CHAPTER 25

MAKING A DECISION

JAY`S POV:

I never thought this would be the moment that could ever happen. Me? The new king? Not in a million years. I really came here to find my mother and friends, but I got captured and tortured instead. The things I do for Ninjago. There has to be a way out of this. What kind of test did he say? Or tests? I wasn't prepared for any of this stuff. Whatever this king has in store for me, I know good and well that it's not gonna be pretty. I looked to see that he brought Jen to the platform. That was the one moment right then and there that made me say that I was glad to see her. Every part of her beautiful complexion. Her sweet and caring heart. Her intelligent and very open mind. Everything about here were some of the things I missed when I heard that she went missing.

I missed the group as well. Everyone must have missed me the same way. I'm pretty sure Nya hates my guts by now, which made me think that it's a good idea not to care, but deep down I now she may feel horrible about everything that's happened between the two of us. The rest of the team probably don't forgive at this point, thanks to the changes, but I have a strong feeling like those changes are about to come to an end. I wish I could talk to everyone right now. I just want to apologize about everything that's happened and I hope this doesn't put a distance between the team and I. I want to say those exact words. Explain to them that I couldn't stand wandering around alone. It's best to be with the group. So far, that decision is no longer in session. I hope that one day they will forgive me.

Jen was standing on the platform, standing her ground in front of Tigre, being surrounded by millions of guards who had their swords and blowdart ready if she planned to escape. I didn't want Jen to do anything Tigre wants, but I'm hoping that for the first test, he would do something to make it not so hard on Jen or me. Let me make a decision. I know what to do.

"The first test involves this young lady right," Tigre explained, "I will ask her a few questions that are important for me to know so I will have all the necessary answers I need. This will give me the opportunity to figure out what the humans weaknesses are so that it will be easier to destroy them. If she refuses to answer any of my questions, we will let the new king decide what to do with her. Let's begin the test!"

I can't let this happen. I can't let Tigre make Jen spill all the humans weaknesses right onto his clean floor. I figured he would let me make a decision. I've already figured that out. I know what I'm gonna say. It will save Jen before something happens to her.

"Begin your questions,"I said.

"Question number one," Tigre said, "What do the humans need in order to survive?"

"I will not say anything," Jen said.

"Fine then. Whatever. Question number two. How emotional can one human become?"

"I refuse to answer."

"Your getting closer to what's about to happen. Question number three. Is it better to destroy humans in a large group or individually?"

"I will not speak a word."

"Your on thin ice. This is the last question. Question number four. Is it possible that humans react differently and say things that will hurt them, including a way to punish them?"

"I will not say anything. I refuse to answer. I will not speak a word."

"You have refuse every time I make you try to answer. I will take it from you no more." He turned to face me. "Our new king, the time to make a decision is now. What should we do with this highly reactive girl?"

I didn't hesitate to answer. "I don't want you to lay a single claw on her. I want her and my friends released at once. That's an order!" The crowd gasped. My friends looked at me with excited and hopeful expressions on their faces. Jen was the same way. Her smile showed every emotion flowing through her body. I had more to say. "I would rather them be safe than them getting hurt."

"Well, you'll be happy to know that the answer you gave me is not what I was hoping for," Tigre said.

"I'm not gonna hang here and watch you torture the people I care about. Their my family, and you can't separate family."

"Well, you'll also be happy to know that you failed this test." With that, he clawed Jen through the stomach and used his fist to punch her in the same place. When she was down, he stepped on her arm, and I will be serious to say that I heard a crack from all the way up here. My eyes watered up with tears at the sight of what I saw. I saw her lay there, tears running down her face and her sobbing being heard from every corner of the room. Tigre picked her up by the collar and said, "When all this is over and I have my new king on the throne, you will be the first person that I destroy with cut one cut."

"Put her down!" I screamed throughout the entire room.

"Very well. Put her back on the chains."

Wincing in pain and her sobs still ringing through my ears, the guards grabbed her by the wrist and chained her back on the plank wood. I almost had the urge to shed tears myself. Seeing the one and only person that I cared about and love getting hurt like that just put images in my head that did not make me wanna see what was going to happen next. I can't stand it. Whatever Tigre had next up his sleeves, I don't want to be a part of it.

"The second test involves these poor, innocent children here," Tigre explained, "You may think of them as wonderful, precious souls from above, but really they are a bunch of troublemakers. They do nothing but join in with the enemy. You would just say that they don't know any better because they are children. Look at them. They are human children. They are on a different side. Children don't know how to fight. All they know how to do is good off and be told what to do by their parents. They are trained to never trust certain people, including us. What do we have anything to do with this? Who knows what all they have learned? Children are just a bunch of stupid, gullible brats. They'll believe anything you say. Well, this time, when the Tigarians have a chance to make sure these children will learn the ways of what we do and how we do it. Besides, children cannot fight. So, now that we got that out of the way, time for the second test. New king, what should we do with these children? There are no wrong answers."

