Chapter 43

Zane's POV

It was dark; no light could bring her back. She's gone, as well as my heart. It felt like it had scattered into millions of piece but none of them have Mel. She's lost in sea. My mouth hang open wide once I didn't see her hand on the rails. The waves were violently, tossing us side to side on the bounty, everyone was desperately trying to hold onto the rails and me.

My lips called for her. They longed for her. My wails were no match with the roars of the waves. My fingers were desperately trying to grasp her but she was far gone. Who cares if I can't hold my breath for 10 minutes anymore, I need Mel otherwise life is just…

But my thoughts were fished away once another wave crashed onto us, lightning striking near the destiny's bounty. The thunder crackling and the Starteeth laughing along with the waves.

"Mel!" I cried to the sea as I coughed out the water from my lungs.

"Zane! She's gone!" Cole shouted to me as I desperately tried to dive into the water.

"Aren't you just a bit negative Cole? Of course's she alive! She's the water ninja! Zane, she'll be fine!" I heard kai yelled from the mast but I still try going into the sea. I couldn't see any aqua or blonde along the ocean's surface.

"Zane! Stop, she'll be fine!" Jay shouted as he held my right arm. "Don't make us knock you out!"

"Melanie! Mel!" I called again, ignoring the other's warning. But the last thing I heard was Lloyd apologizing until I saw black.

MmzZ

No POV

It might have been hours but no one knows. Then storm lifted and they were sailing on flat water. Everyone was keeping an eye out for Melanie.

"Are there still no signs of her?" Misako asked as she entered the decks.

"No… Not yet… Poor Zane." Lloyd sighed as he looked back to the entrance to the hall underneath the ship where the rooms were.

"She has to be fine, she's the water ninja."

"But did you see the size of those waves?"

"She can't be dead… She just can't…" Nya sighed. "We could try searching for her under water…"

"But we had travelled so much."

"But we can't give up hope now!" Lloyd exclaimed. "I'm going in-"

"You can't Lloyd, you're the green ninja, and we can't afford to lose you… Why don't you go and get Zane. Even though he's human, he should be able to hold his breath longer than us."

"Ok." Lloyd said and ran to Zane's room. As he opened the door, he saw Zane was writing something. Zane didn't bother stopping or look to Lloyd. Lloyd walked up slowly and peered over Zane's shoulder to see what he was writing.

Z
Did I miss something? Yes, I miss U

"Oh Zane…" Lloyd muttered as he rests his hand on Zane's tensed shoulders. "You want to go and find Mel?"

Zane nodded stiffly and Lloyd led him onto the decks. Zane didn't bother saying hi to the others; he just leapt into the ocean and began to look for Mel.

After 5 minutes, the others grew concerned since he hasn't reached up to the surface but they saw his face.

"How long was that?" He asked.

"5 minutes roughly." Cole replied. Zane nodded and dived back in.

"Oh well, 5 is better than 40 seconds." Jay said and the others laughed.

MmzZ

At Night

Someone's POV

I gripped the wet sand and I dragged myself across the unknown beach. My chest hungers for air. My body wishes for a rest. My eyes want something else than water in it. I collapsed onto the beach, the sand sticking to my face with my blonde hair. Where am I?

I lifted my head and my blue eyes searched the unknown surrounding. Then I realized it was dark. The moon was shining but it's really dark, darker than the streets of Ninjago without the street lights. The forest was dark and eerie. It was silent; I could only hear the waves and my heart pounding against my chest. But I then heard footsteps. Ignoring my body pleads, I went back into the water to hide and found seaweed. I placed it over my ear and slightly raised it so it was at the surface of the water.

"Jacfa Minamo Gor ki!" I heard a deep voice shouted in another language. I slowly raised my head above the water. I saw the stone warriors, patrolling the sea. Ignoring the pain in my right upper arm, I swam a bit so I can get on a part of the beach where there was no stone warriors but my speed was slow due to my aqua clothes. Finally, I've found an empty beach and I dragged myself with my left arm also trying to avoid sand in the wound on my right arm. At least the salt helped it a bit.

I stumped my back against the palm try and my left hand went to pick up a green fallen leaf and I wrapped it around my right arm… Where are you guys?

