Hi everyone, thanks again for waiting. With the release of the first chapter, I already have so many favorites and followers, I can't tell you just how happy that makes me, knowing how many people enjoy reading my stories. So, let me thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Now then, in regard to the story, Team Avatar and the Ninja Turtles have reunited, along with a reluctant Azula, and are chosen as Acolytes of the mysterious Ninja Tribunal to combat a great evil that may threaten not only both their worlds, but possibly all existence itself. Can they become the warriors the Tribunal intends for them to be? Let's find out.
Lap of the Gods
This was not the reunion anybody was expecting as Aang, Leo, Zuko, Raph, Toph, Mikey, Katara, Don, Sokka, even Azula were on the large ship that sailed closer to the Japanese mainland, but they didn't appear to be heading for any populated areas, more likely a river-bank that led from the ocean toward a mountain range.
Mikey, Sokka, and Don stood near the front of the ship to get a better idea of where they might be heading.
"What the shell have we gotten ourselves into?!" Mikey exclaimed.
"Well, at the very least, we know which of our worlds were in." Sokka pointed out, trying to find some semblance in their predicament.
"I've always wanted to see Japan, but this isn't exactly what I had in mind." Don said.
"Yeah, getting abducted by some wooden guys and meeting a bunch of people that just so happen to look like our worst possible enemy isn't my idea of a fun weekend." Sokka said in his usual sarcastic tone.
Meanwhile; Leo, Aang, Katara, Raph, Zuko, Toph, and Azula, hung near the center of the ship, directly over the main chambers where the Ninja Tribunal resided.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but this little cruise-into-mystery is getting real old, real fast." Raph complained. "This stinks guys, big time."
"Any movement from the Tribunal, Toph?" Leo asked.
The young Earthbender used her seismic sense to try and feel the area where the Tribunal resided. Though they were on a wooden ship, her own natural senses could likely pick up any movement, but so far, none.
"Nothing. They haven't even said a word since we got up here." Toph said.
"Seriously? They're not even talking to each other?" Aang asked in surprise.
"No." Toph shook her head.
"Then I say we go down there and make them move!" Raph said irritably.
"I'm with you Raph!" Toph was in agreement as she stood up.
"Hold on guys." Zuko stopped them. "I'm not too comfortable with this situation either, but did you see what just one of them did to Aang? Do you really think picking a fight with them when they can so easily take down a fully-realized Avatar is the best idea?"
"Zuko's right." Leo agreed. "There's still too much we don't know about the Tribunal, about this threat they mentioned."
"Leo, you know I trust you, but after everything those people have done to us…" Katara began. "They kidnapped us, sicked a bunch of wooden men on us, and even tried to get us to fight each other!"
"Is that all you're thinking about?" Azula questioned.
"Oh, and what does the high-and-mighty Princess Azula have to say?" Raph questioned irritably, causing Azula's eyebrow to twitch slightly.
"Think about it for a moment. There are four members of this Ninja Tribunal we've seen so far. However, didn't you notice back in their chambers that there were five thrones?" Azula told them.
"Hey, you know… she's actually right." Aang realized. "There were five chairs there."
"So, what's your point?" Toph questioned the former Fire Princess.
"If there are four members but five thrones, what happened to the fifth member?" Azula said.
"Maybe he's just not here today?" Aang guessed.
"More likely they were killed." Zuko assumed.
"Either way, we don't know for certain. So, I might actually have to agree with Leonardo, we should at least see what their objective is before we do anything." Azula said.
"And how do we know you don't have some kind of plan to back-stab all of us?" Katara questioned as she didn't trust Azula one bit.
She rolled her eyes before she turned to the Waterbender with anger filled expression. "I've been used and lied to, I've lost the support my country, my friends, even my own family, and left to rot in a prison. What could I possibly gain from trying to back stab any of you? How could I even do it? You all clearly don't trust me, and as talented as I am, I'm not foolish enough to challenge a fully-realized Avatar, all four Ninja Turtles, and their friends all by myself."
"She has a point." Toph put in.
Zuko sighed briefly, knowing this was going to be difficult. "Given the situation we're in, I feel it would be easier if we all worked together." He looked towards Raph and Katara as they were about to protest. "I'm not fond of any of this, but I think we would stand a better chance of surviving with everyone on-board."
"Zuko's right. The only way we're making it through this, is together." Aang added. Raph and Katara both saw they had a point and reluctantly backed down.
"But that also means we need you to cooperate with us, Azula." Leo told her as he approached the former Fire Princess and looked directly into her eyes. "You're free to put in your own opinion, but you need to listen to others and be willing to compromise. Can you do that?"
Azula glared briefly at Leo before backing down. "Fine."
"Hey guys!" Sokka called to them. "I think we're here!"
Everyone made it to the front of the ship where they saw a dock near a mountain that the ship was approaching before the ship itself came a stop almost automatically.
"This is it?" Mikey asked upon seeing it was a fairly normal dock that led into a cave at the bottom of the mountain. "I was expecting something a little more… cool."
"Uh you mean like… that, Mikey?" Katara pointed up the mountain where he, and everyone else, with the exclusion of Toph saw a path carved from a massive stone dragon in the mountain that led all the way up toward the summit high above the clouds.
Sokka's jaw almost dropped as he was rendered speechless, while everyone else, including Azula, were surprised to say the least.
"Whoa…" Zuko breathed in surprise. "Now that's impressive."
"Incredible." Aang was more than a little impressed himself.
"Yeah, now that's more like it!" Mikey stated.
"Eh, if you haven't seen one cool monument or something, you've seen em all." Toph shrugged.
"Acolytes!"
Everyone turned to see the Ninja Tribunal suddenly appear in front of them, having made their way from the inner chambers of the ship all the way to the top in no time at all.
"You must disembark now." The white-eyed member in cyan-colored armor told them. "The path ahead is long and arduous, and your burdens are great."
"Probably too great." The one in blue armor said skeptically.
