Hidden in Plain Sight

Training, Adequacy, and Love

A/N My life has been uber busy these days, making it hard to devote as much time to micro edits as I usually give my stories. If you notice more grammar and spelling mistakes in Hidden in Plain Sight, I apologise. I just don't have time to be as thorough as usual. I hope it doesn't hinder your enjoyment of my story. Thank you for reading! 

Sleeping on the Destiny's Bounty felt like home. As soon as I put my head on the pillow of my bunk bed, all my anxiety slipped away. And when I awoke, I actually felt well-rested for the first time in a very long time. I love being a ninja, I thought as Wu came into our sleeping quarters with a gong.

"It's time for your morning exercises," he commanded. I leapt down from my top bunk, ready to harness my elemental powers. Kai groaned, putting a pillow over his head. Training weekends were the best! I wasn't excluded, I belonged with my brothers, training to protect Ninjago. What a life! Since school started, Kai and I hadn't been doing morning workouts consistently. We were further behind Cole and Zane in our fitness. So every weekend, I worked extra hard to keep up.

I didn't mind the setup. As long as I didn't move back to the Sea of Sand, I was happy. Last year, Wu sent me back to my parent's place on leave. I got so far behind in my training, by summertime, I was leagues behind all my brothers.

Moving back to the junkyard last year was an interesting situation. The previous year, Wu suggested I take a break from the harsh training schedule in an effort to de-stress my life. I had a lot going on: the looming threat of a final battle for all good in Ninjago, a complicated love life with Nya sending me all the mixed signals, standing in the middle of the Smith Sibling War, PTSD from the Great Devourer, and losing my scholarship for Ninjago Prep.

Leaving the Sea of Sand behind was the best day of my life. Nya was extremely homesick when she left Ignacia; a sentiment I couldn't empathise with. Ninjago City was my home. If my parents didn't live there still, I'd be happy to never return to the desert.

I hustled to ready myself for the day, while my three brothers meandered out of bed. After a quick breakfast, we did our morning workout, took a small break, then did our drills. While sparring, Wu came out on the deck on the Bounty. He observed us, occasionally offering us points to practise on.

After Cole won in a spar against Kai, it was me and Zane's turn. I took my stance, wishing our sparring rules allowed weaponry. I was so much better with my nunchucks than my hands. Zane was taller and stronger than me, with artificial skin over a titanium figure. Every strike on him would hurt my delicate hands more than it would hurt him. In the infinitesimal chance I won, I'd owe my victory to luck and well-placed strikes to his weak joints. But mostly luck.

Cole counted us in. Zane hesitated, waiting to see what my first move would be. I figured Zane would be more reactionary, which put pressure on me to act first. If I didn't, Kai would tease me for being scared. (The commentary was the worst part of sparring.) I approached, aiming a kick for Zane's head. He easily blocked, as expected. Once my foot returned to the ground, I took a step back to keep my balance, which is when Zane gave me a blow to my chest. I tumbled backward, turning my fall into a roll, then leapt back to my feet just as Zane attempted another strike. I ducked under his arm, giving a few quick blows to his side. Pain erupted in my hands with every strike. He grabbed my shirt and pushed me back. Again, I tumbled and recovered.

Cole muttered to Kai about my overuse of the roll recovery. It was my best move since I was a tad clumsy.

I could see Zane approaching again, changing up his gait to throw me off on the timing of his strike. I leapt back from his punches, crashing into the mast pole. Zane punched my gut (although, not too hard since Zane's a softy). I crashed against the pole again and groaned. Zane pinned his arm against me.