"WAKE UP!!!" Screamed Lloyd.

"Ugh! Five more minutes!" I complained, rolling onto my stomach and burying my face in the pillow.

"No can do mini ninja!" He exclaimed, brightly.

It has been a week since I figured out that I'm a ninja and he has been calling the 'mini ninja' ever since! "And why is that, Lloyd?" I questioned slightly annoyed, my voice muffled through the pillow.

"Because it's your birthday!!" He exclaims, merrily.

"Oh...yeah...can I go back to sleep now?" I asked, my face still in the pillow. All went silent and I thought he was considering giving up when...

All of a sudden an air-horn blasts in my ear. "Ahhh!" I shriek in surprise and jump, my jump sending me off the bed and onto the hard, unforgiving wood floor. My heart was in my throat as I sat up and looked up at Lloyd who had walked over from the other side of the bed. I began blushing violently as I realized how ridiculous I must look.

"Ahaha! Ahaaaa-!" I heard someone laugh from the doorway. I stood only to see Cole doubled over in the doorway, laughing at me, struggling to catch his breath, and holding his side with one hand. That's when I noticed Cole's other hand. He was holding a video camera. "Your face...was...priceless... Shimmer!" He managed between gasps and bouts of laughter.

"Oh, yeah, hilarious." I said, narrowing my eyes, reducing them to no more than shiny green slits. "I'm gonna assume you videotaped all that." I added with a sigh.

"You betcha!" Said Lloyd chuckling himself as he spoke up for a laughing Cole.

I tried to look angry, but it was no use. A smile crept across my face and I burst into giggles.

"You're not mad?" Asked Lloyd incredulously.

"Not at all!" I said laughing. "You guys got me good! I must've looked...absolutely...ridiculous!!" I added between gasps for air as I crumpled to the floor and lay curled in a ball, holding my stomach as I laughed hysterically. We all ended up doubled over and holding our stomachs laughing.

Cole left when he regained his composure. Though he continued to chuckle to himself as he walked down the hallway.

"We have a surprise for you in the kitchen." Lloyd stated, wiping a tear from his eye due to our laughter fit.

"Okay, but I need to change into real clothes." I said gesturing to my mint green and baby blue, flower print pajamas.

"I'll wait for you outside." Lloyd told me as he walked out into the hallway and closed the door behind him.

I picked myself up off the floor and changed into a sparkly and flowy yellow blouse, light grey skinny jeans, and black lacy flats. "Okay, I'm ready!" I exclaimed, flinging the door open.

"Alright, off we go then." I heard Lloyd say behind me as he put his hands over my eyes.

'Sneaky ninja!' I thought as I hadn't seen him when I came out of my room. He then proceeded to lead me to the kitchen.

"Surprise!!!" Everyone yelled as Lloyd took his hands off of my eyes, revealing the decorated kitchen.

"For me?" I asked, astounded.

"No, it's for your evil twin." Replied Kai, sarcastically.

"Oh my gosh! Thank you, guys...and girl!" I said making sure to include Nya.

"Open your gifts, Shimmer!" Exclaimed Nya excitedly as she and Kai handed me a bright pink box. It was a rather large box. "Kai and I did our gifts together..." She added. I took the top off of the box and parted the tissue paper to unveil two complete, new outfits.

"I love them!" I cried out happily. "Thank you!" I said as I walked over to hug Kai, then sat down by Nya at the table to hug her.

"I'm glad you like them!" Exclaimed Nya, obviously thrilled that I liked them. "Kai picked out the bottom outfit and I picked out the top one. Now you don't have to borrow my clothes anymore!" Nya had picked out a yellow-orange ombré crop-top and a pair of white-wash skinny jeans with black Converse to compliment the outfit. She had also picked out a mint green sweatshirt. Kai had picked out a gold sparkly tank top with a cute, blue, long sleeve, plaid shirt and a pair of dark-wash four-inch shorts. He got me a pair of rainbow colored flip-flops, too.

Next up was Cole. He handed me a grey box. Inside was an awesome lava lamp with blue water and green lava. "Thanks, Cole!" I exclaim and hug him. He hesitates, but hugs back.

Next was Jay. He handed me a small, turquoise box with a silver ribbon holding it together. Gently untying the ribbon I opened the box to find an iPod and a pair of shiny gold headphones. Jay explained that he had made them. They looked just like the name brand items but they were handmade by Jay. "Thank you so much! It's cool that you made them!" I raved as I pulled him into an embrace.

Lloyd had said that he wanted to be the last of the ninja to give his gift, so it was Zane's turn. "I have to go and retrieve it." He said matter-of-factly as he strolled out of the room. When he returned he was holding a gorgeous three-layered cake!

"How do you hide THAT from me?" Asked Cole, pouting.

"Do you think that I would leave this special cake sitting around for you to eat? No. It is for Shimmer, not you." Replied Zane.

The cake was a cute light yellow color and it had an icing sunflower on top with a '17' coming out of the center of the sunflower.

"My gift to you, Shimmer." Said a pleased Zane.

"It's perfect, Zane!" I yelped happily as I wrapped him in a bear hug. "Thank you!"

We all ate a piece of the mouth-watering cake. Zane's cooking really was extraordinary. "That was delicious!" I said, complimenting Zane.

"Thank you." He replied proudly as a grin spread across his face.

"Okay, now it's my turn." Lloyd spoke up. He rose from his seat at the table and walked over to me,handing me a small green package. I opened it only to find a delicate yet strong looking necklace. The chain was gold and it had a fiery yellow stone pendant hanging from it, glittering in the light.

"Oh my gosh! Lloyd, it's gorgeous!" I exclaim, awestruck. I stood and hugged him, still holding the box with the necklace in it.

Gently picking up the necklace from the box, Lloyd turned me around and helped me put it on. It hung loosely around my neck and laid perfectly and elegantly on my collarbone.

Okay, normally I'm not one to think this, but Shim and Lloyd were really cute together. They would make an adorable couple. I kinda hope they do....for Lloyd's sake of course...that boy's got it so bad.

We were all chatting. At the moment, Cole was replaying the video from earlier for all of us to watch. We were all laughing our heads off. As soon as the video ended, Sensei Wu came shuffling in.

"Happy birthday, Shimmer." He said, simply, handing me a white box. Everyone was staring at me, grinning like they all knew something I didn't.

I opened the box to see a bright yellow ninja gi! "Welcome to the team, Shimmer." Congratulated Sensei Wu.

"Thanks, Sensei!" I grinned momentarily, until a terrible headache hit me. I pressed my fingers on my temples and grimaced, closing my eyes. Scenes flashed through my mind until some more of my memory returned to me.

My eyes snapped open and widened. "My element..." I squeaked in awe, everyone staring at me, concerned. "My element...oh no..." I breathed in horror after realizing what this meant. "No...no...NO!" I cried, backing away, turning on my heel, and bolting out of the kitchen and down the hallway to the main deck.

'So that's why Morro wants me to aid him in his plot to take over Ninjago!' I thought as I ran down the hall, beginning to panic.

😜