(Okay. Here is the next chapter! I think it is one of my favorites to have worked on. Will be a while until the next one. Enjoy!)

Something is different. I find myself in a storm, wind blowing as snow hits my face. I walk forward, no real sense of direction. Except for a feeling. I follow to where it is but stop as a gigantic hole appears. I step back to avoid falling in, but then I hear loud roaring. I feel someone down there. Scared and confused. I jump down the hole and once I made it to the ground, I see a dragon made up of ice and... and... "ZANE!" I shout and run up to him. He looks at me and I stand between him and the dragon. I then notice the chains on the creature, keeping it from reaching us.

I look back at Zane, seeing him very different as he now had a more sliver-y appearance and his eyes a glowing icy blue. "It's going to be okay. I'm here." I tell him. However, he looks around as if trying to find something. "Zane, are you still there?" Pixal? I see Zane look up and I follow to see Falcon at the surface. "If you can hear me, wake up." What? "You need to wake up." I look back at Zane. "Zane..." I reach out to him, and he does too, "Zane!" "NO! WAIT!"

I gasp as I sit up. (BOOM! How's that for an opening?) I pant and look around to find myself in my suite. It was... a dream? No. No, no, no! I grip my hair. I saw him. I felt him. It was Zane. But... if it was... and if it was also a dream... did I just... dream walk? I remove my hands from my hair as I hold them down to be on my lap and calm down. Don't worry, Zane. "We'll get you back." I state.

Zane's P.O.V.

I awaken and gasp. "It was only a dream. But... that woman..." She was conscious. She is real. And I reached out to her... because I felt that I know her. (Because you do~) "It's amazing you dream. I've always wonder what it's like. You've always been special." I look up to see light from a window in the room next to mine. It is a woman's voice, but her's is different from the one in my dream. I look around as I examine the room I am in. "Where am I? Who are you?" I ask the voice. "I'm Pixal, a friend. And you're in danger and have to get out of here. Your memory drive is out of sorts and your elemental power..." "Elemental power?" I recall cold. But not a freezing kind, a comforting one. "You're a nindroid, Zane, a ninja." I try to get out of the chains that bind my wrists, but no luck. "And your friends are here to save you. But they can't do it all." Pixal tells me.

Friends? The woman in my dream. "You have to remember who you are." I close my eyes as I feel memories return. "Friends?" "Remember, Zane. You saved your friends and then rebuilt yourself. There are things about you that you don't understand. That you have yet to discover. But if we're ever going to get out of here, you have to remember." I watch two spiders crawl on the walls then into a hole. They are compatible. Compatible... "Pixal. We are compatible?" I remember her. "Yes, Zane. Yes, we are." I smile. More memories come back and I remember the woman in my dream. "Pixal, in my dream... there was someone else." I start. "Who are they?" She asks. "She had (H/C) hair tied back into a braid. She wore purple and she stood between myself and a creature." I explain.

"Zane, that is (Y/N). She is a dear friend who you consider a sister." I hear Pixal explain. I close my eyes and picture (Y/N), but a memory plays. "but you are still Zane. After all, you feel." (Bam! Callback!) I then remember other faces. Kai, Cole, Jay, Lloyd, it's all coming back. And I must help them.

Third Person P.O.V.

Meanwhile, back in Ninjago, Nya and Wu are in the Samurai X cave and Nya is on a rolling board as she does some modification on the Bounty which is hidden away as blue tarps hang around it. "Sure. Jay's cute and funny, and I'm always laughing around him, but everything's about him, he never takes me seriously." Nya rambles. Wu leans against at his staff as he snores. (Man has had listen to this for a while.) "More light, please." He snorts awake after Nya said that. "Right. He never takes you seriously." He says, shining the flashlight to where Nya wants. "Then there's Cole. He's handsome, and I suppose I connect with him on a deeper level, but everything's so serious with him, you know what I mean?" She continues rambling.

