A/N: The big Two-Oh. I can barely remember what's gonna happen in this one. :p

"Are you sure that's what they're planning to do to Lar?" Wu asked Lizz. All sets of eyes in the room were set on her, making her queasy. She didn't answer, "Lizz?" 

She nodded, "Yes, almost positive. I don't know why else they'd take him, either to kill, hold for ransom in exchange for me or turn him into one of them."

"Why does the OverLord want her so badly anyway?" Jay asked, crossing his arms as he leaned back, sinking into the couch. 

"It's either all Techno-Blades or no Techno-Blades, Motormouth" Cole started, jabbing Jay in the ribs, "We're already a team, so she's easier to get at because she's not one of us. If he gets her, there's no one wield the fifth Blade and he can't be defeated."

"Skylor and Chamille told Cryptor you guys have Jade, or... Lizz," Ash explained, "So fear an attack sooner or later."

"I am being led to believe he has other motivations behind his need for our friend," Zane observed from beside the TV, "Either that or our digital foe is smarter than we suspect."

"I thinks Zane is correct with both his theories," Cole agreed, "He's holding Lar ransom because he gave her to us. Lar pays the price, or Lizz surrenders herself for his safety, which means," he turned his sky blue eyes on Lizz, "She needs to stay close in case of an attack."

"That also means that we must train Lizz, the faster she is ready the better," Wu tightened his grip on his staff, "In case of an attack. That also means we must all be alert. You three as well," he turned around to Ash, Griffin and Neuro. He motioned towards the latter, who was leaning heavily on his walking stick, "Even you, Neuro. Keep an eye out for anything and everything. You are our eyes at the gate. Get to a vantage point."

Neuro nodded and disappeared outside. Garmadon slid his gaze over the room, "The rest of you, take Lizz and train. That includes Ash and Griffin. Nya, Misako, my brother and myself shall occupy ourselves with other tasks."

*.*

"Seven against one? I hardly think this is remotely fair," Lizz had backed herself into the corner again, defensively holding out a Nin-Jo staff.

 "Battles are hardly ever fair, darling," Griffin told her, closing in, "Just be glad you're getting training for those situations. Me, Neuro and Ash? We never got that."

 "Boohoo," Lizz was unmoved, "Cry me a river some other time, Quicksilver," the two met head-on, crashing together so hard the others thought a few bones may have been broken. There wasn't, however, and both sides continued with the skirmish.

 Griffin was too quick, and soon had her on her back, his foot triumphantly on her stomach, "C'mon kid, I've seen you fight longer against Fireball over there," he muttered, reaching down to help her up, "Concentrate."

 She growled, moved his foot and got up herself, without his help. Griffin was slightly offended, and when he turned and looked at the others Lizz took the chance to sweep his feet out from under him with her staff. When he was down, she placed the end under his chin, on his neck, grinning evilly, "Never turn your back on your enemy."

 "Alright, you got me, there," only after he said this did Lizz retreat back to her corner.

 "Hey, get out here cupcake," Cole stepped into the "Designated Fighting Area" that was really just the inner square of lighter-coloured hardwood flooring, "C'mon. Fight like a Ninja."

 "Yah, that's your guys' issue right now," Lizz countered, taking a few steps towards Cole, "I'm not a Ninja. And I never will be, so just give up."

 "Ah, yes," Cole was grinning, and he inched nearer to her, "But Ninja never quit, therefore we'll train you as long as we deem necessary."

 "Why?" batting her eyelashes in another attempt to get what she wants seemed to be working.

 Cole never stood a chance. The two were chest to chest, staring each other down, and Cole was so unfocused, "Because you're worth the effort."

 And suddenly the cute little fantasy crashed down on Cole's head. In a split second Lizz went from cool and collected to trying to rip off his head. The fight started with a nostril flare and snort and a shout of pain when Lizz stomped on his toes.

 That was only to hold him down, though, so he couldn't move when she jammed the end of her staff up into his chin. The sound made when the two met was a sickening crack, and Lizz stepped off his toes as he fell back, sneering at him.

 "Lizz, I think you should take it easy a little," Ash warned quietly.

 When she heard this, Lizz whirled around and glard at him, "Don't tell me what to do, Smokey! I can take care of myself."

 "The thing is," Lloyd took a small step towards her, "You don't have to take care of yourself, Lizz. We're here for you."

 "I don't need anyone to be there for me!" she retorted, gripping her staff so hard her knuckles were white, "I never have and I never will!"

 No one even bothered to chase after her. Griffin said not to, "Let her cool off. She'll return when she's ready."

 "At this rate she's never going to be trained and we'll never defeat the OverLord," Jay groaned, "Nya is more trained than Lizz, can't we take Nya instead?"

"No, Jay, so shut up," Lloyd snapped.

 "It is not as if the OverLord is going anywhere," Zane stated calmly, "He is after all trapped in the Digiverse. As long as Lloyd is here and away from the Nindroids we have all the time in the world."

 "Not necessarily, Zane," Kai started, "The people of New NinjaGo City may start being targeted if we take too long."

 "But as long as the OverLord is hunting you guys, and Lizz is their primary target they should be moderately safe," Griffin told them.

"Good point," Kai agreed, "I'll go check on her." 

Kai started towards the door but was stopped by a strong hand on his chest, "I'll go check on her, Hothead. You stay here."

Cole left, like he said, and Kai was left with everyone staring at him. Ash snickered, "Looks like you have a little competition."

Kai looked back towards the door, "You have no idea." 

*.*

"Lizz?" Cole poked his head into the kitchen and finally found who he was looking for. Lizz was sitting on the island with her back to him, and was biting into an apple like it killed her family.

 "Go away, Brookstone," Lizz snapped, taking another bite, "I'm done with all you Ninja for today."

