"Let the first challenge begin! Find a Jadeblade—these lovely green blades are positioned around the palace for your convenience—and place it in its hold by my throne! There's one less Jadeblade than there are you wonderful contestants, so search quickly! Have fun!" Chen's voice cut out from the talking box thing on the wall.

Lloyd frowned. He'd just changed into his new gi that he'd discovered on his bed, after wandering his room for a few minutes. And now the first challenge was already beginning?

He bolted for the door. He'd need to find a Jadeblade quickly, before one of the other contestants got to it first.

He needed to stay in the tournament until he could find his mom.

Leaving his room, he looked up and down the hall, and then at the throne room. Chen sat calmly on his throne, watching elementals fight for blades.

Lloyd looked around frantically. There—!

He bolted away again.

The blade sat in a pot, tilted at an angle between the plant and the jar. Lloyd reached for it—

"SURPRISE!"

He jumped three feet into the air, flipping back and drawing his sword.

A pink ninja stood there, grinning cheerfully. He swiped the Jadeblade, bolting away. "Ha ha, surprised you!"

Lloyd frowned, heart beating wildly. He would have to find another one, then.

No. Wait, this was a tournament. He was supposed to compete, not give in to everyone. They would see him as weak and a coward.

He ran after the pink ninja.

Kai looked up—so did Skylor. A Jadeblade sat on the roof. They both stared at each other, standing still on the balcony to their rooms. Then they both sprang.

Kai grabbed the roof's rim, then tried to dislodge Skylor from beside him. "Hey! That's mine! I saw it first!"

"Did not!" She elbowed him. "Go find your own, hothead!"

He frowned, struggling to hang on. "Why are you in this tournament, anyway?"

"That's none of your business."

"Maybe I can help?"

"You can help by giving me that blade!" She shoved him.

Kai almost lost his grip, then kicked at Skylor's leg. He struggled to reach the blade, clawing at it desperately. He needed that to save his parents!

Skylor delivered a sharp kick to his ribs.

He gasped, coughing, and then scrambled onto the roof.

Skylor suddenly flipped up, landing in front of him, and swiped the blade.

Kai growled, stumbling to his feet, and lunged at her. "I need that!"

She easily sidestepped him, winking. "Too slow." She bolted away.

He blushed a little, watching her disappear. He…would have to find a different blade. He bolted away. He would let her keep that one. Maybe she needed it as badly as he did? Maybe Chen had kidnapped her family, too?

Cole stumbled, clutching his nose. Ow. He gripped the Jadeblade tightly in one hand, his katana in the other. The elemental in front of him aimed another kick at him, and he quickly dodged that time. They were good.

But maybe not good enough.

Cole swung his katana at the figure, missing their head but flicking off their hood.

The teenager scowled, raising a hand and sending a gust of wind at his face.

He ducked, but stumbled as the wind nearly knocked him over. Wait, he'd seen this guy before…

"Who are you?" Cole raised his sword, studying them. They had a green streak in their black hair, a teal gi on. They wore a black tattered cloak to conceal their identity, but now that Cole had removed it… Wait, he'd been one of the people to attack them at the monastery! With the Emperor's guards!

"That's none of your concern." The teen spun around, sending another blast of wind from their foot.

Cole rolled to the side, then turned to face him.

The teen smirked. "Although, maybe I should tell you. Maybe it'll give you some sense." He took out a katana, swiping at him.

He blocked the blow with his own blade. "Yeah? I'd like that. Though not the sense part, I already got that."

"My name is Morro. Master of Wind."

"Uh…okay. Nice to meet you?"
Morro stalked towards him, wind billowing and blowing his cape wildly behind him.

Cole backed away, swallowing.

"Haven't you wondered how the city found out about Lloyd? How that monster got driven out?" He smirked darkly, eyes flashing.

"Kinda…why?"

"I told on the half breed. I told the authorities how he was masquerading as a human, polluting our world, a killer on the loose in our city!" He sent a powerful, raging blast at him.

Cole flew head over heels, slamming into a pillar. He groaned, collapsing to the floor.

Morro stalked over to him.

He stared at him, blinking as the news sunk in. "You told on him…?"
"Yeah."

"But…why? And how'd you know what he was?"

He snarled. "That hardly matters. But I will tell you why—half breeds murdered my parents. Relegating me to a life on the streets."

Cole's eyes widened.

"Yeah. I know what it's like to lose someone to half breeds." He knelt beside him, eyes narrowed. "That's why I'm telling you this. Because you're like me, Cole."

He swallowed, sudden guilt stabbing him. He could have been like Morro. He could have told on Lloyd. He could have turned on him, betrayed him, just because of his blinding hate.

"But there's one difference between us."

"And that is…?"

"You became weak. You bowed to the half breed, allied with him. You didn't get your revenge. You just let him get away with what he's done."

"Lloyd didn't kill your parents, or mine."

