Chapter 26-The flames of hate

Jay hadn't lied, The ship moved at an incredible speed. Once the engines had been set in motion no one was allowed out on the bridge, the ship's momentum would surely throw anyone overboard. With their destination only a couple of minutes away Lloyd's stomach started to feel funny. He knew that this time they had the upper hand, but his body refused to relax. Every now and then a wave of nerves would overwhelm his body sending an uncomfortable, tingly sensation up his skin. According to what the green ninja remembered about his training with Cole, nerves were good before battle. They 'Kept you on edge and ready for anything' or so the ninja's leader claimed.

To make the waiting seem even longer, Lloyd didn't get to spend any time with Naomi. He was stuck in between his mother's argument with Casey, because every time he tried to make his escape Garmadon would shoot him a 'don't-you-dare-leave-me-alone-in-this' look. So Lloyd was trapped with only his mind as a way to distract himself and push time forward. None of his thoughts were helpful. One half kept being paranoid about the upcoming battle and the other thought about Naomi and whatever she might be doing.

His skin boiled with jealousy as the thought of her hanging out with the other guys surfaced. What if she decided they were better than him? He stared hard at his reflection. She was bound to notice how Kai's crimson eyes outshined his own, or how Jay's hair was smoother or the fact that Zane was way more entertaining than Lloyd could ever be.

"We're here!"Garmadon's voice was thick with relief.

Lloyd took a deep breath, causing his whole body to shake with yet another wave of nerves. He quickly stepped out of the main control room, scanning every inch of the ship for Naomi. He finally met up with her outside the ship, where Dareth was leading the stone army to the base of the Golden Peaks.

Lloyd looked at Naomi, who seemed as nervous as he, then at his fellow ninjas. Since Cole was still gone, the green ninja felt responsible for filling in the leader's empty gap. Now what did the ninja of earth do before a battle?

Go over the plan.

We don't have a plan.

Say something comforting…?

Fire away

"So are you guys ready?" Lloyd asked, feeling really stupid. Being a leader was definitely harder than it looked. "We've got Pythor cornered, and with the stone army we can't be beaten let's just make sure to keep Pythor from climbing the golden peaks, He's got the chalice and if he drinks from that lake we're pretty much screwed. If the worst comes to pass we can always just push him into the lake he's so fat he'd probably sink like a stone."

Jay chuckled at Lloyd's feeble attempt at humor, but then again Jay laughed at everything.

"Actually Lloyd." Zane's monotone voice muttered. "Pushing Pythor into the lake would most likely destroy him, since the power of the lake would overwhelm his body. He wouldn't have enough time to sink like a stone."

"Ah.. Right." Lloyd sighed, leave it to Zane to ruin his already un-funny joke. "Let's go then!"

Naomi clutched her bow tightly, her skin pale and her muscles shaking. To be honest with herself, she was completely terrified but she was still determined to protect everyone. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if anyone else got hurt.

Casey was the first one to reach the camp. In less than a second, she had turned half of the camp to ashes with a massive and beautiful fireball than destroyed everything it came in contact with. She was followed by the stone army, who started attacking the smoke creatures as they tried to turn into other deadly creatures.

There were now dragons, serpentine, skeletons, giant wolves and more than two great devourers. It made no difference. The stone army wasn't capable of fear or pain so they kept coming at the creatures, they're indestructible bodies protecting them from what could have caused death in mortals. The few creatures that didn't get destroyed by the army had Casey's fire to face or Sensei's deadly spinjitzu.

The nerves in Lloyd stomach didn't settle down in the face of victory, but worsened every second. The battle had been going on for a while but he still hadn't seen Pythor's purple scales.

Naomi shook him violently and he turned to face her wide fearful eyes. Her small arm was pointing up the side of the mountain where a small purple speck was climbing higher and higher, to the top of the peaks.

To the Golden Lake.

Lloyd spun around to face the battle. "Jay! Kai! Zane! Come with me we gotta stop Pythor!"

He started to climb the mountain, Naomi right on his heels. He looked down at her and asked. "Would I be wasting my time if I tried to make you stay?"

When she shook her head Lloyd smiled a little, but had to do a double take when he spotted his parents had started climbing behind the ninja. "Mom! Dad! I … you should stay.. I don't.. if something bad happens…"

"Lloyd!"His father yelled back, climbing at a great speed for a man his age. "Shut up and keep climbing."

The green ninja knew his father was as stubborn as him, if not more, and knew it was no use arguing. He climbed higher, ignoring the burn in his muscles. Pythor was ahead of them, but they were definetly catching up. Lloyd's heart pounded faster. Would they make it in time?

His strong fingers grabbed hold of the highest peak and he pushed himself forward. The others were close behind. Naomi was last, her fingers were coated in sweat making them slippery and her body had been pushed far past its limit. Out of breath and with a sick stomach she reached everyone else.

Even before looking up she knew something was very wrong ,The thick suffocating silence was the first give away. Slowly, she looked up and felt a scream catch in her throat. Pythor was standing in front of the lake, Chalice in hand. She looked at the others wondering why no one was moving. Then she saw a golden liquid dripping from Pythor's deadly fangs. He had already drunk from the lake.

They had failed.

"It's exhilarating." Pythor laughed. "All the power in my body…. I Am A God!"

He laughed louder. The sound hurt Naomi's brain.

"I can do anything I want. . . But I wouldn't want to hurt the little girl just yet… " Pythor raised his arm and pointed it and Naomi's small body. She lifted a couple of feet of the ground. The scream in her throat grew bigger but she could not release it. She couldn't move at all. A dark smile grew on Pythor's lips. The snake flicked his arm to the left of him and Naomi's body flew along with it. Her head hit the ground hard and she was out cold before the rest of her body touched the Golden Peaks.

"Naomi!" Lloyd and Kai yelled in perfect unison.

"Now that she's out of the way. . ." Pythor centered his vision on The green ninja. "Let's have some fun."