MmzZ

No POV

"We're almost at the Dark Island…" Nya sighed into the microphone. It was dark and since they couldn't find Melanie, Sensei assumed she was dead. The news didn't go so well with Zane. He just walked away calmly but they could hear a door slam a minute later then sobs.

As the bounty docked onto an empty beach, the ninja went into the bridge with a sad expression.

"We need to hide the bounty, if we dock just like this then we'll be easily spotted." Sensei told his students.

"But how are we supposed to hide the bounty? It's too big."

"We're going to dig sand so it'll go just about a couple centimeters below the railings and then we'll find trees, shrubbery and other plants to hide the top part. Nya, we need you and Jay to make the sails adjustable in height so we can slide it down."

"Ok Misako." Both Nya and Jay chorused.

"Come, let's get to work while it's dark."

MmzZ

Someone's POV

My stomach hungers for food. My throat lust for water… Spring water. I was too weak to even purify it. Heck, I don't even want to go near the ocean. Wait… I heard the bushes rustle behind me but I was too weak to even move. Please tell me it's someone who's going to help me! But no.

"Jaka ya!" I heard a Stone Warrior said and he brought his sword to my neck. He draws it back and I closed my eyes, ready for the blow but it didn't come. Instead, I felt the sharp blade poke my shoulder. When I opened my eyes, I saw that he was pointing at my ninja suit. I stared at his face, and he was staring back at mine. "Mu jak fall."

"W-What?" I said my voice hoarse and raspy. He suddenly went to dragged me by my left arm but I've quickly rolled in the sand to avoid his touch. I looked back to his face. Maybe I could try to defeat him? But what can my powers do to defeat him? As I created an aqua orb, He didn't move or tried to stop me. But instead, I felt stone grinding against my stomach. As I tried moving, my good arm's elbow hit something really hard. I looked behind me to see a Stone Warrior had caught me from behind. Great, I'm captured…

MmzZ

"It's a good thing we're ninja so we know how to hide!" Jay exclaimed as he planted a short palm tree with really big leaves to cover a part of the decks.

"But why do we have to hide when we can fight?" Cole asked as he threw his shovel to the side.

"But they don't have any weaknesses…" Lloyd sighed.

"And it would be unwise to start a fight that we cannot finish." Zane mumbled. They all gasped. It had been the first thing he had said since Wu declared Mel was dead. Sensei Wu walked out from the bridge and looked at the progress the ninja had made, plus he had also heard their conversation.

"That's why we must find the temple of light… Come inside, Misako needs to talk to you all." He said and beckoned them in. Once they were inside the bridge, Misako had a scroll laid out on the table which she was talking about to Nya.

"We're here." Lloyd said as he stood next to his mother.

"Oh good. I need to tell you guys something. There's a temple on this island which can give the ninja pure elemental powers but you guys need to find it. These powers will allow you to defeat the stone army. And for Lloyd, when he finds the instrument of peace, he'll strike and become the Ultimate Spinjitzu master." Misako informed, pointing at the scroll.

"Ultimate Spinjitzu Master?"

"It means that you can use the ancient fighting style of the golden dragon which was only practiced by the 1st Spinjitzu Master."

"Jealous?" Lloyd asked his friends.

"There's a catch isn't there? This all sound too good to be true."

"The catch is that the temple of light can be anyway on the island," Wu said, "and the only way to find it is through this medallion." And he held up a flat gold circle with is about the size of a disc. On one side, there was a printing of a mountain with mist at the peak and there was small Japanese writing on the left side of the mountain. Near the top and evenly spaced out, there were 3 small holes. Kai walked forward and grabbed it off his sensei.

"This medallion is like a compass. You have to align the 3 something for it to reveal the temple of light." Misako said.

"The 3 something?" Jay asked.

"It never mentions in the scroll but I just it's something to do with light since the temple of light is light." She guessed.

"Come on, let's go!" Cole explained. "I can't wait to kick butt!"

Lloyd went up to leave but he felt his uncle's hand on his shoulder.

"You can't go Lloyd."

"What? Are we still doing this?"