But halts as she recalls the moments shared between Cole and (Y/N). (Huh? HUUUUUUH?!?) She shakes it off and holds her hand out, "Socket wrench." She requests. "Young emotions are... complicated." Wu tells her, handing her the wrong tool. "Sensei, these are needle-nose pliers. I asked for a socket-wrench. And could you at least try to impart some wisdom?" She asks him. "No way. I'm not sticking my finger into that beehive." Wu denies. (Me either.) He then sees Misako walk up to them. "Misako. Any word?" He asks her. They have not had contact nor received any news from the Ninja or Garmadon for a long while. They are starting to get worried. Misako sighs in defeat, "Nothing. It's been days and still no word from Garmadon or the Ninja. I'm worried." She informs.

"As am I. It's time we broaden our search." Wu states. "Well, then it's a good thing I made a mobile base in case the Destiny Bounty was ever out of commission." Nya says, walking over to the panel and presses some buttons which open up the floor in front of it. "I call it... the D.B. Express!" She presents as it is raised up, painted with the signature colors of her Samurai X mech with six wheels and very shiny. "Mm, not married to the name." She says. "Find my family, Nya." Misako tells her. "I'm on my way." Nya states, hopping into the driver's seat as she starts the engine then drives off. "Wherever they are, at least my brother is there to guide them." Wu says. "This is my husband we're talking about. And that's what worries me." Misako says, knowing of how Garmadon can be. Especially when it comes to his son. (Man loves his son.)

(Y/N)'s P.O.V.

He was right there. We almost touched. He built himself a new body. I smile as I think about it. Of course he did. I finish getting ready as I finish braiding my hair and adjust my Gi. The no-sleeve thing actually is pretty nice. I made my way to meet with the others as we arrive at the food hall. We grab a tray, got some food and now wait in line for some biscuits. "Next!" The server says. We move as Garmadon is next. "Uh-Uh, nothing for you." I give the man a glare. "There's a valuable lesson here, son. If you turn your back on your first evil sensei in an effort to go straight," "Next!" At least let the man finish. "you may not be severed creamy biscuits." Noted. (Definitely noted. 📝)

We keep the line moving. "Well, I know what we are being served. A whole bunch of baloney. This isn't a fighting tournament, it's an alibi for Chen to steal everyone's powers. But we still don't know why." Lloyd whispers. "Isn't it obvious? Chen wants to destroy New Ninjago City." It's still called 'New?' (Is it? 🤨)  "I don't know want it is, but that place has a string of bad luck." Kai says. "Who said anything about destroying Ninjago City? With the power of all the elements at his command, Chen would more so want to rule Ninjago." I voice my thoughts. We move again to keep the line moving. "I'm with (Y/N). From what Sensei G's told us about him, I have a feeling it's something far more sinister." Cole says. Kai got his biscuit and we move as I got mine. But then for an extra. "Orders from Master Chen. Says you got real bite to ya." Okay, creepy. I walk away and follow Kai.

"And may I remind us, we still don't know where Zane is. Which is why we all need to take care of our first rounds to give us more time." I hear Jay say. I remember the dream, now believing it was not my dream. I'm leaning into the whole dream walking theory. I stop as Kai and I meet with  Lloyd and Garmadon, and I am about to tell them what I saw. "And I use to think a ninja wouldn't steal your girlfriend." I groan. Oh, come on. Not again. "Whatever you have to say to each other, say it now, because harboring grudges hurts no one but yourselves." Garmadon tells them. "He's right. You should be preparing to fight your next opponent, not each other." Lloyd states. "What grudge? I already dropped it. And he was the one that started it in the first place." Cole argues. I sigh in frustration. "I dropped it first." "Did not." "Did too!" "SHUT IT!" I bellow. (Oop! She mad. 😨)

Everything became quiet. I close my eyes and while inhaling deeply then exhale slowly. "We are NOT doing this again." I open my eyes and give them a warning look. "Like I said before, it never made sense in the first place." I state, huffing as I look away from them. "This tournament will test us all. Either find a way to make peace or none will move on." I hear Garmadon say. I open my eyes and look down at my tray. This is stupid. And Nya is just as to blame for their trying friendship. I blink as my powers flare up and I feel Cole's anger, but also hurt. Jay you blind, lovesick fool.

