Kaylee's POV

Chen announces the competitors for the next match.

"Skylor, Master of Amber, versus Jacob, Master of Sound. Fight! Fight!" Chen yells.

"Eenie, meenie, minie, mo. Catch a Jadeblade by its toe!" Skylor throws a spear at a vase, breaking it. The two start fighting.

"Master of Sound's gotten stronger since the last time I saw him." Garmadon comments.

"Excuse me. Excuse me. Uh, don't mean to block your view. Just passing through. Sorry, all of these temples look the same. Did I miss anything?" Kai makes his way toward us, late. 

"Ugh. But the looks of it, you didn't miss much." Jay points to everyone Kai upset. "Maybe we shouldn't be sitting together. I mean, the more they think we're a team, the bigger targets we put on ourselves."

"Don't say that we are a team. Sure we just lost Cole and still can't find Zane, but we're a team. Just smaller. All the more reason to stick together." Lloyd counters. 

"Skylor's fighting?" Kai jumps up.

"What has him so excited?" Garmadon asks, perplexed. 

"He had a crush on her until he found out they might be related." Jay snickers. 

"Her element isn't Fire. She's the Master of Amber, power of absorption. She can emulate the power of anyone she's touched." Garmadon explains. Well, another person to look out for. I hope that the scrolls were right, and my power can't be absorbed. I hope. 

Kai perks up. "You're telling me we're not related?"

"Oh, boy. Here we go again." I groan. Skylor was able to confuse Jacob and grab the Jadeblade. Everyone cheers for her.

"Yes! Go Skylor!" Kai cheers, jumping up. 

"Winner! And loser." Chen opens a trapdoor for Jacob. "I hope the Tournament of Elements has entertained you as much as it has me. To thank you, I wanted to give everyone fancy jewels and untold shiny things." He pulls out a box of jewels. I scrunch my nose distastefully. "But then in yesterday's battle, Master Jay and Cole tried to undermine me by teaming up and refusing to fight each other. And that made me very upset. For their insubordination, all of your fancy quarters will be taken away, and tonight everyone must sleep together in the chow house. That is all. Thank you, you can go."

"Nice one, Jay," Kai growls, as the other Elemental Masters left the temple, giving us angry looks. 

"Whoa, easy, Romeo." I snap.

"Don't worry about them. We aren't here to make friends, just to save ours." Lloyd assures.

"Yes, but your exclusion of others has only made enemies. Beware how you treat those around you, for they will treat you the same." Garmadon warns. 

We walk in the chow house, and most of us climb on the tables and fall asleep, except for me. Damn you insomnia. I stare out into the stars, admiring their sparkles at this time of night. I hear the shuffling of blankets under me, then stopping. Jumping off the makeshift bed, I sit on the ground, swaying silently to the cricket's music. I didn't bother to sleep, because I was almost a walking energy producer. I think. More shuffling of blankets was heard, and the guys wake up.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Jay whispers, the gang probably didn't notice me on the ground yet.

"Not when we still have to get Zane and Cole back," Kai says.

"I have insomnia, so I can't really sleep this whole time," I say, standing up.

"Ah. I didn't know that." Jay nods.

"Eh, it doesn't really bother me." I shrug.

"Speaking of backs, these new beds are the worst. All right, let's do-" Lloyd groans. An Anacondrai Cultist bangs on the gong and the lights turn on.

"Quick, back in bed," Kai whispers, and we jump back in the table beds. 

"Good morning, fighters. Oh, that's right, it's the middle of the night." The Cultists put roller skates on us.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Lloyd grumbles.

"Do you know what time it is?" Jay snaps. 

"I literally don't care." I sigh, feeling a bit lethargic but quickly shrug it off. 

"Roller skates? Whoa, aah!" Kai falls, but Skylor helps him up. "Thanks."

"Let me guess, another one of Chen's impromptu battles?" Lloyd sighs.

"Oh, roller skates. I love roller skates!" Jay cheers.

"We should be getting used to this by now," Lloyd says.

"Did I ever mention I once placed first in the Mother-Son Skate-off? Hehe. I should have never admitted that." Jay gushes.

"Weirdo." Griffen glares at him.

"Master Chen wants everyone in the Royal Arena. I wouldn't be late if I were you." Clouse says.

"If most of us have already fought, why are we all in skates?" Skylor asks. 

"Only two of you will be fighting, but the rest of you will have a chance to affect the outcome." Clouse declares.

"Who's fighting? Tell us now." Griffen asks.

"The Green Ninja versus the Master of Form." Clouse leaves.

