The next day, after camping out, the Ninja Crew, Vampires, Serpentine, and Viporeons continued their journey across the desert. The Ninja stood on the Bounty's deck, as they continued training with their Full Potentials. Raven and Christa continued Sound training in the main control room, while Lucy continued her Water training on top of the upper deck house with Sensei Reine.
"Okay everyone, let's do two at a time. Who wishes to go first?" Sensei Garmadon asked the Ninja.
"I will," Flare said, as she took a confident step forward.
"Alright. Then who's second?" Sensei Garmadon asked.
"I'll go," Kai said, as he took a step forward.
Flare looked towards Kai with an arched eyebrow, as he looked towards her and winked. Flare looked away from Kai, but then she looked back towards him after he looked forward, and smiled.
"Alright. Then let's begin. Summon forth your Full Potentials and then you two can begin sparring," Sensei Garmadon said.
Kai and Flare nodded, and then they held their hands together, as they started to glow in their respective color. Kai's body was encased in flames, and then it stopped as he was revealed to be in his Full Potential form. Flare's body was covered in layers of shadows, and then she was revealed to be in her Full Potential form. Both ninja turned towards one another, bowed, and then they stood in fighting stances. The other Ninja and Senseis backed away so that the spar can commence.
Upper Deck:
"Good job Lucy, your doing well," Sensei Reine said, as she watched Lucy surfing on the water staff, just above where she stood.
"Thank you Sensei!" Lucy said happily, as she did a barrel roll to the right and then to the left.
"Very nice," Sensei Reine said with a smile.
Then Lucy descended close to Sensei Reine.
"NinjaGOOO!" Lucy said, as she spun in a cyan-colored tornado, and landed near Sensei Reine.
"Your spinjitzu has greatly improved," Sensei Reine commented.
"I have Sensei Wu and you to thank for that," Lucy said happily, and she bowed towards Sensei Reine.
"Your very welcome Lucy. You can take a break now," Sensei Reine said, and Lucy nodded.
Then she ran and jumped off the side of the Bounty, as she surfed on her water staff, towards where Marcell's vehicle was.
"Hey sis! I'm here!" Lucy called out, and Marcell looked towards her with black sunglasses on in her open-roofed, all-black monster-truck.
"Hop in!" Marcell said, and Lucy flipped into the passenger seat next to her.
Sensei Reine looked towards where Lucy went, and she just smiled and shook her head.
BAM!
Reine heard a loud noise, as she jumped down from the top of the roof to the upper deck floor, and looked to see where the sound came from.
Lower Deck:
Kai and Flare stood on opposite ends of the Bounty, while a trail of fire and shadow-mist stood between them when they skidded back from an earlier attack. They were breathing heavily from the series of combos and attacks during their battle and the final attack, which was Kai charging blue fire around his hands and arms and Flare charging dark gray shadows around her arms and hands, as they flew towards one another just above the ground. The impact of the attack was immense, but they canceled each other out, as Flare and Kai skidded back.
They stood in a stare down for awhile, while the others watched in amazement and anticipation.
Then Kai shot a red fire wave towards Flare, as she dived into the floor and became a shadow to avoid the attack. When Flare popped back up, her fists were charged with black shadows, however, Kai was no longer around. She was surprised for a moment, but she quickly looked around for the Fire ninja. Then Flare felt a burning presence above her, and she quickly looked up to see Kai descending towards her with red fire in his hands. Flare quickly picked up both of her hands, and sharp, shadow vines thrust towards Kai from her hands. However, right before the vines touched him, Kai dispersed in a mist of flames, that continued past where Flare was. Flare was shocked by Kai's maneuver, as well as the other Ninja and Senseis. After the vines retracted back and disappeared, Flare quickly turned around, but she was caught by Kai, who quickly grabbed her with one arm around her waist while his other red-fired hand stood near her neck.
The Ninja gasped, as the Senseis looked on with widened eyes. Flare looked into Kai's eyes with surprise and amazement, as Kai looked into her eyes with a delicate fierceness that nearly took her breath away. Then his eyes softened, as he straightened up and removed his hand from Flare's neck and his arm from her waist. Then they both dismissed their Full Potential forms and turned back to normal. They both looked towards one another, and Kai smirked and said,
"I guess I finally won, huh Flare?"
Flare looked towards him in slight annoyance, but then she smirked and said,
"Yeah. You got me this time fire guy."
Kai snickered as he walked closer to Flare, until their faces were only a few inches apart, and said,
"I guess we're even, shadow lady."
Flare smiled at Kai, as he smiled back, and she nodded and said,
"Yeah. We're even."
"Alright, alright, make room you two. I go next," Jay said excitedly, as Kai and Flare looked towards him a bit annoyed since he interrupted their moment.
"Yes. -Eh hem- Let's begin the next round," Sensei Garmadon said, and Kai and Flare walked next to the others.
Jay stood in the middle of the deck and asked, "So, who wants to verse me, huh?"
"It should be someone who would be able to fight you on more 'even ground,'" Sensei Wu said.
"What do you mean 'even ground?'" Jay asked.
Yet, before Sensei Wu could answer, Jay heard footsteps not too far from him, and when he turned and looked, he saw that Auria was the one who stepped up.
"He means that since your element keeps you above the ground, then you should fight someone who's element also keeps them above the ground," Auria said, as she bowed respectfully.
Jay was bewildered and said, "WH-WHAT?! WE'RE FIGHTING?! Oh gosh, Oh GOSH! Um, okay okay. -Eh hem- Then let's get started, uh, unless you don't want to Auria. I mean, I know your pretty much one of the strongest since you fought with Lloyd before and you two ended in a draw-"
"Can you just FIGHT ALREADY!" Flare yelled out, and Jay composed himself, as he bowed respectfully towards Auria.
