I thought I'd update a day early. Then I remembered it's Friday an only feels like Sunday because of the two snow days. So, happy Friday!
The ninja arrived at the dock before the boat got there. They looked around at the other contestants. "I had no idea there'd be so many Masters of Elements," Alex said.
"Do you know any of them?" Lucas asked, putting his arm around Zoey.
"We know a few," Wu replied. He gestured to a pale man. "He's the Master of Shadows, Shade. And that over there"—he pointed to a man wearing sunglasses with his staff—"is Griffin Turner, Master of Speed."
Kai's eyes landed on a girl in orange. He smiled as his pupils dilated. "And what about her?" he asked.
Garmadon and Wu exchanged a look, clearly not knowing. "Some of these faces are new," Garmadon replied. "We don't know everyone who's here."
The boat pulled up to the small dock. Everyone began boarding. When Alex and Jay started to get on, the guard stopped them. He pulled a pair of nunchucks out of Jay's bag.
The Master of Lightning nervously laughed. "Those are chopsticks."
Not believing him, the gaurd tossed them overboard.
"Geez, Jay," Alex said. "The letter said no weapons."
The guard held out his hand to Alex, glaring at her.
"Oh fine," she muttered, pulling a dagger from a hidden pocket and handing it to him. She walked onto the boat, recieving mocking looks from Jay.
Echo was about to board behind Cole when someone yelled, "Echo!"
She spun around in time to be slightly prepared for Nancy to crash into her. "Nancy?"
"I got a letter! So did Ca!" Nancy said excitedly.
"Caleb?" Echo questioned as Nancy let go.
The green eyed mute waved. What are we waiting for? He grabbed their hands and they ran onto the boat.
"Hey, kids," Cole said, looking at Nancy then Caleb. He hadn't expected them. "Don't wonder too far without anyone with you."
"We won't," Echo said. "Promise!"
"Stick together," Zane said. "I sense something off."
"Oh my gosh," Vanessa said.
"What is it?" Tove asked.
"My brother is here, eh," Vanessa said. "I haven't spoken to him in years."
"You have a brother," Tove said, slowly.
"Should I talk to him?" Vanessa asked. "I don't know what to do, eh?"
Tove looked at where Vanessa kept glancing. There was a tall blonde with blue eyes talking to an older man with grey streaked hair. "Your brother is the blonde?" she asked.
"Yeah," the purple ninja said. "I'm not the only Master of Water. I'm just a Ninja of Water, eh."
"Not my problem," Tove said. "Go talk to him or something."
"Okay," Vanessa said. She took a quick breath and walked over to the blonde.
He turned to her. "Why if it isn't my baby sister, Vanessa."
"Lar," she said. "You have water powers too, eh?"
"So we even have the same powers? Neuro, would you mind–"
"Not at all," Neuro interrupted. He turned and walked away.
Lar casually leaned on the rail. "I see you haven't lost the accent."
"I see you're still jealous, eh," Vanessa said coldly. She paused to take a breath. "Lar, can't we just get along?"
"We do get along, you just can't take a joke. I hope we face each other. Won't that be interesting?"
Vanessa felt her blood boil. "Yes. It would. Eh, I would win though. No doubt about it."
"Bring it, little sister. Bring it."
Lucas and Zoey slipped away from the others, heading to the front of this ship. "So, have you ever watched Titanic?" Lucas asked.
"No, but I know about it," Zoey said. "Why?"
Lucas let go of her hand and jumped onto the rail at the top of the ship. "Best movie quote ever. I'm king of the world!"
Zoey smiled. "Very amusing. Now get down before you fall."
"Please, I'm not going to fall," Lucas said, glancing over his shoulder at her.
"I'd listen to her. She knows what she's talking about."
Lucas turned all the way around and jumped off, moving towards Zoey as he looked to the man who walked over to them. He scanned his mind and muttered, "No way."
Neuro studied Lucas. "You're a telepath, great grandson of the Master of Minds. I'm her grandson, from the side of her family that she didn't regret."
Lucas huffed. "Regret? She set my grandmother up with my grandfather, the First Spinjitzu Master."
"Please, I know the story. It was passed down from my father. Shirra, your grandmother, abandoned her younger sister."
"In that case so did your father."
"They were only half siblings, he was told not to get involved. Either way, because of my more direct connection, my power is stronger than yours."
Zoey's eyes turned white. "Oh my gosh."
Neuro smiled.
Lucas turned to Neuro. "Stay out of Zoey's head or else."
"In a battle of my mind verses yours, I will win. Tell him, Zoey," Neuro said. He crossed his arms in triumph.
"Zoe?" Lucas asked.
Zoey turned away. "It's not certain."
"No, it's not," Lucas agreed. "I'll make sure of it." He glared at Neuro. "I guess I'll see you in the tournament."
