Within a week of being at the monastery, Nya was beginning to feel more at home than she had felt in a while. Misako was very kind and hospitable, but a tough teacher. She had Nya learning kata, trying out weapons, and running the obstacle course often, so Nya never got bored. Misako was even trying to get her in touch with her water element already, though Nya thought she was still a long way from being able to control it.

Nya even got along well with Lloyd. He was a nice kid, and he trained alongside her most of the time. They even sparred together once or twice. Nya thought it was kind of cute and figured that being a ninja must run in the family.

Misako was great at explaining all the things Nya needed to know. She broke down everything so that it was easy to understand, and they moved as quickly as Nya was able to learn. Nya was a little surprised at the woman's knowledge and skill when it came to combat; she certainly appeared to be more scholarly at first glance, but it also became clear that she was as dedicated to the martial arts as she was to learning. In this respect, she and Nya got along well. The young ninja-in-training was still very uncertain about everything that was going on, and she often turned to Misako to satiate her curiosity.

"I understand that Garmadon is, you know, getting a little up there in age," Nya said one day as she thoughtfully eyed a weapons display. She had yet to find a weapon that suited her. "But I've seen him fight and, honestly, I don't think I'll be that skilled any time soon, if ever. So why can't he and his brother just face-off against each other?" She picked up what appeared to be a sai, admiring the handle's design.

Misako sighed. "The fact is, Nya, this is much more than just a sibling rivalry, or even a fight for power. The very balance of good and evil is at stake, and Garmadon by himself isn't capable of influencing that decision, not against Wu in all his corruption. The balance is in constant shift, but can only be decided by one powerful enough to tip the scales."

Nya looked up from the sai. "And you think . . . we're that force? Me and whoever else Garmadon comes back with?"

Misako solemnly shook her head. "The final battle won't take place for a long time yet, that much is certain. You needn't worry yourself about it."

Nya studied Misako, picking up on the weariness in the woman's voice, but decided not to press her about it for now. She still wanted to know, "Then why am I here? If I'm not going to fight Wu then, who am I training to fight?" She frowned. "Do you really think four people could take on an entire army?"

Still, Misako's expression was troubled. The woman remained uncannily silent until she finally ventured to say, "Nya, we haven't known how to tell you this . . . but there's something else you need to know about Wu and the weapons."

Nya tilted her head, more curious now than ever.

"In the years since his banishment, Wu has been organizing his own group of fighters, the masters of the original four elements, to wield the Weapons of Spinjitzu for him. They are the only ones besides Garmadon and Wu with the power to use the weapons properly. That is why we decided to train our own elemental masters to contend with his. However, we didn't find out about it until recently, so it seems that we're a bit behind."

"Okay," Nya said, following her so far. But she still felt that there was something left unsaid.

Misako breathed another heavy sigh before continuing. "Nya . . . you have an older brother, yes?"

Nya stiffened, wondering what he had to do with any of this. It was a difficult subject for her. He'd ran away a while back, and a part of her had always felt like it was her fault. "Yes," she answered Misako, "but he disappeared a long time ago. I don't . . . I haven't seen him in so long. I don't even know if . . ."

Misako nodded. "Well, the thing is, Garmadon and I believe that Wu has manipulated your brother, as well as three others, into helping him find the weapons. With their help, he would be able to possess all four of the weapons at once without ever touching them."

Nya was unconsciously running her thumb over the flat of the sai, lost in thought. So that's why Kai had run away. And yet, this explained nothing. Nya knew her brother, and even though he had been a pain and a bit of a jerk back then, she knew he wasn't evil. "But why him?" she asked, though the answer was already coming to her.

"Garmadon told you already that your mother was the Master of Water. But did you know that your father was the Master of Fire?"

So Wu wanted Kai in order to get the sword. Kai could control fire. Is that what he had been doing whenever he had gone out? Learning to use his abilities in the same way that she was now? Nya shook her head, still trying to wrap her head around it. "It doesn't make sense. Why would Kai help him? He's not a bad person, he –" Nya gripped the sai tighter in her hand.

Misako stepped forward, laying a hand on Nya's shoulder. "Wu is clever and manipulative. I'm sure Kai doesn't really understand what's going on, only what Wu wants him to believe. But we need your help to fight Wu's army and protect the weapons. Most of all we hope that, as his sister, you will be able to help Kai see the light."

Could she really? After all this time, she finally knew what had happened to her brother. Her gut wrenched as she remembered the bruises she'd seen on his arms. This was much worse than she could have imagined. And to think what Wu might have done to him since then.

Oh, Kai, what have you gotten yourself into? Was it really possible for her to make him realize that what he was doing was wrong? Or could he already be too far gone?

. . . 

Evening was fast approaching, the day was nearly over. Seliel considered herself lucky to have made it to the market before all the stalls had closed for the day. Her father had told her that they were going to have last-minute guest for dinner, so she had rushed down to grab some fresh fish for the meal.

"You must be cooking up a storm tonight," said the fisherman as she selected a fish. Seliel's love for cooking and tasty dishes were widely known throughout the village.

"You bet. It's going to be my best recipe yet!"

The man laughed. "You always say that, but then, I guess you're always right."

Seliel took her purchase and left the marketplace behind. As she passed the other villagers on her way home, the waved and called out to her. Seliel would always wave back and return the warm greetings.

"Tell the family I said 'Hi!'" she would say, and "Dad's well, thanks!" and "You, too!"

