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Chapter 19: Thunder Dissolved (Part 1 of 4)
"Jay, don't make this difficult," Nya urged.
She and Skylor were in the training arena, assisting Jay in his rehab exercises. Since Jay had broken his leg, they had focused solely on rebuilding his strength. And now, with his cast removed, he could finally practice his ninja moves again.
"Up kick," Nya ordered.
Jay complied, kicking his right leg into the air. He immediately winced, then pulled his leg down again.
"Ouch," Jay yelped. "That hurts."
"It will for several days," Skylor sighed. "Now kick again."
"Isn't your whatever-you-call-it lotion supposed to heal quicker," Jay winced as he kicked again.
"It's called amber honey, Jay," Skylor laughed. "And yes, it's working. It just takes a while to heal broken legs, that's all."
"I hope it works," Jay sighed. "I hate being cooped up and nursed on like a baby. How many more kicks before we're done?"
"Twenty," Nya answered.
"Oh, you got to be kidding me," Jay panicked. "Seriously, is this rehab or torture, Nya?"
"Trust me, pal, it works," Nya laughed.
"I hope your training is succeeding, Nya," Ryoko answered as she entered the arena, "because we've sighted movement from Pythar's troops along the waterfall."
"So Pythar finally emerges from the shadows again," Jay remarked.
"To find the time claw, I guess," Nya shrugged. "He's been too quiet for the past two weeks, especially after we broke up his robbery attempt at the waterfall."
"That's my guess too," Ryoko agreed. "I suggest you and Skylor head out immediately and investigate."
"But what about me," Jay yelped. "I can fight."
"Not on that leg of yours," Ryoko winked. "You'll stay here with me till you're fully healed."
"No fair," Jay complained.
"Now, Jay, dear," Nya soothed. "I'll be back soon. Then we can relax and watch Cliff Gordon films, or would you rather go through more rehab?"
"No, Cliff Gordon is fine," Jay smiled. "Come on, Ryoko. Let's go inside and get a bite to eat."
Jay hobbled with Ryoko back inside, while Nya and Skylor raced over to the DX and fired up the engines. Within a few minutes, they were cruising through the jungle, heading toward the coordinates downloaded by Ryoko.
"I never knew you were a good driver," Nya complimented.
"Thanks," Skylor shrugged. "Guess I picked it up driving noodle trucks in rush-hour traffic in the city."
"You ever tire of running a noodle shop," Nya asked.
"You bet," Skylor sighed. "Some days, I just want to close up shop, leave Ninjago City, and retire in a mountain village as a hermit."
"With Kai?"
"Oh, you stinker. Don't make me blush like that!"
"No, seriously. You and Kai are getting close, I noticed."
"Yeah, I guess so. I love him, Nya, but…"
"But what?"
"But do I want to spend my whole life with him? I mean, come on. I don't want to, you know, die from the heat."
"I understand. Kai does have his flaws, but so does Jay, and I still married him nevertheless. Listen. Don't shy away from flaws; embrace them as opportunities to strength your love for him."
"Since when were you as wise as Master Wu?"
"Oh, stop it. I'll never surpass Master Wu. I guess it's one of those cereal-box rewards you find once in a while."
Skylor sighed, then applied the brakes as they stopped in a grove of trees. They jumped out of the vehicle, then sneaked closer to the edge of the falls. Sure enough, Serpentine were crawling about, searching for the time claw with weapons drawn.
"Ryoko scores again," Skylor whispered. "There they are now."
"A large group of them too," Nya nodded back. "I count at least fifteen of them."
"Look over there," Skylor pointed. "It's Pythar himself."
Nya looked. Just as Skylor had said, Pythar was standing on a large slab of rock, directing the Serpentine in their search. Two Fangpyres with fans waited on him, shading his head from the burning sun.
"Search every crack and crevasse," Pythar ordered. "The time claw is around here somewhere."
"Not up here," Fibaa hissed. "It must have fallen further down."
"Then climb down to the lower ledges," Pythar ordered. "No one eats until that time claw is found."