 "Are you sure?" Cole took one large step and was at her side, "If you're done with us does that mean you're done with Lar, too?" Even though he knew Lar wasn't a Ninja, he was an Elemental Master and in her state Lizz may not notice the difference. 

 "Don't you dare try to blackmail me," she scowled at him, "Lar is a big boy and can take care of himself."

 "If I do remember correctly you were the one who said we have to go save him," Cole pointed out.

 "Yeah, well, if going to save him means trying to put up with you idiots all day then I'd rather go myself."

"You wouldn't stand a chance without the proper training."

 "Keep your comments to yourself," she fake-grinned sweetly, "Just remember I'm slightly higher up than you and therefore have the ability to kick you in the face."

 "Harder or softer than when you cracked me a good one with your staff?" he asked, jumping onto the counter across from her, "Now we're even, by the way, so you can't kick me."

 "I dunno," she shrugged, eating the last of her apple. With a soft toss the core landed straight in the trash across the room, "Depends on my foot leverage and leg strength."

 "Well, you've probably got pretty strong legs," he felt obligated to explain further when she gave him a look, "Kai said you run pretty fast, and he's the fastest out of all of us, so it takes a lot to outrun him."

"I've been running my entire life, so that makes sense."

 Cole pretended not to notice her comment, "I can't remember where the conversation was going," his mind was drawing a complete blank just being in the same room, alone with her.

"You were insulting my 'training' that's been happening for about forty-two hours," Lizz reminded him, "And something about that blonde-boob slipped from your face, too."

"Oh yeah," he mused, "Thanks. You have to agree that you need more training before going into battle."

"I believe in learning on the job," she quoted one of her favorite movies, complete with the Viking accent, before sliding from the island, "When do we leave?"

And suddenly there was alarm spreading through the grounds outside. Screaming, mainly wordlessly, but the few words Lizz's ears could make out were 'Attack' 'Nindroids' and 'underpants' though that probably had nothing to do with the main fact of things.

Cole Immediately jumped to the floor by Lizz's side, taking a defensive stance as he flipped his hood over his face as he took hold of her hand, "C'mon!"

"Wait, where are we going?!" Lizz shouted at Cole as the two weaved through the labyrinth of halls and corridors before bursting through the front door onto the wrap-around porch.

It was absolute chaos. Things, mainly trees, were aflame, people from the small village surrounding the Monastery ran screaming in feeble attempts to escape the ones causing the mess. Cole scowled and looked at Lizz, "You, go by Neuro. Now."

"Wait, where are you going?"

He waved an arm, "Out there! I have to help."

"You don't have to do anything!" Lizz retorted. 

"It's what we do, Lizz. Me and the team, we're Ninja. We help people when they can't help themselves," he explained calmly, releasing her hand to stroke her hair.

"Then I should help too!"

"No, you're not strong enough yet," he pulled her closer and hesitated before speaking in a whisper, "We can't lose you."

And Kai took that moment to show up and shove between the two, "He's got a point, Lizz," then he continued leading the rest of the guys into the mass of destruction. Even Wu, Garmadon, Misako and Wu had jumped into action, "Cole, come on!"

Cole growled at Kai, then looked back to Lizz, "You. Neuro. Now."

"Alright, alright," Lizz waved her arms and scurried up one of the few trees that weren't burning, jumping from a middle branch to the fourth-floor balcony Neuro was perched on, "Hi Neuro."

"Lizz," he nodded, sitting back in his chair once more, "Why aren't you fighting?"

"Cole says," Lizz sat on the railing, her back to the fighting below so she could face Neuro, "'It's too dangerous for you. We can't lose you.'"

"You'd think he would let you fight," he pondered, "It's good practice."

Lizz threw her hands up, and let them fall back to her sides with two loud thuds, "That's exactly what I said! At least someone agrees with me! Kai and Cole decided that it's best I keep you company."

Neuro looked at his feet, as is it pained him to say his thoughts, "They really do care about you."

"Me?" Lizz looked behind her to make sure he was talking to her, "Me? No, Cole likes Nya and I heard Skylor talking about Kai."

"Because they dated once upon a time, and they broke up," Neuro was smirking a little at the memory, "Sky was probably plotting to kill the poor boy."

"Skylor dated a guy?" Lizz questioned, "I thought she was dating Chamille Leon."

"I've been sworn into secrecy to tell no one Skylor swings both ways but likes girls more," Neuro stated.

"You just broke your secrecy."

"My loyalty is to your and your friends, now," having someone swear loyalty to someone she was associated with was a complete shock to her, "So I could easily tell all secrets I know."

"I won't make you, don't worry," she moved across, towards him, to sit next to his feet and lean against his leg, "Why are you so easy to talk to?"

"Because one way or another I'll get the answers I desire," he grinned, patting her head, "We're about to be attacked by the way."

"Stay put, Gimpy," she stood back up and started back towards the edge. As soon as she got there a Droid tried jumping over the railing, but was kicked back to the ground in mid-jump. Happy, Lizz turned back to Neuro, "I'm on security, now."

"How reassuring," he muttered."

"Uh huh!" she nodded vigorously before stepping up on the railing, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to destroy Jotunheim."

Neuro couldn't question it quick enough before she did a flip off the balcony and out of sight.

*.*

"Neuro!" most of the Droids were offed, the remaining fled, and everyone who was fighting against them came from the battle unscathed. Apart from Kai who had a slice through his arm. He was wrapping it up as he walked towards Neuro who was seated under a tree that hadn't been burned, "Neuro, where's Lizz?"

"She left me halfway through the battle," Neuro sat upright, alarmed, "I thought she'd have been seen fighting alongside one of you."

Lloyd was running around like a chicken with no head, "Has anyone seen Lizz?!"