(Cole's POV)

I couldn't believe it.....my father was actually coming back home! The others were equally as surprised, they asked why he was coming back but I just told them that he didn't really say

"Wow that's great Cole!" Nya said to me as I finished telling them about my father's return 

"Yeah, maybe he's actually gonna spend some time with me!" I responded optimistically

"Wait Cole, does your father know about you being the Earth Ninja?" Lloyd asked me 

"Of course not!" I told Lloyd "I doubt he even knows of the Ninja! He's way too busy with his stupid blacksmith business!"

"Wait you never told us your father was a blacksmith!" Kai cut in 

"Well he's not an actual blacksmith" I told Kai "He's a Royal Blacksmith" 

"A R-R-Royal B-Blacksmith?" Jay asked confused 

"The Royal Blacksmiths are a barbershop quartet, made up of my father and a few of his friends" I explained to everyone 

"So that's why your father is never around! He's off doing performances with the Royal Blacksmiths!" Harumi pointed out 

"Yep, that's right" I nodded 

"So are you gonna tell him?" Skylor asked me "Y'know, about you being a Ninja?"

"Of course not!" I replied to Skylor "It's called a secret identity for a reason!"

"I wish you luck with your father Cole" Sensei told me as he headed into the Warehouse 

"Thanks Sensei" I smiled at the old man, I then quickly checked the time on my phone. Looks like he should be home in 30 minutes 

"Alright well I better get home to clean the place up, see you guys later!" I waved goodbye to the others as I quickly put on my Ninja mask and began hopping rooftop to rooftop 

Landing onto the rooftop of my house I looked around to make sure nobody was looking before quickly swinging myself into my open bedroom window. I then quickly changed out of my Ninja gi and into my regular sleeveless shirt and black jeans, placing my Ninja gi into a small box I slid it carefully under my bed. Looking around my room I made sure there wasn't a single trace of me being the Earth Ninja, and any evidence I did find was quickly tossed under my bed

Heading downstairs I saw what an absolute mess the place was, geez when was I such a slob? I guess since my father is never around there's nobody to really make me clean up after myself. Ugh there is no way I'll be able to clean this place up in time! Unless I put my Ninja training to some good use, I'm sure Sensei won't mind. What is it that he always says? Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today? 

Smirking I quickly spun around into my black Spinjitzu tornado and spun all around the bottom floor of the house, putting everything exactly where it should be along with spinning away all the dirt and dust, once I stopped spinning around I admired my work. It was absolutely spotless!  

Just as I stopped admiring my work I could hear the sound of the door being unlocked, I quickly flung myself onto the couch remote in hand and flicked on some random channel as my dad opened up the door and strolled in

"Ah Cole! It's great to see you!" My dad greeted me as he put his suitcase down 

"Yeah, great to see you too dad!" I happily replied as I got off the couch to embrace him in a quick hug 

"So have you been taking care of yourself while I've been gone?" My dad asked me 

"Yep" I replied to him as he checked the place out 

"Well you seem to have taken care of the place too" He said as he admired the clean house "I really thought you would have trashed the place"

"Nah, I made sure to keep the place nice and tidy for your return" I chuckled awkwardly

"So I'm guessing you're wondering why I have returned" My father turned to me 

"Is something wrong?" I asked my dad who sported a frown on his moustached face 

"Well you see Cole" He began to tell me as he seated himself on the couch "During our last performance me and the other Royal Blacksmiths took a little bit of a tumble"

"Are they ok?!" I asked concerned "Are you ok?!"

"Oh I'm perfectly fine Cole, just a slight twist of the ankle" He told me gesturing towards the cane he was using to walk, huh I thought he was just using it for style "The other Royal Blacksmiths are also fine"

"So is the reason why you're back is that you can't perform anymore?" I asked with a hint of happiness 

"Unfortunately yes" My dad replied with a frown

"Does that mean you're gonna be spending more time at home?!" I asked excited, my father looked at me and nodded 

"But I do have some good news to tell" He started to say, what news could be better than this?! "Since I am unable to perform I believe it is finally time for you to make your Royal Blacksmith debut!"

"W-What?!" I gasped in shock, is he saying that he wants me to replace him?!?!?

"Yes! I can see it now!" He shouted as he stood up from his seat on the couch "Cole Brookstone and the Royal Blacksmiths are the winners of the Blade Cup!"

"Dad you can't be serious?!" I said to him "You want me to compete for the Blade Cup?!"

