Hi, everyone! Sorry this chapter is so late -_-; I was not expecting Christmas time to be so crazy... But, here's a super long chapter to make up for it! :D
Special thanks to RandomDragon, rbrill345, StoriesAreMagic, SnowNinjaAJ, TheEvil4ssHole, Peanut2196, Ms. Cipher16, DaStonekeeper, TheYellowNinja, Xaos, and Nali Nali Nalina for reviewing!
And, SPECIAL SPECIAL SUPER DUPER A MILLION TIMES THANKS to Peanut2196 who drew the incredible, amazing, fantastic fan art that is the new cover of this story!
Replies to guest reviews:
RandomDragon: I'm glad you thought those parts were funny XD I thought we could use a break from all the heavy angst! I'm also happy Cole is finally like his own character again :D Lloyd was certainly trying to put on a good show for Morro, but, after spending so much time in his body, Morro knows him too well. (;﹏;) Morro wants something, but he's not going to reveal his hand just yet ;D Aw, I LOVE your idea for "Five Times!" How cute! :3 I will certainly take that into account!
rbrill345: Aw, I'm so glad you liked the chapter! :D Cole is actually a character again! Yay! Morro is sooo sassy, so it's very, very, VERY entertaining to write! :D Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about your fence! I'm sure if the Destiny's Bounty had a fence, Kai would have broken that too XD I'm so happy you're excited for the update! :D
SnowNinjaAJ: Yay! You're so close to break! I know, heroes always rush into things unprepared in stories! The ninja had no idea what to expect in the Departed Realm, so I thought they should at least prepare a little bit XD I loooove writing Morro! XD XD XD I thought Kai's many car accidents would be a funny tangent XD Lloyd said Nya couldn't drive because he wanted her to be ready to blast Morro with water (so paranoid XD) Do let me know about your friends and the drawing! I'm still very, very excited! :D Straight As! Great job! Go catch that chocolate XD
Xaos: It makes me so happy to know Morro was able to brighten up your day! (＃⌒∇⌒＃)ゞ (He's certainly not brightening up the ninja's day! XD) He's so fun for me to write! You have a very good guess, so we'll see what he asks for ;D I' so so so happy that you're excited for the updates AND that you think they're in character! (＃⌒∇⌒＃)ゞ That's a huge compliment! Thank you so much!
Nali Nali Nalina: Yeah, I thought Cyrus Borg would be hesitant to hand the Crystal over XD That's a very good theory about what Morro wants! We'll find out eventually! ;D Jay and Cole both have so much guilt and self-loathing inside them! Oh my goodness, the Magic School Bus XD That's amazing! Kai is such a bad driver XD Morro is SUCH a jerk! But, I still love him XD Thank you!
"Fifty two thousand two hundred thirty nine cups of tea on the wall, fifty two thousand two hundred thirty nine cups of tea! Take one down, pass it around, fifty two thousand two hundred thirty eight cups of tea on the wall!"
Zane had merrily begun singing the song, and Jay and Cole had joined in intermittently when they felt up to it, but no one was that dedicated- until they discovered that Morro despised their singing. Now, all six ninja were belting it out with dance movements to match, and Morro was curled up in the fetal position on his seat, both hands pressed to his ears in an attempt to shut out the noise.
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and had to admit defeat.
"Stop it, stop it, stop it! Stop the incessant caterwauling! Is this what you do for fun?!"
"Ha!" Jay exclaimed triumphantly from the seat directly behind Morro, elbowing Cole beside him. "Told you he wouldn't make it halfway. You owe me five bucks when we get home."
Cole buried his face in his hands and groaned, "So close…,"
Kai whispered to Nya, "Caterwauling?"
"Morro's right. We're being unfair," Zane, ever the voice of reason, called from the driver's seat, glancing at them in the rearview mirror. "What do you do for fun, Morro?"
"Bathe in the blood of my enemies."
Awkward silence.
Morro looked around, confused. "That was a joke." Nothing. "It's funny, because ghosts can't bathe."
Cole reached over the back of the seat and placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "That's not the part of the joke that was the problem."
Kai whispered to Nya, "Epic fail." Lloyd laughed.
Morro snarled, shaking the hand off and leaning forward in his seat so he was closer to Zane. "Are we still headed north?"
"Eighteen degrees north to be exact," Zane confirmed.
The ghost directed his gaze to the window, which still framed mostly sand. They had passed the odd outpost here and there though, so there were signs of life- er, death- afterlife. "Good. We're right on track."
"So, Morro," Jay began, crossing his arms on the back of Morro's seat and leaning over it. Now that Cole was out of his body for an extended period of time, he already felt much stronger and less nauseous. And, having him whole and here beside him instead of barely visible and afraid or inside him and depressed helped him forget about the fact it was his fault they were on this journey in the first place, helped him forget about killing his best friend. It was easy to act like everything was normal, when he wasn't sure if everything would ever be truly normal again. So, true to his chatty nature, he asked, "Is the entire Departed Realm a desert? Because that's a real bummer if this is what we have to look forward to."
