Thanks to HailsStorm, Anonymous (Guest), and XShinkuKikinX for all of your reviews.
Disclaimer: I don't own Ninjago
Sensei's POV
Four days. I've been in here for four days! Every turn I take leads me to a dead end. The enitre maze changes it's course before I can close to the middle. The darkness is my only protection from the shadow. However, my eyes are bloodshot because every now and then a white flash blinds me. I can only imagine that the Shadow wants me to give up. But I can't.
Along my path, I find food, but I don't eat all of it. It might be drugged or poisoned so I only take small bites then run from it. I'm so tired. If I stop to rest, the Shadow will find me. I just need to keep moving forward. I can't stop now.
My poor students must be worried for me. These walls are made from Venge Stone so I can't use my powers to help me. Even if my students find me, we'll never get out. I'm on my own. I must stay in the darkness. That is where it is-
"Ahh!" I yelled.
Something is in my back. I pull it out and see that it is a throwing knife. I turn my head where I see the Shadow standing there. Before I move away, he throws down one of his pellets. A white flash blinds my eyes. As I rub them, the Shadow attacks me.
He runs up and punches me across the face. He grabs my beard and throws me into a wall. The Shadow then kicks the back of my knee and I fall to the ground. I try to stand up, but he grabs my leg and pulls me away. I look up and see I'm getting farther away from the light. With my free leg, I kick the Shadow's arm and he releases me. I quickly stand back up and run. I don't turn around, but I know he's following me.
I run stright, noturns no nothing. Just straight. Only If I have to turn, do I. I getting so close to the middle, AI can feel it.
"Er!" I grunted.
The Shadow punched me in the back of the head. I turn around to see him grab a knife. As he runs to me I back flip in the air, kicking his face in the process. As he stumbles back I then run up and grab him. As I move my feet with all my strength, the Shadow stays in place. He takes his fist in his hand and then brings them down on my back. I let go of him, but he grabs my throat and lifts me in the air.
With no other idea in mind, I stick my thumbs in his eyes and keep him there. He growls and throws me across the path way. I land hard on a wall and slide down. I look at my hands and see that I'm holding his mask. My eyes widden as I quickly look up. I don't see his face, but I do see him running. Blades come out of his wrists as I close my eyes. When nothing happens I open them.
The maze had changed it shape again, and I look at the wall that seperated us. I give a weak smile and stand back up. As I turn to leave with the mask in my hand, the Shadow yells.
"I will find you!"
I turn my head back to the wall and then proceed on in the maze.
Cole's POV
It's been four days an no one has seen or heard from Sensei Wu. I fear that the Society of Ghosts have found him. The team and I have been searching non stop for him. Being the leader, I have to remain calm so the others don't worry. However deep down, I am fearful that something bad has happened to him.
"Everyone, report in." I ordered over comlink.
I'm flying the Ultra Dragon over all of Ninjago while the others are in their teams from before searching.
"PIXAL and I have not found him, but we will continue our search." Zane said.
"We've been all over the roads and still no luck." Nya said.
"We can't find him anywhere, Cole." Lloyd said sadly.
"I've got no luck up here either. What about Mr. Hamato, has he found anything?" I asked.
"He says to go back to Merriam and wait at the docks. I'll go check that out." Jay said.
When we all returned home from searching, Jay and Nya met a strange man in Merriam. Jay went on and on how he's a super being, but Mr. Hamato has declined this. He told us he will explain everything when Sensei returns. But that never happened.
"Alright while he's doing that, everyone else keep searching. We have got to find Sensei." I told them.
I pulled on the dragon's reins and they all flew downwards.
"Come on, Sensei. Where are you?" I said to myself.
Sensei's POV
Hours passed ever since I fought the Shadow and I'm still no closer to getting to the middle. I look down at the mask in my hand and grip it tighter. I turn my head when I heard something in the dark. There's nothing there. I have to find my way out of here before I lose my mind.
