Ninjago NG Book 2: Dark Mysteries

1: Teasing Troubles

The four teenagers were doing their chores before their Sensei returned. It wasn't wise to make the former master of earth— and a master in Spinjitzu— angry. Seth and Brook had learned that the hard way when they didn't wash the dishes; they had ended up having to run ten miles and train until they were on the verge of passing out. Back to the present, everybody was doing their work except for one.

"So, how does Homura work since her father was taken?" Karl asked, eating ice cream. Seth was sweeping in the kitchen, cringing and trying to ignore the slurping noises the master of light and dark matter was making while eating. Drips of ice cream fell right where Seth had just swept, prompting a groan from the earth wielder.

"I'd appreciate it if you stay away from her. She's handling it fine," Seth snapped, eying the teen as he continued to sweep. Karl laughed at this "dry" threat and continued asking.

"Oh! What if I took her on a date? She seems kinda lonely every time everybody's around! That sounds like a great idea! I can take her to Chen's Noodle House; it'll be the best date ever!" Karl exclaimed. Seth's head whipped up, a guarded look in his crystal eyes. Karl continued to babble about the seemingly limitless possibilities until the sharp tip of a dagger was pressed against his throat.

"If I see you anywhere near her, your head will be mine," Seth seethed, the ground beginning to quiver underneath them. Karl looked up, a cheeky grin on his face as he finished the last of his ice cream.

"Why can't I take her out? You two aren't a thing, are you?" He asked innocently. Seth removed the dagger and huffed.

"Keep pushing your luck, kid," Seth responded curtly, then lifting a threatening glare at him, "And to answer your question: yes, we are a thing." The master of earth finished sweeping and headed outside. Karl chuckled and headed to the training yard. Brook and Paige were sparring.

"Hey, guys! Mind if I join in?" Karl asked, bouncing with excitement. Brook nodded and tossed him a trident, and then went back to taking his battle stance. Karl inspected the trident, chuckling. "Ooo! I love this!"

"Alright," Paige announced to the two, "A free for all, the last ninja standing wins." Brook, Karl, and Paige braced themselves.

"Go!" Paige exclaimed and immediately turned her attention to Brook and slung her shurikens in his direction. The lightning wielder, in likeness to the element he controlled, gracefully dodged the attack with lightning speed and continued to wind up his nunchuck. The shurikens returned to their owner, who was scrambling to calculate the total possible vulnerabilities her opponent could be susceptible to, however, she had also forgotten about the matter wielder until the last second. She turned, throwing one of her shurikens and spraying a thin layer of ice on the ground.

Karl deflected the shuriken off the shaft of the trident. He sprinted towards Paige, but slipped on the ice she had summoned to coat the ground. The matter wielder fell hard on his back, knocking the wind out of him. Nevertheless, he fought to stand up, and retrieved his trident. Karl threw a hand over his torso, grimacing from a bruise that started forming from his hard fall. It wasn't easy being tall and lanky; it did him more harm than good when he always found himself suffering from multiple bruises in a fight. Regaining composure, Karl studied the movements Brook and Paige were making, being careful not to get struck by stray wisps of electricity and to now be mindful of the patches of ice spread all over the training ground. He observed the two, finding an opening to strike. He charged, gripping his trident in one hand and summoning a ball of light matter in the other. He shot the ball, distracting Brook before he was struck with the trident. Pinning the lightning wielder down, he turned to face Paige.