Finding Fate

TW: Attempts of SA

'I don't wanna be you, anymore'

~idontwannabeyouanymore by Billie Eilish~

I looked down at the food. I wasn't particularly hungry but I still ate a few little bits here and there. All nine fighters were sitting at a round table, Skylor on my right, and Neuro on my left.

"Try the wasp eggs. Deeeeelicous!" Chen told Lloyd.

"Uhh, I think I'll pass."

"Oh lighten up Green Ninja. This isn't a trick. This is a feast to celebrate the nine of you getting into the second round! And I must congratulate Master of Shadow's defeat over the Master of Poison. She was a bit hard to swallow, am I right?" The Kabuki laughed. "Laugh harder!" Chen ordered. I grimaced.

"You can relax Lloyd, even if there was a fight, now that we told the others about Chen's dirty plot to steal our powers, we're safe in our secret alliance." I heard Kai say. We all looked at Kai.

"I tried to enlist Shadow, but that dude's doing serious shade," Griffin told us.

"Well if you plan to stop Chen, you'll need everyone on board," Gramadon said. "Each fighter that loses, gives him strength. Soon he'll be too powerful for even all of you combined to overcome him."

"Ooh, fortune cookies! Bring them to me," Chen said like an excited child. I zoned out from the rest of the conversation and Neuro turned to me.

"I sense uncertainty and guilt." He said and I tensed.

"And?" I asked, putting down my chopsticks and looking at him.

"Why is that?"

"Why do you ask?" He shrugged.

"You seem like you need to talk to someone." I furrowed my eyebrows and clenched my fist.

"Why do you even care? You're just another competitor and it's none of your business." I hissed quietly. The kindness in his eyes had disappeared.

"It seems suspicious that you won't share," he hissed back. Changing into my elegant black cat form, I bore my teeth and flattened my ears. Surprised I actually hissed at him, he backed down and I sat with my tail high in the air feeling proud of myself.

"It has come to my attention that there are rumours floating about that I am stealing everyone's power. I am." Everyone began whispering. "But it's all for this staff. No, no. Not you, staff. I mean my real staff."

Everyone gasped. Honestly, I reckon I have pretty good acting at this point.

"The Staff of Elements. it holds the power of your fallen foes, It holds the power of your fallen foes, and soon it'll hold all but one. For the last standing in my tournament will win this prize and be the greatest fighter ever in the history of Ninjago." Everyone began whispering again. Chen held it up. Lloyd stood up.

"You lie! What about the spell?"

"Spell?" That lying git. "What spell?"

"Don't believe him, it's just another trick. Neuro read Clouse's mind and saw it. Tell them what you saw, Neuro." Lloyd told us.

"I-- I don't remember. Truthfully, I'm a bit more interested in knowing more about that staff." Neuro said.

"And why should we be so quick to believe everything you say? How do we know you're not lying to get the staff for yourself?" Griffin asked. Everyone began whispering again but I just sat there eating my food like the cat I am.