Morro spent the whole morning insisting he had heard a song echo through the area.

     "You probably just heard the wind," Carmen retorted without thinking, gnawing on the jerky we had provided for breakfast. "I didn't hear anything."

     I personally hadn't heard anything but Shade's soft snoring all night, which made an excellent background noise. The temperature had dropped considerably during the evening's darkest hours, making me sad that I had replaced my onesie with a volleyball. However, I still stood by the fact that a volleyball was the better choice out of the two to bring. Besides, the parents had instructed us to stay in uniform so we could be ready to fight at a moment's notice. They didn't want to take any risks with this mission.

     "I'm telling you; it was a song," Morro exclaimed. "This can't be a coincidence. We arrive on the mountain looking for a 'voice that sings' and I started hearing music."

     "Maybe your BorgPod was going off," Carmen suggested.

     "I don't have a BorgPod!"

     "We'll keep our ears open in the future, Morro," Lloyd said from across the clearing. He and Zane were stuffing the sleeping bags back into backpacks. "You are right in suggesting this might be a valuable lead. However, at the moment we need to focus on crossing the mountain."

     Morro was silent for the rest of the day. He had never been much of a talker, however, so I didn't pay much attention to it.

     In contrast to the quiet white-haired boy, Carmen had a lot to say. You would think she hadn't had any friends before us with the way she chattered on. Aureole was teasing Shade about being a Starfarer nerd (she didn't dare tease me or I'd start singing about wedding bells), and Carmen, not knowing anything about Starfarer, kept trying to join the conversation. The two were nice enough to endure her rants about boarding school, but I could tell they just wanted to get back to space superheroes.

      It took Carmen a couple hours and multiple hints from Aureole before she finally got the point that they wanted to be left alone. She ended up walking alongside me, sulking around in a mood. Her eyes were on Shade and Shade alone; you could tell she would give everything to see his smile again.

     Even though we had been sorted into different middle schools, I had occupied the same high school as Shade for a few years. High school was a horror I didn't like remembering, so I never recalled much about Shade's social life then. All I did remember was that look everyone got in their eyes when he walked past. It was the same stare Carmen carried around now. The stare of admiration, adulation, and aspiration. The Green Ninja's son. His perfect little boy.

     "What they have to say probably isn't worth hearing anyway," I murmured, drawing her attention to me. "Aureole loves to talk about business politics, and Shade will entertain any subject she brings up. And if they invite Morro to chat, you know it's going to be boooring."

     Carmen huffed, fiddling with the key around her neck. "I'm perfectly capable of keeping an entertaining conversation going, Bluebell."

     She sounded like she was trying to convince herself of it.

     "I'm an all-around entertaining person. I may be a thief, but that doesn't mean I'm not well-rounded." She nodded at herself. I could have cared less about her being 'well-rounded', but I was bored, so I decided to have fun with it.

     "Well-rounded, eh? If you're so well-rounded then why did I best you back in Kunci? And let's not forget about our duels the other day... or that time we played Fist-to-Face X—"

     "I'm working on my ninja skills," she scowled. "You won't be able to hold the Kunci stunt over my head for long. I'll be a master ninja by the end of summer, and then I'll enact a revenge plan so devious that you'll yearn for the time that it's over."

     My lips twitched into a smile. "You wish."

     "I mean it! One day I'll get my epic revenge for you stealing my key," she elbowed my arm, immediately holding hers out in a fighting stance. "Shade's been teaching me your weaknesses. He says you're ticklish on your sides."

     I heavily considered tackling my best friend right there.

     That's when I noticed Carmen preparing to poke me until I fell over into a giggling heap. I ducked out of her attack, sprinting around to the front of the group. She laughed and followed me, sprinting fast for someone so small.

     "You never give up, huh?" I grinned.

     "Ninja never quit," she responded, failing to catch me again. "Powers or not, I'm going to beat you one day."

     "We'll see about that."

