me: I meant to update a loooooooooooooooooooong time ago.

Thorn: They're gonna give up on you Bubba!

me: Mean... DON'T GIVE UP ON ME! I'M SORRY!

I don't own Ninjago.

Chapter 22: Ninja-ball run (No one cheers for the shadow)

(Thorn's P.O.V)

Uncle decided that 5 people should be on top of a little kid.

Everyone thought it was a bad idea. I had to balance on one hand while the five of them: the ninja, Malikai and Uncle had to balance on me.

My only thought?

Please let Kai fall off!

And for everyone else to get off, my arm was going numb.

Then a wrecking ball hit the dojo and we all went flying. I groaned and rubbed my head. I had landed pretty hard. Malikai got up first and nearly was run over by Dareth. Dareth was shouting, "NO, no, no! This wasn't supposed to happen until tomorrow!"

I looked at the crane and say my dad's name mixed up. Uncle asked, "What's going on?" Dareth sighed sadly, "I fell behind some of my payments and now some company is buying the whole block. If I don't come up with $50,000 by tomorrow, the dojo is gone."

I motioned for Malikai to lean to me and I whispered, "Look at the name of the company, that's my dad's name mixed up, this is his doing." Malikai started laughing quietly.

Everyone stared at him and he explained, "Thorn just told me something that even Zane should have figured out." I nodded, "Look at the name, if you rearrange the letters… No Jay, it doesn't spell old grandma, it spells my dad's name." Dareth looked at me, "Who's your dad?"

I answered brightly, but without a smile, "My dad is Lord Garmadon!" He looked freaked out, "You're his son?" I nodded, "Yep!"

The shadows all giggled. Dareth freaked for a minute and I turned to see a huge wave of shadows. I calmly spoke, "Don't scare the guy, he is an ally." The shadows all whimpered and went back to their places.

Dareth looked at Uncle's teapot, "I don't suppose you have any money in that teapot of yours?" Malikai quietly laughed. Jay hit him and Malikai hissed in annoyance. Nya came in, "Did you guys say 50,000 big ones?" Jay gasped, "You didn't win the lottery did you?" Malikai laughed again and was hit by Kai. Nya laughed, "No silly, but there is Ninja-ball run!"

The ninja all said, "Ninja-ball run?" Malikai nodded, "I raced in that once!" Jay asked, "Did you win?" Malikai shook his head, "Nope, I kind of…crassshed…"

I spoke up, "I've heard of it! The skeletons would watch it and they let me watch a few times. They're crazy about it. The prize is $100,000."

Nya said, "Wow… I would have never expected you to know that. If you guys could enter with the tank, than maybe you guys could win!" Malikai spoke up, "And Thorn and I can enter with the dragon." I shook my head, "Nah, I got my own way."

Dareth spoke, "Only the most daring racers even dare enter the race." I stepped up, "I'd do anything, doesn't matter what."

We left to go enter the race.

We got to the track and I stood in my spot. The ninja had the tank and Malikai landed with the dragon. Kai shouted at Malikai, "If you're part reptile, then does that mean you're related to the dragon?" Malikai hissed, "NO! My aunt isss a dragon though."

Cole came over to me, "Um Thorn… you need something to ride." I nodded, "I'll show you…"

I held out my hands and clenched my fists. The shadows swirled and formed a hover-board. I jumped onto it and rockets formed on the back. My feet were strapped down. Cole shrugged, "Never mind…"

I saw the kids from darkly's break the tank. The race started and I zoomed off. The wind blew my hood back and I liked the way it blew my hair. I used the shadows to gain speed and zoomed past almost everyone.

I was nearly run over by the pirates, which freaked me out a little. I swerved to avoid them and nearly hit Jay's parents.

I yelled, "Sorry!" I zoomed ahead and made my way through scattered canyon. I saw the bounty and I went onto it, "Hi Daddy! Are you to win the race too?" I startled them and then Malikai, being the horrible driver he was, crashed into us. I fell off the bounty, but I formed my hover-board and sped off.

I heard an explosion behind me.

The ninja caught up to me and I saw that we were almost to the finish line. The bounty sped ahead. I gave close chase and didn't even care when Daddy used the mega-weapon to make a huge crack in the ground. I sped up, sure that the ninja would figure a way. The rockets on my board were at full power.

I heard the announcer say, "It looks like the shadow prince is going to be this year's winner! Bad news for our audience, because they want the ninja! Wait, but what's this? It looks like Lord Garmadon doesn't want his son to steal the prize!"

I looked up and shouted, "DAD! I'M TRYING TO WIN!" I whispered, "Shadow speed…" The shadows all laughed and put their greatest effort into making me go faster. I pulled my hood up.

I saw that the ninja were coming and I crossed the finish line. It looked like a tie.

Everyone gasped. No one cheered; we were not the favorite teams. The shadows all laughed manically. I shouted, "Who won?" Daddy came over to me, "Obviously me!" I shook my head, "No way Daddy, it was me!" He laughed, "My ship…" I jumped onto the ship, "I'm sorry Daddy, but this ship belongs to us."

I looked at the screen. I had won.

No one cheered. The police came over and said, "Alright Garmadon, you're coming with us!" The serpentine drove over and Scales said teasingly, "Who needs who now?" I shouted, "Bye Daddy!"

I jumped down and said calmly to the ninja, "What? No thanks? I won the race, got the money, got the bounty back, and all I get is the silent treatment? I should at least get a little praise."

They stared at me. Jay said, "Dude… how did you win?" I shrugged, "That's my secret… I'm gonna go see if there's anything awesome on the ship."

I walked away.

It kind of hurt though.

I swallowed the hurt feelings and left them in the place in the back of my mind full of all my other hurt feelings. One day that would burst and all the years of hurt and sorrow would spill.

Never show feeling… it is better that way… no one pries.

me: Thorn! Stop being emo!

Thorn: I'm not even gonna argue.

me: I'm gonna miss how little you are! *hugs him*

Thorn: LET GO!

me: REVIEW!