Sorry for the long wait. Lost my passion to write, not just this story but other stories I had.
XxXxXxX
Lloyd walked through the Monastery.
"Daaadd!" Young Wu called out as he fan down the hallway, making Lloyd turn to him.
"What's going on?"
"Raya locked herself inside the study." Young Wu tattled. "She won't come out even after I told her I was telling."
Lloyd sighed as he shook his head. "Wu. Raya is not afraid of being tattled on." He sighs. "But I'll talk to her."
XxXxXxXx
Inside of Master Wu's study, Raya sat on the floor as every single scroll that wasn't destroyed by the Merge or kinda still intact. She sighed as she gingerly moved a piece of scroll to the side.
"Raya, what are you doing in here?" Lloyd suddenly approached her from around a mountain of books and boxes.
The red head leaned backwards on her hands. "I don't know what I believe anymore. Our world isn't the same anymore like when I was young, Master Wu is gone, Jay is still missing, PIXAL is also still missing, my dad's gone ... again." Her voice is shaken as she turns to look at Lloyd. "Is this punishment? If it is, can we please wake up from it?"
Lloyd moved over to her and sat down next to her. "The Merge happened because Empress Beatrix was an evil lady."
"She only caused half of this mess." Raya looked around at all the paper in front of her. "Master Wu knew everything, which was always scary. He was always a fortune cookie and as Jay always said a cryptic puzzle who liked to torture us."
Lloyd smiled sadly. "Yeah, my uncle had a knack for words. And he always knew what to say."
"Weather we wanted to hear it or not." Raya sighs. "I miss everybody who's not around anymore. And I definitely miss what Ninjago was like before."
Lloyd nods. "So do I." He looks up at the ceiling. "I wish he could tell me how I'm doing as Master."
Raya shifts and turns to fully fae him. "From Master Wu's history class, you started to work your way towards Sensei."
The blonde nods. "Yeah, that's right."
"Dad said after Master Wu disappeared through a Time Machine, the Ninja elected you as Temporarily Master, until Master Wu returned."
"That's also right." Lloyd turns to her with a smile. "I still had a long way to go. I maybe Master Wu's nephew, that doesn't mean I get things right every time. All of us have to take baby steps to get to where we need to go and who to be. The 4 original Ninja had to."
Raya looked down at her lap as twin tears slide down her cheeks. "I hope dad's ok."
XxXxXxXx
Inside the Nether-Space Kai, Bonzle, and Eleanor walked around. "Just how lost can we get?" Eleanor asked, while Kai exhaled deeply with anger.
"Ugh, this place is infuriating!" He shouts with anger and 'infuriating' is loudly echoed.
Bonzle suddenly gasps, she hurries over to the two Ninja and runs with them to a tunnel. "What's wrong Bonzle?" Eleanor asked.
"We have to be quiet. If the rest of the Forbidden Five figured out we're trapped in here with them, it won't go well. For us, I mean."
"But how are we suppose to get out of here without losing our tempers?" Eleanor asked, folding her arms. "And Kai's temper is legendary."
"The Forbidden Five probably love to destroy us." Bonzle said.
Eleanor opened her mouth, thought about it, then closed it. "Your right."
Kai took her hand. "Ellie." He whispered. "We both want to see our families again." He squeezed her hand gently.
"There's a difference Kai." She whispered back. "You know exactly where your sister is." She shook her head. "But my sister? I don't know where she is, I don't have a single clue!"
"We're not giving up on the others." Kai said firmly, no longer whispering. "And you know damn well that Zane won't give up trying to locate Pixal."
Bonzle started moving again, the two Ninja quickly hurry after her. But the friendly skeleton stopped short with a gasped as Kai accidentally runs into her.
"Huh?" He sees a shadow coming fro a light of a flight of stairs. The three quickly run down from where they were. "I don't think they saw us." Kai takes Eleanor's hand. "Let's go this way." He pulls her with him down a tunnel.
With Bonzle in the lead, she quickly slides to a quick stop and flails her arms as an open pit is in front of her. Kai grabs the back of her vest and Bonzle watches as some pebbles from the black pit fall. "Maybe they didn't hear us." She offers.
Both Ninja just shrug, then the three start to turn to go back but stop when footsteps and the shadows. "Hey heard us." Kai said.
"What now?" Eleanor asked.
"Run!" Bonzel cried.
Kai grabs Eleanor's hand and quickly fled, Bonzle quickly gave chase.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
Lloyd and Raya flew on Lloyd's Power Dragon towards a destination.