"He's a half breed. Their blood is on his hands." Morro stood, stepping back. "Which is why I'm better than you." He smirked, waving the Jadeblade at him. He blasted off with his wind, landing beside the throne and sticking it in.

Cole frowned, staring at his empty hand. How…? He sighed. Now he'd have to find another one. But Morro's words penetrated him deeply. He shivered. His hate could have driven him to insanity. If he hadn't accepted Lloyd…who knew what would have happened to him?

He almost had it—

Jay rammed into hard metal, smacking his face painfully and falling over.

"Oh! I am sorry Jay, I didn't see you."

He blinked, staring at Zane. "Oh…that's okay…"

Zane helped him up.

They both stared at the Jadeblade. Then at each other.

"Uh…" Jay rubbed the back of his neck. I need it. But so does he. But…

No. Jay needed that blade. He needed to win. But then what about Zane? Could he really just fight a fr—

Zane gestured to the blade. "You may have it, friend." He smiled, then ran off.

Jay blinked. Oh. That…was easy. He quickly snatched the blade, but felt a prick of guilt. He tried to shake it off, running over to Chen's throne to slip the Jadeblade in.

Nya dodged the burst of toxins and spun to the side.

The green-eyed girl smiled. She also had green hair tied into a ponytail, a similar style to Nya's.

Nya flipped over her, grabbing the Jadeblade. She smirked.

The girl scowled, then punched at her face.

She quickly ducked, stepping back. From what she remembered from the brackets she'd studied, this was Tox, Master of Poison. She bolted away, feeling the girl on her heels.

"Give that back!

Nya ignored her. She needed to stay in the tournament to find her parents. Or at the very least, help Kai find their parents.

Garmadon swiped a Jadeblade, dodging around the flying, chaotic elements blasting everywhere. It wasn't too difficult—he was more trained and experienced than most people here. Of course, Clouse earlier hadn't been any help. He seemed intent on making sure he'd lose.

Garmadon turned—

Wham!

He face-planted, then quickly rolled to the side as a wisp of darkness almost stabbed at him. He scrambled to his feet, turning to face his foe.

The Master of Darkness stood before him, he believed. The elemental had dark smoke around him, his eyes glowing dark blue. He wore all black, with a hint of blue in it, and had a black cape. He shot more strands of darkness at him.

Garmadon dodged, rolling to the side.

"Hand over the blade." His voice echoed strangely.

"No." Garmadon sprinted away.

The elemental followed him, more dark strands shooting at him. He dodged each one, then flipped back and over the guy.

The Master of Darkness turned, eyes narrowing.

Garmadon bolted again. What was his name? He tried to recall what he'd read on the brackets. Nox, maybe? He was fairly sure that was it.

Nox—he was gonna call him that from now on until corrected—followed him.

Garmadon sent a blast of power at him, then leaped over the rails to the main floor. He landed beside another elemental, battling Wu. He quickly swiped the elemental's Jadeblade.

The elemental stumbled in surprise, then turned to glare at him. He wore a blue winter jacket, brown pants, and one brown glove. He had a brown mustache and brown eyes, and held an ax in one hand.

Garmadon blinked at him, pausing for a moment as he suddenly got a good look at him. "Is your hair made of wood…?" He hadn't really meant to say that aloud, but oh well now. The guy's hair was brown, and…literally looked like he just carved himself some hair and stuck it on.

The guy looked offended. "I made it myself! Don't insult it!"

"Right…but why is it wood?"

"Brother, I don't believe this is the time," Wu said.

"Because I like it that way!" Then the guy grumbled, "and because my real hair was teleported by Blink to who knows where…"

"…Okay." Garmadon wasn't sure what to say to that, and handed Wu the stolen Jadeblade. He ran off for the throne. Wu followed at his heels.

Both the Master of Darkness and the other guy were close at their heels.

Planks of wood flew past their faces, along with strands of darkness.

Right…the other guy must be the Master of Wood. What a lame element. Garmadon stuck his blade by the throne, and Wu did the same.

"Ugh! Now I gotta get another!" The Master of Wood scowled.

"Here, I got one for you, Carver!" Papier Mâché suddenly called, holding up a blade. "Get over here before I lose it to this idiot!"

The Master of Wood—or Carver, apparently—bolted off towards her. "Hey, thanks! Took ya long enough!"

Nox, the Master of Darkness, followed Carver.

Garmadon looked around, then went and stood by Jay and Nya, who seemed to be waiting for everyone else. "Well…now we wait."

Wu followed him over. "Yes…and I need some tea. But good job, students." He nodded to Jay and Nya.

Nya beamed, and Jay shifted uncomfortably.

Garmadon rolled his eyes. How his brother could think of tea at a time like this was beyond him.

Lloyd clutched his blade tightly, springing towards the throne and popping it into a slot in the Jadeblade hold. He flipped back, landing beside his friends. "Everyone get a blade?"

Cole, Jay, Zane, Nya, and Kai nodded.

He looked at his father and uncle. "You guys too?"