A gong is heard and I look up at one of the PA boxes. "The Tournament of Elements continues. Fun time!" I roll my eyes at Chen's tone. Such a child. "Would the following masters please make their way to their assigned arena? Speed, Gravity, Smoke, Nature, Mind, oh, and last and hopefully not least..." "Huh, maybe we all got the day off." "Fire!" "Had to jinx it, Jay." I comment. "Remember, only one can remain." Chen says.

And so after we ate, we went to the first arena. Speed vs. Gravity. It took place at a cliff with a beautiful tree that had pink flower petals growing from it. The battle was fast pace, of course it was for it had the Master of Speed, and suspenseful as gravity was altered. However, Griffin got the Jade Blade thus won. And Chen dropped something on Gravis to make him go into the trapped door. Ouch. The next arena was in a zen garden with Master of Mind, Neuro, face off against Master of Nature, Bolobo. At first nothing happened, but being able to ready one's mind can come in handy to know what they plan to do. Bolobo was able to tangle Neuro in some vines, but as the saying goes: Mind over matter. Neuro won as he got the Jade Blade on top of the boulder in the center of the garden. And finally Kai vs the Master of Smoke, Ash. The battle took place in a lava area with rocks sticking out of the lava. It was pretty intense because Ash could turn his whole body into smoke, so it was hard to land a hit on him. But Kai played that to his advantage and went through him as he shifted and grabbed the Jade Blade.

It was pretty intense but when it was Kai's battle, I felt Dark Magic and looked over at Closue to see just for a moment his hand engulfed in dark purple smoke. But Chen stopped him because he was enjoying it. (Safe!) I also felt with my powers of Clouse's suspicion towards us. Shoot. Once all the battles were over, we all met up. "Nice going, Kai." Lloyd says. "Thanks. But then again, when there is smoke, there is fire." Kai quips. I couldn't take it anymore, "Guys, I think they are on to us." I voice. "Huh?" I look up at them. "Clouse was about to use his magic during Kai's battle." I inform them. "Shoot. Then we got to be more careful. Who knows what they'll pull." Cole says. "Hey, hey, relax. All the battles have for today have finished. We can rest tonight and be ready tomorrow." Jay says to ease the tension.

"Chen is one for surprises. He is the one that makes up the rules and can easily bend them for his desire." Garmadon states. Zane's face flashes in my mind for a brief moment and I gasp from that. "There's also another thing." I speak up. "What is it?" I hear Lloyd ask. "It's about Zane." It got quiet after I said that. "It was weird. I was in a dream, but I don't think it was mine. I saw him and he reached out to me but before we touched, I woke up." I explain. "Hmm. Perhaps your connection with Zane allowed you to appear and reach out to him in different way." I look at Garmadon as he talks. "The connections the Master of Life makes with others not only extend to what they can do with their powers physically, but also how they can reach out to those close to them even when far apart." He walks over and places a hand on my shoulder. "(Y/N), you are experiencing a new power that allows you to communicate with those you have a close bond with. And that was in the form of appearing in another's dream." He says.

I blink, looking down at my hands as I make some whisps appear. "(Y/N) there is a reason the Master of Life is so powerful is because there are many aspects of life itself. You may have unlocked your true potential, but there is still so much that you have yet to discover." I close my hands as the whisps vanish. (Pretty powerful, eh?) I feel hand on my other shoulder and look to see that it is Cole, "But it's okay. We can figure it out together." He smiles at me. I felt something in my heart, like a flutter, but ignore it as I give a smile back to him.

My powers flare up and I close my eyes to see the Elemental Masters remaining and some goons on the bottom floor of the building we are staying in. Discussing about another battle? I open my eyes, "There's some commotion about the tournament. Come on." I tell them as I start walking. And why do I get the feeling that it is not good. Oh, who am I kidding? THIS WHOLE TOURNAMENT IS A BAD VIBE!!! (But also stressed. Powerful and stressed. 😓)

Third Person P.O.V.

