Winds of Change {A Ninjago Fanfic}-Book One in the Four Winds series

Chapter Twelve: Training

Lloyd led Aira out into the courtyard. She looked a little confused but he was the teacher.

Lloyd powered up his dragon and held out a hand to her. She took it and swung up behind him. She tentatively wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You're gonna want to hang on tighter than that, Windy," he said laughing. "This is going to be a wild ride."

With that he took off and she squealed at the rapid rate in which their speed and altitude increased. Lloyd found himself enjoying her touch.

"What?" He asked himself incredulously.

"I didn't say anything," Aira said.

"Oh uh," Lloyd stammered. "I thought you did."

Lloyd flew his dragon towards the mountains and expertly maneuvered him inbetween crags and cliff faces. Aira closed her eyes. No matter how good a flyer Lloyd was; she was still scared out of her mind.

"Ah," she yelled. "Lloyd!"

"What? I'm a good flyer," he said turning his dragon to fly snugly through a crevice. He took one more turn and sped straight towards the ground. Aira screamed and buried her face in his back.

"Aira," Lloyd said after a few minutes. "You can open your eyes."

"No."

Lloyd laughed and she felt the dragon land. She slowly removed her head from Lloyd's back and looked around. They were in a clearing surrounded by sheer cliff faces. She looked back the way they had come and noticed a small crevice. How had they fit through that?

"Don't scare me like that!" She said smacking him on the back of the head.

Lloyd just laughed and jumped off. "Don't tell the others about this. I don't want my secret spot to be given away."

"Your secret is safe with me," she said making an 'X' over her heart.

The dragon disappeared and she landed softly on the ground. It was beautiful back here. There was a lake, shining in the morning sun, towards the center. It was surrounded on one side by willow trees. There was also a handful of Cherry trees.

"Now to begin day one of your training," Lloyd said walking to the water. It was perfectly still.

"To control your power you must begin by controlling yourself," Lloyd said. "They key to your strength is not your strength but your control. If you cannot control your power; it can be more of a hindrance than a help."

Aira stayed quiet and drank in every word. She hadn't realized that Lloyd was so wise. Then again he had been doing this for a while.

"Aira, tell me what wind is."

"Wind is power and strength," Aira said thoughtfully. "But it is also calm and peace."

"Very good," Lloyd said nodding. He flipped to a rock in the lake. "Your task: knock me over without disturbing the water."

"Huh?"

"Control your power," Lloyd said again. He sat down cross legged on the rock and waited.

Aira took a deep breath. How hard could this be? She called up the wind and sent it Lloyd's direction. However, the water rippled from the force.

"Do not only rely on the strength of the wind," Lloyd said. "For strength is not always force."

"You sound like Sensei Wu," Aira said.

"Good," Lloyd smiled. "He is wise. Again."

Aira called up more wind but with the same result. She continued this for almost two hours.

"I can't do this," she finally said in frustration.

"Calm," Lloyd said simply. "Your trying too hard."

Aira took a deep breath willing her muscles to relax. She brought her hand up gently keeping the calm feeling. She closed her eyes and sent a breeze of wind forward. She heard a splash and opened her eyes.

Lloyd smiled from the water and gave her a thumbs up. She nearly jumped up in down with excitement. Lloyd stood up now soaking wet and climbed out of the lake.

"Very good," he said shaking out his hair. "But you will need much more practiced."

He looked up at her and smiled. She laughed and ruffled his hair, "Your hair is a mess."

"You would look the same if you had just been in the water," Lloyd said with a mischievous grin.

"Lloyd," she said backing away. "Don't you dare."

Lloyd sprang towards her barely missing her as she spun away. She giggled and started to run. Lloyd ran after her laughing. Eventually Aira was laughing too hard to stay out of his reach and he grabbed her from behind. He scooped her up and carried her to the water.

"No," she laughed pounding at his arms. She knew there was no getting out of this. He was too strong.

Lloyd tossed her into the water and she squealed. She spat as water got into her mouth.

"Now whose hair is a mess?"

"Oh, you are so gonna get it," she said laughing.

"Come," Lloyd said offering a hand. "Your power training is done for today."

"Really that's all?" She said taking his hand. He lifted her up and she walked out of the water soaking wet.

"That's all I'm teaching you today," he said. "But you can still practice. When we get back, place something on top of a breakable object. Try to blow the thing off without knocking over the object underneath."

"Do you always teach your students this way?"

"I wouldn't know," he said shrugging. "You're my first student."

Aira's eyes widened, "your kidding? But you teach so well."

"I learned a lot from my father," he said turning away.

She could see a flicker of sadness in his eyes. He knew exactly how she felt. She knew now that she could always go to him for guidance.

"Let's hurry home and get food," she said changing the subject. "I'm starving!"

Next: Chapter Thirteen: A Summoning.

A/n- Three hour car ride means UPDATES!! Vote and comment! Doesn't the next chapter sound creeeeepppyyyy!? Hahaha! -LL_17