A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews guys! You know I love them! It would be great if you could review this chapter too since it is the last one. And to Lugialover1210: I'm making a sequel just for you!
Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago or the Harry Potter reference in the first paragraph.
(Kora/Zeera's POV)
Every part of me ached. Even worse, I had no idea where I was! Was I dead? I couldn't because I was on something soft. If I was on something soft then I had to therefore be alive to feel it. I felt entirely drained of strength yet panicked about my surroundings. How could I know where I was if I couldn't open my eyes? When had I ever let pain stop me? Come on, you can do this! You're strong! I told myself. Slowly I wrenched my right eye open.
Where in Ninjago was I? I seemed to be in some fancy styled suite with sliding doors. It was highly decorated and light streamed through a nearby window. It was sunrise. I was lying on a queen sized bed which would explain the softness. How did I get here? It took me a few seconds to realise I wasn't alone. I forced my other eye open. Someone was to my left, by the bed. They were sleeping on a chair placed by my feet, mouth wide open. I recognised him as the blue ninja from before. His hood was pulled over his face as though he was keeping watch. And failed. Darn it! If only he was the black or red ninja, I would know his name! Wincing with pain, I tapped him with my foot.
"Hey!" I called out, my voice strong and clear. "Guy-with-blue-hood-on-face! Wake up!"
He didn't budge. Nobody reacted or made a sound. Great. That worked. At least it doesn't hurt to use my vocal cords. I have no idea who he is or if he is on my side though. What is my side? Who am I? There was a bedside table next to me with a glossy surface. An idea sprung to mind. Mustering what little strength I had, I rolled onto my side, gritting my teeth. I looked at myself in the reflection that appeared and screamed. My face! What happened to my face?! I was somewhere between Zeera and Kora. My skin had turned grey and my hair was back to its old style but was still jet black. My eyes were a pale red. The blue ninja awoke with a violent jerk.
"Ahh! Wha's going on?" He said groggily, rubbing his eyes. He stood up and tried to look around. "I'll save you!" he cried blearily and fell back into his chair.
"Hey, you!" I called out. "What did you do to me?! Look at my face!"
At that moment Kai, Cole, Arua, June, a blonde kid and the white ninja from before burst in. They looked around for danger and then, sensing there was none, relaxed and crowded around me. They studied me, seeing if I was a threat. The blue ninja regained his senses, pulled off his hood and joined the crowd. However, Arua and June hung back. Arua stood in front of June protectively and looked at me, worried, sceptical and uncertain. This sudden entrance made me a bit stunned. I was at a loss for word despite the questions in my mind as I examined their faces. An awkward silence took hold.
"So, um," said the blonde kid, trying to break the silence. "She's good now?"
"Yes," replied the white ninja. "The transformation is in place and within 24 hours, Kora will be back to her old physical appearance."
Kai folded his arms and eyed me sceptically. He was clearly still ticked off by the slow-motion incident. "How do we know we can trust her?"
"I examined the notes on the Fikkran Serum and have their files stored in my memory banks," the white ninja told us in a monotone. "However, they may be a bit damaged since I was short circuited. It says that the physical appearance takes the longest to revert and she will be removed of all strength while the effects take place. I believe we can trust her. Thank you for the repairs, Jay. I hope I appear normal now." He added, tapping his newly repaired face as he turned to the blue ninja.
June escaped from behind her sister and ran up to me. She gave me a huge hug and I laughed.
"Hi June!" I said happily. "I'm sorry I put you and Arua in danger before. I felt like someone took control of my head while I sat back in the passenger's seat if you get what I mean. I'd hug you back but I can't move my arms."
June smiled and nodded and continued with her hug. Arua looked extremely worried for her and edged a bit closer to join the gathering around me.
"Um, hi Arua," I said awkwardly. "Man, I don't even know where to start but you get the picture, don't you? I was controlled, blah blah, it wasn't me trying to kill you and all that. Re-explaining this would kind of be a waste of time. You get the gist, right?"
She frowned at me. "I don't trust you. You could just be acting. You're going to have to prove Kora is really back."
I sighed. "I'd love to but I can't move which is so annoying. If I could move I swear I would hug you right now. This immobile thing is really inconvenient. Just think of all I could be doing!"
Jay smirked. "If that doesn't sound like Kai, I don't know what does."
Cole, Jay and the blonde kid laughed. Kai and I looked at each other, frowning while the white ninja did not appear to understand what is going on. Ow! Ok, Mental Note: No more frowning during the transformation.
"I'm going to quiz you. Only the real Kora would know the answers," Arua said slowly. "How did we meet?"
"Easy! I gave you some food while you were begging on the streets with June." I instantly replied.
"Where did I work?"
"Video store."
"When's my birthday?"
"9th of February."
"Why was I on the streets?"
"Your dad kicked you out. He sounds like a creep by the way. Who kicks out their kids over spilt milk? Literally."
