Ninjago: Hidden Secrets

Deadly Race

I walked through the halls of the dojo, heading to where Wu and the others were. The old man asked me to refill his teapot, which I did; so now I'm giving it to him.

I passed by Dareth who, for some reason, was pacing by the front door. For some other reason, the guys thought it'd be a great idea to let a complete stranger in on their secret just to use his dojo as a place for training. Well, at least he's keeping the secret. Though, maybe it's because he's scared of what they'd do to him if he revealed their identities. Is that why he's pacing?

If it was...I'm impressed. Didn't think they had it in them to scare anyone other than Serpentine and criminals.

There was a sudden knock on the door and a panicked "coming!" from Dareth. I peeked around the corner to see what was going on.

"Time's up, Dareth," a man with a yellow hat said.

"Wait, please! Just—just give me a few more days! I'll get you the money!"

I frown. Was he being robbed?

"You said that last time." The man sighed. "And yet you still haven't produced the money for your rent."

Oh. It's not a robbery. Still sounds bad though. 

What's 'rent'?

"Well I promise this time that I have a—a sure-fire way to get you the money by the end of the week!

"It's Saturday."

I could see Dareth flinch at that. "Yes—well...I'll have it to you by tomorrow then!"

This man is lying through his teeth and it's showing. Still, have to give him credit for sticking through his terrible and obvious lie.

The yellow-hat man sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. One more day. But if you fail to produce the money, we're tearing down this Dojo."

After a few more words of promise—deceit—Dareth turned around. He paled at the sight of me.

"O-Oh! Why if it isn't little Ayata!" I hated that. "What are you doing here?"

"You're losing the Dojo." I stated more than questioned.

"Uhh—hey, isn't that Wu's tea? Let's go give it to him!" He quickly walked up to me and began leading me away to where the others were at.

"Why are you losing the Dojo?"

"Oh let's not worry about that! I've got it all under control!"

"You're lying."

He forced out a laugh that made me blink. "Kids! Such jokesters!"

"I wasn't—"

"Oh fellas!" Dareth slammed open the doors. We watched as the men fell to the floor with loud thuds. Was Lloyd just doing a handstand with all of them stacked on top of him in a triangle? Why?

"Oop—sorry bout that." Dareth chuckled sheepishly.

"What do you want, Dareth?" Kai glared, clearly annoyed at the sudden and unexpected intrusion.

The man fumbled for his words. "Ah, oh, well—" he looked at me and pushed me forward. "Lil' Aya—"

"Don't call me that."

"—brought some tea! Isn't that sweet!"

"I was told to bring it."

"And isn't that so adorable and nice of you!" He pinched my cheek. I stomped on his foot, and he yelped.

All the guys looked at the scene with unamused and skeptic looks. All eyes turned to me. Dareth was visibly sweating by now as he shuffled on his feet.

"Ayata," Cole started. "What's going on?"