Vanessa pulled her black hair out of her face and back in a ponytail as she walked into the arena. It was a pretty impressive set up. There was a river that flowed in a circle around it and two platforms, one on either side. The sand was definitely from the beach from the island, white with black specks. In the middle sat a sandstone rock with some kind of green bladed sword in it.
"Welcome, Masters of Water!" Chen said, sitting in a throne like chair with Joey and Clouse on either side. "This preticular arena was set up in the event that you both showed up, which you did. The goal is to get the Jade Blade, a special kind of weapon made only for show. Much like the Serpentine's Slitherpit, there are no definite rules."
"What do you mean by that exactly?" Lar called up.
"It means that I can make up any rules I want and you have to follow them!" Chen said excitedly. "Any more questions?"
Vanessa shrugged, perfectly fine with being allowed to do anything to keep her older brother from winning.
Lar took one look at how confident his sister was and said, "No. No more questions."
"There are hidden weapons throughout the arena that you can use," Chen finished. "On your marks! Get set! Fight!"
Immediately, Vanessa and Lars sent gallons of water at each other. The water collided and splashed up, causing every other contestant who was watching to be soaked. Joey and Clouse were using their powers to keep them and Chen from getting wet.
Vanessa darted towards the Jade Blade. She commanded the water to shoot from the side of the river at Lar. He redirected it at the Jade Blade, causing it to fly off the rock and into the river.
"Let's see how well you do underwater!" he yelled, running over and diving into the river.
Vanessa ran to the side and jumped it. She was surprised to find that it was much deeper than she thought. There seemed to be a whole different arena. The Jade Blade was lightly moving along on the bottom of the river, which was pretty much just a current that flowed in a circle around the underwater arena. She forced the current to turn towards the middle, and that's where the blade went.
Vanessa swam towards it, forcing a current to keep Lar back. Her brother turned the current around and pushed her towards the blade, and then passed it before she could grab it. She turned herself over so her feet were on the ground and she was facing Lar. She let go of her breath slowly, creating a bubble around her.
Lar's eyes grew wide and clearly he didn't know what she was doing or how to do it.
Vanessa ran to the Jade Blade and Lar pushed himself through the water. Vanessa reached it first, snatching it up and then taking a deep breath. The bubble popped and she used the currents to push her back to the side and up to the surface. She pulled herself on to the sand and stood up, holding the Jade Blade.
The ninja as well as a few others clapped, but a couple people looked upset about her being the winner.
She watched as Lar pulled himself out on the other side.
"I guess we all know who the true Master of Water is," Chen said. "Vanessa will be the Master of Water to compete in the tournament!"
Vanessa walked over to her brother and stuck out her hand. "I hope you'll stop treating me like a kid, eh," she said.
Lar nodded and shook her hand. "I guess my little sis isn't so little anymore. Good match." He looked up to Master Chen. "Now what?" he called up.
"Now, this!" Chen said, pushing a button.
A trap door opened under Lar's feet and he fell through. It closed behind him.
Chen took a look at the other contestants who were still wet. "The battle between the Masters of Mind will begin in ten minutes! Feel free to go change into something. . . drier."
Lucas went into Tove's room. She turned around. "You're wet," she noted.
"I know. Did you find Zoey?"
"Sorry, Luke. No sign anywhere on the island."
"One, don't call me Luke. Two, what do you mean?"
Tove sighed. "I mean, I searched the entire island. I didn't see Zoey at all." She walked out of her room, Lucas close behind. She stopped as Jay passed. "Why is everyone wet?!"
"Right, you missed Vanessa and Lar's showdown," Jay said. "When water and water collide, what do you think you get?"
"Thirty wet people?" Tove guessed.
"Bingo!" Jay said. "Lucas, you might wanna change before your match."
Lucas sighed and nodded. He headed to his room.
Nya walked down one of the many halls in the estate. She had changed after the match and decided to skip Lucas and Neuro's fight. She was hoping her friend would win, but she also wanted to explore a little and it was getting late.
"Her power cannot be contained?"
Nya froze right before she got to the corner. She slowly moved to the wall and listened.
