Quadruple update!!!  YESSS!!!!!

 Ava tilts her head at the Smith siblings.  "Acronix..?  Oh, yes.  I seem to recall reading about him in the Museum a while back.  Wasn't he one of the Temporal Triplets or something?"

"Time Twins, but yeah, he's the one."

"Temporal is time, you nitwit!"

Zane speaks up.  "That is precisely what I've been attempting to tell them!"

Ava shakes her head in dismay.  "How sad..!"

"Oh, great!"  Jay moans.  "You know what this means, don't you?  Where there's one..."

"...Then the other can't be far behind!"  Nya finishes.

"So what's hombre number two doing, that's what I want to know."  Kai grumbles.

"Causing more trouble, no doubt."  Cole murmurs.  "This can't be good."

Ava stands up decidedly.  "Well, I don't like them already!"  She cheerily waves goodbye at everyone.  "Good luck with your problem!"

Lloyd gapes at her.  "What?!!  You mean you won't help us?!!"

Ava crosses her arms, stone-faced.  "You can't just waltz in here and assume that we'll risk our necks just because we're obviously amazing fighters."  She snorts at Lloyd's crestfallen face and chuckles.  "I'm just messing with you, Blondie.  Of course we'll help."  She whips out her mace and swings it experimentally, then grins.  "In fact, I'm quite looking forward to having a good old-fashioned fight."

"-And it sure beats hunting those stupid rock voles."  Rhea mutters.

"Will you please give it a rest with your ridiculous rock vole vendetta?!!"

"I'm just saying that they didn't have to taste so disagreeable, Ava!!!  Nothing has to be that horrendous!"

"It's probably a natural defense mechanism for its species..."

"HA!  It obviously didn't work very well, did it?!!"

Ava glances at you sorrowfully.  "Before you ask...  Yes, she's my friend.  And no, I don't know how I've survived around her for so long with my sanity still intact."

You give her shoulder a sympathetic pat.  "My condolences..!"

"Thank you, kind soul."  She whispers.

"HEY!!!"  Rhea splutters.  I literally put up with her for years!  Don't poke the sleeping creature with a stick, Rhea!  Don't eat the poisonous red berries, Rhea!  Rhea, don't set fire to the campsite, for the First Spinjitzu Master's sake!  Rhea, what have you done?!!"

"How are we all still alive, that's what I still can't fathom."  Ava mutters.

Emily quickly signs something to Ava, and the two share a giggle.

"You're right, Emily.  I am a great team leader."  Ava ruffles the girl's hair affectionately.  "Thank you, little Glowworm."

Emily grins and hugs Ava, then closes her eyes in concentration.

"What's she doing?"  Morro asks, bewildered.

Ave leans forward and clasps her hands together under her chin, intently watching the girl.  "Watch."  She instructs.

Emily's body begins to glow, steadily growing brighter with each passing moment.  Until her smile wavers, and her light suddenly disappears.  She awkwardly signs an apology and lowers her eyes, ashamed.

"No, that was great, Em!  You're getting really good at this!  Just remember: Have confidence.  You were doing fine until you lost faith in yourself."  Ava says encouragingly.

Lloyd speaks up.  "It took a while for me to master my powers, as well.  There's no shame in it."

Emily brightens and hugs him also.  Lloyd looks overcome with emotion at her gesture, but he doesn't notice her sneakily stealing the candy from his pocket while he's distracted.

Rhea smirks and fist pumps as Emily sits down beside her.  "Pay up!"

Emily grumbles, but gives her half anyway. 

Lloyd pats his pocket.  "Where'd my candy go?!!"

The younger girls hastily pop it into their mouths.  "Dunno."  Rhea mumbles, while Emily shrugs innocently.

Lloyd gasps in horror.  "You didn't-?!!"

Any further accusation is cut short by a new voice.  "Hello, ninja.  Remember me?"

578 words.