{Location: Crystal Pass, Town center}(Seliel's POV)[Six months later]

I crouch on a building, in perfect view of two young teens trying to break into a bank. A smirk curls under my helmet. My fingers hover my belt, which weapon to pick, so many fun options.

Snap! The teen in a see-through black ski mask fist bumps the air, "Got it." Mostly male. Late puberty.

The other teen, who has a black hoodie and a black half mask smacks his partner on the back of the head, "Shut up. This is a lot of money, and we don't need anyone out us."

I turn around, lower myself to a window sill, repeat the process until my boots land on the pavement. My right-hand reaches behind me and grabs an extendable staff I've been working on. I tiptoe closer, press the button, thwack, metal on metal rings in the air. The two teen twist back to look at me, worry grows quickly in their eyes. I point the staff tip at the hoodie guy, "Hey losers."

They back up. Both scared out of their minds. Ski mask holds his hands up, "D-don't."

Hoodie guy gets on his knees, "It was just prank. We're weren't gonna take anything. I swear."

I slowly press a button on my belt, my line to AJ or whoever is on the phone at the police station. In the corner of my eye, it starts blinking. I direct my attention back to the almost thieves, "Funny. It that crowbar behind you suggests otherwise."

Hood guy squeaks, "I..it was here when I found it."

Sure, buddy. Nice try. I glance up to see red, white and blue flashing lights coming around the bend, "So why does it have the initials J.D. engraved on the inside?" I step closer to hoodie guy, "Your name."

Ski mask guy whistles, "So, I'm not getting grilled. Can I go or-"

I step back and poke him in the stomach. He holds it as he doubles over. I point back to hoodie guy as cop cars stop behind me, "No. Now, was this just a petty thief or was Crown involved?"

Hoodie guy titles his head, "Man, I don't know what you've been smoking but no Crown told me to do anything."

He holds still and looks where my eyes would be. He's honest. Which means another dead end. I step back, put my staff away and just as the cops come, I throw down a smoke bomb. I've got a new toy I wanna try. I press the center of my belt, two metal wings pop out from my back along with two jets under them and four by my feet. I elevate up above the smoke cloud, sarcastically salute the cops then fly home.

This is awesome. I love this toy. I'm tempted to go high but Marci said to keep it low. But still, the sky it right there and....whoa. I hear a sputter and I head down to Mom's stacue. I steady myself then tuck and roll on the ground. Once I'm on my feet again I pull the wings off. I spot something in the engine. I carefully pull it out, it's a sheet of paper. I hold it up, "Are you kidding me?" I crumple it up. "Stupid Ninja promotion poster," I growl. All because they saved the world few times, they're celebrities. Ugg, everyone cares about them and New Ninjago city. Not little, very hurt places like Crystal Pass.

I walk into my backyard to see Marci sitting in the middle of dozens of parts. "Hey." I gently place the wings down, "The engine was too exposed."

Marci sighs heavily, "There's just no pleasing this thing hmm?" She picks it up as AJ comes out the back door in workout shorts.

I sigh as dawn peeks through the clouds. "At least you can figure out a machine." I take off my armor as AJ stretches.

She pulls her right arm down, "Hurry up Ghost girl. You wanted to spar."

"Very funny copper," I get my breastplate, shoulder guards, and my belt off, "You promise to not go easy on me?"

"You're in for the fight of your life," AJ stretches her other arm as I'm dressed back in my new much shorter jumpsuit. It stops above my knees and is light blue and grey. I tie my hair back in a loose ponytail then ready my stance.

AJ and I circle as Marci works on something, AJ smirks as she starts with a kick, "You still think we should have that hole by your Mom's statue?"

I jump back from her punch and close the distance between us, "Yeah. It might make for a good trapdoor someday."

AJ takes the punching hand and tries wrapping it around my head, I worm out and put distance between us. AJ rolls her eyes, "Hey random crook, you're lucky enough to fall down the same place where one of my biggest foes was defeated."

AJ now goes into combos. Punch, right elbow, left punch then right roundhouse. I know this combo. I manage to keep pulling back then grab her leg, "It would be an honor."

AJ jumps on her other leg and almost hits me on the chin, I pull back at the risk of letting go. AJ lands, kick-jumps up and smirks again, "I wish Jordan went to real prison. But no, just because he's 17 now, he's in juvie."

I change tactics to go on the offensive, I get in close and punch her thigh, "At least the law has decency."

AJ grabs my ponytail and swings me away, "So you've seen those pro-Ninja posters?"

