Hey everyone , happy Friday, it is time for a new update. So enjoy.

Chapter 2: Preparing

Ninety-seven. Ninety-eight. Ninety-nine. One hundred. Cole rested the bench press bar on the resting perches to finish his workout. He slowly sat up after laying on his back for the reps he done for his routine. Sweat dripped down from his brow as he finished and was exhausted. But he didn't feel tired though to help him sleep, just didn't matter to him. He worked out every day to stay fit and strong for the team. Basically he's the strongest one of them all.

The black ninja stretched his warm muscles and began to put the heaviest weights he had on the bar away to the rack of the other weights. After he placed the last weight away, he grabbed the towel he brought along and pressed it against his face. Oh man it felt great. The sweat forming on his face to tell him his accomplishment. His muscles burning to his workout on his arms, shoulders, pectoral muscles, and even abs. The satisfaction of his workout congratulating him. Feel the burn.

Cole looked up after cleaning the sweat off his face and looked around the training room of the Bounty's lower levels. He was alone. Usually the training room would be full with everyone to work out and train. He would see Kai doing push-ups with Lloyd on his back. Jay running max speed on the treadmill. Zane meditating. Lucas on the wooden pegs to help Laurie or Lloyd learn her powers and balance or training with Lloyd. And Nya would be helping Laurie into a workout routine while she stayed near the medical table with supplies in case one injured themselves. But where was everyone though?

Oh wait that's right. Everyone was getting ready for the upcoming ball.

All through the week, everyone has been in a fessaco about the masquerade ball. There was only three days left. What's everyone so excited about? 'It's just a ball.' Cole would always say. But Nya always put it, 'It'll be fun where everyone can have fun and see this discovery.' So Cole couldn't counter the argument on it when everyone was thrilled. Can't say for Laurie though as she said she felt ridiculous in her new dress or Lloyd doesn't want to go. But everyone was going because they were invited as honorary guest. So Lloyd doesn't have much of a choice. Cole brought himself back and grabbed his tee shirt and left the training room after flickering the lights off.

The earth ninja traversed up the stairs to another level of the Bounty to see it was quiet in the halls. Where was everyone? It was quiet as a ghost town maybe. He heard the familiar tap of a staff and turned his head to see Sensei Wu walking down the hall to his left. He couldn't help but smile a little since he wasn't alone after all. But he felt a bit guilty and disappointed that the elder wasn't invited, but Sensei didn't mind that he received an invitation. "Hello Cole," Sensei greeted him warmly. "Something troubling you?"

Cole looked up at his teacher and shook his head. "Not really, Sensei." he shrugged. He looked around the halls and heard nothing, but the wood groaning as the ship was settling on the land. He looked out the port window to blink in surprise on how it got dark outside. He must've workout much longer than he thought. He felt something tap his head and shook his head to wake up and looked at Sensei's grey eyes as they were focused on him. "Oh... Uh... I was wondering where the others were. Have you seen them?" he asked.

Sensei nodded. That relived Cole. "The others are still on the ship if that's what you're referring a little." he chuckled lightly. Cole smiled back along the joke. "The girls are in their room. I seen Kai and Zane on the deck training. My son is in the living room working on the masks for all of you and I haven't seen Jay or my nephew around. But I'm sure they're still on the ship."

"Thank you, Sensei." Cole said and watched the elder walk up the stairs to the deck. The Ninja of Earth followed him up the stairs and felt a cool gust of Fall air hit his body and felt a chill. He looked around and found Kai punching on the sand bag in just his white undershirt and red pants with white tape around his hands while Zane held the bag for him. When the ice ninja noticed the leader, he waved to greet him. Cole smiled and waved back and walked back down the steps as Kai and Zane continued with training. He's not being anti-social or anything. Just not in the mood to talk. The leader kept walking down the halls to the shared bunk room he shared with the others to relax for the night, but slowed down as he heard shouts erupting near him.

"Come on, Lucas!" Jay's voice whined. "Let me see mine and Nya's mask."

What in the world is going on now? Cole peered through the doorway to see Lucas guarding the coffee table while Jay was in front of him. "And I told you Jay, that they're a secret." the water ninja retorted. "If I show you yours and Nya's, then I have to show everyone theirs and it wouldn't be a surprise."

Cole rolled his eyes as it was a pathetic argument over the masquerade masks. Almost every night at dinner, Lucas would announce that he finished another mask that he worked on. The earth ninja could see through Lucas' lean form to see the table behind him. He could see the large sketch book that he gave to Lloyd on his birthday but being used as the designs for the masks. On the table as well had various crafts and rhinestones with two plain white eye masks that cover the upper half of a person's face; still needed to be crafted. Whose though? Also the table held a small square metal box with a lock on it and a handle on top of the lid; a money box. Cole suspected it was being occupied as the safe for the finished masks. He then brought himself back and stepped in to know the commotion. "What's going on here?" he asked.