The team make their way to the group as they hear whispering. They walk over and push some away as the make it to the bracket. "What's all the commotion?" Jay asks. And as they see the bracket, they gasp. Jay and Cole are to fight each other. "No. He can't do this." Cole says. "He already did." Lloyd states. "We gotta fight each other." Cole says in disbelief as he and Jay look at each other. "Ah, but why does it say I have to fight Cole? It didn't say that before. I'm not ready to fight. It was supposed to be my day off." Jay complains. "I tried to warn ya, but you never listen. Talk? Yes. Listen? Not so much." Cole snips at him. "Is there a problem, Ninja?" Clouse mockingly asks as he walks up to them with a smirk. "You cheated! You changed the brackets." Cole accuses. Clouse is unbothered as he continues smirking, "Oopsie." Is all he says. One goon laughs as he follows Clouse as the man walks off. (Y/N) glares strongly at Clouse and the dark sorcerer rubs the back of his head as he felt something on it. (He did. Can you guess what? 😏)

"What do we do? They can't fight each other. We came here to become whole, not fall further apart." Lloyd says. "You can't undo what's been done. My only advice is to be at peace with it." Garmadon tells them. "Peace? One of us has to loose! Oh, my gosh, it's totally gonna be me. He's got super strength and what do I have? Quick, tell me? What do I have?!?" Jay shouts. "A mouth that never stops running." (Y/N) answers. The guys all look over at her as she had her back to them. "Huh?" Jay says, not sure if he heard that right. (Y/N)'s hands close as she clenches them tightly. "Do you ever listen to anything or anyone? Because I am going to be as clear as I can be: Nya... Is NOT... PERFECT!" She bellows, whirling around and the guys flinch from her furious expression. (She finally blew. 😰)

"I have HAD IT! I have had to feel you and Nya's affection and love for each for so long that I thought that once you got together everything would have cold down." She starts as she moved and stood in front of Jay while giving him a scolding look, "But! Some algorithm calculated and told her that Cole was her 'perfect match' and decided to make a move on him because she thought she had more options." She quotes 'perfect match' with her hands and said it in a sarcastic tone. "Nya tries to act all independent with how she doesn't need anyone to rescue her, but we came together because she was kidnapped and we had to rescue her." She states. "You immediately accused Cole because you thought he was stealing her away from you- And you are not excused either, mister, because you fought and argued back along with escalating things-" She points at Cole and he holds his hands up in surrender, not wanting to get on her bad side even more. (Wise. Very wise choice.) "-But did you hear him out? Did you listen to what he had to say? NO! You didn't." She vents. "Chen can do whatever he wants and it is clear that he loves drama so if you two are going to spark an old argument, GO AHEAD! It will be a show, alright!" She shouts. (She had been holding that in for a while.)

She turns away as she breathes hard from her rant. They guys all look at her with shock while Garmadon held a clam neutral expression. Once (Y/N) calms down, her stance relaxes but is still unhappy at the two. "It doesn't matter who wins or loses. Are you both willing to lose each other over a misunderstanding?" She asks in an exhaustive tone. Everything went quiet. Jay looks at the ground with a guilty expression as did Cole, both hit hard by her words. "Look, no one has to fight." Lloyd speaks and everyone turn their attention to him. Except (Y/N). "We find Zane then none of us have to battle. Your fight isn't until tonight so we still have time to figure out what Chen's up to and stop this." He states. This gets the guys back on track. "I think I know just the person who can help and I think he already knows." Kai says.

The group makes their way outside where many of the Elemental Masters are as they wait for the battle start. They soon walk up to Neuro as he sits on a rock that towers over them and with his back to them. "We need your help, Neuro." Lloyd tells him. "You think I can get close to Chen and read his mind, so you can find your robotic friend and not have to fight." Neuro says, hands on his head and eyes close as he reads Lloyd's mind. "Don't forget..." "You still need to know what Chen's up to because he's hiding something." Neuro finishes Kai's sentence. "That's really impressive, Nerdo. Ow!" Jay yelps as he rubs his hand. "That was a real rock by the way." (Y/N) informs, looking at her hands to avoid looking at Jay. (She mad.)

