The Child of Silver

42

The Ninja stared out at the Chen's Island, where they would fight in the Tournament of Elements, and where they would find their friends.

"Look at that." Cole said.

"Awesome." Kai gasped in awe.

"Let me see." The master of metal shouted, pushing Kai out of his way. Before the two could do anything to each other, the boat had settled at the dock.

"Welcome to Chen's Island." Clouse said as he exited the boat with the other Elemental masters following close behind him, "The Tournament of Elements welcomes its brave fighters. Master Chen will be pleased you've returned, Sensei Garmadon."

"The pleasure is all mine, Clouse." Garmadon said.

"I'm sure it is."

"Definitely feeling some tension between you two." Jay commented.

"Yeah, and how is it we're on an island I've never seen on any map?" Kai asked.

"And care to explain how the face to Ninjago's most popular noodle house is secretly assembling an underground fighting tournament?" Cole added.

Garmadon sighed, "Master Chen used to be a friend. Now he's a traitor. During the Serpentine Wars, Chen turned against his own kind and sided with the treacherous snakes."

"The battle you and Uncle Wu fought together in?" Lloyd asked, "He was an enemy."

"He used deception to divide the Elemental Masters." Garmadon explained, "We barely defeated the Serpentine, and in a deal for his surrender, Chen was to never leave this island. Little did we know, he'd begin to build his criminal empire from here."

"He may have divided our ancestors, but he's not gonna divide us."

Just then, Kai pushed the guys away when he saw the strange woman in amber and the girl she was accompanying.

"Ladies first." He said, smiling like a dope as she passed by. The stranger in black scoffed.

"Just so you know, Ninja of Flames, flattery does not work on my friend." She said, and then walked past them without saying another word.

As they walked up to the doors, everyone got ready to meet Master Chen, who would come to greet them very soon.

"This is a big island. Zane and Anirei could be anywhere. Keep an eye out." Cole said.

The doors opened to the inside of the temple, revealing men chanting and playing large drums to welcome all of the Elemental Masters. Everyone walked in, admiring the temple entrance, but the Ninja were constantly on guard, looking for any sign that Zane or Anirei were there at all. Lloyd kept a tight grip on the blue jewel around his neck, hoping that Anirei would give him some sort of sign that she was there.

"So, this is the house that noodles built." Jay commented, "Ha! Always wanted to go to a red carpet event."

"Chen lives like a King." Garmadon said, "Here, he's totally self-sufficient. The only way on or off his island is with his permission, which you have to earn."

"You never told me about this place." Lloyd said being surprised at how much his father knew about the island, and how little he truly knew about his father, How do you know so much about this island?"

"Because before Chen was my enemy..." Garmadon let a part of his robes fall off his back, revealing a purple snake tattoo on his back, "...he was my Sensei."

Everyone gathered inside the temple, sitting and waiting for Chen to arrive and start the Tournament.

"You never told me you had a Sensei." Lloyd said to his father.