The lightning and water ninja stopped arguing and turned their heads to the leader. Lucas crossed his arms to begin his debate. "Zippy here," he began while gesturing him with his thumb. "Keeps bugging me to see his and Nya's mask and I keep telling him no. But he doesn't listen."

"I'm curious to know what my mask looks like." Jay argued. "I won't tell anyone, just want to see what it looks like. Even try it on."

Lucas looked at him to roll his eyes. "Want to see it then." he said and held his right hand out. Mist began to spray out and form around Jay's face to create a mirage." Take a look then."

Jay looked around to find something for his reflection and went to the TV that was turned off. He looked up to see the mask and turned to Lucas to glare at him. "HEY!" he shouted. Cole and Lucas couldn't help but laugh to the message the water ninja conjured on the misty mask. I'm a doofus, in bold letters.

What? He asked for it.

Lucas caught his breath and whisked his hand to remove the mist away from Jay. "What?" he smirked. "You wanted to see your mask. If you want the real one, you need to fight me for it."

"Oh I will." Jay lunged at Lucas and made contact to him to pin him to the floor. "This is for your joke."

Cole pinched the bridge of his nose as he watched the two wrestle. This was pathetic to see two masks if they were kept a secret. Even from Jay. The earth ninja walked up to them and lifted them by the collars of their tee shirts like they were cats and collided their heads together and dropped them to the floor. He heard them cry out in pain and saw them held their heads. "Knock it off, both of you." he demanded. "This is childish even from you, Jay. Now leave the Green Ninja's cousin alone so he can finish the rest."

Jay stood up and slowly headed for the door to the hall and stopped. He turned around with a smirk creasing on his lips. "Yes Mama Cole. Ha ha ha!" he laughed and left.

Cole rolled his eyes at Jay's joke and turned to Lucas. The grey ninja pulled himself up and walked to the coffee table. "Thanks man." he said and sat down on the floor in front of the table and masks. He picked up the sketch book and turned to a fresh page and grabbed the pencil to light sketch the outlines of the new mask. He placed the graphite lead on the corner and labeled the wearer's name. Cole. The water ninja stopped and as he was about to start and looked over his shoulder to look at the earth ninja. "Do you mind?" he smirked.

Cole smirked back while chuckling. "Whatever." he said and left the living room. The leader kept heading down the halls of the ship to peer down the halls of the shared bedrooms. He could see the samurai and orange ninja out of their room and heard Laurie groan while wobbling to keep her balance. He looked down to see her feet in a pair of heels with the laces tied around her ankles. She didn't have her dress on, but her black pajama pants and tank top, but still kept hugging the wall like she was clubbed on the head to maintain her balance. Cole could tell she wasn't used to them and hated them. But laughed still. "New shoes?" he asked cocky.

Nya looked up to see the black ninja and giggled. "You could say that." she said. "I'm trying to break her into them so Laurie here will look formal. Flat slippers aren't gonna cut it."

"Formal!?" Laurie exclaimed. She carefully reached the door to her and Nya's room. "I just thought putting on the dress was only formal. Not adding these heels." She carefully reached down and unlaced the straps around her ankles and stepped out of them. "Oh that feels much better." she breathed, flexing her feet on the wooden floor. "Glad I won't deal with them anymore."

"Ah we're not done yet." Nya said while grabbing Laurie's heels and her hand and used her elbow to open the door. "We're gonna put your dress on and see what I can do for your hair and nails. Let's go." She walked in as Laurie groaned and the wind ninja looked at Cole mouthing words before she disappeared. I think he deciphered it as 'Save me, Cole. Go get Kai!' The leader chuckled to her exaggeration and walked down the hall further to reach the bunk room he shared with the others and pushed the door open to enter and closed it behind him.

The black-haired teen leaned against the door to sigh. Everyone has been on a fanatic for the upcoming ball and secret scientific discovery. Everyone, but him. He doesn't want to attend, but thanks to an out ruled vote, he has to attend for the team. That includes everyone. But wished Sensei could attend, but the elder doesn't mind about the invitation. But still Cole wished. He sighed yet again to wish to get it over with and grabbed his bath towel and headed for the bathroom to shower.

After he wretched the shower faucet on, the earth ninja stripped off his shorts that he worked out in and his boxers and stepped in. He felt a cool rush of cold water burn into his skin and quickly turned it to the warm and sighed as it felt better. The water felt refreshing to his still warm muscles and grabbed the body wash that was his as the other five elemental ninjas had their own and drilled the mint-scented soap into his skin. The soap too felt refreshing as it cleansed his body to remove the sweat and oil from his body and lathered his shaggy hair with the large bottle of shampoo to rinse the sweat out and then rinsed the soap off. Cole felt refreshed and cleaned and turned the water off to step out to dry off and wrap the towel around his waist, grabbed his discarded clothing, and left the bathroom.

