I went back and added a couple things to the last chapter but one I think you should see (if you didn't) was this paragraph, right before the Skylor + Kai thing:

Zane cooked, Skylor cooked and worked, and Kai spent as much time as possible with Skylor. Nya built stuff and avoided Jay, who tried to talk to her. Wu sat in his office doing FSM knows what, and Misako seemed to spend time with him as much as Lloyd, who was in his room more than ever before, and Kylie worried about him, and Cole worried about her. Oh, and Neuro... what did Neuro do?

I kind of hate that this ⬇️ is like 80% dialogue... I guess I'm just trying to make the chapters long enough? But I also don't want boring sentences. *shrug*

Ok anyway here's the chapter.

"Sensei?"

"Yes, Kylie?" Wu looked up from some scrolls on his desk.

"Sorry, if now's not a good time–"

"No, sit down." He gave her a soft smile. "How have you been?"

"Umm, ok." She thought for a moment. "Neuro is nice to have around."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. He's..." she smiled. "Helping me... cope. Whether he's trying to or not."

"That is good to hear," Wu nodded. "What did you come to me for?"

"Oh. I was wondering about my powers–" she paused.

"Yes?"

She gripped her arm. "I think I should start more training."

He seemed to perk up. "Yes?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "Because– I'm worried about– well, I'm wondering... how– well it was just so sudden and I barely know where they came from or what all my powers can do..."

"Of course. We can train with them and I can do research."

"Thank you! When can we start?"

"I think in about a week or two. We have all been recovering and I have some work ahead of me."

"Ok," she nodded. She had been hoping to start right away, but... that was ok.

⚃ ⚃ ⚃

"I did some research on your element. I knew it existed, but not that it was ever gifted to a human. I did not know your parents, which is... strange. But I found that your element, in its original and most powerful form, from a dragon itself, has the potential to resurrect– control over life and death itself. But elements can and do evolve and wane in their potency and it is very unlikely that you would possess those qualities."

⚃ ⚃ ⚃

"Skylor broke up with Kai."

"Really?"

Nya nodded.

"Why?"

"He didn't tell me. All he said was that she broke up with him. He barely told me that."

"Oh." Kylie looked disgusted. "Of course she did." She rhythmically hit the table with her fist and let out a frustrated growl. "We never should have trusted her."

"It was just a breakup," Nya said, looking confused.

"After, like what, a week? She was just messing with him."

"We don't know her side of the story," Nya suggested.

"True." Kylie sighed. "But she's the stranger, not Kai."

"I know," Nya agreed. "I'm thinking about talking to her over lunch sometime. To make sure Kai's ok – and to see her side of the story. Maybe then Kai will tell me something."

"Yeah. That'll be interesting."

⚃ ⚃ ⚃

"Hey, Nya," Jay said, walking onto the training course where she was doing some casual training.

"Hey Jay," she said quickly, barely glancing at him.

"So, I was wondering if you'd want to... maybe watch a movie sometime?"

She paused for a moment, then began punching and kicking the training equippment more agressively. "Jay, I don't– I can't–" She stopped and sighed, then turned to face him. "I–"

"I'm sorry, Nya. I shouldn't have asked. I don't want to bother you."

"Jay, it's not that." She walked towards him. "I don't want you to feel like you're a burden or annoying or anything like that, okay?"

"Okay." He smiled with a small grimace.

"But I'm not ready for anything like that yet– I need more time to think about... everything. Something like that might be fun as a group though, right?"

"Not as fun."

"I'm not ready for a relationship right now, with anyone, not just you."

"Well couldn't it just be as friends?"

"You know that's not how it is... I'm sorry," she sighed, and went back to training.

"No, I'm sorry," he said with a touch of melancholy. "I'll plan a team movie night probably."

"Sounds great."

"Ok... see ya."

⚃ ⚃ ⚃

https://youtu.be/q7IoqOGSqvc

"Sensei Wu is planning to tear down the monastery and build a tea shop."

"WHAT?"

"He said-"

Kylie didn't wait around for Zane to finish his sentence.

⚃ ⚃ ⚃

"Master Wu?" Kylie knocked on his door frame as she peeked into his room where he was reading a book.

"Come in," he said, not looking up.

"I heard you were planning to tear down sensei Garmadon's monastery."

"Yes, and start a tea farm and shop."

She said nothing for a moment, but her eyes darted around the room. "Why would you even think of doing that?" she finally said, glaring at him.

"We need income, and a tea farm is something I've been thinking about for a long time."

"So you're going to tear down sensei's monastery to do so."

"We don't have any other land."

"Why can't we start the school up again? I can teach."

"Garmadon is not here to help with the school."

Kylie didn't remember ever yelling at anyone like this since she came to live with the ninja. She was livid. "You were the head of the school! He built the monastery for us to live in!"

"Kylie?" It was Nya at the door.