I keep walking along through the maze, but it feels like I'm walking in circles. I come to a stop when I see an red apple on the ground. The Society must put the food in here so I don't starve to death. I feel my stomach growl as I pick up the apple. I can't play their game. It might be poisioned or deadly. As I stare at the apple, the maze changes again.
"I'll never get out." I said to myself.
Just then, the floor below me raised me into the air. Keeping my balance, I waited until this new wall stopped. When it did, I could see the entire maze below me. I turned my head and that's when I saw it. The middle! The white light was beaming down on it like a calling. A smile made it's way along my face as I ran towards it.
I held my staff along the walls so I could know when the wall would end. With every step I was getting closer and closer to my goal. But then, disaster struck. A small bomb was thrown up next to me and It blew up. The explosion caused me to fall back on the ground. I know it was the Shadow who threw it.
I get up carefully on my feet and keep moving. This time I run because I'm still so close to the middle of the maze. After one more turn I see a room with a white light down the hall.
"Finally." I said to myself.
I start walking along the hall when I feel the maze shake. I look ahead to see a door closing on the middle. My eyes widen in horror as I run to it. Before it closes all te way, I throw my staff in it and it stops, but not for long. I can see my staff bending as th door tries to close itself. I my staff bends in half, I jump in.
I slide agaisnt the floor as my eyes get used to the new light. I look around and I don't see anybody. I only see a large fountain that has nice refreshing water pouring from it. I make my way over to it and stare at the water inside.
I smack my lips together as I feel my tounge run agaisnt my dry mouth. Without thinking, my hands cup together and scoop water in them. I hesitate to put the wsater in my mouth. It might be drugged or poisioned or...
"I don't care!" I yelled.
I drank all the water in my hands and then shove my head into the water. I drink as much as I can until I need to refil my lungs with air. With the cool water still on my face, I rub away any dirt that's been on it for all these days. As I get ready to turn around, someone punches the back of my head. I fall on to the fountain as my arms get in the water. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the Shadow put on his mask that I dropped when he punched me. Before I get back up, the Shadow stabs me through the stomach.
"Sensei Wu, the Society of Ghosts has sentenced you to death." He whispered in my ear.
The Shadow removes his blade and I fall to my knees. I grab my bleeding wound to stop the blood from escaping my body.
"B-But..." I struggled to say.
The Shadow then grabs the back of my head and slams my face into the fountain's structure. He then picks me up and I'm lifted into the air. The Shadow then throws me and I land on the floor, hard. I turn my head to see the Shadow putting on brass knuckles and making his way towards me. With my head at this angle I can hear...
"Rushing water?" I asked myself.
Before I can think of anything else, the Shadow turns me over and grabs my gi. Only the upper half of my body his up as my lower half lays on the ground.
"Let's finish this." The Shadow said.
"Wait! The S-Society said I'd g-go free..." I said weakly.
"And you believed them? Ha! I don't know what's sadder? That you believed the Society...or that you thought that you'd go free." He said.
When he finished his sentence, the Shadow then punched my face repeatedly. Blood splattered against the floor with every punch. I can feel my skull crack inside my head as he punches me. After one more punch, the Shadow lets go of me.
"He is ready." He said to himself.
The Shadow picked me up and lifted me into the air.
"My masters I present to you Sensei Wu!" He yelled.
More lights turned on and I could see the Society of Ghosts members sitting above us. All of them wore hoods over their faces except for the king, who sat in the middle of them.
"This is the most skilled teacher in all of Ninjago!? Bah! See how he bleeds like the rest of them?" He said.
I could hear the roaring laughter of all of them come from above me.
"Tell me, what is his fate? How is he to die?" He asked them again.
All the members shouted ways to kill me at once. I could only make out what a few were saying.
"Break his neck!"
"No, bleed him!"
"Cut his throat!"
"No no no! Hang him! Hang him!"
"Take the old man's spine!"
"Cut off his head!"