"The staff doesn't even absorb her powers!"
"Zoey's powers aren't elemental." That was Joey's voice. "Maybe the crystal can only absorb elemental powers. Or it doesn't work."
"How about we test it on you!"
"My powers aren't elemental either."
What were they talking about? Chen had tried to steal Zoey's powers?
"We'll test it on Lar. That should determine whether it works or not."
"Good! Clouse, make sure the young masters get their next letters."
"Master Chen, I believe we have a spy."
Nya caught her breath and took a few steps back.
"I'll check." Joey came around the corner. For a brief moment, his eyes said run. Then he looked around. "Your powers must be screwed up or something. No one is here. Maybe your magic just isn't as strong as you think."
Nya took off, trying to remember the maze of corridors she had gone through before. She flew around a corner, almost running into Garmadon.
"Slow down," he advised. "You could hurt yourself."
Nya caught her breath. "I just heard Master Chen, Clouse, and Joey talking about some kind of crystal to absorb elemental powers."
Garmadon's eyes widen. He check over his shoulder to make sure no one was there. "Nya, listen carefully. You cannot tell the ninja this," he said.
"Why not?" she asked. "They're in danger."
"And if Master Chen figures out you were spying, you'll be in danger too," Garmadon said. "We will tell them eventually, but for now we need to keep this between us. At least until we know for sure what Chen is planning."
The loud speaker came on. "The next battle will begin in one minute!"
"I'm going to go watch my son's fight. Are you coming?" Garmadon asked.
Nya shook her head. "I'm just going to go lay down. I'll see you in the morning."
Lucas stood on the opposite end of the arena as Neuro. The arena was several platforms raised at different heights off the ground. On the top one rested the green Jade Blade.
"Ready! Fight!" Master Chen declared.
Neuro closed his eyes, slipping into Lucas's mind to see his next move.
Lucas felt Neuro slip into his mind and let it go blank. He jumped on a lower platform, then to a higher one before putting his hand out towards Neuro.
Neuro jumped onto a platform and was immediately surrounded by a teal glow. He was lifted off the ground. He struggled to move his body freely, but it was in Lucas's hold.
Lucas laughed. "What's wrong? Don't you have telekinesis, oh powerful Master of Mind?" He jumped to the next platform and then the next.
Neuro went back into Lucas's mind, diving deeper than before. He pulled random memories from the back of his mind, causing him to lose his concentration. He fell back to the ground and quickly started to the Jade Blade.
Lucas closed his eyes and shook his head. "Fine," he muttered. "If that's how you want to play." He jumped up onto the platform right below the Jade Blade as Neuro did.
Neuro threw a punch at Lucas who swiftly move out of the way. He kicked and the teal ninja avoided him.
Lucas backflipped onto the platform with the Jade Blade, but he kept his back to it, watching Neuro. He closed his eyes and entered his mind, dragging Neuro into his subconscious. His psyhe depicted a descent sized house and they stood within the living room. "Time to see whose mind is better," Lucas said.
"Wrong choice bringing the fight to my psyche," Neuro smirked. He vanished and appeared on the other side of Lucas.
Lucas turned and jumped back. "It was a precautionary choice. Since Zoey's vision said I lose, I wouldn't want you in my head."
Neuro split and suddenly there were five Neuros surrounding Lucas. "Maybe that's the kind of thinking that causes you to lose," one said. At once, all five lunged at Lucas.
Lucas quickly moved out of the way. "Breaking apart by personality? Clever." Suddenly, he couldn't move.
The Nueros noticed and tackled him. Lucas disappeared and returned within his own head.
Lucas! Don't lose! You don't know what Master Chen plans to do! Zoey's voice boomed.
What? Zoey slow down! Where are you? Lucas questioned silently.
There's no time to explain, Zoey told him.
Neuro jumped up onto the platform and knocked Lucas down. He darted for the Jade Blade.
Lucas rolled off his back and put his hand out, stopping Neuro right before he grabbed the Jade Blade. He thought to Zoey, If I lose, Chen will take me right to you, won't he?
