Mia snorted, a genuine laugh escaping her lips for the first time in days. "Brother," she said, her voice laced with mock disappointment, "I will always beat you. It's a fact of life."

Jay looked at her. " I'm the older one."

Mia sputtered. " It's MY game!"

Mia and Jay were playing a game called Minecraft.

They were trying to see who could make the tallest building in a minute.

Mia just laid her 300,987 block, while Jay laid his 300,986th block.

Zane, who was observing, noted, " You both are just one block of a difference."

" One block is a lot of blocks!" the siblings yelled.

Just then, Master Wu came in and took out the power cord to the TV.

" You all have become lazy." He said blandly.

Immediately, Jay made a cut motion with his arm as he looked at Mia's eyes.

They were turning red.

And not the good red, mind you.

The really bad red.

" Lazy, you say?" She asked in a dangerously low voice. " Why do you think that?"

" Because all you do is sit down and-"

He was cut off when Mia delivered a sharp slap onto his face. She got a dagger from her pack and held it close to his neck.

" Say one more word about laziness and this will meet your neck. " She hissed.

Master Wu appeared to be tired, but he threw her off. Te dagger went flying into the air. 

Just before it was going to hit the wall, Mia used her wind, got a bunch more daggers, and aimed them for Master Wu.

Soon, he was pinned.

Mia lit her eyes with lightning. " Let's finish this."

 Jay sighed. Mia never liked Wu.

And because of this, she hated him more.

Master Wu, pinned and slightly winded, managed a smirk. "Is this all you have, Mia? I thought you were stronger than this. You're not even trying your hardest."

Mia's eyes blazed with fury at his taunt. Without a second thought, she conjured a massive ball of water above Master Wu and released it, creating a powerful waterfall that drenched him completely. As the water cascaded down, she struck him hard on the back, causing him to gasp and inhale some of the water.

Master Wu sputtered, trying to catch his breath, but Mia wasn't done. With a sinister grin, she ignited her hands with lightning and set his beard on fire. The flames flickered and danced, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Jay watched in shock, knowing that Mia's anger was pushing her to dangerous limits. "Mia, stop! This isn't the way!"

But Mia ignored him, focusing all her rage on Master Wu. She sent a surge of electricity through her fingertips, electrocuting his bones. Master Wu's body convulsed as the electric currents coursed through him.

"Mia, please!" Jay shouted, desperation in his voice. "You're going too far!"

Mia's eyes flicked to Jay for a brief moment, the red in them dimming slightly. She hesitated, the realization of her actions starting to sink in. But the anger was still there, simmering just below the surface.

Master Wu, despite his condition, managed to speak. "Mia... you are strong... but your strength is not in your anger. It is in your heart."

Those words struck a chord in Mia. Her hands stopped crackling with electricity, and the fire in her eyes began to fade. She released her grip on Master Wu, letting him slump to the ground, exhausted but alive.

Jay rushed to Mia's side, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Mia, it's okay. Let's just breathe."

Mia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. The room was silent except for the sound of their breathing and the faint crackling of the remnants of fire.

Master Wu looked up at Mia, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and pride. "You have a great power, Mia. But you must learn to control it, not let it control you."

Mia nodded slowly, her anger finally dissipating. She knew Master Wu was right, even if it was hard to admit. She had to find a way to harness her strength without letting her emotions get the better of her.

Jay squeezed her shoulder gently. "We'll get through this, Mia. Together."

Mia looked at her brother and gave a small, grateful smile. "Together."

Then, she turned to Wu. " You, on the other hand, are in big trouble."

Wu rolled his eyes. " Was it you or me who-"

Mia pushed Wu to the wall and restrained him. "You are in big trouble," she repeated, her voice firm.

Wu sighed, a mix of frustration and resignation in his eyes. "Mia, you must understand—"

"Understand what?" Mia cut him off, her grip tightening. "That you think it's okay to belittle us? To push us past our limits without any regard for how we feel?"