They all roared at the Shadow as he continued to hold me up. Their yelling went on for minutes until the king yelled.
"SILENCE!"
The entire Society got quiet.
"We will let the Princess Alayne decide." The King said.
All the members agreed on that.
"Yes the princess."
"She will decide."
"She'll know what to do."
"How do you want the old fool to die, my daughter?" The king asked as he turned his head.
The princess stepped into light and I could feel the Shadow's grip tighten on me. This young woman appeared to be the same age as the ninjas. She looked down at me and stared.
"Beat him to death." She told the Shadow as all the other members agreed with her.
"As you wish, my lady." The Shadow bowed his head.
He then threw me against the wall and it cracked.
"Hurt him like this?" The Shadow asked as he punched me all over.
"More! More!" The Society yelled.
The Shadow grabbed my throat and threw me again. This time I fell on the floor. The Shadow turned me over and punched me over and over again. Blood went everywhere with every punch. The floor underneath me began to crack. If he kept this up, we might fall through. The Shadow grabbed my ankles and threw me on the floor multiple times.
"When he finished, the Shadow threw me at the fountain. More blood escaped my body as I tried to get up. The Shadow made his way over to me and put his metal foot on my chest and then shoved my body, causing more bones to break. He then turned me over and shoved my face into the water. I yelled as he held my head down. He would hold my head down for about 15 seconds then lift me back up for 2 and then do it again. Less and less bubbles came up as I began to close my eyes.
The Shadow raised me from the water and then held me tight. He then started to run at full speed and stopped when my body crashed into the wall. The entire room was filled with my bones cracking. The wall behind me also cracked, but not as bad. After that, my entire body went limp. I was still alive, but barely. The Shadow then dropped me and I fell on the floor face up.
"I saved the last breath for you, my masters. Do with him as you will." The Shadow said.
All the members got from their seats and flew down to us like...ghosts. The Shadow stepped backed as the members crowded around me. I laid in my blood as all these strange people climbed over me. Before my eyes fully closed, I could see the princess and the king come up to the sides of the Shadows.
I can't give up. I have to stop them all. I try to move, but I can't. I'm too weak, too broken, too done. Every part of my body is telling me to let go or to give up. I decided to listen to them and closed my eyes.
When I open them, I'm surrounded my stars in space. I look down at my body and see that there is nothing wrong with it.
"Am I dead?" I asked myself.
"Not yet, but you will be soon." A familiar voice said.
I turn my head to see someone I thought I would never see again.
"Father?" I asked.
The First Spinjitzu Master, my father, was sitting behind me with a smile on his face.
"Yes my son, it is me." He said.
"What's happening?" I asked.
"I've taken your soul to this place before you fully died, but I can't hold onto you forever. Your body is being beaten as we speak." He told me.
"I know. It is the Society of Ghosts." I said.
"I know my son. An ancient evil has been awaken and you can stop it." He told me.
"How? I'm as good as dead. I can't." I said."
"You must, Wu. If you don't the world is doomed. The world I made for you and your brother." He said.
"Father...My bones are broken, my blood is gone, and my body is damaged." I said.
"You can escape from them! I know you can." He said with a smile.
I gave him a small smile.
"You must stop them and return to the elemental masters." He told me.
"How is the world doomed if I die." I asked.
"The Soceity will destroy all who stand in their way. The only way to stop them is with the Ninja of Light." He said.
My eyes widened.
"The Ninja of Light was destroyed when the Soceity fell." I said.
"Yes he was. A scroll has been discovered that fortells the future of the Society. New masters must be found for the Ninja of Light to be awakened again. You must train these new masters." He told me.
"I...I won't fail you father. But how can I possibly escape from this?" I asked.
"You have never given up before, Wu, so you won't start now. Did you give up when your brother tried to steal the weapons?" He asked me.
"No." I said.
"Did you give up when the ninjas had to be found?" He asked.
"No." I answered.
"Did you give up when you were swallowed by the Devourer?" He asked me again.
