Using their powers combined, the remaining four used their powers to push back the pirate forces. Knowing that the Djinn was nearby, they had to be aware of his deceiving ways and how easily the word 'wish' could slip from their mouths. Though, they knew if Nadakhan made any offers they would be difficult to refuse.
"Psst. Nya. Maybe we could try using our powers to strengthen ourselves?" Jay suggested, but Nya shook her head.
"No. If he bends my words, he will bend yours too. It's better to not risk it," she declined, pushing away the staff-wielding creature Jay had fought before.
"But why not?" Nadakhan's honeyed voice chimed in, "I'm sure I could make you a force stronger than Dogshank."
Nya shook her head furiously, using a wave to push a hoarde of pirates away. Don't give in. Don't give in. I can make it through this! Don't give up!
"Cole, do you ever yearn to have the ability to feel again? Perhaps even to feel a warm shower or cool rain again? Maybe even to taste the succulent cakes you used to eat," Nya heard the Djinn whisper to the master of earth. The master of water could tell just by Cole's expression that he was trying his hardest not to give in. Come on, Cole. He's going to deceive you.
"Jay, I'm sure you want to get rid of those distasteful cuts on your face, or perhaps you want your eye back? I'm sure it's difficult getting used to having one eye," the Djinn moved on to the master of lighting, who did not budge. His electric green eyes were locked on his targets instead, ignoring the Djinn before him.
"Oh, Lloyd. I'm sure you wish to see several people again. The unfortunate luck that befalls those who are within and associate with your family has most certainly taken a few lives. Perhaps you want to see the man you looked up to again, your father?" Nya wanted to punch Nadakhan as he spoke to Lloyd, the boy beginning to shake as he tried to focus. Though, the look on his face told her that he may give in.
"My...father?" he whispered, pushing away the eyepatched member from earlier. Nadakhan nodded.
"Yes. You've wanted to see him again ever since you last spoke to him in the belly of that disgusting Preeminent. I can bring him back and allow you to speak with him," the Djinn's friendly voice made anger boil inside Nya, the fact that he was using one of Lloyd's weaknesses disgusting her. Though, she couldn't step in. If she turned her back from the fight even for one second, she'd get mauled by pirates in an instant! "What is your choice? Miss your chance to speak? Or see him again?" She began to sweat, anxious on what to do. Though, before she could do anything, a shout broke through the yells of pirates.
"I've got an answer for you! How about you get lost!" Lloyd exclaimed, just barely pushing the Djinn away. He then reached up and grabbed Nadakhan by the facial hair, pulling him down to meet his gaze. "I'm sick and tired of people using my father's spirit against me! Everywhere I go, something about my father comes up, no matter what I do! 'What would your father think!?' 'Don't you want to see him again!?' 'Can't you be a hero like he was!?' 'Can't you be more like your father!?' 'Wouldn't you like to speak to him!?' I'm tired of all this bullshit! Why won't you assholes just let me move on!?"
Tears started leaking from his eyes. Possibly tears that had built up ever since the talk with his father. "Why won't you all just leave me alone!?"
Seeing an opening and knowing she had to separate Nadakhan from Lloyd, Nya turned and quickly forced the Djinn away with a strong jet of water. She then placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" she asked, pushing another pirate away. She saw Lloyd nod out of the corner of her eye.
"I just...I'm getting impatient with everything," he kicked one pirate away, exhaustion evident in his face as she removed her hand from his shoulder. Though, immediately after, a bullet struck the boy in the arm, making him yelp and lose focus.
"LLOYD!" the other three shouted in unison, Nya immediately rushing to his side and pushing away the pirates that came towards him. Lloyd acted as though he weren't hurt though, gently pushing Nya away.
"I'm alright. I've fought with a broken leg before," he flashed a reassuring smile, before another bullet struck him in the side, making him fall on Nya. Cole, spotting the gunman immediately, decided to speak.
"I wish the gunman was a lousy shot!" she shouted, pointing at Flintlocke as he aimed for Nya. Flintlocke took another shot, his bullet hitting a plank that was three inches from him.
