The next day they loaded everyone's luggage into two vans with lots of seats. Even Keegan had decided to come last minute, hastily writing a letter to his family saying he'd be going to Ninjago City for awhile. He said he needed to know where they were in Ninjago City so he could visit them whenever possible. He also said it was lucky that Gavin and Zephyr needed to go to Sukoshi, otherwise he wouldn't have known they or in his words "she" were leaving. They all said goodbye to Brent and his wife. Zephyr was actually going to miss him she had to admit, he'd helped them so much. They then drove off, Zephyr had never actually been in a car of any kind before, only the boat. In a way it was simalr to the boat, but different, more crowded and covered, more muffled and a lot less airy. As they drove away Zephyr didn't want to to watch Brent fade away into the distance, to many memories of leaving her family a few days ago... She wondered though, if Brent's daughters were going through the same thing as her. They drove for a long time, Zephyr took in every minute of it, and many had thoughts about it. 
What if this thing crashes? Like in movies. Are we going to fast? I'm pretty sure we're going to fast. We stopped, are we there?! Oh wait, we're moving again?.. 
All the while, everyone else talked, but Zephyr ignored them for the most part. She'd make sure every now and then that the other van was still behind them, and she'd look out the window to watch the world go by. All to soon though, they pulled into a town by the name of Donahue. This town was much bigger than Clay and Sukoshi combined, in fact it was the biggest town or village she'd ever seen in her life. Many homes, shops and other buildings stood in a row, almost all two or three stories high. The roads were brick, and all the building had an old look with a fresh feel. The main color scheme of the buildings was red, and most looked freshly painted. A tall lookout tower stood high in middle of town. 
"Donahue, the largest town for many miles around here." Said Keegan <br>
Everyone got out of the vans to stretch their legs. Zephyr went to get her luggage, but Gavin stopped her saying. 
"We find him first. " Did he have doubts about this too?
Everyone except for herself, Gavin, Keegan and one of Brent's daughters  who Zephyr had forgotten the name of went into the town to enjoy themselves. Keegan went up to ask one of locals if he'd seen the rumored ninja. 
" I know he's in town on his own business. I haven't seen him myself yet though. Ask the milk store lady, she knows more than I do. "
So they went to the milk store about ten doors down from where they were to ask the milk store lady. 
" He's bought from me the last few days. In morning, precisely at seven o'clock. He says he's here looking for someone or possibly someones. I honestly don't usually pay him much mind what with that sword always on his back. He always comes here from the blacksmith though, he can tell you more. "
So they went to the blacksmiths, which was in view of the milk store. 
"He speaks of finding students." the blacksmith says as he hammers something on the anvil. " But not just any students," he stops hammering for moment " ones he picks out himself, special students. Rubbish if you ask me." He goes back to hammering. " He always comes here from the direction of the inn, I bet you anything that's where he's stayin." 
After that they walked down to the inn, they spoke with the person at the front desk. She lifted her eyebrows and said confused 
" He's not staying here. He's staying in someone's house three doors down. I thought everyone knew that... " as they left the inn Gavin whispered to Zephyr 
"We could be here all day doing this."
"I know, I know, but we're close, I can feel it. Just a little further." When they reached the house, the other three insisted that Zephyr be the one to knock. 
"Do do I have to? I don't want to. One of you guys do it. " Zephyr stammered. 
"Zephyr if you want to be trained by this guy you have to be the one to knock. " Gavin replied, he was serious. Reluctantly Zephyr walked up the door steps and knocked on the double doors. Then she rushed back down the steps and hid behind Gavin, Keegan, and Brent's daughter. The door creeked open, a man who looked to be in his sixties with gray hair wareing a bath robe looked out at them. 
"Are you more fans? Or curious pesky neighbors? If you are he isn't here! Another man pushed him aside and said 
"No need to lie Dareth, there's not that many and can handle them. Besides there aren't as many fans as there used to be anyway. " He grinned and walked down the steps towards them. Zephyr peeked out from the back of the group to get a better look. He wore a gray gi with green and white patterns on it and a green marshel arts belt. On his head he wore a gray stocking cap which made it hard to see his hair which stuck out from underneath it. He had green eyes, and Zephyr wasn't quite sure of his age, over forty at least though. 
"What brings you to the humble home of my friend?" he asked 
" Humble? Ha! I would hardly call it that." Scoffed Dareth. The other man only grinned and pretended not to hear him. The others backed away and looked at Zephyr. Now what?! What was she supposed to do? What was she supposed to say? Her mind had gone blank of everything but panic! 
"Well Zephyr. Aren't you going to tell him?" Asked Keegan. She had to do this, this might be only chance she'd ever get. And who cared if she messed up or not? Right...? 
" I- we, heard you were, maybe, possibly, looking for students. And well you see, I a kinda, no not kinda, definitely, definitely want to be a ninja, so I was wondering if maybe I could be one of your students?"
"Hmm, could we discuss this inside? " He said said glancing at the passersby. 
They all went inside and the man motioned for them to sit down on the chairs and couches in the main room. Dareth said as he walked out of the room,
"I'll get some better clothes on and grab some drinks."
"PG at least Dareth." Said the man.
"That's what I was going to do, did you really think I was going to-"
"Just go Dareth, I was joking."  He said grinning as he sat down. 
She couldn't tell by his face what he was thinking, but she was worried he wouldn't want her as student. She had next to no skill in fighting. 
I most likely don't even have an elemental power. She thought. Sure Gravis did, but he was only her uncle, not a direct decndent. And even if that would work, Gavin would obviously be the first to get it. Plus she didn't even know what Gravis' powers were. 
"So, before we discuss anything, who might you all be?" asked the man. 
" I'm Gavin."
"I'm Keegan." 
"And I'm Chelsea." Ohhh right, that's what her name was, Zephyr had forgotten, oh and now she'd forgot again. 
"And you're Zephyr." Said the man. 
"Yes." Said Zephyr, 
"How do you all know each other?" 
"Zephyr is my sister, and Keegan and Chelsea are friends." Replied Gavin. Hmmm friends, Zephyr wasn't sure if she'd consider them friends. More like close acquaintances. 
"And you are?" Asked Keegan. 
"One of the ninja." He replied, enjoying the fact that none of them knew exactly who he was just yet. " So anyway, back to the conversation we had outside. You want to be one of my students, but what makes you think are up to the task? Furthermore, what are your motives?"
Uhhh let me think, well if you train me I'll be up to the task. and I want to be a ninja because I could be like the people in comic books and movies. She thought. Those answers were all she could think of, but she knew he'd want her to say something like to protect others or something more nobel. 
I could defeat those people who are after my family, that'd be a good reason. She thought. It would be justifiable too, but saying that would be risking the revealing of secrets, which she could not afford. But she did know one thing from reading comics and that is that teachers will always find out the real reason you want them to train them, so, she better tell him the first thing she thought of. 
" I don't qualify, that's why I need you to teach me. And the reason is that.. I've always read comic books and wanted to be like the characters in them. I want to go adventures, I want to use any skill and power I have for good. I want to help others. I want to bring justice. I'm ok with risking my life for good cause. " Ok maybe she was milking it a bit, but she really did mean it all. He looked at her for a moment, and then said something strange.
" I need to go in the other room to think... I'll be right back. " He got up and left the room just as Dareth came back dressed in a brown gi and carrying a try with some mugs on it.
"Cocoa anyone? Otherwise there's coffee."
"Cocoa please. " Said Chelsea. 
"Same." 
"Same."
Said Gavin and Keegan, Zephyr was quite though.
"I'm guessing you what cocoa too?"Asked Dareth 
"Yes please." 