Kylie glanced back at Wu, who was looking at her with a stern look she had never seen before.

"Kylie, come with me for a second." Nya took her arm and pulled her out of the room and to Nya's bedroom.

"You really can't talk to sensei like that."

"Why is he tearing down this monastery? This was Garmadon's house that he built. This is so stupid."

"Kylie, listen to me! You can't question your sensei like that, especially on a decision this big!"

"Wu was barely the sensei that Garmadon was, and I'm not going to let this happen."

"It's not something that you have that kind of say on. You could get in a lot of trouble from talking back to a sensei."

"Stop treating me like I'm stupid. This is insane! Do you-" Suddenly a terrible thought struck her, and she rushed back into Wu's office. "You're just doing this because you want a tea shop. You're going to use sensei's land and money for your hobby! He sacrificed his life for us, and you- selfish-"

Wu stood up and banged his hand on his desk. He was very grave. "That was extremely disrespectful and you should know that I would never do a thing like that. Kylie, never speak to me like that again. It was very rude and out of place."

She suddenly got very hot all over and felt herself turn very red. Nya dragged her out of the room. Once they were safely behind a closed door, Nya turned to her.

"What did I tell you?"

"I'm sorry-"

"You could be in trouble." Nya stressfully ran a hand through her hair.

"Oh, no..." Kylie wanted to cry and scream at the same time.

There was knocking at the door and her stomach twisted.

"Nya? Kylie?"

"What's going on?"

It was Lloyd and Cole. Nya opened the door.

"I'm sorry," Kylie said, looking back and forth between them.

"What happened?" Lloyd wondered. "We heard shouting, and-"

"Do none of you think it's wrong?" Kylie interrupted. "That he's going to tear down the monastery?"

The others exchanged glances.

"Is that what the yelling was?" Cole asked.

"Yeah," Nya said quietly.

"Do you think it's wrong?" Kylie repeated.

"Even if it is, it's not something that... can just be accused of him like that..." Cole began.

"But I can't just stand by and let it happen," she said, starting to sniffle. "He was my sensei, like a father to me, and this is my home, and we all love it..."

"I know," Lloyd said. "He's my dad. And I love this home too."

"Then why is this even being considered?"

Cole guided her to the room's bathroom sink and turned on the cold water, then put her hands under it. She took some deep breaths. The cold water felt nice.

"He's our sensei, Wu, son of the First Spinjitzu Master," Cole said gently. "We have to respect him."

"Home is where family is, right?" Nya said, putting a hand on Kylie's shoulder.

"Yeah... I'm really sorry, guys." She was ashamed of herself for being so stupid, acting out of her emotions like that... She stepped away from them. "I think I should..." A small wave of panic. They probably thought she was stupid, naive, immature... She walked out of the room. They didn't want to be with her, no way.

She bumped into Neuro in the hallway.

"Sorry–" she squeaked, wiping her face.

"That's okay– hey, are you okay?" She shook her head, and he gave her a hug. "What happened?"

"Wu wants to get rid of the Monastary, and I got super mad about it and yelled at him and I think I'm in trouble."

"Oh, well I'm sure he will understand."

"I don't know, I was really disrespectful."

"Look, Kylie, we've all been dealing with a lot of emotions this week and I think he will understand that. How about this: let's talk to him about it, deal with it, it will be totallly fine, and how would you like to go somewhere this evening?"

"Like where?"

"Wherever you want–, a park, shopping, dinner... my treat."

"Ok," she smiled. "That sounds nice."

⚃ ⚃ ⚃

Like Neuro said, Wu was actually very understanding. And she had a date with Neuro for that evening, to go around town.

"Dad date" she thought, then immediately mentally kicked herself.

⚃ ⚃ ⚃

Why do I feel far away from the others? I guess we're all just going through a rough time. Yeah. I have my uncle. I'm so glad he found me. If I didn't have him right now... I think I'd be a lot worse off.

(Credits song) This is by The Fold and The Fold = Ninjago so listen to this song!! It is one of my favorites.

https://youtu.be/q7IoqOGSqvc

A/N

I need to apologize about something...

A very prominent theme in this book is the theme of grief. And I've never experienced the loss of a loved one. The closest to it was in a dream I had where my two best friends died. That is what The Nightmare is based off of.

So if you have been through loss... I (1) hope this story hasn't been negatively triggering, and (2) am sorry if I at all minimized grieving or described it inaccurately.

Of course, there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and grief comes in many forms. However since I have not experienced it for myself I just wanted to make this disclaimer.

There are other themes in this book and its sequel that I have not directly experienced. Most of what I write about, I've gotten from secondhand experience. Depression. Anger. Self-harm. Suicide and suicidal thoughts. My hopes are not to trigger the reader, but to provide hope. That there is more in life for you.

If anyone has advice or constructive criticism, I'm all ears (as always).

Thank you, love you bunches <3