"Cole! We aren't supposed to use wishes!" Nya shouted as Lloyd leaned on her shouted, his hand covering his wound.
"Hey! He was going to shoot you! I was making sure no one else fell!" the master of earth argued, pushing pirates back with boulders. Exhaustion was evident in his face as well. Nya sighed.
"Thanks then, but no more wishes!"
"The smoothness of a hardwood floor freshly waxed, the sweet taste of chocolate frosting, the softness of a certain girl's hair. Don't you want to feel it all again?" she heard Nadakhan whisper to the ghostly ninja. Nya's eyes widened as she looked over at Cole, his expression conflicted. He's going to...
"Cole, DON'T!"
"I wish I was human again!" his shout broke through the crowd, making the other three freeze. An orange aura then surrounded the master of earth as Nya prepared for the worst, her grip on Lloyd tightening as he looked on. The aura then dimmed, Cole's dark brown skin now replacing the translucent green skin he had before. The master of earth smiled, making his hands touch before he ran a finger along the sleeve of his gi, utter joy in his eyes. Though, it only lasted a moment before he winced, his smile fading as he gasped and dropped to his knees. Nya watched in horror as Cole held onto his arms, screaming as he curled into the fetal position on the floor. Nadakhan smirked as if it were an enjoyable show.
"What did you do to him!?" Jay shouted, electrocuting two pirates nearby as he glared at Nadakhan furiously. The Djinn snickered.
"Humans give in to temptation, so of course he'd wish, even as a ghost. Though, becoming human again is a very painful process, as your body must catch up with everything you have consumed and your organs must start functioning again. I must say, this does remind me of the downfall of the first man I met ever since being released. Though, he wasn't as reluctant as this rat," he explained, looking down at the master of earth, whose eyes were watering as he shook and groaned.
"He's not a rat!" Nya shouted, her rage still boiling like water on a stove. Nadakhan's smile still remained as his yellow eyes met hers.
"All humans like your friends are rats, Delara," he spoke, "Though, you're an exception."
"Stop calling me 'Delara'!" Nya shouted, throwing a nearby rock at him. He caught it though, an unimpressed expression on his face.
"You've changed..." he said in a distant voice, "...too much."
Nya narrowed her eyes, pulling Cole to his feet and letting him lean on her other shoulder. Jay stood next to her, looking slightly tired. Though, they both noticed blood was beginning to soak the cloth around Lloyd's wounds. We've got to end this quickly... Nya thought, looking around for an opening to leave with them.
"I wish the bullets in my body were removed!" Lloyd suddenly shouted, startling the master of water.
"Lloyd! I said no wishes!" she reminded him as an orange aura surrounded the boy's torso for two seconds. The green ninja smiled.
"Shh, I have a plan," he whispered, before looking at Nadakhan again, "And now I wish I stopped bleeding!"
The aura returned, surrounding his torso again for a few seconds before disappearing. He then removed his hand from his side and looked at his wounds, blood no longer dripping from his injuries. Nya watched as Lloyd then grabbed a nearby pirate's arm, holding his arm for a few seconds before the man collapsed on the floor, snores replacing his shouts. Of course, Nya thought, I forgot he was able to take energy from others.
"Lloyd! I suggest you don't make anymore wishes! One more wish and both you and Cole are through!" Jay reminded him, to which Lloyd nodded.
"Right. Let's just hope Cole holds on," the green ninja replied, looking at the master of earth, whose face was starting to grow pale from the pain.
"How about this," Nya spoke up, a plan finally forming in her head, "I wish we could get out of here!"
Not even a second after she wished, the ship tilted downwards, making everyone lose their balance and fall to the edge. The remaining four grabbed on to planks that jutted out from the ship, deflecting falling pirates and objects. Nya held onto Cole as tightly as she could while hanging onto the plank, his weight beginning to make her arm tire.
"Hold...on," the master of water gritted her teeth as she pulled both herself and Cole back onto the ship, her arm aching in response.
"Nya...I can't take it anymore," the master of earth groaned, wincing. Nya gave him a worried look.