It was about ten minutes later. Gavin looked at his watch, they would have to be laveing town before they knew it and there was still some questions he wanted to ask this guy before he left his younger sister with him. 
" I'm going to go check on him."
"Do you want one of us to go with you?"Asked Keegan. 
"No, I'll only be a few minutes." Replied Gavin as walked toward the hallway. He passed by a door that was slightly open. He heard that noise of paper like someone was turning pages in a book. Gavin open the enough to look inside the room. The man was sitting on chair in front of a desk, paging through an old looking book. 
"What would you do uncle?" He was saying. He then noticed Gavin and closed the book. Turning to face him he said 
"Oh, sorry about taking so long, I just needed... guidance." His stocking cap was off to reveal a mixture of blonde and gray hairs. A ninja suit was spread out on the bed, the color green. 
"You're the green ninja, aren't you? I thought you went missing?" Asked Gavin quietly. 
"Even though someone may go missing, doesn't mean they're gone for good. And did you ever think that maybe that's what I wanted people to think at the time?" He said standing up and putting his suit in a drawstring bag along with the book."
"That's what Zephyr thought you did... Why do you need students all of a sudden? I thought you and your group of friends could handle on your own." Gavin stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. 
"We can. It's just that... You know actually I shouldn't be telling you. " he had started picking up random objects and putting them in his bag. 
"I have the right to know why my sister will be fighting."
"Fair enough. The other ninja have a mission, one to which I'm going join them on in about half a year's time if everything goes as planned. The mission will leave us all weakened most likely, and chances are we will have to make many sacrifices. So while we are gone and when we return, we will need a team or two that can keep the peace in Ninjago." He seemed to be satisfied with he had gathered and put the bag back on the bed. 
"Why'd you come here then? If it's so important to find students. Why here out of anywhere else in Ninjago?"
"That's just it... I don't know. I had a dream that I..."
" That you what? "
"I saw my uncle- my sensei pointing at this town. And in this town I saw a ninja... And somehow got the idea that maybe I could find a student here. So I made it very well known that I was looking for a student here. So that maybe, just maybe I could find one. " 
"So you think Zephyr could be that student?"
"I doubted it at first since I have no way of telling she's an elemental master or not."
" What does that have to do with it?"
"Nothing I guess... it just helps a lot if they are one..."
Gavin knew they were related to an elemental master, but he wanted Zephyr to do this even if she didn't have an element. 
"Then you'll train her?"
"Yes. I will. "




Later, it was time for Gavin, Keegan, Chelsea, and all the others to leave for Ninjago City.
"Well we're sure going to miss you." Said Keegan as he gave Zephyr a bear hug. She was not to found of that though and stompped on his foot to get him off. He just laughed and said "Oh Zephyr you social butterfly."  As he stepped back and rubbed his foot. The others laughed too. Chelsea gave Zephyr a light side hug which didn't bother her quite as much. 
"Goodbye Zephyr, " said Gavin putting his hand on Zephyr's shoulder "Hopefully we'll see each other again sooner than we think." They then all climbed into the vans expect for Zephyr. Then they all waved as at her as they drove off. Zephyr stared off at them for a long while, and then made her way back to Dareth's house.



( this ended up being much longer then I intended.     ) 

3. That's actually a really good way to put it. 

6. Who knows, maybe you'll see him again in future chapters.  




8. Thanks! 

6. Thank you!