I heard some snickering from the crowds. Not only that, but I also heard the sound of soft crying from the platform. I looked to see Lloyd, scared and hurt. I knew this was not something he wanted to go through, and neither did I. I had to do something about this. They didn't deserve to understand anything about this. I did the one thing that I knew was right. "Free them. Free them all. You can make people like me suffer, but leave the children out of this. Free the children!"

"Wrong answer." He went to each of the children and clawed their arms from just close to their shoulders. Just one claw mark to the arm. Then, for Lloyd and Zelda, they both got clawed on their foreheads. Once he was done with the younger one's, he turned to face me. "Your on thin ice, boy. Let that be another warning to you. The next test will be something that you will be forced to do." He faced his guards. "Take the children and hang them to the wall, where nobody can reach them. I have something in store for them." They were placed high up on the wall, scared and full of nothing but loss. I could hear nothing but Lloyd's soft crying. Tigre must be able to hear it as well. "Aww, what's the matter? Do you miss you family? Does someone want their mommy and daddy? How ridiculous! Crying won't get you anywhere. Release the tomatoes!" The tomatoes were sent flying and splattered right on the kids. What was this suppose to prove? "Once we start taking over, children will be nothing to us but entertainment. This here was a perfect example. Thank you for bringing the children along." I knew it was a mistake to bring the kids along. I'm the blame for this.

"Just give me the third test so I can fail and be over with all this," I said.

"I beg to differ," Tigre said, facing the crowd, "Citizens, we are about to begin the third and last test. Allow me to explain. A long time ago, when I was placed as prisoner, my father decided to search for me. Once he arrived, I was forced to go through one simple test in order to become king. My father was tied up and place on this very platform that you see today. The test was something that I didn't want to do, but I had no choice. I wanted to be king more than anything to claim my freedom, so I did the one thing I didn't think I would ever do. I destroyed my father. In order for our new king to become the next man on the throne, he has to slay his father. Time to reveal the sacrifice!"

The curtain rose to show my father tied up with duct tape over his mouth. My brother gasped and my mother started crying. Jen eyes widen with fear as she held her head as high as she could to see what was going on. Tears escape from my eyes. I couldn't do this. This was something I couldn't do.

"You can't make me do this," I said.

"I can and I will," Tigre said, "Lower him down and give him the sword!" I was lowered to the platform and released from my chains. A sword was placed into my hand. This is weird. This looks like the same swords Kitty and Zeah had, only this sword had lightning designs on it. The sword started glowing a little. Could it be that the mistress of lightning is in here somewhere? If so, where could she be? Tigre placed his hands on my shoulders and led me to my father. "You only have this one chance. Pass this test and I will make you the new king. Tell me. Would you rather be king then be with these people?"

I couldn't take the anger anymore. I stood there next to my father. Fear showed through his eyes. I couldn't take seeing the pain anymore. My mother was looking at me, tears streaming down her face. My brother had his eyes closed, begging me to do the right thing. What should I do? The pressure was taking over my whole body. I decided to do what I had to do. I swung the sword and sliced it through Tigre`s chest, making a slicing cut under his fur. His screams of agony and pain were music to my ears. It was my plan all along.

"Why would you do this?" Tigre shouted, "You had the chance and you failed! Why?!"

"My family is more important," I said, "It's time to end your reign of terror."

"Let the battle begin."

I drew the sword in my hand. Time to end this. Let the battle between good and evil begin.

SO MUCH TORTURE. SO MANY WAYS TO BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES TO SEE SOMEONE BE TORTURED RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. I HATE THAT FEELING MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE MYSELF.

THE MISTRESS`S LIGHTNING SWORD HAS BEEN FOUND. HOW DID THE TIGERS FIND IT? NOW THE BATTLE HAS BEGIN. THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD.

I'VE BEEN EXPLAINING A LOT MORE IN THIS STORY THAN I EVER HAD BEFORE. I HOPE ITS NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. IT TOOK ALMOST TWO HOURS TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER. I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT THERE ARE ONLY TWO MORE CHAPTERS LEFT. SORRY TO DISAPPOINT YOU.

HOPE YOU LIKE MY STORY. WHO'S READY FOR SUMMER?

PLEASE REVIEW. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU GUYS IN A WHILE. TOWARDS THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE ALL BECOME BUSY. I CAN TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.