"Wu is right, if you were to come across your father, it could prematurely start the final battle." Misako said. Lloyd groaned while Jay laughed.

"Heh, jealous?" Jay asked and the others chuckled but Zane who are still gloomy even after the news that they can destroy the stone army.

"Don't worry Lloyd, you could help me." Nya smiled.

"But remember, Garmadon doesn't know that we're on the Dark Island so avoid him and the stone army as all costs and make sure you stay out of sight." Sensei Wu demanded.

"Of course Sensei." Kai said.

MmzZ

"Whoa, that's their base?" Jay asked as he and the other 3 were behind a rock as big as a car which was right next to Garmadon's base.

"They look like they're building something…" Kai muttered as he stared at the warriors carrying trays of purple goo and some metal pieces. "But what?!"

"Shut up Kai!" Cole hissed. "We still need to find what the medallion says." And he peered through the holes and tried matching it up to stuff. Like mountain peaks, large tress, some of the buildings the Stone Army were creating and many things.

"Let me see!" Jay exclaimed as he tried reaching it like a child.

"I'm not done yet-"

"But I want to try!"

"Jay shut up!" Kai hissed. Cole sighed and handed Jay the medallion.

"Hmmm." Jay muttered. "Oh! I found something!"

"What?" Kai asked.

"Something aqua… Mel!" Jay exclaimed. Zane jumped at Jays words and snatched the medallion out of Jay's hand. He saw her. He felt so much relief. He also found his falcon.

"But I thought Mel was dead." Cole said.

"That's what Sensei say, and I thought the falcon was a goner too. Wow, Zane, it's your lucky day." Kai said.

"And it is." Zane smiled and he leapt over the rock. They gasped once they heard him talk and smile.

"Wait, where are you going?" Cole asked.

"To get her." Zane replied.

"But Sensei to say stay out of sight until we get our powers." Jay said.

"If you were me and that was your girlfriend or wife, you would want to save her no matter what." Zane said and he jumped over the fence that was there. Cole was about to chase after Zane but Kai caught his arm.

"The more of us go, the more of the chance we'll get caught." Kai whispered. Cole sighed.

"But I want to fight…"

MmzZ

"Arg, it had been at least an hour! What is he going?" Cole asked.

"I dunno… I spy another tree!" Jay exclaimed in a whisper as he was looking through the holes of the medallion, still looking for another tree.

"Jay, I'm being dead serious now. How on Ninjago did you become a ninja?" Cole asked with a groan of frustration.

"Hurry up Zane. Just save Mel and get your bird…" Kai sighed.

Meanwhile, Zane hide behind a building, keeping his eye on Mel. It was hard to save her when there was Stone Warriors at the cage she was being held captured in. And from what Zane can figure out, they were trying to ask her questions but all she replies is that she doesn't understand.

Back to Jay, Kai and Cole, they took turns looking for the temple of light.

"Let me see again!" Jay whined.

"But you're just going to look at trees…" Kai muttered.

"Please!"

"Kai, just give Jay the damn thing." Cole snapped. Kai sighed and gave it to Jay.

"Maybe we should try using it from a different area or angle…" Kai said.

"Wait… I think I found something!" Jay exclaimed. "I found a match! The mountain on the medallion is a clue!"

"Let me see." Cole said and took the medallion off Jay. He found a mountain where the sun just hit's the mountain's peak. He made that the middle hole. The mountains on either side also had light gleaming from its peak like there were mirrors.

"See? It's light and we had to use it the medallion at a certain time to find the Temple of Light." Jay smiled.

"Jay, I take back what I've said, you are a fine ninja! Not finer than me but-" But Cole stop midway in his certain as they heard the stone warriors yelled something. The 3 looked back down to Zane to see Mel in his arms and his falcon was in right hand. They were surrounded.

"Oh dear…" Kai muttered.

Meanwhile, Zane walked backwards with Mel until they had bumped into the fence.

"If we die… at least I'll die with you." Mel whispered. Zane hugged her tightly with his bird. Both of them closed their eyes ready for the hit but it never came. Instead, they heard a car (A stone army car of course) drove past them. Zane opened his eyes and saw that the stone army that was in front of him had disappeared.