"Burdens? What burdens?" Aang asked.
"Yeah, what are you guys…?" Don asked as well, as the one in cyan armor pointed toward the docks to show ten large backpacks filled with a great many supplies.
"Oh." Aang and Don said at the same time.
After disembarking off the ship, each of the young warriors had their own bag to carry as they began their long ascension up the mountain through the path. However, the bags were incredibly heavy for each of them, which only made the journey all the more difficult.
"Ugh, what did they pack these things with? Bricks?" Raph questioned.
"No bro, that's just your head." Mikey joked.
"Keep yapping Mikey, soon as we get to the top…" Raph threatened.
"Please tell me they're not always like this." Azula said in annoyance towards her brother.
"No, usually they're a lot more annoying." Zuko smirked slightly in his sister's direction, resulting in her scowling.
As they climbed, Katara could only wonder what was even in the bags to make them so heavy. So, she went off toward the side to set her bag down and look at the contents, but her eyes widened in surprise as she saw her own clothes inside.
"What the…?! These are my clothes! Even my satchels and everything!"
That got the whole group's attention as they each set their bags down to see that each of own bags were packed with their own clothes, supplies, and even dried food. Even the Turtles' supplies and extra weapons we're packed, and even Azula's bag had her old clothes which she found with somewhat relief as anything was better than the prison rags she was currently wearing.
"What… have these guys been stalking us?! How did they even get all this?!" Sokka exclaimed.
"Looks like the Tribunal's been watching us for a long time." Aang guessed.
"But how long, and why?" Zuko wondered.
"Ugh, who cares!" Toph exclaimed, tired of all of this. "And why do we even have to walk up this path anyway! Hang on guys, I'll Earthbend our way up!" She shot her fists forward, using Earthbending to flatten the steps in front of the group as she prepared to make an earth-ramp for them to ride up, only for the stairs to automatically adjust back to normal. "What the…?!" Toph questioned as she tried the same thing again, only for the stairs to turn back. "Are you kidding me?!"
"Looks like they want us to take the hard way up." Don assumed.
"Guess we got no choice." Leo assumed. "Come on everyone, we need to keep moving."
With some annoyed groans, the group put their burdens back on as they resumed their climb up the mountain. After a few minutes, they were between a third to halfway done, and they were already getting tired, even Azula was starting to look exhausted. Mikey and Sokka both noticed her predicament and smirked.
"Awe, what's the matter Princess? Too hard for you?" Mikey mocked.
"Do you want your servants to come and help you?" Sokka mocked as well. "Oh wait, that's right. You don't have any servants!" They both chuckled.
"Not so fun doing your own dirty work, is it?" Mikey chuckled as Azula shot them a death-glare.
"Hey guys, can we maybe not try to antagonize a dangerous and possible unstable Firebender who can shoot lighting from her fingertips." Don advised.
"Awe, but antagonizing is so much fun!" Sokka stated. "Come on Toph, Raph, you guys gotta be enjoying this to, right?"
"I'd enjoy it a lot more if we didn't have to climb up this damn mountain to!" Raph shot back.
"So as fun as it would be to mock Azula, keep your yaps shut and just keep moving! I'm really getting sick of this whole thing!" Toph agreed.
Mikey and Sokka groaned as they resumed their trek, with Azula not far behind them. Leo and Aang were at the front of the pack as they both looked down off the edge, towards the ship that still remained at the very bottom of where they started.
"What do you think they're doing down there?" Aang asked the blue-clad Turtle.
"Don't know." Leo said honestly. "And it's kinda making me nervous."
All four members of the Ninja Tribunal had gathered together at the center of their ship, circling the insignia that seemed to be an upside-down Foot symbol as they finished preparations.
"All is in its place." The blue-armored one said. "The wheel turns once more. Let the journey finally begin." He and the others raised their hands as they began to channel their own mystic powers.
The entire ship began to shake briefly before it actually began to hover above the water and begin an ascension up the mountain.
"Uh guys… you're gonna wanna see this…" Aang said as he and Leo looked down in surprise. Everyone, excluding Toph, looked over the ledge to look in complete and absolute shock, even Azula was completely stunned, to see the ship actually ascend up the mountain.
"No way!" Raph exclaimed.
"How… that… that shouldn't be… that's not scientifically possible!" Sokka exclaimed in comic shock as he couldn't find any logical reason a ship would be flying.
"Hey, someone wanna tell the blind girl what the heck is going on?" Toph questioned.
"The ship we came on is flying." Don said bluntly, despite the dumbfounded expression on his face.
Toph's dull eyes widened as the group saw the ship fly up past them and even further up the mountain. "Oh."
"Nobody said there was an express elevator!" Mikey complained. "Come on! That's not fair!"
"You know, I'm pretty sure the phrase 'not fair' pretty much describes all our lives to a tee." Katara pointed out.
"Yep, Turtle-Avatar luck running true to form." Raph seemed to agree.
Zuko gave a deep sigh. "Come on, let's just keep moving."
The whole trek took more than a few hours as the sun was almost completely set, but the group of ten had finally made it to their destination, the top of the mountain. But once they got there, their eyes widened in surprise, once more, at what laid before them. It was a monastery, and a large one at that. Large buildings were in view, but what caught their attention was the massive dragon statue that surrounded it with the main gate-entrance being inside the dragon's open mouth.
"Is this… some kind of temple?" Aang guessed.
"We've been all over the world, seen all kinds of incredible things yet… there's always something that just manages to take our breath away." Katara said.
"This place puts anything the Fire Nation ever made to shame." Zuko observed.
"Yeah, I think I've seen a place like this in better holes and nightmares." Mikey shivered, a sense of dread filling his body.
"Thank you for the commentary." Azula commented with sarcasm, resulting in a glare from Katara, though Zuko choose to ignore the comment.
The group crossed the bridge towards the large gait, which still bore the same insignia from the Tribunal ship. "There it is, the same upside-down Foot symbol." Don observed.