"No! Don't give in!" she told him, trying to pull both of them up once more. Cole shook his head.
"At this rate...we're going to fall. I have to," he winced again, pain evident in his voice.
"Cole! Don't you da-!" Nya began to shout, but Cole shouted over her voice.
"I wish for it all to go away!"
Before Nya's eyes, an orange aura surrounded her friend, turning him into a single, glowing dot. His weight was suddenly gone, and the dot gained an orange glow, shining like a star. She watched as it flew onto the ship and into Nadakhan's sword, the crystal blade of the sword becoming orange for a brief moment before reverting back to green. The Djinn smiled, victory in his look.
"COLE!" she heard Jay shout, anger in his voice. Then, suddenly, Lloyd pulled himself onto the deck, charging an energy ball as he darted towards Nadakhan. Nya's eyes widened.
"Lloyd! Don't!" she shouted. Though, it was too late. Lloyd threw the energy ball at the Djinn, in which he dodged. The green ninja dodged a few of Nadakhan's sword swings before stumbling on a loose plank, the Djinn seeing an opening. Adrenaline burst into Nya's veins immediately, allowing her to pull herself onto the deck.
"Lloyd! Watch out!" she shouted, before the sword hit the boy's back, a greenish aura surrounding him until his green dot was in the sword. Nya's eyes were wide, not being sure if she had just witnessed Lloyd's death or if she just watched him get kidnapped. The Djinn then turned to her and Jay, his sword drawn like he was ready to fight.
"Come on, it's obvious they'll lose if you stay with them, Nya. Stay with me. Stay with me and perhaps I'll spare that girl you admire so," Nadakhan spoke, his words striking fear into the master of water. Spare!? Is he...planning to kill her!? He...he better not!
"Just leave me alone!" Nya shouted, pushing him away with a large wave of water. The Djinn smirked, floating nearer despite the wave.
"Then you want to see her dead? The girl you so dearly want to marry in the future? The girl who has captivated your heart?" he said, Nya now covering her ears.
"No, no, no! I don't want to!" she shouted.
"Then stay with me. I've already told you what will happen if you don't," Nadakhan tried to persuade her, but then suddenly Nya felt a hand around her ankle. The hand then pulled her off the deck and separated her from the ship, making her fall and watch a Jay and Nadakhan got smaller. She cursed, snapping out of the Djinn's lie and summoning her dragon, feeling a soft landing on the beast's back.
Nya breathed a sigh of relief, resting her head on the dragon's neck. Though, her period of peace didn't last for long, as something thumped on her dragon's back behind her. She sat up and turned around, spotting Jay.
"Sorry I dropped in so suddenly. I got kicked off the ship," he told her, adjusting his eyepatch. She smiled, relief washing through her.
"At least you're still here...Now where should I head?" she asked. Jay rubbed his chin for a moment.
"Do you remember where Dr. Julien used to live? Where the leviathan and starteeth nearly killed us?" he asked. Nya nodded.
"To the Watchtower then?" she asked.
"Yeah," Jay nodded, "Let's hope nothing happened to it...or no castaway is living in it."
Julien's Watchtower, Afternoon
Alex stared down at the bowl of green broth before him, chunks of tofu floating like icebergs within a sea of light green. He didn't know whether to get sick or dig into the soup.
"What is this?" he poked at the bowl, looking up the android who sat across from him. The machine blinked.
"It is miso soup. My father told me it is a common dish in the City. Are you perhaps from the country?" it asked. Alex shook his head.
"No, I'm just used to chicken noodle soup and all that. And shchi. Can't ever forget shchi." he told the android. He then picked up his spoon, picking up a piece of tofu and tasting it. A salty taste caught him by surprise, the android attempting a chuckle at his expression.
"It is very salty. I should have warned you about that beforehand," he said, "Though, it is only salty because the soup tastes salty."
"Weird, like a chameleon then," Alex observed, poking at the other piece of tofu in his soup. The android nodded, then gave a look as if he just remembered something urgent.