     That night, I snuggled inside of my sleeping bag, staring at the thin canopy of leaves above us. Both Shade and Lloyd were in a deep sleep, exhausted from walking all day with heavy bags on their backs. Zane was quiet, which I assumed meant he was asleep, but one could never be sure with nindroids. Even though the cool drafts of air combined with Shade's powers made the air quite cold, that wasn't the reason I couldn't close my eyes.

     So much confidence, yet so little skill.

     Carmen truly did believe with enough hard work she would gain back her honor by defeating me.

     It was strange.

     It was uncanny.

     It was... admirable.

     Perhaps I had lessons to learn from this new pupil.

>(<>)<

On the third day of hiking, we had almost reached the lake. I could see it peeking out from in between the leaves; however, it would probably be another thirty minutes before we reached it. My feet hurt more than they ever had in my life, and the only thing keeping me from complaining about it was how much Carmen voiced her aching.

     In fact, her constant chatter distracted me so well I barely even thought about my own soreness until I had laid down for the night. We had both volunteered to carry some of the backpacks so the parents wouldn't get too tired. I suspected Carmen only did it to gain Shade's attention; her face was always visibly strained from the weight.

     Out of politeness Shade, Aureole, and I walked a bit slower to keep her company. This, of course, delighted her and caused her to start telling stories. I have no idea if Shade realized what was going on or not, but he listened and interacted with her tales with grace.

     I would trail behind them, finding myself becoming more and more interested in each word Carmen said. Her confidence was an escape from the weariness of hiking a freezing mountain. Her chatter was the distraction from the bleary sounds of feet hitting rocks over and over. Her smiles were a bit of happiness in our tired world.

     A long wail echoed through the area, immediately stopping us all.

     Yet, it didn't sound like a wail.

     It sounded more like a song.

     Morro raised an eyebrow as another note blasted through the area.

     Suddenly, above our heads, a white figure flew across the sky. It was heading in the direction we were going, singing the whole way there.

     Not a word was said. We just picked up our pace to follow the creature down the mountain. Even Carmen had been silenced by the phenomenon. No living animal could sound that entrancing, yet that thing certainly was a creature of some sort.

     After a few minutes, we stumbled through the trees, all of us gasping at the sight.

     A large, clear lake stretched out before us, still as the cool, mountain air. Large, snow-covered peaks stretched high into the sky all around the lake, heightening the sense of isolation. I could stare at the crystal-clear waters and suddenly believe that I was the only living being in the universe. It was jaw-droppingly beautiful, but that wasn't it. There was a lot of water in the lake, and water meant we could play water volleyball. I laughed when I thought of the fun we could have.

     To our right side, a colorful small town was tucked into the hills, alive with the sounds of a normal life. Boats were fishing close to the beaches, littered like spilled rice across the clean water. There was a noticeable lack of boats near the center of the lake. On the opposite side of the colorful town, a much bigger city nestled into the mountains, but it was so far away I could barely make out any more than that.

     The song sounded out again, screams of terror following it. The boats on the lake desperately rowed to shore, while the nearby town erupted into a frenzy.

     We all ducked as two white figures flew close over our heads. They danced in the air, flapping over the lake in an almost rhythmic pattern before diving into the waters.

     I held my breath, but they didn't resurface. Slowly, the fear of the town calmed down and the sounds of life started to return. A few citizens glanced out at the lake before deciding they were done with fishing for the day.

     When I turned around to see if we wanted to head down there, I found the group frozen, their eyes open with a childlike wonder. Most of them looked like they'd just watched a fascinating movie, but Morro's knees knocked together, and he tentatively touched a nearby tree as if to tell it that he never wanted to leave.

     "So this is Songdragon Lake," Lloyd breathed.

     "Fascinating," Zane echoed. "Most records of this place only exist due to rumors, so our adventures here will surely aid in progressing global knowledge."

     I was more concerned with the carnivorous dragons.