The gate opened almost automatically for them, gesturing for them to enter as they all looked inside as a feeling of nervousness began to take hold.
"Think they have a pay-phone in there?" Mikey asked. "Master Splinter has to be worried."
"Yeah, dad's gotta be worried about us to." Sokka added as he and Katara exchanged glances.
"Not to mention… Zuko you're the Fire Lord." Aang said to his former Firebending teacher. "And your country's leader probably just vanished without a trace. There's gonna be a lot of people worried about you right now."
"They wouldn't be the only ones." Zuko said as he was more than a little nervous about entering this place. But seeing no other choice, the group walked past the main gate and into the monastery, which closed behind them.
Once inside, the group looked around at the monastery, it seemed almost like a small city with so many temples and buildings.
"It's… almost like a town in here." Aang observed.
"Yeah a whole community of people could probably like in a place like this." Don said.
"Well, where is everyone then?" Toph asked. "I can't feel anyone here, just us."
Mikey gulped. "Ghost towns anyone?"
"There has to be someone here though!" Sokka stated. "We couldn't have been brought here only to find nothing!"
"Can you at least locate the Tribunal?" Azula questioned the blind Earthbender.
"Uh yeah… over there." She pointed towards what seemed liked the largest building in the monastery as its gates opened automatically for them. Seeing no alternative, the group walked past the gates and into a darkened chamber.
"It's so dark, I can't see anything in here." Katara said as everyone set their bags down, feeling they made it toward their destination. Zuko, Aang, and Azula were about to use their Firebending to provide some illumination, but that would prove to be unnecessary.
"Acolytes! Behold!" A massive light shinned at the end of the chamber as the whole room illuminated for them. Multiple floating lanterns shined brightly to show the innards of this temple had green tinted walls with five thrones ascended above a pool near the end of the chamber with three massive pillars behind the thrones, and the same upside-down Foot-symbol hanging above the thrones. Like before, the Ninja Tribunal were present as they sat in four of the thrones, with one remaining empty.
"The Lap of the Gods! The Tribunal Monastery! Your new home." The blue-armored individual announced as everyone looked around in awe, even Azula was stunned. "Sit! Time is short." The ten young warriors walked towards the pool below the Tribunal's thrones and sat on small stools around the pool. "An ancient evil imprisoned for over a thousand years threatens to return. You ten have been chosen to combat this threat."
"What evil?" Aang asked. "What exactly are you preparing us for?"
"Our enemy can reach untold destruction through both physical and mystical means. You must be prepared to combat it on all fronts." The blue-armored individual explained.
The one in cyan armor stood up as he made multiple hand-gestures before a sphere of white energy formed in-between his palms. Once this happened, all ten of the young warriors suddenly had golden medallions form around their necks with the same Tribunal insignia in the center.
"What is this thing?" Azula questioned as she looked at her own medallion.
"These are the Amulets of the Acolyte." The one in cyan-colored armor explained as each Acolyte was given his or her own amulet. "They will aid you to focus and amplify your inner power, your chi."
"Great, now we get dog collars." Raph grumbled.
"Perception is not always truth." The cyan-armored individual continued to explain. "All you think you know, about this world, about other worlds, about yourselves, even about reality itself, all of this will be challenged. Here, in the Lap of the Gods, you will learn secrets not shared for millennia, secrets known only be we of the Ninja Tribunal."
They all stood up from their thrones as the cyan-armored one introduced himself and the others. "I am Kon-Shisho!" Smoke escaped his armor as spirit-like energy wrapped around him as he revealed himself fully. He had near-pale white skin, with silver colored hair, cyan and silver-colored armor with a black-under suit and red ribbons wrapped down from his chest and the trails extending outward like a cape from his belt. "Ninjutsu Master of Spirit!"
"This is Juto-Shisho!" Multiple spiked chains shot out of his robe and armor to shred it and reveal himself. He wore a dark blue robe with long white sleeves that stretched well-beyond arm length. He had white face-paint with red lines below his glowing blue eyes and a black hat with the Tribunal insignia on top, with long black hair stretching out from the back. "Ninjutsu Master of Weapons!
The green-armored female punched the ground in front of her, creating a bright green explosion that engulfed her, causing the Acolytes to cover their eyes from the blight flash. When the glow subsided, they saw what appeared to be a beautiful young woman with a green robe, a red sash tired around her waist like a belt, with pale-greenish skin and glowing green eyes with her white hair tied back in traditional Japanese fashion. "Chikara-Shisho, Ninjutsu Master of Strength!"
The one in gold armor simply threw off his robe and armor to reveal his own body. He seemed the largest and most well-built of his comrades. He had pale goldish skin with glowing gold eyes and was completely bald. He wore a primarily black ninja-suit with a gold sash at the top, a belt of golden spheres tied around his waist, and bandages wrapped around his arms with wooden sandals. "And Hisomi-Shisho, Ninjutsu Master of Stealth!"
"Shisho? Are they all related or something?" Sokka questioned.
"No Sokka, Shisho is a Japanese term referring to a master." Leo corrected.
"Oh, okay, good to now." Sokka replied.
"Well, at least we know their names now." Aang said to his friends trying to find some positivity that wasn't shared by the rest of the group.
"All things will be explained in time, as for training, it begins now!" Chikara stated as she made similar hand-gestures before a large gate suddenly and magically appeared in front of them out of nowhere.
"Uh oh, whenever they do that ninja-patty-cake thing, it means trouble." Raph stated as he and everyone else drew their weapons or took bending stances, ready for a fight.
"Okay, at this point, I'm not even gonna question the giant door appearing out of nowhere." Toph said, getting more than a little irritated about all of this.
"And let me guess, you have no idea what's behind it?" Azula assumed.
"Yep." Toph confirmed.
The gate then began to open, causing everyone to stand on guard even further. "Be ready for anything." Zuko said as he held his swords with him, Aang, and Leo up front. However, Don walked up front to get a good look at what was inside.