"Are you sure they'll help us?" Raya asked as she held a pot in her hands as.
"Egalt's a Spiritual Dragon Master, he helped us with prepare for the Blood Moon. Unfortunately at the time. Kai was the only one to perfect Rising Dragon." He took a glance over his shoulder at the red head behind him. "But when the Blood Moon rose and Kai was sucked inside the Nether-Space with Eleanor, your aunt was able to perfect it without the training course, then I was able to." He turns back around to face the front.
"Is there anyway that I can learn it?" Raya asks. "I was knocked out cold by the Shatterspin." She reminds. "And Zane is trying to perfect it right now!"
"Egalt maybe a little cold, but I don't think he and Rontu will deny it, especially you having learned Spinjitzu, along with you being Kai's daughter."
Raya snorts. "I don't think me being the Fire Ninja's daughter, will have anything to do with it."
Lloyd smiled a little. "I know you're tired of this, but you sound like your dad almost every day with that sarcasm and quick temper."
The red head smiles. "I don't mind hearing it!" Her smile fades. "It did get me into trouble while growing up."
They make it to their destination. "We're here." He lowers his dragon down and it disappears. "Ready to meet two Spiritual Dragons?" He asks.
"Only if you do all the talking."
"Definitely Kai's daughter." Lloyd said warmly. "Come on kid." He lead her down the flight of stairs and towards the two dragons. "Egalt, Rontu." His voice had the two dragons turn to see him and Raya descend from the stairs. "We've come for Zane."
"And Wyldfyre wanted us to give you this." Raya adds as she continued to hold the bowl in her hands.
"Janus Melon Stew." Lloyd told the dragons what was in the bowl.
Egalt moves close to the two Ninja, making Raya nervous as he sniffs the bowl. "Mm, that was quite kind of her."
Hurried footsteps is heard and the group turn to see Zane running down the flight of stairs and running past the two Ninja.
"Good to see you too." Lloyd said awkwardly.
Raya's eyes light up as she realizes what he's doing. "Lloyd, Lloyd, can I do the training course?" She asks, turning to fully face the Green Ninja. "Please, please, please?" She begs as Egalt and Rontu fly down the next flight of stairs.
"Wow." Raya breathed as she and Lloyd watch as both dragons pelt Zane with rocks. "I thought Master Wu's Spinjitzu's training course was hard."
"Yeah." Lloyd nods. "This one's a higher notch. Egalt even demoted Aran."
Raya continued to watch Zane's training. "Why?" She asks. "Because of his wonky Spinjitzu?"
"Yes actually." Lloyd nods, he too watches Zane. "Zane, you're too focused on fighting back!" He calls. "Try to harmonize with the motion of the rocks!"
Zane pauses for a moment, before going into Spinjitzu and completing the course and perfecting Rising Dragon.
"Whoa!" Raya gasped as she and Lloyd watch Zane fly in the air. "Lloyd." She begs, turning to him. "Please, please, please let me try that!"
Rontu turns her attention from Zane to Raya. "You, young one. You wear red. Are you in any relation to Kai or Wyldfyre?" She asks.
"WYLDFYRE!?" Raya is insulted, and the stew in the bowl she's holding started to bubble. "I am not in anyway related to that irresponsible immature, mmffft!" She's cut off when Lloyd clamps one hand over her mouth, and his free hand took the bowl.
"This is Raya. She's Kai's daughter." He answered for Raya.
"Aw." Egalt turns to Raya, who pulls Lloyd hand off and took to hiding behind him. "I thought you had the fire Ninja's scent on you."
Zane then touched down.
"You did it!" Lloyd cheers. "You mastered Rising Dragon Technique!"
Zane turns to him with a smile. "Your last minute guidance was most welcome."
"Despite my initial misgiving, all you Ninja have proven yourselves to be true masters." Egalt had the three Ninja look up at him.
"I just hope my Rising Dragon is enough to combat Shatterspin technique." Zane said.
"It will Zane." Raya told him. "My dad, Aunt Nya and Lloyd can do it. And if Cinder hadn't hurt me with Shatterspin, I could've learned Rising Dragon too."
"You, Young Fire, can do Spinjitzu?" Egalt asked while looking at Raya, who turns to him.
