It's the first day of October, and something good is in the air!  

(If any characters show up that you didn't expect/don't recognize in the course of this book, context is in my OC book and The Way Back/The Forgotten Masters books.  [Yes, I may be using this as an excuse to write some bonus material for my other ff's.  Don't judge.)  :P

Please enjoy!  💗

Far above Ninjago City, the Destiny's Bounty floats majestically through the clear-blue sky.  Outside on the deck, most of the Ninja are training, but there are those who would rather stay inside and-

"BAKE!!!  I keep telling you, you've got to bake the bread first before you try eating it!  There's only so much batter that we have, and that you can consume before you get ill from it!"  

Why would I get ill from eating some batter?"

"Because it contains raw eggs, you nitwit!"  Ava Hakura, the Master of Night, growls, though she can't stop the slight smile that appears on her lips as she watches Acronix sneak another lick of their mixture when he thinks that she isn't looking.  "I swear, since we've all been living together, things have gotten really crowded and-"

"-SNACK ATTACK!!!"  Her friend, Rhea Marlow, Master of Illusion, yells and whooshes by, quickly dipping her finger into the bowl and running off again, cackling maniacally.

"WILL YOU JUST STOP THAT?!!"  Ava screams at her.  

"Nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah-nyah-nah!!!"  Rhea giggles loudly and tries to stay just out of reach of Ava's mixing spoon, with which the Master of Night is currently attempting to brain her friend.

"You idiot Illusionist, do you WANT to get sick?  Stay away!"

A pair of emerald green eyes slowly and surreptitiously lifts up over the top of the counter, and Lloyd Garmadon appears, like a shifty blond gopher checking to see if the coast is clear.  Upon seeing Ava's back turned to him, he speedily darts out a hand and scoops a fistful of the dough out of the bowl, then ducks back underneath the table.  "Here, guys."  He whispers, letting Jay and Emily, the new Master of Light, each take a portion of the product of his thievery.

Ava turns back in time to see the flash of green that signals that the Green Ninja is hiding out under her workstation.  She sighs, takes a deep breath, then quickly lifts the tablecloth and hollers into the three's faces.  "Get OUT!!!"

They scramble out, getting trapped in the tablecloth for a moment, nearly dragging the entire contents of the table along with them as they make a mad dash for freedom.

"AND KEEP YOUR GRIMY HANDS AWAY FROM OUR PROJECT!!!"

Acronix wheezes, trying not to laugh.  Ava whips her head around, glaring at him, and he immediately pastes a neutral frown onto his face.  "Those crazy kids."  He says, shaking his head with a tsk.

"Now look what they've done!  There's barely any left!  We'll have to start all over again."

"I don't mind.  This is fun."

Ava exhales slowly.  "Well, alright.  Can you grab another can of pumpkin then, please?"

"Of course."  He smiles reassuringly at her and heads for the pantry.

-About an hour and a half later-

"The bread's ready!"  Ava calls out, walking into the dining area with a plateful of still-steaming slices of homebaked pumpkin bread.

Rhea, Jay, Lloyd, and Emily look up at her, then run out of the room.  A minute later, retching can be heard.

Ava snorts.  "I did tell you, didn't I?"

Acronix grabs a slice and bites into it.  "More for us, then."  He grins.  "Too bad for them, I say."

584 words.