Hello! I'm back. I know it's been a while, but this story wasn't getting a lot of feedback and stuff so I kinda quit. But not completely, or else I wouldn't be giving y'all this chapter. You might be wondering what re-sparked my interest in writing this thing. Well, It's all thanks to MR. D0VE, for favoriting and following my story.

Thanks MR.D0VE! You made my day!

Another special thanks to rogersbranchniasia for favoriting and supporting me! You all are so wonderful so thank you!

It's that easy, if you want a shoutout, just review, favorite, or follow, or all three and you get a shoutout! Yay!

Okay, let's get on with it. Here's chapter 5.

Chase stared up at the evil-looking cloud. Somewhere inside a fancy mech with a huge army surrounding it, a horrible, evil, menacing laugh was emitting through the ears of Ninjago City.

Chase covered his ears, now ringing with fear. He got up and rushed back inside. From the second he burst the door open, he could see that the ninja were staring out the window, the same confused, worried expressions etched on their faces.

"You guys see it too?" Chase asked.

"Yeah, and it's heading for the city. We have to get there before it does, or we're all doomed," Kai says. He grabs his sword and fits it neatly in the holder behind his back. Everyone is equipped with weapons within a matter of minutes. They get their vehicles prepared and set off.

Although Chase technically knows it, he's still very surprised to see them all in their ninja suits with their weapons and vehicles.

The ninja seem to notice Chase's admiration and his gaping look, and they chuckle slightly.

"Yeah, dude, we're the ninja, the heroes of the city," Cole said, flinging his golden ax over his shoulder.

Chase opened his mouth to reply, to say that he already had figured that out, but decided against it, not wanting the ninja to become suspicious of his mysterious powers. So he let it slide and went along with the act.

"That's amazing," he said, half-faking his awe, although it's really not fake because Chase was happy he was right about his group.

"Mhm," Jay agreed. "But we gotta go now. You just stay safe. Stay here with Sensei Wu, okay?"

Chase's shoulders slumped and he obediently walked back inside the monastery, but before he did, he gave the ninja a quick wave and good-bye.

Inside the monastery, Chase looked out the window, wondering what the ninja are up to at the moment. He could see that the villain's cloud of smoke was overtaking the city rapidly. But he could also see that the ninja were fighting to defeat it, so he left the window to go fetch a snack.

For the remainder of the time until they got back, Chase played video games, read comics, ate snacks, and stared outside the window. They seemed to have been gone for hours.

Sensei Wu was meditating, so he couldn't talk to him. Chase quickly got bored and spent the time switching through channels on the TV.

Finally, after hours of waiting around, Chase heard something come from the garage. It sounded like the ninja were back.

He hopped off the couch and rushed to the door, where Wu was already waiting. And indeed, the ninja are back. They leapt out of their various vehicles and slipped off their colorful masks.

As soon as they did so, Chase saw how sweaty they all looked. Their hair stuck to their foreheads, and they were panting as if they had just run a marathon in 90 degree weather.

"Woah, what happened?" Chase asked, walking up to the exhausted bunch.

"Man, we just got our butts kicked," Kai said, wiping his forehead with his equally sweaty hand.

"That was a rough fight," Cole added.

"Did you win?" Chase asked.

"Hard to say. They kinda just walked off. I think they were retreating. Well, I guess we can call it a victory for now," Jay said.

"Retreating? Why would they retreat?" Chase asked.

"No idea, buddy, but they did." Kai shrugged.

"It didn't look like they were retreating for refuge. It looked more like that was all part of their devious plan," Zane explained logically. Everyone nodded in understanding.

"That makes sense," Nya said.

"Well, we won't know what that was all about until they return," Lloyd said. He walked inside, followed by everyone else.

Chase followed them soon after, but stopped a minute to think about their hazy explanation of the fight.

Why would they retreat? Is it some kind of plan? Who's the leader of the attack? Is Ninjago in serious danger?

All these questions formed in Chase's head, overwhelming him, so he decided to force them all out and follow the ninja inside the main cabin of the bounty.

Chase saw that everyone was eating snacks. He figured they all must be pretty hungry after that intense fight.

He watched them from the hallway, leaning against the wall. He didn't think anyone knew he was there until Kai asked, "So, bud, how were you hanging while we were gone?"

"Fine, I guess. I was kinda bored. You guys don't have much to do around here."

"How about those epic video games?"

"Eh, I tried 'em out, they're kinda boring." Chase shrugged. Kai, Jay, and Cole all made offended faces while everyone else just laughed.