I roll my eyes as I wait, "Yeah. Doesn't their manager know that not all of Ninjago is head over heels for them?" I start off with a kick, double kick then punch, uppercut and then a low strike to the leg.

"Maybe he's just a..." AJ rolls over my back, grabs my arms, flips me over. The ground meets my back and she locks my arm, "Shameless promoter." Man, her grip is fierce. She holds my hand, hand my arm in between her legs and is squeezing her leg together.

I look for a way out. No use. I tap her calf which is over my neck. "Maybe." I sigh as she lets go and gets up.

Round one AJ. I smirk. It's nice not training with dummies, a real person is so much more complicated. AJ and I keep going, small banter, some tips and some jeering at the Ninja. We really don't keep track. It's more of a life or death mentality.

At some point, the sun is in its mid-morning position. AJ calls time, "Good work." She gives me a fist bump then searches for her water, "You are a lot harder to beat."

"Only because I have another martial arts pal," I rub the back of my neck. Geez, I'm sweaty.

AJ takes a large swig of water, "You just need to keep your eyes open. And expect the unexpected."

I look for my water, a black bottle with a stretched out sticker of the Black Ninja, "I know. I also know I'm sweaty. I'm taking a bath." I walk to the back door, "See ya tonight." I wave behind me as I walk.

I trudge up the stairs, daydreaming of a nice warm bath. I turn into my room, it's way messier every since Marci and I both use this as our work spot. I pull off my sweetie jumpsuit, grab a towel and head to the bathroom. I turn the knob to draw water as the cassette player rests on the counter. I press play, static. I fill the tub up with lots of bubbles then quickly get in.

"Shoot," Mom yawns on the recording, "Sorry. I'm trying to do these all in one swing. Ok, mistake number 8. I don't think you'll be expecting this one."

I snicker. Thinking about all I've already been through, "Give it your best shot, Mom."

"But I'll just have to give it my best shot."

{Location: Apartment 2B in westside Crystal Pass} (Dawn's POV)[Many years ago]

"James, I'm fine." I almost face planting the sink as James breaths deeply. "Nothing a tums won't fix."

James lets me up slowly while holding my back, "You're sure? This could be early morning sickness."

I roll my eyes and shake my head a little. Ever since I took a pregnancy test, James has lost his mind. At least it was after the move from a hotel room to a tiny apartment. I cross my arms as I lean back on the wall, "Hon, I'm only two weeks in. It might still be just a fluke."

James' face falls but recovers with a smile. "You are the carrier. I guess I have to trust you." He bends over and pats my stomach, "Dawn may be in the driver seat now, but I have a feeling you'll get a backseat driver soon."

I force a smile onto my face. I am excited to be a Mom....one day. Now, while Chen isn't watching me directly, I bet he's got spies somewhere. Even more to that, I haven't had a mother figure since the boat. I don't even know if I'll suck at everything naturally or if my kid will make it in the long run. "The little one doesn't even have feet yet, and you're encouraging him or her to start driving?"

James stands back up with a smirk, "The sooner they start, the better off they are." He looks at his watch, "Gotta go." He looks around wildly for his briefcase.

"Looking for this?" I pull it out from behind me.

"More ninjaashish tricks?" James draws closer, takes the case and cleverly pulls back from a possible kiss, "I'd love to know how you do that."

"You know how," I start searching around for shoes for myself, I have a super nerve-racking day at a parent class today. What a party. I find a thick grey pair of sneakers, "And how I'd like to forget that."

James grabs his light grey blazer, "Sorry, baby. I'm sure if there was a way to forget large parts of one's life, they would have found it by now," He pulls on the coat then holds the door open for me, "Or maybe they forgot about it."

He gets a snicker from me as I lead the way down the stairwell. We managed to sneak our way past the Jones. Witch long story short, are the definition of strange neighbors. We make it to the lobby, outside where both the community center and the town center aren't too far apart. I walk with James to his job first because my class is about an hour later.

I step the dark practically black ground leading up to the seemingly cold building. There's a construction crew nearby that is sectioning off a statue. Which is very interesting to look at, some guy in a half tornado looking down on us. I pause as James barely gasps for breath, "How do you make this trip every day."

He kisses my forehead, "I get used to it. But I don't think I'll ever get used to-"

The large black doors with golden handles burst open. A short plump man by the name Andrew Ice looks a little hot under the collar right now. He points to James, "You. In my office. Five moments." He huffs as he turns around and storms back inside.

James sighs as everyone continues on their way, "Mayor Ice. Great."

"What's wrong?" I hook my arm under his as he half pull him the rest of the way.

"There's a rumor that when he talks in short chipped sentences, are directed to his office and has a time limit, it's time to say goodbye to a political career."

