Zane led me out of the forest, explaining that he would take me to his home and teach me more. It was when we got to the base of a mountain when I started to doubt him.
"I'm not so sure about this..." I trailed off, watching him walk to the stairs.
"There is nothing to be afraid of." He reassured.
I held my ground for a moment, debating. A clap of thunder startled me, making me run for Zane.
"Okay, I trust you." I ran up the steps, taking some of them two at a time.
"Be careful, you don't want to sli-" Zane began.
I slipped, my toe catching on the edge. My knee hit the stone step; my hands came out to break my fall and my palms getting scratched in the process. It started pouring.
"Wha-" Zane started as the mountain shook.
"Hey guys!" A boy with brown spiky hair dressed in red came thumping down the stairs.
"Kai?" Zane asked.
Kai was panicking. "Earthquake! And it's not Cole's fault, so something's-" It abruptly stopped raining, the clouds vanishing.
We exchanged shocked glances. The ground rumbled once more, then stopped.
"Is this normal around here?" I asked.
"No, it is highly unusual." Zane said, then a huge gust of wind made me stumble back and hit him, nearly knocking both of us over.
At least we're all dry.
"I'm sorry!" I said, scrambling off of him.
A huge splashing sound made all of us turn. Circling the mountain was a green stream that bubbled.
"Acid?" Kai offered.
"Something of the like." Zane said.
"Well, we'd better get back-" Kai started, when it started pouring again.
"This is highly unusual!" Zane called over the howling wind.
"We should get inside!" Kai called back.
He turned and thumped back up the stairs.
We followed as fast as we could on the slippery stone. When we got to the top, Kai and another person were trying to open the doors.
"Can't...get it!" The guy in black grunted.
"The force of the wind is keeping them shut!" Zane hurried forward.
"We'll have to climb over the top!" Kai yelled, then started climbing.
"Uh..." I stared up at the huge doors.
"I can carry you, if you wish." Zane offered.
I nodded quickly, climbing onto his back and holding tightly.
The ninja scaled the wall easily, and we were soon running to the monastery.
A girl with blond hair and grey eyes pushed open the door, and we were greeted with towels.
I tried to dry myself off, but to my utter shock, it all fell off like a second skin, splattering all over the floor.
They all blinked. "I'm-I'm sorry, I'll clean it up!" I bent down to mop it up with the towel.
"No need." Kai said.
I was pulled away as fire shot from his hand, the water becoming steam.
"Oooh." The girl from earlier said, awed.
"You don't have to clean it up when someone else nearby can do it twenty times faster." The guy in black, who's name I learned was Cole, said nicely.
I nodded, grateful.
"Line up next to the wall, and someone get Emma." A guy with a long white beard walked in, followed by a woman, two girls, and three guys, with one obviously a dad.
Kai walked out to get Emma, while I was pushed to the wall.
"Do I have to?" An irritated voice asked.
"Yes. C'mon." An equally irritated voice replied.
The person who spoke happened to be a girl with dark hair and eyes. She walked up and stood next to me. Another girl, with bright red hair and cold green eyes walked in, and shuffled next to me, so I was in the middle.
The girl with blond hair hung back as the guy with a beard waved his staff at our faces.
"Emma. The poison runs deep in your words, but not in your heart." Emma visibly started.
"Elizabeth. Water is your life, and your soul." What? That doesn't make sense.
"Melissa. You are Metal, but metal is not you."
"Alena." The girl behind the speaker blinked, but gave no sign it was her. "Free as the air, but not so. She is not here, but will be in time.
"I am Sensei Wu, and you are my female ninja."
"Okay. Question-" Melissa began.
"These are my graduated students, and they will be your teachers." Sensei interrupted.
"Sweet!" Kai and a boy in blue high-fived.
"Students of our own!" The boy, who's name I learned to be Jay, said excitedly.
"We'll have dinner, then discuss training. I believe it's Zane's night, yes?" Sensei asked.
Zane nodded.
"Woot, I'm not going to starve!" Kai fist-pumped.
"When do you ever?" Cole asked.
"When you cook." Three voices said simultaneously.
"What? I'm not that bad!" Cole protested.
"Yes you are." A girl, who's name was Nya, said.
Cole looked heartbroken as Jay pulled Zane to the kitchen.
"Solaris? You coming?" Kai asked.
She nodded. "I'll be there in a moment." Her voice was soft and soothing to listen to.
"Don't worry, my dad couldn't cook either." Melissa patted his shoulder.
"Hey, with the girls here, Cole doesn't have to cook as often!" Jay realized.
Cheers went up. Cole looked like he was going to go hide in a hole for a while.
"That bad?" I exchanged surprised looks with Melissa.
"Not to insult, but how good are you at cooking?" She whispered.
I shrugged. "I dunno. I've never had to."
She looked at me, shocked. I bit my lip and looked away.
"C'mon, let's get ready!" Nya called.
"I'm not hungry." Emma sulked, walking down the opposite hallway.
"Wonder what her problem is." Melissa muttered.
"She...is off, somehow." Solaris watched Emma retreat back to her room.
Melissa and I gave her weird looks.
"Something is unnerving her." Solaris looked troubled. "Worry? Fear? 'Tis hard to say."
Melissa sighed. "Whatever. Let's go eat."
We walked to the dining room, Melissa leading the way as she was the most familiar, oddly enough.
We sat down and Nya bombarded us with simple questions.
"Where are you from? How old are you? What do you like to do for fun?"
Melissa went first. "A small town from here, 17, and making and learning about metal and weapons."
I bit my lip. "I'm from the north. I'm almost 18. And...I don't know."
"You don't know what you like to do for fun." Nya said in a deadpan voice. I nodded, ashamed.
"You're serious." Melissa blinked.
I played with the edge of my skirt under the table, refusing to meet their gazes.
"Don't push her." Solaris scolded, though her voice wasn't harsh or angry. "I am from Amestris, to the East. I am sixteen and I like to fly airplanes."
"Airplanes? That's cool!" Lloyd exclaimed, walking in from the kitchen.
A light blush scattered across her cheeks. "It's normal for my family. My Uncle flies planes." She said quietly.
"Dinner guys!" Jay walked out.
My mouth started watering from the smell as Zane set a plate down.
"Where's Emma?" The lady asked.
"She said she wasn't hungry." Melissa shrugged.
"Huh. Well, I figure I should introduce myself. I'm Sensei Garmadon. This is my wife, Misako. Lloyd is my son." Garmadon introduced.
Solaris looked confused. "But the ages do not match. Lloyd looks much too old."
"Long story." Misako laughed. "I'll explain in time."
She looked at Melissa with a sad gaze, who pointedly refused to look at her, staring at the table.
"Ookay, awkward." Nya sighed.
New chapter!
Next chapter will have some more appearances for Emma, who just so happens to play an important role in this.
Review?