"Hey guys, it looks like… Yes!" Don practically cheered as there was a massive library inside, with over a hundred bookshelves, staked in two stories with an upper floor and multiple tables at the center.
"A library? They have a library in here?" Katara questioned, feeling honestly surprised.
"Not what I expected." Leo said in the same tone.
"This… this isn't training it's…" Sokka said.
"…Studying!" Don interrupted, actually feeling excited about this as the group walked inside.
"Studying?! Aw man!" Mikey complained.
Azula looked towards Aang as he actually seemed nervous. A mischievous smirk formed on her face. "What's the matter, Avatar? Afraid of books?"
"No, it's just the last library I visited, turned out to be a death-trap with an owl-spirit that wasn't most social… or sane." Aang answered.
Toph turned back to the Tribunal that continued to sit on their thrones. "Uh… you guys do know I'm blind, right?" She waved a hand in front of her face for emphasis. "As in, I can't read?" The door was closed in front of her in response. "Did they just close the door in my face? And they say I'm rude."
Raph sighed. "Come on kid, I'll help you out."
The group spread out to try and read what they could, though in Toph's case, Raph helped her as he read the book for her and she tried to understand it all. Mikey hung around with Zuko, while Azula just read by herself. Sokka read with Don, while Aang, Leo, and Katara read on a table at the center of the room.
"You know… this is actually pretty incredible stuff." Leo observed as he read his book.
"Well, can you guys help me out here. I'm not sure I understand what this part is saying." Aang said as Katara and Leo moved over to read the page in the book.
"Hmm." Katara began to read it. "It says… focusing your chi, your inner energy. Similar to bending I think, only… something else. Like your sprit, your inner power and giving it physical form." As Katara continued to read aloud, she didn't seem to notice her own Amulet glowing, and a navy-blue aura formed around her body. Glowing navy-blue waves, resembling water waves appeared all over her clothes and body, something causing Aang and Leo to look in surprise as Katara continued to read. "Your own life energy… manifests through your own will alone."
"Um… Katara…" Leo pointed out as Katara looked towards Leo, before looking at herself, causing her to look in surprise as she saw the glowing state she was in, before the glow subsided.
"Katara… how did you do that?" Aang looked in amazement. "That was… incredible! You were glowing, like you were in the Avatar State!"
"I… I don't understand…" Katara couldn't believe it. "I mean… I'm no Avatar…"
"I think it was the Amulet." Leo guessed as he looked at his own. "The Tribunal said it would help channel our inner chi… I think this is what they meant."
"Whoa…" Aang and Katara said at the same time as they each looked at their own amulets.
Kon stood in front of Don and Toph as they climbed two large polls with dragon-carvings around the sides to try and retrieve the flags at the top.
"The Dark One is clever and will strike when he finds you distracted." Kon told them as the dragon carvings suddenly came to life and ensnared Don and even Toph before she could even have a chance to Earthbend before slamming both of them onto the ground.
"Without hesitation, without remorse, you must strike your enemy and strike true, or suffer." Juto instructed as Raph and Zuko as they each held a bow-and-arrow and aimed at a floating fire-target in the air over the edge of a cliff. They each shot their own arrow and came close to a bullseye.
However, the flames expanded and looked ready to explode and cover over them, forcing Zuko to take a Firebending stance to try and divert the attack, only for him and Raph to be taken by surprise as hundreds of arrows shot out of the fire towards them, which they could barely dodge.
Katara, Mikey, and Sokka struggled to carry wooden poles over their shoulders with large and heavy rocks tied at the ends. They tried to carry them up a mountain's slope towards Chikara.
"Aw, do you tire?" Chikara said in almost mocking tone. "The Dark One never tires! Ever!" She punched the mountain with sheer strength alone, causing a rockslide. Mikey, Katara, and Sokka looked in shock as the only thing they could do was run and avoid getting crushed.
Leo and Azula each walked on a tightrope over a pool of water, toward the ever-silent Hisomi. This seemed like a cakewalk for both of them, however when Azula saw that Leo was actually ahead of her, she tried to pick up the pace as though she were racing him. However, neither of them were expecting Hisomi to shoot his fists up, causing the tightropes to catapult both Leo and Azula off them, causing the two to smack into each other and fall into the water.
Aang stood in the middle of a large courtyard, with a pond, in the monastery, surrounded by all four members of the Ninja Tribunal.
"Okay… what exactly am I supposed to do?" Aang asked.
"Face us, young Avatar." Chikara told him.
"Wait… you want me to fight you guys?!" Aang exclaimed, clearly not expecting that.
"You are facing an evil that even we cannot fight alone." Kon said.
"If you cannot defeat us, then you have no hope of defeating your enemy! Now defend yourself!" Juto ordered as he waved his sleeves, sending out a hail of shurikens and kunai straight at Aang, who quickly erected an earth-wall to block them. He formed an Air-Sphere to try and gain some distance, but he didn't make it very far as Hisomi suddenly appeared in front of him with a metal tessen in each hand and swiped them at Aang, he jumped off his Air-Sphere as one tessen sliced through his air-sphere.
Aang landed behind Hisomi and tried to kick a fire-wave at him, but he vanished completely and reappeared behind Aang once more. Acting on instinct, Aang sunk into the ground with Earthbending.
Chikara however punched the ground and sent a wave of green chi energy through it, causing to rumble and break apart, exposing Aang much to his shock. Aang then jumped once more to avoid a series of spiked chains launched at him by Hisomi. As Aang was airborne, he flew over the pond and used Waterbending to create a sphere of water around himself as he landed before forming multiple water-tentacles to lash out at the incoming Kon who mystically drew a pair of katanas and sliced through each wave like butter before suddenly appearing before Aang as he froze the water sphere. Kon sliced and shattered the sphere of ice with one of his blades and saw Aang had vanished.