Chase laughed with them, but it felt forced. He didn't feel like he belonged with this amazing superhero group of ninja. He felt out of place. They all seemed so close and he was the one red dot in all the black ones.

Plus, since they were always gone saving Ninjago City, he was always left here alone with Sensei Wu. But then again, where else would he go if he left this place? He didn't have a home or a family before the ninja took him in unofficially. This was the best option he's got. At least, for now.

And it wasn't as if he didn't like the ninja–he loved them, their personalities, their humor, and their differences. And of course, their superhero-like qualities. He just felt like he was a burden to them because they were the ones taking care of him.

He decided to let the distressing thoughts go for now, but he knew he'd consider this topic more thoroughly once alone in a quiet environment.

The laughter had finally died down, so he decided to go to his room. As soon as he opened the door, bright sunshine blinded him momentarily, and he remembered how bright his room got when it was sunny out.

Little shrouds of light stretched across the hallway and in the other rooms, but his room was by far the brightest.

The sun made him want to exit his room and go outside immediately. He didn't want to waste this beautiful day.

So he bounced out of his sunlit room and walked outside the bounty door, passing the talking ninja on the way. From their expressions, he noticed that they were looking at him, as if they had just been discussing him in their little ninja circle.

He just ignored them mostly, only giving a slight smile and turn of the head as he passed their grinning faces mixed in with an expression of deep thought.

As soon as he stepped into the outdoors, he was blinded. He always underestimated the power of the sun's rays.

His first stop of his outside time was the pond, where he spent around fifteen minutes just staring at himself. The pond was near the bounty, but it was also near the edge of the rocky ledge the massive ship was perched.

From his spot next to the damp bank and lapping water, he could see over the steep ledge and into the dense but beautiful wilderness beyond.

His heart ached for an adventure in those woods again. Before he had been taken in by the ninja, he spent every day in those woods. He hunted for food, played fun little games, and slept under the stars with their undeniable beauty.

And in the daytime, the trees would provide a filter for the sunlight while letting enough through to brighten the area and provide cool shadows. He would hear the birds chirping and the squirrels scrambling up trees.

On windless days, he'd enjoy the clouds and their unchanging beauty as they passed without a single alteration in form.

Occasionally, he'd spot a woodpecker, pecking away at the tough bark of the oak and birch and pine trees that scattered the wonderful forest.

He'd cherished these moments, normally while eating a fish over a fire and gazing out at the stars and fascinating creatures of the wild.

But since he'd moved in with the ninja, he hadn't had any outdoor adventures since, and he missed it. Gravely.

But another thing that was nagging at him was the weird fact that he hadn't really felt anything abnormal in his body or any sort of powers while he lived in the woods. It was as if it was all triggered by the mere presence of the ninja.

Chase put two and two together and settled on the conclusion that his powers were probably triggered by the proximity of the elemental energy that flowed through the ninjas' veins, assuming that his strange powers were elemental.

After a while of pondering, he decided to leave the matter alone and let it reveal itself in full light on its own terms.

He diverted his attention back to the swaying trees and sweet sounds of the blessed woods that lie ahead.

He felt a temptation to be out there with the natural organisms rushing over him so intensely that he felt dizzy for a short moment and had to block the woods' natural beauty from his busy mind for a second.

When he recovered, his desire had not completely vanished but, rather, had stayed in him as vigorous as before yet controlled, so he felt it, but did not feel overwhelmed by it.

And, as if something clicked in his head, Chase decided without permission or even a notification that he was going into the woods.

All he wanted was a hike through the beauty-filled forest. He wanted to stick his feet in that rushing stream full of hopping fish and climb trees a mile high.

So, without another thought so that he wouldn't rethink his decision, he jumped up and walked to the edge, peering down at its precarious height and angle.

After a moment's consideration of how to get down, he found a somewhat safe path that did require him to climb for part of the way.

But all of the other options had required him to climb the full way. The cliff was steep, and he didn't want to risk injuring himself before he was in the woods, so he took the easiest route down.

When his feet finally landed on soft grass and dirt with tall weeds protruding from the ground, he smiled from ear to ear and looked out at the forest awaiting his return.

He walked slowly at first, as if nervous about its depths and what they held. But he was only being seemingly cautious as to take in every single detail about his alluring former home.

About ten meters into the woods, he couldn't help it and began to run through the forest, weaving his way through the trees, ducking under low branches and leaping over high ones.

He couldn't help his hysterical excitement. Being out here again made him feel like himself, something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Chase didn't go too far, as to not get lost. He didn't seem to know the woods like he used to.