     Dragons.

     Singing dragons.

     Voices that sing.

     Ninja were famous for getting along well with dragons. If Lloyd or Zane could tame one and convince it not to eat us, then perhaps our mission would nearly be accomplished.

     We made our way down to the colorful town, leaving our luggage still hidden in the trees. The town was secluded, as if it were trying to hide from the rest of the world. Shade suggested only a few of us go at a time to make sure no one got nervous. Harumi agreed to stay behind, and Aureole decided to accompany her. I knew if Shade went with his father, Carmen would surely find some way to tag along, so I agreed to stay with my cousin.

     "Do you think one of the Songdragons could be the voice that sings?" I shared my theory with them.

     "If they are, that'd make our job so much easier," Aureole yawned, practicing her sword form in front of our tiny camp. "My dad was the first ninja to befriend a dragon. I'm sure I've got some of that in me. Besides, dragons like fire."

     "Don't forget we're here to find the Master of Communication," Harumi reminded us from across the camp as she fluidly set up a campfire. "It's more likely they'll agree to help us than a dragon. Remember: the dragons are supposed to be quite dangerous to interact with. The whole town freaked out just at the sight of them. It's probably best we keep our distance unless it's absolutely necessary."

    "I guess," Aureole replied, using her powers to create sparks around her sword.

     A twinge of guilt pressed in my chest at seeing her ease in using elemental power, and I turned away.

I knew Shade was being level-headed about bringing a small group of people into the town, but I could immediately tell that everyone in said civilization was more concerned about the sky than anything going on the ground.

     The colorful town was littered with scattered ribbons and lanterns, remnants of a party long abandoned. Candles of different hues still burned in the cottage windows, despite the closed shutters behind them. From the second story houses, different heads would pop out of the flowered windows and survey the sky, then dash back inside. The only people out in the open were the poor who had no place to run.

     I nearly tripped over the sash on my gi again. The ridiculous piece of fabric refused to tie correctly, no matter how many times I practiced the knot. At first, I thought the vibrant yellow color of the gi would stand out, but it fit in with all the abandoned décor. Zane's appearance flickered as he activated a disguise. His white gi flashed into a saturated red suit of robes, both his original disguise's skin and hair darkening into a sun-kissed shade to match the locals.

     From across the street, a vendor was hesitantly opening his windows. Zane sauntered over to the vendor, immediately introducing himself in a language that sounded like it was coming straight out of some internet translator. As we approached from behind Zane, the vendor was looking more and more confused with each word Zane said.

     "Aye, I can't understand ye. We don't speak foreign around here," the vendor protested, raising heavily calloused hands. His voice was heavily accented, inserting words in the sentences that I couldn't seem to understand.

     "You speak Ninjargon?" Zane asked, his tone switching to normal. "My sincerest apologies, I was under the knowledge you spoke a different dialect of the Far East Languages."

     The vendor laughed, "Yer voice is extremely strange for someone from these parts." His eyes suddenly narrowed in suspicion. "Where did ye say ye came from again?"

     "We come from Ninjago City," Zane replied. Both Shade and Lloyd were carefully judging the vendor's reaction, their hands brushing the folds of their gis that enclosed hidden daggers.

     "Nin-jer-go City?" the vendor tilted his head, muttering the word over and over to himself. "Ah! Nin-jer-go City! Yer travelers. That is why ye look so strange. We haven't had travelers from Nin-jer-go for quite a few years now, aye."

     "Yes." Lloyd stepped forward. "We took quite the journey to get here. Do you know where the nearest inn is, so we have a place to rest for the day?"

     "Inn?" the vendor laughed again. "Aye, we don't have an inn here." He leaned forward as if to tell a secret. "Inns require there to be outsiders that don't have homes. We normally don't like outsiders here in Ominira. They only come from the other side."

     "Other side?" Carmen piped up.

