Nova still doesn't like being woken up early in the morning.
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*At the palace, Chen announces the competitors for the next match.*
" Skylor, Master of Amber, versus Jacob, Master of Sound. Fight! Fight!" said Chen.
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Catch a Jadeblade by its toe!" said Skylor as the two start fighting.
"Master of Sound's gotten stronger since the last time I saw him." said Garmadon.
Kai finds his way to the arena. "Excuse me. Excuse me. Uh, don't mean to block your view. Just passing through. Sorry, all of these temples look the same. Did I miss anything?"
"Ugh. But from the looks of it, you didn't miss much." Jay points to everyone he upset. "Maybe we shouldn't be sitting together. I mean, the more they think we're a team, the bigger targets we put on ourselves."
"Don't say that, we are a team. Sure we just lost Cole and still can't find Zane, but we're a team. Just smaller. All the more reason to stick together, and we also have Delta by our side." Lloyd turned to point at Nova, but saw that she had changed seats and was now sitting further away from them.
"Skylor's fighting?" Kai asked.
"What has him so excited?" Garmadon asked.
"He had a crush on her until he found out they might be related." said Jay.
"Her element isn't fire. She's the Master of Amber, power of absorption. She can emulate the power of anyone she's touched." said Garmadon.
Kai perks up. "You're telling me we're not related?!"
"Oh, boy. Here we go again." said Jay.
"Looks like we are back to round one with his crush on her." [robotic] Nova mumbled to herself.
*Skylor was able to confuse Jacob and grab the Jadeblade. Everyone cheers for her.*
"Yes! Go Skylor!" Kai cheered.
"Winner! And loser." Chen opens a trapdoor for Jacob. "I hope the Tournament of Elements has entertained you as much as it has me. To thank you, I wanted to give everyone fancy jewels and untold shiny things."
He pulls out a box of jewels. "But then in yesterday's battle, Master Jay and Cole tried to undermine me by teaming up and refusing to fight each other. And that made me very upset. For their insubordination, all of your fancy quarters will be taken away, and tonight everyone must sleep together in the chow house! That is all. Thank you, you can go."
"Nice one, Jay!" said Kai.
"Whoa, easy, Romeo." said Jay.
"Don't worry about them. We aren't here to make friends, just to save ours." said Lloyd.
"Yes, but your exclusion of others has only made enemies. Beware how you treat those around you, for they will treat you the same." said Garmadon.
"Well if we aren't here to make friends, then what does that make Delta?" Jay asked.
They turned to look over at Nova who got up from her seat and started leaving while ignoring them.
"What's up with them, they are acting like we aren't here." said Kai, finding it a little strange.
"When Neuro was reading you guy's minds he also read Delta's mind, and he mentioned "she" and "her". So when I decided to ask them if they were a girl, they just got up and left without giving me a real answer." Lloyd explained.
Jay and Kai looked at each other and then back at him, giving him the look that said "you are such a blind idiot" as both of them let out a sigh.
"Has a feminine voice when singing."
"Is very short."
"Long hair."
"Are using a voice changer to cover their real voice."
They kept pointing out each detail they had noticed from Nova, for the short time they had known her.
"Okay, okay I get it guys. I should have paid more attention." said Lloyd with a sigh as they went to the chow house.
"So what are you gonna do?" Jay asked.
"She can't keep ignoring us after you asked that question." said Kai.
*The ninja got to the chow house seeing everyone else already finding their sleeping spot.*
Nova was sitting outside the chow house ignoring the ninja, as she was watching the view she was getting from there.
"You guys go on ahead." said Lloyd to the others before turning around, and walking over to sit down next to Nova.
Nova started growing nervous when she noticed Lloyd had chosen to sit next to her, but she tried to act like it was nothing.
"Delta can you please stop ignoring me, I'm sorry if I caught you off guard with that question. But I don't see what the big problem is with me wanting to know if you are a girl." said Lloyd, looking over at her.
"God, fucking, damn it, why does it have to be so hard to ignore him. When he is looking at me with those eyes." Nova thought, blushing under the mask.