"Zane, Mel! Come on! Are you waiting for the red carpet or something?" Jay asked.

"Huh?" Mel said. Zane quickly swooped her over his shoulders, knowing she would be tired and weak.

"Get them!" They heard Garmadon shouted. The ninja went to climb over the fence but they stopped once spears nearly pieced their heads.

"Sensei's advice was really helpful…" Kai groaned as they were once surround again.

"What are we going to do? There's no way out now…" Jay asked.

"I can get us out." Mel said.

"You're too weak."

"Zane, its better she's unconscious than all of us dead." Cole said.

"I can stand Zane." Mel said. He nodded and places her down. "Everyone, grab each other then hold me." Cole, Kai and Jay held each other than Zane who had his hands on her shoulder. Mel waved her hands quickly and she was on top of her water dragon, the others were hanging onto her as they fell throw. "New plan, jump off quickly." As the others obeyed, Mel created a long ice saddle and levitated it so it would sit on the dragon. "Come on!" She shouted. The others jumped back on and Mel flew her dragon out of Garmadon's base.

"You're alive!" Jay explained.

"It wasn't easy those waves…"

"Even though you're the water ninja?" Kai asked.

"Yeah, when I found the island, the Stone Army caught me…"

"Wait… Since when can you do the ice element?" She heard Cole asked.

"I've been doing it for a while now. Since ice is basically frozen water, I can do it."

"So that mean Zane should be able to do it!" Jay exclaimed.

"I don't think so, his elemental weapon can only make ice, and he won't be able to change its temperature."

"Oh…"

"I'm so glad you're safe." Zane sighed in relief and kissed Mel's neck, she couldn't help but giggle.

"Stop it would you?" Kai asked. Everyone laughed.

"Where's camp?" Mel asked.

"Over there!" Cole shouted as he pointed left.

MmzZ

"Melanie!" Nya exclaimed as she and Lloyd saw Mel and the others returning to the bounty.

"Of course I am." Mel laughed.

"Mel, if that you?" She heard Misako and Wu yelled as they ran to meet their students.

"Yeah but we don't have much time." Cole said and he jumped off the dragon with the others. Mel stroke her dragon before dismissing it.

"What do you mean?" Wu asked.

"Have you been spotted?" Lloyd asked.

"Err…"

"By how many?"

"The whole army…" Cole muttered.

"But did you locate the temple of light?" Misako asked.

"Locate? I thought you guys know where it is." Mel said but no one answered her question of confusion.

"We found it." Jay replied.

"No, Jay found it." Cole said.

"But anyway, it's on top of a mountain, the painting on the medallion was a guide and we had to use it at a certain time of the day." Kai informed.

"Ok, we should go straight away then." Zane declared.

"All 6 of you go but try not to get into any more trouble." Wu told them.

"Yes Sensei!" They chorused.

"Mel, your dragon."

"Oh, right!" Melanie quickly summoned her dragon and made the ice saddle for her friends. "Lloyd, aren't you getting on?"

"I got my own ways." He smirked and created his water board. Mel smiled.

"You taught him that?"

"Yeah." Mel smiled.

"Enough chit chat, go!" Misako shouted. Mel nodded and took off with Cole telling her the way and Lloyd tailed along.

"I hope they'll be alright…" Sensei sighed.

MmzZ

Melanie's POV

I enjoyed the water being against my body and the air blowing through my hair as we glided through the sky.

"That mountain!" I heard Cole shouted to me. In front of me, I could see a large mountain made of rock and stone, not the green mountains.

"Ok, everybody hold on tight!" I exclaimed.

"What do you mean?" Kai asked but I ordered my dragon to dive to the ground. I could hear them scream out in joy and Lloyd shouting 'Woohoo' as he followed us. I closed my eyes, trusting my dragon's instinct. I then felt us spinning in circles in the air.

"Now this is what I call a heck of a ride!" I heard Jay yelled. I couldn't help but laugh. When I opened my eyes, I turned around to see Cole with his arms in the air with Jay. Kai holding on and smiling while Zane stared at me laughing. I might as well give them a fun ride before we begin the final battle… it scares me so much, I'm so worried about Liam and Ethan… If we all survive, when they're bigger, I have to give them a ride as well.