"Of course I can." Raya nods, more kindly now. "I'm sorry for earlier." She apologizes. "Wyldfyre maybe a teammate, but it doesn't mean I have to like her. Of course like first beginners, it was hard to learn, but one day it clicked and I was able to do a perfect Spinjitzu." She smiled, it fades as she turns to Lloyd. "With half the team knowing Rising Dragon hopefully it'll be enough if we run into Ras and his goons again."
"But with have more pressing problems now." Lloyd added. "Someone killed the Matriarch of the Mountain Dragons and stole her horns." Behind him Egalt and Rontu look at each other. "They did the same to two other dragons."
"Why would someone do such a thing?" Zane asked.
"We don't know." Raya shook her head. "But the Motion Source Dragon came to us for help. She fears whoever did this is coming for the Source Dragon next."
"There must be grave danger for a Source Dragon to ask for aid." Rontu said, making the Ninja look up at her.
"If the Source Dragons are destroyed. It could mean the end of everything." Zane realized.
"Wait,wait,wait!" Raya cried, flailing her arms out. "I want my dad out of the Nether-Space first! And we need to know what happened to Lloyd's uncle first!"
"Raya!" Lloyd snaps. "Just calm down already."
Raya folds her arms as she rolls her eyes. "Well, do you know where Master Wu is?" She challenged.
Lloyd rolled his eyes. "No! You know I don't! Your family is not the only one effected my the Merge, mine was too." He now has hurt on his face. "I have no idea where Master Wu is, you know that. And you damn well know that if I knew where he is, I'd be heading there now to bring him home."
Zane quickly moved to stand in between the two. "My friends, please. This is not helping the situation." He looks at Lloyd. "Ae there any suspects?"
"No, but we believe whoever did it, is entering the Tournament Of The Sources." Lloyd answered. "That's why we're here."
Raya opened her mouth for witty and smart ass retort, when Zane quickly clamped his hand over her mouth.
"For most of my life, we had a great master. Master Wu." Lloyd smiled, and as quick as his smile came, it disappeared. "But we lost him in the Merge. He disappeared." His voice cracked. "Or worse." He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "So, I'm formally asking." He bows. "Will you be our Masters in the Tournament Of The Sources?" He looks up at the two dragons.
"No." Rontu shook her head.
"Thank." Lloyd starts, the it registers. "Wait, what?" He looks at them surprised and startled.
"We have nothing more to teach you." Egalt told him. "You, Lloyd. Must be the one to lead the Ninja. It is your duty, and destiny."
Lloyd stutters. "But I'm not Master."
"Lloyd won't listen Eglat." Raya said with her arms folded. "Lloyd's been lost ever since Master Wu - his uncle disappeared and we haven't been able to find him."
"Hmm." Eglat hummed, looking at her then turned his attention to Lloyd, the dragon roared as he reared back a paw.
"Whoa!" Lloyd cried. "What are you doing!?" He yelled, leaping away and the dragon gave chase.
Zane and Raya started to give chase too, but Rontu placed her tail in front of the two, startling them and looking up at her to see her shake her head.
"What's going on?" Raya asked as she and Zane watch as both dragons fight Lloyd.
"I believe they are testing his skills." Zane answered and soon Lloyd easily beats the two dragons.
"You just beat two go the greatest warriors that ever lived." Rontu tells Lloyd.
"Granted, we are not in our prime." Eglat added. "Now give me that stew." He demands, moving towards Raya.
"Here you are, old fart." Raya holds it out for him. "I, I mean old man." She tries to correct herself. "Old dragon!"
Eglat looks down at her, almost judgmental.
"Please, let me see my dad before I die!" Raya whimpers, cowering. She yelps and takes off with the stew still in her hands, accidentally going for the Rising Dragon training course with Eglat chasing her.
"Oh boy." Lloyd rubbed his head. "How is it that she has more Kai in her then Skylor? Kai is enough, now with Raya. It's the double crazy ideas!" He complains, throwing his arms out with frustration.
"But, you have to agree that it is never dull around the Monastery." Zane said lightly.
"She mentioned she was hurt with Shatterspin?" Rontu asked.
Zane nods. "Yes."
"She came out of her coma a few days ago." Lloyd said as they watch Raya go through the course. "While she was healing, Raya was with her mother. Healing." He yelps when the bowl is suddenly spinning towards him like a freebee. Lloyd easily caught it.
And suddenly Raya is in a red transition of dragon form.
"Rising Dragon!" Zane exclaims.
"She wanted to learn." Lloyd said. "But I don't think like this." He and Zane watch as Raya flew though the sky before landing.