Aang then re-appeared from the ground in the middle of all four Tribunal members and spun his body to create a circular wave of air and fire, which he expanded to the Tribunal; however, even this was mere child's play for them as Kon sliced with one of his katanas, Hisomi disappeared and re-appeared as the wave past him, Chikara simply punched it, while Juto spun his own body to pass through it.
"You're too defensive, Avatar!" Chikara stated as she rushed Aang faster than he could have anticipated and punched him in the gut to send him flying and knock the wind right out of him. As he was sent flying through the air, he met Hisomi before he could even recover who slashed at him with his tessen to knock him onto the ground.
"You dwell too much on your pacifist believes, you must learn to attack!" Juto stated as he lashed out a chain from one of his sleeves to ensnare Aang and throw him around before slamming him on the ground. Suddenly, Aang's tattoos lit up as he entered the Avatar state in a massive air-sphere to blast out of Juto's chains. However, before he could even attack, Kon had suddenly teleported into Aang's air-sphere where he pressed onto Aang's forehead and channeled his own inner power to knock Aang out of the Avatar state, where he landed on the ground right at Kon's feet.
"And finally, when your pacifist methods do not work and you are backed into the corner, you rely on the Avatar State, believing it will make up for any lack of offensive abilities." Kon told him as the rest of the Tribunal only looked in disappointment, all the while Aang could only hang his head as he let their words sink in.
After a grueling and unsuccessful training session; the ten Acolytes returned to the Lap of the Gods, where the Tribunal awaited them on their thrones. All ten young warriors rubbed their sore limbs and sides and groaned as this was more exhausting than any training session they've done before, all the while the Ninja Tribunal only seemed disappointed.
"We had hoped for more, Acolytes." Chikara scolded.
"They're efforts are unimpressive, even for a fully-realized Avatar." Kon said to his companions. "Perhaps we were mistaken, perhaps they are hopeless." That last comment got most of the young warriors to glare at the Tribunal.
"Perhaps they are weak!" Juto exclaimed. "Do you not understand what is at stake?!"
"No, we don't!" Zuko shouted, as he appeared to have lost all his patience. "We don't understand what's at stake because you haven't told us anything!"
"That's right; first you kidnapped us, tried to get us all to fight each other, now you expect us to train and fight something that you haven't even told us about?!" Katara exclaimed as well.
"Yeah, just who in the hell do you guys think you are, anyway?!" Raph shouted.
"Do not question us!" Chikara stated firmly.
"Or what?! You'll sick your little manikins on us again!?" Mikey questioned.
"Maybe if we knew what exactly we were supposed to be fighting, we would be better able to prepare!" Even Azula seemed to be in agreement with her former enemies.
Raph scoffed slightly. "For once, Azula makes sense."
"We have no idea who or what our enemy is and you expect us to just be on-board without even questioning you?!" Don questioned as well.
"Hey, I got an idea, if you guys think you're so strong then why don't you fight this 'Dark One' yourselves?!" Sokka said.
"Seriously, you high-and-mighty-guys think you're so tough?! Why don't you come down here so I can wipe those smirks off your faces!" Toph challenged.
"We are not smiling." Kon stated flatly.
Leo sighed. "You know, I was hoping I could be patient with you people, but if this is all you're going to give us, then I don't see any real reason for us to stay here."
Even Aang seemed on-board. "Even a monk's patience has limits. You want our help, then give us a reason to trust you, because really, all you've done is given us reasons not to trust you."
Chikara and Juto especially glared at this defiance. "Your will watch your tone, boy!" Juto stated. "Avatar or not, you are still a child!"
"And you expect children to do your battles for you?!"
This was an entirely new voice, one that all of the young Acolytes, and even the Tribunal recognized as they turned toward the entrance to find not only Master Splinter present, but even Iroh in his White Lotus attire, as well as Karai, Suki, Mai, and Ty-Lee accompanying them.
"I must say that I am truly disappointed in the four of you." Iroh added. "Though I can't say I'm surprised."
"Master Splinter?!" The Turtles, Aang, Katara, and Toph all exclaimed at the same time. Even Azula did not expect to see these people here.
"Uncle!? Mai!? Karai?!" Zuko shouted.
"Suki?!" Sokka exclaimed.
Suddenly, more than two dozen Mokusei no Bushi warriors leapt from the uppermost part of the chambers as they surrounded the group of intruders. Karai immediately drew both her katanas, as Mai did her knives, even Suki drew her fan and shield. Ty-Lee took a chi-blocking stance as Iroh and Splinter all glared at the Mokusei no Bushi. However, before any of the wooden soldiers could even attack, there was a familiar roar through the air as a certain Sky-Bison flew through the entrance, landing in front of Splinter, Iroh, and the others while waving his tail to send a gust of wind to blow back the Mokusei no Bushi warriors slightly.
"Appa!" Aang exclaimed upon seeing his beloved pet Sky-Bison.
Momo even flew down to Splinter's shoulder and hissed at the recovering Mokusei no Bushi that approached the intruders.
"Come on, we have to help them!" Leo exclaimed as he, his brothers, and all his friends, with the exception of Azula quickly joined Appa and surrounded Splinter, Iroh, Mai, Karai, Suki, and Ty-Lee.
"Bring it on woodchucks, I've been wanting to hit something all day!" Toph challenged the approaching Mokusei no Bushi.
"Enough!" Kon ordered the wooden soldiers, causing them to back away as the young heroes lowered their guard.
"The rodent is not permitted here, as it well knows." Juto stated. "And you were not summoned, Dragon of the West, yet you bring intruders to our sacred ground?"
"How did you come to find this monastery?" Chikara questioned.
Almost in direct response to her question, the Ancient One ran in through the entrance. He briefly stopped to catch his breath as he gave a nervous smile and wave to the Tribunal.
Kon, Hisomi, and Chikara sat back down. "Pathetic." Juto commented before he sat down as well.
Appa wasted no time in licking Aang, while Momo flew down to his shoulder and licked Aang's face as well. "I'm so glad to see you guys to."
"Karai." Leo noted as everyone else met up with their friends, he, Zuko, and Katara met with her.