Arua stopped firing questions and looked at me carefully and smiled. "I guess you're the real deal."
I smiled. She trusts me! Arua gave me a huge hug along with June who was still going.
"Ok, that's enough. Both of you. Usually I don't do hugs but June is the exception and two people is more than I can take." I said laughing.
"Well," said Cole interrupting my joyous moment. "If you're on our side, I guess we should tell you who we are. I'm Cole, this is Kai, Jay, Zane and Lloyd. Nya and Sensei went out of town." He gestured to the white ninja at the word Zane and the blonde kid at the mention of Lloyd.
I nodded. "This is great and all but let's cut to the chase. How did I get here? Why am I not still Zeera? And what happened to Lord Garmadon? I know you guys are ninja trying to stop him so skip that part."
"We brought you here," said Kai smugly. "This is our new headquarters if we can keep up the rent. We went to the trouble of getting a serum called the Fikkran Serum to return you to normal. We don't know what happened to Lord Garmadon though. We just had to get you and the Staff of Time out of there first."
"The Staff!" I exclaimed, panicking. "Where is it? It's here, right?"
Jay grabbed the Staff of time from under my bed. "Chill out! We kept it here. It's why I was sitting here at the beginning. That way we could guard you and the staff at the same time. Neat huh?"
I let out a sigh of relief. "Phew. Don't scare me like that!"
"You need your rest if you want to return to full strength soon, Kora." Zane advised.
"He's right," agreed Cole. "We all should get some rest. Kai, it's your turn to be on watch."
With that, everyone but Kai and I filed out of the room.
I walked into the living room where Lloyd was playing his video game with a cup of tea in my hand. June was sitting beside Lloyd, eagerly watching his progress. I looked at my reflection in the tea as I strode over to Lloyd and sat down on his other side. It was so good to look like myself again. I had hated those agonising and boring 24 hours of nothingness. On the plus side, it had given me time to watch replays of Zane's memory to see their fights against the Serpentine. Now I was completely up to speed. I watched Lloyd's video game.
"Hup, ha, haah!" Lloyd grunted as he steered his dragon.
He appeared to be racing some other dragons and spinning out of the way of their attacks. It was just Lloyd, June and I at home. The others had gone to raise money for this awesome suite. Cole had become a bank guard, Jay had been employed as a pizza delivery guy, Arua had returned to the video store, Zane became a chef and Kai was entertaining at parties. I smirked at the thought. I found it funny that the ninja were using their talents for their jobs. Cole was using his toughness, Jay was using his speed, Zane was using his culinary skills and Kai was using his natural talent: showing off. While everyone worked, it was my job to make sure Lloyd, June and the Staff of Time were taken care of.
"Aww!" said Lloyd disappointedly as his virtual dragon got hit by an attack.
Something moved in the corner of my vision, but I ignored it. Lloyd's virtual dragon only just dodged a random burst of flames in its path when I realised something was wrong. June had frozen in fear and was staring, panicked, at the window. I followed her gaze and cried out in shock. Skales was standing on a window washer platform just outside our window! My cry of shock had startled Lloyd who dropped his controller at the sight of Skales. I stood up and I stepped in front of Lloyd and June protectively. Skales knocked on the window and Lloyd and June edged towards the door on their seats.
"Hello little boy," Skales said as he waved.
Lloyd panicked. "Ahh! Help me!" He raced to the door.
June raced after him and I followed, dropping my tea as I ran. It hit the floor with a loud crash and soaked the carpet. The door was locked but a security control panel was on the wall beside it. Lloyd and June pressed buttons to try and open it while I guarded them. If only I had the Staff of Time! I could fend off Skales with it. Although maybe it's best if I don't have it on me. He probably doesn't even know it exists.
"What are you waiting for?! Hurry!" I said over my shoulder.
"Door is locked." The control panel automatic response said.
June banged her fist against the panel while Lloyd tugged on the door. "I know! I want it open!"
He continued tugged while June pressed buttons at random. I focused my attention back on Skales. He had used the fangs on his leadership staff to cut a hole through the glass to fit through and was making his way towards Lloyd. I backed up a bit to secure Lloyd and June's position. Don't push me, snake. I mentally threatened.
"What do you want with me?" stalled Lloyd.
Skales explained his plan. "You ssseem to be the only thing your father caresss about. With you asss my hossstage, he'll have no other choice but to let me lead the Ssserpentine! Hiya!" He cried as he sped up, bee-lining for Lloyd.
I ran and did a flying kick to Skales' face. He stumbled back and put on a confident gaze and a soothing tone.
"Look into my eyesss." He enticed while rubbing his bruised cheek. "You know you mussst."
Temptation drew me to glance at his eyes. But my glance turned into a stare and I couldn't look away. A sudden knock caught my attention. I dragged my eyes away to turn to the door.
