A/N: Chapter 7 everyone. Things are finally drawing to a close. Sorry it took so long to update, school restarted so my writing time got halved. Another special thanks to SunnySP for constantly reviewing each of my chapters. I appreciate it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago

(Arua's POV)

I hopped off the dragon and turned around to help June down. I never thought flying was that much fun! Now I know what I've been missing! I gave June a big smile to try to boost her confidence but she didn't need it. She flashed me a big grin and looked like she had the time of her life. Once I helped June down I looked around.

I was in the middle of a forest with skinny white trees that had brown patches. The floor was covered in thick snow and everyone was standing in front of probably the only thick tree in the forest. I led June to the group and Lloyd promptly slotted himself between us. Upon closer inspection I realised the tree had a strange symbol carved into it. I looked at the branches of the trees but I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

"Zane, where is your house?" I asked.

"This is my home." Zane replied gesturing to the thick tree.

I stared at him in confusion. "So, you lived in a tree house?"

Jay snickered. "No way! He lived inside the tree."

I glanced at June to see if she was buying this. She had an expression on that told me 'What you're saying is weird but true'. After all that's happened, what with my best friend being eaten by a giant snake and me riding a dragon and all, I wouldn't be surprised if that were true either.

"You're wasting time!" complained Kai.

"He is right," agreed Sensei. "The longer we stand here, the more time Lord Garmadon has to execute a plan. Zane, the door please."

Zane walked up to the symbol in the tree and grabbed the side of a door carved into the tree. He pulled it open and gestured for everyone to go in. Jay looked at me with a 'I told you so!' face before stepping inside. I rolled my eyes and followed him.

We walked down a spiral ramp to a workshop below. The room was entirely circular. There was a workbench set out with blueprints on it and a pipe stretched across one wall section of the wall. A little table with a picture on it was tucked away by an empty bed. Shelves and cupboards were scattered around the place and a little oven was pushed up against the wall. There was no sign of a safe. Zane walked in last and shut the door behind him.

"Alright guys," began Cole.

"And girls," Nya added.

"Right," Cole said, looking a little flustered. "Let's do this guys and girls. We're a team. Zane, where do we start?"

Zane walked over to the workbench. "The safe is in the floor, underneath this."

"Well, come on everyone," rallied Cole. "Let's try and push this thing."

Everyone but Sensei got behind the workbench and began to push forward. With so many people working together, the desk moved easily. Beneath the workbench was a small combination safe. The serum must be tiny if it fits in that.

"Nice work everyone," Nya complimented.

Zane studied the safe, thinking hard. He turned back to face us.

"Only my father knew the combination, I do not." Zane admitted sadly.

"Did you ever see your father open the safe?" Kai asked.

Zane thought for a few seconds and replied, "I am not sure. I will analyse every memory I have of this place to try to find it."

Zane walked over to the oven and sat down beside it, his legs stretched out in front of him. His eyes turned a shockingly bright blue and he remained motionless. Okaaay. You don't see that often. Everyone gathered around Cole.

"While Zane looks at his memory banks, we've got to try and solve it ourselves," Cole instructed. "Arua, June, Kai and Lloyd, you can sort through papers and try to find out anything you can on the Fikkran Serum. Jay, Nya and I will try to crack the safe."

"Wait! I don't like my group," whined Kai. "All we're doing is reading. Where's the action in that?"

I sighed. I don't believe this. We have a job to do and he complains about how he wants to keep his distance from two ten year olds, the new girl and some books? I walked up to him.

"In case you haven't noticed, Kai," I said angrily. "Sitting in front of a locked safe has no action either. Now start helping out the team!"

Kai glared at me. "Do you know who you're talking to? I'm the ninja of fire and if you don't stop telling me what to do, you'll be burned to a crisp!"

I glared back at him and slapped him in the face. "Do you know who you're talking to?" I retorted. "I am a girl who has lived her life on the rough streets, is talking to someone who whines like, and probably has the brain of, a five year old and has lost her best friend to a giant snake. If you don't start trying to help instead of complaining I'll—"

"You'll what?" He exclaimed, cutting me off. "Slap me for the third time? Take down a spinjitzu master? I don't think so!"

"KAI!" Cole yelled. "That's enough! For the sake of the team and Zeera you will get along and you will do the jobs I assigned!"

"Actually Cole," said Sensei. "I think Arua must learn to defend herself from Zeera who now holds a grudge on her." He turned his wise old eyes to me. "Zeera told me in the Great Devourer that she blames you for her evil heart. Since desire action, Kai, you can teach her. I will meditate in the forest and look at the spirit smoke. Perhaps I can see what my brother is up to. Come now."

Kai and I groaned at the prospect of working with each other. We turned and glumly followed Sensei up the ramp.

