How to Train Your Dragonblood

Discovery

Zane ran into the arena cursing, just managing to open the door in time instead of slamming into it. People were everywhere, friends and strangers alike all cheering and watching

"I can't believe I overslept! Today of all days!" He growled into himself as he started running up the stairs to where all the other previous students were watching the fight, Zane caught his breath as the others turned to look at him before turning back to the battle. "What...What did I miss?" He panted. Ronin looked at Zane smirking, knowing the blonde would always hate himself for missing this battle.

"Not much." Harumi shrugged.

"Who's winning?"

"Not sure, they only just started," Plundar replied as they continued to watch the battle. Down in the arena, the Lightning Dragonblood was sniffing around for the two teens that were both hiding behind one of the many barricades scattered around the arena. As they sat there, Cole suddenly grabbed Jay's arm and glared into his eyes.

"Stay out of my way! I'm winning this thing!" Hee hissed before quickly shooting off to hide behind another barricade. Jay swallowed the heavy lump in his throat as he gripped the spear and his mother's shield and looked around. Almost everyone in Ninjago was watching them, watching him, with high expectations in their gazes. He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to be in this arena but he knew that there was no way of walking out without them finding out about Kai.

He didn't even want to imagine what would happen if they found his friend.

Suddenly he heard a rumbled growled. He felt his skin pale and freeze in fear as he slowly turned to his right and saw that the Lightning Dragonblood was dangerously close, snarling at him. Meanwhile, Cole was behind a barricade nearby, mentally preparing himself for the fight ahead.

"This time, this time for sure!" He growled before jumping up and ready to attack the monster, only to see the dragonblood lying on the ground in a deep sleep and a nervous Jay standing next to it. "No! No, son of a half-troll, rat-eating, munge-bucket!" He screamed as he threw his war hammer to the ground in fury as the crowd erupted into cheers. Zane watched from the seats in amazement as everyone stood up cheering.

"He actually won?" He gasped, barely audible over the crowd.

"Yeah, even though Jay sucks at defending himself in most situations, when he's just fighting dragonbloods it's like he's a totally different person!" Dareth exclaimed as the other students ran down the stairs to congratulate Jay, Zane following yet trailing behind. Ronin and Dareth lifted the freckled teen onto their shoulders, and while he tried to keep his balance he saw Ed walk over.

"Congratulations Jay Gardon, you get to kill the Shadow Dragonblood!" He beamed with pride. Reality came crashing down on Jay and he remembered what he had been fighting for, as it had completely slipped his mind about halfway through the duel. Jay paled, vanishing into my own little world. Zane was still trailing behind the group when he heard Cole muttering something to himself.

"No one just gets as good as him." He hissed in rage.

"Unfortunately, I'm going to have to agree with you." The paler teen sighed, and Cole realized he'd been listening. Both watched as Jay was carried away by the crowd, and he forced a fake smile as everyone continued cheering.

"Great, I am so-"

****************

"Leaving, we're leaving!" Jay called into the valley as he looked around for Kai. He had his new riding harness on and a large sack with enough food and supplies inside to last both of them a week at least. He looked around and saw a shadow sat on Kai's boulder and assumed it was his fiery friend.

"Looks like you and me and around a little vacation... forever." He sighed as he set the heavy sack and looked back up at the boulder, only to see Cole sat there, examining his war hammer.

"I want to know what's going on." He glared as he slid off the boulder and began to walk over to the smaller boy. "No one just gets as good as you do, especially you, are you training with someone?"

"T-Training?" He gulped.

"It better not involve this." He hissed as he tugged on one of the shoulder pads on Jay's harness and he fell, losing his balance. A dead twig snapped somewhere and Cole tensed, looking around, his warrior instincts aware they were not alone. Jay quickly got back onto his feet, panicking.

"You're right, I-I'm through with the lies." He laughed nervously. "I've been painting...landscapes! It's time everyone knew, drag me back here we go." He said as he reached for the raven-haired teen's hand, but he grabbed him and pulled it back to an unnatural angle. Jay crumbled to the ground, grabbing his wrist with his good hand.

"Ah! Why would you do that?!" He cried in pain.

"That's for beating me." He growled as he dropped the point of his hammer into Jay's stomach and he groaned in pain. "And that's for everything else." He hissed and suddenly low growl came from behind them and Jay turned just as Kai in his dragon form leaped over the ginger-haired teen's head, teeth bared. Cole swore and went to swing his hammer, as Jay swore as well. Jumping up Jay hit the weapon out of Cole's hand, before running back in front of Kai and blocking his attack.

"No! No Kai, stop! He's a friend!" He exclaimed and Kai reluctantly stopped his attack, before crouching prepared to pounce in case the bigger human tried anything, still in dragon form. Cole watched eyes wide and crazy as Jay placed an arm on the dragonblood's back. "Y-you just scared him."

"I scared him?!" Cole cried in disbelief, only to suddenly freeze, glaring. "Who is 'him'?" He snarled and Jay had to think for a second, deciding the situation couldn't get any worse.

"Cole, Kai; Kai, Cole." He said as Kai bared his fangs again, and Jay winced. Cole stood there in shock for a second finally connecting the dragonblood, the saddle, and the harness. Then, he ran off.

"Da da da, we're dead." Jay groaned and something glowed behind him and he turned to see Kai was standing next to him in his human form, before shakily turning and walking off. "Whoa whoa whoa whoa, where do you think you're going?"

"To sleep, you didn't exactly help me out there!"

"We weren't actually in danger! Now come on!"...