"Yes." Garmadon shot a look at Clouse.

Lloyd sighed in relief. "Good."

Kai patted his shoulder. "We all got ours and realized you were one of the last few who hadn't gotten yours. We were worried."

"I almost went searching for you…. What took you so long?" Garmadon asked.

Lloyd blushed awkwardly. "Well…I was trying to get this blade from a pink ninja guy, but he kept popping up in my face… And then eventually I just found another one."

Garmadon shook his head.

"Be careful, Lloyd," Wu said. "This isn't a game, no matter what Chen says. You'll have to be willing to fight to go through the tournament."

Lloyd shrugged. "I did fight him…or…I tried to, anyway."

"Use your wits, son." Garmadon patted his shoulder.

Dareth ran over suddenly, panting heavily, and slipped a Jadeblade into a slot. "Whew…" He put his hands on his knees, gasping for breath.

"You good…?" Cole rose an eyebrow at him.

Dareth gave a thumbs up. "Yup…just gotta catch my breath… Wow, this is hard…"

"You think?" Kai rolled his eyes.

The brown ninja straightened, face red from fatigue. "But ninja never quit." He smiled, then went back to putting his hands on his knees. "Ugh, I need water…"

"Just one more blade to go!" Chen clapped his hands gleefully. "Who shall the final winner be?"

Lloyd glanced around, trying to figure out who wasn't there yet. He hadn't memorized faces or names yet.

The doors to the room suddenly slammed open. They all jumped, turning to look.

A man wearing a crimson colored gi walked in, eyes narrowed. He had black hair and dark brown eyes. Behind him, he dragged…someone by the foot. Blood smeared along the carpet.

Everyone tensed. There were a few gasps of shock and horror.

He dropped the elemental down on the floor, then slipped his bloodied Jadeblade into the slot by the throne.

The dead elemental on the floor wore red and blue clothing, the coloring in a swirling and sparkling design. His hair was slicked back, black and shiny. He wore blue sunglasses, and through them you could see his staring, unseeing eyes. A gash on his chest still gushed out blood, leaking onto the floor.

Lloyd shivered.

"Well, well, well…our first death. Huh." Chen shrugged, then pointed to the dead elemental. "Master of Teleportation loses! Master of Blood moves on."

Two guards came forward, grabbing the Master of Teleportation by his arms, and dragged him away.

A name on the tournament bracket was removed—the name Blink was on it.

That must have been his name…the Master of Teleportation… Lloyd watched the doors shut, the elemental disappearing from sight. He swallowed.

"Well done, Ichor." Chen grinned. "I like your style."

The Master of Blood, Ichor, ignored Chen and walked to the far side of the room. He crossed his arms, leaning against a pillar.

"We're gonna have to watch out for him…" Cole whispered.

"I agree," Zane said.

"This tournament is gonna be way harder than we first thought…" Kai groaned.

Jay whimpered, moving closer to Cole. "He killed him!"

Chen looked at everyone. "Let this be a lesson to all of you—you will lose it if you don't use it. So please, make the most of your power! Otherwise you could end up like that guy."

Everyone swallowed, shifting nervously. A few didn't seem affected by the death.

Chen clapped his hands. "Now, go back to whatever you were doing before! Lunch will be served soon." He grinned.

Everyone walked off, murmuring quietly.

Lloyd stuck close to his friends, watching Ichor uneasily.

"Hey, uh…guys? Hold on a minute."

Lloyd and his friends stopped walking, turning to look at Cole. Garmadon and Wu also paused.

"What is it?" Nya asked.

"Morro's here. You know…um, well, he helped attack us at the monastery. With the Emperor's guards. Remember the guy with the green streak in his hair?"

She frowned. They exchanged looks, Lloyd swallowing uneasily.

"Well…remember how we didn't know how Lloyd was found out about?"

"Yeah…? And? Spit it out!" Kai said.

Cole waved his hands. "Okay, okay. But…Morro was the one who told on Lloyd."

"What?!" There were surprised exclamations of shock. Lloyd cringed, biting his lip.

"Why?" Nya asked. "And how did he know Lloyd was a half breed?"

Cole shrugged. "He wouldn't say. But he did say that his parents were murdered by half breeds…and he said…" He rubbed his arm, shifting. "Well, he claimed I was like him because of it…but I was weaker."

"What? You're not weak." Kai scowled. "He's just a jerk."

"You are not like Morro," Wu said. "Morro chose hatred. You chose kindness."

Cole still looked guilty, glancing at Lloyd. "Sorry…"

Lloyd blinked in surprise, then smiled a little. "It's okay."

He nodded.

Cole really was his friend. Lloyd knew that now.

This first challenge had been hard, though. How were they going to get through the others? Survive the others? Especially when it seemed like some contestants were intent on murdering their opponents.

Author's note: Ichor is an original character I created, so please don't use him without permission. I don't mind if someone uses the random other OCs in this, but Ichor has a lot more backstory and character development. Thanks (: