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•°• 10 Years Later •°•

The wave rose again, aided by the wind. It's top lip grew heavy and it partially rolled in on itself, making it perfect for Nya to ride. She popped up on the surfboard, bending her knees and positioning her arms for balance. She laughed gleefully, tearing through the side of the wave with ease. She crouched lower as the water formed a tube around her, barrelling her in. Nya leaned in, running her hand through the water.

She escaped the tunnel and shot into the air, hooting and spinning her board for fun. Using her powers, she made the water under her spiral upward in a column, taking her to the sky. The wind and water whipped back her high ponytail and Nya breathed in the scent of the ocean.

She landed smoothly on the diminishing wave, doing a final cutback before the wave broke. Cheering loudly, she surfed back onto stable waters and sat down on the board, legs submerged in the water on either side.

Clapping issued from behind her and she smiled, turning around to face her sister.

"Not bad, seashell," Skylor said, perched on her own surfboard and paddling closer to Nya.

Nya scoffed playfully, still out of breath. "Not bad? Is that all you have to say?"

Skylor shrugged. "That's all there is to say."

"Think you can top it?" Nya asked, raising an eyebrow.

Skylor flipped her red ponytail over her shoulder confidently. "I will if you help with the waves," she said, gesturing at the disappointingly low waves forming on the horizon.

"Won't that be cheating?"

"Either nature makes the waves or Nya makes 'em. What's the difference?"

Nya rolled her eyes but obliged. As Skylor paddled farther into the sea, Nya raised her arm and splayed her fingers. With slow, deliberate motions, she waved her forearm up and down, seemingly pulling on the water to make it rise.

She could feel the power accumulating inside her and before long, a giant wave took shape, bigger than what Nya rode before. Skylor easily pulled herself into it, making sure to get caught in the current before standing on the board. Nya watched, impressed when Skylor directly climbed the wavefront and emerged on the top.

The redhead yelled in excitement, leaning left and right and riding tail to tail. She returned to the base of the wave, did a bottom turn and went back up, waving at Nya all the while. Nya couldn't sit still and decided to join her sister on the wave she created.

"Your waves are way more fun!" Skylor yelled over the wind as Nya caught up behind her.

"Wanna try it yourself?" Nya asked, extending her hand towards the other girl.

Skylor reached back and grasped her fingers. Nya felt a tug and knew that's all she needed. "I'm gonna try the water column," she said and Nya gave her a thumbs up.

Skylor surfed to the lip of the wave and broke through it, taking her board in the air. She moved her arms around in a swirling pattern like Nya had done and a column of water spiraled up to meet the bottom of the surfboard.

Both the girls cheered at that. But the moment was short. Skylor's control was feeble and the column broke down. Nya gasped as Skylor lost her balance and tumbled down into the wave.

The ravenette quickly lowered the wall of water until it disappeared and the surface of the sea became smooth again. She could see the other surfboard floating a few feet away but there was no sign of its rider.

"Skylor!" Nya shouted, searching the deep blue. Worry creased her forehead as seconds passed but no one emerged from the water.

"Sky- Hey!" She yelped as the board got yanked from under feet, sending her splashing into the sea. Laughter sounded as Nya resurfaced, coughing out the salty water. She wiped her hair from her face and saw Skylor smiling at her.

Despite the initial shock, Nya smirked. She sent a miniature wave washing over the older girl who cried out in surprise.

"Jerk," they said in unison.

"I won by the way," Nya reminded, reaching for her board.

Skylor raised her hands in defeat. "I know, I know. I yield. Guess you really are the queen of the waves."

Nya couldn't help but smile. Surfing was both of their favourite pastime and they were very good at it. But Nya would always excel due to her mastery of water. Skylor, as Nya had learned, had the ability to recreate others' powers by absorbing them. And even though water was the only element Skylor had ever worked with, she still couldn't beat Nya on the waves.

"Miss Skyor! Miss Nya!" someone called out from the beach. The girls shifted around to see Sakura, their maid-in-waiting. Her dark hair was twisted into an intricate bun, decorated with pins and flowers. She wore a blood-red kimono that reached down to her feet and her face was painted white with red accents. She was the head of the Kabuki, the household staff that looked after their home.

"Lunch is ready and your father has requested your presence at the table," Sakura continued, clutching at her kimono and keeping it from being spoiled by the sand.

"Great," Skylor smiled, swimming towards the shore. "Father is finally free from his scheming."

Nya followed after her. "Or maybe he wants to do collective scheming over lunch."

The girls laughed at that. They emerged onto the beach, slightly shivering in the breeze. Sakura handed them towels and robes to cover up and quickly led them inside the great palace that stood nestled in the island flora, visible through the treeline.

It was a magnificent building, constructed in the traditional style with smaller wings branching out on either side. The guard and servant quarters were separate buildings on the left while the newly built guesthouse stood on the right. Pebbled pathways, fountains and gardens filled up any spare space between the buildings.

The entire area was enclosed by a boundary wall as tall as the trees that surrounded it. An alternating pattern of steps and platforms began at the dock on the beach and ended at the colossal gate which was the only entrance into the enclosure.

Sakura, however, took them through the hidden back entrance reserved for servants (and midnight escapades) and led them up to their rooms to freshen up.

. . .

Nya felt a bit stiff in the new kimono, blue like the ocean and tied with a navy sash. Her kabuki maids had cornered her the moment she'd entered her room. They had washed her, pinned her hair, powdered her face and got her dressed for lunch in less than twenty minutes. Their speed of turning an urchin into a princess was impressive to say the least.

Now Nya stood at the door to the dining hall, impatiently waiting for Skylor. The redhead came rushing down the staircase, her own maids on her tail, struggling to tie her sash as she ran. She came to a stop next to Nya and quickly adjusted her hair. The doors to the hall opened and the girls stepped inside.

Nya sighed, smiling at her new family. The family who'd found her on the beach after the storm nearly ten years ago. They took her in, loved her as their own and, when she revealed her power to them, they helped her command it. Her new family made her who she was today: the Master of Water.

"Ah, there they are! My beautiful daughters!"

Master Chen, their father, was seated at the head of the table. He was dressed in maroon robes with golden accents. A chain of snake fangs hung from his neck while a peculiar looking headdress sporting a purple serpent sat atop his head.

Nya beamed at him. He was the one who believed in her the most. Everything she knew about life and survival, she owed it to him. A rather eccentric man who was obsessed with snakes, Nya had found him quite funny most of the time. She'd only seen him angry when he was ordering his guards. Even Skylor would get scolded now and then but he'd never raised his voice at Nya.

Chen owned a chain of noodle houses on the mainland. All the merchandise and supplies required by the restaurants was produced in the factory situated beneath the palace. The stock would then be shipped to Ninjago on a weekly basis. This business was the reason Master Chen was ridiculously wealthy, allowing Nya a lifestyle she had only dreamed of.

"Good afternoon, Father," Skylor stated as she and Nya pulled out their chairs and sat down.

"Both of you missed your morning lessons today," drawled Clouse who was seated opposite them. He was Chen's right hand man and the girls' teacher in knowledge and martial arts. He was always plagued by a grumpy mood but Nya didn't mind. Besides, he could do magic. She and Skylor had had their fair share of fun with him when they were young.

"Oh come now, Clousey-clouse," Chen tutted, flapping a hand at the man. "Missing one lesson doesn't do any harm. The girls have been working hard. Let them have some fun."

Clouse frowned deeply at the name, making Skylor and Nya snicker behind their hands. They quickly recovered and cleared their throats when the sorcerer directed a stern look at them.

"Oh," Nya perked up, looking at her father. "How is the Thunderblade track coming along?"

Chen laughed excitedly. "It's almost finished. Just need to add a few more booby traps!"

"I think thirty one booby traps are more than enough, Master," Clouse spoke, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Nonesense! The more obstacles there are for the Elemental Masters, the more fun the tournament will be."

"Do we really need to discuss the tournament every time we all get together?" Skylor sighed, tapping her fork against her plate impatiently. "Can we not talk about something else like the noodle sales or something?"

Everyone paused, staring at Skylor as if she had said something unusual.

"The noodle sales are fine, sweetheart," Chen said finally, oblivious to the redhead's eyeroll. "Don't worry about that."

Nya could understand her sister's frustration, however. Their happy and lavish life on the island was merely an illusion, a cage of gold. Chen, along with his entire array of servants and guards, had been banished to the island long before Skylor was even born.

This punishment was conferred upon them by the Elemental Masters, the so called protectors of Ninjago, for not aiding them during the first Serpentine War. They were people gifted with abilities similar to Nya and Skylor.

The Masters were selfish and arrogant, always looking down on the powerless. They didn't deserve to be at the helm of the world. In order to exact revenge for the banishment and ridicule his family endured, Chen began putting together a trap to lure the Elemental Masters and take their undeserved powers. He masked it as an underground fight club: the Tournament of Elements.

Nya greatly sympathised with her father on the matter. She knew what it was like to be crushed under the feet of people who thought themselves better than the rest. Skylor shared the sentiment but what troubled her was that the planning of the tournament had taken up her father's entire life. He barely spent time with them anymore and was becoming madder as the years passed.

Nya was about to change the subject for Skylor's sake when the door to the hall flew open and in rushed a guard.

"Master Chen, a visitor is here to see you about the tournament," he said, after a quick bow.

Nya winced internally and Skylor scoffed.

"A visitor?" Chen asked, putting down his chopsticks.

"The thief, Ronin."

Chen caught on. "Oh, yes! I was expecting him."

Clouse was already halfway across the hall, ordering the guard to let the man in. Chen made to get up from the table as well when Skylor grabbed his arm.

"Father, please, we just got here for lunch," she stated, desperation leaking into her voice.

"Skylor, this is important," Chen replied, removing his arm from his daughter's grasp. "It'll only take a few minutes."

"What about spending those few minutes with your family?"

"Skylor!"

"Can we at least join you?" Nya quickly cut in, placing her hand on Skylor's shoulder to stop her.

Chen's eyes widened and he immediately shook his head. "Absolutely not!"

"But we-"

"Nobody from the mainland knows about you two and it's best if they don't. It gives us an advantage in the tournament and I won't risk it."

With that, Chen marched out of the hall, Clouse and the guard following close behind. The doors shut with an echoing bang.

Skylor angrily shoved her plate away, the silverware and ceramics clanking loudly. "If he won't give the tournament a break then he should at least include us in its dealings."

"There is one way we can listen in without being seen," Nya muttered, placing her elbow on the table and leaning into it.

It took a few seconds for Skylor to register what she was implying. The sisters shared a mischievous grin before slinking out of the hall, abandoning the table for the maids to clean up.

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