HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE! Like Windy says, let's do the Weekend Whip! If you're following me, you'll have noticed that I published the first chapter of Return to the Cursed Realm One-Shots! - s/11551337/1/Return-to-the-Cursed-Realm-One-Shots - And, if you're not following me, you know now. ;) The first chapter is a super-fluffy thing requested by ANGEL STAR NINJA. Not sure how often I'll update the collection, but I know requests/reviews would help. :D
This chapter here is pretty short because I was up late last night writing that one-shot, so I didn't have time to write a very long normal chapter before I collapsed in exhaustion. So I didn't manage to get anything about Tara in it. :P Oh well.
By the way, I bet you can guess from the title who makes an appearance in this chapter. ;)
Review replies:
Angel: I thought romance was awesome, but then I read friendship fluff. I'm not sure which one I like better now. :D Oh, sorry, did I kill you with the fluffy one-shot? Whoops. ;D Ha, throwing people who don't like Ninjago out the windows is perfect for stress relief. ^ ^ Uh... Morro with Bansha? o.o What the ghost? Pfft. I don't really care for non-canon pairings, except with OCs, although I sooooort of support Soul Archer with Bansha a little bit... EVERYONE has something against Tara cause she's a crazy weirdo. XD
Kairocksrainbow: You are violent confirmed. o.o *backs away slowly* I'm kinda wondering how I should write that scene... probably lots of hugging. ^ ^ AGH CANDY TORNADOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooo
Sally: I have no idea how many more chapters, probably at least ten. Sorry. I know how you feel, Garmadon would just make an awesome dad. ^ ^
Breana: Yeah, Lloyd has something to say about that, after the review replies...
Windy: You can put your name instead of Guest? Cool! I was wondering how the other guests were doing that... THE WEEKEND IS HERE *spins around* Thank God! :) Eh... our friendship is still strained, but we're working on it. ;) I really hope your parents let you make an account. And I'm also so glad you liked my one-shot! :D It was so fluffy I barely survived writing it. ^ ^ Aww, thank you for lighting your candle for me. :) Morro is planning to jump off a cliff... XD We'll see if he actually gets around to doing it. And you're right, he is so cute when he's in love. I'm not sure if I want to write platonic fluff between him and Lloyd or romantic fluff between him and Indigo. Probably I'll have more platonic fluff, because it's easier to write than romance... How did your brother get a trumpet, anyway? Aren't weapons not allowed at schools? XD Little spiders aren't nearly as bad as big spiders. -.- Fortunately I've never had to deal with a tarantula, though there was a large crop of daddy longlegs here this year. :P You're claustrophobic? Me too! I'm not really scared of demons, they just annoy me when they mess with my emotions... -.- I know, that video was so sad! I think I have some wires crossed. Though, funny things make me laugh too, sooo... U and Morro would make awesome siblings. I wish Morro was my sibling. I already have plenty, though. ^ ^ I like pi because... pi. Pi because pi because pi. My logic is impeccable. An awesome story is always better when it features the truth. :) Rambling is fine. Rambling is awesome. Rambling is good. This review reply is long. Love ya!
Bob: Why do you keep saying pig? Zane thanks you for your information and walks off to find Nya. Hey, you buried all my characters in cookies! How am I supposed to get them out? Lloyd thanks you for the pie. :D
BlackRoseDragon: Ninjago as an anime? What do you mean? You mean the way Morro acts... uh...tsundere? Midna, careful with that hair! If you're stressed about Morro not loving you, you could always throw Ninjago haters out of windows. :D
So, Lloyd would like to say to everyone that he's not really scared of them, just nervous when they run around with knives (coughangelcough
starcoughninjacough). Besides, he's the Green Ninja, some little reviewers don't scare him. He'd love to take the time to get to know you all sometime, unless you're brandishing knives. Not sure what it is with him and knives, probably has something to do with a certain nightmare he had in a one-shot...
...why was this author's note so darn long? Alright read the chapter now.
Chapter 25
It had been a little over eight hours since the travelers had started down the trail, in which the path had widened considerably, much to their relief. Kai had given Indigo back to Morro a couple of hours before, since his arms were giving out, and was now making a point of dragging his feet on the ground and gasping dramatically in an attempt to get Lloyd to let him stop. Lloyd made a point of ignoring him (other than laughing from time to time at his antics). The sun was going down, though, so Lloyd instructed his teammates to look for a wide area on the path where they could set up camp. Morro reminded them of the danger from passing ghosts, and they eventually found a small, cave-like pocket in the mountain that was big enough for them to move around in comfortably, so they set up camp there. After a brief meal, all of them but Zane and Kayson, who were standing guard, went to bed.
