Happy Monday, everybody! I hope you all had a good Christmas, and got what you wanted. I got three things that I was not expecting: the Temple of Light (and Golden Mech, which I completed both last night [my fingers are still hurting, but only slightly]), and two Ninjago DVDs: the preseason (that's what I call the four episodes before Rise of the Snakes), and Rise of the Green Ninja. Before, I only had Jay's Storm Fighter, the Fangpyre staff, and Snappa. That is just sad in my POV.
Anyways, here's my New Year's Eve present to you guys: Chapter 11! But before that can happen, I just want to say:
1) Thanks for answering the questions that I asked. I really liked your answers, cause then I know that everyone's paying attention. *epic face* JK. I just ask them 'cuz I can.
2) anna-element99: that is a very good question that you asked, and there is a reason for that, which is answered in this very chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago
(Zane's POV)
I wrung out a wet cloth that had been soaked in cold water before dabbing it onto Lloyd's scratches. He winced from the sting of it, but he held his tongue, clearly determined not to make a sound. There was an awkward silence that was growing each passing second.
"I never knew that Jen and Rachel could make such a formidable team," Lloyd said just as I finished wiping the dried blood off his left shoulder. The gash was, fortunately, shallow, but blood was still seeping out from underneath the still-soft scabs.
"Depending on their moods, they can be as vicious as their elements," I replied, smearing anti-infection cream over the ugly gash on his cheek. It looked slightly green around the jagged opening, so I am assuming that Rachel used her elemental blade, staining the wound with chlorophyll. Lloyd jerked his head away from my hand, looking at me. His slim eyebrows were drawn slightly over his emerald green eyes, which were shining as always, but glazed slightly with pain.
"I know it burns," I said before he could say anything, "but it speeds up recovery and helps fight infections." Lloyd went back to his original position, and I finished smearing the cream over his cheek.
"A week after the Final Battle, and I'm once again cut up," he grumbled. "It ain't fair."
"Who ever said life was fair?" I countered, smearing more cream onto his other scratches.
"Josh," Lloyd immediately said, "he's fair. And he's life!" Even with my funny switch on, I still did not smile. Kryptor's note left me very disturbed and very scared, although I am not as scared as I was originally.
Lloyd slid off the counter, skipping out of the bathroom with a cheerful look on his face. I sighed. At least someone is happy.
I walked out of the bathroom, turning the light off. I considered going to the deck, which was to my left, going back to the living room, which was to my right, or going to the room that I shared with the other males, which was straight ahead. I went with option one. I walked into the hallway and turned right. After a few steps, I had an eerie feeling. I whirled around. What my database picked up made me shut down for about five seconds. It was Kryptor.
"What do you want?" I growled at him.
"Nothing," he replied in a monotone voice, "except for one thing. You." My gears locked up at that.
"Why me?" My voice accidentally squeaked.
"Because you hold my interest." I blinked rapidly, staring at him.
"I-I am already taken," I stammered. I apologize, but what Kryptor said made me automatically think of relationships. Whenever I have thoughts like those, I know that everyone has been talking and joking too much about relationships.
"Not like that," Kryptor hissed in impatience. "I mean, because you are a droid."
"Nindroid!" I snarled heatedly. He scoffed.
"You accept the title that they gave you?" he sneered. "You honestly believe that they have your back whenever you go off to fight? How do you know that they won't suddenly abandon you?"
"I know they won't!" I yelled. "They are my brothers and my sisters! We have trained together for years!"
"Zane! Why are you shouting?" Jen suddenly appeared in the hallway. Kryptor and I glanced at her at the same time. She gasped, staggering backwards, her hand covering her mouth. And then, like a puff of smoke, Kryptor was gone, leaving only a chill of piercing red eyes.
"It does not concern you," I sneered nastily at her. Jen's eyes grew wide before turning around and running back the way she had just come.
Usually, I would have felt guilt for sneering like that, but I felt nothing. Only hardened ice.
(Jen's POV)
I was lying on my back, on my bunk. My hands were folded neatly over my flat stomach. My gaze was fixed onto the white ceiling. In my mind, I replayed the scene that I came across.
I heard Zane shouting something, and I got up from my seat, walking to the hallway.
"Zane? Why are you shouting?" I had asked. Whenever he had looked at me, I wasn't seeing Zane. Instead, I had seen a fierce-looking warrior, sharp fangs on the right side of his mouth, a clever attachment if someone was looking directly at his profile. His skin looked like a few drops of liquid ice, because it was a very light shade of ice blue. His hair wasn't in the orderly style that it usually was. Instead, it was a few shades darker than his skin, the exact same color blue as his eyes, and it was styled a little unruly for him. There was an evil grin on his face, his eyes cruel. I gasped, staggering backwards. He and Kryptor looked like brothers due to the same body shape, the same eye shape and placement, and, even freakishly, the exact same height.
After he had sneered at me, I had run back to my room.