Wu winced but maintained eye contact. "I do what I must to prepare you all. The world isn't kind, Mia. You need to be ready for anything."

Jay stepped forward, placing a hand on Mia's arm. "Mia, let him go. We can talk this out."

Mia hesitated, her anger still simmering, but she knew Jay was right. She released Wu, who straightened up and adjusted his robes.

"Fine," Mia said, crossing her arms. "But this isn't over. You can't keep treating us like this."

Wu nodded slowly. "I understand your anger, Mia. Perhaps I have been too harsh. I will try to do better."

Mia's eyes softened slightly at his admission. "Good. Because we won't stand for it anymore."

Jay gave Mia an encouraging nod, then turned to Wu. "We all want to be better, but we need to feel like we're more than just your soldiers."

Wu looked at both of them, a flicker of regret in his eyes. "I will reflect on what you have said. Perhaps it is time for me to change my approach."

With the tension slowly dissipating, Jay took a deep breath. "Let's all take a break. We need some time to cool down."

Mia agreed, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "Yeah, a break sounds good."

As they left the room, Wu watched them go, deep in thought. He knew he had to find a balance between being a strict mentor and a compassionate guide. For the sake of his students, and for the future battles they would face, he needed to change.

Jay and Mia walked outside, the fresh air helping to clear their minds. "You okay?" Jay asked, glancing at his sister.

Mia nodded. "Yeah, I just... I don't know. I hate feeling like we're not appreciated."

Jay put an arm around her shoulders. "We'll figure it out, Mia. Together."

Mia smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Together."

As Jay and Mia stood outside, the rest of the team emerged from the building, having overheard the confrontation.

Kai spoke up first. "Maybe Master Wu being strict is a good idea? We need discipline to stay sharp."

Mia turned to them, cracking her neck menacingly. Jay rapidly shook his head at the others, mouthing, "No. No. No. No."

Kai noticed Jay's warning and quickly reconsidered. "Actually, maybe Mia's right. We do need to feel respected and valued too."

The others exchanged glances and began to nod in agreement. Lloyd stepped forward. "Yeah, we can't keep pushing ourselves without considering our well-being. Mia has a point."

Nya added, "We're a team, and teams support each other. We need a balance between discipline and understanding."

Zane, always the voice of reason, said, "It is essential that we maintain both our physical and emotional health. Mia's perspective is valid."

Mia felt a sense of vindication as she looked at her teammates. "Good. I'm glad we're on the same page. I will have no more of this constant pushing without consideration."

Jay sighed in relief, grateful that the team was finally united on this issue. "Let's talk to Master Wu together. He needs to hear this from all of us."

They headed back inside as a group, determined to have a serious discussion with Master Wu about their training methods and the need for a more balanced approach.

When they entered, Master Wu was still in the room, deep in thought. He looked up as the group approached. "Have you all come to a decision?" he asked, his tone cautious.

Lloyd stepped forward. "Yes, we have. We understand the need for discipline, but we also need to feel respected and valued. We can't keep pushing ourselves to the brink without support and understanding."

Nya added, "We need a balance, Master Wu. We want to be the best, but we can't do that if we're constantly being pushed beyond our limits without any regard for our well-being."

Master Wu listened carefully, his expression thoughtful. "I see. Perhaps I have been too focused on the need for discipline and strength. I will take your words to heart and strive to find a better balance."

Mia felt a sense of relief wash over her. "Thank you, Master Wu. We all want to be better, but we need to feel like we're more than just your soldiers."

Wu nodded, his demeanor softening. "You are more than just soldiers. You are my students, my family. I will work to show you that I value each of you."

The next day,  Jay, and his teammates were engaged in an exercise, attempting to tackle down Master Wu. Mia, standing on the sidelines, observed quietly, her eyes flickering with focused attention.

"Slowpokes," Master Wu taunted, effortlessly dodging their attempts to bring him down.

"Snails," he remarked, sidestepping another lunge.

"Embarrassing," he added, gracefully evading their efforts once more.