     The vendor's joyful look darkened. "Terrible people, they are. I'm glad the Songdragons keep them on their side of the lake, and I hope the Songdragons eat their children so they won't be tempted to share their outrageous ideas with the rest of us. If any of them are caught on this side of the lake, we kill 'em on sight."

     No one really knew how to respond to that.

      "The Songdragons eat children?" I had to ask, making everyone stare at me. When I first saw the creatures, they had been but specks of light in the sky. After watching them, I was fascinated with how they were graceful and elegant like dancers. Their songs were the most beautiful I'd ever heard. Even with all the tales of 'carnivorous dragons', I somehow couldn't bring myself to believe that such magnificent beings would harm people.

      "Aye, they are the worst creatures to walk the planet," the vendor hesitantly looked to the sky. "They screech their death cries in the sky like demons, trying to scare us into submission. They live beneath the waters, destroying the wildlife and trying to capture our sailors. We are the braver folk and have struggled against them for decades. Even though many die to their terrible clutches each year, we still live on in defiance."

     When no one still had any clue what to say in response, the vendor smiled and gestured to his goods. "There's no need to be sad about it. We live life to the fullest here in Ominira. Buy some ribbons! Tonight, we're having a parade to celebrate the quarter moon. Darkness is the perfect time to release fireworks."

     "I do enjoy a good celebration," Shade found the right words, his cautious attitude suddenly turning into his charming one. "Tell me, is there anywhere we could find a tour guide to tell us about this place? We'd love to learn more about your world and its culture."

     "Yer not going to buy anything?" the vendor's voice came off as curious, but underneath it I could sense desperation. That's when I noticed how skinny and sunken he looked, as if he hadn't eaten in a while. "I'll take any type of payment."

      Thirty minutes later, we all had some sort of Ominiran merchandise on as a flustered local showed us around the town. The local, like the vendor, was a hollow shell of a human, her excited voice layered over the top of an endless supply of exhaustion. We came to see that most of the color in the town came from paper, not carnations, and that most of the town's nice cottages had become slums. Whenever she'd pass by another individual, their polite gestures towards each other seemed too practiced to be normal. It was like the whole town was trying to cover up their obvious deterioration with lots of fake smiles and dyed wood.

     "Aye, here in the middle of Ominira sits the pillar of the Ten Rules." The local pointed to a towering stone sculpture, which had ten lines of nearly illegible words carved into it. "These rules were agreed upon by the common people, and they are our only laws. We have no government here in Ominira; the city is ruled by the people."

      "What do they say?" Carmen was much more direct than any of us wanted to be. "I can barely read it. Wait, is that the point?"

     The local's smile stretched thin. "The first rule is that none of the following rules can be changed by circumstance or time. No rule may be altered, no matter if the situation is unjust or unfair. That one is the most important. The next rules are outlines of how we function as a basic society. We are supposed to beware the other side, the Songdragons, and the—"

     "What is it with you all and 'the other side?'" Carmen waved her hands around, mimicking the woman's tones. "It's just a bunch of people living on the lake."

     "Never say that," the woman hissed, her eyes narrowing. "The other side is filled with dangerous people who throw their own to the Songdragons to be devoured. They are despicable, cruel, wicked, and deserve to die. It is Rule Number Two of the Ten Rules to kill anyone who comes from the other side on sight."

     Carmen refused to shrink back from the local's withering gaze, but I could feel my insides twist. Something had to have happened if the Ominirans hated the other side that much. What could cause such a divide?

     "They must be awful people to do such things," Shade nodded sympathetically, using his placating skills once again. "I can see why you all cut yourself off. No one should be tempted to go to a place that bad."

     The local agreed, not at all being confused as to how Shade would understand issues he made up to fit the narrative. She continued to preach on the Ten Rules until Father finally asked, "The reason we came to Ominira was to find the dragon charmer. Do you know anything about her?"