"No." I answered again.
"Did you give up when the weapons were stolen?" He asked.
"No." I answered.
"Did you give up when the Overlord escaped his prison?" He asked.
"No!" I answered.
"Did you give up when you were captured by the Nindroids?" He asked again.
"No I didn't!" I yelled.
"Are you going to give up know?" He asked.
"No I'm not!" I yelled again.
"Good." He smiled before he disappeared.
I could feel the Society over my body even though I was still here.
"Get...Off...Of...ME!" I yelled.
My entire body jumped up as the members were all thrown back against the walls. They all got up and ran away from me.
"He lives!"
"Run!"
"Kill him, Shadow. Kill him!"
They all escaped laeving the Shadow and me alone.
"Impressive. You still got some fight left in you." He said.
I ajusted my body and got into a battle stance. He did the same as his wrist blades came out.
"Let me see If I can cut it out." He said.
The Shadow ran up to me and tried to slash at my body. I avoided every attack he made. He tried to kick me, but I dodged that as well. He then tried to cut me agai, but I ducked to avoid his blades.
"Hold still!" He yelled.
He jabbed at me, but I caught his arm. I then ripped off his vambrace as it fell to the floor. He tried the same thing with his left arm, but I did the same as before. Now it was my turn. I ran up to him and punched him over and over.
"Leave me...my students...and my family alone." I said with every punch.
He fell back against the same wall as before. Before hi slid down it, I punched my again. With ever punch the wall would break. I stopped punching as he leaned against the wall. I then kicked him with all my strength and he fell threw the wall. He laid there as I grabbed a big rock and walked back to the middle of the room.
"That goes for all of you! Do you hear me!?' I yelled.
I sat down on the floor and began to struck the floor. The floor would crack and break as I brought the rock down on it.
"You said I'd go free and that's what I'm doing!" I yelled.
I kept hitting the floor as I could see rushing water below through some holes.
"I thought I heard water. How else could this fountain be here? We must be over some fresh water rivers. Very sloppy work Society of Ghosts." I mocked.
Just then, the rock shattered in the air.
"No one speaks to the Society like that!" The Shadow yelled.
He tried to grab me, but I jumped in the air and onto his back. I kept grabbing his suit as he tried to pull me off. I then climbed over his body as he tried to attack me.
"Release me!" He yelled.
He then grabbed me and threw me into the fountain. I looked up at him and smiled.
"Why are you so happy?" He asked as he stepped over the part I was hitting.
I opened my hand to reveal I had taken the pins out of his bombs. His eyes widdened in horror as he tried to take them off. But it was too late.
"BOOM!"
All his bombs went of as I covered my eyes to protect them. I lowered my arm to see a large hold in the ground, but no sign of the Shadow. I got up and walked over to the hold, dragging my left leg.
"I'll be back for you all!" I yelled as I stepped into the hole.
I fell down into the water and I let the rushing current move me along. Sweet freedom.
The water became faster as it pushed me all over this underground cave. It was getting stronger too as I was being pulled under. I soon found my way under the water as the current pushed me down. I was then being pulled again as my body went all over. The water did clean me up and my wounds as I tried to hold my breath. I wasn't sure where I was going as long as it was away from the Society. Minutes passed by as I was still under water leading me somewhere.
No POV
Jay was still standing at the docks in Merriam. He was standing there all day because the stranger, Mr. Hamato told him to. Jay could here his communicator beep.
"Anything?" Cole asked when Jay answered.
"Nothing yet, but I'm not leaving. We got to find him." Jay said.
"Don't worry, Jya, we will." Cole said with a smile.
Bubbles came up to the surface of the water.
"Hey Cole I think I got something." Jay said as he got closer.
Sensei Wu gasped for air as he came up through the water.
"Sensei!" Jay yelled.
"Sensei?' Cole asked.
Jay jumped in the water and pulled him up onto land. A few villagers came up to see the commotion.