Mia, who had been silently watching, felt a surge of indignation rise within her. No one, absolutely no one, dared to call Jay and his teammates slow. Not on her watch. With determination, she snatched a simple metal rod from the side and stepped into the fray.

"I know this is only for ninjas, but you calling Jay slow is crossing the limit," Mia declared firmly.

Master Wu raised an eyebrow, amused by Mia's sudden intervention. "Oh, so you think you can beat them?"

"I know I can," Mia replied confidently, her gaze unwavering.

Wu nodded, a hint of intrigue in his expression. "Then it is on."

As the confrontation intensified, Mia initially found herself at a loss for how to defend against Master Wu's agile movements. However, she quickly recognized a pattern in his attacks. With a focused mind, Mia memorized the pattern and began to counter Wu's strikes with precision, each movement calculated to wear down her opponent.

"Um, Mia, I think that's enough," Cole interjected, his voice strained with concern.

Mia paused, momentarily turning her attention towards her teammates. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

But in that moment of distraction, Master Wu seized his opportunity. With a swift kick, he sent Mia crashing into the wall, causing a resounding crack to echo through the training room.

"You traitor! I thought your purpose was to help, not to almost kill me half to death!" Mia sputtered, her eyes blazing with fury.

Master Wu shrugged dismissively. "Yeah? Well, that goes to show never to trust anyone."

Infuriated by Wu's betrayal, Mia rose to her feet, her resolve unshaken. "Well now, prepare yourself."

Before Mia could act, Jay knelt down beside her, his voice calm yet urgent. "Mia, listen to me. Ignore any other sounds, just hear me."

Mia's gaze softened slightly as she focused on Jay's words. "How am I to ignore anything if he," she pointed to Wu, "just hit me in the shin when I turned to face you guys. Did he not hear the part when I agreed? Well, I wish he had. Because what he is gonna feel, I hope he remembers."

"No!" Lloyd's voice rang out, filled with alarm, but it was too late. Mia had already whistled three times, summoning an angry swarm of wasps to her aid.

"You lot, surround him. Rest of you, make sure he feels the burn," Mia directed her bees with authority, her eyes ablaze with determination.

"This is getting very out of hand," Kai remarked, watching the chaotic scene unfold.

"Then stop her! Zane, freeze the bees! Everyone else, restrain Mia!" Lloyd commanded, desperately trying to regain control of the situation.

As Zane swiftly froze the enraged swarm of wasps, Jay and the rest of the team rushed to Mia's side, concern etched on their faces.

"What now, Mia?" Kai asked, his voice tinged with apprehension.

Mia turned to Jay, her expression still fierce but softened slightly by his presence. "Mr. Wu must pay his price," she declared firmly, her eyes locking with Jay's.

Jay's heart sank at her words. "Please, Mia, don't do anything rash. He's still our master," he pleaded, his voice filled with urgency as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

Mia's resolve remained unyielding. "I know, Jay, but he crossed a line. He needs to learn that actions have consequences," she responded, her tone unwavering.

Zane's suggestion hung in the air, the tension palpable among the ninja team. "Should we freeze her?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"No!" Jay yelled immediately, his eyes widening in alarm.

Cole's expression darkened with concern. "We don't have any other choice," he stated firmly, his voice strained with the weight of their predicament.

Reluctantly, Zane nodded, his hand poised to unleash his icy powers. With a solemn resolve, he directed his energy towards Mia, encasing her in a thick layer of ice.

Fortunately for Mia, she had both the elemental power of fire and lightning. She melted the ice, and struck Zane with the lightning. 

Mia's eyes blazed with fury as she freed herself from the ice, her hands crackling with lightning. "You're all traitors!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the training room. She turned her fiery gaze to Master Wu. "And you! What happened to us not being your soldiers?"

Wu's expression remained calm, but there was a glint of sadness in his eyes. "Mia, this is not—"

Mia cut him off, a sinister grin spreading across her face. "We're your soldiers because you're too lazy! You're scared! You want us to be the brave ones, to shield you!"