"I guess you will."
Joey walked behind Clouse as he inspected the boat for any unwanted guests. He stopped when he saw the ninja. "We should take a different route," he suggested.
Clouse just smiled and continued walking. "Don't fall behind."
Joey cursed under his breath and continued walking. When Clouse stopped, clearly so the ninja would notice, Joey cleared his throat and said, "Hey."
Garmadon looked up. He looked at Clouse and then Joey. "Clouse. I see you're still working for Master Chen. Joey, I never would've expected you to."
"My father owed him apparently," Joey said. "He debt was passed to me."
"How many debts did your father owe?" Alex asked.
"I have not clue. They just keep popping up." The Ninja of Magic sighed.
"Will you three be competing?" Clouse asked.
"No, we're only here to watch," Wu assured him.
"To observe mostly," Misako corrected.
Alex crossed her arms. "Does this tournament have a prize? What's the point?"
"You'll have to ask Master Chen that question," Clouse told her. "Garmadon, I assume she's your daughter. She acts like you."
"Yes, she is my daughter," Garmadon said in a threatening tone.
"How exactly do you guys know each other?" Joey asked.
Clouse turned to Joey. "You ask too many questions."
"I don't care if Joey is paying off a debt or not. If you have a problem with him, you have a problem with me," Alex said.
"Alex," Wu warned.
Clouse put hand hands behind him. "Come on Joey, we still have the rest of the ship to check."
Echo, Nancy, and Caleb walked around the ship, ignoring Cole's order to stay with one of them. They stopped as they reached a set of stairs. "How much you wanna bet the controls are up there?" Nancy asked.
"Nothing, because they probably are," Echo replied.
"What did I tell you three?" Jay asked, walking over to them. "You shouldn't wonder off."
"Sorry," Nancy muttered.
Caleb signed, We forgot.
Echo just stared up at him. "Cole's the one who told us to not go anywhere without one of them."
"Oh. . ." Jay shifted into a girl with purple hair. "You're friend's right though. This tournament is no place for kids."
"Then how come we got seperate invites?" Nancy asked.
The girl shrugged. "Maybe as a gag. My names Camile, but everyone calls me Form."
As in Transform? Caleb asked.
Echo was about to translate, but Form nodded. "Yeah, as in Master of Transformation." She smiled at Echo. "I know a little sign language."
"Oh, well my name is Echo. This is Nancy and Caleb," the Ninja of Storm said.
"What are your elements?" Form asked.
"Mine's storm," Echo said proudly.
Caleb signed, Creation, according to my letter.
"Dunno," Nancy replied. "Gonna find out when we get there."
"You don't know your element?" Form questioned. "Huh."
Nancy shrugged. "Master Chen clearly knows. That's one of the only reasons I'm coming. So I know."
"Well," Form said, "good luck in any of the fights. Though, I wonder if Chen will even put you in any since you're just kids." She headed away.
Not cool.
"Definitely not."
"Just kids?"
Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, and Lloyd were walking around together, looking at the other contestants. Kai noticed the girl in orange and he smiled.
"Well, don't just stand there like an idiot, go talk to her," Cole said.
"Uh, yeah. Okay," Kai said. He started over, noticing someone else in the corner of his eye. He glanced and saw a man walk over to the girl. He wanted something and she didn't want him messing with her, that was obvious. "Hey!" Kai shouted.
The man turned to him. "What does red ninja want?" he asked. "Karloff is busy."
"Yeah, well just leave her alone, okay?" Kai said.
Karloff chuckled. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Kai, don't pick a fight," Zane advised as he and the others walked over to them.
"He started it," Kai stated.
"And I will end it too," Karloff said. He slammed his fists together, causing his body to suddenly become coated in metal.
The others kinda backed away from Kai, half expecting him to back up too. Instead, the Master of Fire stood his ground. He created two flames, one in each hand. "Bring it," he challenged.
"Both of you just knock it off," the girl said. "You're both acting like. . . like boys! I hope you're not so immature once the tournament starts." She pushed passed them.
Kai was kinda stunned. "Well she. . . seems like she'd get along with the girls really well."
"Yeah, no kidding," Jay mumbled.
The steel retracted from Karloff. "She knows not what she's talking about," he chuckled. "It's just a challenge. Test of toughness."
"Yeah," Kai said. "That's all it was."
"Right," Lloyd said, crossing his arms. "So are you still going to fight?"
"Nah."
"It matters not."
"How does it change just because she left?" Zane asked.
"It doesn't," Kai said. "Uh, we should go find the kids. Who knows where they've wondered off to?"
"Considering Cole told them to stay put. . ."
"Oh, shut up, Jay."
The others laughed and Karloff smirked. "Perhaps I will meet you again. In real battle."
The boat slowed to a stop. "Well, let's go then."