I sat up, whenever it dawned on me. I leaped down from my bunk and ran to the door, unlocking it and pulling it open rather forcefully.
"Emily! Sam! Rachel!" I called out the names of the other Kunoichi. "Meet me in the bridge!"
"What happened?" Emily asked, her stormy blue-gray eyes flaring with alarm.
"I think I figured something out about a connection between Zane and our creepy guest," I said.
"Well, spit the details out," Rachel ordered eagerly, tapping her fingers against the wooden table. Taking a deep breath, I began to tell them what I saw.
(Rachel's POV)
"Wait," I said, pressing my palms to my temples. "Are you saying that Zane and Kryptor could possibly be brothers?"
"Maybe," Jen replied, "I don't know. There are sometimes whenever I feel like I don't know anything anymore. This counts as one of those times." I sighed.
"I know what you mean," Emily agreed with her. "I get that all the time with Cole. That muscle show-off," she added under her breath. Sam rolled her eyes, sighing.
"Now what did he do to you?" she asked irritably.
"Flexed," Emily replied simply, "in the bathroom, and in front of the mirror. Fortunately for my eyes and my memory, he was in a towel. Although, now that I think about it, his towel was starting to slide down a little in the front," she added. Jen, Sam, Nya, and I face-palmed. Only Emily would spy on a guy when he's getting ready to take a shower. Then again, that could probably explain why she knows so much about them…then again, she could be a stalker in disguise...
"Please," Sam said, "if I find out that you saw my boyfriend's backside…"
"I avert my eyes from them whenever they are pulling down their boxers," Emily interrupted, "and instead, I watch their heels. By the way, Rachel, Lloyd's got nice heels."
That was probably an accidentally wording on Emily's part, but it caused Jen, Sam, Nya, and I to start cackling up a storm. Emily looked at us, bewildered.
"What did I say?" she asked.
I was too busy laughing, but I managed to stop long enough to gasp out, "I didn't know Lloyd wore high heels!"
Five seconds later, Emily was laughing as hard as the rest of us.
After a few minutes of tear-bringing laughter, we finally caught our breath.
"Speaking of spying on males in the shower," Emily said, looking mischievously at Sam. "We still have Smokin' Hot Abs to take care of."
Sam's face paled at her words. I exchanged questioning looks with Jen and Nya.
"Absolutely not, Emily," Sam countered, "no. I will not get back at Kai like you did Cole. I can't believe that you had the guts to do that in front of him, and you won't even wear short-shorts in public!"
"True," Emily admitted, "but FYI, I was using Jen's bikini top, since we're practically the same size, despite her being the same height as Cole. So, technically, Cole never truly saw me without some form of a top on." Emily looked smug; Jen looked outraged.
"So you were the one who stole my bikini top!" she yelled heatedly.
"Yep," Emily replied smoothly and casually. "But I prefer tank-kinis, if you don't mind. I don't feel exposed as much. Anyways," Emily continued, "Sam, we need to start planning your revenge on your boyfriend, while Jen, you make an appointment with Dr. Julian. Talk to him about your little vision, ask him about Kryptor, and then tell us what he has to say about it."
"What about Josh and Jordan?" Nya fretted. "Shouldn't they be warned?" Emily hesitated before answering.
"Let them party," the senior ninja eventually said. "We don't want to ruin their first date now, do we?"
That's actually rather legit.
(Jordan's POV)
After eating at a Japanese hibachi grill and sushi bar place, Josh and I took a walk in the park, barely saying anything to each other. I was still mad at having been wrestled into a dress and heels, so my mood probably didn't help. I could've cared less.
Josh was probably disappointed, as this was his first date ever, as well as mine, but frankly, I'm not a romance type of person. Instead, I'm a gamer. A vicious one at that, too.
After five more minutes of just walking around, my feet were blistered. I sighed. Josh turned his head and looked at me.
"It's the heels," I said bluntly before he opened his mouth.
"Oh," was his reply.
I stopped long enough to rip the stupid things off. I didn't realize exactly how cramped those shoes were, until I spread my toes. Ahh, relief.
"Ouch," Josh sympathized, looking at the big, red, ugly blisters on my heels and arches.
"Precisely why I would have worn black flats if I had my choice!" I said. "To avoid the blisters."
"I can carry you," he offered. I looked at him, my mouth sagging open.
"When I break both my legs," I replied, "then, you may carry me. Not before."
"Whatever you say, Yin."
After that, Josh and I started to talk about what happened in the last week. Lloyd defeating the Overlord; Emily and Cole getting even closer to each other (Josh had a hunch about their relationship was more than likely going a little deeper than just a simple boyfriend-girlfriend thing); Kryptor and his warning, and other stuff.
We were just beginning to talk about our favorite smoothies whenever I suddenly stopped. I could feel something that dealt with death aimed towards Josh, and I reached out and grabbed him, pulling him into me. He stumbled into me with a little more force than I expected, sending the two of us sprawling to the ground. A few seconds later, there was a small explosion, as if Jay and Kai had decided to set off quite a few firecrackers. Sulfurous smoke rolled towards our direction. Josh and I started coughing and wheezing.