Jay stepped forward, his heart heavy with worry. "Mia, please, this isn't the way."

Mia's gaze flicked to her brother, the anger in her eyes softening for a moment before hardening again. "No, Jay. They need to understand."

With a swift motion, Mia directed a bolt of lightning at Master Wu, but he deftly dodged it, his movements as fluid as ever. "Mia, control yourself," Wu urged, his tone stern yet concerned.

But Mia wasn't listening. She felt betrayed, and her emotions were running wild. She summoned more lightning, ready to strike again, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Jay, his eyes pleading with her.

"Mia, look at me. This isn't you," Jay said, his voice gentle but firm. "We need to work together, not against each other."

Mia's resolve wavered, the anger in her eyes flickering. "But he—"

"I know," Jay interrupted, his voice soothing. "But we need to find a better way to deal with this. Hurting each other won't solve anything."

Mia took a deep breath, the lightning in her hands fading. She glanced around at her teammates, their expressions a mix of concern and fear. She realized that in her anger, she had become a threat to the very people she cared about.

"I'm sorry," Mia whispered, her voice trembling. "I just... I couldn't stand him calling you all slow."

Master Wu stepped forward, his demeanor softening. "Mia, I pushed you all too hard. I see that now. I will work to change my ways, but you must also learn to control your anger."

" My anger?!" Mia turned to him. " What happened to you and, ' speaking your mind, because it is the only way to reach your full potential'?!" Mia shook her hand out of Jay's hand, and walked dangerously to Wu. " Maybe you don't like my love of humiliating you, but the others love it! In fact, my mother was a hothead herself, if you can remember."

Wu sighed. " I do, and there is a striking resemblance. But, she had to learn to control her anger, because-"

" BECAUSE SHE HAD MY BROTHER!" Mia yelled. " SHE WAS MY MOTHER!" At this point, there were tears in her eyes, but she kept on yelling. " THE ONLY REASON SHE HAD TO TONE IT DOWN WAS BECAUSE OF MY BROTHER! SHE WOULD HAVE ALSO TAUGHT ME, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT STUPID TRUCK, SHE CAN'T!" 

Mia stormed off to her room, her emotions boiling over. The sound of her door slamming reverberated through the training room, leaving the others in a stunned silence.

Master Wu watched her go, a mixture of concern and regret etched on his face. Jay turned to him, his expression pained. "You had to know she was struggling, Master Wu. She lost our mom, and she never got the chance to learn how to manage her anger."

Wu nodded, understanding the gravity of Mia's situation. "I see now. I was too focused on pushing them to their limits without considering their individual struggles."

As the team tried to process the heated exchange, they heard the sound of Mia's door being thrown open. She stormed out of her room, her face flushed with anger and tears.

"AND YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE?!" Mia yelled, her voice echoing down the hallway. "JAY IS SO LUCKY! OUR DAD TAUGHT HIM HOW TO BE A GOOD LIGHTNING NINJA! HE GOT THE TRAINING THAT I NEVER DID! AND NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME I HAVE TO CONTROL MY ANGER, BUT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS WITHOUT THE PROPER GUIDANCE!"

Jay rushed to her side, trying to calm her down. "Mia, please, let's talk about this calmly."

But Mia was too far gone, her anger overshadowing her reason. "CALMLY?! HOW CAN I BE CALM WHEN YOU ALL SEEM TO THINK I'M JUST AN ANGRY CHILD WHO CAN'T CONTROL HERSELF? I NEED TO BE UNDERSTOOD, NOT PUNISHED!"

Lloyd stepped forward, his voice firm but gentle. "Mia, we understand that you're hurting. We want to help you, but we need to find a way to do that together."

Mia's breathing was heavy as she tried to control her emotions. Her gaze softened slightly as she looked at her friends, but the pain in her eyes was undeniable. "I just want to be understood. I want to be more than just a problem to be fixed."

Jay took her hand gently. "You're not a problem, Mia. We're all here for you. We just need to work through this together."