"Get help! Hurry!" Jay told them.
They all ran back to Merriam to go get help.
"Jay?" Cole asked.
"I've found Sensei, Cole, but he's in bad shape. Get to Merriam quickly!" Jay said.
"We're on our way." Cole said as he hung up.
"Hang on Sensei." Jay said.
"Thank you...thank you...t-thank...you." Sensei said weakly just as more vllagers came and picked him up.
They all rushed back to the village's hospital to tend to his wounds.
Back at the Society of Ghosts' maze, a few of the members and the king were surrounding the hole.
"What an exciting battle." One member said.
The others agreed with him as two more members crwaled up through the hole.
"Well?" The king asked.
"He's gone, your highness." One of them said.
"Look." The other said as he pointed to the left.
Everyone turned their heads to see the Shadow pull his body towards them. His body was now burnt from the explosion, his bones were broken, his blood was black and his clothes were burned. However, his body was healing itself at a fast rate.
"Masters..." The Shadow said.
"You don't get to speak." The king said.
"Master?" The Shadow said.
"Silence!" The king yelled as he kicked the Shadow in his face.
The Shadow turned over on his back as he looked up to the King.
"You failed to kill the old man. Now he has escaped." The king said.
The Shadow hung his head.
"Don't worry. I will end your shame." The king said as he pulled out a sword.
He raised the sword in the air.
"Damage the brain and the Shadow can't heal himself." The king smiled evily.
As he brought the sword, someone grabbed his wrist.
"Princess Alayne?" The king said confused.
"Father, please, do not harm this poor being." The princess begged.
"Why not?" The king asked.
"He did nothing wrong. We sent him out to find a skilled warrior and he did. He would've finished him, but the tunnel stopped him. And we sent him into the maze to hunt down the Sensei, which he did. Father, he was in there for four days looking for him and attacking him. This Shadow has done all that we asked him to do and now that Sensei Wu has escaped, you want to punish him. If you must punish someone, punish me." Princess Alayne told him.
"My daughter, why must I punish you?" The king asked.
"I told Shadow to beat the Sensei, which he did. If I had chosen something else, then the old man might've been dead now." The princess said looking down.
"Oh daughter, I could never be mad at you. Very well, the Shadow may live. We'll send the healers to him to speed up his healing ability." The king said.
"I will stay with him until they get here." Princess Alayne said.
"Of course." The king said as the members left them alone.
Princess Alayne looked down at the Shadow and smiled. She then sat on the ground and put his head in her lap. She began to stroke his head gently as he reached for her hand.
"Thank you...my lady." The Shadow said softly.
The Princess smiled again and gently kissed the top of his head, just as the healers walked over to them.
The king walked down a long hallway with other members of the Society.
"My king, do you think it is wise to keep that Shadow alive?" One member asked.
"He's right. He may heal but not were it matters. Not after that beating." ANother said.
"Relax my brothers, I know what I'm doing. Besides..." The king said as he opened a door.
Everyone stepped into the room and saw about fifty caskets lined up in rows with one opened up.
"...It's not like we only have one Shadow." The king laughed evily.
I want to say personal thank yous to a few people.
HailsStorm: You are always the first one to review my chapters and they are always just so nice to read. No matter what story I right, you are the one who reviews them first. Thank you so much for reading.
RapidstarJ: Thank you for reading and reviewing this story. And also for adding me to your favorite authors list. I always have a few troubles when I try to write my fight scenes and yet you say I have talents and that it was the best one you've ever read. Thank you so much for that. I can't help but smile and laugh when I read what you have to say.
XShinkuKikinX: Thank you so much for your review on the last chapter and for reading my other story Another World. What you told me made me smile so big my cheeks almost ripped. I'm also glad that you're a Cole fan just like me. I propose we find two more Cole fans and form a band :D Anyway, thanks again for your message. It made my day.
I hope you all loved this chapter because it was fun for me to write. The next chapter is where I believe the story really starts at.
R&R