Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago. I also do not own "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira.

A/N: I just recently found out that 'Cuchilla' is pronounced 'Koo-chi-ya,' the 'koo' rhymes with 'you.' Just thought I'd let you know. Enjoy!

Chapter 19: Pre-Show

Cuchilla's POV

I woke up, still under the piano, about two hours later, as night was falling. Thankfully, the night wasn't a 'claw light,' or a night with the crescent moon. I walked out from under the piano and stretched, yawning loudly. My yawn was loud enough to cause the ninja, who were seated in the living room, which was just a room to my left, to become startled and jump up in attention.

Blue Jay's reaction was the most interesting. He jumped slightly, like his companions, yet also rolled onto the floor, onto his hands and knees, and poised to attack. I studied him for a moment before walking into the room, reassuring the ninja all was well.

When I was sure Cole's dad wasn't around, I transformed into my human form, and sat on the floor in front of Kai. At that moment, I realized the boys were dressed in tuxedos, each in the same color as their element. I decided that they looked slightly humorous, yet I didn't laugh because Cole's dad came in at that moment.

"Alright, now, in just an hour, you'll be on stage, in the spotlight, and…who's this?" He pointed to me.

"Her name is Lupe, and she's pretty annoying." Cole mumbled. I stood up and punched his arm, regardless of his father's presence.

"You asked for it, and I'm not deaf nor am I mute. I can talk for myself." I sat back down.

"Anyway, will you be performing?" Cole's dad asked, as if I never punched his son.

"I might, if I feel like it." I shrugged.

"Hopefully you will. I'd like to see that," Cole commented. I glared at him.

"I will, and I might even get the pack involved." I muttered.

"Pack? What pack?" Zane asked.

"I'll tell you later, I have to go. I promised to meet up with someone, I'll see you guys at the show." I walked out of the house as if I had every right to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

~In the Woods~

I ran, as a she-wolf, to where the cave was. The cave of the Cartres family, Alejandro, Delicia, Acuzio, Pablo, and their parents. I sniffed around the area surrounding the cave to make sure the family was home. To my happiness, they were home, and awake, and aware of my presence.

"¡Cuchilla! ¿Dónde has estado?" Delicia asked, her brown pelt wavering slightly in the low breeze. (Cuchilla! Where have you been?)

"¡Delicia! ¡Buen amigo! Necesito su ayuda. He entrado en un concurso de talentos, pero pensé en un dúo o trío." I told her. (Delicia! Good friend! I need your help. I entered a talent show, but I thought of a duet or trio.)

"¿En que idioma?" Delicia asked. (In what language?)

"Inglés, pero con una o dos líneas de españoles." I told her. (English, but with one or two lines of Spanish.)

"¿Qué canción?" She asked. (What song?)

"Eso es lo que yo también necesito ayuda sobre." I responded. (That's what I also need help on)

"¡Alejandro! ¡Acuzio! ¡Ven aquí!" Delicia called her brothers. (Alejandro! Acuzio! Come here!)

"¿Qué es lo que, hermana?" Acuzio asked, coming into view with his brown pelt. (What is it, sister?)

"Cuchilla necesita tu ayuda en un trío para una canción." Delicia told them. (Cuchilla needs your help in a trio for a song.)

"¿Qué canción?" Alejandro asked, with his size and muscle being the only difference between his brother and himself. (What song?)

"Eso es aún por decidir." I informed them. (That is yet to be decided.)

"¿Qué tal "Hips Don't Lie" de Shakira?" Alejandro suggested. (How about "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira?)

"Eso no es una mala idea." I told my friends. (That's not a bad idea.)

"Entonces está decidido. Voy a estar en la muchedumbre. Buena suerte, chicos." Delicia agreed. (Then it's settled. I'll be in the crowds. Good luck, guys.)

~Later, at the Show~

I looked around for the ninja, when I saw the trophy, shining in all its glory.

The Blade Cup, I thought. The reason why I'm even doing this in the first place. This better be worth it.

