"Did you see the look on Akita's face? Pure shock."

"Hey! It's not like you guys were any more composed."

"To be honest, Vania surprised all of us."

"Surprised is an understatement. You scared me half to death. I thought they would hear you for sure."

"Oh, please. I spent several days with the ninja. I know their hearing is horrible."

"That's true."

"The chicken's squawks must still be ringing in their ears."

3 voices chimed in agreement, and the sound of laughter filled the air.

I smiled and stepped over a large branch, the soft moss on the forest floor muffling my footsteps. Vania's bold move had brought the four girls closer together, and had proven to me that the ninja certainly aren't a formidable enemy. In fact, they had gotten significantly worse since the last time I'd trained with them.

Once they were out of the picture, the truth, whatever it was, would soon be unveiled.

The girls would need a bit of training before we took another (official) trip to the monastery to finish off the boys. Their skills weren't as sharp as I had assumed they were, but it was nothing an intense battle simulation couldn't fix. I'd stolen quite the collection of weapons from the blacksmith shop and had been wanting to test them out for a while.

But I didn't need a sword to cause a conflict. The trick to starting any heated fight was to talk. About things that smashed people into a billion tiny pieces.

Words, the intangible weapon I had trained myself to wield, could inject poison into anyone's heart. The language didn't have to be colorful, but the choice of words had to add fuel to the fire that was in the person's soul.

Skin would be ripped, blood shed. Silent tears would be ignored, and hearts would be solidified. It was nothing I hadn't felt before as the water ninja. Half a decade of weariness had piled on top of me before I broke. Certainly these girls could handle a few tons of misery. 

I was lost in thought when a certain sentence got my attention.

"You guys are still the wimps you used to be. Girls with no parents and no power."

Judging by the sudden silence, everyone in front of me had abruptly halted.

I recognized the voice as Rumi's. Of course, she had to be the one to crush the bond that was beginning to form. After pretending to be someone else for so long, she'd gotten tired of watching her mouth. Heartless words rolled off her tongue as easily as bullets tumbled out of clumsy hands. I wouldn't have minded as much if I didn't know that she meant them.

Before I could even attempt to prevent the inevitable fight from approaching, I heard everyone pull out their weapons and attack, their cries ringing out in the night.

I cursed thoroughly under my breath and began to run, half of my brain hoping that none of the girls had the heart to murder one of their comrades while the other half prepared my eyes for the sight of several dead bodies. 

Relief came upon me like a bucket of cold water poured over my head.

No one was dead. Instead, the team was battling a someone I'd known very well at one point.

The person was a dark blur, ducking punches and throwing her own. She whipped out a few weapons from time to time, skillfully grazing elbows and jawlines. Her outfit flapped behind her in the wind, slapping and tripping anyone who got near it.

Even though the odds didn't seem to be in her favor, she was clearly winning. 

"STOP!" I shouted, shooting a single shot into the air to get the group's attention. 

Everyone stopped.

The newcomer straightened, taking her foot off of Akita's hand and releasing Rumi from a chokehold. Her free hand, which held two daggers pointed at Vania and Skylor, dropped to her side and tucked the weapons into a pocket on the wide strip of cloth around her waist.

Once my eyes landed on her belt, they couldn't help but observe the rest of her as well.

She wore an ivory strapless top that revealed her sharply defined collarbone and ninety-degree shoulders. A royal blue cloth dress with oversized, loose bell sleeves thrown off the shoulder wrapped around the rest of her body. Cerulean outlines of birds appeared in several places on the traditional robe-like clothing, matching the ones on her embroidery flats. A waterfall of luscious dark hair fell to her hips, and the dress continued the flow to the ground. 

"Nya," she said with a slight bow. "Long time no see."

"It's been a while," I agreed, returning the gesture. "I didn't expect for us to meet again."

"Neither did I," she admitted. She studied the faces around me, her eyebrows furrowing. "I see you've found some companions. There are better ones, you know."

I considered her words and found them to be true.

"Destiny has drawn me to them and them to me," I said carefully. "And we both know what happens when you try to work against destiny."

"Yes," she murmured. "But there are ways to rewrite it."

What did she mean by that?

"Who the hell are you?" Harumi demanded. 

"Why should I tell you, you short bi-"

"Team, this is Eliza," I cut in, knowing that whatever followed the word 'short' would only worsen the mood. "Elizabeth Ga-"

"Just Eliza will do," the dark-haired girl interrupted, still staring daggers at Rumi. "Preferably Lizzy. Three syllable names are too difficult to say in a rush. Those people are the ones who get left behind and die. And by the way, it's Cameron now."

She looked at me pointedly and I nodded, understanding.

Harumi and Akita stiffened at her words, which prompted Lizzy to crack a small smile. She tossed her hair behind her shoulder and smirked at the two girls, her eyes flashing with an emotion I recognized all too well.

I suddenly realized what was happening and mentally slapped myself for not comprehending the situation sooner.

Eliza was hated of Lloyd's ex-crushes. Maybe even jealous.

Two years ago, Eliza told me that she hated Lloyd Garmadon with all her heart. She claimed that he was a "despicable green bean" and that he "deserved to die a gruesome death." I recalled that she once said she'd make out with a mirror before treating him with respect again.

Of course, I hadn't really believed that. Every insult and sarcastic comment she spat only confirmed my suspicions. She still had feelings for the leader of the ninja team. 

After all, she had married him at 22. And she wasn't one to make hasty decisions.

"Rumi and Kiki won't be killed," Skylor said confidently. "These girls have been around Lloyd. Surely they've picked up some survival skills from him."

Lizzy narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. I shot a glare at Skylor, who gazed at me innocently. 

"What?" she mouthed.

"Shut up," I mouthed back. 

Eliza was an asset. She was one of the best fighters I'd ever met, much more skilled than myself and the other Waterlilies. And though she seemed to be a cold-hearted menace, I knew that she was a sweet girl on the inside. A rather amiable girl with emotions that had never been expressed through words or actions, but energy. Fiery energy that allowed her to act like a cruel malefactress.

We couldn't lose her. Not to something as stupid as jealousy. 

And despite the fact that Eliza could easily murder a dozen people in a quarter of the time it took Harumi and Akita working together, we couldn't lose them either. However much Lizzy hated them, they were still Waterlilies and very much a part of my life. I had a responsibility to look after them as their leader. As their friend.

"We were hoping to get the boys tonight," I said quickly, stepping in between Lizzy and the girls. "But we didn't. We're going again RINIEEIQ, if you want to come."

"WKWCWB ON?"

"TWA."

"Well, I'll see you then. Get them trained today, alright? They fight like ninja."

And with that, Elizabeth Garmadon ran off into the night. 

*A/N If you liked this chapter, please follow @Eliza_Cameron (see the comments for a link to her profile) and check out her works!*