CHAPTER 6

A NEW QUEST HAS BEGUN

The entire kingdom was in ruins, that much could be said. Inside the castle, Kai and Nya had hunkered down under Kai`s desk. When Nya saw that Kai was planning to leave on a quest, they had started exchanging their goodbyes when the earthquake happened. Now they were standing in Kai`s suite, looking out the window that had a wonderful view of the kingdom. The entire capital city was a wreck. Damage and destroyed buildings were scattered everywhere. People were screaming and fearing for their lives. The red knight stood there wondering how unexpectedly that came. It was only a natural catastrophe. Nothing new. Things happen unexpectedly. Expect the unexpected is what his father always told him.

Nya walked over to her brother. "Kai, we need to find the king."

"Nya, he's probably as stunned as we are," Kai said, "His first priority will be to help the people. We should do the same."

"Which is why we should find the king." Nya started making her way down the hall out of her brother's suite.

Kai loved his sister, but she always did such drastic things he never thought a woman would do. He started following her down the hall, watching his step every which way he walked. Broken glass was pretty much everywhere. Portraits fell off the walls and were either punctured with holes or broken in half. Knight's armor scattered in pieces all over the floor. The castle was as much as a wreck than the entire kingdom put together.

Kai finally caught up with his sister as they made their way over to King Garmadon and his family. Sir Zane and his wife Lady Zeah were already standing before his Majesty. Sir Cole's family was making it up the steps. Duke Wu was being notified to head over to the castle immediately along with his family. Sir Jay was just now arriving behind Sir Cole, trotting along on his horse. He had dust and scratch marks on him and looked pretty shook up.

"This was a natural disaster I was not expecting," Sir Jay said.

"None of us were, Sir Jay," King Garmadon said.

"Your Majesty, I hate to be rude, but none of this would've happened if you had only listened to us," Sir Cole said.

"About what? Pythor`s return to the kingdom. I told you all he was gone."

"No, he's not. He's the reason this earthquake happened."

"That's not possible. Snakes can't form an earthquake by the rise of their scaly hands."

"Okay, if this was some ordinary earthquake, than where's the aftershock. Every strong earthquake has one."

"He's right, your Majesty," Lady Carol said, "Fifteen years ago, we had an earthquake as strong as this one. The aftershock was even stronger. Where is it now?"

The king was lost in thought for a moment. He then sighed and turned to look at everyone. "You're right. It seems I've let it go once again. Thinking that Pythor was gone when he was here the whole time. Looks like I was tricked."

"But you can fix your mistakes, your Majesty," Lady Zeah said.

Garmadon nodded. "Yes, I can. My fellow knights, I need you all to head out to the Southern border and stop Pythor. This time I want him gone. Lloyd, I want you to go along with them."

"Me?" Prince Lloyd asked.

"Yes, son," Garmadon said, "Think of this as getting revenge on Pythor for kidnapping you. But I also want you to start going on quest with the knights."

"Mother?" Lloyd looked at Misako.

Queen Misako smiled. "You've trained so much in the last few years that I can't even think of a reason you shouldn't go. I know your ready. It's time to start letting you do things on your own."

"Knights, it's time to start heading out," Garmadon said.

The knights split ways and planned to meet up at the bridge at midnight. While the other nights headed back to their homes to resume packing (or if someone were Sir Jay, they would already be packing) Kai went back to his suite to resume as well. His sister had intentionally followed him and held a bag in her hands. She brought it over to her brother. "It's just a few extra supplies I know you'll need."

Kai took the bag and started rummaging through it. In it was some medical supplies, food, his spare playing cards and dice, and a whole bunch of money. He looked at Nya. "You kept up with all my gambling money?"

"I'd figured you would need it one day."

Kai took a small pouch from his dresser and placed some money in it. He gave it to his sister. "Take this. Just in case. Was this all my gambling money?"

Nya shook her head as Kai placed the pouch in her hand. "No. Just half of it."

"In case something bad happens, I want you to take the rest of the money and run. The rest is yours, anyway. I'm giving it to you."

Nya smiled as she gave Kai something else. It was her old teddy bear that their mother had made when Nya was born. She placed it in the bag. "Just in case something does happen and we never see each other again. Keep him to remind you of me."

Kai looked around and found the red clay made dragon statue that Nya made for him when they were kids. He handed it to her. "Take this. In case we don't see each other again. It'll remind you of me." The two siblings embraced each other for a few minutes until Kai looked at the time. Ten-thirty. The bridge wasn't close. He needed to start heading out. Kissing his sister on the forehead, he started out the door of his suite, but stopped and looked at his sister. Tears were peeking from her eyes as well as his. This was the first time he had left that this had happened. He rushed back over to Nya, this time embracing her tightly. This is the first time he's left in ages. He hated leaving her, even back then. Back then he had no choice. He had a choice not to leave, but it was the king`s orders. He couldn't disobey the king. With one last kiss on the forehead, he said to Nya, "I love you, Nya."

Nya smiled, tears falling down her cheeks. "I love you, too, Kai."

With those final words, Kai walked out of his suite, Nya following. They went back outside to the stairs, where the king was watching his son climb upon his horse. Kai`s horse was brought to him. He mounted upon it and raced outside the palace, Lloyd following behind him. They met up with the other knights at the bridge. Once they crossed it, the quest to destroy Pythor once and for all had begun.

NEXT SCENE:

Inside the old abandoned village of Ignacia, the army Pythor had formed were hiding inside a sturdy building, one that would never fall to pieces in any catastrophe. They were all clapping and cheering after the earthquake ended. Pythor was pleased to hear such noise. He smiled, slithering his way up the stage. "My army, I am pleased to announce that the start of our raid of the kingdom has begun. For now we will wait. The knights will be coming. I know it. People have spotted us and I am pleased to see that."

"General, when can we expect the knights?" someone from the crowd asked.

"Soon, my army. Just be prepared for anything."

"Can we continue throwing things in their way?" more people asked.

"Could you be more specific?" Pythor asked.

"We were hoping you would have some more spells in that book of yours!" someone shouted.

"Did you hear that the book belongs to the black knight?" another person shouted.

"Come again?" Pythor asked.

"The book belongs to the black knight. He lost it and the man you bought it from found it and put it up for sale."

That was something Pythor didn't know. He knew what the book was and knew what was in it. It was written by an expert on the Serpentine. That's the reason why he wanted it so much. He never knew the black knight had it. He thought Ronin found it and was selling it for big money. Cole's probably after Pythor to retrieve the book. That would be one thing that he wouldn't let Sir Cole take from him.

"I never knew that," Pythor said, "That gives me an excellent idea. Move on, my army. Nothing more to discuss. I have more important matters to attend to." Pythor scurried inside another room, looking at a shadow figure in front of him. "Hello there, my servant. I have a job that I need you to do for me. You know the consequences if you refuse or fail. Understand?" The figure nodded. "Good. Are you familiar with the noble knights of Nin?"


OHHH, I WONDER WHO THIS MYSTERIOUS PERSON IS. POOR NYA. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME KAI HAD TO LEAVE SINCE HIS GAMBLING DAYS. KAI DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO LEAVE HER, BUT HE HAD TO OBEY THE KING.

WELL, I HOPE THAT YOU ALL ENJOY THIS CHAPTER.

PLEASE REVIEW.