Chapter 22: Thunder Dissolved (part 4 of 4)
Jay and Nya's jet zips through the skies of Ninjago, soaring high above the Southern Sea as it coasts toward Ninjago's mainland. Nya reclines and beauty sleeps, while Jay practices on his newest video game Ninja Smash 2. He crushes Cole out of Jamanakai Village with a Voltage down smash, then flicks off the game and turns toward Nya.
"Sleeping well," he asks.
"You bet, honey," Nya yawned. "As good as I can with those loud video games in the background."
"Sorry," Jay blushed. "I like the volume turned up. It makes the game come alive, as if I'm the guy getting smashed around."
"Yeah, but you still have some work to do," Nya chuckled. "You missed two chances to up-smash him away."
"Since how do you…," Jay protested.
"I played a little while you were injured. Quite fun, actually, especially that final battle with Lord Garmadon."
"You beat level 100?! I haven't even beaten Samukai yet and he's level 3!"
"Then shape up. Cole's at level 47, and I guarantee he won't go easy on you."
Jay grumbled, then turned forward again. He reached to flick his video games on again, but stopped his hand short of the switch. Strange clouds with green lightning appeared in his rearview mirror, large ones with supersized bolts.
"Nya," Jay trembled.
"What is it, Jay," Nya asked.
"Is it just me, or are we being followed by oversized thunder clouds," Jay panicked.
Nya sat up, then quickly turned her chair around. Sure enough, large green thunder clouds were rolling straight toward, moving at a high rate of speed. Large gusts of wind shook the jet, forcing Jay to switch off autopilot.
"This is bad," Nya commented.
"I know that," Jay shouted.
Jay suddenly flipped the plane to the right, veering away from a blast of lightning that shot alongside them. Then he barrel-rolled over another few bolts, correcting his course afterwards. The thunder clouds merged into them, cloaking the plane in a large cloud screen than hindered visibility greatly.
"I can't see three inches in front of me," Jay shouted. "Yikes!"
Lightning flashed right in front of the nose, rattling the plane as it crackled and burst. In the flash, Jay spotted an armored man coming toward the plane, swinging a katana toward the nose. He pushed the controls forward, bomb-diving the plane straight down. The jet rocketed through the bottom of the cloud, then pulled up and coasted above the water below.
"Jay Gordon," Nya scolded. "Warn me before you drive like my brother."
"You rather get blasted by him," Jay shouted.
Nya glanced out the back window. Sure enough, the armored man was following them, gliding on gusts of wind and firing fireballs at the engine.
"It's the power-thief," Nya gasped.
"You think I don't know that already," Jay shouted. "Fire the cannons!"
Nya grabbed ahold of her control stick, then started shooting lightning bolts at Master. Master flipped and somersaulted as he dodged, then fired fireballs again at the plane. Jay dodged each projectile by rolling or tilting the plane, or by flying the jet in zig-zags and circles to throw off master's aim.
Then Master launched a large bolt of lightning, which hit the gun and fried the cannons. Small bolts flowed through the wires and shocked Nya, spinning her back around in her chair. She grabbed ahold of Jay's chair, accidentally passing the lightning on in the process. Jay squirmed, accidentally plunging the jet toward the sea. He barely avoided crashing into the ocean, pulling up at the last second.
"Would you quit it," Jay shouted.
"Blame him, not me," Nya retorted.
"Oh yeah, blame him, the guy who's chasing us down because Skylor's plan was stupid," Jay yelled.
"Skylor isn't dumb," Nya countered. "Who's the wise guy flying this plane?"
"Don't you talk about my flying skills! I fly better than Kai!"
"Kai can beat you hands down, you selfish jerk!"
"Oh yeah?!"
Suddenly, they heard a small thump on the back of the jet. They stopped yelling, then glanced toward the back. Master slowly strolled toward them, carrying a razor-sharp lightning whip that sparked and crackled. Small fires started in the engines, sending the computers into a frenzy.
"If our engine goes, we're toast," Nya panicked.
"Don't you panic on me," Jay shouted. "I built this plane. She'll last!"