She let out a heavy sigh. "Is it too hard to believe that as a thief, that I wanna keep my identity a secret along with my gender?" [robotic] She finally looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
Lloyd seemed to be thinking it over after hearing Nova's reply, wondering what he should say to that.
"Hmm no I see what you mean, that's why you have that voice changer. But you can trust me, I wouldn't judge whatever gender you are." He said, smiling at her.
Nova's blush started deepening from seeing his smile. "Why does he have to be so cute and charming whenever he smiles....I'm so glad Neuro didn't read this part of my mind and spoke it out loud, that would have been so embarrassing."
"I know that greenbean, but don't forget I'm still a thief so I do have to keep my identity a secret. After all, didn't you say a few days ago that you would put me behind bars when we returned from this place?" [robotic] Nova said, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"....Oh yeah, I did say that." Lloyd started rubbing the back of his neck. "Well you have been stealing a lot for a while, and though it's nice getting to know you better. I can't ignore that part so I will have to take you to prison."
"Which is why you aren't getting anymore info about me. After we are done with all of this, we are going our separate ways." [robotic] said Nova beginning to get up.
"Wait!" said Lloyd, getting up as well before going on to grab her wrist so she wouldn't go away.
"W-what?" [robotic] asked Nova looking at him confused, still blushing behind her mask.
"I was thinking, maybe after you've served your due in the prison. You could join my team since I believe deep down, you are a good person who wanna help." Lloyd said, looking at her with a soft smile.
Nova just stared at him for a while, her eyes widened a little before pulling her wrist free of his grip. "...I'm not sure that's a good idea Lloyd. I'm not much of a team player, I've been doing stuff mostly on my own for a while." [robotic] She said before leaving him and heading inside to find herself a place to sleep.
Lloyd let out a small sigh heading inside too and over to his team getting ready to sleep.
*Early morning the ninja wake up.*
"Couldn't sleep either?" said Jay.
"Not when we still have to get Zane and Cole back." said Kai.
"Speaking of backs, these new beds are the worst. All right, let's do—" said Lloyd just before an anacondrai cultist bangs on a gong and the lights turn on.
"Quick, back in bed." said Kai.
"Good morning, fighters. Oh, that's right, it's the middle of the night." said Chen as the cultists put skates on the Masters.
"SHUT THE FUCKING UP, IF I HEAR ANOTHER SOUND FROM THAT GONG I WILL BREAK SOMETHING IN HERE!!!" [robotic] Nova angrily shouted, holding a rubber knife to a cultist's neck who had just put skates on her.
Everyone looked at her a little scared of her outburst, and they all had the same thought. "Never wake them up early in the morning."
"Hey, what are you doing?" Lloyd asked.
"Do you know what time it is?" Jay asked.
"Roller skates? Whoa, aah!" Kai falls, but Skylor helps him up. "Thanks."
"Let me guess, another one of Chen's impromptu battles?" said Lloyd.
"Oh, roller skates. I love roller skates!" said Jay.
"We should be getting used to this by now." said Lloyd.
"Did I ever mention I once placed first in the Mother-Son Skate-Off? Hehe. I should have never admitted that." said Jay.
"Weirdo." said Mr. Pale.
"Yeah I would have liked to never, having known that." [robotic] said Nova.
"Master Chen wants everyone in the Royal Arena. I wouldn't be late if I were you." said Clouse.
"If most of us have already fought, why are we all in skates?" Skylor asked.
"Only two of you will be fighting, but the rest of you will have a chance to affect the outcome." said Clouse.
"Who's fighting? Tell us now." Griffin asked.
"The Green Ninja versus the master of form." Clouse leaves.
"Master of form? Who's that?" Lloyd asked.
"Kai" comes over to Lloyd. "You haven't heard? I hear she can look like anyone. She'd be right under your nose, and by the time you figure it out, she's discovered all your weaknesses, then it's game over. But you're the Green Ninja, what weakness could you have?"
" Ugh. Aside from—"
"Drope it Chamille." [robotic] said Nova, coming over to them.
