt different now i guess. As if he was a completely different person then before. Which is ridiculous because he's exactly the same person as he was five second ago, when I didn't know I was left on his doorstep

I was left on his doorstep? and he took me in. No questions asked, just picked me up and raised me as if I was his actual son. This was stupid, he raised me, not whoever had left me this letter and key, as far as i'm concerned he was my real dad.

But then what about the Tournament thing? Does that mean I could be related to an elemental master, maybe it was one of my birth parents?

"Should I go?" My mouth moved faster than my brain, as usual, I didn't even know if I wanted to go. After all I didn't know anything about my powers and I don't think a 'Tournament' meant we would be sitting around chatting.

"That's not our choice to make, son." He faltered a little when saying that last part but I ignored it. "This is something you have to figure out on your own." He smiled at me once more.

"And we'll support whatever decision you decide on sweetie."

They were both looking at me like I was their whole world. I never wanted to leave their side, but this was something I think I have to do.. so I guess I'm going then. Tournament Of Elements here I come!!

"Ugh." Lloyd huffed, throwing his head back.

He'd just been dropped by one of his clients, one with a somewhat large income, so that'll be no more meals for him for a while.

He was still standing outside the front door, just staring at it. If he was being honest he was really contemplating whether or not his roommates would hate him enough for this to kick him out, or if they'd be asleep by now and he could just slip out early in the morning to avoid it for a few days. Maybe he could get the customer back and they'd never have to know?

Who was he kidding, it was only eleven. they'd probably be having dinner by now. Ahhh leftover take-away with a side of apple slices, nothing better in life than a meal that feels like home.

They'd be fine with it.. they've been though enough together.. things much worse than this.. maybe he just won't bring it up.

He opened the door, finally, shoving it forward -stupid rusted joints- trying not to hit the wall. Pretty sure if he hit it again it'd make a whole straight though. He shut the door after himself only to reveal a pile of mail laying behind it. Ughh, they never picked up the mail, maybe they need a system. Like get a bowl to put them in or something.

He made his way towards the kitchen where he could already hear voices.

"You know you can pick up the mail, it's not gonna kill you." I said, dropping the letters onto the table.

Brad sat at the table currently looking down onto the huge pile of mail i'd just unleashed onto him. Gene was off to the side a bit, sprawled out on our couch, which we got for half off because of a guy Brad knew had given him a discount because he "Needed it to be looked after for a while." He never came back though so hopefully that means we can keep it.

"Oh my gosh I had no idea, thank you for bringing this to my attention, your highness." Brad countered.

"Haha." I deadpanned "Hilarious." To which Brad only responded with a smile, then turned back to sorting the letters.

"Want food?" Gene asked. He pointed towards the fridge.

I thought about it for a second, I hadn't eaten since this morning but then again I had just lost a huge client of ours so I needed to cut back on luxuries, such as eating twice a day. "Nah, i'm good." I replied sitting down on the chair beside Brad.

Then they looked at me, and I knew exactly what it meant.

"What?" I said, pretending to not know what I did in fact know, they couldn't prove anything anyways.

"Lloyd-" Brad started but I knew where it was going. The look in his eyes said it all.

"I don't need another lecture." I cut in.

"Clearly you do." Brad said, this time with a bit of bite. "You can't do this again."

"Do what?"

"You know what."

Then nobody talked. I did know what, but that's not what was happening this time. I just couldn't tell them right now. I'd get the client back tomorrow and this'll all be dealt with.

Brad went back to sorting the mail and Gene stopped looking around like he was intruding on something and went to clean off his plate.

"You've a letter" Brad said after a minute of the most painful silence I've ever experienced. I took it from him and opened it, not very delicately, reading the words silently.

We look forward to seeing you, Master of Energy.'

PFFTT, that's gotta be the most creative one yet. I crumpled it into a ball and threw it behind me.

"What was that about?" Gene asked loudly so I could hear him over the water running.

"Some prank letter about a Element Tournament thing hosted by the one and only Master Chen." I said throwing my hands up for some piazza.

"The noodle guy?" Brad asked holding back a laugh. I nodded, trying to hold back a laugh myself. "How do they even get our address." Brad said through giggles.

"What?!" Gene practically screamed. His eyes were wide and he ran towards the paper un crumpling it and scanning the words.

"Jeez talk about trust issues." Brad said looking over at me with his hand up and his thumb pointed over towards Gene. Then the laughter came back and Brads face turned red and Oh my fsm- I couldn't breathe. Gene just huffed like a baby.

"Shut it, gosh. Master Chen, ring any bells?" He said swinging the paper in front of our faces. We stopped out laughing fit and stared at Gene then each other then back to Gene and I shrugged.