I suddenly felt a numbing sensation, as if I had stuck my finger in a light socket. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, too. My insides felt frozen, and then they started to 'melt.' I turned my head to look at Josh, and I could tell that he just felt what I felt.
"I was set up." Josh's voice was weak.
I opened my mouth to reply, but I sensed another firecracker dart headed towards him. I rolled on top of him, curling my hands into fists, clutching his tux jacket tightly, and then I flipped myself onto my back, dragging him along with me.
"You owe me big time," I said tartly as I glared deep into his eyes. Just then, I realized how beautiful his eyes were. They were a bronze color, faint stripes of dark gold dappling his irises.
"I will ask what I need to pay you later," Josh replied. He got off me, helping me up.
"Good," I retorted, "Because I've no idea what you should pay me for saving your hide twice." A prickling sensation made me whirl around. My eyes darted back and forth, my senses on edge. I heard a sharp twang, like Jen whenever she plucks the string on her bow, and a small, slim flash of silver. My right hand snapped out, and caught the dart.
"Good reflexes," Josh praised me as I inspected the small, three inch-long dart. A one/third of the dart was a dangerously sharp tip. On closer inspection of the blade, I saw a single drop of glowing, bright green liquid on it. My blood turned to acid once I recognized the color.
"The Instant Poison," Josh whispered. His head jerked up, his eyes flickering back and forth. I opened the purse that the girls back at the Bounty forced me to bring along, and placed the poisoned dart inside the most central pocket.
"There's someone else here." Josh's voice was hoarse. "And we're powerless."
"Exactly how is that possible?" I demanded.
"Long story short," Josh began, "Kai, Jay, and Cole set me up to go out with you, so I could figure out your one weakness so that I could neutralize you."
My eyebrow slid up my forehead in question.
"Kai compared the two of us as being the most basic and the most acidic solutions on the pH scale," Josh continued, "with you being the most acidic, and me being the most basic. What happens when you combine two solutions that are complete opposites? You get a neutral solution."
"And Kai said that?"
"Yes."
"The guy may protest about not being smart, but he knows more than he lets on."
"Yes."
"Wow."
"Yes."
I opened my mouth to say something else concerning Kai's knowledge range, whenever I sensed something from behind.
I whirled around, the skirt part of my dress flaring up around my hips. My eyes picked up nothing. It was quiet.
Josh suddenly gasped in pain, crumbling to the ground. I looked at him, confused.
He seemed to be wrestling with an invisible person, and by the looks of it, the unseen person was winning. An idea clicked in my head. Slowly opening up my purse, I took out one of Jay's clever smoke devices. I pushed the button, and I turned it upside down onto the wrestling duo.
The smoke immediately poured out of the top. Josh coughed once, but it did the trick. What was invisible became visible.
Josh heaved both legs up, and kicked the person in the stomach hard. There was an, "Oof!", and then Josh was on top. He temporarily paralyzed his attacker by hitting pressure points on the collarbone and the back of the neck. He stood up, rolling his shoulders. I looked at him, impressed.
"That should help," I said.
"Yeah." There was an already vivid dark circle around his left eye, and he spit blood out of his mouth, but nonetheless, he was fired up.
"You know, I can't exactly fight in a dress."
"Easy fix." Josh unfastened the sash that was going around my waist, and my skirt dropped to my feet. I looked at him, one eyebrow up, the other down, and my mouth opened in confusion. He shrugged, his eyes flickering to my legs. A heated flush crept across my face, but I glanced down. My embarrassment was immediately gone whenever I saw that I had a pair of skin-tight pants on. I looked at him.
"I figured that if this happened, you wouldn't want to be in a skirt," he said coolly, before letting out a yelp.
"When we were training, we never trained to fight against invisible people!" I snarled before getting an idea. I picked up the heels that I had abandoned in favor of going barefooted, and swung one towards Josh's attacker. The tip of the heel landed an eye. There was a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream of pain. Since I had another deadly spike in my hand, I swung that one too. Same result.
The attacker fled with two five-inch high heels in their eyes.
"Remind me not to tick you off when you've got heels in your hands," Josh said, his voice thick from a split lip. He stood up.
"Did you manage a glimpse of their eyes?" I inquired as we started to jog back to the Bounty.
"Red," was the reply, "like Kryptor's. Looks exactly like him, too."
"Freaky," I mumbled. We picked up the pace, and soon, we were running at full speed.
...
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ZANE, KRYPTOR?! I WOULD KILL YOU, but I kinda need you (unfortunately) ;)
Josh's and Jordan's date ended in a fail...Jen's going to go talk to Dr. J...Emily's still planning revenge on a certain Fire Ninja with or without Sam's help...Emily spies on the guys (don't ask, please, cuz I don't know why)...and this will be my last post for 2013.
Until next year, remember to review, fav/follow, vote on my poll, and have a Happy New Year.