"Chamille?" said Lloyd, confused as he looked at "Kai".
"Aww come on Delta, why ruin the fun for me." said Chamille as she changed back.
"Want me to remind you of the debt you haven't paid me back yet? Because your list is already very long." [robotic] Nova crossed her arms with a raised eyebrow.
"Hmph, fine." said Chamille as she then left just as Kai and Jay showed up.
Kai skates up next to Lloyd. "Skates."
"Kai?"
"Why did it have to be skates?!" Kai falls.
Kai in a higher-pitched voice "Watch your back, Green Ninja."
"Hey Delta, how did you know that it was Chamille?" Lloyd asked, looking over at her.
Nova simply smirked under her mask. "I have my secrets, and I'm not sharing.~" [robotic] She said teasingly.
*The Elemental Masters skate toward the arena.*
"I don't like the look of this." said Lloyd.
"Don't worry, we got your back. Aah! Ugh." Kai falls again.
"Welcome to my favorite event. Thunderblade!" said Chen.
"Hey, I know this game. It's just like—" said Griffin before it was cut mid sentence.
"No, it's not like that! This is my game. I made it up! Fully original. A Jadeblade for you, Lloyd, master of power." Chen tosses him a Jadeblade and a green helmet. "And another for Chamille, master of form. Where—Where are you?" Chamille reveals herself. "Oh, there you are." He tosses her a blade and orange helmet. "Haha. Rules are simple. Each lap you complete with your blade in possession, a point. Most points before time expires, you win."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What about us? Are we supposed to just stand here?" Griffin asked.
"You get to help anyone you wish, or hurt for that matter. You're free to choose sides. I'm not a dictator." Everyone but Jay and Kai chose to side with Chamille.
"What was that you said about us having targets on our backs?" said Lloyd.
"Don't worry, we're still a team—" Kai falls again. "Argh!"
"Wait Delta, why did you choose their team?" Lloyd asked, looking over at her confused.
Nova looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. "Just because I hang out with you guys, doesn't mean I'm part of your "little" team." [robotic] said Nova though the real reason was that she didn't want Chen, and Clouse to know that she kind of was on their team.
Jay sighs. "I gotta be honest. This doesn't look good." Everyone takes their position.
"From this point on, I can't help them as I know what is gonna happen from now on." Nova thought, though tried to be careful with her words because a sudden someone might be reading her mind.
"Lloyd, master of power, versus Chamille, master of form. Most laps with their Jadeblade when time runs out wins. Loser is out. Thunderbladers on your mark, get set, good luck to everyone, but mostly Chamille because we all want the Green Ninja out. Now go!" The two get a head start. "Oh, how about some spectator ambiance?" Chen presses a button to make the speakers cheer. The others take off.
"It's us against the world, Kai. If Lloyd has any chance of moving forward in the tournament, it's up to you and me." said Jay.
"Lloyd's your greatest competition. If he loses today, what's left to stand in your way from winning it all?" said Skylor.
"I'd never think of it." said Kai.
"Maybe you should." She pushes Kai out of her way, making him fall again.
Jay sees everyone pushing Lloyd. "We have to give him room."
"And just how are we supposed to do that?" Kai asked.
"I got an idea. Don't touch anyone." said Jay.
"Then who am I supposed to hold on to?" Kai asks as Jay shocks the competitors except Nova, since she was able to dodge it by hiding in the shadows at just the right time.
"Thanks." said Lloyd.
"Sorry." Kai pushes his way through but accidentally falls on Lloyd, since Nova had come out of the shadows and knocked over his feet. "Use your powers!"
"On roller skates? You crazy?" Lloyd gets up. "I'd never stay on the track!"
"You're supposed to be helping, not hurting his chances." said Jay.
"Thanks for the tip, but I can't skate! And Delta was the one who knocked me over!" said Kai.
*The ninja continue their race.*
"Thunderblade never fails to deliver. Did you know I hold the record with a hundred points? Clouse can attest. Tell him, Clouse." said Chen.
"You were born with skates on, Master." said Clouse.