"Hey, Lupe." I turned around to find mí amor, dressed in his red tuxedo.

"Hi, Kai. Are the others with you?" I asked.

"Yeah, but they're arguing over our dance routine. I needed some space to think. Anyway, what song are you going to sing?" He asked. I smirked.

"'Hips Don't Lie' by Shakira." I responded.

"Who's singing the male part?" Kai asked.

"We are," Alejandro answered, walking up to me before I could answer, accompanied by Acuzio.

"Cool, I'm Kai." Kai stuck out his right hand.

"I'm Alejandro and this is my brother, Acuzio." Alejandro shook Kai's hand, and then motioned to Acuzio, who just raised his hand then lowered it as a short wave.

"Kai! Get back here!" Cole yelled from across the room.

"See you guys later. Bye Lupe," Kai waved quickly before turning around and walking back to the ninja.

"I see Delicia. I knew she wouldn't lie about this." Acuzio stated, looking out from behind the curtain.

"Five bucks says she has a camera. There's no way she would miss the opportunity." Alejandro put up the bet.

"Fifteen bucks says she already has her camera set up, and just saw me." Acuzio said before pulling his head back behind the curtain.

"I'm not betting with either of you," I chuckled lightly before thinking of what to do. I got an idea and turned around, searching for the ninja.

"Where are you going?" Acuzio asked me.

"To spy on a ninja I hate." I answered. Before Alejandro could throw blame around like a ball, I clarified which ninja. "The black ninja, Cole, not Kai. Kai's red."

"What about the other two?" Alejandro asked.

"You guys know Blue Jay, or at least in his moon wolf form." I pointed to the blue-tuxedo wearing Jay.

"Is he the wolf who you once brought to us? Was his name, Relámpago?" Acuzio asked. I nodded. "So, who's the white one?"

"That's Zane, he's somewhat like the brains of the team." I answered. At that moment, Blue Jay and Kai knocked into each other mid-air. The boys then started arguing.

"What are they arguing about?" Alejandro asked.

"Who knows? They're humans." Acuzio stated. "Well, at least Kai is, Relámpago is a moon wolf if I remember correctly."

"Yeah, he's a moon wolf. But he's still a pup, a pup going through a romance age." I whispered to Alejandro and Acuzio.

"Really? Who's his 'significant other,' in this case?" Alejandro asked, always a gossip king. I peeked out of the curtain to scan the audience for Nya.

In almost no time, I found her, in the front row, sitting next to Jay's dad.

"She's right there, the one in red, if you can smell her, she smells a bit like Kai." I told my canine companions.

"She feels the same, you can smell it on her." Acuzio stated after he had a look at her and returned to behind the curtain.

"I can smell it too, she reeks of it." Alejandro agreed after having a look at her himself.

"Reeks of what?" Acuzio asked, as he had spaced out.

"She reeks of the first-time heart. Remember?" Alejandro told his brother.

"I agree, but hopefully this will be her first and only. I'd hate to destroy Blue Jay, but I will if I have to." I told them.

"Yeah, but I think we've all been there, done that." Alejandro said.

"True, remember Hecho?" Acuzio recalled Hecho, Delicia's ex-boyfriend who cheated on her time and again, even after she forgave him over and over.

Eventually, we all got sick of his behavior, and Alejandro, Acuzio, and I chased Hecho down and let out our rage on him. I will never specify what was left of his sad self, but I can't say he will live past twenty-five.

After a few minutes, the show began, yet Acuzio, Alejandro, and I sensed danger. We looked past the curtain at the judges, and found the reason for our alert instincts being kicked on.

"Who is that snake?" Alejandro growled quietly.

"Pythor," I seethed.

"I hate snakes." Acuzio grumbled. "Yet, who doesn't hate their slimy selves?"

A/N: Sorry for not updating in a while. I've been really busy (I hate having excuses), but I have been planning out the plot in my head whenever I can. Anyway, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Please review!