Chase found the stump he used to love to sit on, and he settled down, admiring what lay before him.

Something was moving inside of an adjacent bush, and he felt more curious rather than frightened.

As he moved closer, a red fluffy tail with a white tip poked out of the bush.

Before its face was revealed to Chase, he knew what it was and grew immediately excited. It was a fox, his favorite creature. They were kind of rare in this specific forest. He'd only seen them maybe three times in the entire span of time he'd been here.

He crept closer, cautious to not make a single sound as to not scare the rusty red creature. What was even more brilliant was that it was a shade of red. Most of the foxes he'd ever seen were brownish or more orange. This one felt unique.

However, as he crept closer, the fox did not move. Its feet were planted firmly on the soft dirt ground, and he was staring at Chase curiously, as was Chase to him.

The fox's red pelt wavered in the mild breeze.

Chase absolutely loved foxes. He rarely ever saw one and was over-the-top intrigued when he did.

This was a wonderful way to begin his former home visit.

Chase took a few steps to the right and seated himself on an adjacent tree stump. The fox didn't budge. It just followed Chase's every move with its piercing black eyes.

They stared at each other for a while longer until Chase heard footsteps coming his way, along with twigs snapping and breathless panting.

A figure clothed in blue emerged from the foliage.

"Jay?" Chase sounded surprised, because he was.

"There you are," Jay said, panting like a tired dog and resting his hands on his shaking knees.

"What're you doing here?"

"I was looking for you."

"Why?"

"I need to tell you something."

"How'd you find me?"

"Nya saw you walk out the door, and after you'd made it to the rock ledge, she told me to follow you." Jay seemed to catch his breath a little. He stood up straight, making eye contact with a curious Chase.

"Huh. I should be more careful about covering my tracks."

Jay laughed but stopped abruptly, clutching his chest and sucking in air desperately.

"Anyway, what was it you came here to tell me?"

"Well, Nya and I have decided something."

"Does this 'something' have something to do with me?"

"Well, yes. We've seen how bored you've been while we're out on missions. We don't have the best activities."

Chase nodded in agreement, ears perked up in curiosity.

"Well, we've decided to send you to school."

"School?" Chase was shocked, intrigued, and slightly outraged all at once. "School?! Why would you–"

"Now, before you complain," Jay interrupted, "I can explain." He drew in a deep breath, as if to reassure himself that all would be fine, and then he began. "School will help you to keep busy, since we're not around eighty percent of the time. You'll get an education, and you'll make new friends. The time will pass much quicker, trust me."

Chase understood completely. The only thing was, he had never been to a public school, or any school at all, for that matter. He didn't know what it was like, which scared him.

"B-but, I've never been to school before," Chase stammered nervously, his bottom lip quivering as if on the verge of tears.

"That's okay, buddy. We all start somewhere."

"Where is the school?"

"There's a local elementary school in Ninjago City. You'd go there."

"But, I don't really know much. I know a few simple things like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and some fractions and decimals, but I'm not sure I'll fit in."

"We'll get you into the right level of education, don't worry. School's from nine in the morning to three in the afternoon."

"How will I get home?"

"You could walk. It's not that far away. But the first week, I'll pick you up. Or Nya. Or one of the others."

"Okay," Chase agreed, nodding his head enthusiastically. He was starting to warm up to the idea of 'school'. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad afterall.

"What do ya say? Give it a try?" Jay knelt down to Chase's height and looked him square in the pupils.

"Okay," Chase said. He was eleven years old, which meant he'd probably be going into the fifth grade. He just hoped he was smart enough.

Suddenly, his whole body went rigid, and that's when he saw it. It was a flash of the blurry girl in his previous visions, only this time it was much, much clearer, as if there was some kind of close connection.

Then, as soon as the flash had come, it had disappeared, and Chase was flung back into reality.

Jay's face came into focus, and he looked concerned. "You okay?" the blue ninja asked, eyebrows creased together. He had noticed Chase's moment of the flash.

"Yeah, fine. Just–saw something unusual." Jay seemed to forget about it, but Chase most definitely did not.

He knew it now. The girl from his flashes was related to school in a way. It all made sense.

But the only way he could confirm it was if he went to public school.

Hey guys! That was chapter 5. Thank you for being patient. It's been maybe a month since I posted on this story last. Anyway, the whole school thing is all gonna play into the big plot later on, so stay tuned! Please review, your support is always appreciated and remembered. Thank you!

See ya in the next one.

zaraduck6 :)