"Hello? What's going on in there?" came Sensei's voice.
"HELP!" Lloyd cried out.
June raced to the door and started banging on it. My attention was brought back to the fight by a sharp bang on my head. Skales had hit me with his staff. Reckless rage filled me and I jabbed him in his stomach. He slid back and hunched over. A click and a sliding sound came from behind me. I used Skales moment of weakness to jab him in the eyes. He screeched and flailed with his staff. It hit me across the side of my face and I stumbled sideways. I glared and performed a roundhouse kick to his face. Training as Zeera totally paid off!
"Ninjago!" came an old cry from behind me.
A golden tornado swirled past me and sucked up Skales inside. Nya raced to my side, ready to fight. The tornado disappeared as Sensei was flung into the wall.
"No!" Nya, Lloyd and I cried out.
Nya flung out her 'S' shaped boomerang which struck Skales in the face. He cried out and raced past us. As a last resort, he grabbed Lloyd and held the leadership staff to his throat.
"Don't move!" Skales threatened. "Or the boy getsss it!"
He started backing towards the door. I stood there and helplessly looked to Nya. Her gaze was confident.
"Magnetiser activated." She said as she pointed her hand at Skales.
His staff flung into her grip and I felt a tap on my hip. I looked to see June nervously tapping me with the Staff of Time in her grasp. I grinned as I took it from her. I wonder if... I tapped the staff on the floor. Time all around me was frozen.
"Sweet!" I yelled.
I walked in front of Skales who was in the middle of making a break for it down the hall. I tapped the staff on the ground one more and he collided with me but I held my ground. I whacked Skales with the staff and he froze in place. I laughed as I strode back into the room. I was tackled by June as she gave me a fierce hug. I comforted her and led her over to where Nya and Lloyd were helping up Sensei.
"Are you guys ok?" I asked.
"We are fine." Sensei replied. "Thank you for your help, Kora. Without your bravery, Skales would of surely had Lloyd."
I grinned and blushed at the praise.
"Now, let us clean this place up, dispose of Skales and collect Arua from the video store. I am sure she will be eager to know what has happened."
"Skales really did that?" Arua asked in disbelief.
We were walking back to the suite where the ninja would be waiting for us. On our way, I recounted the story to Arua. We were just down the hall from the front door.
"Yeah, but then Nya used her magnetiser to take his staff and June handed me the Staff of Time!" I recalled. "Skales let go of Lloyd and made a break for it. I used the staff to freeze time, get in front of Skales and then pause just him. Now he's in jail and reunited with his staff."
We laughed and then Arua gave June a hug.
"I'm sure that was terrifying for you. Are you ok?" Arua asked.
June was still a bit shaken but nodded bravely. Good girl. We owe our victory to her, I thought endearingly. We were just about at the end of the hall when I heard voices.
"Oh, we shouldn't have left them!" said Kai, clearly worried.
"We shouldn't have taken those jobs in the first place," agreed Cole. "What were we thinking? Losing those two is terrible but losing Lloyd is by far our greatest loss!"
We stepped in the doorway to see Kai, Jay, Cole and Zane's agonised faces. Cole was standing next to the door while the other three were by the gaming console.
"But it could be your greatest lesson," Sensei advised.
The ninja turned to look and were delighted with the sight.
"Lloyd!" They cried.
Kai, Jay and Zane started to make their way over to us, arms outstretched in glee. Cole smiled.
"You're ok!" Kai exclaimed, surprised.
"I wasn't going to be if Kora, Nya and Sensei hadn't rescued me," Lloyd explained. "You should have seen Kora fight! For someone who isn't a ninja, she's got some moves."
Nya interrupted my moment of pride. "I go away for a day and everything falls apart!"
Kai walked up to Lloyd. "I guess you could say we've learned we don't need all the fancy stuff. We just need each other."
"Speaking of which." Sensei said. "I think it is time we added another to our ranks. With no one wielding the Staff of Time, it is in danger. Kora has more than proved herself worthy of wielding it."
I stood there baffled as everyone stared at me. Why would they pick me?! I became their enemy and attacked them! Plus I'm just an ordinary girl! Sort of. I had to focus for once instead of making a decision I hadn't thought through. I calmed myself and looked at everyone's faces.
Everyone's faces was cheerful and welcoming. Kai's was a tad annoyed but he looked like he was attempting to be supportive. Arua and June looked happy for me but sad at the same time. It dawned on me that if I said yes, I may not see her at much, if at all. She was only here for me and once I was ok, she was back to the streets. I looked at her sadly. I just got you back… I shed a tear and fiercely wiped it away. I weighed up my decision and turned to Sensei.
"I'm in."
A/N: And that's the end of the Forge of Time! Please tell me what you thought of it. Was chapter 10 a bit rushed? Was the fight scene good? Or was everything juuuust right? Thank you for reading so much! Please review!