Nindroids can't dream.
That was what all of the ninja, including Zane, once thought many years ago. Perhaps it was impossible for a nindroid to dream, but they certainly could have visions.
Or at least, Zane could.
He thought back to the "dream" he had back when Lloyd released the Serpentine. He had dreamed of the Green Ninja defending Zane from Garmadon, and the outcome had been in Lloyd's favor.
Zane wasn't sure if the Green Ninja was actually Lloyd in his dream, but just him imagining four key parts of the original ninja put together. That would explain the Green Ninja fighting with the Nunchucks of Lightning, having incredible strength, lighting his hand on fire, and the falcon perching itself on his arm.
Whatever the case, Zane had never had a dream - or vison - anything like that since. His dream had in a sense given the Ice Ninja a glimpse into the future, sort of like what Sensei's spirit smoke achieved. But it had felt so real.
Now, Zane found himself in another dream, or vision, or whatever it was. This one was very much real to the titanium-shelled Nindroid.
He had experienced this dream twice before, each time was also while he sat in Chen's dungeon. Each time was slightly different.
The first time, he had imagined himself in a blinding blizzard, with snow and ice all around him. There was almost no light, as the snow covered the entire atmosphere. A large ice dragon had pounced on Zane, becoming a threat that Zane couldn't see due to the blizzard. All he could do was sit there in agonizing pain as the dragon attacked him fiercely.
The second dream had also been a nightmare. Zane could clearly see his surroundings, but his feet were glued to the ground as he was forced to watch the ice dragon attack his friends. He had woken the next morning in a cold sweat.
Now this dream was different.
Zane found himself once again facing the Overlord in his Golden Master form. It was just like that day had taken place, with Zane still human-looking and in his Stone Armor. Around him were Lloyd, Kai, Cole, and Jay, as well as the two Sensei behind them.
"You are powerless!" The Overlord's raspy, shrieking voice surrounded Zane, as did the other ninja. Suddenly, am of Zane's surroundings turned pitch black, and several floating figures appeared before him.
"How could you leave us?" Kai asked, clearly heartbroken.
"We could have found another way to defeat him, you didn't have to die!" Cole exclaimed.
"You didn't even say goodbye!" Jay shouted.
Then there was Lloyd, Wu, Garmadon, and Misako standing in front of a tall metal statue in the park. It was after a few moments that Zane realized that it was a statue of himself.
Darkness swirled around Zane as the Overlord's shrill laughter boomed in his ears. The nindroid felt a darkness fill his very self as everything got darker, and darker, and darker.
Until the ninja were gone, until he was gone, and all that remained was the void nothiness and the remainder of the Overlord's voice ringing in Zane's voice.
"You'll never be the same..."
Zane woke in a cold sweat once more, and felt the sorrow fill himself. Pixal was still in sleep mode, and he thought best not to wake her. So he sat alone for countless hours, letting his mind flood over with thoughts of his dream.
Lloyd woke uneasily, knowing that today was not only his fight with Camille, the Master of Form, but also the final fight of the first round. He quickly changed from his sleepwear into his tournament gi. Taking one last glance at a certain photo on his bedstand, he walked out of his room.
Maybe some breakfast would help clear my thoughts.
Breakfast was rather simple. A piece of toast and some orange juice.
Kai and Cole were seated together at one table, while Lloyd sat with Camille. He kinda hated doing this, but he needed to settle terms with his opponent before the fight.
At first, Camille scrunched her nose as he sat down at her table, and ran a hand through her unusually bright purple hair. "What do you want?"
Her tone confirmed Lloyd's theory that she was a blunt, rude type of person, which he had guessed from seeing how she treated the other Elemental Fighters. "Can I not get to know my fellow Elemental Masters?"
"Elemental Masters?" Camille scoffed. "Is that what you ninja call yourselves? Masters of Spinjitzu, right? That may go for you, but everyone else here is there own person, unknowing where to go, or who to trust. Therefore, we are fighters, not masters. None of us are interested in spending hours a day training our elements. Seems like a waste of time."
Lloyd shrugged. "Maybe training is why me and the other ninja have been beating all of you so easily."
Camille was taken back for a moment, before scowling at the Green Ninja. "I never thought of you as someone who roasts people so easily."
Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "Roast? The only thing I'm roasting is you in today's fight." Lloyd wasn't sure why he was putting up with this, but he was sure having fun with this.