"Wow." She breathed, walking over to Lloyd and Zane. "That's intense."
"Feels great, huh?" Lloyd asked with a smile.
"Helped a little with a big scary dragon chasing you."
"Hmm." Eglat hummed, his eyes narrow on her. "You child."-
"I'm sorry." Raya apologizes. "Give him the stew Lloyd!" She quickly added.
Lloyd does.
Eglat looks at the stew. "You didn't even spill a drop." He then slurped the stew loudly. "You both passed our test. Master Lloyd." He gives Lloyd back the bowl.
"My Master Wu was a true Master. I'm not ready."
Raya rolls her eyes. "Here we go again. Just like I said, Lloyd feels lost without his uncle."
Both dragons turn from Raya, to Lloyd. "You've faced much in your young life and has lost much. Your master, family, teammates, friends." Rontu lists as Zane and Raya approach Lloyd. "And because of that you fear you won't be able to protect everybody. Your heart is too big Lloyd. Which is exactly why you must lead the Ninja. Is it why you are the one to carry on the legacy of your beloved Master Wu."
"But what if I face a problem I can't handle? What if I fail?"
"And we're back to the failing part." Raya rolled her eyes with a heavily sigh, Zane nudges her.
"We have faith you will rise to the challenge, Master Lloyd." Eglat said confidently. "You always do."
XxXxXxXxXx
Soon, back at the Monastery Of Spinjitzu. The team is standing in a line out in the courtyard, each with a bowl of water balanced on their heads.
"Is this really necessary?" Sora asked.
"Yeah." Lily agrees. "We already have balance. Right daddy?"
"Don't drag me into this."
"The Dragon Masters showed me their benefits of stew-jitsu." Lloyd said as he stood by the dragon statue. "Huh? Get it?"
"Ugh." Naya rolled her eyes.
"Come on!" Lloyd turns to grab some bowls. "Let's go." He tosses the bowls at everyone.
XxXxXxXxX
Soon, the team arrive at the city. "Wow." Lilly smiles. "This place is beautiful."
"According to the Motion Source Dragon." Lloyd starts as the team moves. "That waterfall is the way to the tournament somehow."
Arin throws his arms up with excitement. "We're gonna meet all kinds of new Elemental Masters!" He cheerfully exclaimed. "Aw, this is gonna be so cool!"
"Remember, not every Master is an ally." Zane warned. "Cinder could be here, or."
"Euphrasia!" Nya suddenly cuts in, the team look at her.
"Yes, she might be here, but she is our friend. I am only listing enemies."
"Uncle, she is here." Lilly points ahead as she stood between Cole and Zane.
The team turn to see Euphrasia using her powers to land by a door, she pulls out a scroll and presses what looked like a button and it's reveal to be a slot. She opens places the scroll inside and once the slot door closes a door opens up, letting her inside. The Ninja watch as the dragon's eyes of the waterfall glow as a carving in the mountain opens to reveal an elevator.
"Whoa." Cole gasped as the elevator disappears into the clouds.
Arin squeaks in delight, holding onto Sora and shaking her with his excitement. "Could this get anymore cooler!?"
"Aunt Nya, what was the Tournament Of Elements with Grandpa Chen like?" She asked with worry.
"He stole everybody's powers, then used them all against Lloyd." Her aunt answered.
Sora smiled, nudging Arin. "And you were thinking about not even coming."
"Let's go!" Lloyd said, moving.
"Daddy, did Chen steal your super strength too?" Lilly asks as the Ninja approach the elevator.
"He did." Cole nods.
"And your Earth Punch?" Raya asked with surprise.
Cole shook his head. "No. I got that power sometime after Chen was defeated." He explained as they look up at the mountain cliff.
"Guess the tournament is on the top of this cliff?" Nya asks.
William looked around. "Shouldn't be too hard to find the switch to activate the elevator."
"How do we do this?" Sora asks confused.
"Take us to the tournament!" Arin exclaimed cheerfully, flailing his arms.
Nothing happened.
"Please." Arin again tried.
Raya rolled her eyes. "Wanna try that again genius?" She asks sarcastically.
Arin nervously chuckles at her.
Zane moves forward to scan the cliff. "Euphrasia put something in here." He said as his hand touched the bulging slot. "Some kind of scroll."
"Hey, look at this!" Sora called out, pointing to what looked like a speaker. She moves to it. "Hello!" She calls into it. "Can anyone hear me? We are here for the tournament!"