"Yes!" My dad replied to me excited "Just imagine my son, bringing forth the next evolution of the Royal Blacksmiths!"

"I'm not going to do that dad!" I yelled back at him "I don't wanna become a Royal Blacksmith!"

My father slammed his cane onto the wooden floor in response 

"You will do it! I am your father and you will listen to me!" He shouted back at me, I was going to continue the shouting match but decided to keep my mouth shut

"Now there is no way you are going to be able to win the Blade Cup by yourself" My father told me "I believe you said something about being with friends the last time we called?"

"Yes dad I have friends but I don't want to bring them into this" I said to him 

"Oh it'll be a fun bonding experience for you kids" He said to me "Now go ahead and give them a call"

Letting out a sigh of defeat I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, I sent a quick text to the Ninja group chat saying to meet me at my house. I told them not to tell Seliel to come, she is the last person I want getting involved in all of this Royal Blacksmith trouble 

"Nice to meet you Mr.Brookstone" Lloyd said to my father as they shook hands 

"Please, call me Lou" He replied to Lloyd with a smile 

Lloyd was the last one to arrive. Jay, Nya, Skylor, Harumi, Kai and Zane were all seated on the couch with Lloyd and I joining them, waiting for the news of why they were all called here

"So did Cole tell you all as to why you are here?" Lou asked my friends who all shook their heads "I thought not, Cole is rather embarrassed about this"

"S-So that's w-w-why you didn't want Seliel t-to come" Jay grinned at me making me red turn red 

"Who is Seliel?" My dad asked me confused 

"Nobody!" I quickly responded which earned a chuckle from everyone in the room "Just tell them why they are here!"

"Well alright then" My father started "Do you all know of the Ninjago Talent Show?"

"Of course we do!" Nya replied "They hold it every year!"

"Good, because that is exactly why you are all here today!" He proudly said to us all 

I looked at the others and they all looked a bit confused

"You might want to elaborate dad" I told him

"How would you all like to participate in it?" He asked us, and unfortunately the others seemed to like the idea 

"Sure! It sounds fun!" Nya said getting pumped up along with Harumi and Skylor 

"Great! Let's get you all ready to perform!" My father joyfully said, this is going to be a long long day 

(Pythor's POV)

"What do you mean the Fang Blade isn't there?!" I shouted at Chokun who was currently behind a wall of rubble in the Serpentine Temple where our second Fang Blade was supposed to be

"SSSSomeone mussst have taken it before ussss!" Skales said to me 

"Those pesky Ninja!" I slammed my Serpentine staff onto the ground in anger, making some of the floor drop beneath us 

"It wasn't the Ninja who took it" I heard Garmadon say behind us

"Then who took it?!" I turned around and asked him, did he have it?!

"Some explorer found this place years ago and nabbed the Fang Blade for himself" Garmadon explained to me as he got off his thrown my Serpentine were carrying around 

"And you didn't sssssay anything until now?!" Skalidor yelled at Garmadon frustrated 

"Well I've got to film something for my daily Warlord Vlogs!" Garmadon said back as he pointed his vlogging camera right at Skalidor 

"SSSSSo where issss thissss explorer now?" Acidicus asked Garmadon who took a moment to respond, probably thinking of how he could mess everything up again!

"Well I don't really know that" He said whist scratching his head "But I do believe I know what he did with the Fang Blade"

"And what did he do with it?" One of Fangtom's heads asked Garmadon 

"This should answer your question" Garmadon told Fangtom as he pulled out a poster and showed it to us 

I scanned the poster and my eyes were grabbed by a photo of a trophy, with a certain sharp object sticking out of it 

"That's the Fang Blade we're after!" I pointed at the trophy 

"This is a poster for the Ninjago Talent Show they hold every year" Garmadon started to tell us "The winner takes home the Blade Cup!"

"Who caresssss about winning a sssstupid talent show! We'll jusssst sssssteal it!" Skales suggested 

"Now hang on there Skales" I told him "If we were to just rush in there and try to steal it those pesky Ninja would surely stop us"

"Well then it looks like you Serpentine are just going to have to perform!" Garmadon laughed 

"There isssss no way we will win!" Skales groaned

"Oh it'll be fine Skales" I assured him "Perhaps one of the judges of this talent show won't make it, leaving a slot open for another judge" I grinned thinking of a plan 

"Perfect! I've always wanted to win this talent show!" Garmadon cheered "But of course they never let me enter, so I will put my leadership to work and teach you Serpentine how to win this thing!"

