This is a complete reimagining of my "Ends of the Universe" story, with much better writing, better plot, better characters, more drama, the whole shebang. Also I only own my characters, Rick Riordan and LEGO/Cartoon Network/whoever owns Ninjago owns those properties.

Midnight Crisis Book One

The Maiden of Time

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

Sadie

The morning started out normally enough, I headed to breakfast just like I normally did, passing my now ex-boyfriend Walt (turns out relationships based solely on looks don't typically turn out well) and flashing a friendly smile at him. We did part on amicable terms after all. I sat next to my brother and grabbed a pancake while making small talk with the other magicians at the Brooklyn House when everything changed. I felt something odd in the pit of my stomach, and looking out over the river I saw the air warp near the pool. My eyes widened as I tried to get Carter's attention.

"Carter, please tell me one of our trainees is practicing their portalling skills, otherwise we have a very big problem."

"What are you…" He trailed off as he saw the same thing I did. He turned to our trainees. "Grab your weapons. Assume whatever comes out of there is hostile."

And that's when something, or rather someone, did come out of the portal. A hulking figure entirely covered by silver armor, holding a smaller figure clad in dark blue and yellow by the throat. The silver person threw the one he was holding towards us, and he slammed against the wall and fell to the ground, either unconscious or dead. But before any of us could get a spell off, the silver figure disappeared through the same warped portal he came through. I sighed and lowered my staff as I turned to see Jaz standing over the person who was thrown onto the balcony.

"He's alive! Carter,get him to the infirmary." Carter nodded and carried him to the infirmary with Jaz hot on his heels.

3 hours later, he was still unconscious. Amazingly, there wasn't much damage to his body from the impact with the wall, but he had suffered injuries to his throat and some internal injuries that Jaz had treated hours earlier. As I sat there, making idle conversation with Jaz while waiting for him to wake up, he finally stirred, groaning in what I assumed to be pain. He looked over at Jaz and I and his eyes went wide.

"Who the hell are you guys? Where- Where am I?" Jaz and I looked over at each other, and she motioned her head towards him.

"Well, I'm Sadie Kane and this is Jasmine Anderson." Jaz glared at me. I smirked back.

"You can just call me Jaz." She glared at me again. "That's what everyone calls me, right Sadie?" I nodded hastily, not wanting to invoke Jaz's wrath. The boy's voice brought our attention back to him.

"Right. I'm Kyle Walker. Mind telling me where this place is and how I got here?" I nodded.

"Of course. You're in the Brooklyn House, a refuge for magicians to train their skills. As for how you got here, this big dude in silver armor threw you on our balcony. Jaz here fixed you up." He nodded.

"Let me guess, he vanished through a portal before you could do anything about him?" Jaz and I nodded, shocked expressions on both of our faces. But before we could respond, Carter burst into the room, seemingly in a panic.

"Sadie, Jaz, have either of you seen Zia? She's gone missing." Jaz sat back in shock while I tried to get more information from Carter.

"Carter, slow down, what do you mean missing?"

"I mean that no one's been able to find her since-" He cut off when we heard a scream from a higher floor of the mansion. A scream that sounded exactly like Zia. Turning to Kyle, I found he was now sitting up, a serious expression on his face. Carter looked at him. "Can you fight?" Jaz started to protest.

"Carter, he's nowhere near recovered enough to-"

"I can fight. Did you find my sword?" I nodded and handed it to him. He stood up, wincing slightly, and slung the sword over his shoulder. "Let's go." As we left the room, we heard Zia scream again. This time weaker than the first.

Coming up to the room where Zia's screams had been coming from, and getting weaker as we came up. The room was locked and sealed. Carter growled in anger and kicked the door, boosted considerably by his combat magic. The door shattered off its hinges, revealing a familiar figure, this time in black armor instead of silver holding Zia in the air with what looked to be glowing ribbons. There were several points of light travelling down the ribbons from Zia to the figure, and the more light went to him, the weaker Zia's struggles became. I looked over at Kyle, and he looked pale but determined. Carter looked angrier than I had ever seen him.