"Leonardo, Zuko, Katara… I am glad to see you all again, though I hadn't expected our reunion to be under such circumstances." Karai said.
"Yeah, tell me about it." Zuko chuckled slightly. "But I'm glad to see you again."
"Yeah, so am I." Katara smiled slightly, finding some good in the current situation.
"Sokka, I was worried about you!" Suki wasted no time in embracing him, which he didn't hesitate to return.
"Eh, yeah you know, takes more than being ambushed by some fancy-schmancy wooden soldiers and a couple of overly egotistical guys to get me down." Sokka tried to act like the confident warrior.
Mai meanwhile embraced Zuko, but her relief turned into suspicion when she set her sights on Azula. "What is she doing here?"
"Nice to see you to, Mai." Azula said sarcastically.
"She was abducted like the rest of us, it wasn't her choice, nor ours." Zuko informed.
"Hey Ty-Lee, good to see you again!" Mikey was about to give her a high-five when she had an expression of awe, and maybe some fear, as she gazed directly at the Ninja Tribunal. "Uh hello? Anyone home?" He waved a hand in front of her face to get her attention.
"They're… they're aura…" She gulped. "I've never seen anything like it…. So much… so much energy… even more than Aang's."
"Yeah, they're super powerful we kinda figured that." Mikey said rather bluntly.
The brief relief the heroes had upon seeing their friends again faded as Splinter and Iroh both approached the Tribunal and glared directly at them, though while Iroh had a look of understanding, albeit reluctance, on his face, Splinter's looked almost hateful. The Ancient One quickly ran to both of them.
"Splinter, Iroh, let us not make things harder than they need be." The Ancient One tried to tell them. "Your sons, the Avatar, and their friends are all safe. We should rest and discuss this with a level-head in the evening."
"There is no time for discussion, Young One." Chikara told the Ancient One, who was apparently considered 'young' to the Tribunal. "The crisis we prepare for is upon us now."
Kon stood up and used his spiritual powers on the pool in front of the thrones to bring up a 'screen' of water to reveal magical footage of a dark ship with blood red sails, and the emblem of the Foot, sailing through the stormy seas.
"The five Heralds of the Dark One are coming." Chikara told everyone who gathered together to see the 'visual aids' the Tribunal was providing. "Heralds with only one purpose: to reawaken their evil master."
Looking at the magical projection, the young warriors saw that nobody was on the ship, or at least that's what it seemed until five elemental surges of fire, water, earth, wind, and metal appeared on the deck of the ship to take form and reveal the Mystics. However, as they were in their transformed and true appearances, the Turtles and Team Avatar failed to recognize them as the Foot Mystics they've battled in the past.
"They're after three artifacts, ancient relics that will allow them to complete the Ritual of Resurrection." Kon explained. "Two of the artifacts were stolen from us and are already in the possession of their vile servants." However, almost as if the Mystics could sense they were being watched, the Metal Mystic 'sliced' at the screen, forcing Kon to dispel the projection, much to the surprise of everyone present.
"If the Mystics complete the ritual, a terrible evil will be unleashed upon not only this world, or the world of the Four Nations, but virtually all worlds across space and time! This cannot be allowed!" Chikara stated.
"You mentioned a third artifact, where is it?" Leo asked.
"The third artifact is hidden safely here, in the Lap of the Gods." Juto answered.
"Then the Tribunal can continue to guard it, without my sons or their friends!" Splinter stated as it looked as though he was prepared to leave with all of them.
"Do not test us, rodent!" Juto warned. "Babysit these children if you must, it changes nothing."
"Uncle… do you really know the Ninja Tribunal?" Zuko asked his uncle.
"Yes, I do. It's a long story." Iroh answered.
However, before anyone could make an attempt to leave, or say anything else, the entire chamber began to rumble and quake. "Wha… what the shell is that?!" Mikey exclaimed.
"Guys, there's something outside! Something big!" Toph warned everyone as all the young Acolytes, their friends, and even the Tribunal were put on high alert.
"No! Impossible! How could they have moved so quickly!?" Kon questioned as tentacles of smoke suddenly came down from the ceiling above the Tribunal's thrones, and out from the main gate. Appa gave an upset roar as he could sense something was really off, as did Momo as he curled himself around Aang who held his staff out in defense. The entire chamber continued to shake even further as cracks formed all around the walls and ceiling, allowing more smoke-tentacles to enter the chamber.
"The monastery is under attack!" Juto exclaimed.
"Acolytes, to the inner-chambers!" Chikara instructed as she drew her personal weapon, a large kanabo. "We will deal with the intruders ourselves!" She stated as Kon drew a pair of dual katanas and Hisomi also drew his dual tessen.
Hisomi quickly disappeared and re-appeared near the main gate and tried to bar it shut using his own strength, but whatever was on the other side was putting up quite a fight.
Chikara went straight for the ceiling, quickly jumping from pillar to pillar, only for one smoke-tentacle to quickly smash into her and slam her down onto the ground near her personal throne before she was trapped in a sphere. Kon spun both his swords around him like a buzz saw to try and cut her free, but more smoke-tentacles shot out from the pool below to ensnare, slam him against a pillar, and trap him in a smoke-bubble as well. Juto was next as he flung a multitude of shurikens and kunai from his sleeves at incoming smoke-tentacle, but they didn't even slow it down as it slammed into him and trapped him as well.
Despite Hisomi's best efforts to keep the gate closed, whatever was on the other side was able to break through and ensnare him with multiple smoke-tentacles that quickly trapped him in a bubble and sent him near the rest of his captured comrades.
"They got the Tribunal!" Leo exclaimed as he, Raph, Mikey, Don, Karai, Splinter, Sokka, Suki, and Mai drew their respective weapons as Aang, Zuko, Katara, Toph, Azula, and Iroh made their own combat stances alongside Ty-Lee, the Ancient One, and Splinter, as even Appa growled.
"Looks like it's just us now." Aang stated with a serious expression.