"Oh no, I have forgotten to refill my fuel tank. I should go fill it before I power down," the android said, getting up and jogging to the stairs, "I shall return!"
Alex nodded, scooping up the last piece of tofu and eating it. He stared off into space as he did so though, his thoughts focused on why that Djinn was capturing people in his sword anyway. Is it for personal gain? Does it allow him to use their powers like Chen's staff? Maybe it takes their souls, or kills them. Either way, I want it. I know I can become much more powerful with it in my possession. Maybe then I can finally gain control of the world. People always choose supposedly strong leaders, correct?
He pushed his bowl of soup away, resting his chin on his knees. It's either money or strength that factors which leader people choose, so how about I get both? Four for one deal, money, strength, powers, and the youngest leader the world has ever had. Surely that would draw people to become my followers. Though, why would they follow a scrawny kid like me? I don't honestly know how to manage money anyway.
He listened to approaching footsteps sounding from the stairs, believing it to be the android. He pulled the bowl back in front of him, taking a sip of the light green broth. With the same saltiness as the tofu, the broth made him wince, sticking his tongue out from the saltiness.
"God, how much salt did you out in thi-!?" he began to shout as he turned to look at the android, his words halting as he discovered it wasn't the machine he was looking at anymore. Instead, he looked at two unmasked ninja, one in black and blue with red hair and freckles interrupted by an eyepatch and various scratches on his face. The other wore black and crimson, her jet black hair chopped short and her body chubby. Alex almost dropped his bowl in silent realization of who they were. Though, both him and the blue-clad ninja stared at each other for several seconds.
"You!" Jay pointed, beginning to walk up to him. Alex dropped his bowl and scrambled to his feet immediately, tripping over assorted objects as he ran to the window to grab his blades. Jay reached him first though, grabbing him by the collar of the shirt and slamming him into the stone wall.
"Explain how you found this place before I sheakazing your ass!" the master of lightning shouted, allowing lightning to run up his free arm and into his hand.
"That sounds perverted," Alex told him, straight faced. Jay glared at him, unamused.
"Shut up and quit dodging the question!" he snapped. Alex put both his hands up.
"Geez, which one, pal? Do you want me to shut up or answer your question?" he asked, trying not to sound panicked. Jay slammed him into the wall again.
"Just answer my question before I tase you!" the blue ninja shouted.
"Alright alright! Keep your panties on, Shocky!" Alex replied, before pointing at the exposed bandages on his shoulder, "I got shot by some redneck with a sweet mustache and ended up landing in this place. I tell you what though, the robots here make some great tofu."
Jay's eye widened for a moment before his grip on Alex's shirt collar tightened. "You were with Nathan, weren't you!? Where is he!? What did you do to him!?"
"Wow, you catch on fast," the master of psion gave a surprised look. Jay brought his electrified hand closer to his neck.
"Answer my question!" he shouted.
"Chill. I just broke him out of prison, okay? I hung with him though because, I dunno, he seemed really upset about not finding this Sammie gal. Besides, he kept talking about this Djinn and I wanted to see it for myself...and I sure did," Alex answered, watching Jay's electrified hand. The master of lightning paused for a moment, then released him, sighing.
"Okay. I believe you," Jay said as Alex rubbed his head, "but if you try anything funny, I won't hesitate to kill you where you stand."
The master of psion nodded. "Right. I'll keep that in mind, Blue. I'll make sure to tell my robo-buddy too."
Both of the ninja raised an eyebrow. " 'Robo-buddy'?" Nya asked. Alex nodded.
"Yeah. You guys didn't pass by a rusty android while walking up here? He kinda looks like your titanium robot," he asked. The ninja looked at each other, blinking and raising their eyebrows.
"Well," Alex sighed, smiling, "Looks like it's time for a little meet n' greet. Boy do I love bringing people together."
Nya and Jay looked at each other again, then looked back at Alex. "I suppose looking wouldn't hurt," Nya shrugged, before following Alex down the stairs. Jay hesitated a moment, then followed him as well, still not knowing whether to trust him or not. Either way, this better be quick.