"It's Neuro, Master of the Mind." Neuro states as he turns around to glare down at Jay. "Also, your lady friend believes that even if you are not here to make friends, you could at least be a little polite." He adds. "And Cole thinks Jay won't last long in a fight." He also adds. "Pfft. You think that?" Jay snips at Cole. "You just said it yourself." Cole defends. "But you didn't have to believe it." Jay argues, hitting Cole in the chest. "Don't be offended, Cole. Jay here thinks you're the least valuable ninja." Neuro tells Cole. "You don't say!" Cole says in angered tone, then hits Jay in the chest. (Y/N)'s eye twitches as the two start fighting again. Lloyd pushes them away as he moves to talk to Neuro, but the two keep at it as they argue. "We wanted you to help, Neuro, not make things worse." Lloyd states. "But why would I help? Your competition. The sooner you're out, the better for me." Neuro says.

(Y/N) walks up to Neuro and gently pushes Lloyd to be behind her. Kai stepping back as Cole tackles Jay to the ground. "This whole tournament is a hoax in which the winner is the one orchestrating it. And that person is Chen." She states. She gives him a narrow look as her eyes sharpen, "Look into my mind, and feel what I felt." She tells him. Neuro closes his eyes and holds his hands to his head as he looks into her mind. He sees of when Karlof had his powers stolen by Chen and feels the rage (Y/N) felt when she learned of Zane being kept prisoner. He gasps as he stops but the feeling was so intense that he falls back. He yells as he falls off the rock, but is caught and helped onto his feet. He looks back to find that it is (Y/N), who looks at him with a stoic expression. He felt her fury for a moment longer until it vanishes. (She knows how to make others feel what she does. She just doesn't do it all the time nor is even aware that she does it at times.)

"It's only a matter of time before Chen steals your power too." Lloyd tells him. "So are you in?" He then asks. Neuro groans as he thinks. (Y/N) feeling his conflict with her powers and sighs. "Look, you don't have to help us. But one favor is all we ask. Then we can pretend this whole thing never happened." She tells him. Neuro glances at her and he reads her mind for a moment to see a memory of when the team was whole. He blinks as he then feels something... that being of longing. He looks at the ground then sighs.

Zane's P.O.V.

I try to get out of the chains again, but once again they are too strong. I grunt as I stop and lean back agains the wall. "Zane, you're built differently. You have to search deep within yourself." I hear Pixal say. I think about what she said. I look at my right arm and think about how I wish to be free of the chains. A hatch opens up and a mini-saw appears and starts to cut at the chain. "Yes, that's it! You're remembering." She says. "Tonight's fight is gonna be epic." I hear talking. "Who do you got? Jay or Cole?" "I'm a Cole man. Never liked the color blue." The sawing! It's making too much noise. "What's that grinding noise?" I stop and put it away. I close my eyes so it would seem I am asleep. "Heh, guess I was just hearing things. Come on, let's go."

I hear them walk away and open my eyes. (Clever nindroid.) "It's not safe. I suggest you break out when everyone's at the big fight." Pixal says. "You mean, we must break out." I state. "Yes. Of course." She says. Though, I sensed hesitation in her tone. No, need to focus. Once they leave for the fight, I will make my move.

(Y/N)'s P.O.V.

I wait for Neuro. The battle is about to begin and it is being held in this arena where you look down. Gladiator style, like in the movies, with a pillar in the center with a purple snake-like statue wrapped around it with the Jade Blade in its mouth. Cole and Jay are in spaces of the stone wall, bars caging them in until it is time. Kai is with Jay and Lloyd with Cole, both trying to remind them of what's important. I frown as I feel both of their anger but also their guilt. I sigh. However, my powers flare up and I turn around to find Neuro approaching me. "So, what did you find?" I ask him. "I wasn't able to get close to Chen. Clouse stopped me. So I looked into his mind. The powers Chen is collecting are to be used for a spell. I don't know exactly what it is, but I did get the page number. 149." Neuro informs.