"True story." said Chen.
"True story, hmph. Just like all of his far-fetched endeavors." said Garmadon.
"There was once a time when you were quite comfortable with lying. It worked on Misako, didn't it?" said Clouse.
"Button, button, I love buttons. Aha, let's even the playing field, shall we?" Chen activates a ramp, which Kai falls on.
"Grab my hand! I'll whip ya!" shouted Jay coming over to Lloyd as he does so, but it was Chamille impersonating Lloyd.
"Bruh, you are such an idiot." [robotic] said Nova running passed Jay.
"Hey Delta, try and see if you can slow him down a bit." said Chamille coming over to her side.
"Okay." [robotic] said Nova as she began speeding up. "Sorry about this Lloyd."
"Wait, where'd Delta go?"Jay asked as Delta hits Lloyd's back and Mr. Pale grabs his Jadeblade. Jay pushes him and grabs the blade.
"You didn't learn that in your Mother-Son Skate-Off, did you?" said Lloyd.
"It's a fierce competition, Lloyd, and this isn't the time to judge. It's the time to skate faster." Jay jumps over Kai and Griffin, who fall. "Haha!" Tox turns around and releases a poison cloud. "Watch out for the poison cloud!" He and Jay skate around it but Kai goes into it.
"Thanks for the warning." said Kai.
"Release the buggy!" said Chen.
"Look out, Lloyd!" Jay pushes him out of the path of the jungle raider.
Lloyd sees Chamille holding on to the buggy. "She has the lead and she gets a lift? I know Chen wants me out, but this is getting ridiculous."
"Greenie you should have seen that coming, after all he doesn't play fair." [robotic] said Nova as she was skating passed him.
Lloyd sent a small glare towards her, clearly not happy from when she hit his back.
"Sorry, Tox." Jay pushes Tox. "Must be my allergies kicking in."
Griffin and Neuro grab Jay. "Check this out."
"Gotcha." said Neuro as Griffin uses his Speed and pushes Jay into Lloyd.
"We are so not loved." said Jay.
"You're very convincing. In no time, Lloyd will be out." said Skylor.
"This did wonders for my back, though." said Lloyd.
"And he'll never suspect." said Skylor.
"Argh! That's it! I may not be able to skate, but that doesn't mean I can't help." Kai uses his Fire to propel himself into Chamille. Jay grabs her Jadeblade.
"Haha! Nice, Kai! Now you're cooking with fire!" said Jay as Chamille chases him. "I got it, you want it! Come and get it! Come and get it!"
"What are you doing? We need Lloyd out." said Skylor.
"We need to stick together. I'm a ninja." said Kai.
"Ugh. That's right. And the rest of us aren't. I should've known better." said Skylor.
"Lloyd's closing the gap, but the clock's against us." said Jay.
"So is everyone else. Garmadon's right. The more we exclude everyone, the more they gang up on us. Even Delta." said Kai.
"What are you saying?" Jay asked.
"I'm saying why don't we tell them about Chen? If others knew what this tournament was really about, maybe they'd help us." said Kai.
"Uh, worth a try, but time's running out and Lloyd's got a lot of ground to make up." said Jay.
"Gimme!" Chamille pushes Jay and steals her blade back. "I've got a job to finish."
"Are you trying to take me out too?" Skylor asked.
"No, you're right. We aren't all ninja, but Chen's the real enemy. He doesn't care about who wins. He only wants to steal our powers so that he can perform some sort of spell." Kai explained.
"A spell? What kind of spell?" Mr. Pale asked.
"I don't know, but we have to stay in the tournament to find out." said Kai.
"This isn't about Lloyd winning. It's about all of us stopping Chen." said Jay.
"And why are you telling me this now?" Griffin asked.
"Because it's never too late to do the right thing." said Lloyd.
"He's telling the truth. I know." said Neuro and Nova in unison, causing both of them to look at each other. "Are you able to read people's minds too?" he asked, confused.
"No, but he's just easy to read." [robotic] said Nova as she pointed at Lloyd, who gave her a questionable look.
