Another day, another chapter. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed writing it.


11. Dinner Guests

Wu looked around the dinner table. A lot had happened today. First Echo ran off with some snake, then Jay showed up, Zoey discovered her powers, and finally Ryan showed up wondering if he could stay for dinner—something about being here with Jay. To sum it up, today was a crazy day.

"So, Sensei Wu," Ryan started, "um, what brought you to live out here?"

Wu lifted his tea cup to his mouth and took a sip. Then he answered, "My brother banished my daughter and I about seven years ago. I brought her here to raise her. It is far enough so if the kingdom decides to expand more, we are not in the way."

"Right," Ryan continued, "so why is Prince Lucas here?"

"Isn't what I do my business?" Lucas questioned.

"Of course, but when the rebellion is blamed for your disappearance, it's our business," Ryan said.

"I brought him here because if he'd stayed at the castle, he would've been killed and the rebellion would've been blamed for that," Wu said.

Everyone stopped eating. "You never told us that," Zane said.

"No, I didn't," Wu admitted, "but I had my reasons."

"Oh come on," Jay said, "the king isn't that evil, is he?"

"I wouldn't be sitting here if I thought otherwise," Lucas said. "I'm not like my father, and he wouldn't like how I would rule a kingdom. Though General Kai is a different matter."

"Why does he matter?" Echo asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Zoey asked, looking to Wu.

He nodded, letting her know it was all right to say it.

"If Garmadon wants Kai to be king, all he'd have to do is find a way to get rid of Lucas and then set him up with Princess Alex," Zoey said. "Then it wouldn't matter what happens to him since he has someone to rule the kingdom his way."

Lucas nodded. "Exactly."

"He can't make Alex marry anyone," Echo argued. "A girl should be able to chose who she loves, princess or not."

"If only all boys saw it that way," Zoey mumbled. "Even a seven-year-old gets it."

"Well, Garmadon has never been one to let people make their own decisions," Wu sighed.

"Hello?"

"Now who's here?" Wu mumbled. He stood and walked out to the upper deck. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw who'd arrived. "Alex?"

"Phew, I thought some pirates would've answered," Alex said. "Uncle, we need to talk…about a lot of things. First, meet the ex-general, Kai."

"Ex-general?" Wu questioned.

"I'm still confused about it," Kai said. He shivered a little and rubbed his hands together. "Can we come in?"

"Sure," Wu said, "we should have enough food for you two." He signaled for them to follow as he went back to the dinning room. "We have some more visitors," he said to the others. "I'd like you to meet Kai and Alex."

Lucas stood as his sister walked into the room. "Alex? What're you–"

"There will be time for back stories," Wu interrupted. "You two, grab a seat."

Alex walked over and sat down next to Lucas and Ryan and across from Zoey. Kai sat down next to Zane across from Jay. Wu got a plate for Alex and Kai, set them down at their places, and then sat in his seat at the head of the table.

"So, I heard you got caught, Princess," Ryan said.

"Really? I wonder who told you that," Alex said, sending a glare to Jay.

"Did that come up?" Jay asked, pretending to be oblivious.

Alex rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Last thing I need is a false rumor. I didn't get caught, I let Jay go one ahead and then returned to the castle before somebody—who will remain unnamed—made my dad not trust me."

"Uh…sorry?" Kai questioned.

"You better be–"

"Sis," Lucas said, "how long have you had that ninja suit?"

Wu looked over Alex. He hardly noticed that she wasn't in a dress like she usually was. The ninja suit just looked so natural on her, like it's suppose to be. He looked back up to Alex who was blushing.

"It's much easier to fight in than a dress," she stated. "Besides, being a princess isn't me. I shouldn't be wearing dresses for everything…or anything."

"So we know why you're here, but why is he here?" Echo asked.

Alex looked at the young girl as if she just noticed her. "I'm sorry, who are you?" she asked.

"My name is Echo," Wu's daughter smiled. "So why is he here?"

"I'm here because I was able to use a sword and it still confuses me," Kai said.

"Yeah, Uncle that's what we needed to talk about. Kai, mind telling him what kind of sword it was?" Alex asked.

"It was a golden sword that created fire," Kai said. "I still don't see the big deal."

Wu and Lucas stared at Kai. I should've sensed it from the moment he walked on board, Sensei thought. He's the Ninja of Fire.

"No kidding," Lucas mumbled, as if he heard what Wu thought. "Where's the sword now?"

"The king took it," Kai replied.

Wu lowered his gaze as he took a sip from his tea. If his brother already had the Sword of Fire, it was even more important that they got the other three weapons. The Nunchucks of Lightnig, the Sythe of Quakes, and the Shurikens of Ice. He glanced to Zane and then Jay. He already suspected they were the Ninja of Ice and Ninja of Lightning, but they needed to figure it out themselves. Now that he knew Garmadon had the fire sword, he questioned himself on whether he should tell them or not.

Suddenly Zoey stood up. "Sensei, you have a visitor," she said. He noticed her eyes were pale white.

Next thing he knew, there was a man at the door. "You!" he said, walking in and slamming his hand across the table from Alex. Zoey jumped back, falling into her brother. "Jay and Ryan had my consent to be here," he continued, "but I never said you could. Don't even give me the whole you should be able to do what you want shpeael, you're the one who signed up for the rebellion, and what were you thinking when you led the general here?"

"Cole I–"

Wu stood. "Excuse me, but we are eating here," he growled, walking over to Cole. The man took a step back. "So if you wouldn't mind I'd like you to not yell at my niece and to leave."

"I…uh…" Cole sighed. "We actually need Alex, Ryan and Jay for a meeting with an important ally. The sooner the better since Alex would most likely need to head back to the castle so the king doesn't find out."

"What do you mean so he–"

"Kai, stop talking," Alex said, standing up, "and I'm coming."

Jay and Ryan stood as well. "An order is an order," Ryan mumbled.

"Thanks for the meal," Jay said before he, Alex and Ryan left.

Cole turned to leave but looked back to Echo. "Your friend Rattla took care of the guards and headed back to his home," he said. Then he continued to follow the others.

Echo's face turned pink as she looked back down to her food.

Wu sat back down. "Now let's continue our dinner. Hopefully with no further interruptions."


So…uh…

Ryan: I got this.

Echo: I wanna say it!

Joesph: Can I say it?

Kai: You weren't even in this chapter!

Jay: Review.

Cole: Oh come on! He always says it!