Don't lose! Zoey insisted. I don't want what will happen to Lar happen to you, too.
Neuro entered Lucas's mind. He brought another random memory forwards. Lucas was too confused to realize it was just a memory and he thought it was Zoey's vision. He released Neuro, allowing him to grab the Jade Blade.
Lucas snapped out of his confusion when Master Chen announced, "We have a winner! Neuro will be the Master of Mind competing in the tournament!"
Neuro smiled at Lucas. "It looks like Zoey's vision was right."
Lucas shook his head. "You have no idea what Zoey saw." The ground opened up below him and he fell through.
Neuro turned to where Chen was. "Where exactly do the losers go?" he asked.
Master Chen exchanged a brief look with Clouse. "Well, there's nothing for you to worry about. As I'm sure all of you know, I own a famous noodle shop in Ninjago City. The factory is here on the island. They go there to work until the end of the tournament." He subtly nudged Joey.
Joey created a small black mist and it spread throughout the arena. He glanced at where the ninja were. He lessened the mist as it reached them and then, it all disappeared.
Neuro frowned, forgetting why he was so curious about what Chen was planning. He was there to win. "Of course. When is the next battle?"
"You will be divided into teams picked by Joey. Until then, it's time you all rest!" Master Chen said. He turned and left the arena with Clouse and Joey. "Everyone is to be in their rooms by nine tonight!" he added over his shoulder.
"Teams?" Jay questioned.
"Didn't I say he'd try to split us up!" Tove urged.
"Joey's picking them out," Alex reminded them. "He'll put us on the same team."
"Alex is right," Cole said. "Joey may have to work for Chen, but he will keep us together."
"There's a chance Chen will make Joey seperate some of you," Wu said. "Be prepared for that."
"We will, Sensei," Zane said.
"Garmadon, is everything all right?" Misako asked.
Garmadon was looking down into the arena. "After my time in the Underworld, most dark magic doesn't affect me, so Joey's spell didn't work. I'm worried for Lucas."
"Joey's spell? What are you talking about?" Kai asked.
Garmadon looked to the ninja. "I could sense him use a spell on us, along with everyone else. Probably so we would stop doubting Chen. Something caused Lucas to lose focus."
"I saw him hesitate," Vanessa said. "You think Chen had Joey use a spell, eh?"
"Or Zoey made her thoughts loud enough for him to pick up," Lloyd suggested. "I remember him telling me once that if Zoey needs him to read her thoughts, she knows how to get his attention."
"So, why would she contact him in the middle of his fight?" Alex wondered aloud. "She had to have known, right?"
"Perhaps we should have a look around," Zane suggested. "Maybe there's–"
"No," Garmadon interrupted. "You eight are not to investigate Chen."
"Why not?" Kai asked.
"For once, just listen to me," Garmadon said. He turned and walked away.
"What's with him?" Jay mumbled.
"Garmadon has more experience with Master Chen," Sensei Wu said.
Echo, Nancy, and Caleb walked over to the ninja from some of the seats that had been closer.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"At the beginning of the Serpentine War, Garmadon worked for Chen. He switched sides when he realized Chen didn't want to try to make peace with the Andacondrai, that he just wanted a war," Misako explained. "He fought hard against the venom in order to stay on our side."
Echo put her arms around herself. "I don't like when you talk about Uncle Garmadon having that nasty Devourer venom in him."
"We know," Wu said empathetically.
Alex and Lloyd exchanged looks.
"Well, if he doesn't want us looking around, we won't," Kai said.
"We'll go talk to him about that," Misako said.
"Maybe he knows something we don't," Wu agreed. They left.
"We are looking around though, right?" Tove asked.
"Of course we are," Lloyd replied. "Something's going on."
"Can we help? I mean, we don't have to look around with you guys," Nancy said. "We can do something though."
"I'm sure they'll be checking our rooms after nine," Zane said. "We'll meet up after they check our rooms."
"Meet up in my room," Kai suggested.
Alex and Lloyd both started towards the exits. Alex looked over her shoulder and said, "We're gonna go check on stuff."
"Uh, yeah," Lloyd added. "See you at dinner."