"A spell, huh? Not enough to stop the fight, but a start." I say to myself then send my feelings for Kai and Lloyd to feel, a guilt that the fight will happen. "Thank you, Neuro." I thank him. "I wish I could have done more." He says. I feel shame from him but lay my hand on his shoulder. "Don't feel shame. You can only do so much without putting a target on your back." I tell him. He looks at me and nods his head. "Best go find a spot. This fight is gonna be something." I tell him. He starts to walk away but I feel with my powers Lloyd's determination to stop Chen and remember Chen's hunger. I grab Neuro's arm and he looks back at me, "And one more thing: Chen will do anything to get what he wants. Say anything to get you to do what he wants. As of this moment, we must continue to fight until Chen reveals his true colors." I tell him. He looks at me in surprise but nods his head.

I let him go and he walks off to get a spot. I exhale deeply and lean against a wall, rubbing my head to ease the migraine I developed. This whole tournament is really messing with me. It's good to have allies, but we can't risk exposure. And I don't know why but I really do NOT like Chen. Like... his weird interest in me. I hear a horn and stand up to make my way to where Garmadon is. I soon find him and see Kai and Lloyd standing with him already. And Neuro is also with them. I move to stand in between Kai and Lloyd. "(Y/N), are you okay?" I look at Lloyd to see him with frown. I look down at the ground as I feel Cole and Jay's emotions. I inhale as I look down at them, "Honestly... No idea." I answer honestly. (Girl is tired.)

Third Person P.O.V.

"Let the tournament continue!" Chen announces. "Jay, Master of Lightning," He says, a spotlight shining down on Jay, "versus Cole, Master of-" He halts as Cole and Jay run at each other. The fight commencing. (The bottle has shattered.) Jay shoots lightning at Cole and black ninja jump-flips over it and lands, punching his hands into the ground to send earth at Jay. The blue ninja flips backwards to avoid it. "Ha, ha. That's all you've got? Least valuable ninja!" He insults. "Ear dirt, Blue-belle!" Cole insults back then launches a beam of earth at him. Jay jumps over it and shoots lightning which Cole summons an earth shield to block it. Chen laughs and claps from the fight as he sits on his chair. "Oh, Clouse, to get me popcorn. This is turning out better than I anticipated." Chen says with a wide smile as he relaxes into his chair while Clouse go gets some popcorn.

Zane's P.O.V.

I have successfully broken free of my cuffs. Now to break through the bars and rescue Pixal. "Hurry, Zane. Before they come back." I finally break through the bars and slip thought the gap. "I'm through. Now let's get out of here." I state. But once I land, I look to not see Pixal. Only boxes of parts and a screen... "Pixal." I walk over to stand in front of the screen to see... "You're... You're..." "Scrapped. I know, but I couldn't tell you. Not when you needed to get out of here." She says as I finally see her face. Or as close as I can get to seeing her. (Pixal... 🥺) "Sadly, this is where my journey ends, but not for you." I hold her discard hand that is on the table and close my eyes to make it seem as though she is right in front of me.

I open my eyes as I look at the screen, no. As I look at Pixal. "Zane, you must go alone. Find your friends. Stop Chen. I know you have it in you and don't worry about me." She tells me. But I will worry. I place my hand on the screen, closing my eyes in sadness. "I will always be a part of you." Part? I open my eyes and look over at a purple-pink piece. That's it. "You're right. You will always be a part of me." I tell her, smiling as an idea forms. "Zane, what are you-?" I take out her neural drive and insert it into the back of my head.

I wait for a moment, then she appears in my vision. "Zane, you've taken my neural drive and inputted into your processor. You're ingenious!" She says. "Not ingenious. Upgraded. I'm sure there will be other surprises about me we'll find out together," I say as I start walking. "but until then, let's both get out of-" "Zane, behind you! Initiate evasive-" I turn around to find a man and get shocked. Everything goes dark. (Zane!)