"No," Morro answered, perhaps grateful for the chance to steer the conversation away from his poor attempt at a joke. "There are tons of places to exist: tranquil forest, frozen tundra, bustling city, you name it. The desert is the quote-unquote 'bad part of town.'"
"So, you can just go wherever you want?" Nya asked from the other half of the bus where she sat beside Kai and behind Lloyd, who was sure to watch Morro like a hawk every moment. "You're not… 'assigned' to any one place?"
"No. You can drift from place to place without mortal concerns like money or tiredness or hunger." Morro paused, then added thoughtfully, "It's nice."
"But, you deal in favors?" Zane questioned from the front of the bus.
"Or souls if you want something big," Morro explained. "Some ghosts do small jobs- like own a shop or sing and dance- because it makes them feel alive."
Jay frowned. "Sounds kind of sad."
"Like I said, it's peaceful," the ghost turned to stare out the window. "You'll feel differently after you die."
"Where do you live?" Cole asked, leaning over the seat as well. "A windmill?"
"I don't live in any one place. I go where I feel like going," Morro replied. "And, sometimes I'm ripped away from where I feel like going by a Summoning Spell and forced back into the Mortal Realm. That's always fun."
"But, you've got to have a home," Kai said, forcing himself not to take the bait. "Like, where all your friends are."
"I told you, I don't have any friends, because I don't need any friends."
"You have friends," Jay argued. "Bansha, Ghoultar, the Soul Archer, that guy we beat with a water tower…,"
"Them?" Morro snorted. "Means to an end."
"So, you're lonely," Lloyd spoke up for the first time. "That explains a lot."
"I am not lonely. Needing people makes you weak," he pointedly looked Lloyd up and down. "That explains a lot."
"Enough, you two," Nya admonished. Mirroring each other perfectly, Morro and Lloyd crossed their arms and looked out their respective windows.
No one spoke much after that.
It was some time before Zane called from the driver's seat, "Is that where we're headed, Morro?"
The bus was approaching what looked to be a small shantytown, reminiscent of an Old West cowboy movie with dilapidated buildings lining either side of the dirt road- that is, except for where the road ended at a sleek, modern building. It was as big as a football stadium with strobe lights shining every which way in the evening sky. It was absolutely covered with neon lights, advertising gambling, food, and services of… other varieties. And at the top, a monumental sign that must have been in point a million font that read "The Bone Keeper's" in swooping letters.
"A casino?!" Jay shouted, eyes bugging out of his head as he gaped. "We're too young to go in there!"
"Age isn't a thing in the Departed Realm," Morro explained, moving into the aisle even though the bus was still moving. "It would kind of suck to never be able to do anything if you died as young as I did."
"My mom's going to kill me…," Jay moaned.
"What you should be worried about is what happens after we get in," Morro said irritably, moving into a seat near the middle of the bus and lifting a stack of brown cloaks identical to the one he was currently wearing. "Here, everything's backwards. You're the bad guys, and I'm the celebrity."
"You? You're a celebrity?" Kai scoffed disbelievingly.
"I did unleash the Preeminent in the Mortal Realm," Morro threw the cloak so it hit the red ninja in the face. "You'll already draw enough attention by being mortal, so wear these to conceal your identities." He distributed the cloaks. "See how hospitable I am? I should get three favors for this."
"Nuh uh," Lloyd shook his head severely, reluctantly pulling on the cloak Morro offered him. "Two favors. That was the agreement."
"What are those two favors anyway?" Kai asked as he fixed his hair that the ghost's rude gesture had flattened, coming off way too suspicious to succeed in sounding nonchalant.
"I'll let you know when I want them," is all Morro said, pulling up his own hood. Zane guided the bus off the road and into an empty space near the casino where several other vehicles were parked, including a line of motorcycles, a smattering of monster trucks, and, yes, even a tank. "Keep a low profile so we don't get mobbed by screaming fangirls or vengeful wraiths, alright?"
The group of seven approached the doorway, keeping their faces directed toward the ground and half tucked into the collars of their cloaks. When they neared the tall, red and gold embellished double doors, one of the two burly bouncers held up a hand.
"No field trips, kiddies," he said, and then they both proceeded to laugh at the joke.
"Tell the Bone Keeper his exterminator's here for a follow-up visit," Morro said confidently, tilting his head back so they could see his dead-serious gaze.
The two bouncers shared a look. The one who made the joke nodded, and the other disappeared into the casino, presumably to deliver the message.
"Do we even want to know how you got that nickname?" Jay asked, glancing nervously at the bouncer who remained like a brick wall in front of the door.