The other Ninja chuckled, as Flare just shook her head with a smile. Then Auria and Jay turned into their Full Potential forms, and they began their dual.
Meanwhile, in the Bounty's main control room, Christa and Raven were continuing training in sound.
"Try to sense the vibrations and make out what is being said or heard. You can do so by hearing the various frequencies and making out what their saying by manipulating the sound to hear it better or by making your hearing more sensitive. Try it out and see if you can hear what's going on outside," Christa said, as she stood sitting at the end of the table, playing solitaire.
"Okay," Raven said, as she closed her eyes to focus.
She could hear faint sounds coming from outside of the Bounty, but not too well. So Raven concentrated sound power into her right hand and placed that hand next to her right ear. She enhanced her hearing, and she was able to hear the other Ninja outside. Raven heard pounding sounds and slices, which she was able to distinguish were attacking sounds, so she guessed that their training had started. She heard the other Ninja 'Oooh-ing' and Aaah-ing,' and even when they gasped as they watched the fight. Raven then enhanced her hearing more, and she could hear the vehicles just outside the Bounty driving, and a few voices. She concentrated further, and she was able to hear Marcell and Lucy's voices, talking about fried chicken and fish. Then Raven turned her attention to another pair of voices, and she could hear some Viporeons she recognized talking to some Serpentine, and they were talking about their favorite music. Raven smiled a bit, and then she moved her hand away from her ear.
"So, you heard something?" Christa asked, still playing the game.
"Yes. I can hear what's going on outside. Even where the Viporeons, Serpentine, and Vampires are," Raven replied.
Christa looked up at Raven with a smile and said, "That's great! Your really getting it huh?"
Raven nodded, and then Christa finally completed her game.
"Now you just need to practice, and then it will become more automatic, so that you won't have to concentrate sound from your hand to your ear. It'll become natural to your ears, like switching from normal to more sensitive in an instant," Christa said, and Raven smiled and nodded.
Then they heard footsteps, and turned towards the door entrance to see Cole.
"Hey ladies. I don't mean to interrupt, but it's time to train your Full Potential Christa," Cole said.
"Oh! It's my turn already?" Christa said as she stood up.
"Yeah, the others finished their training for now, so it's us next," Cole said with a nervous smile, and Christa nodded.
Then Christa turned to Raven and said, "Keep practicing in hearing. It'll help you gain more control, and quicker reactions."
Raven nodded, and continued to practice, as Christa walked out of the room with Cole.
As they walked through the hall, Christa asked,
"So, it's our turn now right?"
"Yeah. We're the last two, so we have to spar," Cole said, not very pleased in having to fight Christa since he didn't want to hurt her or anything.
"You don't seem very enthusiastic," Christa said, kind of disappointed since she thought that Cole had a problem sparring with her.
Cole noticed this, and he turned towards Christa and said, "Oh no no no, Christa. It's not that I wouldn't want to spare with you, it's fun to fight an equal match, but... I wouldn't want to accidentally hurt you."
Christa's eyes lit up, and then she softly smiled, as she reached her hand and placed it on Cole's shoulder, and then they both stopped walking.
"Aw, your so sweet Cole. Thank you," Christa said, with a smile still on her face.
Cole rubbed the back of his head with an embarrassed smile and said, "Heh heh, anything for you Christa."
Cole froze for a moment, and Christa looked at him with an arched eyebrow. Then Cole face palmed and said,
"Ugh... now I'm acting like Jay."
Christa giggled and then she said, "Well, it's cute."
Cole smiled at Christa, and she smiled back. Then, as they continued walking down the hall, Christa thought about something which made her chest tighten. Then Christa said,
"Cole... fight me."
Cole looked towards Christa with some confusion and said, "Well we are going to practice in a few minutes-"
"No. I want you to fight me for real. Not just practice or going easy on one another," Christa said as she stopped walking, which made Cole stop walking too.
Then Christa walked closer to Cole, as they stood a few inches apart, with determination in her eyes, as he listened intently. Then Christa said,
"Fight me with all you've got Cole. I understand if you wouldn't want to hurt me, and I wouldn't want to hurt you either... but if we're going to get stronger and protect those we love and cherish, then we'll have to fight with all we've got and improve our skills. Now is the time for us to do this, especially because... who knows if there will be a next time."
Cole's eyes widened in understanding, and Christa looked down. Then Cole raised his hand under Christa's chin, and raised her head up to look at him.
"Christa, don't think like that. This isn't the end. This is the beginning, and anything is possible. As long as if we stick together and stick with our friends and allies, we can overcome anything. Nothing will be too rough or too tough for us," Cole said, and Christa smiled and slightly nodded.
Then Cole moved his face closer to Christa's, as they were only an inch apart, and said,
"Your strong Christa. Stronger than you take credit for. I admire your strength, your courage, and your will to never quit."
Christa blushed a bit and said, "As I do for you Cole. I appreciate you and your encouragement. You've helped me so much when it came to opening up about my sister, unlocking my Full Potential, and even being confident that I have strength. Thank you."
Cole smiled and then he released Christa's chin gently, but she stood in place, as they were momentarily mesmerized by each others' eyes. However, they both backed up, and then they started walking down the hall, blushing, while holding hands.
As training ensued for the ninja and kunoichi, they were able to get the hang of controlling their elemental powers in Full Potential form. Raven and Lucy were also doing well in mastering their elements.
Full Potentials are being controlled, and Raven and Lucy are getting stronger. Will it be enough? Hm... maybe!