Third Person P.O.V.

The fight is still one as Cole and Jay try to overpower the other with their powers. Jay adds more power as he pushes back against Cole's earth. Cole grunts but stands strong. "Stronger than you thought, eh? That's your betrayal glowing though my veins." Jay says. "I'm looking forward to the peace and quiet when you're out of the tournament." Cole snaps back. Both of them yell, but it is Cole the overpowers Jay as he sends him back. Jay landing with a grunt as rocks land around him and the crowd cheers loudly.

Cole pants as he stops and thinks for a moment, he looks up and finds the group and focuses on (Y/N). He watches as she looks away from him, a sad frown on her face. Cole comes to his senses. "What are we doing? I don't want you out. You're not my enemy, Chen is." He says, glaring at the man while he eats popcorn that Clouse had brought him. "Oh, sure, lower my guard by pretending to be my friend, then swoop in to steal the prize. Typical Cole manuver!" Jay argues, standing up and summing lightning as he makes his way to Cole. The Master of Earth instinctively summons his powers as they surrounds his fists, but only to defend himself. "I never meant to hurt you, Jay, and I'm sorry. I never even saw Nya in that way." Cole says, he makes his powers vanish, choosing to be completely at Jay's mercy.

He looks over and sees (Y/N) looking at him with anticipation. He closes his eyes as he looks back at Jay. "Because my heart was already beating for another." He confess. (😏) Jay stops upon hearing him say that. He looks down at his hands to see the lightning emitting from them and realizes what he is doing. He closes his eyes and sighs as they vanish. "Well, if we're being honest, I was upset about losing Nya, but I take blame for that. Heck, all of the blame. But I was more upset about losing you as a friend. I'm sorry." He confess as well. "I'm tired of fighting you. Can we just be friends again?" Jay asks. "Of course! We should've been honest with each other instead of bottling this up." Cole says. "Agreed." Jay says. Both were unaware of (Y/N) feeling their tension resolve and having a relieved smile on her face.

"But how are we supposed to stop the fighting? We can't both win." Jay asks. "Well, maybe we can draw it out till they call it a tie. Quick, attack me. But not hard." Cole proposes then requests. Jay nods then the two charge at each other and fight but without powers. The crowd boos from the lack of power. "Ah, what is this? Patty cake? I'm bored!" Chen says in a childish tone, tossing his popcorn bucket and it landing on a goon's head and the guy is surprised by it staying on his head. "Release the Condrai Crushers!" Chen announces, pressing a button. Jay and Cole bolt their fighting as they look to find the red gates open with a goons riding snake-themed vehicles roll out and circle them. They end up back to back. "I got your back!" "And I've got yours!" Cole and and Jay say to each other. One crusher drives towards them, "Ninja-Go!" They exclaim and do Spinjitzu moving to the side as the crusher passes them. And the crusher crashes into a wall with the goon flung out of the seat and face-planting into the wall.

"Ah, they fight together. Good work, son." Garmadon compliments Lloyd. "Yeah, I do listen to you every once in a while." Lloyd responds. (He-he. ☺️) He also smiles at seeing (Y/N)'s, knowing that she is feeling much better. He resumes watching the match, not seeing the glass-eyed goon slip something into (Y/N)'s belt. (Y/N) is unaware as her full attention is on the battle. (Hmmm~ I wonder what that could be. 🧐)

Three crushers continue to circle Cole and Jay, and one laughs at them. Cole runs off and jump flips then smashes his hands onto the ground which summons a ramp to earth, the goon driving off it and Cole grabbing the tail of the vehicle as he spins it around and smashes it into another one. He cheers as he lets go and places his hands on his hips. The remaining goon growls and drives towards him, saws ready to slice. Jay notices as is between him and Cole then he jumps and lands on the vehicle behind the goon. He summons lightning from his hands and zaps goon, making him whimper as he spasms from the electricity flowing through him. Cole braces for impact but the crusher spots as it powers down right before colliding with him. Jay stops electrocuting the man and he falls unconscious with his head hitting the wheel.