Camille was once again taken back. "Is that a challenge? I'll destroy you, Pipsqueak."
Lloyd was used to people pointing out his technical age, but his mind had been forced to quickly catch up with the rest of him, and he was more than mature enough now to lead the ninja.
Well, technically you were just roasting Camille, Lloyd scolded himself. Real mature.
With a sigh, Lloyd turned his attention back to the Master of Form. "Look, I don't want us to end our fight on sour terms. I was thinking-"
Camille cut him off instantly, standing up out of her seat and completely forgetting about the Green Ninja seated in front of her. She waved over to one of the other female Elemental Fighters.
The Master of Poison, Lloyd thought to himself as he watched the green-haired girl walk over to the table. Tox, was it?
Tox walked over and looked from Camille, to Lloyd, and then back to Camille. "Are you two...having breakfast...together?"
Camille almost spit out her orange juice. "What?! No! In fact, he was just leaving." She stared scowlingly at Lloyd. "Move it, Grass Stain."
Lloyd didn't want to feel the frustration of giving up his seat, but he knew better than to start more problems. He slipped out of the seat, meal in hand as he gestured to Tox.
"By all means, go ahead," he faked a smile as Tox quickly took his seat without a second thought, and the two females immediately forgot about the blonde.
As Lloyd walked away, he felt his eyes roll as the two girls giggled and chatted away behind him.
Camille has purple hair, and Tox has green hair, he laughed to himself. Does any female Fighters here even have natural hair colors?
Kai hurried down the hall to Chen's throne room, a mission at hand. As he opened the large red doors, several cultists instantly surrounded the Fire Ninja, each armed with very long, and very sharp spears.
Chen huffed, as he he waved his hand to the guards. "No, no! Leave him be, for heaven's sake! That is not how we treat our guests!"
The cultists instantly stood down, walking away.
Chen smiled, gently stroking his short, black beard. "Ah, Kai, my good boy! What can I do for you? Are you settling well?"
Kai folded his arms, staring straight at Chen with a determined look. "I'm settling fine. I just want to use a phone to call someone overseas."
Chen raised a brow. "And who would that be, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I want to call my sister," Kai responded almost instantly. "I haven't spoken with her in weeks now, and she probably doesn't even know I'm here..." Wu and Misako probably don't know where we are either, Kai thought. They must be worried sick.
"Well, we do not usually allow cellular usage at these type of events, but I can probably make an exception for you, my dear child."
Kai nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Chen. Will I talk to her later?"
"Oh no!" Chen exclaimed. "You can call her right now, just use my phone." He dug into his pockets and he pulled out a BorgPhone a moment later. "Onion Dip!" Chen yelled, gesturing to one of the cultists. "Hand this to the Fire Ninja."
The cultist walked up nervously. "Actually, its Kapau-"
"I don't care!" Chen flipped out. "You can be Captain Stupendous Man for all I care! Just take the phone!"
"Y-yes, sir!" Onion Dip - er, Kapau - quickly grabbed the phone and handed it to Kai.
Kai nodded his thanks as he dialed Nya's number.
"Oh, and Kai?" Chen continued.
"Yeah?"
"Don't be long."
Done! Sorry, it's been a few days, but Christmas took over my life the past few days lol. I'm hoping to get back into frequent updates, especially since I still have a week off of school.
As for reviews:
SpitfirewaterNinja: Oh yes, the pressures of being the leader are the least of Lloyd's worries. He has much more darker things to worry about. Chen is actually a pretty good deceiver, as long as he's able to get you wrapped around his finger. Yes, Pixane is beautiful. Jay and Cole are actually tied for me as well, haha. And yes, your hunch about Garmadon may be even closer to the truth than you think. Thanks for reviewing!
Rainbowaly03: Oh trust me, even Lloyd is feeling the tension and separation nag at him. Things will only get worse from here. Possession proved though that by the time Season 4 was over, the ninja were still very unwary of how to function as a team without him, especially since he was the one who struggled to keep the team together in the first place. Thanks!
RandomDragon: Oh, Chen is ALWAYS up to something, trust me. In due time, all will be revealed...
rbrill345: We all send our get-well cards to Kai, my friend. We all do. And as for Shade? That guy has more problems than a college math textbook. He has many secrets that will be revealed soon...
Until the next chapter,
~EB