"No," Morro pulled his hood lower. "You don't."
The bouncer who had been sent on the errand returned. "Let them in."
The double doors opened wide and the seven elemental masters shuffled through, six of them ogling the scene inside. Neon lights flashed everywhere. Slot machines were ringing throughout the room, followed by the cheers and groans of winners and losers. Around the room, several tables had crowds gathered around them, jostling one another either so they could get a better view or to get a turn to play whatever the game was. Scantily clad waitresses orbited around the room, delivering food (but no drinks.)
The bouncer pointed at a table meant for dining. "Wait until the boss is ready to see you," he smirked and gestured at the games. "But, feel free to try your luck in the meantime."
They sat down- and were almost immediately bombarded by waitresses adorning their table with… exotic food.
"Don't worry, boys," one of them smiled, winking at Kai who blushed. "This one's on the house."
"Um, hello?" Nya waved her hand, but the waitresses continued to ignore her. "There is a girl here also."
The woman nearest Jay drew back her hand from his shoulder as if he had burned her. "You're alive?"
Jay laughed nervously, keeping half his face turned away from her. "Alive is… such a relative term…,"
"Buzz off," Morro snapped, and the female ghosts drifted back with hurt expressions. "Can't you see we're busy here?"
Grumbling, the women sauntered away, much to Kai's dismay.
"Morro," Zane addressed, studying one of the nearby tables that seemed to be the site of a poker game, though all the cards were black and purple and the suits included skulls and tombstones instead of hearts and spades. On the table were small, oval pebbles, only slightly bigger than a stamp and of varying colors and designs, instead of poker chips. "What is it they are betting with? It seems to be some sort of rock, but I don't recognize the type."
"They're Soul Stones," Morro explained, slurping up the black sludge that reminded them a little too much of Lord Garmadon's condensed evil. The others prodded their own meals experimentally- except for Cole who was happily sampling everything in sight.
"When you sell your soul to someone, you give them your Soul Stone. Normally, it's inside you, but it can be made into a physical thing with a special type of blade, blah, blah, blah. Whoever owns it owns you, though you still exist separately from it. You have to do anything and everything your master tells you to do. That's the fate Ronin was trying to avoid." Morro gestured at the table. "They're gambling with their slaves. Only in dire situations do you gamble with your own. Or, you get tricked out of it. Or, you trade it for something. Or, it gets stolen. There are a number of possibilities. The upside of the Departed Realm though is that you have eternity to win it back."
"Wait…," Cole paused momentarily in scarfing down the various dishes, much to the relief of the others. (They were about to throw up just watching him.) "So, is the other half of my soul one of those little rock things?"
"A Soul Stone," Morro corrected. "Your consciousness remained in the Mortal Realm, so yes, it is. Or, at least half of one."
Cole paled- or rather, turned a lighter shade of green. "Does that mean someone else has it?"
Morro looked back at him with… was that a twinge of empathy in his eyes? "They could. But, it could also be unclaimed if no one has found it yet. That's why we need to ask the Bone Keeper."
Cole looked down and pushed his bowl away, suddenly not hungry anymore. The other ninja, contrary to what they were thinking just moments before, wished they could watch him eat again if only to get rid of that anxious expression on his face. Especially Jay. Because if his best friend was in danger of becoming someone else's slave, it was, once again, his fault.
"Well, what do we have over here?"
They all turned to watch the approaching gang of ghosts. They were the epitome of bikers: leather jackets with rips and spikes in several places, sunglasses even though they were indoors and it was quite dim in the casino (and it was nighttime anyway), and tattooes inked into their faintly glowing skin.
Three of the ten or so, presumably the leader and his right hands, stopped directly at their table. The one in charge peered over the top of his sunglasses. "A couple of humans?"
"I think they got lost, boss," one of the others joked, showing off gold teeth.
"Or, they're about to get lost," the leader responded. His eyes roamed around the table- until they landed on Nya, who, in spite of the bulky brown cloak, still clearly had the figure of a woman. "Except for you, baby," he purred, placing a hand on her shoulder and leaning close. "You can get found with me."
Before Kai or any of the other ninja could strangle him, Nya scoffed and smacked his wrist. "Back off, sleaze ball."
The leader's flirtatious smile dropped, and he reared his hand back, as if to strike her. "Why, you little-"
Kai was between them, shoving the ghost backward into his two lackeys. "She said back off."
If looks could kill, the thug would be writhing on the floor, but instead of being intimidated, he only chuckled. "Hear that? She said back off."
The entirety of the gang started laughing. Then, the bigger of the two minions, moving deceptively fast for a person his size, snatched Kai's arm, twisted it behind his back, and slammed the red ninja face first into the table.