"YES!! Woo-Hoo!" (Y/N) cheers loudly along with the rest of the crowd. Jay hops off the vehicle and lands in front of Cole as the two joined hands, their friendship restored. (Yay! 🥳) "Enough!" Chen shouts and everyone goes quiet. "I know what you are trying to do. If neither of you will win, then both of you will lose!" He states, hopping onto his chair as he starts pressing buttons. This causes pieces of the floor to fall, forcing Cole and Jay to back up into the center of it at the pole. They yell as they close in and jump to avoid falling in. As soon as they land, they jump again as more pieces fall. Chen giggles manically as he continues pressing buttons.

Cole lands then looks up to see the Jade Blade, his expression hardens as he realizes what needs to be done. "We can't both lose. Chen's right, there can only be one." He states as he looks back at Jay. "And it should be you. You and I know I'm lucky to have even made it this far. You take the Jade Blade." Jay tells him. Cole makes his way to the pole, jumping over the gaps as he then climbs up the pole and acquires the Jade Blade. But upon looking into its reflection, he sees (Y/N). Her face holding worry but also acceptance. He closes his eyes for a moment then opens them as he tosses the blade to Jay. (Selfless.) "Winner! Loser. Master of Lightning moves on." Chen announces. Cole lets go of the pole and land on the ground. "She was always yours, Jay. Look out for each other. Win this thing." Cole tells Jay, lowering his mask. Jay also lowers his mask as he has a sad frown. Chen presses a button and Cole screams as he falls.

(Y/N) gasps softly but silences herself as she closes her eyes, holding a hand to her chest. Lloyd notices and lays a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. "Ah. About time. Phew!" Chen says as he sits down in his chair.

"Cole may be gone, but he did not lose. Let what he did here today be a lesson for us all. Know thine enemy, but more importantly now thy friend. He fought like a true ninja." Garmadon tells the Kai, Lloyd and (Y/N), smiling proudly at Cole's action.

(Y/N)'s P.O.V.

After that, we met in the courtyard. But before that, I had talked with Neuro alone and told him once again to be careful of Chen. And told him also to be our competition. He agrees then walks off. Once I meet up with the others, Jay had a guilty face. I frown as I feel his guilt but walk over and stand next to him. "I'm sorry." I look at him with surprise. "It should have been me, but he-" "Cole's stubborn. Once he makes a choice, he sticks by it." Kai says. Jay sighs and I reach out for him, hesitating a little but place my hand on his shoulder. "He... He understood that a sacrifice had to be made." Sacrifice... No! Focus. "There's still four of us left. And Cole can look for Zane while we compete." I realize. "Garmadon is right. He didn't lose." I state. (*DING* 💡)

Jay looks at me and smiles. I smile back then remove my hand, but then feel something. I reach back and feel something in my belt. I hold it up to find that it is a folded up piece of paper. "What's that?" I hear Lloyd ask. "I don't know." I respond. I unfold the paper and find that it is a note. "It has writing." I inform then read it, "'The heart is awfully powerful. Don't let it be what ends the life once more.'" It reads. "Is that supposed to be threat?" I hear Kai say, sounding defensive. I re-read the words, trying to decipher what it means. "Someone must have snuck it on you during the fight." I look at Lloyd after he said to that. "I was so focused on the fight that I didn't even notice." I say. "It's most likely from Chen. He's trying to scare you because of how freaky strong you are." Jay says. I look down in thought at his words. Not completely out of the question.

"It is more than that." We all look at Garmadon. "I have a suspicion that Chen is targeting you, (Y/N). You have peaked his interest more than anyone else in the tournament. Which means he may have ulterior motives for you." He says. I remain quiet and look at the note once more. What are you up to, Chen?

(Okay! That is all see you in the next chapter. Also, feeling something other than competition in the air~? Until next time, Bye!)