We all groaned at Garmadon's behaviour, if everything goes as planned we won't have to deal with this bumbling idiot for much longer. I'm sure my Serpentine can sit through at least one dancing lesson from him 

(Cole's POV)

"Stop! Stop! You're doing it all wrong!" My father barked at us as he watched us practice our performance 

"This is way harder than Ninja training" Lloyd whispered to me 

"Kai! Love the energy but I hate the hair!" My father told Kai as he hit him on the head with his cane making Kai groan 

"Not even Sensei is this rough" Kai mumbled as Lou moved on to the next person in line 

"Zane! You're like a machine! Don't change anything" He congratulated Zane 

"Why thank you" Zane bowed respectfully with a smile 

"Jay! You're a natural! Absolutely perfect!" Lou said to Jay 

We all looked at the blushing Jay confused, of all people to be a natural at dancing it's Jay! Has he been taking dancing lessons?! 

"W-What?! I-I play D-Dancy Pants a lot!" Jay stuttered slightly red whilst a few of us chuckled 

"Nya, Skylor and Harumi you three are excellent!" My father told the three girls who all congratulated each other 

"Lloyd! You're doing well but I need perfection!" Lou spoke to Lloyd before moving on to me 

"And Cole, at least act like you want to be here!" He said to me as he walked away towards his piano "Ok now let's practice the big show stopping climax that will win us the Blade Cup!" 

Oh no he better not be talking about that move! 

"Cole! We can't have history repeating itself!" My father sternly pointed towards me, making everyone turn their heads towards me

"Dad! It was the Triple Tiger Sashay! I was seven" I groaned at my father 

"What's the Triple Tiger Sashay?" Harumi asked me and my father  

"Only the most difficult dance move ever created" I explained to Harumi 

"It's true, many professionals have tried but it has never been successfully completed" My father further explained to the others 

"And my father thought that a seven year old could do it!" I shouted out as I looked at my father "I ended up falling on my face and humiliating myself!"

"If you're going to win you have to go big! Alright time for a break" My father told us before he quickly made his way to the kitchen

"Hey Cole what do we even win if we manage to land first place?" Lloyd asked me  

"Hang on I think my father has a photo of him with the prize somewhere around here" I replied to Lloyd as I started looking around for said photo

Scanning the walls of the living room my eyes finally landed on the photo I was looking for, quickly walking over to the wall I took the photo off the wall and showed it to the others 

"This is the prize of the Talent Show, the Blade Cup" I pointed towards the trophy my father was holding onto 

"Wait a minute" Skylor chimed in "Is that a Fang Blade in the trophy?"

Taking a closer look at the trophy Skylor was right! There is a Fang Blade in the trophy! I guess the name Blade Cup should have been a bit of a give away....

"It appears that Skylor is right" Zane said to us whilst he scanned the photo "A Fang Blade is indeed a part of this Blade Cup"

"How did a Fang Blade become part of a trophy?" Kai asked puzzled

"Well my father told me that the Blade Cup was made by this guy who collected priceless artefacts" I started to explain to Kai and the others "His name was something like.....Dutch? No Clutch! Clutch Powers!"  

"I have heard of this Clutch Powers" Zane started to say "He is supposedly one of the greatest explorers to ever explore"

"This is how we'll get our first Fang Blade!" Nya told us "We'll win this Talent Show and stop the Serpentine from getting another Fang Blade!"

"You can't be serious!" I said to Nya "There is no way we are actually entering this Talent Show!" 

"Oh come on Cole! The fate of Ninjago literally rests in our hands here!" Harumi told me with a pleading look

"I will not be performing at this stupid Talent Show!" I argued back at Harumi 

"Well you're gonna have to suck it up Cole" Kai told me with his arms crossed "We are not missing out on another Fang Blade just because you won't dance on a stage!"

I was going to continue arguing with Kai but my father suddenly entered the room so we had to stop our little conversation, as soon as my dad came back into the room he immediately jumped into the next part of the performance 

Ugh this Fang Blade better be worth it! 

And with that this chapter of Ninja Life has come to an end. Will the Ninja win the Talent show? Will the Serpentine get in their way? And will Lord Garmadon's Warlord Vlogs ever be released to the public?! Find out the answer to at least one of the questions in the next chapter of Ninja Life! Make sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments and feel free to share this with other Ninjago fans!