Mia's shoulders sagged, the fight slowly leaving her. "I just... I miss Mom. And dad. I wish they was here to help me through this."

Master Wu stepped forward, his voice more compassionate now. "Mia, I understand that your mother's-"

Mia's voice trembled as she spoke, "And Father. Even if Mom had died and Father was alive, he would have also helped me."

She sighed heavily, her shoulders drooping. "But they're gone."

With that, she turned and walked back to her room, her footsteps echoing with each step. Jay watched her go, feeling the weight of their shared loss more keenly than ever.

The room fell silent, and Jay began to reflect on their past. He spoke quietly, more to himself than to anyone else. "I forgot how close we were. Every day, we would go out together. They would teach us from our house, teaching us not just how to be better ninjas, but how to be better people."

His voice was tinged with sadness as he continued. "They were our rock, our guiding light. Without them, it feels like a part of us is missing."

As Jay spoke, a loud, anguished yell echoed from Mia's room. "Stupid truck! I hate trucks! I don't want to see another truck in my life!"

Jay winced at the outburst but understood the deep pain behind it. He turned to his teammates, who were gathered around, concerned expressions on their faces.

"We need to give her space," Jay said softly. "She's hurting, and it's going to take time for her to heal."

Lloyd nodded, his voice gentle. "We should let her know we're here for her. She just needs to know she's not alone in this."

Nya agreed. "Maybe we can find a way to honor their memory, to keep their teachings alive for Mia. It might help her feel more connected to them."

Zane added thoughtfully, "We can also help her with anger management techniques, but in a way that respects her feelings and her past."

Jay smiled gratefully at his friends. "Thank you. We'll get through this together. For Mia's sake."

Mia opened her door, her eyes red from crying but her expression firm. "I don't need help. I don't want help. I just want peace. Lovely peace I haven't had since..." Her voice trailed off as she struggled to find the right words.

She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Nelson's number. "Hey, Nelson, is the house done yet?"

There was a loud crash on the other end of the line. Mia's eyes widened as she glanced out of her window and saw a nearby building collapsing. "Ooooh, that can't be good," she muttered, her tone a mix of disbelief and resignation.

Nelson's voice came through, slightly frazzled. "Yeah, so... the people just went through a building. It wasn't supposed to happen like that."

Mia sighed deeply, shaking her head. "This is why I can't have nice things."

Nelson's voice took on a defensive edge. "Hey! I'm nice!"

Mia couldn't help but chuckle at Nelson's response, despite her frustration. "Yeah, I know. Just a bit too enthusiastic sometimes."

Nelson laughed awkwardly on the other end. "Well, at least it's an adventure, right?"

Mia smiled faintly, feeling a bit of the tension lift. "I suppose so. Thanks, Nelson. Just... try not to bring down any more buildings, okay?"

"Got it," Nelson replied, still sounding a bit out of breath. "I'll keep things a bit more under control from now on."

Mia ended the call and leaned against her doorframe, taking a deep breath. She knew things weren't perfect, but having people like Nelson in her life made the chaos a bit more bearable. She decided to head back into her room, hoping to find some semblance of peace and maybe, just maybe, a bit of solace in the midst of the madness.

Meanwhile, outside, Master Wu's stern voice cut through the air as he addressed his students. "Back to training. I will have no laziness in my monastery."

Nya looked exhausted, her face flushed from the intensity of the workout. "But we've been training for two hours already!"

Wu's gaze was unyielding. "Train more. Excellence requires persistence."

As Wu's command echoed, a door down the hall burst open with a loud crash. Mia stormed out, her face flushed with anger and frustration. Her eyes were red and her fists clenched.

Jay, witnessing the scene, glanced at the others with a worried expression. "We're in trouble. Rather, Master Wu is."

The rest of the team, who had been catching their breath from the intense training, exchanged nervous glances. They knew that when Mia was this upset, things could quickly spiral out of control.

Master Wu, noticing Mia's furious exit, raised an eyebrow. "What's this commotion?"