(June's POV)

I watched my sister walk up the ramp. Everything suddenly felt much more intimidating. I hardly knew anyone here! They all seemed threatening, the boys with their martial arts and Nya with her gadgets. Not to mention Zane with his robotic face! Lloyd was ok though. He wasn't threatening at all.

"As I was saying, split into your groups and get working," Cole instructed.

I guess it is just me and Lloyd finding out about this Fikkran Serum, then. I looked at Lloyd.

"Alright June," he said. "Where do we start?"

I looked around. There was so many places to check! What if I pick a place that he doesn't approve of? I worried. I gestured shyly to the workbench. Hopefully he doesn't mind searching there.

"Sure, and if it's not there, we could always check those shelves." He told me.

I nodded. Phew, he liked my choice. We walked up to the workbench. I noticed there were blueprints on a falcon. I pointed at it and looked at Lloyd questioningly.

"Oh, that's the falcon Zane's dad built," Lloyd explained. "It meant a lot to him but went missing with our old airship, The Destiny's Bounty. It was really cool! It could link with Zane and he could see from the falcon's view!"

I smiled as Lloyd examined the drawers of the workbench. It sounded great but the thought of being on an airship made me a little nervous. I looked at the falcon blueprint some more, then my gaze wandered to a blueprint of Zane that was also on the workbench. I stared, shocked. Look at all those gizmos! He could hurt me in a snap! I backed away. Staring at that made me freak out. Lloyd looked over at me and walked over.

"What's up?" He asked. I pointed to Zane's blueprint and he smiled. "Don't worry June. Zane's a nice guy. Tell ya what? You can look in the drawers and I'll check the bench. We can get everything done faster and have time to watch your sister. It'll be funny to see how they get along and maybe I can pick up some tips!"

I smiled once more and nodded. He's right. We will get stuff done faster. And the quicker this is done, the sooner I can get to Arua.

I walked over to the workbench again and opened the top drawer. It was full of measuring equipment like rulers and protractors. The second drawer was full of files. I stared at it curiously. It seemed there was one folder for each letter of the alphabet. Where is F in the alphabet? I wondered. I counted on my fingers. Oh yeah, six. I pulled out the sixth folder and opened it. It had heaps of information on the falcon.

I knelt and placed the folder on the floor then started flicking through the pages. I paused, smiled and tapped Lloyd's leg. He looked over to see my excited face and realisation dawned on his.

"Guys! June found it!" Called out Lloyd excitedly.

Nya, Cole and Jay rushed over. I got nervous at the sudden rise in people around me but nobody took notice. Jay picked up the folder and started reading it. He was apparently the inventor of the group so I wasn't surprised.

"Hey guys, listen to this!" Jay exclaimed. "'Description: Bright yellow liquid, Dosage per human: 7.829 millilitres, Expiry date: None, How to take: Ingest, Notes: Recipients undergo painful process that can last up to 24 hours. When given to average recipient, they lose all personality but all acts become righteous. When given to a recipient exposed to dark contamination, they are returned to their original status.' Hey think Zane got some of that in his gears? The whole righteous but no emotion thing is pretty accurate!"

"More importantly," said Nya, giggling. "They've done their part. You two can go watch Arua train if you want. We'll keep working on the safe."

I looked at Lloyd who smiled encouragingly. I turned back to Nya and nodded, then Lloyd and I headed up the ramp, taking note of Cole's grumpy expression due to Nya stealing his thunder. I guess they're not so bad. I stopped about halfway up the ramp because I heard some mechanical noise. I looked around, scared one of the contraptions here had gone haywire. I sighed with relief as I realised it was only Zane flicking back to reality.

"What did you see, Zane?" asked Cole. "The combination?"

Zane nodded and everyone parted to let him through to the safe. He bent down over it and in a few seconds, the safe clicked open. Zane reached down and pulled out a vial of bright yellow liquid. Everyone cheered and I was so happy at the thought of having Kora back, I high-fived Lloyd. I was amazed at myself for doing that. I'm usually so shy.

"Wait!" Nya yelled, ruining the moment. "Before we celebrate, we need to know how much we have. Zane, give me a measurement on the amount of Fikkran Serum to three decimal places."

Zane instantly replied, doing the measurement lightning quick. "Approximately 7.829 millilitres."

Everyone was silent, taking in the fact that only one person could be saved. Please choose Kora! I begged silently. Don't let her stay evil! I miss her! I tear rolled down my face and Lloyd patted me on the back. I smiled at him. Everyone trudged up the stairs to see how Arua and Kai were doing. We sat down in the snow to watch them.

"Ok, now this is the final move you should know," instructed Kai, clearly annoyed. "It teaches you to disarm your opponent. Pick up your stick and I'll show you."