"Yeah, just us against what?" Mai questioned.
The ceiling above the imprisoned Tribunal exploded as massive monster revealed itself. It seemed like something of a mix between a dragon, a snake, and a feline. It had red skin with black hardened scales acting as armor on its abs and elongated tail, along with white spikes on its shoulders. It bore no legs, but it had large arms with wings made out of fire, a face with a feline-like expression and whiskers, though its eyes appeared to be made out of fire as well.
The creature gave an evil laugh. "Fools. They foretold the return of the Master, and now they think they can stop it? The Master cannot be stopped!" He blasted a stream of fire from its mouth and grabbed onto the flames as it solidified and took the form of a massive and twisted black sword. "All who would stand in his way will perish!"
"Wha… what the heck is that thing?!" Sokka exclaimed as everyone present, especially Ty-Lee and Katara, and even Azula were more than a little frightened by the appearance of such a creature.
"Hayashi-Aki! A Fire Demon!" Master Splinter revealed.
"You're serious… a real live demon!?" Aang questioned as this was the first time that he, or any of his friends, aside from the Turtles had ever seen a demon.
The demon known as Hayashi-Aki flew toward them and swung its blade, forcing the group to scatter as it flew back up and lashed its tail at the ceiling, causing it to be set ablaze and break as debris quickly fell down. Splinter pushed Leo and Raph out of the way but couldn't avoid the debris that crashed down onto him as well as the Ancient One.
"Master Splinter!" Leo exclaimed in horror.
Appa roared as he flew directly at Hayashi-Aki. The Fire Demon swung its blade toward the Sky-Bison, but he ducked under the slice and bit down on the wrist of the hand holding the sword. Hayashi-Aki grunted slightly but used its free hand to grab Appa and pry him off his body before throwing him hard at the wall, causing the Sky-Bison to roar in pain before he fell to the ground, but not before Hayashi-Aki sent a wave of fire with the swing of his sword at the wall, causing it to break and collapse all over Appa.
"APPA!" Aang's eyes widened in horror. He set an angry glare at the laughing demon. "You'll pay for that, monster!" He shouted to all his friends as they all ran to attack the monster.
Mikey, Leo, Mai, Suki, and Don all leapt at Hayashi-Aki, but he smacked them all down with his hands alone. Zuko and Iroh stood together as they threw out multiple fire-fists at Hayashi-Aki but he simply sent another wave of flame with a swing of his sword to over-power Zuko and Iroh's fire, blasting them back.
Toph shot herself and Raph into the air with a large earth-pillar before she threw out multiple rocks from the ground at Hayashi-Aki, though he was able to slice through all the incoming projectiles, it was only a distraction as Raph jumped from Toph's pillar straight for the Fire Demon. However, Hayashi-Aki still grabbed onto Raph with his free hand and slammed him onto the ground before spinning his tail rapidly to not only destroy Toph's pillar but also smack Toph and sending her flying and crashing all the way on the other side of the chamber.
Karai quickly drew a chain and threw it out to ensnare both Hayashi-Aki's wrists as Sokka and Don ran to join and help her pull, which seemed to keep it occupied as Katara drew water from her satchels and threw it over the monster's fire-wings to try and extinguish them, allowing Aang to run and leap straight at the monster with Airbending before inhaling to blow a massive gust of air at the creature. Though Hayashi-Aki was disoriented, his own flames grew out enough that his fire-wings exploded outward, blasting not only the water off, but sending a wave of flame to blast back Aang, Katara, Sokka, Don, and Karai.
"Mikey, Ty-Lee, try to free the Tribunal!" Leo ordered as he and Azula both ran to engage Hayashi-Aki.
"We're on it!" Mikey stated as he and Ty-Lee tried to run to the trapped Tribunal. Hayashi-Aki turned with a roar to try and stop them, but Azula suddenly appeared above the monster with a propulsion of blue flames from her feet as she spun her body to generate a large stream of blue fire which she smacked into Hayashi-Aki's head before landing in front of the creature.
Aang had meanwhile recovered and used Airbending to give Leo a boost and propel him straight at Hayashi-Aki as he tried to slash his blades at him, but Hayashi-Aki smacked him down with a back-hand before sending a wave of flame at Aang, which he countered with his own Firebending wave from his feet. However, this appeared to be nothing more than a diversion as Azula had already prepared a lightning-strike. By the time Hayashi-Aki turned around, Azula shot her fingers forward to send a stream of lighting at the Fire-Demon. It made direct contact and exploded.
Azula had a confident and triumphant smirk on her face. "Got him." However, the smoke cleared as Hayashi-Aki shot right at Azula, completely unaffected, much to Azula's horror. Before she could even scream, he brought his blade down on her to end her.
"Azula!" Ty-Lee exclaimed out of shock as even Mikey was stunned, this distracted them from their goal to free the Tribunal as Hayashi-Aki soared right at them and sliced at the three large pillars behind them, causing the pillars and the entire ceiling to collapse on top of them and crush them.
"Mikey!" Leo, Katara, Sokka, and Don all exclaimed at the same time.
"Ty-Lee!" Karai, Suki, and Mai screamed as they were all that was left, along with a recovering Aang.
Mai and Suki ran towards Hayashi-Aki as Mai threw a series of knives at the creature, but they simply bounced off his chest, as the Fire Demon's entire chest shot out a series of tentacles that ensnared both girls and began to pull them in.
"Suki!" Sokka tried to help her as he grabbed onto her hand, only for the tentacles to ensnare him as well as he, Suki, and even Mai were pulled into Hayashi-Aki's body to be devoured.
"Sokka!" Katara shouted as she, Don, Aang, Karai, and Leo used their weapons and bending to beat back many more tentacles that emerged from Hayashi-Aki's body to keep them back; but Don and Karai found themselves isolated as they two were ensnared and pulled into Hayashi-Aki to be devoured.