By the time she got home, the sun had just passed below the horizon. Seliel hurriedly set about pulling out her supplies, warming up pans, boiling water, chopping up ingredients and mixing them together. She paid extra attention to her measurements, though when it came to season, she mostly went with her gut.

Her father came in when she was nearly finished. He was trying to sneak in and nab a spoonful of rice while her back was turned, but she whirled around and smacked his hand away with her spoon.

He merely chuckled. "I guess that means you've gotten everything taken care of here. You don't really need my help with this sort of thing anymore."

Seliel glanced up at the sudden change of tone in his voice, and she could have sworn she saw a flicker of sadness cross his expression. But it vanished as quickly as it had come and he said, "Garmadon will be here any minute, I'm sure."

"Exactly," Seliel said. "And I don't think he'd be very honored to get here and see you have crumbs in your mustache. So how about you stop bugging me and go get the table ready or something?

"Alright, alright, I'm going."

Seliel finished up and then brought the dishes out to the table. Almost as soon as they were done setting up, there was a knock at the door. Seliel waited as her father answered and welcomed the guest into their home. He looked older than Seliel had expected, but walked with the ease and confidence of a younger man.

"Seliel, this is Garmadon," her father stated. "He's an old friend. Garmadon, this is my daughter, Seliel." Garmadon dipped his head in greeting.

Seliel returned the bow and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." However, she couldn't help but notice a somber attitude from each of them. Perhaps the old man had come for more than a friendly visit. It had been really short notice. Was there something wrong that her father wasn't telling her?

They took their seats and dole out the food, but their conversation was unusually stilted and shallow. Seliel was dying to know what was on their minds, but she tried to tell herself that it was probably none of her business, anyway.

But things got quiet again, and their solemnity was palpable. She decided that she couldn't be patient any longer and finally asked, "Father, what's going on?"

Her father threw a glance at Garmadon, who only nodded for him to go ahead. Seliel glanced between them as her father heaved a sigh.

"Seliel, do you remember those stories I used to tell you about the Serpentine War, the Elemental Masters, and you grandfather?"

She nodded. Of course she remembered the stories. She had listened to them every night as a child. They had been awe-inspiring and thrilling to her young imagination.

"Well. There is one story that I have yet to tell you."

Seliel forgot about her meal for a moment and leaned forward, growing more intrigued with every vague and ominous sentence.

"Yes, you know all about your grandfather and his abilities, as well as the battles he fought alongside the other Elemental Masters. But what I didn't tell you is that those abilities were passed down to your mother as well and then . . . on to you."

Seliel's eyes widened. "To me? You mean that . . . I have the elemental power too? I can teleport?!"

Now both of the men were nodding. "With training," Garmadon clarified, "yes, you will be able to."

"That's not all," her father added. "You see, there are many Elemental Masters as you are well aware. But, back in the old days, there were four in particular who stood out from the rest, the most powerful of the masters, the wielders of the Weapons of Spinjitzu. They were the masters of fire, lightning, earth, and ice. Over the years, however, the power of the Elemental Masters has not been needed and they have faded into legend. As such, the weapons were stored safely away.

"However, a man by the name of Wu, the son of the First Spinjitzu Master, was corrupted by the darker forces of this world and sought to wield the power of the weapons for himself. Since his first attempt to seize them, he has been banished to the Underworld, and the weapons have been hidden. However, he still seeks to take the weapons for himself, and years later, his influence is being felt once again here in Ninjago."

"That's where you come in," Garmadon explained. "We know that Wu has an army, but more than that, he has found the descendants of the original four masters and has been training them himself so that they may retrieve the weapons for him. Long ago, I was tasked with keeping the golden weapons safe, and for a while I have been successful. But in order to stop Wu's next attempt to take them, Ninjago is going to need more than an old man to protect it."

"So you want me to help?" It was a lot to take in. Her whole life, Seliel had known the lore and legends of Ninjago, but it had always been locked in the past. Nothing so spectacular happened nowadays, especially not in this little town. She'd believed the stories her father had told her, for he'd assured her they were true, yet it all seemed too distant to have any influence on her life now.

"It is a large responsibility," Garmadon was saying. "But I believe that you will carry it well."

Seliel shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. My responsibility is here. My people need me. And Father – I couldn't leave you to run the village by yourself!"

To her surprise, her father started laughing. "Why not? Do think I'm that helpless? Young lady, I've been overseeing this village since before you were born. And in all that time, it never fell into chaos just because you weren't around to help me."

"That's not what I meant!" she protested.

Now he looked at her more sympathetically. Leaning forward to rest a comforting hand on hers, he said, "Running the village is my responsibility. I appreciate all your help, but for the time being, it's not your to worry about."

"Seliel, by mastering your element, you would be able to defend all of Ninjago, and in turn, the people of your village," Garmadon reasoned. "If you really want to take care of the people here, then you must do everything you can to protect them from this evil. What do you say?"

The girl furrowed her brow, thinking hard. He did have a point. This way, she could save her village, as well as countless others, from harm. And, admittedly, it sounded really cool to be able to follow in her grandfather's footsteps and fight for peace.

Seliel looked to her father, then Garmadon. "If it will help my neighbors and my friends . . . and my father . . . I say 'Yes.'"

. . . 

A/N: Yep, I'm giving Seliel some elemental powers. And she won't be the only one . . . I know, I know, teleportation isn't really an element per se, but neither is speed, and smoke is already taken so MEH