"My butt's cold now…" I heard Jay complained and we all laughed out loud.

"We should keep our voices down in case if we get heard." Kai said.

"Kai's right, can we get there any faster?" Cole asked.

"If I go faster, Lloyd won't be able to catch up with us." I told him. The water board isn't as fast as my dragon.

"Lloyd, hop on then!" Jay shouted.

"Alright!" I heard Lloyd shouted from above.

"Remember, think light!" I called. He dropped from his board and onto the dragon behind me. "Good job, now hold on!" I exclaimed. As we went through the air like a rocket, we were at the mountain in no time.

"Do you think we caught the stone warrior's attention?" Zane asked.

"Hope not." Kai muttered. As we dismounted the dragon, once again, I dismissed it. When the others weren't looking, Zane kissed me on the lips passionately.

"I haven't done that yet today." Zane whispered and I giggled quietly.

"Zane, Mel! Watch out!" I heard Cole shouted but I felt a major impact on my side which pushed both Zane and I to the ground. I groaned in pain but when I opened my eyes, I saw it was Jay how pushed us down from a spear.

"Are you alright?" Zane asked me as he held me tightly. I nodded my head. "Jay?"

"I'm good; you guys should stop being lovey dovey when we're in a fight." Jay muttered as he got up.

"I didn't know there were stone warriors here… They must have seen us when they were patrolling…" Zane said and helped me up. We all peered over the ledge's edge and saw the stone warriors climbing up.

"We need to slow them done." I heard Kai said.

"I'll do it." And I sent a wave of water at them, which sent them tumbling down the side of the mountain but I winced in pain once the wound on my right arm started to burn. I felt Zane's hand on my arm but I told him I'm alright.

"Oh, that was easy." Lloyd chuckled. "Whoa." We all turned our heads behind us and saw a beautiful temple with huge wooden with golden trim doors.

"Someone help me open the door." Cole said as he walked towards the door and tried pushing it.

"I'm coming." Zane said and he released me from the embrace and went to help Cole open the door. Arg, I'm so hungry! I hope we get this done quickly. The doors opened with a loud creak as Cole and Zane pushed it. We all gasped once we saw the inside. It was massive, 5 times bigger than the bounty. The walls had ancient paintings. The flooring consists of light brown concrete which were a bit cracked. For the lighting, there were crystals that glow placed around the room from where the wall either meets the roof or the floor.

"Guys, take a look at this!" Jay exclaimed. We all went to a section of a wall which had a painting… This wasn't any ordinary painting but it was paintings of us. This temple tells our destiny. Like what we had done so far.

"I-Impossible! It's every we had done!" Kai exclaimed as he walked along the walls, studying the paintings.

"It's only the special events. Like when we found the bounty, found Mel, fought the Great Devourer, even right now!" Cole exclaimed and pointed to the painting of us right now… In the painting, I looked dumbstruck with the others and Cole was pointing in the painting like he is right now.

"Ok… That's a bit creepy." Lloyd mumbled.

"Hey, there are instructions!" Jay exclaimed, his voice echoing off the walls. "Ha, echo!"

"Jay, shut up!" Cole hissed. We all studied the painting.

"Mel, you can get new powers too!" Kai told me. It was true. The shape was a pentagon, in the middle was the green ninja and in each of the corners was the aqua, blue, white, red and black ninja.

"I know what to do." Lloyd declared. We walked around the middle of the room, where there was 5 pillars… each placed so they were a pentagon. Lloyd walked into the middle and stared at the floor. He bends down and wiped the ground, underneath the dirt, there was a faint glow of an image of a green dragon. Following Lloyd's steps, I went next to the pillar and searched for the aqua dragon, instead I found a red one.

"I found yours Kai." I called out to him.

"I got Cole's." He shouted back.

"I got mine!" Jay exclaimed before getting by Lloyd.

"Shut up!"

"Mel I got yours." Zane said.

"Zane, you're over here." Cole yelled from another pillar, as we made to our places. We stand on our colored dragons.

"Now what?" Zane asked.

"I don't-" but Lloyd stopped once we heard the grind of stone against the rocks from outside.