"Master of Form? Who's that?" Lloyd asks.

"I don't know," I reply.

"You haven't heard? I hear she can look like anyone. She'd be right under your nose, and by the time you figure it out, she's discovered all your weaknesses, then it's game over. But you're the Green Ninja, what weakness could you have?" Kai says, rolling over to us.

"Ugh. Aside from the sore back, not many." Lloyd groans.

"Thanks." Kai smiles. He's acting really weird right now. 

"Huh, you're getting older quicker Grandpa Lloyd." I snicker, elbowing him softly.

"Yeah, yeah, cut it out," Lloyd grumbles. 

"Whoo-hoo-hoo!" Jay cheers.

Kai skates up next to us. "Skates."

"Kai?" Lloyd says, surprised.

"Why did it have to be skates?" Kai falls.

 The Kai who we'd just talked to spoke again in a higher-pitched voice. 'Watch your back, Green Ninja." "Kai" reveals himself to be Camille using Form. We start skating toward the arena.

"I don't like the look of this," Lloyd says, looking around nervously.

"Don't worry, we got your back. Aah! Ugh." Kai falls again. We arrive up into a roller-skating arena.

"Welcome to my favorite event. Thunderblade!" Chen yells, walking in on his roller skates. Amateur. 

"Hey, I know this game. It's just like-" Griffen starts happily.

"No, it's not like that! This is my game. I made it up! Fully original! A Jadeblade for you, Lloyd, Master of Power." Chen tosses Lloyd a Jadeblade and a green helmet. "And another for Camille, Master of Form. Where-Where are you?" Camille reveals herself. "Oh, there you are." Chen tosses Camille a Blade and orange helmet. "Haha. Rules are simple. Each lap you complete with your Blade in possession, a point. Most points before time expires, you win."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What about us? Are we supposed to just stand there?" Griffen asks.

"You get to help anyone you wish or hurt for that matter. You're free to choose sides. I'm not a dictator." Everyone but Jay, Kai, and I chose to side with Camille.

"What was that you sad about us having targets on our backs?" Lloyd mutters.

"Don't worry, we're still a team-" Kai falls again. "Argh!"

"I gotta be honest. This doesn't look good." I sigh. Everyone takes their position.

"Lloyd, Master of Power, versus Camille, master of Form. Most laps with their Jadeblade when time runs out wins. Loser is out. Thunderbladers on your mark, get set, good luck to everyone, but mostly Chamille because we all want the Green Ninja out. Now go!" I look at Chen. The two competitors get a head start. "Oh, how about some spectator ambiance?" He presses a button to make the speakers cheer. We take off.

"It's us against the world, Kai and Kaylee. If Lloyd has any chance of moving forward in the tournament, it's up to us 3." Jay says, and we both skate away, trying to help Lloyd.

I see everyone pushing Lloyd around. "We have to give him room," I say, pointing to them.

"And just how are we supposed to do that?" Kai asks.

"I got an idea. Don't touch anyone." Jay says, and we go ahead.

"Then who am I supposed to hold on to?" Jay shocks the competitors.

"Thanks." Lloyd nods, as I blast the orange team away.

"Sorry, not sorry bitches!" I yell, skating away.

"You're supposed to be helping, not hurting his chances." Jay snaps after Kai took down Lloyd by accident.

"Thanks for the tip, but I can't skate!" Kai yells. I start blasting any orange team, making sure no one could hurt Lloyd's chances at winning. 

"Grab my hand! I'll whip ya!" Jay yells to Lloyd, whipping to the line, but it was Camille impersonating Lloyd.

"Are you serious!?!" I scream, blasting her in anger. She manages to dodge it, which was quite impressive.

"Wait, where'd the Master of Shadow go?" Jay asks, and Shade hits Lloyd's back and Tox grabs his Jadeblade. Jay pushes him and grabs the Blade.

"You didn't learn that in your Mother-Son Skate-Off, did you?" Lloyd asks, bemused. 

"It's a fierce competition, Lloyd, and this isn't the time to judge. It's the time to skate faster."  Jay snaps. Jay jumps over Kai and Griffin, who falls. "Haha! Watch out for the Poison cloud!" We skate around it, but Kai accidentally falls in it. 

"Thanks for the warning." He groans.

"Release the buggy!" Chen yells.

"Lookout, Lloyd!" I push him out of the path of the buggy.

Lloyd sees Camille holding on to the buggy. "She has the lead and she gets a lift? I know Chen wants me out, but this is getting ridiculous." 

"Sorry, Tox. Jay pushes Tox again. "Must be my allergies kicking in." 