Master cracked his whip. The blade struck against one of the back wings, slicing it clean off the jet. Down it went into the sea, shooting a pillar of water into the air as it exploded upon impact. Then Nya scowled at Jay, who blushed and rubbed his neck a little.
"Maybe she isn't in top shape," Jay shrugged.
"She won't be in any shape if you keep driving like that," Nay scolded.
"Take the wheel," Jay ordered.
"What?!"
"Take the wheel!"
Nya jumped into the driver's seat, then took the wheel from Jay. Jay pushed the windshield open, then climbed out onto the front of the plane. Before Nya could protest, he shut the windshield again. He turned toward the Master, who stopped and stared at Jay atop the plane.
"Listen up, wise guy," Jay shouted. "I don't know who the noddle you are or where you came from, but you get your butt off my plane or else."
"Or else what," Master asked.
"I'll have to kick you off," Jay stated.
"You? Kick me off," Master laughed. "We are on a moving jet, flying at half the speed of sound over a deep ocean. You seriously want to fight here?"
Jay shot a bolt of lightning at the Master, striking him right on the chest. Master flipped backwards off the plane, pummeling toward the ocean below. Jay watched him splash into the ocean, then wiped his hands and turned around. Suddenly, a large pillar of water struck him on the back, lifting him high above the jet into the thunder clouds. Master rose on another water pillar after him, stopping with Jay in the heart of the cloud.
"Enjoying the view," Master asked.
"Not with you around," Jay grumbled.
"Don't be sour," Master warned. "It spoils my fun. You like to play games, don't you?"
"What kind of game," Jay asked.
"Simple, really," Master smiled. "If you're the Master of Lightning, then try me on for size. Strike me down with all your power, and I'll leave you alone. But if I win, you give me the time claw. Either way, I spare you and your pathetic wife's lives and leave you be."
Jay sighed. He lifted up his hands, then waved them toward his head. Small bolts of cloud and lightning started circling around him, filling his hands with electricity. Then they suddenly dissolved as Jay's hand weakened and collapsed.
"Try again," Master urged. "I prefer excessive power to boredom."
Jay grumbled, then lifted his hands again. This again, larger and larger pieces of cloud and lightning started circling around his hand, accumulating into a giant ball of energy. Jay's body radiated blue, emitting a glow brighter than the sun. The Master cringed, turning his face away from the light.
"Can't take the light," Jay laughed. "Let's see how strong you are, power-thief."
Jay pointed his hands toward Master. A huge beam of lightning formed, then fired straight into Master. Master flew several yards, then stiffened and froze in place. For several minutes, he withstood the full fury of Jay's attack, then crumpled toward the sea in a limp body. Jay jumped off his pillar, then dove toward the sea. He snatched Master up, then landed on the jet as it swooped under them.
"Good work, Jay," Nya complimented. "Is he fine?"
"He's fine," Jay winked. "He'll live to testify to Lloyd and the others."
Suddenly, Master jumped out of Jay's lap, then fired a beam of lightning at the engines. Both of the remaining engines exploded, leaving the jet without power. Then Master broke the windshield and snatched the time claw, ready to dive off with his prize. Jay stepped in front of him, then raised his hands again.
"Don't move or I'll shock you again," Jay threatened.
"Try me," Master jested.
Jay tried to generate lightning, but only ended up with sore arms and throbbing hands. Then he noticed the glowing blue shuriken on Master's belt.
"You…you stole my powers," Jay gasped.
"Until next time," Master nodded.
Master dove off the jet, then glided on the wind toward Chen's Island again. Jay fell into the cockpit, still glancing down at his hands.
"He took my powers," Jay whispered.
"He took our engines," Nya shouted. "I can't land the jet without crashing or destroying it."
"Land on that strip of dock," Jay ordered, pointing toward the rapidly-approaching Ninjago City harbor.
Nya complied, steering the ship toward the dock. The jet coasted straight into the harbor, then crashed against the planks of the deck. It zipped along the dock, then crashed into the side of a building. The jet stopped, then burst into flames as the fire crews whipped around the corner to contain the burning inferno.
Author's Note: Made a final title change to this story - "Game of Claws". Corny, I know, but it's more accurate than War of Amber. Please review as usual. Really helps, especially for multi-part series like this one.