Fibaa nodded, then ordered the Serpentine to begin climbing down the cliff edge. The snakes pulled out ropes and hooks, carrying them over to the ledge. This Nya and Skylor observed with increasing anxiety.
"They're scaling the cliffs," Nya noted.
"Pythar must mean business this time," Skylor sighed. "Attack on my signal."
"Why," Nya asked.
"We can't let them get the time claw, can we," Skylor questioned.
Skylor and Nya lowered themselves, grabbing ahold of the shurikens strapped to their sides. They peeked over the edge, then raised their arms to throw. But before Nya could launch her shuriken, they heard a loud poof, followed by a thump. Nya and Skylor peered over their shoulders.
"Hey Nya," Dareth sighed. "Any fix for a dizzy head in that pack of yours?"
"Dareth," Nya shouted. "What are you doing here?"
"Shush," Skylor hissed. "You're drawing attention to yourself."
Pythar glanced up from his perch. As soon as he spotted Skylor, he snarled and spat on the ground.
"Ninja," he hissed. "Serpentine, there are ninja afoot! Attack and bring them to me."
The Serpentine warriors stopped, then started scrambling up the ropes again.
"Nice going," Skylor scolded. "Now our cover's blown."
"Thank Dareth," Nya scowled. "He's the one who appeared out of nowhere."
"I'm sorry," Dareth sighed. "It's just that I can't help but drop in from time to time."
"Get control of that teleportation," Nya ordered. "You could get us killed one of these days."
Nya turned back toward the Serpentine, then launched two shurikens. Both cut right through the ropes, sending eight of the snakes into the falls below. Skylor launched another one at Pythar, but Fibaa blocked the projectile with a shield. Then Fibaa and Pythar slithered up the cliff path, following behind the other charging Serpentine.
"They're nearing the top," Skylor noted. "If they reach us, we won't stand a chance."
"What do you suggest we do," Nya asked.
"Charge, and hold them off," Skylor sighed. "What else can we do?"
Nya and Skylor pulled out their katanas, then charged at the Serpentine. The snakes immediately surged forward, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with spears and knives. For a few minutes, Skylor and Nya exchanged blows, knocking Serpentine back while dodging retaliating punches and kicks. Eventually, though, they started to tire, losing traction as a result.
"Finish them," Pythar ordered.
"Skylor, stand back," Nya ordered.
Skylor jumped aside, then watched as Nya summoned a funnel of water. Twisting her hands in a circle, Nya formed a large ball of water, then fired it directly at the Serpentine. All the warriors except Pythar slipped, collapsing into the pool of water. Then Nya shoved her hands forward, pushing the water and the snakes off the cliff into the falls below.
"Good thinking," Skylor remarked. "Ready to give in, Pythar?"
"Never," Pythar snarled. "I've only begun to fight."
Pythar chuckled, then reached behind his back for his weapon. Nya charged forward, swinging her katana at Pythar's arm. Pythar slid to the left, pulling out his weapon to block the katana. Nya's katana clunked backwards, knocking Nya back a few feet.
"The time claw," Nya gasped. "How did you…"
"You place too much faith in Ryoko's abilities," Pythar laughed. "I found the time claw a week ago, while you presumed I was under the radar."
"Then today was just a diversion," Skylor gasped.
"Yes, a brilliant diversion," Pythar smiled. "And you ninjas fell right into my trap."
"But where's the trap," Dareth asked. "We chopped and sizzled your entire army."
"I'm holding it," Pythar smiled.
Pythar raised the time claw into the air, pointing it straight at the sky above them. Nya dove forward to grab the time claw, but missed by a few inches and smashed into the ground at Pythar's feet. The time claw glowed as it charged, then fired off its salvo of green energy. A long beam of green projected into the sky, then exploded and dissolved into thousands of sparkling specks of green dust.
"Skylor, come in," Ryoko's voice crackled.
"Yes, Ryoko," Skylor answered.
"Did Pythar just use the time claw," Ryoko asked.
"I'm afraid so," Nya sighed. "Is anything wrong?"
"Return to base immediately," Ryoko ordered. "We have multiple enemies inside the base."
"What enemies," Skylor asked.
"Anacondrai warriors," Ryoko answered.