Griffin and Neuro grab Jay. "Check this out." He grins, as Tox grabs my hands, not letting go.

"Why is it that some girls can't get along?" I sigh.

"Gotcha." Griffin uses his Speed and pushes Jay into Lloyd.

"Can't we break the stereotype?" I flip my head into Tox, then kneeing her in the stomach. She doubles over in pain, and I blast her away, making her fall into Camille.

"Sorry, Tox!" I yell, before skating next to Lloyd and Jay.

"We are so not loved." Jay groans.

"This did wonders for my back, though." Lloyd comments, jumping up and skating away.

"Let's go." I help Jay up and we start to skate behind him.

Kai uses his Fire to propel himself into Camille. I grab her Jadeblade, smirking.

"Haha! Nice, Kai! Now you're cooking with Fire!" Jay yells happily. Camille starts chasing me.

"I got it, you want it! Come and get it! Come and get it!" I taunt, waving the Jadeblade mockingly.

"Lloyd's closing the gap, but the clock's against us," Jay says, pointing to the clock.

"So is everyone else. Garmadon's right. The more we exclude everyone, the more they gang upon us." Kai adds.

"What are you saying?" I ask.

"I'm saying why don't we tell them about Chen? If others knew what this tournament was really about, maybe they'd help us." Kai suggests.

"Uh, worth a try, but time's running out, and Lloyd's got a lot of ground to make up," Jay says.

"Gimme!" Camille pushes me and steals her Blade back. "I've got a job to finish."

"Jeez girl, are your clothes made of metal? They hurt!" I groan, before racing up to Kai and Jay.

"Are you trying to take me out too?" Skylor snaps, as Kai ran into her. 

"No, you're right. We aren't all Ninja, but Chen's the real enemy. He doesn't care about who wins. He only wants to steal our powers so that he can perform some sort of spell." Kai explains.

"A spell? What kind of spell?" Tox asks, skating next to us.

"I don't know, but we have to stay in the tournament to find out," Kai says.

"This isn't about Lloyd winning. It's about all of us stopping Chen." Jay starts.

"And why are you telling me this now?" Griffen snaps. 

"Because it's never too late to do the right thing." Lloyd grins, gaining upon us.

"He's telling the truth. I know." Neuro comes in.

"Then why have you now decided to help?" I snap.

"I'd rather be on the winning team," Neuro says.

"Then let's win this thing!" Lloyd cheers, racing ahead. Kai and Skylor steal the buggy and let Lloyd jump on. Chen nods to the scorekeeper to change the score.

"Ugh, he's rigging the match. I'll stop him." Kai growls, lighting up a flame.

"Let me. Skylor uses Gravity to levitate the scorekeeper. 

"Great work girl." I smile, and we high-five. Skylor looks down at her hands, confused.

"Why can't I absorb your power?" She asks.

"Well, you can't take something too powerful for a mortal mind to behold." I joke, causing Skylor to look at me weirdly. "Actually, I have no idea too." (Foreshadowing 😎)

"I like you." Skylor grins. 

"Right back at you. Meet up later to get to know each other?" I suggest.

"Sure." Skylor nods, and I skate near the finish line, eagerly waiting for the ending score. The two fighters cross the finish line, but only Lloyd has the Jadeblade.

"She doesn't have her Blade!" Jay gasps. Camille looks back to see she dropped her Jadeblade.

"Lloyd won!" Kai cheers.

"Oops, I almost forgot." Skylor drops the scorekeeper, changing Lloyd's score to 106 points.

"No, no, no! He cheated! Lloyd loses!" Chen yells, throwing a little temper tantrum.

"Someone's obviously hadn't got their applesauce yet," I mutter under my breath. Lloyd looks at me. "What?"

"You look beautiful right now." He kisses me, and I roll my eyes playfully. 

"Yeah yeah, wait for Chen to finish.

"Lloyd won fair and square. You were the one who cheated." Griffen accuses.

"My tournament, my rules." Chen turns his back to us.

"And just what rules are those? If Lloyd's out, then so am I." I declare, stepping up.

"Me too," Kai says.

"And me three." Jay nods. The Elemental Masters also nod in agreement.

"If you kick us all out, what kind of tournament will you have then?" Skylor asks.

"Fine, have it your way. Form loses." Chen opens a trapdoor under Camille. We all cheer.

"All right! We won! Yeah!" Jay cheers.

Foreshadowing to the next book, wherein the second part, we get to learn more about Kaylee's unknown past :) It's a roller coaster everyone. :)