"We better be quick." I whispered. "What else did your mum say?"

"She said something about me and an instrument of peace…"

"The bell!" Kai exclaimed and pointed to a large metal bell above Lloyd's head.

"That's going to be loud…" Jay sighed.

"You guys ready?" Lloyd asked.

"Yeah!" I shouted.

"Ok," Lloyd shouted back. He ran towards Cole's pillar and jumped onto it and flipped off towards the bell and strikes it with his foot. I winced at the loud noise. As Lloyd jumped back underneath the bell, a bright light shone out from underneath the bell and onto Lloyd like a spotlight.

"Don't move!" Zane shouted. I looked back to Lloyd. What are we supposed to do now? Lloyd lifted his head back a little and the light reflected off his mask's amour and onto one of the crystals which reflects the light to the others and so on. Soon, the whole room was blinded with light.

Then, one of the crystal's lights shone onto Kai. A light emerged from his body. His original ninja suit was replaced with kimono like ninja suit. The suit was black but the sleeves were red as were as the trim and his mask. The amour was a golden colour and on the back of his suit, his element was in gold. So a golden flame was on his back.

Then the light shone on Jay, then Zane, then Cole then me. It was a warm sensational feeling; a new energy had burst into me. I could feel myself getting strong yet incredibly light. When I looked to the others, they had a sword in their hands. Their blade glowing their element. Zane's blade had an icy aura. Jay's had sparks around his. Kai's blade was on fire and Cole's had a dirty atmosphere. I looked to Lloyd, we had the same type of suit but in green but he also didn't have a weapon like me.

"Guys, remember what Misako said! Lloyd's power can only be unlocked with his 5 elemental protectors!" I heard Cole shouted.

"In other words?"

"Send him your powers!" Then Cole pointed his new sword at Lloyd and dirt flew from the tip and towards Lloyd. The others did the same thing while I created my aqua orb… How am I going to do this? I lifted my arms and pointed it to Lloyd but a beam ray came from my aqua orb and flew to Lloyd. I hope this isn't hurting him. But suddenly, a dragon which was a big as a truck emerges from Lloyd's body. The transparent yet golden creature flew through the doors and a loud roar was heard. Then all the lights disappeared. We all looked around.

"We got new weapons!" Jay cheered and I heard Cole laughed.

"Finally, we can fight!"

"I feel much stronger." Lloyd smiled as he held out his hands and looked them.

"High-five!" I heard Jay exclaimed and we all walked to the middle to do a group high-five but something was wrong. As my hand went to touch theirs, it went right around.

"Melanie!" I heard them say as I gasped.

"That's your new power! You can transform yourself into water!" Zane exclaimed. It was true. What used to be my skin was replaced by water. I was completely see-through. You couldn't see my ninja suit, only the outline of my body and my curves.

"This is so cool!" I exclaimed. "But how do I go back?"

"I guess we'll find out once we return to Misako and Sensei." Kai suggested.

"I want to see if my hand goes through!" Jay went to grab my arm but his hand just went through. "Ok, that's really creepy…"

"Try transforming yourself into something else! Like a flat puddle or something." Lloyd suggested. I tried and I was successful. I was completely laid out on the ground like a puddle. I can even make myself fly in the air… Arg this is so weird!

"Let's just hope you can transform back to normal, otherwise Ethan and Liam won't be able to hug their mother again." Cole said and we all laughed. Ethan and Liam… I wonder how they're doing right now. Are they being a pain to my dad? Are they having fun? Are they missing Zane and me?

"I can't wait until we test our new powers!" Kai exclaimed.

"Same here."

"Me too!"

"Me three!" And we all laughed but it all broke apart when a spear went through my watery body.

"At least I can't get hurt." I laughed but they didn't laugh with me. Oh well…

"I guess we can test them out now." Cole said as stone warriors burst through the door…

Sorry everyone! I know this chapter is late but I had exams and test all week and last week but luckily I got 1 more to go! Sadly it's a Japanese speaking test… So in my opinion, this chapter was really rushed and a bit bad but I'll try to make the others better… I think I said that last chapter… Anyway please review and I think I made Mel's new form a bit complicated…