The Ninja of Earth threw his clothes in the hamper and walked over to his dresser and pulled out a new pair of boxer, sweatpants, and a tee shirt. After he pulled the fresh clothes on, the leader began to hear faint sounds of orchestra music in the room. Confused, Cole kept turning his head to the music and looked at the walk-in closet of their room. Curious, he slowly crept up to it and heard the music grow louder and looked at the floor to see light pour out of the seam. Someone was in there. But who?

Cole quietly turned the knob and carefully pushed the door open to hear the music grow even louder. Still confused, he peeked in to see something move past him and noticed it was Lloyd. What was he doing? Cole watched the small ninja's movements and noticed they were slow dance moves. The way his hands were held like someone was dancing with him and was a bit clumsy as his head was down as his emerald green eyes were focused on the mat beneath his feet. Cole looked down to see it was a white mat on the floor with black numbered footsteps in different positions. He recognized it was the dance mat that most people use to practice on when they want to learn how to dance; a cheaper way. But what was Lloyd doing with it? "Lloyd?" he asked and walked in.

Lloyd quickly turned to face Cole, but his socked feet made him lose his footing and slipped on the slick plastic mat and fell. "Whoa!" he cried as he fell to his chest. He groaned a little while sitting up to hold his chest and head. "Ouch." he groaned softly. "I'm okay, Cole." and stood up.

Cole chuckled. "Whatcha doing, little Romeo?" he asked.

The green ninja stood up and walked over to the radio and pressed 'stop' to turn the music off. He sighed. "I'm trying to learn how to dance." he replied quietly. Cole snorted and couldn't hold his laughter. Lloyd turned around to shoot glares at him. "Hey I don't have a choice." he argued. "Nya told me I had to learn how to dance formal for this dumb ball and gave me this to learn how to do."

"So how's going then?" he asked curiously and jokingly.

Lloyd cupped the back of his head after fixing his unkempt blonde hair to sigh. "Not too well." he replied. He walked to the mat and placed his foot on number one and the other on two. "I keep following the steps, but when I get to seven and eight, I keep falling flat on my face. This is so stupid though."

Cole looked at the youngest member of the team to understand and agree. When Cole was in the institution of dancing by his father, he had to follow those lessons that the class had to demonstrate every day. Formal. Chorography. And dancing in a quartet. The earth ninja could feel the embarrassment happening to the boy in the future. "So why are you doing it in the closet then?" he asked.

"I do it to hide from the others so they don't laugh at me." Lloyd stated plainly. "Besides I thought everyone was outside."

"Didn't you hear me in the shower?" Cole retorted lightly. Lloyd shook his head. Figures. The violin music must've drowned out the sound of rushing water from the closet. But Cole watched Lloyd dance like a fool as he missed his footing and slipped and had an idea. He peeked out the door to see the room was empty and turned to Lloyd. "You know what?" he said. "I'll teach you to dance to spare the humiliation." Lloyd snorted and couldn't hold his laughter. Cole furrowed his bushy brows together. "What?"

"N-N-Nothing!" he laughed. He stopped to breath. "But Cole Brookstone, the leader of the team, will teach me how to dance. Really? Oh wait he was learning how to before he became a ninja. This is too rich!" He began laughing again and fell to the floor while holding his sides. "C-Cole, teaching me how to!"

Cole kept furrowing his brows as the green ninja was mocking him. He smirked as an idea came. "Fine then. Don't learn how to dance." he smirked. "And humiliate yourself in front of everyone to be laughed at by the others. And when everyone sees that the Green Ninja can't dance, everyone will not look up to their hero in the Final Battle. That might just destroy your ego."

Lloyd stopped laughing immediately and prompt himself up with his elbows. "That wouldn't happen would it?" he asked a bit concerned.

Cole leaned against the door while crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh what do you think, Squirt?" he asked.

Lloyd didn't laugh anymore and just shut his mouth. "Please teach me then, Cole." he begged. "I don't want to be laughed at by the others."

Cole looked into his emerald green eyes to still smirk. Of course he was going to teach him. Save him from the humiliation at least. "Alright you got yourself a teacher." he said.

Cole used his foot to kick the mat away and stood in front of the small ninja. Lloyd was confused as Cole directed his left hand on top his right shoulder and felt awkward as Cole's right hand was on his lower back. It's not what Cole thought, it was a way to help him with two people instead of one; like in the days before he was a ninja. Cole then grabbed Lloyd's right hand with his left and held them out. "I'll lead." Cole insisted.

The earth ninja took a step to the left while Lloyd followed by taking a right step. Cole then stepped forward while Lloyd stepped back. The boy began to feel like he was actually dancing better than the mat Nya had him on. When the two made a complete box. The Ninja of Earth removed his hand from Lloyd's back to whisk him to the left in a twirl and was gently pulled back in the same position. "Now the key is to not step on her feet." he instructed him. "Your turn to lead..."

Aww isn't that sweet of Cole. To help Lloyd how to dance and not be humiliated at the ball. So I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, I can't wait to see the reviews, hope you all have a wonderful weekend. See you all next week. :)