Before anyone could answer, Mia marched directly up to Wu, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and exhaustion. "You're pushing us too hard! And for what? To satisfy your own need for control?"

Wu remained calm, though a flicker of concern crossed his face. "Mia, I understand you're frustrated, but discipline is essential."

Mia's voice grew louder, her frustration reaching a boiling point. "Discipline? You call this discipline? You're not listening to us! You're just making us work ourselves into the ground!"

Jay stepped in, trying to defuse the situation. "Mia, please. Let's talk this through calmly."

But Mia wasn't having it. "No, Jay! I've had enough of this! I just want some peace. I don't need to be treated like a soldier in a war zone!"

Wu sighed deeply, realizing the situation was escalating beyond his control. He had always pushed his students hard, but he hadn't fully grasped the extent of their individual struggles and needs.

"Alright, Mia," Wu said with a hint of remorse. "Perhaps I've been too harsh. Let's take a break. We'll discuss this further after you've had some time to calm down."

Mia nodded sharply, her anger slowly subsiding as she turned and headed back to her room. The team watched her go, feeling a mix of relief and concern.

Nya shook her head, her voice weary. "I knew we were in for it when she came out like that."

Wu looked troubled, realizing the weight of his actions. "I need to reconsider my approach. I've clearly pushed too hard."

Jay placed a hand on Wu's shoulder. "It's not too late to make things right. We all want to learn and grow, but we need to do it together, respecting each other's limits."

Wu nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Agreed. We'll find a balance. For now, let's give everyone a chance to cool down and regroup."

As the team slowly resumed their training, albeit at a more reasonable pace, they knew that the path to understanding and growth was a two-way street. 

Over the next few days, Master Wu watched as the team began to settle back into a more manageable training routine. He could sense the lingering tension in the air and realized that he needed to address the underlying issues to move forward constructively.

Gathering everyone in a quiet corner of the training hall, Wu took a deep breath and spoke with a tone of sincerity. "I've come to realize that my understanding of what it means to be 'nice' might be lacking. I've pushed you all hard, perhaps too hard, and in the process, I've lost sight of the true meaning of being supportive and compassionate."

The team looked at each other, a mix of surprise and curiosity on their faces. Nya stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Master Wu, being 'nice' isn't just about not pushing us too hard. It's about understanding and respecting each other's limits, offering support, and acknowledging when someone is struggling."

Wu nodded, taking in her words. "I understand that now. But I want to ensure I'm not just hearing this but truly grasping what it means."

Jay, who had been reflecting on their recent experiences, added, "Being nice means recognizing that everyone has their own struggles and needs. It's about empathy and finding a balance between pushing someone to improve and respecting their well-being."

Cole, still a bit hesitant but wanting to contribute, said, "It's also about being there for each other, not just as students, but as friends. Supporting each other through tough times and celebrating successes together."

Zane nodded in agreement. "And it's important to listen and adapt. What works for one person might not work for another. Being nice means being flexible and understanding."

Master Wu listened intently, absorbing their insights. "Thank you all for your guidance. I realize now that my approach may have been too rigid. I will strive to be more considerate and supportive, to balance discipline with kindness and understanding."

Mia, having calmed down, joined the group and spoke up. "It's not just about what we do in training. It's also about how we treat each other outside of it. We need to be able to rely on one another, and that requires mutual respect and kindness."

Wu looked at Mia with genuine concern. "I see now that I need to not only teach discipline but also model the values of empathy and support. I will work on being more attentive to your needs and less focused on strict expectations."

The team felt a sense of relief and cautious optimism. They knew it would take time for changes to fully take effect, but they appreciated Wu's willingness to listen and adapt. The atmosphere in the room shifted to one of mutual respect and understanding as they prepared to continue their training, now with a renewed sense of purpose and connection.

With a nod of agreement, Master Wu addressed the group, "Let's continue to work together, supporting each other and growing not just as ninjas, but as individuals who respect and care for one another."