The Lost Element

The beginning is often the hardest to define

"I can't believe it! You're actually gonna be going to the same school as me!" Nina squeals and bounces around in a circle, taking me by the hands and grinning in my face. "This is so exciting! There'll be so many EMs there, but I bet you'll be the only non-EM there! Isn't this, like, the first time in history a non-EM has taken classes and trained there? I bet it is!"

I sigh. "Nina, there have been at least three documented cases of non-Elemental Masters going to EMTI. And those were the famous ones who went on to make history alongside the Elemental Masters of their generation."

Nina pauses. "Well, still, you're my bestie and this is exciting! There'll be EMs from all over Ninjago, and we'll be able to tell who's related just by what element they're able to produce and control! Doesn't this excite you?"

I nod, letting her drag me along the path to her house. Personally, I can't wait to get there, but I'm more interested in studying strengths and weaknesses of each of the students, as well as the teachers. It's a habit of mine. I like to know what I might be up against before it's too late.

Nina's family greets me warmly when we reach her house. Nina loudly announces that we're both going to EMTI, and we get congratulations from everyone, even her younger brothers. Her mom invites me to stay for dinner, but I politely decline, telling her that I would like to celebrate with my family.

I walk home from there on my own. It's only across the street, after all. My dad comes downstairs when he hears me come in.

"Hey there, Moonbeam," he greets me with a hug. "How did everything go?"

"Fine," I tell him, smiling.

"Did you get into the school? What was it... the Elemental Masters Training Institute?"

I can't keep my grin from spreading. "Yeah, I did!"

"Alright!" He punches my shoulder, then hugs me again. "I'm so proud of you! What do you want for dinner? I'll make you anything you want!"

I think for a moment. "Can we order pizza?"

Dad frowns. "You don't like my pizza?"

I giggle. "Your pizza is fine, Dad! I just really like other pizza too! Besides, we haven't ordered pizza in a while, right?"

He grins and shrugs. "Guess you're right. Cheese?"

"You read my mind!"

About thirty minutes later, we're sitting at our dining room table, enjoying some fresh (and still hot!) pizza. I eat two slices and would've eaten a third, but my dad convinces me to save the rest of it for later. We then move to the couch and are talking about what movie to watch when he gets oddly quiet, a serious expression appearing on his face.

"Zoë, there's something I've been meaning to ask you about," he begins before I can ask what's wrong. "It has to do with... your mother."

"What about her?"

"Well, really, it's about your lack thereof," he mumbles, thereby reminding me that, five years after their divorce, my birth mom had died in a car crash. Not that I need to be reminded. I was there when it happened, after all. "It's been a year, and I think it's time that I--that we--moved on."

I sit up. "Dad, are you saying...?"

He smiles, though it's the shyest smile I've ever seen him use. "Zoë, do you think it would be alright if I... do you think I could... try again?"

I gasp, tears of joy flooding my eyes. "Yes!" I exclaim, hugging him tightly. "Yes, Dad! I do! You can do it!"

"Thanks, kiddo," he chuckles. "Let's pick a movie now, shall we?"