ReturnToTheCursedRealm
"Lloyd, wake up!" Lloyd blinked wearily, waking up to Zane's voice in his ear.
"Yeah...? What is it?" the Green Ninja whispered, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"A large party of ghosts is headed up the mountain, led by our old friend Soul Archer." Zane replied grimly. "I calculate that they will arrive at our location in approximately 4 minutes and 52 seconds."
"Wake everyone up." Lloyd instructed, now fully away. "We need to pack everything up and hide so they don't know we're here." Zane nodded and ran to spread the news to Kayson, who began waking the others along with Lloyd and Zane. As soon as everyone was up, they grabbed their belongings and hid in the darkest corner of the cave, Morro carrying Indigo, whose body still wasn't responding like it should. After a few tense minutes, the ghosts entered the roofless cave, poking around as they looked for something. Lloyd recognised Soul Archer, Bansha, and Wrayth, of the six or seven ghosts who floated around the cave. After looking around for about thirty seconds, Wrayth spoke up.
"There's nothing here. Let's go." the ghosts turned to leave, but then Jay dislodged a pebble on the wall, which skittered along the floor and instantly caught the ghosts attention. Lloyd's heart pounded so loud that he was afraid the approaching ghosts could hear it. They were going to be found! They couldn't fight back, ghosts who were killed would just reappear in the Cursed Realm, which was exactly where they were, and even if they appeared somewhere else then they would tell others and soon the whole realm would know about them! Lloyd's mind was racing, trying to think of way to escape, when Morro nudged his arm. Lloyd turned towards him and was instantly handed Indigo, who looked confused. Morro put a finger to his lips before abandoning their hiding place and walking out into the open. Lloyd's eyes widened and he started to call the ghost back, but Indigo covered his mouth with her hand before he could.
"Morro. It's you." Soul Archer said, causing the two to look up at him. "Why were you hiding from us?"
"I didn't want to be disturbed." Morro replied, a venomous tone in his voice. "What are you doing on this mountain?" he narrowed his eyes at the intruders.
"What are you doing on the mountain?" Soul Archer countered. "Tell me first."
"I was... going to the top, to jump off." Morro replied after a moment. "I'm going to try to cruise on the wind all the way to Archram. Is that a problem?" his folded his arms, glaring at Soul Archer.
"You shouldn't be so defiant, Morro." one of the other ghosts hissed. "Just because you led us once doesn't mean we'll always bend to your will."
"Besides, you are outnumbered." Soul Archer added.
"Are you going to tell me what you're doing here, or not?" Morro asked, discreetly taking a step backwards away from the band of ghosts.
"We," Soul Archer said finally. "are checking out a rumor that some humans were seen at the top of this mountain." the taller ghost floated closer. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you, Morro?" Morro laughed harshly.
"Archer, the last time I was with humans I was trying to kill them." he rolled his eyes. "Have you forgotten that already?"
"Why not come with us, then?" Bansha rasped from behind Soul Archer. "We're all going the same place, after all. Don't you get lonely climbing all by yourself?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Morro hissed, backing away another step. "I don't need anyone else." Lloyd shuddered in his hiding place. Though he knew Morro was only acting, his tone reminded Lloyd of the way the ghost boy used to talk, before he became Lloyd's friend.
"Whatever." Soul Archer said after a few moments. "Have it your way." he turned around and floated out, the rest of his party close behind. Morro stared after them until they were far enough away, as which point he let out a tired breath and let his shoulders slump down. He turned around to face the others, all traces of malice gone from his face.
"That was close." he said quietly as the others filtered out of their hiding spot. "I hope we don't run into many more ghosts on the way."
"Same here." Lloyd agreed. Indigo wiggled her feet experimentally.
"Can you put me down?" she asked Lloyd. "I think I can walk now." Lloyd nodded and set her on her feet. She wobbled a bit before falling towards Morro, who caught her. "Thanks... I guess I'm not ready quite yet." she smiled and stifled a yawn, letting herself sink down to the ground and lean against a wall tiredly. After a few moments, Morro sat down next to her, closing his eyes and slumping against the wall as well. Lloyd smiled and sat down next to Morro, watching the stars until he slipped into unconsciousness.
Ta daaaaaa, le short chapter.
Yep. Soul Archer. He and Morro don't get along too well. While I was writing that I accidently typed "Sour Archer" once. That made me crack up.
That ending where everyone fell asleep was inspired by the fact that I was really tired while writing it. Really really really tired. That's also why it's a bit short.
Well, bye y'all! Don't forget to read the fluffy one-shot!
~FFF
P.S. We have almost 200 reviews! :D