Suddenly the slide of the cliff shakes as a hidden door rumbles and slides open. The Ninja gather to watch. An elderly man stood inside his own elevator. He's wearing a robe, while holding a thick book with a cane and a one eyeglass over his left eye, along with a pocket watch sticking out of his robe pocket.
"Hello." He greets. "I am Bleckt. Minister Of Ledgering for the Tournament Of The Sources."
"Great, and you're in charge of the guest list, sir?" Lloyd asked.
"Not just the guest list, all lists. Tabulations, itineraries, agendas and inventories fall under my duties with the ledger." Bleckt explains. "The tournament has been run by my family for generations untold. For each tournament, our city would rotate to another Realm. And invitations would go out by spirit dragon courier to all Elemental Masters there. Although, now all the Elemental Masters are in the same Merged Lands. So more invitations have gone out then ever before."
"We're Ninja! We have the power!" Raya exclaimed before Lloyd could pull her back. "What happened the Ninjago invites?"
Bleckt studied her. "Such a rude girl you are."
"Uh oh." Lilly quickly said as Raya's eyes burned.
"I'll show you rude!"
"Raya!" Nya grabs her niece and pulls her back. "I'm so sorry about my niece!" She quickly apologizes. "My brother has been out of commiation, she's been a little testy."
Bleckt humphed. "Be as it may." He starts calmly. "There's a simple solution to that."
"Great, cause I was afraid this was gonna be a whole thing." Cole said, and Bleckt looked at him.
"I recognize you from somewhere." He points with staff at Cole. "Aw, the Marty Oppenheimer School Of Performing Arts."
Cole shuttered at the very memory. "I don't go there anymore." He folds his arms, then notices Bleckt continued to stare at him. "Stop looking at me like that!"
"Oh!" The old man exclaimed. "Cyrus Borg!"
Cole narrows his eyes.
"Uh oh." Raya quickly hide behind Lloyd. "Lloyd, do something."
"Sir." Lloyd took a cautious step forward. "Do you know Doctor Borg?" He asks, gaining Bleckt's attention.
"No, I don't." Bleckt shook his head. "The man was a fool if you ask me."
The Ninja, minus Wyldfyre, Sora, Arin and Riyu back away.
"Excuse me!?" Cole yells, he lunges at Bleckt, grabbing a fist of the man's robs and pinning him against the door. "That's my father-in-law you're insulting!"
Arin gulped as he stood frozen next to Sora.
"I was meerling pointing out about his tower and where its location is." Bleckt said.
"Cole, he's not worth the trouble." Lloyd said, coming up to his friend who looked at him.
"But."
"We need to get into the tournament. If he's in charge, he's not going to be much use to us if you pound like the punching bags." The blonde told him.
Bleckt squeaked out a yelp when Cole opens his fist and he drops onto his butt.
"Fine." Cole growled. "But if he takes another crack at the Borg family. Or worse. My father!"
"Then and only then you can have the green light." Lloyd said. "But for now, calm down. Please."
"Fine." Cole huffed, he took a step backwards.
It took Bleckt a little bit to calm his nerves as he stood up. "No, invitations. No entry!" He steps backwards into his elevator. "So, you are not invited in."
"If you know Dr. Borg, which clearly you do. Then let us in!" Raya argued, approaching him. "Invite or no. We are Ninja! Each of us born with an element. How can you ignore that!?"
"Rules are rules young lady!" Bleckt uses his cane to push Raya backwards.
"I don't care who you are, you can't do that to my niece!" Nya scolds as Raya fells backwards into Cole, who caught her with ease. "And if my brother was here, Cole would be the least of your worries right now!"
"You wouldn't be up to the challenge to the games anyway."
"And that right there, deserves a Kai pounding!" Raya lunged. Only for Lloyd to be quick and the teen fell onto his shoulder.
"Ok, that's enough out of you." The blonde said.
"Put me down Lloyd!" Raya struggled against him as he fought to keep her restrained.
"Now, I am very busy." Beckt said as he opens the elevator behind him. "Please leave and stop waisting my time." He disappears as the elevator door closes.
"Humph!" Lilly folds her arms. "How do you like that for double talk?"
"That dirty sleazy old man!" Raya continued to struggle against Lloyd's restraints.
"Lloyd." Lilly turns to him. "What do we do now?"
Lloyd looks up the mountain. "We're not out yet." From his shoulder, Raya had finally stopped struggling at his answer.
"Now you're talking!" She smiles.
XxXxXxXx
Hope you like it!