The other five ninja were on their feet with aeroblades drawn, and the two factions leered at each other. The other patrons of the casino had all stopped their respective activities to watch the showdown, so it was deathly silent, unbroken by the sounds of slot machines or even cards being dealt.
"Unhand him," Zane commanded calmly, though his gaze was cold. "There is no need to fight."
"'Unhand him,'" The leader mimicked. He moved to stand directly beside Kai, who snarled but couldn't break free from the massive ghost's grip. The ninja were about to spring into action- until the ghost flicked out a knife. "I think I'd much rather carve up his pretty face."
Before anybody could stop him, he ripped off Kai's hood. And, was met with the very angry, very recognizable face of the fire ninja who had contributed to the destruction of the Cursed Realm.
He gasped. "It's one of the ninja!" Then, piecing it together, he turned to glare at the others. "You're the ninja!"
Almost immediately the other customers in the casino started shouting threats and taunts, advancing toward the group, who quickly figured they were outnumbered at least five to one.
The biker ghost growled, brandishing his blade, "You have a lot of nerve showing up here! Boys-"
No one expected what happened next.
Morro, with his hood thrown back and showing off the defining green streak in his hair, grabbed the biker's wrist of the hand holding the knife.
Whispers replaced the jeers.
"Is that…?"
"Morro! I can't believe it's actually him!"
"Morro! I love you!"
Morro glared at the thug who was at least a head taller. "Stand. Down."
"Morro…?" The biker blinked, obviously blind-sided. But, quite gracefully, he recovered, sneering, "What are you doing with the likes of them?"
"They owe me." He replied, voice steady though his grip on the biker's wrist didn't loosen. "Wouldn't you like to have the ninja in your pocket?"
The biker hesitated, figuring he could either back down and risk looking foolish or push ahead and try to start something.
He chose the latter.
"I don't think you want a favor," he argued. "I think you've just gone soft."
More whispers rippled through the uneasy crowd.
Morro tightened his grip to an almost painful level. A chilly wind started blowing through the room. Everyone except Morro shivered, more from the eerie howl than the cold. "If I were you, I would choose my next words very carefully."
"You couldn't finish the job with the Preeminent," he explained, his voice loud and clearly seeking support from the crowd. "And, you haven't hurt a fly since you got here." He smirked. "I don't think you have the balls."
Wind tore through the casino, whipping at everyone's clothes and roaring in their ears. Humans and ghosts (and nindroid) alike grabbed onto whatever they were near to help keep themselves upright. The biker holding Kai was forced to let go, and Kai, unbalanced, tumbled to the ground. Morro crushed the man's wrist in his fist and twisted, forcing him to gasp and drop the knife.
"I am Morro, Master of Wind," the ghost announced, the gale picking up in volume in response. Tables flipped over and slot machines crashed to the ground. The biker ghost was forced to his knees by Morro's bone-breaking grasp. "And, you will leave. Now."
"Alright, alright!" The biker yielded, waving his free hand to show his submission. "Just let me go!"
Instantly, the wind died. Morro released him.
The biker jerked his head toward the door, and his gang filed out, though not without a generous amount of muttered curses. Just as the doors opened, framing the bikers' motorcycles lined up side by side, a gust of wind knocked down the motorcycle on the far right so it toppled into the one next to it, and so on, like dominoes.
The leader turned to glare at Morro, who only shrugged with a smirk. "Oops."
Furious but unable to contend with the more powerful ghost, the bikers left the building.
When Morro turned back around, the other patrons quickly dropped their eyes and returned to the activity they were participating in before, so as to not be associated with the insubordination of the thug.
Except the ninja who were all staring at Morro with eyes as wide as dinner plates.
He blinked. "What?"
"That was…," Cole said, still gaping, "really awesome."
"Are you kidding?!" Jay exclaimed, gesticulating wildly. "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen! Well, not the coolest thing I've ever seen, but cooler than anything I expected from Morro. I mean, the way you scared them off without throwing a punch?!"
Kai crossed his arms. "I had it under control."
Zane pat his shoulder. "I am sure the table was very intimidated by your face being squished into it."
"Anyway," Nya cut in. "Um, I never thought I'd be saying this, but… thanks, Morro." She offered a little smile.
Morro shifted his weight, appearing… uncomfortable with all the attention. "I was only doing what I had to. To hold up my end of the bargain. So, I get that favor from you."
"Have you really not hurt anyone since you got here?" Lloyd asked, looking at him with a searching gaze.
Morro met his eyes for half a second before turning away and replying flippantly, "Guess I just haven't gotten around to it. I've been busy."
Lloyd opened his mouth to say something else- when the same bouncer from before floated up to them.
"The Bone Keeper will see you now."
The ninja really know how to make an entrance, don't they? ;D But, what can they expect from the Bone Keeper? And, what price will they have to pay for the information they want?
Feel free to leave "Five Times" recommendations! Thank you and I love you all!