"I don't know who you are, but if you don't let her go right now, I swear to every god and goddess of Egypt you won't make it out of this mansion." The figure smirked.

"Now why would I do a thing like that? As for who I am, my name is General Talos Akuna of the Golden Order." Zia let out a shuddering gasp and fell unnaturally still in her suspension. The newly identified General Akuna smiled and dropped her, a stream of light being absorbed into him. "Thank you my dear, your sacrifice brings me one step closer to my glorious new world." Carter and Jaz ran over to her. Akuna looked at Kyle and I coldly. "Well, if it isn't the youngest Walker. Pity you survived, but it is no matter. Nearly a decade ago, your father thought he could stand against me, and it cost him his eye and his daughter. I wonder what it will cost you to stand against me today." Kyle gripped his sword tightly.

"I guess we'll find out won't we?" Akuna laughed and put his fists together, turning his body silver, just like it had been when he brought Kyle to Brooklyn. He moved at unnatural speed and slammed his fist into Kyle's torso, sending him flying through the wall. Carter stood and charged him, sword poised for a lethal strike. Said strike was intercepted by Akuna, sending Carter tumbling to the floor. Jaz snapped several spells off at him, each one bouncing off him as if reflecting off a mirror. Again Akuna moved unnaturally fast, and Jaz attempted to dodge his strike, unintentionally putting her more in harm's way. Instead of hitting her torso like he had Kyle, his strike hit her head with a sickening crack, and she fell to the floor, unmoving. All of this happened in the span of seconds, and I had never felt so helpless. That helplessness turned into rage, and I saw Carter stand beside me, sword at the ready. And together, we charged at Akuna.

Akuna appeared to be invincible. Every spell I cast reflected off the surface of his armor like a mirror. Carter's sword couldn't scratch him. But then the fight shifted when I shot a wave of fire at Akuna. It caused the metal of his armor to heat up, and he recoiled in what seemed to be pain. His face shifted from amusement to anger, and he flicked his hand up. Vines sprouted from the floor and wrapped around me, pulling me to the floor and wrapping around my throat. My vision was darkening around the edges as I watched Carter futilely attempt to fight Akuna on his own. Every attack, magical and physical, was ineffective. Then Carter made a mistake. He overextended, and Akuna caught his wrist. Flinging Carter aside like a rag doll, he stood over me, loosening the vines so I could breathe again. He smiled cruelly.

"I should thank you for this opportunity. I thought gathering the powers of the Elementals of Ninjago would be enough to make my perfect world, but you have shown me that it won't be enough. Now I must consider other avenues to pursue my perfection." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "You magicians are immensely powerful, but none can fight against the Crystals. Yes, they should be perfect for making my perfect world." Laughing cruelly, he put a hand to his ear. "Lotus, it's time. I got what I came for. Return us to Ninjago." The air warped, and Akuna was gone.

I stumbled to Jaz's body, but even I could see that her injury was instantly fatal. I squeezed my eyes shut as I felt tears pour down my face. Looking to Zia's body, I saw Carter sobbing brokenly over her. Kyle stood, and his face fell. He grimaced to himself, having likely seen something like this before if Akuna's taunts were to be believed. He looked up at me, face reflecting sorrow and guilt.

"I'm sorry Sadie, this-"

"Stop. Don't blame yourself for what he did." I turned and looked at the spot Akuna vanished from. "And if I ever see that bastard again, he'll pay."

First chapter is done! This chapter (plus the outlining) took me two years to get to this point, and after multiple rewrites and at least 3 late night writing sessions, it's finally at a point where I feel comfortable publishing it. For those who found me through my Harry Potter story, the next chapter of that is halfway done, and should be uploaded within a week. I'll be alternating updates between this story and that one for the foreseeable future, hopefully once a week at least. Thanks for reading! Until next time my lovelies!