"No!" Aang exclaimed as he tried to use Earthbending to shoot out much of the rubble at Hayashi-Aki, only for the Fire Demon to slash them away with his sword.
Katara realized just how much they were losing against this monster. Getting desperate, she looked at her amulet as an idea came to her. She tried to concentrate, the same way she did in the library and manifest her chi. Just like before, her body glowed with a navy-blue aura as glowing navy-blue waves formed around her body. The tentacles tried to reach out for Katara, only for them to burn right as they made contact with her glowing body.
"It… it worked…!" A hopeful smile formed on Katara's face. "Aang, Leo, we have to…" Suddenly she was crushed by Hayashi-Aki's massive tail.
"KATARA!" Aang shouted in horror as he saw the demise of his lover.
Leo and Aang glared hatefully as they stood alone against the laughing Hayashi-Aki that loomed over them.
"It's just the two of us, Aang." Leo stated as they were not going to back down. "If we're going down…"
"We're gonna sure as shell make sure this monster falls with us!" Aang stated as his eyes glowed white with his tattoos, indicating he entered the Avatar State.
They both ran and jumped at the Fire-Demon, only for it to blast a massive stream of fire from its mouth. Though Leo was engulfed and sent crashing to the ground, Aang was protected by an Air-Sphere as he pulled in water, earth, and fire from the ruined monastery and brought them together in his Elemental Sphere, facing Hayashi-Aki alone.
Hayashi-Aki sent a wave of flame from a swing of his sword, but Aang sent out a wave of water to counter it, creating a steam-cloud, giving Aang an opportunity to shoot out multiple tiny rocks like a gatling gun. Some of them hit Hayashi-Aki, but he simply flew higher and around the open roof to avoid it. Aang flew off in pursuit as he shot his fists forward to blast five fire 'missiles' right at the monster, but Hayashi-Aki slashed his sword to intercept them, allowing Aang to fly in close as he expanded his Air-Sphere to blast back Hayashi-Aki and send it crashing to the wall. This seemed to leave the Fire Demon vulnerable as Aang drew all his elements together into his hand to form what appeared to be a pulsating stream of fire, air, water, and earth which he tried to wield like a sword and bring down on Hayashi-Aki. However, the demon sliced through the attack with his own sword, destroying it. And before Aang could even react, Hayashi Aki quickly raised his sword high to bring it down on Aang and send him crashing onto the ground. The glow in his arrows faded as he laid in defeat.
Hayashi-Aki gave a mighty and evil laugh. "And so, it ends before it has even begun! Poor mortals, to think they could stand against the Master's power!" He spun his body to create a vortex of flame around his body, which propelled him into the sky where he flew away in victory.
Admits the ruins, Aang's eyes weakly opened as it felt like every bone in his body was broken. He weakly turned his head towards Leo's own broken body that laid close to him. "Leo… Leo…" The blue-clad Turtle's eyes slowly opened as he heard Aang call him. "Leo is… is this… how it… ends?"
"We weren't ready…" Leo grimaced admits the pain. "How could we be…? How could we fight…this…?"
Aang's eyes suddenly shot open as he gave a gasp. He was no longer in any pain at all, not a single scratch on his body.
"Aang…?" He turned to his left to see Katara was perfectly fine as well, even Leo, who was on his right was just fine, and it wasn't just them, it was all of them. Raph, Toph, Mikey, Sokka, Zuko, Don, Azula, they were all alive, and in perfect health. Even Splinter, Iroh, the Ancient One, Ty-Lee, Karai, Suki, and Mai who stood at the main gate next to Appa, with Momo on Splinter's shoulder. They were all alive, even the monastery itself was in the same condition before it was attacked, even the Ninja Tribunal themselves continued to sit on their throne as if nothing happened.
"What… what happened…?" Zuko asked as he looked at his own hands, as everyone else was just as surprised as the person next to him.
"We ain't sliced, diced, or fricasseed." Raph said in an awed tone.
"But… but how… I mean… we all died… right?" Toph asked.
"What the shell…?" Mikey questioned.
Even Azula was in silent awe as she looked at her own shaky hands. She was certain that demon had killed her, she could have sworn she even saw her life flash before her eyes.
"How… how are we even…" Mai stuttered as well as she, Karai, Suki, and Ty-Lee were more than a little surprised themselves.
"Perception is not always truth." Chikara told the Acolytes, and by extension, their friends. "All you think you know, about this world, about other worlds, about yourselves, even about reality itself…"
"All that will be challenged and more." Juto finished as the Ninja Tribunal stood from their thrones and stood together.
"The sooner you learn this, the sooner you will be ready to face the task ahead." Kon made the final remark as the silent-Hisomi dropped a smoke-bomb, right before the Ninja Tribunal vanished completely.
Splinter simply looked away with a scowl, as even Iroh shook his head in slight disappointment.
"So, let me get this straight, none of that was real?" Mikey questioned.
"Sure felt real to me." Toph said with a small scowl.
"But… what did they mean 'perception isn't always truth', perception should always be truth!" Sokka began to rant. "Everything we see, hear, and feel should be real! This makes no sense! It violates all science and reasoning! This can't… OW!"
Raph had smacked Sokka upside the head. "Let's just not question it Sokka, you're gonna give yourself a migraine."
"Oh, it was real alright." Leo said, getting everyone's attention. "Our first real lesson with the Ninja Tribunal"
"Yeah…" Aang had a gravely serious expression on his face. "And I have a feeling, they have a lot more to teach us."
Done.
So, our young Acolytes have had their first lesson with the Ninja Tribunal, to help them understand the threat they are facing. Even Splinter, Iroh, the Ancient One, Karai, Suki, Ty-Lee, and Mai have all joined them; though they aren't official Acolytes, it doesn't mean they can't contribute. Things are going to get interesting as the young heroes begin their first lessons with this mysterious group of powerful beings. (It would also seem that Iroh knows the Tribunal, but how?)
What's in store for the Acolytes now? Find out next time on Worlds Collide - The Ninja Tribunal saga!