Gene sighed. "Mr. Goldwicks class, Term two, Year 6." Our confused looks didn't vanish. Not our fault Gene memorized the whole curriculum. "Master Chen was the guy who befriended the serpentine in the Serpentine War, remember? He went all crazy and turned on his own kind."

Various "oh" sounds were made. Which only made Gene sigh more and call us 'uncultured, uneducated morons', which was uncalled for.

"You have to go!" Brad suddenly exclaimed sounding very high pitched.

"Why?" I didn't wanna go? I'd stuff to do here and I had to get that client back. I couldn't just leave them all alone with that burden.

"It's probably a criminal cult or gang, Oh! Maybe you'll see Samuki! If you do tell him about me, oh and get his autograph, obviously." Brad said

I rolled my eyes, "obviously."

"You know he's a pretty rich guy, he's probably giving out some award for this Tournament. That could mean big bucks." Gene piped eyes glued to the letter.

"We could use money like that, the shower heads been broken for months, i've had to resort in washing my hair in the sink." Brad said, grimacing. I guess we could do with the money. But it wasn't a guarantee and I don't know if we could afford a risk like that right now. Then again we didn't have much to loose, and if I did end up getting the money maybe they'd forgive me for loosing another client. Who knows if Chens even giving out money? It could just be a conference disguised as a Tournament, people do that all the time, disguising one thing as the other to lure people in thinking they'll win money and jewels.

"I don't know." I finally said. "I don't wanna get into something we can't handle right now."

"What are you talking about, we can handle this! It's what we've been waiting for, a chance to show people who we are and what we want. We are criminals Lloyd." Brad said, rather whiny.

"I know but this could be dangerous, I mean this guys went against his own kind? What does that tell you about him, he's probably gonna do the same thing again." I defended. I really didn't like the idea. It gave me a bad feeling, my gut hasn't let me down before and it's not going to now.

"I say you go." Gene walked over and grabbed my shoulders, kneeling on the ground in front of where I was sitting. "We need this money Lloyd. We can't just pass off an opportunity like this." He looked at Lloyd with the worst puppy dog eyes ever, he was never good at them. Then Lloyd turned to Brad only to find him with the exact same look.

Lloyd sighed, rolling his eyes. "Fine. I'll go."

Cheers and victory dances started right in front of him. Gene doing what could be considered the running man but to be honest Lloyd wasn't sure and Brad joining in with the sprinkler. They pulled Lloyd out of his chair and in the end they were all dancing in their kitchen in the middle of the night. He was gonna miss this.

"Thank you." Zane shoots a smile as a reply as they leave.

They left a pretty good tip so he was quite happy about that. It'll mean he gets to eat something other than leftovers from the shop for dinner. Maybe he'll cook something? Have a nice homemade stew for a change.

"Hello and welcome to The Star Restaurant, I will be your waiter and chef this evening." He says letting himself go on auto pilot, he was good at that, just letting his body take over and do the right thing.

A man takes his seat in front of Zane and slides over a paper with an order written on it. This wasn't anything unusual they got lots of customers who were coming in on behalf of their bosses or a colleague, usually they'd call in ahead of time to avoid build up in customers, but this didn't seem like a big order anyways.

Zane got to work slicing vegetables and cutting up the chicken. The man didn't talk, which was fine as-well, not everyone wanted to have conversation, although this was the type of place you'd go for one, but this guy looked very closed off with his hood up covering most of his face. All Zane could see was a mustache and his mouth -which wasn't very helpful in identifying him- peaking out from under where the hood stopped.

Zane finished up the meal, it didn't take long, and placed it into a take-out box ready with a set of chopsticks. Then read out the payment due and waited for it. The man took the food and slipped, once again, a note over to him along with the money.

Zane was a bit confused but maybe it was something for next time or a cheque.

We look forward to seeing you, Master of Ice.'

That couldn't be right. Maybe that man had placed it here by accident. "Excuse me s-"

He was gone? He was just there though, and he didn't move fast from what Zane had observed.

He read the letter over once more and thought about it. He had never remembered where he came from or was born, nothing about his hometown or family. His therapist thinks it's amnesia but they haven't quite figured out what from. He just simply doesn't remember, doesn't have any memories before waking up in a cabin out in the snowy forests. He could only begin to think of the things that could've happened to him prior.

Maybe this note was for him? Maybe it was whoever had put him there coming back to explain to him everything he's been wanting to know for years. He could finally have the answer. He just had to go to this Tournament.

He doesn't understand the 'Master of Ice' part but it was the Tournament Of Elements and if his knowledge is anything to go by it could be referring to the Elemental Masters. That would mean he was the current Master of Ice, he doesn't remember possessing any abilities related to that but there isn't much he can remember. Maybe that's who left him, the previous Master of Ice, his.. father? He guesses.

His shift wasn't over for another three hours so he'd have to pack quick when he got back to the apartment.

Though he had a feeling he wouldn't be needing much.