Arua picked up a stick next to her on the ground.

"Ok, now you parry for a bit from my attacks," Arua began to parry with her stick, "and when I seem to drop my guard you twist your stick like this."

He twisted his stick around Arua's and it flung out of her grip.

"And remember," said Kai, "only use this move if you actually have a weapon such as this stick. If you try this on someone with your hands, you'd get cut and you'd have to be pretty stupid to try."

"Yeah, that's kinda obvious." Arua stated.

Suddenly, Sensei burst through the trees, panting. "We must hurry, quickly, to the Forge of Time! My brother is training Zeera to fight and wield the Staff of Time! If they get hold of it, there is no telling what damage they could do to history!"

I stared at my sister, panicking. She ran over to me and gave me a hug then lead me to the dragon. Everyone hopped on the transport they used to get here and we flew off into the sunset.

(Zeera's POV)

"Very good, my apprentice." Lord Garmadon said. "I've trained you well. Soon you will be ready to wield the Staff of Time…"

He froze and turned to look at me sharply.

"Did you sense that?" He barked.

I stared at him confused and shook my head. I don't care about what you sense! Just teach me some more moves! Lord Garmadon's eyes widened and he ran to the mouth of the cave. The sunset's light poured in like honey.

"Master, what are you doing?" I asked impatiently.

His gaze flicked back to me. "There is a change of plan. We're leaving now."

"What?" I asked, startled. I stormed up to him. "No, Master. That isn't what's meant to happen. What is is that you teach me how to fight. How else can I beat the ninja?"

He glared at me. Once again I was unfazed by his look. With this interruption, my plans will be delayed! But it is worth it to gain that staff. All that power… In my grasp!

"Don't question me." He ordered. "I'll explain on the way to the Forge of Time."

He raised his shuriken and it shone again. Once it subsided, the snowmobile was once more in front of us. Lord Garmadon once again shoved the scythe into my grasp and we hopped on. Soon the ground turned rocky and bumpy. I turned to Lord Garmadon.

"So why'd we leave Master?" I asked irritably.

"I sensed something in that cave while we were training," he explained. "And I know that sensation. It is felt when you are being watched through spirit smoke. Only my brother has access to that resource and since he saw us, we no longer have the advantage of surprise."

I nodded in understanding. That explains it. The snowmobile disappeared from under me and this time I face planted into solid rock.

"OW!" I yelled.

I looked up to see Lord Garmadon's smiling face. Restrain your rage, Zeera. Now is not the time. I stood up and saw a sea of huge jagged rocks pointing upwards as far as the eye could see. In the distance was a feeble light. Lord Garmadon snatched the scythe from me.

"We will have to walk the rest of the way on foot," Lord Garmadon instructed. "Just keep going towards that light. We should split up so I can judge how you are at solo missions."

This is hardly a mission. I thought, annoyed. Operation: Walk to the light! Doesn't have a ring to it either. I nodded expressionlessly at Lord Garmadon and began weaving through the spikes. After a good ten minutes, I found myself in front of a huge octagonal, electrical safe door. Lights flashed on it like sirens and it was hinged to the perfectly cut rockface. It looked like old alien technology you see in movies. Lord Garmadon arrived silently behind me.

"How are you gonna crack this thing open, Master?" I asked, folding my arms is impatience.

"Yes. Either we crack it like regular people and waste time or we use these weapons to our advantage. And we aren't doing the first one." He told me.

His eyes shone at the prospect of trying out his weapons. He walked up to the safe, twirled his nunchucks and thwacked them against the safe. The lights immediately went out.

"This better work Master," I said gravely. "Or else we won't be able to get in at all considering you short circuited it!"

"It will work!" He said angrily. "It has to."

Lord Garmadon walked to the hinges of the safe, raised his sword and it ignited.

"Whoa! Amazing!" I exclaimed.

A sword that has the ability to burn by itself? Incredible! I want it. But it will come in due time. I told myself. Once I get a hold of all those weapons, Arua will pay for what she's done! Lord Garmadon rested the sword on the hinges and one by one, they melted off.

"Now there's no way we can get it open!" I cried, frustrated. "You just made it a slab of rock blocking our way!"

Lord Garmadon gave me a 'I know what I'm doing' look and I growled angrily. He briefly glanced at the safe.

"Get out of the way of the door." He instructed.

I nodded and moved to the side. Lord Garmadon slid in beside me and stabbed his scythe into the ground and the earth shook and I fell on my back. There was a huge moan and the safe door fell forward onto the floor in front of us. I stood there, stunned. Lord Garmadon walked onto the safe and gestured inside.

"Enter, my apprentice. We have much to do."

A/N: Alright! I think about three chapters are left. This is my longest chapter by far! More to come!