"You never told me what." I'm shocked. I know that James has drastically different opinions and views then Mayor Ice. Was he always in trouble because of this or did something happen?

"Because it hasn't happened for a while." James starts biting his lower lip until small beads of red run down.

Now he and I stand in front of a large black door with an assistant's desk close by. I study James. His hands twitch, his breathing is short and his heart is hammering against his ribs. I should say something. I should do something. But once again, I'm no good in these kind of situations. I end up having to let him walk in Ice's office alone and afraid.

I look for a chair other than the assistant but end up having to sit at it. The walls are too thick for me to hear what's going on.

I'd like to blame my hormones or my nerves even both for what happens next. I start snooping around the desk. On the first page I see, is a list of availability to the Crystal Pass government than a page for payment. Both look similar, same list, same people, same table comparisons. I didn't say something, it's time to do something through. I search the desk for white-out. This is the most organized assistant ever. I find the bottle in a few seconds, carefully white out James name on the first page, replace that with a few random 1s and 0s, then I add a row on the second page, carefully replicating the handwriting there for top billing.

I set the pens and papers down when the big doors open up again. Ice pushes James out, "Just look at the facts. Your ideas will never get you any higher than where you are now." Ice grabs the top sheet from the desk.

I stand up, slam my palm on the desk, "That's not true. My husband's name isn't on the page."

Ice turns red, "What do you mean? I had Linda type this up yesterday."

James flashes a smirk, "Linda hasn't been here since last week."

"Maybe it was Jessica."

"No, she was two weeks ago."

I carefully pick up the second page, "I didn't mean to pry, but his name is on this list." I hand it to Ice, who snatches it and reads it.

Time slows. What was I thinking? I just committed fraud. Government fraud. If I'm caught, my kid may never meet me. Why'd I do that?

Ice swallowed hard then slowly turns back to James, "It appears our computers had some kind of mix-up. I'll have to have a new list up soon."

"And how long might that take?"

"At earliest, after the election. So, I apologize James." Ice turns to shake his hand, "I have been impatient for this election. I guess it clouded my judgment. Still no excuse to put your head on the chopping block."

James nods as a nervous butterfly twitches in my stomach, "I get that but a needless scare like that is a bad move."

"Maybe, I could also use a closer, newer adviser on my team. I have to go but I would like to keep talking about this." Ice turns back to his office as James bear hugs me.

James first takes super fast but then he slows it down for me, "I owe you so much."

You have no idea. I hug him back as some scorecard in my mind echoes other things I've done. I may need to start keeping track.

{Location: The bathroom}(Seliel's POV)[Present day]

I grab a towel and wrap it around me. Fraud. Not the most exciting thing but very costly. I search for a towel for my hair as Mom pauses on her end, "I know now how much risk that was worth. But it kept James in a job a little longer. Somehow, he charmed his way higher and higher up. After Ice was done, we had a better more spacious home from all of James' extra assisting in Ice's companions. He even was a strong supporter when James did first run for office. But all of that never would have happened if I have kept my nose clean." Click.

"A small wow, Mom." I find my hair dryer and start cleaning my hair. Some many things bounce around in my mind, I wouldn't have lived in this house if not for that white little lie. And even though she didn't say it, I could feel her being nervous in being a Mom. I wish for a quick time travel and at least show her that I adored her.

I still do.

A number of hard things that she went through with is staggering.

I click the hair dryer off, find a pair of yoga pants and a tank-top as a knock hits my door. I dress as I tie my hair down in a braid, "Come in."

Dad sits on my bed after stepping over a larger gearhead, "How's the criminal justice system known as the Phantom Ninja?"

I smirk as I wrap the band around my hair, "I'm tired. I um...just finished tape 8."

"And?" Dad's eyes twinkle despite his ever enduring tiredness.

"It's kinda revolutionary. I thought that you had no problems. That you just climbed the ladder with next to no trouble."

Dad gives me a pity laugh, "Funny how life appears one way but is another." Dad gets up, taps me on my shoulder, "But I and your Mother went through with those choices so you wouldn't have to." He pulls me into a hug, "We still love you."

A smile cracks my thinking face, "I know. I love you too."

Dad lets go first, opens his mouth for the next line of Monday motivation to escape his lips when Marci phases through the floor under us. She holds herself up bearly, "You guys need to see this." She phases back down as Dad and I shuffle our way through my messy room.

We storm downstairs to see AJ half eating our bag of Doritos, Marci standing in the island, both have their eyes glued to the news channel.

Where Victor is sitting on a pile of rock looking like a throne.