      "Aye, the Eternal Song," the woman exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. "She was a mysterious young lady who rose with the dawn to dance with the Songdragons. No one ever got close enough to find out more about her—out of fear of being eaten—but everyone enjoyed the show. When the sun had fully risen above the horizon she would return to the waters and disappear beneath them."

      "Interesting," Zane mused.

      "She had the most enchanting voice anyone had ever heard; that's why we call her the Eternal Song." The woman's eyes were misty. "Even the animals would come to watch every morning."

     "Is she still here now?" Shade asked.

     The woman's visage saddened. "She stopped coming over twenty years ago after an attempt was made to capture her and find out who she really was. There were rumors that she was actually a former local, but that's not important. All we know is that ever since that day she hasn't resurfaced."

     "Do you think she went somewhere else to sing?" Father put a hand on his chin.

     "She danced with the Songdragons. They haven't left the lake, so she probably hasn't either." The woman guided us back towards the main street where we first found her. "Aye, I do wish she could return, just once, to sing to the new generation. Her voice was captivating. Everyone who listened agreed their days were better with the song than without it."

     "Thank you for your time," Zane dropped money in the woman's hand. Even though he hadn't given her an excessive amount, the smile that stretched onto her face made it seem like Zane had just told her she won the lottery.

     We headed back to the outskirts of the town, finding our camp set up outside. While everyone else filled in the details of how we were to proceed, I found myself wandering through the thin woods. The lake was a deep and mysterious place that I wanted to be closer to.

     The waters were shifting hues of blue and indigo, yet were somehow so clear I could see the small fish swimming close to the shore. All around the lake the snowy mountains loomed high, making the whole area feel like a private place for some sort of regal person. The beauty of it all was entrancing.

     Then, I could hear them.

     The Songdragons.

     From beneath the water, their songs echoed to the surface. It was lulling and majestic, making my heart swell at the sound. At once I wanted to dive down and find them. I wanted to listen to their music on repeat while I curled up in the peaceful scene and read. I wanted to watch them fly; I wanted to hear the voice of the person who could charm them.

     Ominirans said they were harmful. Yet, all I could see was a stunning product of nature.

     "Morro!" Shade burst into the tranquil scene, nearly stumbling into the lake right in front of him. His eyes widened in surprise when he took in how close we both were to it. His voice dropped to a whisper, "it's dangerous to be this close."

     I shrunk back into the trees, turning away before he could see my pain at leaving it behind.

     "Anyway," Shade said, dragging the syllables out, "we've decided on what needs to happen next."

     "Care to fill me in?"

     "Our next mission requires a lot of stealth. The 'Eternal Song' disappeared into the waters. She was young when it happened, which means she probably resurfaced somewhere and has been living there since. If she could survive disappearing beneath the lake for most of the day, then she had to have some way to stay alive. We think... we think she may have gone to the other side."

     "I thought you said the lake was dangerous."

     Shade tapped his fingers together. "Well, that's where you come in. You can make the water extremely hot so it would burn the dragons if they came close. You can also keep us warm, seeing as we'll be traveling at night. Father and Zane will come since they're good with dragons, and Mother insisted I come too. I can keep you from overheating."

     "What about the others?"

     "Mother thinks we're going to need her for this part, so Aureole's volunteered to watch our supplies. Carmen and Storm are going to have to stay with her to help her defend it." Shade laughed at his memories of this agreement. "Carmen nearly threw hands when we told her she couldn't come with us."

     I messed with my sleeves, somehow getting them completely untucked from their ties. "When are we leaving?"

     "Tonight," Shade replied, nudging my shoulder.

     He trudged off back towards the camp, but I allowed my steps to lag. A cursory glance back at the lake showed it still in all of its glory. I couldn't help but allow my thoughts to run while my heart sunk at the fact I was going to have a night without sleep.

     Were the Songdragons really evil? Why were the two sides of the lake divided so clearly? And, most of all, would this place help up find what we needed to save the world?

     I guess only time and insomnia could tell.