"Then why have you now decided to help?" Jay asked.
"I'd rather be on the winning team." said Neuro.
"I have my reasons." [robotic] said Nova with a small shrug.
"Then let's win this thing!" said Lloyd.
Kai drives up to Lloyd on the buggy. "Need a lift?"
"Ugh. You took the buggy." said Lloyd.
"We took the buggy." Kai reveals Skylor got on too. "Take the wheel!" Lloyd turns the buggy into the Jungle Raider.
"Cut the green guy some slack." Griffin pushes Tox.
"Buttons, buttons, buttons!" Chen tries to stop Lloyd, but couldn't.
"We don't have to keep fighting each other. We can all win." said Lloyd.
"All of us?" asked Chamille.
"United." Chamille pulls Lloyd out of the buggy. "Whoa!"
"Only one can remain." said Chamille.
"Lloyd might win. Do something!" Garmadon tackles Clouse before he can use his magic. He nods to the scorekeeper to change the score.
"Ugh, he's rigging the match. I'll stop him." said Kai.
"Let me." Skylor uses Gravity to levitate the scorekeeper. The two fighters cross the finish line, but only Lloyd has the Jadeblade.
"She doesn't have her blade!" said Jay as she looks back to see a shadow-like thing holding her Jadeblade.
"Oops, sorry about my stealing habit. I couldn't help it." [robotic] said Nova with a smirk behind her mask, standing with the rest of the group.
"Lloyd won!" said Kai.
"Oops, I almost forgot." Skylor drops the scorekeeper, changing Lloyd's score to 106 points.
"Look at that! He broke your record." said Garmadon.
"No, no, no! He cheated! Lloyd loses!" said Chen.
"No way, Lloyd won fair and square. You were the one who cheated." said Griffin.
"My tournament, my rules." said Chen.
"And just what rules are those? If Lloyd's out, then so am I." said Mr. Pale.
"Same here." [robotic] said Nova crossing her arms.
"Me too."
"And me three."
"If you kick us all out, what kind of tournament will you have then?" said Skylor.
"Fine, have it your way. Form loses." Chen opens a trapdoor under Chamille. Everyone cheers.
"All right! We won! Yeah!" said Jay.
"If what you say is true, you are playing a dangerous game. Chen will find other ways to get you out of the tournament." said Skylor.
"Which is why we'll need all the friends we can get. There's always hope." said Kai.
Nova had walked over to the shadows where Chamille's jadeblade was now laying on the floor as a small idea came to her mind.
Just as she was about to try her idea she heard a voice behind her.
"Delta, can we talk for a moment?" Lloyd asked.
Nova turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow. "Why does this feel like that time we had our first fight on the Destiny's Bounty." she thought to herself.
"Well what do you wanna talk about?" [robotic] Nova asked.
"During the race you could have easily used your powers to stop me from winning, but yet you didn't whenever you had a chance to. You said you weren't a team player and yet you along with the others went on to help me anyway." said Lloyd looking at her a little confused.
"I might be a thief who likes to cheat and lie at times, but that doesn't mean I can have honor and play fair at times. I wanted a good fair race." [robotic] Nova explained.
"But why didn't you just join our team then? It might have given us a better chance to win?" Lloyd asked.
Nova let out a heavy sigh, placing her hands on her hips. "As I said, I wanted a good fair race, and I didn't want a target on my back. But most of all you guys needed the others on your side, with this whole Chen is evil and stealing our powers thing." [robotic] Nova went on to explain.
"So you joined their team on purpose, just for us to open up and tell the others about Chen's plan. That's pretty smart, but I don't really understand why." He said still a bit confused.
"It's as you said, it's the right thing to do." [robotic] Nova said with a soft look in her eyes.
Lloyd let out a small laugh at that. "Okay, using my own words against me I see. Good one." He said looking at her before giving a soft smile.
Nova giggled a little, enjoying this moment with him like the good old times. "We should probably get back to the others." [robotic] She said.
"Yeah you are probably right." said Lloyd as the both of them went on to join the others again.